Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Tuesday, October 6, 2009Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Memory VerseMemory Verse Heb 13:5, “Make sure that Heb 13:5, “Make sure that

your character is free from the your character is free from the love of money, being content love of money, being content with what you have; for He with what you have; for He

Himself has said, “I will never Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever desert you, nor will I ever

forsake you.”forsake you.”

John 14:25-26, John 14:25-26,

The Triune God.The Triune God.

Doctrine of the TrinityDoctrine of the Trinity..

A. Definition.A. Definition.

1. The word “Trinity” is 1. The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible. It is not found in the Bible. It is

a technical theological a technical theological term coined in the fourth term coined in the fourth

century A.D. to describe a century A.D. to describe a theological concept.theological concept.

2. It recognizes God as 2. It recognizes God as being one in essence but being one in essence but

three persons who possess three persons who possess equal, perfect, eternal and equal, perfect, eternal and infinite identical essence. infinite identical essence.

Father

Son Holy Spirit

Co-Eq

ual

Co-Infinite

Co-Eternal

3. Trinity means one God 3. Trinity means one God subsisting in three modes subsisting in three modes

of existence, while of existence, while describing three persons in describing three persons in

one Godhead. one Godhead.

There is only one divine There is only one divine nature or being. Thenature or being. The Bible Bible

is is MonotheisticMonotheistic yet it yet it asserts that this one God asserts that this one God subsists in three definite subsists in three definite and identified Persons.and identified Persons.

4. The Bible is not 4. The Bible is not Polytheistic, (many gods), Polytheistic, (many gods),

nor Tritheistic, (three nor Tritheistic, (three gods), nor Unitarianone, gods), nor Unitarianone, (god who exercises his (god who exercises his interests and powers in interests and powers in

various ways). various ways).

5. Synonyms include: 5. Synonyms include: Triunity, Trine, Triality. Triunity, Trine, Triality.

God is three in one.God is three in one.

6. God is Tripersonal, 6. God is Tripersonal, involving distinctions involving distinctions

between the Father, Son, between the Father, Son, and Spirit. Joint partakers and Spirit. Joint partakers of exactly the same nature of exactly the same nature

and majesty of God.and majesty of God.

7. The Trinity is a revealed 7. The Trinity is a revealed doctrine. It embodies truth doctrine. It embodies truth

never discovered; it is never discovered; it is undiscoverable by natural undiscoverable by natural

reason.reason.

8. Distinctions are made 8. Distinctions are made between the members of between the members of

the Trinity.the Trinity.

2 Cor 13:142 Cor 13:14

2 Cor 13:14, 2 Cor 13:14, “The grace of our Lord “The grace of our Lord

Jesus Christ and the love of Jesus Christ and the love of God (the Father) and the God (the Father) and the fellowship of the Holy fellowship of the Holy

Spirit be with all of you.” Spirit be with all of you.”

9. The word “Trinity” was 9. The word “Trinity” was first used by Tertullian in the first used by Tertullian in the

22ndnd century to designate a century to designate a Biblical doctrine. The Biblical doctrine. The

doctrine of the Trinity was doctrine of the Trinity was confirmed by the council of confirmed by the council of

Nicea in A.D. 325.Nicea in A.D. 325.

10. Trinity is defined as: 10. Trinity is defined as: God is one in essence but God is one in essence but three coequal, coeternal, three coequal, coeternal, and coinfinite persons.and coinfinite persons.

11. When divine essence is 11. When divine essence is the subject, God is said to the subject, God is said to

be one. When divine be one. When divine persons are the subject, persons are the subject,

distinction is made distinction is made between the Father, the between the Father, the

Son, and the Holy Spirit.Son, and the Holy Spirit.

12. That’s why there are 12. That’s why there are different Hebrew names different Hebrew names

for God. for God.

12. That’s why there are 12. That’s why there are different Hebrew names different Hebrew names

for God. for God. a. The plural noun Elohim a. The plural noun Elohim

implies more than one implies more than one person in the Godhead. person in the Godhead.

b. The singular noun b. The singular noun JHWH (Adonai, Jahweh, JHWH (Adonai, Jahweh,

or Jehovah) is used to or Jehovah) is used to distinguish between the distinguish between the

persons.persons.

Elohim emphasizes the one Elohim emphasizes the one essence of God. essence of God.

Jehovah emphasizes one Jehovah emphasizes one person in the Trinity, person in the Trinity, usually God the Son.usually God the Son.

B. B. Scripture VerificationScripture Verification..Gen 1:26; 3:22; Psa 2:7; Gen 1:26; 3:22; Psa 2:7;

110:1; Isa 48:16; Mat 28:19; 110:1; Isa 48:16; Mat 28:19; John 10:30; 14:16, 26; 15:26; John 10:30; 14:16, 26; 15:26;

20:28; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 20:28; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev 1:4-613:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev 1:4-6

Isa 48:16, “Come near to Me; Isa 48:16, “Come near to Me; listen to this. From the first, I listen to this. From the first, I

have not spoken in secret. From have not spoken in secret. From the time it took place, I was the time it took place, I was

there. And now the Lord God there. And now the Lord God (God the Father) has sent Me (God the Father) has sent Me (God the Son), and His Spirit (God the Son), and His Spirit

(God the Holy Spirit).”(God the Holy Spirit).”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday, October 6, 2009

Tape # 09-069

Doctrine of the Trinity, Part 1 Upper Room Discourse, Part 301

John 14:25-26; Isa 48:16; 2 Co 13:14  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009