Understanding the Trinity: God's Nature and Our Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the profound and foundational concept of the Trinity, exploring the nature of God as one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This understanding is crucial because it shapes our comprehension of who God is and how He operates. We began by emphasizing the importance of knowing God accurately, as misrepresentations can lead to idolatry. A.W. Tozer's quote highlighted that wrong ideas about God are themselves idolatrous, stressing the need for a true understanding of His nature.
We then examined the biblical basis for the Trinity, noting that while the term "Trinity" does not appear in Scripture, the concept is clearly supported by numerous passages. For instance, the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 and the benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:13 both reference the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also discussed the hierarchy within the Trinity, where the Son and the Spirit submit to the Father, yet all three are equally God.
The Father is primarily active in the Old Testament, seated on His throne in heaven. The Son, Jesus Christ, was active in creation, took on human form, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He will return to call His church to heaven and establish His millennial reign. The Holy Spirit, often overlooked, is the primary agent in the current church age. He was present at creation, inspired the writers of Scripture, convicts believers, and intercedes for us in prayer.
Understanding the Trinity is not just an academic exercise but a vital aspect of our faith that impacts our relationship with God and our witness to others. As we leave today, let us strive to deepen our understanding of this triune God and live out our faith with a renewed vigor and commitment.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Accurate Understanding of God: Misrepresenting God leads to idolatry, as A.W. Tozer pointed out. Wrong ideas about God are not just errors; they are fundamentally idolatrous. Therefore, it is crucial to align our understanding of God with Scripture to avoid creating a false image of Him. [08:06]
2. Biblical Basis for the Trinity: While the term "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, the concept is clearly supported by Scripture. Passages like Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:13 explicitly mention the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, affirming the triune nature of God. This understanding is foundational to our faith. [20:52]
3. Hierarchy within the Trinity: The Trinity has a hierarchy of submission, where the Son and the Spirit submit to the Father. This does not imply inequality but rather distinct roles within the Godhead. Just as in a marriage, submission does not equate to inferiority. [22:38]
4. Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the primary agent in the current church age, guiding, convicting, and interceding for believers. He is not an "it" or a ghost but a person who is fully God. Understanding His role is crucial for living a Spirit-led life. [31:10]
5. Salvation and the Trinity: Each person of the Trinity plays a vital role in our salvation. The Father’s wrath was kindled against sin, the Son provided the atonement, and the Holy Spirit convicts and seals believers. This collaborative work of the Trinity underscores the depth and completeness of our salvation. [38:44]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:18] - Introduction to the Trinity
[02:38] - Biblical Basis for the Trinity
[03:53] - The Need for Accurate Understanding
[05:08] - Differentiating God from Other Gods
[08:06] - A.W. Tozer on Idolatry
[09:46] - Misrepresentations of God
[11:39] - Importance of Correct Belief
[13:24] - Truthfulness of the God of the Bible
[15:14] - Understanding the Trinity
[16:40] - Illustrations of the Trinity
[18:03] - Limitations of Illustrations
[19:20] - Biblical Evidence for the Trinity
[20:52] - Great Commission and Trinity
[22:38] - Hierarchy within the Trinity
[24:19] - The Father’s Role
[26:36] - The Son’s Role
[29:09] - Future Role of the Son
[31:10] - The Holy Spirit’s Role
[33:40] - Old Testament Activity of the Spirit
[34:23] - Spirit’s Role in Resurrection
[35:13] - Inspiration of Scripture
[36:34] - Spirit’s Role in Prayer
[37:43] - Spiritual Gifts and Illumination
[38:44] - Trinity in Salvation
[39:45] - Conclusion and Call to Action
[41:26] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
2. 2 Corinthians 13:13 - "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
3. John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 28:19 reveal about the nature of God? How are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit mentioned together?
2. In 2 Corinthians 13:13, what roles do the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit play in the life of a believer?
3. According to John 14:6, what claim does Jesus make about Himself, and how does this relate to the concept of the Trinity?
4. How does the sermon describe the hierarchy within the Trinity? ([22:38])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to have an accurate understanding of God, according to the sermon? How does this prevent idolatry? ([08:06])
2. How does the concept of the Trinity shape our understanding of salvation, as described in the sermon? ([38:44])
3. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit's role in the current church age, and how does this impact our daily lives? ([31:10])
4. How does the hierarchy within the Trinity reflect the concept of submission without implying inequality? ([22:38])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current understanding of God. Are there any misconceptions you might have that need to be corrected to avoid idolatry? How can you align your understanding more closely with Scripture? ([08:06])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of knowing God accurately. What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of the Trinity? ([05:08])
3. How can you be more aware of the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance in your daily life? What practices can help you live a more Spirit-led life? ([31:10])
4. In what ways can you share the concept of the Trinity with others to help them understand the nature of God better? How can this improve your witness to others? ([39:45])
5. The sermon mentioned the collaborative work of the Trinity in our salvation. How does this understanding affect your gratitude and worship towards God? ([38:44])
6. How can you apply the concept of submission within the Trinity to your relationships, especially in areas where you might struggle with authority or equality? ([22:38])
7. Think of a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's guidance. What practical steps can you take to seek His help and direction this week? ([36:34])
Devotional
Day 1: The Danger of Misrepresenting God
Understanding God accurately is crucial because misrepresentations can lead to idolatry. A.W. Tozer emphasized that wrong ideas about God are themselves idolatrous. This means that when we create a false image of God, we are essentially worshiping an idol. It is vital to align our understanding of God with Scripture to avoid creating a false image of Him. This accurate understanding shapes our relationship with God and ensures that we are worshiping Him in truth.
Misrepresenting God can have serious consequences. It can lead us away from the true God and cause us to follow a god of our own making. This is why it is essential to study the Bible and seek a true understanding of God's nature. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and ensure that our worship is directed towards the one true God. [08:06]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: Are there any misconceptions you have about God that you need to correct? How can you seek a more accurate understanding of Him through Scripture today?
Day 2: The Trinity in Scripture
The concept of the Trinity, though not explicitly named in the Bible, is clearly supported by numerous passages. For instance, the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 and the benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:13 both reference the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune nature of God is foundational to our faith and helps us understand the distinct roles of each person within the Godhead.
The Trinity is a mystery that can be difficult to fully comprehend, but it is essential to our understanding of who God is. Each person of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—plays a unique role in God's plan for humanity. Recognizing this helps us appreciate the depth and complexity of God's nature and His work in our lives. [20:52]
2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV): "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Reflection: How does understanding the Trinity enhance your relationship with God? Can you identify ways in which each person of the Trinity has been active in your life?
Day 3: The Hierarchy within the Trinity
The Trinity has a hierarchy of submission, where the Son and the Spirit submit to the Father. This does not imply inequality but rather distinct roles within the Godhead. Just as in a marriage, submission does not equate to inferiority. Understanding this hierarchy helps us appreciate the unity and diversity within the Trinity.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God, yet they have different roles and functions. The Son submits to the Father, and the Spirit submits to both the Father and the Son. This hierarchy reflects a perfect relationship of love and cooperation within the Godhead. It also serves as a model for our relationships, showing us that submission can coexist with equality and mutual respect. [22:38]
John 5:19 (ESV): "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'"
Reflection: How can the example of submission within the Trinity influence your relationships? Are there areas in your life where you struggle with submission, and how can you address them?
Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the primary agent in the current church age, guiding, convicting, and interceding for believers. He is not an "it" or a ghost but a person who is fully God. Understanding His role is crucial for living a Spirit-led life. The Holy Spirit was present at creation, inspired the writers of Scripture, convicts believers, and intercedes for us in prayer.
The Holy Spirit's work is essential for our spiritual growth and daily walk with God. He empowers us to live out our faith, provides guidance and wisdom, and helps us understand and apply God's Word. By recognizing the Holy Spirit's role in our lives, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him and rely on His power and presence. [31:10]
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Reflection: How can you become more aware of the Holy Spirit's presence and work in your life? What steps can you take to cultivate a Spirit-led life?
Day 5: Salvation and the Trinity
Each person of the Trinity plays a vital role in our salvation. The Father’s wrath was kindled against sin, the Son provided the atonement, and the Holy Spirit convicts and seals believers. This collaborative work of the Trinity underscores the depth and completeness of our salvation. Understanding the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our salvation helps us appreciate the magnitude of God's love and grace.
The Father initiated the plan of salvation, the Son accomplished it through His death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives. This divine teamwork highlights the unity and cooperation within the Trinity and assures us of the security and sufficiency of our salvation. By recognizing the roles of each person of the Trinity, we can deepen our gratitude and worship for the God who saves us. [38:44]
Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
Reflection: How does understanding the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in your salvation impact your faith? In what ways can you express your gratitude for the collaborative work of the Trinity in your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Why is it important to have an accurate, true understanding of God? But there's some basic points of application that I think really flesh out just why this is so important and so applicably important. So one, the one that we've really already established from weeks leading up, I'll mention, is the fact that there is no end to the various gods that have been created by man. Where you look at the history of the world, any major civilization, empire, country, you name it, has had typically a pantheon of gods, right? You've got Greek gods, you've got Roman gods, you've got Norse gods, you've got Egyptian gods, and that's just naming four of the vast, and that's not even getting into Hinduism and the number of gods. That is in that belief. So right off the bat, we understand of why it's important to know who God is because from that point, we understand, okay, who is he not?" [05:08] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The God of the Bible has eternally existed as one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is truly one of the facets of Christianity that we will never fully understand in this life or the next. There are some things that I believe that we don't understand this side of eternity that I believe we will understand on the other side of eternity. Then there are other things that I do not believe, regardless of what side of eternity we are on, that we will ever fully understand, this being one of them. Because the moment that you or I fully understand God is the moment that you and I ourselves are God. Let me just tell you, that moment's never going to happen." [16:40] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The concept of the Trinity is one of the reasons why other faiths like Islam claim us to be polytheists, belief in many gods, compared to monotheists, belief in one God. But notice, and I had Winona read this morning part of what is known in Judaism as the Shema. In Deuteronomy 6.4, Don't blow it past it. The Lord is one. So again, even though we're going to talk about three persons here shortly, he is, in fact, one." [19:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Holy Spirit is not a what. He's a who. Okay? That's something that a lot of well-intentioned, well-meaning believers do, who they will say it when referring to Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an it. He is a who in the same way that the other two are. Now, another one, he's not a ghost, right? Whether it's certain older translations or certain hymns that sing about the Holy Ghost, he's not a ghost. He is not the remnant of a once living thing. He is as living as the Father and as the Son. So he's not an it. He's not a ghost." [31:36] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. We see that in 1 Corinthians 12. And secondly, he illuminates believers to understand the meaning, the fixed meaning within Scripture. Interpretation, understanding, is not something that we bring to the Bible. The Bible reveals that to us. And the good thing is we're not in it alone. We aren't left to our human faculties to determine what Scripture means. The Holy Spirit, within us, shows us what the text means. Shows us the application of what we are to do with what we have just read." [37:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Arguably more dangerous and more pressing to the believer than just understanding differentiating God from other gods is understanding and recognizing the distortions of God that we experience on a daily basis. Ascribing something to God that is not God. And you see, this is something we cannot afford to take lightly. Whether it is a distortion that we witness in others, an overt and intentional distortion, or a distortion unbeknownst to ourselves that we hold. That when aligning that with scripture, we see that our fundamental understanding of something is flawed. Because again, especially now, in some ways, I don't know if I would say it's easier for those who have been in the faith for a long time, others not, is when we're used to hearing something over and over again. We're used to a concept that is so familiar and again, so fundamental. Sometimes we take for granted what we understand and what we know." [05:08] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of him. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow, they are themselves idolatrous. The idolaters simply imagine things about God and to acts as if they were true. I'm going to read that one more time, especially if you don't have it in front of you, because there's a lot there and we're going to kind of hammer in on a lot of this. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of him. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow, they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true." [08:06] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So if the God in someone's mind, in my mind, is that this is the same God as that God, then clearly the comprehension that I have of the Bible is not the same as the God of the Bible. So if the God of the Bible is not the same as the God of the Bible, then clearly the comprehension that I have of God is severely flawed. So these are just a couple of examples of why I hope we can see why this topic is so important. Why we cannot afford to get our concept, our understanding, our belief in God wrong. And so it is with this that we look into who is our God. Because of this importance, what can we learn? What can we know? What do we know of? Our God." [11:39] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The God of the Bible has eternally existed as one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is truly one of the facets of Christianity that we will never fully understand in this life or the next. There are some things that I believe that we don't understand this side of eternity that I believe we will understand on the other side of eternity. Then there are other things that I do not believe, regardless of what side of eternity we are on, that we will ever fully understand, this being one of them. Because the moment that you or I fully understand God is the moment that you and I ourselves are God. Let me just tell you, that moment's never going to happen. The Bible is very clear on who God is. It is very clear on who you and I are. And so we always will never have a full understanding of who God is. But frankly, I find that to be a comforting notion, personally. Because again, why would I worship and serve someone that I can fully understand? Because if I can fully understand them, then what makes him God compared to me?" [16:40] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. We see that in 1 Corinthians 12. And secondly, he illuminates believers to understand the meaning, the fixed meaning within Scripture. Interpretation, understanding, is not something that we bring to the Bible. The Bible reveals that to us. And the good thing is we're not in it alone. We aren't left to our human faculties to determine what Scripture means. The Holy Spirit, within us, shows us what the text means. Shows us the application of what we are to do with what we have just read. So this is just, again, not a complete list of the Holy Spirit's role in redemptive history and the Holy Spirit's role in our lives. To bring this to, to wrap things up, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the biggest and most important moment, manner, that all three, all three persons work together in salvation." [37:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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