One God in three persons, The Father, The Son the Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit
All three is in perfect harmony. Three persons with a personality that is the same for all.
Only one has a body: the Man Christ Jesus. All three have the same nature.
The Father is God, but distinct from Jesus who is God, distinct from the Holy Spirit who is God.
John 1:1 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.'
Each person of the God-head has a personality of His own.
Old Testament: 'Let us make man.' Genesis 1:26 Plurality in God. Elohim creates by the Word and the Spirit.
'Hear O Israel the Lord your God, The Lord is One.'
The same word one is used : 'For this reason a man will leave his father & mother and cleave to his wife & the two shall become one.'
One composite, not one absolute or mathematical one. Genesis 2:24
Athanasius refuted Arianism that taught God created the Word.
He taught that the Word is co-equal, co-eternal, of the same nature as the Father Jesus.
'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.'
Jesus was a person. The Word took on flesh and lived amongst us and we beheld His glory.
The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So Jesus was a man.
1 Timothy 2:5 'There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.'
Jesus astonished with His teaching Matthew 7:28-29 'The crowd was amazed at His teaching,
because He taught as one having authority and not as the teachers of the law.'
Jesus had style. Matthew 22:16 'Teacher we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.'
Jesus had feelings. Matthew14:14 'He had compassion on them & healed their sick.'
Jesus had a will of His own. Matthew 8:7 'Shall I come and heal him?'
Philippians 2:5 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.'
Jesus was wholly God. John 1:1 He existed from the beginning. John 8:58 'Before Abraham was I am.'
He was Creator John 1:3 'Through whom He created all things'
Jesus is God. Colossians 1:15 'The Son is the image of the invisible God'
Jesus was worshipped John 9:38 'The man said, “Lord I believe and he worshipped Him.'
Matthew 2:2 'Where is He born king of the Jews? We have come to worship Him'
Jesus forgave sins. Matthew 9:2 'Jesus said to the man, take heart your sins are forgiven.'
Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
He said that he that has seen Jesus has seen the Father. He said I and the Father are One. Before Abraham was I am.
The Holy Spirit has personality. Jesus said He is another paraclete, one who comes alongside.
The Holy Spirit does the same work as Jesus, but is not restricted by a body and lives in every believer in Jesus.
The pronoun He is always used of Him. John 16:8, John 16:13-14. Rom 8:26
Acts 5:32 The Holy Spirit is a witness whom God has given to those who believe.
He has feelings Ephesians 4:30 'Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.'
He is eternal Hebrews 9:14 'Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself to God.'
He is called God 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 The same Spirit, the same Lord the same God at work.
Acts 5:3 You have lied to the Holy Spirit...you have lied to God.
The Holy Spirit gives life. John 6:63
He convicts of sin John 16:8
He intercedes for us Romans 8:26
Old Testament teaches:
Elohim is plural. Let us make man in our image and our likeness.
The Spirit Exodus 31:3 'I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge'
Numbers 11:25 'When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied'
Judges 3:10 'The Spirit of the Lord came on him'
In redemption and revelation Isaiah 11:2-3 'The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and of might, of knowledge and fear of the Lord and He will delight in the fear of the Lord'
Isaiah 42:1-3 'Here is My servant whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out or raise His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out'
Isaiah 61:1-2 'The Spirit of the Lord God is on me because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to heal the broken hearted and proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn.'
He explains why the response of faith and obedience
Isaiah 32:15 'Till the Spirit is poured on us from on high'
Ezekiel 36:26 'I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you'
Joel 2:28-29 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Even on my servants both men & women I will pour out my Spirit in those days.'
2 Peter 1:21 'Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.'
Psalms 51:11 'Do not cast me away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me'
TRINITY in the New Testament
John the Baptist. Repent to God Matthew 3:2 Faith in Messiah Matthew 3:11 Baptism/Holy Spirit
'After me comes One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'
Baptism of Jesus: Jesus present. Father’s voice, Spirit like a dove
Matthew 3:16-17 Jesus was baptised, the Spirit descended like a dove, a voice from heaven was heard.
'This is my Son whom I love, with Him I am well pleased'
Jesus’ birth: Spirit active in incarnation Luke 1:35. Jesus called Son of God. Lord God gave Him throne of David.
Luke 1:35 'The Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'
Baptism formula Matthew 28:19 Singular Name: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Relationship of Trinity
The Word was with God.
Matthew 11:27 'No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.'
John 6:44 The Father sent the Son, loves the Son John 5:20, entrusts judgement to the Son John 5:22
Peter preaching: Acts 2:32 Jesus exalted to God’s right hand. Received the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Apostolic Blessing: 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'
Trinity Relationship
Jesus honors the Father John 5:19-20 'The Son can do nothing by Himself, He can only do what He sees His Father doing.
Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does.'
John 15:26 'When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.'
Unity & Diversity
John 5:19-20 'The Son can do nothing by himself He can only do what He sees His Father doing.
Whatever the Father does the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does.'
Visible: Jesus, The Word became flesh and lived amongst us.
Jesus told Thomas to check His wounds.
Jesus made known the invisible: John 14:20 'In that day you will know that I am in My Father and you are in Me and I in you.'
John 14:9 'He that has seen Me has seen the Father.'
John 19:30 'It is finished'
The invisible Father’s will, face, and plan, revealed.
John 16:13 'The Holy Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth'
Purpose of the Son, Acts 2: 'God has raised this Jesus to life & we are all witnesses of it.
Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.'
His teaching John 14:26 'The Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I said to you.'
Assurance of salvation, Romans 5:5 'God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.'
Intimacy with the Father Romans 8:15 'The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship and by Him we call out Abba Father.'
Both the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us.
Romans 8:26 'The Spirit helps us in our weakness and makes intercession for us with groans'
Hebrews 7:25 'He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.'
Any person of the Trinity can be prayed to. Jesus told His disciples to pray to the Father.
Elsewhere Jesus was addressed in prayer
Acts 7:59-60 'Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Lord do not hold this sin against them.'
John 16:15 'All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.'
The Father thought out salvation – He made known the mystery of His will Ephesians 1:9
The Son bought our salvation 1 Corinthians 6:20 'You were bought at a price, honour God with your body'
The Spirit wrought our salvation John 6:63 'The Spirit gives life. The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit and life'
God was appalled that there was no-one, so His own arm worked salvation for Him.
The servant of the Lord is known as the arm of the Lord in Isaiah 53
Isaiah 12:2 'God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, The Lord Himself, is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation.'
Isaiah 51:5 'My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations.'
