The Trinity

Who, what and why?

What is the Trinity?

God - The Father

Jesus - The Son

Holy Spirit

Christians believe that God is represented inthree forms according to the Bible.

Why does this matter?

It is the basis of all Christian beliefs

It is explained to us by Jesus himself

If you believe Jesus, you must understand this

It fulfills prophecy throughout the Bible

Normally I’d say this just theological debate... but this is core to understanding Christianity!

Understanding the Parts

God Jesus Spirit

Who is God?

We believe there is one God - Monotheism

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength

Deutoronomy 6:4-5 - The Jews said it...

Mark 12:29-31 - Then Jesus said it, plus some...

We worship ONE God, the God of Israel

Are we whacked out?

The Bible is truth...

The Bible appears to contradict itself...

The truth of the Bible resides in these places!

Acts 28:26-27We can’t understand since our eyes and ear are closed If we have faith, God will show us Hid truth

How can we claim to acknowledge God with three names, when really mean one?

Understanding the Connections

God Jesus Spirit

The Word Relationship

In the beginning was the word...

John 1:1-2In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

This verse is describing Jesus!

So let’s go to the beginning...

Genesis 1:1-4In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.

How do words work?

I have a thought or an idea

I decide to speak

Some how that rattles sound from vocal cords

Sound travels across space and time and finds you

Sound rattles in your head and bounces around

Then what? What should happen?

Who is Jesus?

God’s word comes in contact with the world

The world reacts to the word and stuff happens

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s word

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy

Jesus is the physical version of God on earth

Jesus is “God with us”, “Emmanuel”

Jesus is God to the World

Jesus claims equality with GodJohn 10:30 - "I and the Father are one."

God wants to come back to our level

John 3:16For 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.

Jesus is God showing His love for us, to us

God desires a relationship with us

Genesis 3:8-9God used to walk with us in the garden

He has always desires that relationship

John 14:15-17If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

God leads us to Himself

God Jesus Spirit

The Word Relationship

Universal* PersonalGlobal

* Beyond universal really, out of space/time

What is the Holy Spirit?

He is our Counselor

He speaks the Word of God to us

He lives in our hearts

He guides us in the will of GodPulling over and helping someone, feeding the poor, paying for someone’s groceries, praying for someone, doing what is right

Closing the Trinity loop

God

JesusSpirit

WordTestify

Relationship

Where are you at in the process?

Interest in God - Romans 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse -

Relationship with Jesus - Romans 10:9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

Testifying with Holy Spirit - Acts 2:4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them