'I am not' but I know "I AM"

Who is God? The Trinity

2011-02-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Who is God?

The Trinity

Matthew 3:16-17 – when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ”This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Introduction:

Answer the question – who is God? What is He like?

The Trinity

Trinity – the ever-present community and the benchmark for all communities. Within the Trinity there exists diversity and yet there is perfect unity.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

The word Trinity does not appear in the scriptures, but the concept of a God who is one yet three does. The word trinity was first used by the church father Tertullian (AD 155-200).

A definition: the trinity is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son and Spirit – who are each fully and equally God in eternal relation with each other.

Each member of the Trinity is a “person” – in essence each member thinks, acts, feels & speaks. They share divine attributes – eternality, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence.

The Bible clearly states, there is One True God: (some examples)

· Deuteronomy 4:35; 4:39; 6:4-5; 32:39

· Psalm 86:8-10;

· Isaiah 37:20; 43:10; 44:6-8

· Jeremiah 10:10

· John 5:44; 17:3

· Romans 3:30; 16:27

· Ephesians 4:6

· James 2:19

The Bible clearly states, there is no one like God: (some examples)

· Exodus 8:10; 15:!1

· 2 Samuel 7:22

· 1 Kings 8:23

· Psalm 86:8

· Micah 7:18

The Bible clearly states, any claim to be like God is a satanic lie (some examples)

· Genesis 3:15

· Isaiah 14:14

· John 8:44

The Bible clearly states, Father, Son and Spirit are declared God (some examples)

· God the Father

o John 6:27; 17:3

o 1 Corinthians 8:6

o Ephesians 1:3

o 1 Peter 1:3

· God the Son

o Matthew 28:9

o John 1:1-4; 5:17-18; 10:30-38

o Romans 1:3-4

o 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

o Galatians 4:4

o Colossians 2:8-9

o 1 Timothy 6:15

o Titus 2:13

o 1 John 5:20

o Revelation 17:14; 19:16; 22:13-16

· God the Spirit (possessing the same attributes as Father and Son)

o Psalm 104:30; 139:7

o Micah 3:8

o Romans 15:13

o Hebrews 9:14

Does the Trinity appear in the OT?

· Genesis 1:1-2

o God the Father and the Spirit

o Jewish “targum” – accepted teaching and translation – states in Genesis 1:1:

§ “in the beginning, by the firstborn, God created…”

o There is also them evidence of the Son

· Genesis 1:26

o Plural nature of the words – in light of the Trinitarian form of God

· Isaiah 61:1 cf. Luke 4:18-21

o “Spirit”, on “me” (Jesus) the LORD (Father)

· Isaiah 63:9-10

o “their affliction HE (Father)”

o “angel of his presence (the Son)”

o “grieved his Holy Spirit”

Does the Trinity appear in the NT?

· Luke 1:35 cf. Matthew 1:20-23

o Mary’s Conception

§ Holy Spirit will come upon you

§ Power from the Most High (Father)

§ Born – son of God (Jesus)

· Matthew 3:16-17

o Jesus’ Baptism

o Holy Spirit descending

o God the Father speaking

· Matthew 28:19

o Great commission

Major Errors/Heresies

· Modalism

o Teaches God becomes Father, Son and Spirit in succession; he is not simultaneously Father, Son and Spirit

o Jesus’ Baptism and Jesus’ Prayer in the garden of Gethsemane reveal clearly that the three persons converse with each other simultaneously

o United Pentecostal Church follows this teaching

· Arianism

o Jesus is not God, but the highest created being of God

o Jehovah’s Witnesses follows this teaching

§ Jesus is the Archangel Michael

· Tritheism

o Stresses the plurality of the Godhead – 3 separate gods

o Mormons follow this teaching

Practical Implications of the Trinity

1. Trinitarian life is humble

a. The doctrine of the Trinity is so complex that it humbles us

b. We need humility to understand God

c. Jesus is never jealous of God, Holy Spirit is never jealous of Jesus – they live to honour one another, serve, exalt on another

2. Trinitarian life is loving

a. We need to understand the truth of who love is, where it comes from and how you can love

b. God is love

3. Trinitarian life is communal

a. Loneliness and isolation is not what God intends

b. God is in community – we need one another as well

4. Trinitarian life is authentic

a. Within the Trinity there is no hidden secret – they live open and transparent lives

5. Trinitarian life is submissive

a. Jesus went where the Father sent Him

b. Obedience to the Father

6. Trinitarian life is joyful

Rules??

2009-02-18T19:48:00.002-05:00

I've been stuck on the misconceptions of Christianity...particularly the concept that many people believe (Christians included) that Christianity is about rules and regulations that make you a good or a better person. We read the Bible as a book that has rules for how to live your life, people think that Christianity is about living up to rules so that we can act "righteous".

Christianity is not about teaching people to "act" different...its to challenge people to "be" different. We can all "act" nice, good, loving, helpful etc. - especially when we feel people deserve it or even moreso when we can get something back in return - but Christianity is about "being" good, loving, helpful - especially when we know people don't deserve it...

Forgiveness

2009-01-07T09:37:00.002-05:00

Forgiveness - is a very powerful thing...if you don't know it - good luck!

New Year

2008-12-31T09:15:00.001-05:00

It's time for a new year...
fresh starts,
new beginnings,
new challenges,
new memories

sometimes I wish life was like a computer - reboot.

D-I-Y

2008-12-08T06:56:00.003-05:00

We went to church yesterday - main thought afterwards -
DIY = do-it-yourself...
no the church we attended was great...but it's all the way in on the northeast side of Toronto...
if God allowed me - I would start a church for Him. All in due time He says, all in due time.

Specialists

2008-12-03T09:17:00.002-05:00

I'm just not sure why people have such strange mentalities when it comes to church. The other day I went for an interview with a church and they are looking for a Youth Pastor. Why is it in many Chinese Christian circles people see "Youth Pastors" as a lower form of a Pastor? Seriously think about it for a minute.

When your child is under 18 - many people take them to see a Pediatrician. When my daughter broke her tooth we took her to see a Pediatric dentist. There are Pediatric Psychologist and Pediatric Counsellors. Don't you see that the world view children & youth as a Specialty?

Youth Pastors - are specialists...they specialize in a specific field. Give them the respect they deserve. Associate Pastors and Senior Pastors - are like your general family doctor. Your Youth Pastors and Children's Pastors are specialists.

To all the Youth Pastors and Children's Pastors - ROCK ON!!!! you Specialists.

Gobsmacked!!

2008-11-24T13:12:00.001-05:00

my new favourite word:
Gobsmacked!!

my former favourite word:
Dude!!

We Just Don't Do Things Well

2008-11-24T13:05:00.002-05:00

I remember the other day sitting with a colleague at Ikea. I was sipping on my coffee and we were discussing church. For some strange reason these words came out of my mouth: "you know we just don't do things well at church..."

In saying those words I grieved and asked why? Why don't we do things well at church? This has been the constant theme in our lives for the last few years...trying to understand the answer to this disheartening question.

Why? Is it possible to do things well? or is the church simply meant to fail? I don't believe in the 2nd - and when people hear I believe in the 1st - they call me an idealist.

Rock + Hard Place = Church!

Fools!!!

2008-11-17T13:41:00.004-05:00

Fools!!!!
Growing up as a child I heard this word a lot...mostly from other kids...well because with a last name like Foo it's pretty easy to simply add the "L". Not to mention that my birthday is the day after April Fool's day...so that didn't help much.

I have been dwelling on this word a lot over the last week. When I think of the word "fool" I realize it can be a hurtful word (as in my childhood)...but it is a word that God and Jesus would use time and time again. Perhaps in our human way of using words we can twist it and use it to hurt a persons' feelings or put someone down...but when I think about the times God uses this word or when Jesus says these words I don't hear a put down but rather I hear an "accurate assessment as to who this person is... - a fool!"

So what is a fool? When I looked at the Biblical examples of fools, I see the same theme that runs through - a fool - someone who doesn't keep the main thing the main thing.

Then I thought about myself and how many times I don't keep the main thing the main thing. Then I thought of the church...and how we REALLY don't keep the main thing the main thing.

Maybe we need to HEAR God's assessment of us and our churches and wake up:

"Fools!!!"

New Beginnings - Same Old Story

2008-11-10T22:05:00.002-05:00

It feels like ages...but "New Beginnings" are great. It has been a long journey and yet I continue to come to the "Same Old Story" (SOS).

The SOS - is HIS-story. What does HE want? What is HE doing? What is HE asking of me?
Because at the end of the day - it's all about HIM...

Here's to "New Beginnings" - with the SOS