LEARNING TO LIVE

Lesson No. 9: What Does The Bible Say About God Being Three Persons in One (The Trinity)?

 COMMENT: Although the Word of God does not specifically use the term "trinity", the idea of three persons in one certainly is taught throughout the Scriptures.  Even when you look at God's creation, you can see without much trouble that the idea of three in one is built into it.  Let's look at a few examples:

 a. A human being is made up of a spirit, a soul and a body, yet that person is one person.
b. An atom is made up of 3 basic parts - a neutron, proton and an electron, yet the atom is one.
c. Water appears in 3 forms - liquid, ice and vapor, yet water is one.
d. Time is past, present and future.
e. A family must include at least a Father, Mother and Child (three persons) yet it is one family. 

These are but a few examples of how three in one can be illustrated from nature.

Gen 3:22  And the Lord God said, "Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 

1. In Genesis 3:22 does God say, (a.) "the man is become as me.      (b.) "the man is become as one of us."?

 

Gen 1:26  Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth." 

2. In Genesis 1:26 does God say, (a.) "let me make man in my image."  (b.) "Let us make man in our image."?

 

Gen 11:6-7  And the Lord said, "If as one people all sharing a common language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be beyond them. (7) Come, let's go down and confuse their language so they won't be able to understand each other."

 3.      In Genesis 11:6, 7 did the Lord say, (a.) "let us go down."  (b.) "let me go down."?

 

Mat 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 

4.      In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told his disciples to baptize in: the name or names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

 

COMMENT: Notice that in Genesis God speaks of Himself as "us" or "our", which points out that He recognizes Himself as more than one personality.  In Matthew He speaks as one name yet three are mentioned.  The "us" points out that God is three in one. 

5. In the following verses, who did the creating?  (The Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit)

 

Isaiah 64:8  Yet, Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.

  

Colossians 1:13-17  He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, (14)  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  (15)  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, (16)  for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him — all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers — all things were created through him and for him.  (17)  He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

 

 Job 26:13  By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

 

6. The Father created, the Son created, and the Holy Spirit created, yet what name is used in Isaiah 44:24 to identify the one who did the creating?
Isaiah 44:24  This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the one who formed you in the womb: "I am the Lord, who made everything, who alone stretched out the sky, who fashioned the earth all by myself,

 

 

 7. Who is equal with the Father, according to John 5:23?
John 5:23  so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

 

 

8. In John 10:30, what does Jesus say that He and the Father are?
John 10:30  The Father and I are one."

 

9. What did the Jews understand Jesus was really saying about Himself?
John 10:33  The Jewish leaders replied, "We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God."

 

10. In the following verses, point out who is called Lord: 

Roman 1:7  To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 Matthew 1:23  "Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel," which means "God with us."

 

Romans 9:5  To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

 

Hebrews 1:8  but of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.

 

Act 5:3-4  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?  (4)  Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!"

 

11. In the following verses point out who is called Lord: 

Matthew 11:25  At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children.

 

Romans 10:9  because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ."

 

Philippians 2:11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

 

2Corintians 3:17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

 

12. How many times does the word Holy appear in the following verses? 

Isa 6:3  They called out to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who leads armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!" 

Revelation 4:8  Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!"

 

Only twice in the Scriptures is God addressed in this manner.  Isn't it significant that the word Holy is used three times instead of one, two, four or five?  God is three in one!

 COMMENT: It is very interesting that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all called God and all are called Lord.  Ephesians 4:5 says that there are how many Lords? _______  This is positive proof that God is three in one (a triune being).  Is it not also interesting that where God is mentioned in Genesis 1:1 the term for god is "Elohim" in the Hebrew language?  The "im" ending of that word is a plural ending.  Read Exodus 20:3.  It is exactly the same Hebrew word used there as in Genesis 1:1.  However, when speaking of the true God, no "s" is placed at the end of the word.  When speaking of false gods, of which there are many, and "s" is used.  To show you how accurate the Scriptures are, in Genesis 1:1 a singular verb is used (created) when speaking if the true god, even though a plural word is used for His name.  In proper Hebrew construction, a plural verb should have been used with a plural subject.  However, since God is one yet three personalities, it certainly is proper to have such an unusual sentence construction.

13. God tells you in Hebrews 13:17 to obey them that have the rule over you who are in the church.  Why?
Hebrews 13:17  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.

 

14. If I am working for someone, what does God expect me to do? 
Col 3:22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching — like those who are strictly people-pleasers — but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

 

 COMMENT: God is not nearly as concerned with what we do and go though as He is with our response (attitude) to what we go through.  In all that He designs or allows us to experience, His chief concern is that our attitude becomes consistent with those of His Son, Jesus Christ.  We are to become more like the Savior in our daily living.  He was subject to the authority of His parents as He was growing up.  See Hebrews 5:8.

15. What kind of example did Christ leave for you? 
1Peter 2:21  For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.

 

16. Even though Jesus was god the Son, did He demand His rights as God while living here on the earth?  NO!  Philippians 2:8 tells us that He humbled Himself!  What was the Savior's response to the most horrible situation that could ever be faced by Him?
Mat 26:39  Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will."

 

17. What attitude should you have? 
Psalm 40:8  I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts."

 

18. What should be your prayer every day? 
Psalm 143:10  Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.

 

19. The best way to obey is to read God's Word and find out what He desires for your life.  What does Galatians 6:10 say you should desire to do?
Gal 6:10  So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

 

20. If you give yourself over to the service of others, see what God has promised you in Isaiah 58:10-12.
Isaiah 58:10-12  You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday. (11) The Lord will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.  (12)  Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt; you will reestablish the ancient foundations. You will be called, 'The one who repairs broken walls, the one who makes the streets livable again.' 

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21. What will be the result of all this as you step out on faith and do them? 
1John 1:4  Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

 

 COMMENT: What is your aim in life?  One has said, "He who aims at nothing hits it."  We need to have a life aim or objective.  When you  come to the end of the years you have left, and you have nothing but death to look forward to and nothing but memories to look back upon, will you say, "I LIVED THE BEST I KNEW HOW FOR THE LORD JESUS AND I AM READY TO GO?"