Church Vibes 101: Discipleship Series • The Trinity

Review & Overview

1. Discipleship Series Overview

Welcome to the final session of Church Vibes 101: A Discipleship Series!

I hope you have enjoyed this series in understanding what it means to be a part of the Church and explore what Jesus has established?

As you know, this series is all about understanding the core of our faith and how we can live it out in today's world.

We’ve designed this series to be engaging, relevant, and impactful, specifically for you.

Church Vibes 101 is more than just a series of lessons; it’s a journey into the heart of the Christian faith.

Throughout this series, we have learned about:

**The Authenticity and Reliability of the Bible**: Discover why the Bible is our trusted guide and how it has stood the test of time.

**Qualifications of a Servant**: See what it means to be a true servant of God and how you can step into this vital role.

Are you called?

Spiritual Warfare:

**The Holy Spirit**: Get to know the Holy Spirit more personally and understand His work in our daily lives.

**The Trinity**: Dive into the mystery of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and how each plays a unique role in our faith.

2. Previous Study’s Review

Last time we were together we looked at the topic of the Holy Spirit…

We looked at the Person of the Holy Spirit and The Work the Holy Spirit:

The Person of the Holy Spirit: Involves His Character & His Divinity

He possesses knowledge, has a mind, speaks, can be grieved, insulted. He has character.

Not only does He have character but He is divine: He is God!

3. Current Study’s Overview

That brings us to today’s study and topic of discussion: The Trinity.

Today, we’re going to get into

1. The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity

1.1 Comprehension vs. Apprehension

It is important to understand that the Word Trinity does not exist in the Bible…

The closest word in the Bible would be the word ‘Godhead’ – theiotes – divine nature…

Romans 1:20 NKJV

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Colossians 2:9 NKJV

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

As we reflect on the nature of the Trinity, it’s important to distinguish between comprehending and apprehending.

To comprehend something means to understand it fully, to have every detail clear and logical in our minds.

When it comes to the Trinity, our finite human minds may struggle to comprehend the fullness of this divine mystery.

To apprehend means to perceive or grasp something, but not necessarily in its entirety.

It involves recognizing and accepting a concept even if we don't fully understand all the details.

Example: We might apprehend the vastness of the universe and it’s existence and significance but we don’t fully understanding every detail of the universe. We simply apprehend it.

So we are called to apprehend the Trinity. We can apprehend the Trinity by believing in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God, even if we cannot fully explain how three distinct persons coexist in one divine essence.

So, while we may not be able to comprehend the Trinity, we can certainly apprehend it, embracing the mystery and majesty of our triune God with reverent awe and faith.

1.2 The Different Descriptions of the Trinity

Some have tried to use the example of the ‘egg’ – yolk / white / shell…

But God is not like an egg – He is not 3 separate parts that together form a whole…

Others have tried to use the example of ‘H20’ – ice / liquid / steam…

But God is not like H20 – He does not change form into 3 different parts…

I think the closest example might be a triangle – one shape with 3 equal sides.

But here’s the thing, the Bible makes no effort to explain how this is true - the Bible only points out that it is simply a fact.

Honestly, – there is no good example to describe the Trinity…

Because think about it: To say that we could understand the complexity of God in His fullness – would mean that our God is small…

We are the creation – and we only have the slightest understanding of our creator!

We do have His Word – and that does give us insight and glimpses…

But the Bible is not the complete revelation of the Character and nature of God… The Bible is the revelation of how to have a relationship with God…

All the other questions we have ABOUT God will be answered one day when we meet him! So until then…

Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

2. Old Testament Examples of the Trinity

2.1 The Word Eloheem

Genesis 1:1–2 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

There are several words used in the Old Testament for God – El / Adonai / YHVH…

The word used here is Eloheem – (translated ‘God’) – meaning Gods…

The Rabbis say that it is plural to add emphasis to the name of God… We know better .

it is plural because God is triune – three in one! Immediately after the word God you find two letters: Aleph and Tau…

They are the first and last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet (A & Z)…

They are not a word so they are not translated in our Bible… Aleph and Tau or Alpha and Omega or the First and the Last .

Revelation 22:13 NKJV

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

He is the first and last Because Jesus was the one who created all things in the Beginning!

Genesis 1:1–3 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

All three persons are there at creation – Father (God) – Son (Word) – Spirit (vs.2)

2.2 God Speaks of Himself in the Plural

Genesis 1:26 – “And God said, Let Us make man in our image, after Our likeness…”

The ‘Our’ that God is referring – is not angels – man is not made in their image…

Here God refers to Himself in the plural (aton)…

Again we see in first chapter of the Bible we see a hint at the trinity! God created man (bara) in His image…

There are two words translated as ‘create’ in the Hebrew language…

Asah – to assemble from pre-existing elements (a car is created from many parts)…

Bara – to create something from nothing (a word that is only associated with God)

We are created in the image of God – what does that exactly mean… God here created (bara) the Spirit of man…

Only the 3rd time we see God creating something from nothing (beginning / animals)…

Man is unique from all the rest of God’s creation - we are Body / Soul / and Spirit…

Being created in the image of God refers to tri-unity of our nature…

We live in a body / have conscious thought / but have an eternal spirit…

Man is eternal – man does not cease to exist when he dies… Where we spend eternity is the real question… We can choose to spend eternity with God or separated from Him!

2.3 The Word Echad

Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!

Every Sabbath day - in every synagogue - in every nation of the world… This verse is read by every Jew - the statement there is ONLY ONE God…

Hear O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) our God (Eloheem) is one Lord (Yahweh)…

Yahweh is the name of God / Eloheem is more literally translated ‘gods’…

The word ‘one’ - is the Hebrew word 'echad’ - properly interpreted united as one!

This passage should read: Hear O Israel - YAHWEH our Gods is untied into one YAHWEH!

2.4 Trinitarian Bible Verses

This is where al three persons of the God head are mentioned: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Isaiah 48:16–17 (NKJV)

16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.” 17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV)

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God (JEHOVA) is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

3. New Testament Examples of the Trinity

3.1 Jesus is the Great “I Am”

In John 8 – Jesus found himself in a heated conversation with the Religious Leaders…

On 3 different occasions he referred to Himself as the ‘I Am’… In our Bibles there is the added word ‘He’ – but it is italics – not in the original language!

John 8:24 NKJV

24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 8:28 NKJV

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8:58 NKJV

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Jesus was claiming he had seen Abraham…

Maybe when Melchizedek (Jesus) came out and blessed Abraham - Genesis 14:18-19 Hebrews 7:1-3 - “Melchizedek... [is] like the Son of God...” Or When the Lord appeared to Abraham about Isaac - Genesis 19:1 Both times Abraham rejoiced when He heard the Word of God...

In fact the name of the son God promised to give was ‘Isaac’ - meaning laughter! The Jewish leaders argued – You are not even 50 years old - and you say Abraham...

They were pointing out the physical impossibility of Jesus’ claim because of His age...

Abraham had lived some 2000 years before the time of Jesus... Jesus answered them - before Abraham was - ‘I Am’! The ‘I AM’

is one of the titles given by God to Moses (burning bush) - Exodus 3 There can be no mistake to what Jesus is saying - He saw Abraham - because He is God! We can further be sure because in response the leaders took up stones to kill Him!

3.2 Who Raised Jesus from the Grace?

The Father? Son? Spirit?

Acts 2:24 NKJV

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

John 10:17–18 NKJV

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

1 Peter 3:18 NKJV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

3.3 Who Lives In Us?

The Father, Son, or the Spirit?

John 14:23 NKJV

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Our bodies are the building God lives inside of - He makes His home in our heart...

What is on the walls of our heart - what does God see when He comes in...

Do we have His Word written on our hearts - Psalms 119:11

Or are there images - thoughts - that we would be ashamed to admit were ours... We need to tear out those things in our heart that would make us ashamed...

APPLICATION: By faith making our heart a home where Jesus is comfortable and welcome! Not that we need to clean up before Jesus comes into our heart...

It is by inviting Jesus into our heart - that we become clean! By faith we invite Him into our heart so that He can clean out all the garbage!

ENDING….