The Trinity: Father, Son & Holy spirit

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Who Can Explain the Trinity?

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

The trinity

1) This illustration describes what the Trinity is not:

a) The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not a ___________ of God.

b) There are not ___________ Gods.

c) God does not ___________ Himself into each Person or role at separate times for specific purposes.

d) Here, the ___________ and the ___________ are not viewed as God; only the Father is seen as Divine.

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2) This illustration describes what the Trinity is: (although not perfectly, of course)

a) There is only ___________ God.Genesis 1:1; Deut 6:4; Isaiah 42:8

b) There are three ___________ in that one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

c) Although each Person is ___________ God (=), each Person is ___________ from the others (cancelled equal sign). Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22;Luke 11:13; John 14:26; Acts 5:3-4

d) God the Father is represented by the hand to show his creative work.

e. God the Son is represented by the cross, the empty tomb and the kneeling figure with a crown on his head to show that the servant king came to serve, not to be served. He did this through His life, death and resurrection. Matthew 1:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 3:28

f) God the Holy Spirit is represented by the dove (Matthew 3:16) The Spirit leads people to faith in Jesus Christ, making us holy (sanctified) before the Father. John 16:12-15.

To understand the doctrine of the Trinity is to be able to grasp the mind of God. We don’t have that mind; we will never truly nor fully comprehend this truth of God. Yet God doesn’t call us to “grasp and understand it completely”. He calls us to accept it through FAITH. “For we are saved by God’s grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 We are called to praise Him as the God the Holy Scriptures reveal. We are called to praise the three Persons of the one Triune God for their gracious works, their functions, on our behalf. For example, in Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul refers to the work of the Father in vv. 3-6, the Son in vv. 7-12, and the Spirit in vv. 13,14 – and concludes each section with a summons to praise.

Look over the Three Ecumenical Creeds. Note how the Creeds are focused on understanding the Trinity, with different emphases and explanations.

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THREE ECUMENICAL CREEDS

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

* catholic means "universal" and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Apostles' Creed as we now have it dates from the eighth century. However, it is a revision of the so-called Old Roman Creed, which was used in the West by the third century. Behind the Old Roman Creed, in turn, were variations which had roots in the New Testament itself. While this creed does not come from the apostles, its roots are apostolic. It serves as a Baptismal symbol -- that is, it describes the faith into which we are baptized and is used in the rites of Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I

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acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 A greater variety of creeds appeared in the East than in the West. When the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) rejected the teaching of Arius, it expressed its position by adopting one of the current Eastern symbols and inserting into it some anti-Arian phrases, resulting in this creed. At the Council of Constantinople (381) some minor changes were made, and it was reaffirmed at the Council of Chalcedon (451). It is an essential part of the doctrine and liturgy of the Lutheran churches. Historically it has been used especially at Holy Communion on Sundays and major feasts (except when the Apostles' Creed is used as the Baptismal Creed).

The Athanasian Creed

Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic faith. Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally.

Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.

For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another. But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit. Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit.

The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite. Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit: And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal; as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited.

Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit: And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty.

Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God: And yet there are not three gods, but one God.

Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord: And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord.

As Christian truth compels us to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.

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The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten; the Son was neither made nor created, but was alone begotten of the Father; the Spirit was neither made nor created, but is proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Thus there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits. And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other; but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must worship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons. Whoever wants to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.

It is necessary for eternal salvation that one also faithfully believe that our Lord Jesus Christ became flesh. For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man.

He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother -- existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body; equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity. Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ.

He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity. He is completely one in the unity of his person, without confusing his natures.

For as the rational soul and body are one person, so the one Christ is God and man. He suffered death for our salvation. He descended into hell and rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

At his coming all people shall rise bodily to give an account of their own deeds. Those who have done good will enter eternal life, those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith. One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully.

This creed is of uncertain origin. It was supposedly prepared in the time of Athanasius, the great theologian of the fourth century, although it seems more likely that it dates from the fifth or sixth centuries and is Western in character. It assists the Church in combating two errors that undermined Bible teaching: the denial that God's Son and the Holy Spirit are of one being with the Father; the other a denial that Jesus Christ is true God and true man in one person. It declares that whoever rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of Christ is without the saving faith. Traditionally it is considered the "Trinitarian Creed" and read aloud in corporate worship on Trinity Sunday.

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In a phrase or two, describe the function of:

God the Father ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God the Son ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God the Holy Spirit ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Life of Jesus (Redemption)

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Do you think most people in the USA/world have heard of Jesus?

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

1. Why was he given the name “Jesus”? Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name

Jesus, because he will ____________ his people from their ____________."

2. T – F In addition to faith in Jesus Christ, people can be “saved” in other ways.Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under

heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

3. Jesus is called Christ or Messiah, for they mean the same thing, which is what?a. anointed one (see Acts 10:38)b. royaltyc. the promised oned. almighty

4. It is easy to understand that Jesus was a human. But why do we believe He was also God, divine, true God and true man together?

1 John 5:20b He is the true ____________ and ____________ ____________.John 20:28 Thomas said to him, "My ____________ and my _________!"John 1:1-2,14 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. 14 The Word became ____________ and made his dwelling among us.

Romans 9:5 …of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

There are many other verses that testify to Jesus being God, i.e. Hebrews 1:3, 13:8, Matthew 9:6, 28:18-20, John 1:3, 5:27, 21:17

Illustration of the 2nd Person of the Trinity & the Incarnation,

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5. What is our response to this truth of Jesus being the Christ?Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave

him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

6. Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways. What is the central focus of this holiday? ________________________________________________________________

You can find the Christmas Story in the beginning of Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels.

7. What is your favorite part of the Christmas Story?

8. Share a special memory of a Christmas Celebration.

9. What does the word “Incarnation” mean?a. Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothesb. God taking on the form of a man. c. Type of milk product for childrend. Forgiveness

10. What does Immanual/Emmanuel mean?a. God with usb. God having mercy on usc. Man knowing Godd. A man from Mexico’s name.

11. What was the main purpose of Jesus’ life (the Word becoming flesh)?

1 John 3:8 The reason the Son of God appeared was to ____________ the ____________ work.

12. We see this in a variety of ways. During His life on earth, Jesus endured poverty, misunderstanding, hatred, and persecution. Finally His enemies arrested Him, innocently condemned Him, and nailed Him to a cross. As the Apostles’ Creed put it: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.” How does Christ’s suffering and death benefit us?

Isaiah 53:5 2 Corinthians 5:21

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Incarnation

2 Timothy 1:10Genesis 3:151 John 3:8John 3:16

13. We know that Jesus suffered and died as our Substitute, thereby saving us from a. ____________ (its guilt, punishment, and slavery)b. ____________ (which is now the entrance into eternal life)c. ____________ (all his evil works and all his evil ways)

* Redemption means: ____________________________________

14. Who can receive this great redemption?a. 2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for ____________.b. 1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but

also for the sins of the whole ____________.

15. Since Jesus died for the whole world, will all people be saved automatically now that Jesus has done His great and mighty work?

2 Peter 2:1 …even denying the sovereign Lord who ____________ them-- bringing swift ____________ on themselves.

Acts 16:31 ____________ in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved

Matthew 7:21 "____________ ______________ who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

16. Matthew’s text naturally beckons the question, “what is the will of the Father?”John 6:28-29 Then they asked (Jesus) him, "What must we do to do the works

God requires?" Jesus answered, "The ____________ of God is this: to ____________ in the one he has sent."

17. Which of the following statements are true:

a. Christ came to show us that God is Love and has nothing against us.

b. Christ came to appease the wrath and suffer the punishment of God which we had deserved by our sins.

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18. T – F As Lutherans, we boldly proclaim, as did the apostle Paul, the death of Jesus Christ as the ultimate event by which salvation has been

won for us!

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach ____________ ____________: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

19. T – F As Lutherans, we believe that Jesus went to Hell during that weekend of His death, before His resurrection.

1 Peter 3:18,19 He was made alive … (and) went and preached to the spirits who were in ____________. . . (spirits who lived in the time of Noah).

Revelation 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the ____________ of death and Hades.

20. T – F We believe that Jesus’ going to Hell before His resurrection was not as punishment, but to proclaim ____________ over satan and all evil.

21. T – F At the resurrection, Jesus rose in bodily form, not just as a spirit.

Luke 24: 38-43 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

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Rembrandt’s portrayal of the Crucifixion (unfinished)

Rembrandt’s portrayal of the Crucifixion

22. What does Jesus’ resurrection in bodily form say about our future life in heaven? ________________________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Final LapWhat now, now that we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

If time permits, listen to the song called “Thief” by Third Day as our closing.

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The work of the holy spirit (Sanctification)

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Share a time when you’ve felt the Holy Spirit’s presence.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

1. Ascension/Pentecost: 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples one last time face to face. He gave them the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). He then ascended into heaven, but not before promising that the Holy Spirit would come upon them soon (Luke 24:39; John 14:26).

2. Acts 2 describes the special day of Pentecost. The name “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word Pentékosté, meaning "fiftieth", and originally referred to Shavuot, a Jewish holiday, celebrated after seven full weeks on the fiftieth day after Passover. The Hebrew festival was originally connected with celebrating the

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(Rembrandt – Pentecost)

(Rembrandt – The Ascension)

first-fruits of the spring grain harvest, but the Christian festival lost those associations to the new association with the descent of the Holy Spirit.

3. T – F The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity.

Matthew 28:20 …in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy SpiritActs 5:3-4 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart

that you have lied to the Holy Spirit … You have not lied to men but to God."

4. What vital work does the Holy Spirit perform in people’s lives?a. strength in prayer lifeb. faith in Jesus c. know right from wrongd. feel good about ourselves

5. Sanctification means: __________________________________________________

6. T – F We can believe in Jesus on our own.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the _____________ does not _____________ the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are _____________ to him, and he cannot _____________ them, because they are spiritually discerned.

See also: Ephesians 2:1 Romans 8:7

Therefore, we recognize that we are by nature spiritually _____________, _____________, and _____________ of God and therefore cannot bring ourselves to faith in Christ, or even help along to do so.

7. How does the Holy Spirit bring people to faith in Jesus?a. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers

loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God _____________ you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the _____________ and through belief in the truth. He _____________ you to this through our _____________, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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See also: Revelation 22:17Romans 10:17Romans 1:16

8. Lutherans believe in the Means of Grace. In other words, we recognize God works through “means” to deliver what it is He promised. Therefore, the _________________ (Scripture) and the ________________ are means of grace. They are the ways the Holy Spirit delivers the grace of God, His undeserved, forgiving love to us poor sinners.

9. The moment the Holy Spirit brings a person to faith in Jesus, what happens?a. Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lordb. Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in

mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.

c. 1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

d. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

From the above texts, we understand that a marvelous change occurs in a person when they become a believer. Once, they were spiritually _____________, but now they _____________; sees Christ as their precious Savior; sees God, Jesus, self, others in a whole new light.

Once they were _____________ in their sins, but now they _____________! They have been born again into a life that IS life: union with God. He is a child of God (Regeneration)

Once they were turned away from God and _____________ Him. But now they are turned toward God and _____________ Him. (Conversion)

10. Have you ever wondered, “Am I really a believer?” What was the conclusion you arrived at? Why? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. To know whether or not you are saved, ask yourself these questions:a. Am I sorry for my sins?b. Do I believe and trust in Jesus Christ for my salvation?

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If the answer is “Yes” to these questions, then the answer is “Yes” to whether or not you are a believer in Jesus.

12. Well then, if the Holy Spirit leads me to faith in Jesus for my salvation, what am I supposed to do now with the rest of my life?

a. Live as a _____________ _____________ in Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

b. Live doing _____________ _____________ – Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

John 14:15 (Jesus said) "If you love me, you will obey what I command.1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all

for the glory of God.

13. If God the Holy Spirit is the one calling and gathering people into the faith, why are not all people being saved?

a. God is not strong enough to save EVERYONEb. God is limited in what He can doc. God only desires some to be savedd. God is rejected by people

Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always _____________ the Holy Spirit!

Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were ________ _____________.

1 Timothy 2:4 (God) wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Lutherans believe that man is wholly saved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Lutherans also believe that man is wholly condemned by man’s sin and rejection of the gospel of Jesus, i.e., man’s own fault. In other words, “God gets all the praise, we get all the blame.”

Final LapWhat urgent call comes to each of us today?

Do not _____________ the Holy Spirit, but _____________ and _____________ in Jesus as the Christ, our Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.

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a. Hebrews 4:7b "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. b. Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he (Jesus) said. "The kingdom of God is

near. Repent and believe the good news!"

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