TEACHING NOTES Introduction The Trinity has been the subject of much confusion and debate for most of church history. Some critics of Christianity claim that the doctrine of the Trinity did not exist until centuries after the apostles died. Some Christians think that the Trinity is only a New Testament teaching. However, the idea that God is three and one can be found throughout the entire Bible. So, in this series we will trace each member of the Trinity through the Bible. ‌ The Doctrine of the Trinity: We worship one God who exists eternally as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ‌ The doctrine of Trinity is important because each member of the Trinity reveals God’s nature and character. Confusion about the Trinity: Trying to figure out how God can be both one and three will only leave us confused. Instead of trying to figure out how the Trinity works, we should try to figure out what each member of the Trinity teaches us about God.‌ Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ‌ Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. ‌ The LORD God = Heb. Yahweh Elohim - Yahweh means “He who brings into being.” Therefore, God’s name differentiates Him as the only elohim who is the Creator. There are other elohim (spiritual beings/gods), but all others were created by Yahweh and are lesser spirits than Him. ‌ Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ‌ From the beginning God wants to father humanity and lead them in ruling His creation. ‌ Sin did not change what God wants. ‌ Deuteronomy 1:30–31 “30 The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.” ‌ Deuteronomy 32:5–6 5 They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. 6 Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you? ‌ Psalm 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. ‌ Proverbs 3:11–12 “11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” ‌ Jeremiah 3:19 “19 I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.” ‌ Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to you, for you are the Lord our God.” ‌ Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.” ‌ At the end of the Old Testament, God still longs to be the Father of His people. ‌ The Old Testament gives us many names and descriptions of Yahweh God. ‌- El Roi = The God who sees ‌- El Shaddai = God Almighty ‌- El Elyon = God Most High ‌- Yahweh Jireh = Yahweh is my provider ‌- Yahweh Nissi = Yahweh is my victory ‌ However, none of these names/titles are the focus in the New Testament. ‌ Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” ‌ Matthew 5:44–45 “44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” ‌ Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” ‌ Luke 15:20 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” ‌ John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” ‌ 1 Corinthians 8:5–6 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. ‌ Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ‌ 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ‌ Conclusion Our Creator is not interested in being our cosmic vending machine or an easy ticket to heaven. Our Creator wants to father us as His children. ‌‌ Next Week: God the Son