 Changing the joking atmosphere quite a bit from last week, we encounter a more serious topic today. In the last couple of weeks SCM has come into contact with some recently converted brothers and sisters in Christ that had many questions concerning their newfound faith in Christianity. Among the most popular of these questions was how to identify and define the “trinity” as referred to in Christian tradition and history? The “trinity” can be best defined as one God in three parts or applications. While many in America understand the concept and underestimate its difficulty in application for the rest of the world, most still cannot simply define the role of each distinct part of God. Many Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Jews, and others consider Christians to polytheistic (worshiping more than one God), but Christians are surely monotheistic (worshipping one God). How can someone who worships a God that claims three versions be monotheistic religion you ask? We will identify the parts of the trinity and explain in detail how each one impacts Christians and non-Christians daily in their life. We have heard the trinity explained in many ways and various forms. One of the most detailed is that which explains the different dimensions of God. Take a tetrahedron for an example. This shape is all one part, but has many faces. They are three distinct and separate faces, yet they all meet at the tip. This allows it to form the shape and keep its structure. Each face shares the same surface area and purpose which is to support each other. The trinity works very similar to this example. While each form of God is separate and unique in its own way, the three parts come together to form a whole. Each form has its own set of unique characteristics and responsibilities depending on how the Father God wills to work through them. Sometimes He chooses to forgo the three various forms all together and work through beings such as Angels, but this is very rare and appears to be only on very special circumstances. My favorite example of the trinity form is water. Water can come in three very distinct forms, but yet maintains its chemical makeup at all times. The only thing that changes is the form that it is required to work through at that time by the given temperature. Water is a liquid which operates at very versatile temperatures above freezing and below boiling points. Gas is just water, which has been heated to a point of evaporation. It still has the same chemical makeup, but changes form due to temperature. Ice is a solid caused by the temperature of the water to get below freezing. Like water and steam, ice is useful for its own purposes unique to its form. The same way water is still chemically defined as water no matter what form it comes in would be the same reason that belief in the trinity allows a believer to be monotheistic. I consider the water to be the form that would represent the Father. He is the first (Alpha and Omega) and original form. The form which makes the decisions and runs the destiny of life. The steam represents the Holy Spirit. While not very visible to the eye, he works through the hearts and minds of men to convict them. He does the will of the Father by moving invisibly throughout this world. He inspires and creates zeal in the hearts of men. He corrects and rebukes through the assistance of the almighty Word of God. Jesus is the ice. He is the physical man who was once seen walking the earth, but now melted back down to a liquid form in the presence of the Father just waiting for His return to come back as the ice he was before. This time however, he won’t be here to cool the earth like ice does so many times, but to burn out the evil within it. He came into this world in the physical form the first time to lay himself down to be sacrificed for all mankind, but he will reign victoriously in his second coming in physical form during the second coming. So now that we have discovered how to define the trinity, who are these three forms and what can we know about God through them. Who is God the Father? God the Father (also referred to as: Abba or Father, El Shaddai or God Almighty, El Elyon or The Most High God, El Olam or The Everlasting God, Yaweh, Adonai, and many other variations) is the God Head of the three distinct parts of God. In other words, He is the brains of the operation or the command center of the base. He determines the destiny of this world and the elements within it. We see scriptures like Isaiah 44:6 and Deuteronomy 6:4, which clearly shows us there is only one God and that is Jehovah Himself. He is the same God who breathed life into Adam in Genesis, made Abraham the father of many nations, delivered the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, and gave His only begotten Son on the Cross to die for all mankind. Some forms of Christians refer to Jesus as if He were another or the only part of God, but yet He is just an extension of the Father God. The Father is merciful and graceful. It is obvious when you look all throughout the Old Testament days of the Israelites to the modern days of both Christians and Jews, where you can see God has shown His mercy on both of His groups of people. While God has never broken His promises to the Israeli people, he holds the children of Christ near and dear to his heart. We have a relationship with God where we allow part of Him to fill us. That is where the Holy Spirit Himself plays a part.
So who is the Holy Spirit (Author of Scripture, Indweller, Counselor, Comforter, Guide, Gift, Spirit of Truth, Witness, Teacher, and many more) and what is His job? Just as His many names displays, He acts as all of them. There are so many things that the Holy Spirit can do, but yet is often the most misunderstood part of God. Some Christians do not even realize that He exists. Because the Spirit lives within us, sometimes we identify Him as just God the Father. However, conviction and guidance that comes from within is sourced through the Father, but given by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit connects from within to our spirit. When we are lost and not a follower of God, he acts as a witness and conviction whenever the slightest opportunity presents itself (John 16:7-11). However, The Spirit is a gentleman and will not force us into faith in God. As long as we reject Him, He will give way to man’s free will for the moment until another opportunity for conviction arrives. Thank God that He doesn’t give up on us and is ready whenever He is needed. Even growing up as a teenager after I was saved, I walked astray from my relationship with God and dabbled in sin. The Holy Spirit never gave up on me and convicted me every step of the way until I was back in fellowship with God (Romans 8:26). One of the biggest contributors to our worship is the Holy Spirit allowing us to feel the goodness and love of God through Him. The Holy Spirit under the direction of God the Father even inspired men to write the words of scripture that would become our Bible (2 Peter 1:21 & 2 Timothy). Prophecy, the outpouring of the Spirit, speaking in other “tongues”, the “tongue” interpretations, and the messages of God are also inspired by the Holy Spirit as we see in Acts 2:1-4. We could go on for days about how the Father and Spirit work hand in hand and provide for us, but I am eager to discuss the man who died on Calvary for me. Why do we not just worship Jesus since we know He walked the earth as God and man, then was risen in three days from the dead? This is because Jesus (The Son, Son of God, Son of Man, The Son of the Living God, The Only Begotten Son, Wonderful, The Christ, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rabbi, Teacher, and many countless other names) is not a separate God, but He is Lord over us as a part of the trinity. John chapter 1 identifies Christ best. He is part of the Father, but is identified as the physical hand of the Father God. He created all that we see here in our world upon the very words that were spoken by the Father. He was sent here as God’s only begotten Son, who sacrificed Himself for us so that we would not have to die and go to Hell for our trespasses. God commands us to only have faith in Him and no other Gods, but yet he says the same about Jesus in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6. This command by God is not violated with faith in Christ because they are one in the same. Jesus is God and God is Jesus. Three distinct parts that come together and act as one. Just as you have one mind with two distinct halves, they both work in conjunction with each other so that we may shoot a basketball, kick a soccer ball, play a video game, or type as I am doing while looking out the window. All those actions are mind stimulations that go into the muscles from various parts of the brain all acting under one accord. This is why it is so important for the people of God to all be under “one accord” as commanded (Acts 1:14). In order for God to operate through us, we must be in agreement with Him and each other. If there is friction, God often jumps right over us causing us to miss a blessing by doing His will. By accepting Jesus as our savior we do several things at once. The first thing it does is seal our fate upon death or rapture. Our fate will be determined upon whether we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior allowing us to go to heaven or by not accepting our redeemer and going to Hell voluntarily. The second thing that it does is provide us with grace and mercy in case we ever mess up again. All of us were born in sin and while we can’t simply use grace as a means of more sinful acts, it certainly helps to have a hand to grab when I fall to pull me back up. The third thing accepting Christ does is provide us a helper as explained regarding the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit is present prior to our conversion, He is much more active in the life of a believer because He is now welcomed and encouraged to be present because the Spirit can take refuge in a Holy Temple (our bodies). The more unclean our temple, the less blessing we will probably see from the Spirit in our lives. Jesus also provided a means of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through his sufferings for us. He was beaten until the flesh hung off His back and the blood dripped off His body. The Father did not allow such suffering of His son for no reason. This was to provide a means for the enemy’s defeat and the ability for man to see miracle healing from God. Prior to the fall of Adam and Eve, there was no need for healing as there was no death. With the admission of death into the world through Adam and Eve’s sin, suffering began. Slowly our cells decay and die, our bodies do not heal as they normally would when inured, and eventually the whole body systems collapses and dies. The Bible assures us that through Christ sufferings we are healed (Isaiah 53:5 & James 5:14-15) Sickness, disease, and death were all brought about by the work of the enemy, which can be cast out by the power of God through the name of Jesus. I pray tonight that you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ so that these things may be experience in your life. For more Biblical proof of the trinity, try this resource. By Accepting Christ today as your Lord and Savior, you too can be saved from your sins. Are you not sure of where you are going after you die? Do you find yourself constantly questioning if your actions are going to send you to Hell. Make that worry and certainty today by putting your faith and trust in God by accepting Jesus Christ as your redeemer. You can find more answers about the Gospel here on our page. Thank You for Joining Us Once Again and As Always, God Bless Pastor J.W. Scriptural References: Isaiah 44:6 (ESV) 6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV) 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord John 16:7-11 (ESV) 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for 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 when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Romans 8:26 (NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, John 1 (NIV) The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) The Coming of the Holy Spirit 2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (NIV) 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. Acts 1:14 (ESV) 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[a] Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. James 5:14-15 (KJV) 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
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