Lesson 14 The Trinity

Lesson 14The Trinity

Built On A RockUnit 4: One God in Three Persons

1. What’s the difference between the law and the gospel?

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.


The differences between the law and the gospel are:

1) where they’re found

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.



1) where they’re found2) who does what

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.



1) where they’re found2) who does what3) what they promise

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.



1) where they’re found2) who does what3) what they promise4) how they lead us to obey God.

The Differences Between Law and Gospel

The Law: The Gospel:

Written in the Bible AND in

our hearts

Written ONLY in the

Bible


Tell US what WE have to

do and not do

Tell us what GOD has

already done through JESUS



Threatens to send us to

HELL

Promises to give us

ETERNAL LIFE



Makes us obey out of

FEAR

Enables us to obey out of

LOVE


The Ecumenical Creeds – Expressions of the Gospel

Ecumenical: Dealing with the whole church

Creed: Short statement of what we believe


Apostles’ Creed A summary of what the

apostles believed

Services without

communion

Simplest summary of faith in the Trinity


Nicene Creed A creed that defends the

Trinity, written in

Nicea

Communion services

A more exact defense of the doctrine of the Trinity


Athanasian Creed

A creed that defends the

teaching about Jesus, named after Athanasius

Trinity Sunday

A detailed defense of the doctrine of the Trinity and of who Jesus was

2. How many Gods are there?

1 Corinthians 8:4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

1 Corinthians 8:4

1 Corinthians 8:4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deuteronomy 6:4

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.


There is only one God.

Matthew 3:16-17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Matthew 3:16-17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Person: A being that exists by itself

In God, it means the Father, the Son or the

Holy Spirit – there are 3 Persons.


There is only one God.But he reveals himself to us in three separate persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).

John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

John 15:26

John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:14

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Trinity: Three persons in One God

Triune: Three persons in One God (the adjective)

These two words are NOT in the Bible. But they do express what the

Bible teaches.


There is only one God.But he reveals himself to us in three separate persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). But there is still only one God. We call this teaching “the Trinity.”

3. What is the Triune God like?

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

Spirit: Has no body (although Jesus has a body)

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90:2

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Eternal: Has no beginning and no ending

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Immutable: Unchanging.

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.Luke 1:37

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.

Omnipotent: Almighty or all powerful.

1 John 3:19-20 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:19-20

1 John 3:19-20 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Omniscient: Knows everything.

Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:23-24

Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

Omnipresent: Everywhere at once.

Leviticus 19:2 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2

Leviticus 19:2 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”

Holy: Perfect. Without sin.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Just: Always judges correctly (according to the law).

2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Faithful: Always keeps his promises

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.Psalm 145:9

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Good: Loving and kind.

Exodus 34:6-7 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Exodus 34:6-7

Exodus 34:6-7 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Forgiving: He doesn’t hold our sins against us.

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Lesson 14 The Trinity