Understanding “One God as Three Persons” The Problem: People are confusing God with humans. It...

There is one God.

God eternally exists and reveals Himself to us as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Trinity

1) There is one true God who eternally exists and always keeps His promises. His name is Yahweh.

2) From the beginning, Yahweh has described Himself as being three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches that:1) The Father is Yahweh God2) The Holy Spirit is Yahweh God3) The Son Jesus is Yahweh God

Trinity

1) The Father is Yahweh God2) The Holy Spirit is Yahweh

God3) The Son Jesus is Yahweh

God

The Holy Spirit is all over the OT 24 times “Spirit of Yahweh”Judges 6:34 “So the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Gideon…”

The Holy Spirit is all over the NTActs 5:3-9

Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?...You have not lied to men but to God.”

The Holy Spirit is Yahweh God

The Holy Spirit is a “He” not an “It”.

He is a person not a force.

John 14:25 Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.”

The Holy Spirit is a Person

John 16:7-14 Jesus said, “If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…13 “when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Notice again, the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son.

1) The Holy Spirit is Yahweh God

2) The Holy Spirit is a Person not a force

3) The Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son

The Holy Spirit is Yahweh God

The Holy Spirit is our most intimate member of the Trinity.John 14:16-1716 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you”

The Holy Spirit helps us from the beginning to end of our spiritual life.

He convicts us of sin (John 16:8)

He opened our spiritual eyes (John 3:5)

He made us spiritually alive (Titus 3:5)

He inspired the Bible (2 Peter 1:21)

He helps us to understand the Bible (1 Cor 2:12)

He sanctifies us (Rom 15:16)

He helps us to pray meaningfully (Rom 8:26)

He reminds us of our eternal inheritance (Eph 1:14)

1) The Father is Yahweh God2) The Holy Spirit is Yahweh

God

3) The Son Jesus is Yahweh God

Jesus the Son is Yahweh in the Old Testament

Genesis 18:1 “Now Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him…10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him… 13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh…16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 Yahweh said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do… 20 And Yahweh said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” 22 Then the two men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD. … 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place. 19: 1 Now the two angels came to Sodom”

“The Angel of the LORD” or

“The Messenger of Yahweh” is mentioned 56x in the OT.

“The Messenger of Yahweh” Passages

Genesis 16:9–139 Then the Messenger of YAHWEH said to Hagar, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” 10 Moreover, the Messenger of the YAHWEH said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11 The Messenger of YAHWEH said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because YAHWEH has given heed to your affliction. 12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” 13 Then she called the name of YAHWEH who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”


The Messenger of Yahweh1)Is called Yahweh Himself2)Is called God

Genesis 22:10–14 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Messenger of YAHWEH called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place YAHWEH Will Provide”


The Messenger of Yahweh1)Is called Yahweh

Himself*2)Is called God3)Is sacrificed to*

Judges 6:12–19 .12 The Messenger of YAHWEH appeared to him and said to him, “YAHWEH is with you, O valiant warrior.” 13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if YAHWEH is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not YAHWEH bring us up from Egypt?’ But now YAHWEH has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 YAHWEH looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 He said to Him, “O lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” 16 But YAHWEH said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.” 17 So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me. 18 “Please do not depart from here, until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.” 19 Then Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread”


The Messenger of Yahweh1)Is called Yahweh

Himself*2)Is called God3)Is sacrificed to*

“The Messenger of Yahweh” is mentioned 56x in the OT.

Once Jesus is born, The Messenger of Yahweh is never

mentioned again.


It is impossible for the relational God described in the Bible to exist unless He is a Trinity.

Attributes like love are said to be found in their most perfect form in the God of the Bible.

But love without an object is sadly inferior.

Why the Trinity is Important to You?

If God is the God of perfect love:Either 1) God needed to create

man so that He would have someone to love; thus, making God incomplete and dependent on man.

Or 2) God had to eternally have the capacity to express love within Himself, making Him a Trinity.John 17:24

24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

The Promised Messiah was to be Yahweh come to Earth.

Micah 5:2 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Jeremiah 23:5-6 5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…6

“In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘Yahweh our righteousness.’”

Psalm 45:6–7 .6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.”


Isaiah 9:6–7 .6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the YAHWEH of hosts will accomplish this.”


Prophesied in Zechariah 12:8–10 8 “In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the messenger of YAHWEH before them. 9 “And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced”

Fulfilled in John 19:33–37 “coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”

Prophesies about Yahweh are Applied to Jesus

The Son Jesus is Yahweh God

A) In the Old Testament

a) The Messenger of Yahweh is mentioned 56x

b) The Promised Messiah was to be Yahweh come to Earth

c) Prophesies about Yahweh are Applied to Jesus

Jesus the Son is Yahweh in the New Testament

Next Week

John 1:1-141 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being through Him…

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…

The Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the eternal Creator God come to earth.

The Word was with God the Father before

creationThe Word was Himself God

The Word created all

thingsThe Word took on flesh and

became the man Jesus

John offers a prelude to his story of the

Messiah’s life.

This Jesus is the eternal

Creator God come to earth.

John 1:22-23 (Matt. 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4)

22 “Then they said to John, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”23 John said,“I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”… 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

John identifies himself as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness” promised in Isaiah 40.

John then begins his narrative with the story of John the Baptist

announcing Jesus as

Yahweh come to earth.

Isaiah 40:1-51 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of Yahweh’s hand Double for all her sins.” 3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God…5

Then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed”

John 1:22-3123 John said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

In prophecy, John’s role was to announce the coming of Yahweh to earth.

In history, John’s role was to announce the coming of Jesus to earth.

Yahweh, God’s Name, is presented with explanation for the first time in Exodus 3

-Exodus out of Egypt-Burning Bush- God identifies Himself as Yahweh or the “I

AM”

Verb “to be”Verb “to be”who“I am the One who always is”

God’s name Yahweh/The “I AM”communicates: the eternal, unchanging, promise-keeping GodChristophany in the Old Testament

“The Messenger of Yahweh”

Exodus 3:1–41 Now Moses was pasturing the flock…2 The Messenger of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’…”

John 8:13–59 “the Pharisees said to Jesus, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going…23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?...53 The Jews said, “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him”

In John 8:53-59

Jesus claims to be Yahweh calling Himself the “I AM”.

(God’s name from Exodus 3)

debate about Jesus’ Authority and Origin

“I am” Normal Usage: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”

Light of the World, True Vine, Good Shepherd

More Normal Usage: “Who is hungry?” Sam said, “I am.”

In John 8 it is Not Normal “Before Abraham was, I AM”

Grammatical Nonsense, Theological Profundity


They wanted to kill Jesus because He was claiming to be God by applying Yahweh’s

name to Himself.(the “I AM” from Exodus 3)


They wanted to kill Jesus because He was claiming to be God by applying Yahweh’s

name to Himself.(the “I AM” from Exodus 3)

Most Clear

Clear Enough

Exodus 3:13-1513 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

John 8:53-59 The Jews said, “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59

Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple”

Similar Contexts: Potential Jewish

unbelief in the face of God’s deliverance


John 8:53-59 The Jews said, “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59


Similar Question: Who are You?


John 8:53-59 The Jews said, “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”… 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59


Similar Explanation of His Eternality

Exodus 3:13-1514 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

John 8:53-59 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” 59


Similar announcement of His divine name “I AM” /

“Yahweh”

Exodus 3:13-1514 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

John 8:53-59 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” 59


Sadly Different

Responses:

The Israelites followed Yahweh

and were delivered.

The 1st century Jews tried to killed Jesus.

Jesus repeatedly proclaimed Himself to be God and was executed for it.

John 8:53-59 “I AM”John 5:17-18

17 Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”

John 19:7-8 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” 8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid”

John 10:30-33 30 “I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32

Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

Jesus’ claims to be God were very

clear to the people of His day.

What is your response?Do you believe that Jesus was Yahweh, the eternal God on earth?

John 8:23-30Jesus said, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”

From where do we get our most clearly developed statements of Jesus’ deity?

The Writings of PaulColossians, Philippians

Jesus’ self-claims are the foundation of Paul’s Christology.

Colossians 1:15Jesus “is the image of the invisible God”

Colossians 2:9 In Christ “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”

John 14:8-9 8 Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father”

The promised Messiah was to be Yahweh come to earth.

The Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the eternal God come to earth.

John the Baptist announces Jesus as Yahweh come to earth.

Jesus claims to be Yahweh calling Himself “I AM”.

Jesus’ self-claims are the foundation of Paul’s Christology.

The Son Jesus is Yahweh

It is impossible to be forgiven of our sins unless Jesus is God.


Jesus had to be God to pay for our sins.

Rebellion is measured according to the power and worthiness of the authority offended.

Spitting in your face- A tourist (jerk)

- Police officer (crime)

- King (treason)

Mildly offensive

Very offensive

Dangerously offensive

, minimal punishment

, moderate punishment

, severe punishment

God is an authority of infinite power & worthiness

Rebellion against Him is infinitely offensive

Punishment is infinitely severe Eternal Punishment Hell

Jesus had to be an infinitely valuable sacrifice to pay the infinitely severe penalty for our infinitely offensive sin.

Only the death of God was good enough!

1) There is one true God who eternally exists and always keeps His promises. His name is Yahweh.

2) From the beginning, Yahweh has described Himself as being three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches that1) The Father is Yahweh God2) The Holy Spirit is Yahweh God3) The Son Jesus is Yahweh God

Trinity

5) The Son Jesus is Yahweh God

A) The promised Messiah was to be Yahweh come to earth. B) The Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the eternal God come to earth.C) John the Baptist announces Jesus as Yahweh come to earth.D) Jesus claims to be Yahweh calling Himself the “I AM”.E) Jesus’ self-claims are the foundation of Paul’s Christology.

“It is impossible for the relational God described in the Bible to exist unless He is a Trinity.”

Attributes like love are said to be found in their most perfect form in the God of the Bible.

But love without an object is sadly inferior.


If God is the God of perfect love:Either 1) God needed to create

man so that He would have someone to love; thus, making God incomplete and dependent on man.

Or 2) God had to eternally have the capacity to express love within Himself, making Him a Trinity.John 17:24

24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Understanding “One God as Three Persons” The Problem: People are confusing God with humans. It...

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