Why does the Trinity Matter?

There is One God in three Persons, called the Trinity.

• There is One God.
• The Father is God; the Son is God; the Spirit is God.
• Yet: The Father is not the Son or the Spirit; The Son is not the Father or the Spirit; the Spirit is not the Father or the Son.

 

We declare this in the words of the Nicene Creed every Sunday

We believe in one God,

     the Father, the Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth,

     of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     eternally begotten of the Father,

     God from God, Light from Light,

     true God from true God,

     begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father…

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

     who has spoken through the prophets.

 

We DO know that God has revealed that he is One God, and

• The Father is God
• The Son is God
• And the Spirit is God

It’s a mystery. 

The Trinity in the Old Testament:

Genesis 1:2 (NLT) The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

• God refers to himself by the plural pronouns “we” and “us”

Genesis 1:26–27 (NIV84) 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over … all the earth, and over all the creatures …” 

     27    So God created man in his own image,

              in the image of God he created him;

              male and female he created them. 

Genesis 3:22 (NIV84) And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil…”

Genesis 11:7 (NIV84) Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV84) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

• What about Jesus, the Son?

Daniel 7:9–14 (NLT) 9 I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge…. 13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

Psalm 2:12 (NLT) Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

 

• Jesus used Psalm 110:1 to prove the Messiah is more than David’s descendant—He is the pre-existent Lord and much greater than David

 

Matthew 22:41-46 (NIV)While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42  “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

43  He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

           44  “‘The Lord (Yahweh) said to my Lord (Adonai): “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘

45  If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”

46  No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

• Throughout the OT, the words used for God, “Elohim” and “Adonai,” are plural terms

A couple more OT references: 

• Isaiah 9:6 – a virgin birth of a child who is called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father”
• Judges 6:11–24, when Gideon is talking to “the angel of Yahweh”, but it’s “Yahweh” speaking to Gideon
  • It’s clear that the Angel of the Lord was no mere angel.

The Trinity in the New Testament:

• Jesus claims to be God

John 10:30-33 (NLT2) 30  “The Father and I are one.” 31  Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.

32  Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

 33  They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

 

Philippians 2:5-6 (NLT2) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 

• The Spirit is also God. It is he that gives new life and re-creates us

Titus 3:4-6 (NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.

 Acts 5:3-4 (NLT2) 3  Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. …You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

 

• And yet we are taught that there is only one God

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NIV84) 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

John 17:3 (NIV) “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

 

“So what?”

 

• 1st: Our view of God directly influences every choice we make and everything we do

Everything about our lives — our attitudes, motives, desires, actions, and even our words — is influenced by our view of God.”

– Bill Bright, founder of Cru

 

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,”

– A.W. Tozer, in The Knowledge of the Holy.

Where it is inadequate or out of plumb, the whole structure must sooner or later collapse.”

 

2nd: The Trinity Is the Basis of Our Relationship to God and His Church

• Our relationship with God does not depend on us satisfying God.

1 John 4:8b (NIV84) God is love.

 

3rd: The Trinity Explains Our Mission

John 20:21 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Matthew 28:16–20 (NIV84)

19 “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Knowing God as the Trinity He truly is –

• • Directly influences every choice we make and everything we do 
  • Is the Basis of Our Grace-filled Relationship to God 
  • Explains Our Mission