The Mystery and the Importance

Big Idea: "Try to explain the Trinity and you'll lose your mind. Try to deny it and you'll lose your soul."

Scripture to Read:

• Matthew 28:19 - Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

• 2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of Christ, love of God, fellowship of the Spirit

• John 1:1, 14 - The Word was God and became flesh

Reflect:

• Does thinking about the Trinity make your brain hurt? That's normal.

• Have you ever tried to explain God to someone and realized how complicated it is?

• Why would denying the Trinity cause you to "lose your soul"?

The Truth: We will never fully understand this deep mystery. But if we deny Trinitarian belief, Christianity loses its power. While the Bible doesn't use the word "Trinity," it clearly reveals that God is three persons in one essence.

Five Essential Foundations

1. God is ONE (Monotheism is Essential)

Scripture to Read:

• Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one"

• Exodus 20:3-5 - "You shall have no other gods before me"

• 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 - "There is no God but one"

What It Means: Christianity is monotheistic—we believe in ONE God, not many. We are not polytheistic like the Greeks or Romans. God is one, not several.

Reflect:

• How is Christianity different from religions with multiple gods?

• Why is God's oneness so important to Jewish and Christian faith?

2. God Has THREE PERSONS (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Scripture to Read:

• Genesis 1:1-3 - God, Spirit, and Word all present at creation

• Matthew 3:16-17 - Jesus' baptism: Father speaks, Spirit descends, Son comes up from water

• John 14:16-17, 26 - Jesus speaks of the Father sending the Spirit

What It Means: Within the one God, there are three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are not three gods—they are one God in three persons.

Reflect:

• At Jesus' baptism, all three persons appear at once. How does this prove they're distinct?

• Can you think of other places in Scripture where all three appear together?

3. Each Person is FULLY GOD

Scripture to Read:

• Philippians 2:6 - Jesus "was in the form of God" (morphe—the exact nature)

• Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is "the exact imprint of [God's] nature"

• Acts 5:3-4 - Lying to the Holy Spirit = lying to God

What It Means: The Father is fully God. The Son is fully God. The Holy Spirit is fully God. None of them is "less" God than the others.

Reflect:

• How does Jesus' claim to forgive sins prove He believed He was God?

• Why is it significant that the Holy Spirit is called "God" in Acts 5?

4. The Three are ONE in the Same Respect

What It Means: God is one God and three persons at the same time, in the same way, for all eternity. This isn't a contradiction—it's a mystery.

A Contradiction vs. A Mystery:

• Contradiction: Something is A and NOT A at the same time (God is one God and not one God)

• Mystery: Something is beyond our full understanding but not contradictory (God is one essence in three persons)

Reflect:

• Why is the Trinity a mystery but not a contradiction?

• What other things about God are mysterious but true?

5. The Trinity is ETERNAL

Scripture to Read:

• John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"

• Genesis 1:1-3 - God, Spirit hovering, and God's Word creating

What It Means: The Trinity didn't start at creation or at Jesus' birth. Father, Son, and Spirit have existed in loving relationship for all eternity.

Reflect:

• How does Genesis 1:1-3 hint at the Trinity?

• What does it mean that God has always been in relationship (Father, Son, Spirit) even before humans existed?

The Deity of the SON (Jesus is God)

Big Idea: Jesus is not a created being or a lesser god. He is fully God.

Evidence from Scripture:

1. Philippians 2:6-11 - Jesus "was in the form of God"

• The Greek word morphe means "the exact nature and characteristics of a thing"

• Paul, an Orthodox Jew trained in strict monotheism, is saying Jesus IS God

• This is an astonishing statement from someone who believed in one God

2. Hebrews 1:1-3 - Jesus is "the exact imprint of God's nature"

• The author quotes Psalms reserved only for God and applies them to Jesus

• The original Jewish audience would have understood: Jesus = God

3. Jesus' Self-Consciousness Jesus never explicitly said "I am God," but He claimed things only God can claim:

• He called angels "his angels" (Luke 12, 15; Matthew 13)

• He called the Kingdom of God "his kingdom" (Matthew 12, 19, 21)

• He claimed to forgive sins (Mark 2)—only God can do that

• He claimed He will judge the world (Matthew 25)

Reflect:

• Why would it be blasphemous for Jesus to say these things if He wasn't God?

• What does Jesus mean when He says "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30)?

Action: Read John 14:9 - "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." How does this statement prove Jesus' deity?

The Deity of the HOLY SPIRIT (The Spirit is God)

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is not a force or energy—He is a person and He is fully God.

Evidence from Scripture:

1. God and the Holy Spirit are Interchangeable

• Acts 5:3-4 - Peter says Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, then says he lied to God

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 - "You are God's temple and God's Spirit dwells in you"

• 1 Corinthians 6:19 - "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit"

2. The Holy Spirit Does What Only God Can Do

• Convicts of sin (John 16:8-11) - only God can convict hearts

• Gives new birth (John 3:5-8) - only God can regenerate

• Distributes spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12) - exercises sovereignty

• Receives worship and glory alongside Father and Son (Matthew 28:19)

3. Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit is a Serious Offense

• Just like blaspheming God, blaspheming the Spirit is unforgivable (Matthew 12:31-32)

Reflect:

• Why would blasphemy against the Spirit be unforgivable if He's not God?

• How does the Spirit's role in salvation prove His deity?

Action: Read Romans 8:9-11. Notice how Paul switches between "Spirit of God," "Spirit of Christ," and "His Spirit." They're all the same—the Holy Spirit is God.

The Trinitarian Formula in Scripture

Big Idea: While the word "Trinity" isn't in the Bible, the concept shows up everywhere.

Key Passages:

1. The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17)

• Father: Voice from heaven

• Son: Jesus coming up from the water

• Spirit: Descending like a dove

All three persons present at the same time. This disproves "Modalism" (the idea that God just operates in three different modes).

2. The Great Commission (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."

Notice: "Name" is singular, but three persons. One name (God), three persons (Father, Son, Spirit).

3. Paul's Benediction (2 Corinthians 13:14) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

All three persons on equal footing.

4. Peter's Greeting (1 Peter 1:2) "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood."

All three persons involved in salvation.

The Trinity in Paul's Writings:

Paul often structured his teaching around the Trinity:

Romans:

• Chapters 1-3: Judgment of God upon all

• Chapters 3-8: Justification through faith in Christ

• Chapter 8: Life in the Spirit

Galatians:

• Chapter 3: Justification through faith in Christ

• Chapter 4: Adoption through Christ, sending of Spirit

• Chapter 5: Life in the Spirit, with God overarching all

Reflect:

• How many times have you seen the Trinity in Scripture without realizing it?

• Why do you think Paul structured his teachings this way?

Action: Read Romans 8:1-17 and circle every reference to God, Jesus, or the Spirit. Notice how all three are involved in your salvation.

The Trinity in Salvation

Big Idea: All three persons of the Trinity are active in your salvation—not separately, but as one unified action.

Scripture to Read:

• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - "It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee"

How Each Person is Involved:

• Father: Originates and initiates salvation

• Son: Accomplishes salvation on the cross

• Spirit: Applies salvation to your heart (conviction, regeneration, sealing)

All three working together in perfect unity.

Reflect:

• How does understanding the Trinity deepen your appreciation for salvation?

• Which person of the Trinity do you tend to focus on most? Least?

Action: Thank the Father for choosing you, the Son for dying for you, and the Spirit for drawing you to God.

The Trinity in Creation

Scripture to Read:

• Genesis 1:1-3

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."

How Each Person is Involved:

• Verse 1 - God (Father): The originator and designer of creation

• Verse 2 - Spirit: Hovering, protecting, perfecting creation

• Verse 3 - Word (Jesus): God spoke (John 1:1-3 tells us Jesus is the Word)

All three persons present at creation.

Reflect:

• How does the Trinity appear in the very first three verses of the Bible?

• Why is it significant that all three were involved in creation?

Why the Trinity Matters

Big Idea: Getting God's nature wrong means getting all of God wrong.

1. It Affects Your WORSHIP

Quote from James White: "True Christian worship is founded upon Christian truth. We have to have knowledge of our God to worship Him correctly. If we have wrong information, our worship is either lessened or completely invalid."

Reflect:

• Do you worship all three persons of the Trinity equally?

• Do you focus too much on one person at the expense of the others?

The Danger:

• Some focus so much on the Spirit that the Father and Son are lost in emotions

• Some focus so much on the Father that they lose sight of the love of the Son and joy of the Spirit

• Some focus so much on Jesus that they forget the Father's sovereignty and the Spirit's power

The Balance: The Trinity calls us back to the center. We can never elevate one person at the expense of the others.

2. It Reveals GOD'S NATURE

Big Idea: God is love because the Trinity has existed in perfect, loving relationship for all eternity.

How Do We Know God is Love? Because Father, Son, and Spirit have been in a communal, loving relationship forever:

• The Father sends the Son (John 3:16)

• The Son pours out the Spirit (John 14:16-17)

• The Spirit draws us back to God (John 16:7-11)

It's a beautiful dance of love that repeats over and over.

Reflect:

• How does the Trinity show us that God is relational, not isolated?

• What does it mean that love has existed within God forever (even before creation)?

3. It Shows Us How to RELATE

The Parenting Analogy: Just like you need to understand the unique nature of each of your kids to relate to them properly, you need to understand God's triune nature to relate to Him properly.

Example:

• One daughter melts under correction—needs gentleness

• Another daughter is tough—needs firmness

Same with God:

• The Father is sovereign, holy, judge

• The Son is Savior, friend, mediator

• The Spirit is helper, comforter, guide

All three are fully God, but you relate to each uniquely.

Reflect:

• How do you relate to the Father? The Son? The Spirit?

• Are you neglecting any person of the Trinity in your relationship with God?

The Early Church and the Trinity

Big Idea: The doctrine of the Trinity was formalized at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, but the truth was always in Scripture.

Why Did It Take So Long? The apostles were focused on building the church and preaching the gospel, not debating theology. But as heresies arose, the church needed to clarify what the Bible actually taught.

Key Heresies Defeated:

• Arianism - Jesus was a created, lesser being (WRONG: Jesus is fully God)

• Modalism - God operates in three modes at different times (WRONG: All three exist simultaneously)

• Dynamic Monarchianism - Jesus only became divine at His baptism (WRONG: Jesus has always been God)

The Orthodox View: One God (ousia) in three persons (hypostasis). The Godhead exists undivided in three distinct persons.

Key Figure: Athanasius One of the greatest theological minds in history. He defended the Trinity and defeated Arianism. He helped us understand the incarnation and the full deity of Christ.

Reflect:

• Why is it dangerous to believe Jesus is a created being instead of eternal God?

• How does the baptism of Jesus disprove Modalism?

Final Encouragement

Quote from James White: "Christian worship will be vital, consistent, and powerful when the proper attitude towards the triune God is maintained. When that truth is lost, Christian worship ends."

Why the Trinity Matters:

• It affects your worship - how you glorify God

• It affects your salvation - understanding how you're saved

• It affects your relationship - how you relate to God

• It affects your theology - getting God right in every area

The Bottom Line: You can't fully understand the Trinity—it's a mystery. But you can believe it, worship it, and live in light of it.

Action:

This Week:

• Pray to all three persons of the Trinity

• Thank the Father for His love and sovereignty

• Thank the Son for His sacrifice and salvation

• Thank the Spirit for His indwelling presence and power

This Month:

• Read John 14-17 slowly, noticing how Jesus speaks of the Father and Spirit

• Memorize one Trinitarian verse (Matthew 28:19 or 2 Corinthians 13:14)

• Examine your worship—are you elevating one person at the expense of the others?

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
— John 1:1

"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