2/4/12- The Trinity- the Divinity of Jesus Claimed

Q. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. Three persons exist in the one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are one God, the same in substance, and equal in power and glory. 


Jesus possesses the attributes of life.
1) He forgives (Matthew 9:6)-  "Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
2) He made himself equal to God (John 5:18)- For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
3) He is pre-existent- (John 8:58)- ⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone him.


Jesus is called by the Father His Son
At his baptism- "You are my beloved Son in you I take delight" (Mark 1:10)
At his transfiguration- "This is my beloved Son in whom I delight, listen to him. (Mt. 17:5)
In Gethsemane- Jesus said, "Glorify thy name."  A voice from heaven said, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."  (John 12). 

(Symbol of the Trinity)


Thoughts: It is one thing to experience Jesus is God.  It is another for Jesus to make His own claims.  He claimed to forgive sins- and then proved it by healing the lame man (Matthew 9).  The Jews claimed Jesus was blaspheming claiming something only God could do- forgive sins. He made Himself equal to God, and the Jews tried to kill Him for that.  Jesus claimed that before Abraham was, he existed.  For this the Jews took up stones to kill him- for He claimed to be God.  Jesus made claims about Himself that no mere mortal could make.  To say that Jesus was just a great teacher but not believe His teaching about Himself is to say He wasn't such a great teacher.  
But more than that is the voice of God that was heard by others- at his baptism, at his transfiguration, and in the Garden before His arrest.  God the Father loved His Son and his voice was a sign of His approval. We too should listen and love Him- putting our hope and faith in Him. 


Prayer: Lord, may I find my hope and faith in you.

2/2/12- Affirmation and Negations of the Trinity

Q. In how many persons does this one God exist?
A. Three persons exist in the one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are one God, the same in substance, and equal in power and glory.


In the beginning was the word.  And the Word was with God and the word was God...The Word became flesh and lived among us.  (John 1:1,14)

(Symbol of the Trinity)


Thoughts: There are three statements that define the trinity: 1) There is one God; 2) The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God; 3) Each of these three persons are distinct from each other and from creation but equal in power and glory.  This denies some views, and in their denial it might help us to understand what we affirm in the trinity. 
1. Unitarianism- that denies the divinity of the Son and Spirit.  
2. Polytheism- that denies the oneness of God. The trinity idea also denies the idea of different gods in different gods (which Mormons uphold). 
3. Pantheism and panentheism- which cannot draw a distinction between God and creation. 
4. Modalism- that God appeared in one form but not at the same time in another (like an actor in a play- assuming different roles).  That is when Jesus became human, there was no Father or Holy Spirit. 
3. Monarchism- that one of the three persons was superior to the other two (usually the Father). So the shorter catechism answers "equal in power and glory."  
The Trinity affirms the experience of Christians all over the world of a unified-one God but that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God.  The Trinity means that God is plural enough to be self-existent- with the Father loving the Son and Spirit; The Son loves the Father and Spirit; the Spirit loves the Father and Son.  God's love within Himself also elicits love within us.  


Prayer: Lord, help us to love you as you are full of love.  Give us grace also to love others and ourselves. 


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