The Trinity and God the Father

We have a free book giveaway.

Is anybody interested in reading The Forgotten Trinity by James White?

Please raise your hand if you're interested.

We've got to see three hands.

Four hands.

You can drop your hand if you don't care.

We're going to read this within four weeks.

Okay.

So, who would be willing to read this in three...

One, two...

Would you be willing to read this in three weeks and then talk to me after you're done reading it?

Okay.

So, let's begin with...

We're going to be

talking about

Trinity and

we're going to be talking about

God.

If you're like me, I grew up in a church home and I took a lot of

things for granted.

Like, I just was told that we believed the Trinity.

And I was just like, okay, I believe that.

But I didn't really know where in the Bible it tells us that the Trinity is an actual doctrine.

So, it wasn't until I got older and I started sharing my faith and sharing the gospel with people.

And then I met a Jehovah's Witness.

That Jehovah's Witness, he said, where is the word Trinity even at in the Bible?

And I remember he was doing this right here.

I don't know.

And he started asking me a ton of questions.

And I just found myself unequipped to be able to explain the doctrine of the Trinity.

And this is the doctrine of worship.

So, I really want to better your focus this morning with a better understanding of who God is

and what God is.

We're going to be talking about the differences between the word of God and the who.

Note takers, I want to talk about three foundational truths.

You're going to see that we're going to go through all of these as we go through our statement of faith.

Number one is we believe that the Bible teaches that there is one true God.

This is called monotheism.

The second major foundation is we believe in three divine persons.

Number three, we believe in the equality.

So, if we can actually commit a huge heresy, a heresy

being a false teaching that really separates us from God in truth.

Monotheism teaches that many people, they believe in many gods, and you can become a god in one day.

So, they ultimately deny the fact that there is one true God.

One is Pentecostalism.

It teaches that God shifts between different modes or He puts on different masks to be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

when it's a convenient time.

And so, this view denies the three persons and sees no distinction between the members of the Trinity.

And like I said, Jehovah's Witnesses, they teach that the Father Jehovah first created Jesus the

Son.

This is a major heresy that denies the deity of Jesus and totally

messes up the equality of the persons.

So, like Pastor Steven Proctor got to that point, our sole authority must be divine.

We must go to Scripture alone.

Now, in order to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity, we must go to Scripture alone and all of Scripture.

We must do the hard job of interpreting Scripture with Scripture.

The totality of Scripture will yield that God is one in His being and He is also the

existence of three persons.

I believe this is the command that Paul gives all Christians in 2 Timothy 2 .15.

He says, do your best to present yourselves to God as one of truth, a worker who needs not to be

ashamed, rightly handling the work of truth.

So, with that being said, please look at your statement of faith.

Where the first passage says, we believe and teach that there is one God, infinite and self

-existent, who exists eternally as three distinct, yet inseparable persons,

known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

These three are one in their unchangeable nature, essence, and attributes.

So, back up a little bit to that first phrase.

We believe and teach that there is one God, infinite and self -existent.

So, this is where the Bible teaches us that there is one God.

Monotheism, one.

Mono meaning one and theism being God.

Look at your first Scripture reference.

I believe it's Deuteronomy 6 .4 where it says, Here, O Israel, the Lord our

God is one.

This is known as the Shema.

This is where the Jews would repeat this every morning.

Right?

This was important to Jesus.

If you look down in Mark chapter 12 under references there, Jesus repeats the Shema.

Right?

And then Paul in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians chapter 8, a little bit further down the page,.

He says,.

And that there is no God but one.

So, this is the Bible telling us that there is only one God.

Now, what's really interesting about the time when Moses wrote the Bacchus Dictatorium, this,

you know, he's saying that there is one God, right?

And all the surrounding pagan nations, they believe in many gods.

This is a heresy called polytheism.

So, the Bible is very unique, standing against these other false religions.

So, since God is infinite and self -existent,.

He has certain attributes that belong to him and him alone.

We're people, right?

We have knowledge, right?

So, God has infinite knowledge.

We have a degree of power, but God is all -powerful.

Right?

So, he's infinite and self -existent.

So, God is all -powerful.

He is omnipotent.

We learn this from the beginning of the Bible, right?

In Genesis 1, remember, God is speaking the world into existence.

Right?

That's only possible from an almighty, all -powerful being.

Now, think about the story of Job.

A lot of you will know that from the book.

There's so many applications.

But Job lost everything, right?

A lot of us really, you know, empathize with Job, and that would be so tough.

But over the course of time, Job begins to start questioning the purposes of God.

Right?

In Job chapter 38, God says to Job, He gets tired of it, because Job almost starts getting sassy with

God.

And so, God says to Job,.

God is asking Job,.

Okay, if you're all -powerful, if you're perfect, you tell me what's wrong.

Job figured it out pretty quick.

Today, he's speaking to the Creator, the almighty, powerful Creator.

And so, Job finally responded later in chapter 42.

He said,.

God is all -powerful.

He's omnipotent.

God is also all -knowing.

He's omniscient.

And this is really the foundation of prophecy.

When you look into the Old Testament, we read about a lot of prophets are foretelling things that are going to happen with the Messiah.

And the only way that that's possible.

Is for God to know everything and choose to reveal some things to us.

And you ought to think about, we serve one God.

The Bible teaches that.

He has certain attributes that belong to Him alone.

He's all -powerful.

He's all -knowing.

And His presence is everywhere.

He's omnipresent.

But I don't want you to think that God is in everything.

Right?

For a lot of people,.

The spell is called Pantheism.

God is a rock.

God is a tree.

We're all gods.

The Bible teaches a clear distinction between the Creator and the creation.

When we say that God is omnipresent, we're simply saying He sees everything.

Right?

Nothing escapes His sight.

Hebrews chapter 4 says, No creature is hidden from God's sight, for all are naked and exposed

to the eyes of Him whom we must give account.

So these are attributes that belong to the one true self -existing God.

So let's look at the next phrase in our statement of faith.

We're talking about God who exists eternally as three distinct yet inseparable persons

known as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

These three are one in their unchangeable nature, essence, and attributes.

So again,.

I'd like for you to maybe underline two key words that we're going to spend some time just kind of unpacking here because it can get

confusing real fast.

So we talked about inseparable persons.

On my sheet I had that underlined.

That is key.

And then if you look down at the next line, these three are one in their unchangeable nature.

So we're going to talk about the difference between persons and nature.

Earlier I was saying, God is one.

What?

In the three of us.

Okay?

I want to create two different categories.

So we don't get confused saying,.

Well, we believe in one God, but it kind of seems like we believe in three Gods.

That's not actually what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches that there is one God who exists in three persons.

So when we say the nature of something, we're talking about its essence or its being.

Okay?

I like to work being, but it's interchangeable with nature or essence, but I like to work being.

But we've got to keep in mind that being and person are different.

Anything that exists has being.

But not everything that exists has personality or has personhood.

Right?

So I was trying to think of an example to maybe illustrate this.

If I were to have a rock.

Right?

This rock has rock being.

If I were to throw this rock at Craig Nichols,.

And he didn't duck, he'd figure out very fast that that rock exists because it would clash with his being.

Right?

So the rock has being, the sphere has being, this microphone has being.

What all do these beings lack?

They lack personality.

Right?

They lack spirit.

Because that allows you to have relationships with other persons.

Right?

So this is where, when I'm thinking about human beings, I exist, I'm standing here right in front of you, but my

being is also shared with one person.

Right?

So you'll see that the train of thought is on that rock.

It's impersonal,.

But it exists.

It has a being.

I'm a human being.

I'm personal.

But I am limited and finite.

I cannot transcend of this space that I exist right here.

Right?

There are only human beings that have one person.

But now, when we talk about God, God is eternal.

He is limitless.

Right?

He's almighty,.

All -powerful,.

So his being is shared with three persons.

Now,.

That doesn't only explain everything to the Trinity.

I think that helps us have a better understanding that being and person are not the same thing.

We can even understand that in our everyday experience.

Not all being is one person.

Right?

But God is not bound by space and power.

Therefore,.

His being is shared by all.

That's another thing to say.

Which is three, and unity.

But those aren't the same thing.

God is three in person, one in being.

So on your verses, look at Matthew 28 and 19.

This is a very clear verse, but what's hidden in there is a clear teaching of the

Trinity.

Where we read, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name.

I'm trying to emphasize the name there.

The name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

So you notice, it's named singular, it's not named plural.

Right?

This is because it's referring to the singular, trinomial name of God.

The only God that is revealed in the group of persons.

Let's look at the next passage of our sacred faith.

We believe and teach that each member of the Godhead has a distinct function and the eternal purpose

of the Godhead while at the same time.

Possessing full deity.

So this is once again,.

Where when we, when we try to articulate what we believe about God, we have to have authority.

The Bible's already told us that there's one true God,.

One of these.

We're faced with passages that say the Father is God,.

The Son is God,.

And the Holy Spirit is God.

We believe that.

Right?

And so I was thinking,.

Most people do not dispute that the Father is God.

Most people, most religions, they all agree that the Father out there is definitely God.

Usually the point of dispute is saying, well we don't think Jesus is actually God.

Or the Holy Spirit is impersonal.

He's not actually God.

So most people don't dispute.

That the Father is God.

But I believe the first time.

Where Jesus speaks of the Father.

As being God is in John 6.

Where Jesus says,.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man did

give to you.

For on Him, God the Father has said,.

It's sealed.

This is the scripture telling us the Father is God.

And also, there are so many scriptures that tell us about the immunity of Christ.

And I believe Taddus Drum will really take time to unpack that next week.

But the Apostle Paul says this about Jesus Christ.

In Romans chapter 9.

He says,.

Christ came, who is over all.

And eternally.

Blessed God forever.

Amen.

And if you look at the sheet,.

You can see John 1 .1.

This might be one of the most clearest passages that tells that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word,.

And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Now,.

A lot of us are familiar with that last phrase, the Word was God.

We understand the Word.

Became flesh,.

To go among us, and then John.

Chapter 1.

Continues to tell us.

That this is Jesus Christ.

So we go to John 1 .1 to prove the deity of Christ.

Pretty easily.

But it's that middle phrase that I want you to look at with me real quick.

It says,.

The Word was with God.

Right?

Only a transparent understanding can make sense.

Of what that's been talked about.

Because this is talking about.

The Word,.

Jesus being in eternal relationship.

With God.

That being said,.

The Father is God, Jesus is God, and probably the best passage to show that the

Holy Spirit.

Is God.

Is in Acts chapter 5.

And this is where Peter.

Reveals two people named Ananias and Sapphira.

Peter says, why on this day can't you feel your heart to lie against the Holy Spirit?

Let me pause.

You can't lie to a rock.

It's impersonal.

It's kind of foolish to say I lied to that rock.

Right?

You lied to the person.

So,.

Peter says, why do you feel your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?

Why is it that you conscribe this theme.

In your heart?

You have not lied to man,.

But to God.

Right?

So this is.

Testimony to God's Word that is affirming.

One God,.

Yet the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.

And they all operate.

Within.

Having a personality.

Right?

We have a relationship with one another and with God.

And so their roles are distinct from one another.

They're not all doing the same thing.

And so,.

What we're,.

The Trinity,.

We're not saying the Father is the Son.

We're not saying the Son is the Holy Spirit.

We're not saying.

The Holy Spirit is everybody.

Right?

And I think.

One of the best places in the Bible to illustrate how they're all distinct in their roles and functions is at the baptism

of Jesus.

Right?

So who is baptized in Jesus?

John the Baptist.

Right?

So Jesus is there.

And then who descended on Jesus like a dove?

The Holy Spirit.

And then a booming voice.

From heaven said,.

This is my Son whom I am built to be.

So you have God the Father,.

The Son,.

And the Holy Spirit.

All being present,.

Yet being distinct.

From one another.

And so this is where people get into trouble.

Oftentimes.

Because then they say,.

Well the Trinity is life, and then they give.

An analogy.

Right?

Now,.

I understand.

That all analogies.

Break down at some point.

Usually an analogy is supposed.

To just illustrate.

One truth.

But the problem is if the Trinity is a transcendent, eternal reality,.

The Trinity exists.

Before creation.

So when we reach into the creation and we try to think of something man -made to illustrate something that's eternally

true, it breaks down in a major way and actually illustrates some type of truth.

Right?

So that kind of makes sense why all analogies really don't come close.

To the truth.

Have you ever heard that the Trinity is like water?

I've heard that before.

So I've heard.

That water.

Can change into a liquid.

Or a gas.

Or a salt.

Right?

That's usually how.

I've heard of that analogy.

And the problem is that God does not.

Change into.

Three different modes.

Right?

This is called.

Modalism.

And so God.

Is one and yet.

He exists in three persons.

Right?

Remember the baptism of Jesus kind of illustrates that.

So there's another analogy that I was taught growing up.

Maybe.

Saint Lucia.

Doesn't know.

That at all.

But the Trinity is like a man who is a father,.

A son,.

And a mother.

To somebody else.

But the problem is that it's usually.

A man.

Who is one.

With a man.

And one person.

So this is.

What appears.

To be called.

Unitarianism.

This is what the Bible teaches.

And this is what.

Orthodox Jews.

Today teach.

So you're changing along the path.

That God exists.

We go through.

The Bible.

All the time because we're.

The only one God.

And we exist.

Internally.

In three persons.

And each of those.

Persons.

Fully share in the nature.

Of God.

So,.

I actually.

Have this.

Have you ever heard.

Of this?

Have you ever heard.

Of this?

And the big problem.

Is when you.

Use anything.

In the creative.

World, quote, quote, quote,.

Quote, quote,.

Quote,.

This may be.

A small part.

Of what we know.

So you see.

The problem.

With trying to use an analogy.

To describe the Trinity.

And I think a good way to understand.

The Trinity.

Is understanding it.

And we've got to stop somewhere around there.

Because we're not.

Going to fully.

Understand it.

But we're going.

To have to engage.

In it.

In a logical way.

So with that being said,.

There's only one concept that can.

Describe God.

And it's.

God Himself.

And it.

Reminded me of.

The time where.

God was talking.

To Moses.

When he was.

Learning to push.

What did he say?

He said,.

I am who I am.

This means that the Lord is not.

Defined or.

Determined by.

Any other than Himself.

God is the.

Eternal.

Being.

So are we.

Tracking?

Tracking?

Let's move on.

To the next.

Statement.

In our statement.

We do this.

Because I.

Would like to.

Have Q &A.

At the end.

So hopefully.

You're making those.

Maybe along the way.

I'd like to maybe leave.

10 minutes.

At the end.

To hear some.

Questions from.

Y 'all.

So the next.

Phrase says,.

Each is equally.

Worthy of worship and.

Obedience.

And each is.

Glorified by.

The work of.

Redemption.

And if I've lost you at some point it's okay.

We're talking about the.

Trinity.

This has been heavily disputed.

And debated.

And all I want you to know is go to your.

Bible.

If you've not.

Heard anything.

I want you to know this one.

Crucial truth.

That the.

Gospel and salvation is a trinitarian.

Work.

I want to.

Show you that.

Look at that.

Passage on.

Page 2.

Look at Ephesians.

Chapter 1 verses 3 -14.

We're not going to just.

Do this.

I want to.

Highlight a few things along the.

Way.

The beginning.

Of verse 3.

Says,.

Blessed be.

The God and.

Father of our.

Lord Jesus Christ.

We're talking.

About God the.

Father.

And then verse 4.

Says,.

Even as he.

Chose us in him before the foundation.

Of the world.

There we.

Should be.

Holy and blameless.

Before him.

Let me pause.

This is the.

Gospel.

Finds its.

Origin with.

God the.

Father before creation and.

Every existence.

So the gospel.

Salvation has.

Its starting.

Point with.

God the.

Father.

God the.

Father decreed and chose.

Before the.

World began a people for salvation.

Another way.

Of looking at that is he.

Chose a bride.

For the.

Son.

So if you.

Look down a.

Little bit.

There in the.

Passage of.

Scripture,.

Luke says, in him we.

Have redemption through his.

Blood, the.

Forgiveness of our sins and our trespasses.

We have.

Forgiveness.

So we have.

The gospel.

Having its.

Origin with.

God the.

Father.

The gospel is accomplished.

By Jesus Christ by dying on.

The cross,.

Paying the.

Full punishment of sin for.

All those that.

Would repent.

And believe.

On him.

So this means what the will.

Of the Father.

Before eternity began, this means that Jesus is the.

Perfect Savior.

He saves to the uttermost,.

Right?

So I want you.

To see a.

Lock -and -step unity within.

The Trinity.

Of our.

Accomplishing salvation and establishing the gospel.

In fact,.

John chapter.

6, Jesus teaches us that all.

The Father.

Gives to me.

Will come to.

Me.

Then he says.

That I should.

Lose nothing.

That the.

Father has.

Given me,.

But raise it.

Up on the last day.

The gospel.

Has its.

Origin in.

The Father.

It's.

Accomplished.

By the Son.

Now look.

Down around.

Verse 13.

I know you don't have.

It referenced,.

But we.

Read,.

In Him.

You also,.

When you.

Heard the.

Word of truth,.

The gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the Spirit,.

The promised.

Holy Spirit,.

Which was.

The guarantee.

Of our.

Inheritance until.

We were.

Acquired possession of it to praise His.

Glory.

So the.

Gospel is applied by.

The Holy.

Spirit,.

Right?

The Holy.

Spirit.

Regenerates hearts,.

Right?

He indwells.

Believers, and He.

Secures.

Believers into.

The day of redemption.

So if you.

Get nothing else, the gospel is a Trinitarian.

Word.

So, with only a few.

More minutes,.

I want us.

To briefly look at God.

The Father.

In section.

Three, where.

We read and teach that God the Father is the first person in the.

Trinity.

He is.

Infinite,.

Self -existent.

Spirit,.

Perfect in.

Holiness,.

Wisdom,.

Power,.

And love.

He is creator of.

All things,.

And the.

Only absolute omnipotent ruler in.

The universe.

He is.

Sovereign in.

Creation,.

Providence,.

And.

Redemption.

So,.

What does

sovereign.

Mean?

Simply that God is in.

Control of.

All things.

That means.

He has a.

Purpose in all things,.

And that.

Means in all things.

He gives.

Glory,.

Ultimately.

So, on your paper, look at.

Romans 11 -36.

On page.

Three,.

Which says,.

For from.

Him and.

Through Him and to Him are all things.

To whom be.

The glory.

Forever. Amen.

So, when you.

Think of.

Sovereignty,.

Just think that.

God gives.

Glory to everything.

He has.

A purpose.

There's nothing.

Meaningless.

Happening.

In His.

World,.

Right?

The way.

That He sees the.

World,.

How often I think.

About my.

Issue book,.

I can.

Just flip through the pages of.

This issue.

Book and.

I can see the.

Beginning,.

I can see the end.

That's.

How God.

Sees it.

All the.

Time.

In the.

Very beginning,.

God created the heavens.

And the.

Earth,.

Right?

So,.

He sees it.

All the time,.

Right there.

In front of.

He spoke.

It all.

To you.

He's.

Sovereign.

He has.

A purpose.

For everything.

The next.

Passage says,.

We believe.

And teach.

That God's fatherhood.

Involves both.

A destination.

Within the trinity and His relationship with mankind.

He is the.

Creator of.

All people,.

But He is.

The spiritual father only.

To those who.

Believe in.

His Son,.

Jesus Christ.

He saves from sin all who.

Come to Him.

Through Christ.

Alone,.

Securing their.

Adoption as.

Children, as His children,.

And making.

Them fellow heirs with.

Christ.

So, I.

Don't know if you're.

Familiar with this cliché.

Saying that.

I hear all the time.

Around the.

World,.

But I've.

Heard people.

Say, aren't we.

Just all.

God's.

Children?

And they're.

Just kind of.

Saying that just generically.

There's no.

Distinction between believers and unbelievers,.

But we're just.

All God's.

Children.

And it.

Kind of breaks.

My heart.

Because the Bible is so precise that.

It's only.

The children.

Of God.

Those who.

Are in Christ.

Jesus.

They're.

Believers.

And so, if you will,.

That kind of.

Goes to the.

Bottom of.

Page 3.

Look at.

John 1,.

Verse 2.

There,.

Where we read,.

But to all.

Who did.

Receive Him,.

Jesus,.

Who believed.

In His.

Name,.

He gave.

The right to become.

Children of.

God.

So, we're faced with the.

Reality that.

Not everyone is God's.

Children.

Only those.

Who have.

Turned to Christ.

And put their.

Faith solely.

In Him.

And that.

Means we're.

Adopted,.

Right?

We're adopted.

As children.

So,.

If we're.

Adopted,.

That means.

We were.

Previously part.

Of a different.

Family,.

Right?

Y 'all see.

Where I'm.

Going with.

This?

The Bible actually teaches us that.

Before,.

If we're.

Not Christ,.

We're actually.

Children of.

The devil.

1 John chapter 3.

Says,.

This is.

Evident to who are.

The children of God,.

And who.

Are the.

Children.

Of the.

Devil.

Whoever.

Does not.

Practice righteousness.

Is not.

Of God,.

Nor is the.

One who has come.

From him.

So,.

Let's finally.

Look at the.

Last passage.

Here in.

Section 3,.

Where we read,.

We believe.

And teach.

That God has decreed.

For His.

Own glory.

All things.

That comes.

Past,.

Knowing.

Instantly.

All things from beginning.

To end.

He continually upholds,.

Directs,.

And governs.

All creatures and events, and in His sovereignty.

He is.

Neither.

The author.

Nor approver.

Of sin,.

But perfectly judges each person according to his.

Or her.

Own work,.

Thus making.

People responsible for their.

Own actions.

I personally.

Went into.

The end.

To not totally explain.

All this.

Because I'm.

A simple man.

I'm wearing.

Mario's.

Socks up.

Here,.

Right?

So,.

It's easy.

To ask me really tough.

Questions,.

And you.

Know what?

It's okay.

We can.

Search these.

Things out together.

I love.

Y 'all.

I love.

Fellowshipping.

With the.

Saints, and I love.

God's.

Word.

I'm.

Convinced this.

Is how we.

Have a.

Relationship with God.

We pray.

To God, that's how.

We speak to.

God,.

And He.

Speaks back.

To us through His.

Living and.

Breathing word.

So,.

This final.

Passage of.

The Statement of Faith,.

I simply.

Want to.

Emphasize that.

All things.

Work to.

The glory.

Of God,.

And I.

Don't understand exactly how.

All that works.

I love.

Reading church.

History,.

I love.

Reading theologians.

That have.

Spent time.

In God's.

Word and.

Trying to.

Better understand because that's.

Going to.

Be a.

Life -long.

Process.

Don't think, well, I can't.

Understand it.

And I should.

Study it.

That's.

A hard.

Question.

I don't.

Know, but let's go look.

And see.

What we.

Can study in God's word together.

I just.

Want to.

Emphasize.

Maybe two.

More verses.

In the.

Statement of Faith.

So, I think.

It's on.

The last page.

So,.

Look at.

Ephesians.

1.

Verse.

11.

So,.

This.

Verse,.

I didn't know this.

Verse was in.

The Bible.

Until I really studied.

It carefully.

And slowly.

And was like,.

Whoa, God is.

Sovereign,.

God is.

So much.

Mightier.

Than people.

We read,.

In Him.

We have.

Obtained.

Inheritance.

Having been predestined according to.

The purpose.

Of Him.

On the cross.

A lot of people.

Get out of shape.

With predestination.

I'm like,.

No,.

Look at the rest of this verse and this really should surprise.

You.

The purpose.

Of Him.

Who works all things according to the counsel.

Of His.

Will.

I don't know how.

But God.

Works.

All things.

After the.

Counsel.

Of His.

Will.

I just,.

I'm totally amazed at that.

Truth.

I don't.

Question it.

Because it's in.

The Bible.

People want to.

Just see it and.

I'm like,.

I just love.

Each other.

We find hard verses like that,.

We just,.

I believe it,.

I just.

May not.

Understand.

So, lastly,.

Let's look.

At Isaiah.

46.

It should.

Be the last.

Passage.

Of all those.

Scriptures.

This one is.

Just to me like Ephesians 1.

Verse 11.

It says,.

Remember the.

Four things of old for I am God and there is no.

Other.

I am God and there is none.

Like me.

So I'll pause.

Right there.

There's only one.

God and there's.

No other.

Like Him.

But then, verse 10.

Says,.

Declaring.

An end.

From the beginning and from ancient times things.

Not yet done.

Saying my counsel shall stand and I'll accomplish all my purposes.

Guys,.

The best way I can think.

To understand this.

Is I look at.

History books.

I can go back and work through.

It.

That's how God.

Deals with time.

He spoke at all into existence.

And creation at the very.

Beginning.

So how God relates to time.

Is different.

Than how we relate to it.

He knows.

Everything.

But let's not.

Get mad.

At God.

For knowing everything.

And have.

Him.

Be God.

Since He is.

Sovereign,.

I can truly rest in the promise of Romans 8.

Many of us.

Are familiar with this verse.

That says.

That for those.

Who love God,.

Those who are.

Christians,.

Those who.

Experience.

Forgiveness.

For those.

Who love God,.

All things work together for good.

For those.

Who are.

Called.

According.

To His.

Purpose.

God's purpose is everything.

If we are.

Saved,.

We experience.

The mercy.

And grace.

Of God.

So then.

We can say,.

Okay, everything.

That's happening.

In my life is for my.

Sanctification.

It has.

A purpose.

It's making.

Me more and more.

Like Jesus.

Christ.

Everything.

Is working.

In my life.

For my.

Sanctification.

If I'm.

With Christ.

And then.

Everything.

Is ultimately.

Working for His glory.

So that's.

All I have.

I feel like I.

Might have.

Sped really.

Fast through.

That, but I.

Wanted to.

Leave maybe.

About 10 minutes or so for.

Questions.

So if you.

Would,.

Raise your.

Hand if you have any.

Questions about.

The Trinity,.

Or if you.

Have any.

Questions about.

God the Father, and His.

Sovereignty.

It's going.

To be kind.

Of weird.

With so many.

People,.

But I'm up here.

Standing on stage talking because it's.

Kind of weird.

For me.

So if you might have.

Any questions,.

And if not,.

Guess what?

I have.

Prescriptive.

Questions I.

Can ask,.

And we can.

Go through.

Them together.

So we've got.

God,.

The Trinity,.

And the.

Sovereignty of.

God.

We are not saying we.

Believe in.

One God,.

But then we.

Can't believe.

In three.

Gods.

I think if we present.

The Trinity.

Like that,.

Then these.

False religions,.

They have a basis.

For saying.

That doesn't.

Make any.

Sense.

Rather,.

We can learn from the Bible that there is.

One God,.

And yet.

He exists.

In three.

Persons.

Remember.

We talked.

About the.

Rock not being personal?

I think we.

Can demonstrate.

How there.

Are things.

That exist that do.

Not have.

Personality.

So I.

Would say.

We can.

Show how things that exist are.

Personal,.

But then.

Human beings.

Are personal, but there's a.

Huge difference.

Between us.

And God.

So that.

Helps me.

Get a step.

Closer to understanding.

How God.

Can be.

Revealed in.

Three persons.

Because He is limitless.

We are.

Limited by space and.

Time,.

Therefore our.

Person can.

Only be.

Shared.

By one.

Person.

So I.

Just want to.

Demonstrate that.

And if they.

Still say.

I think.

It's just.

The Philippines.

Or whatever,.

I would say.

I'm down to.

The core of.

God.

We can all.

Have good.

Ideas and.

Opinions about.

Stuff, but we need an.

Objective.

Standard to.

Tell us.

What is.

Actually.

True.

Because if.

Me, if you.

Listen to me.

And Nathan, we could.

Probably come.

Up with just.

Crazy ideas.

Which one is.

Actually true.

We need to.

Be able to.

Test it against.

An objective.

Standard to.

Be like, well,.

Nathan was.

Right and.

Jeremiah.

Got it way.

Wrong.

That's how.

We get outside.

Of our.

Beliefs.

Did I.

Answer that.

Or did I.

Not answer.

That?

Did I.

Miss any.

Of the.

Theological.

Filibusters?

What do.

We do.

When someone.

Says,.

Well,.

Where's the.

Trinity?

Does anybody want to take.

A stab at.

How they.

Would answer.

That question?

The word.

Trinity is.

Not in the Bible.

What does that mean?

It's not true.

We believe.

In the Bible.

What does.

The Trinity.

Teach?

It teaches that there's.

One God.

And that he.

Exists as.

The first person in.

The Bible.

To teach.

You that.

So when the Holy Witness says, well, tell me what the.

Trinity is.

He said, great, I can't wait to.

Show you all of.

These.

Scriptures.

That show that there's.

One God.

And that.

The.

Who of.

God is.

Actually seven.

Jesus be.

God,.

He's.

Praying,.

Is that.

John.

Once says.

The word.

Was God.

And he turned.

It back.

So Jesus was in.

Glory with.

The Father.

But what.

Did Jesus.

Do?

He took.

On flesh.

And became.

A man.

Humbled.

Himself,.

Right?

So as he.

Was living.

In earthly.

Ministry,.

He prayed.

In relationship.

To the.

Father.

The Trinity is the only.

Thing that.

Can understand.

What's going.

On in.

A relationship,.

Right?

The Father.

Was greater.

Than Jesus.

In terms of God.

Being in.

Glory and.

Jesus took,.

He added on.

Flesh,.

He took on.

Command.

So in that.

Relationship, Jesus prayed.

To the.

Father and.

Said the Father is.

Greater than.

I.

Does it.

Mean that.

Jesus is.

Not God?

It just.

Shows the.

Unique role.

That Jesus.

Took on.

Becoming.

Just not.

So far.

Away from.

Us.

He actually became a man and dwelt.

Among us.

So God.

Came to us.

And he is.

Relational and cares for us.

And loves us,.

Right?

So I think.

That's the.

Beauty of the.

Trinity.

You see a working relationship with God.

We get glimpses of the Trinity.

Even in the.

Old Testament.

I don't think.

The Trinity.

Was explicitly taught in the.

Old Testament.

Like it is in the New Testament.

But you see.

Clues of the.

Trinity in the.

Old Testament.

I think it's in Genesis 1.

Where God.

Created man.

And he said.

Let us.

Make man.

In our.

Image.

So even from.

The beginning there was a.

Plurality of.

God.

He won.

In his being.

But he had.

Relationships.

Within himself.

So I think.

We get clues.

In the Old.

Testament.

And then we read.

In the New.

Testament.

We see the.

Deity of the.

Father and the.

Son.

I think of the apostles being.

Experientially.

Trinitarians,.

Right?

Because Peter, very familiar.

With the.

Old Testament.

Scriptures,.

Believed in.

God the Father.

But then.

He met Christ.

He understood that he was.

God.

And then.

He got.

The Holy.

Spirit.

Right?

So he.

Experienced.

The Trinity.

Like all of.

Us do before Christ.

So we.

Got maybe.

One more.

Minute or.

Two.

Does anybody.

Have any.

Questions?

Did it.

Make sense.

A little bit?

I hope to have a quick.

Talk a little.

Bit with.

I think the.

Best way.

To approach.

The Trinity.

Is understanding.

The.

Distinction.

Between.

The being.

And the.

Gospel.

Salvation.

Is a.

Trinity.

Alright,.

Let's pray.

Holy.

Father,.

Thank you so much.

For your word.

God,.

Thank you.

For challenging.

Us.

God,.

We are.

Religious.

People.

God,.

We have.

Faith in.

You and.

We trust.

That your.

Thoughts are.

Higher than.

Our thoughts,.

Your ways are.

Higher than.

Our ways.

God,.

We would.

Not lean.

On our own.

Understanding.

When we approach.

The word, but we would use the.

Traditions.

That we.

Have got.

As we.

Approach.

Your Holy.

Scripture.

We would allow you.

To be.