Life & Times of Jesus #07 — Jack Hibbs

Christ and the Essential Doctrine of the Trinity

Turn as you know to Colossians chapter 2 verse 9 as we continue our study together and we are looking at this morning Christ and the Trinity. And we are going to be setting our plow deep this morning in the study of the word.

I want to repeat that I know you're turning in your pages and you're getting into position if you're visiting Calvary Chapel for the first time this morning I don't want to know it being. I'm glad that you're here but I don't want to be distracted with the fact that maybe you're new.

Maybe you're new to Christianity. Or maybe you're considering Christianity. I don't know. Maybe you're in a cult. Well you certainly picked the right day to come here. My prayer and my heart's desire is that this message would come across as clear as is spiritually possible.

I've studied so much for this message and every time I study too much that usually turns out to be a disaster for you. I've got so much in my head. How it's going to come out I don't exactly know but it's important.

And the reason why I'm stressing this this morning is because the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to Christian faith. It is one of those few things out of what is considered the Creed are Christian essentials that sets us apart from all other belief system in the world.

And in Colossians chapter 2 verse 9 as you see it says. For in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead or we could insert Trinity dwells in bodily form and we do no harm to the text by saying so in that fashion Christ and the Trinity it is literally the study of the fellowship of the eternal Godhead.

The Bible makes it clear. And we'll see this morning that there are many passages of Scripture that tell us that there is God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Yet this doctrine is the eminently resisted at your doorstep with various cults that might visit your house.

Or maybe brand-new Christians don't quite understand it. Maybe they haven't read about it but once they read the Scripture from cover to cover they come to the understanding. Now let me say something here and I don't want you to think that I'm trying to set up some kind of a blanket statement that if you don't get this morning's teaching then something's wrong with you.

I'm not saying that but I will say this concerning the doctrine of the Trinity as so concerning the doctrine of the church how is it that the church it says is the body of Christ. Paul the Apostle says concerning that truth it's a mystery.

Now that word mystery doesn't mean that it's something that you can never know. The word in Greek means a mystery that from this point previously has been unknowable it has been hidden. It's a truth that is always existed but has never been revealed.

And Paul makes that clear in the book of Ephesians chapter 5. Well concerning this mystery of the Trinity there are hints of it in the Old Testament will see some this morning. But it is a mystery as the Scripture speaks.

Paul says this in Corinthians that the Trinity even though that words not found in the Bible will come across that in a moment the doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery not something unknowable something that has been concealed but in these last days revealed.

It's important that you understand that now all of you looked at me which means none of you wrote down what I just said. So I'm going to believe that you are going to put that in a memory when somebody knocks on your door you're going to need to be able to tell them what I'm going to explain to you in many ways seems illogical but we'll see how actually in Scripture and in real logic and reason it makes absolute sense.

God's Essence, Nature, and Revelation

And so for all of us this morning the concept of God can you jot that down the concept of God. Everybody's got their concept of God. But we could really and the Bible could really care less about what your or my concept of God is if it deviates from the truth the concept of God is his very nature is his essence.

We're going to talk about that the thought the idea God's essence we must consider and in doing so looking at Scripture come to the conclusion that the Trinity is not only essential but is in fact clearly taught in the Bible.

And by the way it is not exclusively New Testament doctrine. By the way man can no longer claim ignorance concerning God and his essence or his nature essence in nature being the same definition in Romans chapter 1 verse 20 the Bible says.

For since the creation of the world we studied that last week his invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things which are made even his eternal power and Godhead plurality Trinity so that they are without excuse.

The fact of the matter is people who understand in their Bible that the Trinity exists can only do so by revelation of the Holy Spirit himself. Let me say that again people who understand regarding the doctrine of the Trinity can only come to that conclusion based upon the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

There are those who don't have the Holy Spirit. In other words they're not a Christian. They're not in the body of Christ and they can't even come close to figuring out that there's the father there's the son there's the Holy Spirit.

This is a critical issue one. And people I'm going to tell you I am shocked to have read so much this week on this topic to find out as each one of these authors spoke about the Trinity how they all agreed that churches around the world Christian churches either a are ignorant concerning this fact or be very very lightly if at all study this doctrine whatsoever.

So you might this morning be saying Jack what are we gonna get in this topic. For I already know it. Well then you're gonna be refreshed about some things. But there are many Christians according to statistics who don't understand this doctrine which to me is pathetic because it is a Christian essential the Trinity or the try unity of God.

Knowing God Through Scripture

God makes it very clear in the Bible that he demands that he be known he begs to be known. In Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 11 to 13 God says. Therefore I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and I will listen to you and I and you will seek me and you will find me when you have searched for me with all of your hearts. So God desires us to search after him.

In John chapter 5 verse 39 Jesus is you search the scriptures for in them you think that you have eternal life. But these are they which do testify of me. Jesus is claiming that the Bible is written about him.

So the question about who God is is extremely important and what God is is extremely important. But according to biblical doctrine it is beyond contradiction or beyond debate. In fact the scriptures is in Galatians 4 4.

But when the fullness of time had come that means at the right time God sent forth who his son Jesus Christ. Remember that as we go through the study and then before we dive into this first Timothy 316 one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

First Timothy 316 says beyond all question or beyond all debate. The mystery of godliness is great. He appeared in a body. Who did God did in a party. He was vindicated by the spirit he was seen by angels.

He was preached among the nations. And he was believed on in the world. And he was received back up into glory. What a great verse that is first Timothy 316. Great is the mystery of godliness. The Trinity is one great mystery of God.

The Trinity goes beyond listen. The Trinity goes beyond human reason because our God is that great. But it does not violate human reason. Can you remember that that the doctrine of the Trinity goes beyond human reason.

But it does not contradict reason. There is in fact the study of the Trinity goes against what is called the law of contradiction. If you read the Bible from cover to cover you will be confirmed about the fact that we serve a God who is comprised of three independent persons.

How can we clearly explain it. Well that's the burden that's on my head this morning will try to do our best this morning. The first thing that we see this morning concerning this is regarding the essence of the Trinity.

The One Essence and Three Persons of God

The essence of the Trinity. The Trinity is seen in scripture by giving us what is called the essence of God or the nature. Maybe you've already jotted that down. But the nature or essence of God. And you say well Jack the word Trinity doesn't appear in the Bible.

That's exactly right. The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. But near. Neither does the word Bible by the way. Neither does the word rapture. At least in English. It appears in the Latin version of the Bible rapture.

But you won't find it in English yet. It's an actual doctrinal fact. Well the Bible doesn't mention the word Bible. But we know it's a fact. It's sitting in your lap right now. The doctrine of the Trinity extremely important.

Yet the Trinity is maintained in scripture that God has been revealed to us in three distinct persons. Listen. Yet in one essence. So now you're confusing me. Just listen carefully. God has revealed himself to mankind via three persons.

Actual personalities. Don't make the mistake in thinking that persons and personalities are only describing that of a human. I always love to say this. You know what I'm going to say some of you who've been around a while God is not a human.

It was a big deal for Jesus to come to earth and become one. We've got this thing in our mind that God is some huge human. He's 49 feet tall. No he's not. Well I mean I don't know how tall he is but he's not a big human.

The cults would have us believe that Jesus or God is a glorified human. He's not at all. He is a person. The Bible speaks of him in the personal pronoun and the singular. In Greek and in Hebrew he is a person.

And yet as the word in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The word there for God is Elohim. Anytime you look at the Hebrews word or scriptures and you come to I am on the end. It is plurality.

God is singular. Don't ask me to explain it. Nobody can God says of himself he is one God and he has a plurality about him. Do we believe in three gods as Judeo-Christian belief. I say Judeo-Christian because Judeo-Christian belief is so close and parallel regarding this issue.

Do we believe in three gods. The Bible says no. We are not polytheistic. To be a polytheist is to believe in many gods. Maybe you're a Mormon. You are a polytheist and you're proud about that. You believe in many gods.

Maybe you're Hindu. Maybe you're a Buddhist. And you believe in many gods. Well the Bible says no. There are not many gods. There's but one God. And Galatians chapter 1 verse 26 Galatians 1 or sorry Genesis 126 is then God said let us plural make man in our image.

Now we were not made in the image of angels. You might say well maybe maybe he was talking to an angel that was standing nearby. No. No. He's talking about God bringing forth mankind in his own image.

That is we are free moral agencies. We pick and choose. You pick and choose what you wore this morning. As you can tell I did. And nobody dressed me. When my house is asleep I grab what's hanging. Or what looks most ironed the way I figure God wants me to wear it looks like it's been ironed and so I put it on.

Well listen we are free moral agents. God has given that ability to us. We have a little bit of sovereignty. If I can put it that way today you're gonna choose what you're gonna have for breakfast after service.

It's not pre-programmed or prepackaged. It may be prepackaged but not on the mind of God. He knows all things. But you are gonna go pick. You're gonna pick up a menu. Maybe. And you're gonna look at that ability.

But the very important things that we realize as we look to the study this morning that the essence of the Trinity. When we say essence we also mean nature. And we see here that that there's a monotheism of the Trinity.

What is that we want. Mono means don't you mean singular theism is God. Or the study of God the study of the singular God. We believe in one God. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 6 for the Shema if you know this in Hebrew and you're in Israel they'll they'll shout the Shema.

And it is this Deuteronomy 6 for hero Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Yet in that very declaration and the Hebrew scholars are caught up in a conundrum over this. They can't understand it. And that is hero Israel God singular yet in a plurality is one Deuteronomy 6.

For what a great scripture that is God is one. Yet there's already in that portion of scripture as it was in Genesis the hint of the plurality. But yet there's one God in 1st Corinthians 8 verse 6. If I go fast that's because I'm excited.

And I also want you out here on time today. I terribly violated your time yesterday and I was beat myself up all week about that. And I gotta tell you something I I came to this conclusion. I don't think it was God because it was too carnal.

It was my thought. I don't know. Wait a minute. We stay 20 minutes over service last time in all three services. And some of you said well following in the footsteps of how Lindsay are you. Because how far he went over 70 minutes that guy talked.

I timed him loved every minute of it. I don't know about you. But I had nothing better going on that day. And you know when I go when I go over I'm sorry about that. But the thing is what else do we have to do.

We're looking at the Word of God. We spend maybe all week at least me. I watched 40 hours of news probably in a week for crying out loud. If we go over 10 minutes in the study of God you know what harm foul is there.

So with that being said I feel better today. Thank you for indulging me for a moment. The pro the Trinity of God the doctrine the essence of it the Trinity. We see that there's the monotheism. And so in 1st Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6 Paul says for us there is but one God Elohim.

Singular plurality. Go and explain it. That's the hard thing to do. That's what I'm trying to do this morning. It's in Scripture. But how do you put it into human words. The second thing we see is that there's a plurality of the Trinity.

The Plurality and Internal Relations of the Trinity

There's the plurality. By plurality we mean how God relates to himself. Say what. That's not what the word means to me. Yeah I know. But this is what it means in biblical theology. Plurality is how God relates to himself.

Did you get that God's not psychotic. He doesn't talk to himself. He does not have multiple personalities. Gee. What color do we want to make the world. Gee. I don't know. What color do you think we should make it.

Gee. I don't. And he doesn't sit and have a conversation with himself. The son speaks to the father. The father speaks to the son. Does. Spirit speaks to the son. The spirit speaks to the father. On an ongoing true definition of the original word dialogue.

God dialogues among himself. Singular in the Trinity plural. Amazing. Well Jack I don't like this because I can't figure it out. I can't see it. I know that's one of those things. But we're gonna do our best to help you to kind of get a touch of it this morning.

And maybe for some of you that are steeped in a cult. Maybe this will liberate your thinking this morning in a wonderful way. Listen. An example. Hebrews chapter 9 verse 14 concerning the plurality of the Trinity.

Hebrews 914. Listen carefully. He says there how much more shall the blood of Christ. I circle Christ. Who through the eternal spirit I circle eternal spirit offer himself without spot to God. Yes that speaks of the father.

But the word again is of God in totality. Did you get that right there in Hebrews 914 is Christ which will show you this morning is God. The spirit which will show you this morning in the scriptures is God.

And there he speaks of God in totality. Hebrews 914 Norman Geisler gives this illustration. And I quote Norman Geisler this morning. In case you don't get it you can blame it on him. And here it is ready.

Quote. It has been said that God is one. What with what in quotes that God is one what essence what would be essence or nature. And three who's which are his person of man. Did you get that it has been said that God is one what.

Quote close quotes. And three who's quotes there which are the persons. The who is the persons the what is his nature or essence. Let me let me help you. And this is kind of neat. And we steal this from a concept of a man that you know the guy by the name of Albert Einstein concerning the perfection of mathematics.

And by the way Norman Geisler came up and said that he agreed with Einstein. Einstein said that because math is absolutely perfect which I told you before is why we hate it so much. It's perfect. It can only speak of a creative God.

Math is perfect. This God must be true because it is so to speak mathematics is sinless because it's perfect even though it's not a person. It's a thing. So check this out this is amazing. And I hope this does something for you.

Because it did something for me. Check it out. It says here that the closest illustration is this not one plus one plus one equals three. That would be Hinduism Buddhism Mormonism. But in Christianity and in fact Judeo Christian teaching one times one times one equals one.

All and each are equal. Yet they maintain an identity. Each one of those ones that you see on the screen have all the authority all the power all the attributes of the number one. But with God one is not the loneliest number.

Maybe for you or me but not God. One times one times one equals one. How about this. One father times one son times one spirit equals one God. Do you see that does that help. I think that helps tremendously.

And now you kind of agree with Einstein's observation that because math is perfect it speaks of a God who created is perfect. The father the son the Holy Spirit. They're not three gods but one God. Each are equal each have their identity each have their purpose as we'll see this morning.

But I found that to be extremely helpful. Another consideration is this the triangle and geometrical form the triangle. A triangle is three sides of an equal dimension or length or power. We can put it that way.

You can put one side of the triangle blue one side yellow and one side green. But the three of them form how many triangles one triangle get. The sides are all equal. Very very important and I think a very powerful picture that scene.

Unity, Equality, and the Three Persons

So this is a very very exciting I think way to look at it. The third thing that we see this morning is this that there's a unity to the Trinity. There's a unity and give you some scriptures. And there will be after the second point I gave you this one earlier but will give it to you and its totality.

In first Corinthians chapter 8 verse 6. For us there is but one God the father of whom are all things and we are for him. And connecting statements. One Lord Jesus Christ. God is the father and the son and the spirit.

First John chapter 5 verse 7. First John 5 7 says there are three that bear witness in heaven. The father the word. You know the word is right. The logos the word capital letters there the word that's Jesus.

There are three that bear witness in heaven the father the word and the Holy Spirit. These three are one. First John 5 7. John chapter 8 verse 29. And he who sent me Jesus it is with me. The father has not left me alone.

For I always do those things that please him. They see Jack I understand that there's the father and there's a son. But listen in our Western thinking you better divorce yourself of one thing right now in the Bible the son is not less than the father.

Remember we talked about this before under the the person of Jesus Christ in earlier study. Remember in the Hebrew culture and in your Bible if you want an answer of authority you don't have to talk to the father.

You can just go knock on the door. And if the sun opens the door who represents the household whatever the sun says in the Jewish mind it honors the father. Are you with me on that. Remember that. Well I want to speak your father.

You know that's what we do here in this Western culture. I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to your father. Well you can speak to me. I've been authorized to do all that my father would have done.

Oh really. See that's how Jesus came. Jesus didn't somehow lessen himself to become the son of God. He came to perform a purpose. He was always God. We saw that in Christ in his eternal existence. Christ from eternity he has always existed.

And so when the sun says something it's exactly what the father would say. When the sun authorizes something it's exactly what the father authorizes. When the sun lets a woman go who's been caught in the act of adultery so the father lets her go.

When Jesus opens the eyes of the blind he's doing exactly the will of the father. You with me. You understand that very simple when you look at it in the Hebrew mind or in the Mideast understanding. The second thing that we see this morning is this.

Jesus, the Father, and the Unity of Their Authority

And that is Jesus the father and the Trinity. We need to understand this. Jesus the father and the Trinity very very important. They are one in 2nd John chapter 1 verses chapters 1 through 9 or 1. In 2nd John chapter 1 verse 9 says.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the father and the son about you. But that gets me excited. Those of you who are witnessing to people and you come up come up with this doctrine of the Trinity.

Question. You know I love them dearly. But they're in gross error. And that's our friends who are Jehovah Witnesses. They love to talk about this topic. They love it because to them it's illogical. It's unreasonable.

You can't. You can't come to a conclusion regarding this person of the Trinity. And they say that you believe in false doctrine. That's not true whatsoever. Just because God is beyond human reason doesn't mean that it's illogical.

God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. That may be unreasonable to you but not to God. They're one. They are one. Jesus said in John chapter 10 I and my father are one. The next thing that we see regarding Jesus the father in the Trinity that they are one also is that they are absolute.

They are absolute. Three things regarding how absolute they are. And by the way just right now we're mentioning Jesus in the father. But this all these attributes are going to give. You are also attributed to the spirit.

The Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience of God

They are. Write it down. Omnipotent omni means all all powerful omnipotent God the father is recorded in scripture as being all-powerful. Jesus is in Matthew chapter 28 verse 18 it says. Jesus spoke to them and said all power has been given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Friend if you've got all power that's in heaven and on earth you've got all power. You are omnipotent. Book of Revelation tells us that Jesus is omnipotent. You and I have no problem giving that attribute to God.

But listen somebody might ask you is God omnipotent. You see. Of course he is. Now watch this. If you know your Bible and somebody says well then is the Holy Spirit omnipotent. You better know the answer to that question.

Do you know what it is. Yes. The Bible says in Psalm 139. Whether shall I go from my spirit. Or where shall I flee from my presence. If I ascend into hell thou art there. If I go to the heights of heaven behold thou art there.

So not only is God omnipotent the Holy Spirit Jesus the father because they are God singular are omnipresent. You say. Well I don't know if I understand omni means all present means present. David. Jeremiah was singing earlier and said.

We come into your presence with Thanksgiving. A friend of mine. Cute little story. His father. They're all praying together. Lord we just come now to your presence. We come now to your presence. And days went by.

Lord we come to your presence this morning. We want to thank you for this day. And by the end of the week his little son said you know I gotta ask you something. Dad. When are we gonna get the presence.

I thought that was cute. We come to your presence. Well where are they got his omnipresent. He's everywhere. He's everywhere someone. 39 verse 7 and 8 he's omniscient. The word omniscient is all-knowing.

By the way I don't have a scripture reference in front of me. But the verse comes to my mind. The Bible says that the seven eyes of the Spirit are upon us. Seven eyes. Well it's symbolic language. It means totality the completeness of God.

He sees all he knows all. There's nothing hidden from him. And first John 320 it's just for our hearts. If our heart condemns us by the way don't raise your hand. But are you feeling a little spiritually under the weather.

Do you feel like you're blowing it as a Christian that you're somehow drowning and failure. You just seem to be falling apart. Well first of all get baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit for one thing.

And then secondly listen to this verse. It says. For if our heart condemns us God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. A man is that wonderful. If you condemned man I just such a rotten Christian God says hey I know you.

I know you're a bumbling knucklehead. Don't condemn your don't condemn yourself anymore. I know you I know your heart. You want to follow me. It's beautiful. Well the next thing that we want to go to is this.

The Holy Spirit as a Personal, Intelligent, and Emotional Being

And that's the point number three. And that is Jesus the Spirit and the Trinity. Jesus the Spirit and the Trinity. And the first thing that we see here is this. That Jesus the Spirit. Jesus in the spirit of personality.

And we can all say. Well of course Jesus has a personality. But the spirit for many people the Holy Spirit is almost somebody that they're afraid of. Because some people have our time relating to him we call him what.

What is it him. He will. He's always spoken of in scripture with the personal pronoun. Did you know that ladies I don't mean to be offensive by this. But got got says in his original scripture that he is a he take heart is nothing like us men.

But he speaks of himself in them. In a male gender don't know why. Just that he is. He says he's a he. And the Holy Spirit throughout scripture says that he is a he. Personal pronoun Jesus we can relate to him.

No problem. Jesus the Spirit and personality. And 2nd Samuel chapter 23 verse 2. 2nd Samuel 23 to says the spirit of the Lord spoke to me. And his words were on my tongue. That's interesting. The Holy Spirit speaks.

He has that power. Not only that in Acts chapter 13 verse 2 there the Bible says. And as they ministered under the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said quote. Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

I personal pronoun describing whom the Holy Spirit. He is a person he can speak. Thank God he does. When was the last time you heard from him. By the way he loves to use the Bible. Jesus even told us he said when the Holy Spirit comes he will speak.

What's over things I've commanded you. And he will teach you. And what is implied from the Word of God. You want the Holy Spirit to speak to you read your Bible. So I can tell you you don't read your Bible.

You won't hear God speak. Anybody says I don't hear God speak. I know this is just between us. But when somebody says to me I don't hear God speak either a they're not reading the Bible. Or be they haven't learned to understand or recognize his voice when he speaks.

And again there's always this one. When you do something wrong he always seems to speak very loud and clear. I have no problem hearing them when I'm either thinking about doing something wrong or have done it.

And it's always Jack. It's never. It's never. It's Jack. He's just got this tone in his voice. Drop this down. Concerning the person of the Holy Spirit. And it's obvious that we know this concerning Jesus.

But the Holy Spirit he has a will. He has a will. I'll give you one verse though there are many. Isaiah 48 16. Isaiah 48 16 says. Come near to me. Hear this. I have not spoken in secret from the beginning.

From the time that was passed I was there. And now the Lord God and his spirit have sent me wonderful. He has a will. I'll throw in another scripture. Even I told you I wasn't going to give you another one.

In the book of Ephesians chapter 4 the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is the one who gives gifts to the members of the body of Christ. Jesus doesn't give them. The father doesn't give them. The Holy Spirit gives them interesting.

He has emotions. The Holy Spirit has emotions. Isaiah 63 verse 10 says. But they rebelled and grieve. The word in Hebrews made angry. They rebelled and made angry his Holy Spirit. So the spirit turned and became their enemy.

And he fought against them. This is in relation to the children of Israel going to the desert. Can you imagine. Can you imagine so upsetting the Holy Spirit that he turns and becomes your enemy. Wow. Isaiah 63 10.

You can make angry the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in Thessalonians. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. He has an intellect. He has a mind. And first Corinthians 210 the Bible says. But God has revealed them to us through his spirit.

For the spirit searches all things. Yes the deep things of God. He has an intellect. He has deep obviously deep understanding. Also this we go to Jesus the spirit and personality. Also Jesus the spirit and purpose.

The Trinity's Work in Christ's Birth and Salvation

And people we need to go quick with this. Okay I'm gonna run through these very quickly. The purpose. Matthew chapter 1 verse 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ is as follows. After his mother was engaged to Joseph.

Before they had union physical union. Before they had sex she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. That was the purpose of God. The purpose of the Trinity was at work. How did Mary become pregnant by the person of the Holy Spirit.

Her humanity by the way her DNA her bloodline was in Jesus but not Joseph's. If you know the Bible well you know that from the curse of Jeconiah none of his descendants which Joseph was related to could have the blood in the Messiah.

So what did God do. God have the Holy Spirit just. And she was pregnant a miraculous conception by God. Titus chapter 3 verses 4 through 6. Titus 3 4 through 6 is. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward men appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done not according to but according to his own mercies he has saved us through the washing of the regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.