Sermon Transcript
Reader's Version
Experiencing The Trinity
Sermon By Gene Simco
I heard a story about two guys at a bar—because that’s the kind of story you tell in a book about Christianity. So, these two guys are sitting across from a beautiful woman. One of the guys notices her and starts thinking, I want to talk to her, but he doesn’t have the courage. He takes a few sips to build up some "liquid courage," but it turns out to be a waste of time. Just as he’s debating his approach, another guy walks over and sits next to her.Now he’s feeling defeated and starts venting to his friend. “What does it matter anyway? She’s probably way out of my league. Even if I did talk to her, I'd be looking over my shoulder my whole life.”But then he began to think, “Maybe it’s her brother … not her husband.” Still not courageous enough, he then asked his friend to approach the woman and ask if she’s married.His friend chuckles, “Sure, I’ll ask if she's married.”So, he walks over and asks, “Excuse me, miss. Are you married?”She replies with a smile, “This is my husband.”He returns to his friend, but is initially delayed in his response, so his friend asks, “So, what did she say? Did she say she was married?”“No,” his friend responded, “she didn’t say ‘she was married’.”Not convinced, his friend says, “Go ask again, just to be sure.”He sighs but heads back over, “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s loud in here, and I want to be clear. Are you married?”Now she’s a little annoyed, “This is my husband!”He goes back to his friend, again delays in his response, so the man asks again, Did she say she was married?” The friend again responded, “No, she didn’t say ‘she was married’.”So finally the friend interested in the woman has the courage to approach her and heads over. Before he can even speak, the woman turns around and slaps him. He returns to his friend, holding his cheek, and said, “I thought I asked you to check if she was married.”His friend grins and says, “I did. She didn’t say, I’m married.”
In the last chapter, I walked you through the basics of the Gospel from 1 Corinthians 15—the core message. I called this "primary doctrine." Building on that foundation, we find additional essential teachings. In presenting the Gospel basics, I included the statement that Jesus is God. Now, 1 Corinthians 15 doesn’t explicitly say this, but it’s certainly implied. Today, we'll explore how this truth is not only implied but stated explicitly elsewhere in Scripture, because if Jesus isn’t God, the Gospel loses its meaning.Along with this, we’re going to examine the identity of God within the Trinity. I realize this topic might not feel “basic” to everyone, but I’ll aim to make it clear and approachable. This is an interesting challenge, but it’s crucial for understanding who God is.First, I’ll address some misunderstandings, or heresies. “Heresy” can sound intense—don’t worry, we’re not burning anyone at the stake! I simply want to share a few incorrect teachings to help equip you. By examining these, we can better understand the correct way to think about God.Let’s start with a key point: Christianity is monotheistic. We believe in one God, as Scripture repeatedly affirms. A few weeks ago, we discussed the importance of immersing ourselves in the Bible. I want to return to that idea briefly by looking at Deuteronomy 6:4.Deuteronomy 6:4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone [isOne]. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly tothese commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again toyour children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on theroad, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.A couple of important points here. Remember our commitment to be devoted to the Word of God. Scripture calls us to think about it constantly, shaping our lives by it. This declaration of one God is rooted in the Shema, which I mentioned briefly before. The Shema is the foundational statement, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). It’s something that Jewish children learn early on and even recite as a deathbed prayer. It emphasizes that God is one—central to understanding our faith. The Shema teaches that God’s words are to be at the forefront of our minds and actions.The concept of the Trinity—one God in three persons—may initially seem puzzling. How can God be one, yet also three? Yet, as we explore Scripture, we find this teaching throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It’s crucial to Jesus’s teachings too; without the Trinity, His message about the Father, the Son, and the Spirit wouldn’t hold.Though the term Trinity isn’t explicitly in the Bible, the concept is clearly present. From the opening words of Genesis, we observe a plurality within the one essence of God.Let's take a look at Genesis 1 to see how this unfolds.Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Theearth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. Andthe Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.So, here we see this idea coming together. Here, you can see God the Father and the Holy Spirit as distinct, which Genesis highlights. As the creation narrative unfolds, we see the roles each plays in creation. Then, on the sixth day, animals are created, followed by humanity.Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”You may have noticed the phrase “Let us make human beings in our image”—it’s always plural, regardless of the translation, and it’s plural in the original Hebrew as well. This points to a plurality of persons within the one God. This also sets the stage for Jesus, as God creates humanity in “our image.” You can see a foreshadowing here.In Genesis 3, we encounter the story of Adam and Eve. Even if you haven’t read the Bible, you probably know the account: they’re deceived by the serpent, which leads to the fall.Genesis 3:8 introduces us to...Genesis 3:8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard [the sound/voice of] the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.Now, we see God doing something human-like in Genesis 3:8—walking around in the garden. That’s unusual, isn’t it? Previously, we saw Him hovering over the waters, but here He’s doing something we associate with human behavior.What we’re encountering here is what’s known as a Christophany—an early appearance of Jesus before He’s revealed as Jesus. These appearances are sometimes described as a “man” or “angel” of the Lord. For instance, Jacob wrestles with a “man,” but we find out this “man” is actually God. This happens throughout the Old Testament—a manifestation of God appearing in a form relatable to humanity.This theme of God’s triune nature continues in the Old Testament, where God directly asserts His triunity. For example, in Isaiah 48, God speaks of Himself in a way that hints at this multi-personal nature. For some context, this part of Isaiah deals with the Israelites’ coming redemption from captivity in Babylon, and God is using Cyrus as His instrument of deliverance (starting in Isaiah 45). In Isaiah 48:12, we read, “I am he. I am the First and the Last.” God goes on to say, essentially, “I created everything with my own hand,” making it clear that this is the Creator God we encountered in Genesis—the one who spoke the world into existence. His voice here unmistakably identifies Him as that same Creator. Then we see this …Isaiah 48:16 Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.” And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message.Here, we see God referring to the Sovereign Lord and His Spirit. We see a similar thing in Zechariah 12 …Zechariah 12:10 “Then I will pour out the spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.”This is clearly a reference to Jesus, who was crucified. Here, we see the distinct Persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet they are all unified as the same God. This passage beautifully illustrates the concept of God being both one and three. For instance, some translations, like the NASB, capitalize "Spirit" to indicate the Holy Spirit, making the text even clearer.In the New Testament, this concept is evident right from the start of the Gospels. Take Matthew 3:16, for example...Matthew 3:16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”Here, we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together, revealing the Trinity.If we turn to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we see the Trinity within what is sometimes referred to The Apostolic Commission. Within that, if we pay close attention...Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.Here’s something to consider for a moment. If there were any confusion, you wouldn’t be baptizing someone in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if they weren’t all God. So, Jesus is affirming that all three are God. In fact, Jesus Himself defines the Trinity for us.Now, in addressing some of the heresies that have emerged, one example is Modalism. This is often associated with the Oneness Pentecostal movement, where they claim that all three names—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—refer to the same person, Jesus. They might say you are baptized in the name of Jesus alone, removing the distinctions between the persons of the Trinity. When I first encountered this teaching, I was confused. But, when you look at the Greek text, it’s clear: Jesus is making a distinction between three separate persons, each co-equal as God. The word και “and” is present between each or the Persons of The Trinity. We will look more closely at the Oneness Pentecostal teaching later in the chapter on Baptism. Paul also recognized the Trinity, as we see in 2 Corinthians 13:14...2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.Let’s think about this for a second. If there were any confusion, you wouldn’t be baptizing people into the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if they weren’t all God, right? So Jesus is affirming that all three are God. This is where Jesus defines the Trinity for us.Now, some incorrect teachings arise here. The first is polytheism, the idea of multiple gods, which is incompatible with biblical teaching. On the other hand, we have Modalism, which teaches that God expresses Himself in three different modes. However, the truth is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, not three modes of expression. This distinction is vital for understanding God’s nature.For instance, Jesus prays to the Father, which wouldn't make sense if they were just modes of the same person. It's not as if one mode is praying to another mode—each person of the Trinity exists simultaneously, and each is distinct yet fully God.You might have heard various analogies for the Trinity, like the egg, water, or the shamrock. The problem with these is that they can be separated into distinct parts—such as separating the yolk from the egg or freezing water into ice—yet God cannot be separated into parts. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, and they cannot be divided in the way these illustrations suggest.I’ve used these analogies myself in the past, even thought I had a clever explanation. For example, I once tried to explain the Trinity by saying, "I’m a pastor, but I’m also a father and a husband." At first, it seemed like a good analogy: one person with three roles. But it doesn’t work because it’s not three distinct persons. It’s just one person in different roles. This analogy is actually a form of Modalism, and like other analogies, it falls short in explaining the Trinity.The reality is that, as humans, we often try to explain things beyond our full understanding. In the book of Job, the friends spend 38 chapters speculating about why Job is suffering, and when God finally speaks, He says, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” We can’t fully understand God's nature, and He’s not obligated to make it clear to us in ways we can fully comprehend. But He has given us a framework to understand that He is one God in three persons.A helpful illustration, though still imperfect, might be imagining we’re all in a kids' room doing arts and crafts. If we make popsicle stick people, they exist in two dimensions. If we jump into that world, we’d have no way to explain three-dimensional concepts to them. They wouldn’t have the frame of reference. Similarly, it’s difficult for us, being three-dimensional beings, to fully understand a reality that includes a God who exists beyond our dimensions.Historically, the best way to conceptualize the Trinity is to understand that the Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit. But each of them is fully God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not interchangeable but exist in unity, each fully possessing the divine essence. This is the Orthodox view of the Trinity: three persons, one essence. We need to let go of the notion that persons in the Trinity must function like human beings or that they must conform to our limited understanding of personhood. God is beyond that, and we need to approach His nature with humility. Let’s now take a look at how the Father is revealed in the Old Testament, starting with Exodus. In Exodus 4:22, God speaks to Moses...Exodus 4:22 Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”Moses is recalling all of this in Deuteronomy 1:31: "And you saw how the Lord, your God, cared for you all along the way, as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child, and now he has brought you to this place."We see this same relationship in the Psalms as well. In Psalm 103:13, "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him."The prophets also speak to this. In Isaiah 63:16, "Surely you are still our Father, even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past."In the New Testament, this concept is super common. Even if you've never read the Bible, you’ve likely heard the Our Father: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." God is constantly referred to as Father—it's a deeply codified concept. However, the Father, as a person of the Trinity, is not always fully seen, which can be complicated. We hear His voice in passages from Matthew and Mark.Jesus is giving some hard teachings, talking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, claiming to be the bread of life. This is significant as we continue. In John 6:43, "But Jesus replied, 'Stop complaining about what I said, for no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me. Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen Him.'"This brings us to Jesus. As we’ve already seen in the Trinity verses, He refers to Himself as the Son, which is clear. And, as the Son, He is the visible image of the invisible God. Putting together what Jesus just said with how Paul understands it, we see this in Colossians 1:15: "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God."Colossians 1:15 Christ [Jesus] is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.This ties in with Genesis very nicely, right? Jesus was there at creation. He created everything. So, everything I’m saying about Jesus walking in the garden, it all connects. The Word of God verifies that He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is now something we can see. To put it in simple terms, He’s in popsicle stick land, if you will.Now, I mentioned the number one point I made from the resurrection account—Jesus was God. We talked about witnesses, and the witnesses believed. Here, we see Paul affirming that Jesus is God. But even before Paul, even before the incarnation of Jesus, there are instances of people acknowledging it. Think of Thomas—Doubting Thomas, as we call him. When Thomas finally realizes who Jesus is, he declares, "My Lord and my God." They accepted this truth. Just before those verses in the apostolic commission, they worshiped Jesus.Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
For example, in Matthew 28:16, "Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go." And in verse 17, "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some of them doubted." Even in their doubts, they recognized His divinity and worshiped Him.If Jesus were not God, He would not have accepted that worship. No way. He is sinless, and according to monotheistic Judaism, He is acknowledging Himself as God.If you have a keen eye and you've been paying attention, you might have seen in some questionable television series that call themselves Christian. In those, Jesus denies worship. No, He would never deny worship. He is God. We must not make Him less than what He is.Again, Paul believed and affirmed that Jesus is God. We’ve talked about 1 Corinthians 15, which is significant because it’s an early creedal saying. These sayings were passed down to help people remember correct doctrine. You find another example in Philippians 2, my personal favorite. It's an early hymn dating back to the early days of Christianity, and Paul incorporates it into his letter to the Philippians. It begins with, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.” And then in Philippians 2:6, “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” There it is: Jesus existed in the form of God. The hymn concludes with every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord. There you go—very strong affirmation of His divinity.We looked at Romans in the last chapter, about being a living sacrifice, and I think the topic I was addressing was unity—the purpose behind Paul's letter to the Romans. In Romans 9–11, Paul discusses his kinsmen, the Israelites, and what happens to those who do not accept Jesus. He makes a very hyperbolic statement in Romans 9:5. “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” He emphasizes that Jesus is not just the Messiah, but God over all.Romans 9:5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.He is God, and even if you're trying to change that somehow, He rules over everything and is worthy of the worship we talked about. You don't worship anyone but God. In Titus, a book many people don't read, Paul gives instructions to Titus, who is tasked with appointing elders in every town as part of his work in church planting, particularly in Crete. The bulk of the instructions in Titus focuses on the behavior of the people. Paul is concerned about the church's reputation, wanting it to be known for its love. Thus, the instructions emphasize our behavior in that context. Titus 2:12 says, “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”Titus 2:12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.He's our great God and Savior. Remember, in the past, we've talked about how this world is evil. There's another place where it's clearly stated that Jesus is God—2 Peter 1:1.“This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I’m writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and righteousness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.”Peter and Paul agree.We see that Jesus is called “God” in the Gospel of John. This one is a little unusual because John uses the term logos (Word), but when he says "Word," he is referring to Jesus. This concept might seem strange if you’re new to it, but it’s no mystery—everyone knows who John is talking about.So, John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is writing the Gospel of John a bit later than the others. One reason for this is to address an early heresy—Arianism—which claimed that Jesus wasn’t God. This is one of the main points of the Gospel of John.Alright, let’s look at John 1...John 1:1 In the beginning the Word [Jesus] already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.So, Jesus gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. He is the Creator, and this ties in very well with what we see in Colossians. John and Paul are writing very similar things here. Jesus gave light to everyone—think let there be light. He was there, and everything was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. He is God.Now, some people say, "Okay, the disciples believed Jesus was God, but Jesus never actually said He was God." And this brings us back to the reason I told you that silly joke earlier. It’s a technicality—Jesus never used those exact words. But, like the joke, there are many ways to tell someone something without using the exact words. For example, I’m married—I could say, "I’m her husband," or she could say, "I’m his wife." Heather’s way of telling someone she’s married might involve slapping them in the face (those of you who know her are laughing because it’s true). There are many ways to communicate a truth without using the exact words.In the same way, in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus making these powerful "I am" statements. There are seven of them, two of which are metaphors, but there are also two important qualifying statements: "I am the door" and "I am the way, the truth, and the life." These are not just simple declarations of His divinity. Jesus is saying more than just, "I’m a god." Remember, polytheism was prevalent at that time—there were many gods, many idols—and Jesus’ words could easily have been confused with that. However, He is not merely identifying Himself as a god, but with the personal name of God.In the Jewish context, they would understand the significance of this. Jesus is using the divine name, the name God gave Himself when speaking to Moses at the burning bush. Moses asked, “Who should I say sent me?” And God answered, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is using that very name—I AM—which is not just a statement of existence but a claim to divinity. He’s saying, "This is My name." It’s not just "I am a god," but the I AM of the Scriptures. This is crucial, and it’s the claim that ultimately led to Jesus’ crucifixion. When He says "I am," it’s a direct reference to God’s name. The Jewish leadership knew this and understood the gravity of His statement.So, remember when Jesus was speaking to the council of Jewish leaders? They knew exactly what He meant when He said, “I am.” This was the claim that led to His death. Mark 14:60...Mark 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? 64 You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”Jesus is calling Himself God. He’s quoting from Daniel 7, where there’s a prophecy about this eternal one coming from the clouds of heaven. It’s a very strong statement—Here I am. They all knew what that meant, which is why they wanted to kill Him. He’s using the personal name of God. Now, there were other attempts to convey His divinity, and the strongest one in John’s Gospel is found in John 8.As a frame of reference, even if you've never read the Bible, you’ve probably heard the story about the woman caught in adultery, right? Everyone wants to stone her, but Jesus says, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Everyone drops their stones. After this, Jesus denounces the Pharisees, calling them children of the devil. He’s not always soft with them, but then He says something that blows their minds: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). They’re confused at first because it’s a strange sentence. “You’re not even 50 years old, and yet you say, ‘Before Abraham was, I am’?” But it’s clear what Jesus is doing. He’s identifying Himself as God. That’s why, in the next verse, they pick up stones to kill Him. He’s making a direct claim to divinity—before Abraham existed, He was, and He is.Then, in John 10, the Pharisees ask Jesus, “If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” And He responds, “I have already told you, but you do not believe” (John 10:25). Then, He says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Again, the people pick up stones to kill Him. He’s making it clear: He’s God. Even if He doesn’t say the exact words “I am God,” by invoking God’s personal name and saying, “I and the Father are one,” He is unequivocally claiming divinity.We see something interesting in this passage. Some might try to twist this by saying that the word one is plural in certain contexts. For example, in Deuteronomy, we are told that the Lord is one. But here, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one,” and the word used in Greek for “one” has a plural connotation in certain contexts. This makes it clear: He’s saying that He and the Father are united in essence—we are God. A literal translation of this phrase would be awkward in English, but in Greek, it’s very clear: Jesus is claiming unity with the Father as God.Now, this brings me to a point where I again, need to address that "Oneness" doctrine. The belief in this doctrine is that Jesus is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all in one person. It sounds strange to me, but some people believe it. They baptize people in the name of Jesus alone, without using the full Trinitarian formula. This might sound reasonable to them, but I’ll show you why this isn’t the biblical approach.Let’s take a look at Acts 8:14, where Philip goes to Samaria and baptizes people. Notice how the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John to confirm the believers in Samaria. They are not baptizing in just the name of Jesus but are instead continuing the practice of baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on the believers, and they received the Spirit. They hadn’t received the Holy Spirit because they were only baptized in Jesus’ name. This is why it is important to follow Jesus' instructions to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It’s crucial that we understand this distinction, especially if anyone has questions about the practice.Now, this brings us to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and Scripture affirms this. Many people don’t understand that the Holy Spirit is divine. In Acts 5, we see the account of Ananias and Sapphira. They sold a piece of property and lied about the amount of money they had received, keeping some of it for themselves. Peter calls them out:“Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit… How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us, but to God.” (Acts 5:3, 4)Peter’s words make it clear: the Holy Spirit is God. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he was lying to God Himself.Now, going back to the Gospel of John, we see Jesus presenting the Trinity. He talks about His departure and explains where He’s going. In John 14:6, Jesus says:“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”This is another one of His metaphorical “I am” statements. Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to the Father. He continues in John 14:7:“If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”Philip responds, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”Jesus replies:“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. So why are you asking, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9)Here, Jesus is revealing His unity with the Father. He is God, and anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father.John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.If you love Me, obey My commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him because He lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17)So here we arrive at the role of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:5-8, Jesus says:“But now I am going away to the One who sent Me, and not one of you is asking, ‘Where are You going?’ Instead, you grieve because of what I have told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin and of God’s righteousness and the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me.”The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, and He convicts the world of sin. This is a key point in apologetics, as we are called to gently and respectfully share the truth in love, trusting that the Holy Spirit does His work in convicting hearts. We are to present the truth with the fruit of the Spirit, but ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and leads people to salvation.Now, some people may believe that the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost, as if that’s when the Spirit came into existence. But this is a misconception. The Holy Spirit has always been present—He was there in the beginning, at creation. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the Spirit was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, co-equal with the Father and the Son, and He has been active throughout Scripture.Even before Pentecost, in the Gospel of Luke, we see multiple instances of people being filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). This shows that the Holy Spirit has been active long before Pentecost.In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would be selectively placed on individuals for specific purposes. For example, Saul was anointed with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10-13), but the Spirit was later taken away from him (1 Samuel 16:14), and an evil spirit tormented him. This demonstrates how the Holy Spirit was given for particular tasks and not always continuously.However, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out in a way that was far more abundant and available to all believers. This was a watershed moment for the Church, as the Holy Spirit began to indwell believers permanently. Through baptism, as we’ve seen, we receive the Holy Spirit, provided we follow Christ’s instructions correctly.This highlights a crucial distinction: Christianity is unique in its understanding of God as a triune being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity sets Christianity apart from other worldviews, not just in theological terms, but in how we experience God. While many religions view God as distant or aloof, Christianity teaches that God is active and present in our lives. The coming of Jesus in the flesh was the visible manifestation of the invisible God, and through Him, we can experience God in a personal, tangible way.In our prayers, we approach the Father in Jesus' name, with Him as our mediator. Jesus gives us this living example of how to relate to God, showing us that God is not just an idea but a real, accessible presence in our lives. This is an amazing truth that we can’t take for granted.If I go back to Philippians 2, it's incredible to think about. We shouldn’t take for granted that God would come and be like us, all while still being God. We experience Him that way—He gives us the ultimate example. Philippians 2:5-11 says:“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”This is our God—Jesus, as God, did this for us. It's something to deeply meditate on. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of humility and obedience. We serve a God who doesn’t just say, "Do as I say." He models it for us. He wouldn’t ask us to do anything He hasn’t already done Himself. Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility—being fully God and yet fully man, and still choosing obedience. He went to the cross for our salvation, leading by the ultimate sacrifice.This is where everything connects. Understanding the Trinity in this way is crucial. The Holy Spirit helps us live out that example. On our own, we can’t do it. But God knew that, so He sent the Spirit to be our Advocate, our Helper. Some translations call Him our Comforter. The fruit of the Spirit is the power we need to follow Christ’s example. Even when loving others seems impossible, the Spirit empowers us to love. He gives us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness—key traits that guide us in our faith. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit.Through the Trinity, we experience God’s active presence. We are never alone. God is not distant and aloof—He is in us, living and working through us. This concept is so powerful, and yet so many people need to hear it. It’s simple in its beauty, and though we could delve into technicalities or use analogies, sometimes it’s best to return to the basics.At the core of this is the simplicity of the Trinity: God is love. The three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—have loved one another for all eternity. This love is not just an abstract idea; it is the source of creation itself. God is not created, but in His love, He created us. In Him, love has existed from the beginning, and through the Trinity, that love is shared with us.This is the amazing truth we experience through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's an invitation to live in that love, to be part of that divine relationship, and to share it with others.He loved us so much that He died for us. And as I close, I realize something important. There are many people who feel alone, and I’ve caught myself feeling that way too. It’s not just something we know in our heads; it’s something we need to be reminded of. Sometimes, we feel alone, and God gently reminds us, "You're being silly. You're never alone. You have Me." He asks, "Why are you trying to find company in anyone else but Me? Who is better than Me?" And yet, we still do this. Many people feel unloved at times. They might say, "Nobody loves me," or "Even when I’m around people, I still feel alone." I hear these sentiments often.Especially in recent times, with what’s happened in our country and around the world, so many people experienced isolation. Whatever your stance on the events, it’s undeniable that many of us were left alone. It’s not normal, and sadly, many of those who were isolated didn’t have God. Some of us fared a little better because we stayed connected with Him—reading the Bible, praying—but we all felt the strain in different ways.It’s a good reminder that even in the Garden, when Adam was alone, God created a helper for him. While God wants us to have a relationship with Him, He also desires us to be with one another. This is part of why we have the church. Through the church, we see a reflection of the Trinity. United by the Holy Spirit, we are the body of Christ. This is the beautiful picture of community in the church—the connection we share, not only with each other but with the divine.Sadly, we've forgotten this at times. Even before the events of recent years, people were already walking away from the church, saying they didn’t need to be part of the body of Christ. Society, too, began to embrace isolation, as if it were somehow desirable. As a pastor, I saw it firsthand—the divorce rates skyrocketed, addiction rates soared. It was heartbreaking.This underscores how vital the church is. It is absolutely essential. It’s why I stopped streaming services. While we initially streamed to reach more people, I realized that watching from bed isn’t church. Church, in its essence, is an assembly—people coming together. It’s about being in the same space, worshiping together, and supporting each other.Maybe you needed to hear this today. If you're someone who hasn’t been baptized yet, or if you’re seeking peace, love, and joy through the Holy Spirit, I invite you to connect with us. Reach out, and I would be honored to talk with you about baptism. If you’re new here or haven’t plugged into our community yet, we’d love to help you get involved. We’re here for you, especially if you’re struggling with something—whatever it may be.I encourage you to get plugged in and experience this active, living God.Let’s pray.Lord, I thank You for everyone who’s here today, and even those watching online. I also lift up those who couldn’t make it for whatever reason. I pray they would feel the call to come back, to be part of Your body, and to engage with the community You’ve created. As we go out this week, remind us that we were made in Your image—those beautiful vehicles of Your mercy, kindness, love, peace, and grace. Fill us with Your Spirit and help us remember who we really are. I ask all of this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.
I heard a story about two guys at a bar—because that’s the kind of story you tell in a book about Christianity. So, these two guys are sitting across from a beautiful woman. One of the guys notices her and starts thinking, I want to talk to her, but he doesn’t have the courage. He takes a few sips to build up some "liquid courage," but it turns out to be a waste of time. Just as he’s debating his approach, another guy walks over and sits next to her.Now he’s feeling defeated and starts venting to his friend. “What does it matter anyway? She’s probably way out of my league. Even if I did talk to her, I'd be looking over my shoulder my whole life.”But then he began to think, “Maybe it’s her brother … not her husband.” Still not courageous enough, he then asked his friend to approach the woman and ask if she’s married.His friend chuckles, “Sure, I’ll ask if she's married.”So, he walks over and asks, “Excuse me, miss. Are you married?”She replies with a smile, “This is my husband.”He returns to his friend, but is initially delayed in his response, so his friend asks, “So, what did she say? Did she say she was married?”“No,” his friend responded, “she didn’t say ‘she was married’.”Not convinced, his friend says, “Go ask again, just to be sure.”He sighs but heads back over, “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s loud in here, and I want to be clear. Are you married?”Now she’s a little annoyed, “This is my husband!”He goes back to his friend, again delays in his response, so the man asks again, Did she say she was married?” The friend again responded, “No, she didn’t say ‘she was married’.”So finally the friend interested in the woman has the courage to approach her and heads over. Before he can even speak, the woman turns around and slaps him. He returns to his friend, holding his cheek, and said, “I thought I asked you to check if she was married.”His friend grins and says, “I did. She didn’t say, I’m married.”
In the last chapter, I walked you through the basics of the Gospel from 1 Corinthians 15—the core message. I called this "primary doctrine." Building on that foundation, we find additional essential teachings. In presenting the Gospel basics, I included the statement that Jesus is God. Now, 1 Corinthians 15 doesn’t explicitly say this, but it’s certainly implied. Today, we'll explore how this truth is not only implied but stated explicitly elsewhere in Scripture, because if Jesus isn’t God, the Gospel loses its meaning.Along with this, we’re going to examine the identity of God within the Trinity. I realize this topic might not feel “basic” to everyone, but I’ll aim to make it clear and approachable. This is an interesting challenge, but it’s crucial for understanding who God is.First, I’ll address some misunderstandings, or heresies. “Heresy” can sound intense—don’t worry, we’re not burning anyone at the stake! I simply want to share a few incorrect teachings to help equip you. By examining these, we can better understand the correct way to think about God.Let’s start with a key point: Christianity is monotheistic. We believe in one God, as Scripture repeatedly affirms. A few weeks ago, we discussed the importance of immersing ourselves in the Bible. I want to return to that idea briefly by looking at Deuteronomy 6:4.Deuteronomy 6:4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone [isOne]. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly tothese commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again toyour children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on theroad, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.A couple of important points here. Remember our commitment to be devoted to the Word of God. Scripture calls us to think about it constantly, shaping our lives by it. This declaration of one God is rooted in the Shema, which I mentioned briefly before. The Shema is the foundational statement, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). It’s something that Jewish children learn early on and even recite as a deathbed prayer. It emphasizes that God is one—central to understanding our faith. The Shema teaches that God’s words are to be at the forefront of our minds and actions.The concept of the Trinity—one God in three persons—may initially seem puzzling. How can God be one, yet also three? Yet, as we explore Scripture, we find this teaching throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It’s crucial to Jesus’s teachings too; without the Trinity, His message about the Father, the Son, and the Spirit wouldn’t hold.Though the term Trinity isn’t explicitly in the Bible, the concept is clearly present. From the opening words of Genesis, we observe a plurality within the one essence of God.Let's take a look at Genesis 1 to see how this unfolds.Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Theearth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. Andthe Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.So, here we see this idea coming together. Here, you can see God the Father and the Holy Spirit as distinct, which Genesis highlights. As the creation narrative unfolds, we see the roles each plays in creation. Then, on the sixth day, animals are created, followed by humanity.Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”You may have noticed the phrase “Let us make human beings in our image”—it’s always plural, regardless of the translation, and it’s plural in the original Hebrew as well. This points to a plurality of persons within the one God. This also sets the stage for Jesus, as God creates humanity in “our image.” You can see a foreshadowing here.In Genesis 3, we encounter the story of Adam and Eve. Even if you haven’t read the Bible, you probably know the account: they’re deceived by the serpent, which leads to the fall.Genesis 3:8 introduces us to...Genesis 3:8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard [the sound/voice of] the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.Now, we see God doing something human-like in Genesis 3:8—walking around in the garden. That’s unusual, isn’t it? Previously, we saw Him hovering over the waters, but here He’s doing something we associate with human behavior.What we’re encountering here is what’s known as a Christophany—an early appearance of Jesus before He’s revealed as Jesus. These appearances are sometimes described as a “man” or “angel” of the Lord. For instance, Jacob wrestles with a “man,” but we find out this “man” is actually God. This happens throughout the Old Testament—a manifestation of God appearing in a form relatable to humanity.This theme of God’s triune nature continues in the Old Testament, where God directly asserts His triunity. For example, in Isaiah 48, God speaks of Himself in a way that hints at this multi-personal nature. For some context, this part of Isaiah deals with the Israelites’ coming redemption from captivity in Babylon, and God is using Cyrus as His instrument of deliverance (starting in Isaiah 45). In Isaiah 48:12, we read, “I am he. I am the First and the Last.” God goes on to say, essentially, “I created everything with my own hand,” making it clear that this is the Creator God we encountered in Genesis—the one who spoke the world into existence. His voice here unmistakably identifies Him as that same Creator. Then we see this …Isaiah 48:16 Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.” And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message.Here, we see God referring to the Sovereign Lord and His Spirit. We see a similar thing in Zechariah 12 …Zechariah 12:10 “Then I will pour out the spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.”This is clearly a reference to Jesus, who was crucified. Here, we see the distinct Persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet they are all unified as the same God. This passage beautifully illustrates the concept of God being both one and three. For instance, some translations, like the NASB, capitalize "Spirit" to indicate the Holy Spirit, making the text even clearer.In the New Testament, this concept is evident right from the start of the Gospels. Take Matthew 3:16, for example...Matthew 3:16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”Here, we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together, revealing the Trinity.If we turn to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we see the Trinity within what is sometimes referred to The Apostolic Commission. Within that, if we pay close attention...Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.Here’s something to consider for a moment. If there were any confusion, you wouldn’t be baptizing someone in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if they weren’t all God. So, Jesus is affirming that all three are God. In fact, Jesus Himself defines the Trinity for us.Now, in addressing some of the heresies that have emerged, one example is Modalism. This is often associated with the Oneness Pentecostal movement, where they claim that all three names—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—refer to the same person, Jesus. They might say you are baptized in the name of Jesus alone, removing the distinctions between the persons of the Trinity. When I first encountered this teaching, I was confused. But, when you look at the Greek text, it’s clear: Jesus is making a distinction between three separate persons, each co-equal as God. The word και “and” is present between each or the Persons of The Trinity. We will look more closely at the Oneness Pentecostal teaching later in the chapter on Baptism. Paul also recognized the Trinity, as we see in 2 Corinthians 13:14...2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.Let’s think about this for a second. If there were any confusion, you wouldn’t be baptizing people into the names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if they weren’t all God, right? So Jesus is affirming that all three are God. This is where Jesus defines the Trinity for us.Now, some incorrect teachings arise here. The first is polytheism, the idea of multiple gods, which is incompatible with biblical teaching. On the other hand, we have Modalism, which teaches that God expresses Himself in three different modes. However, the truth is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, not three modes of expression. This distinction is vital for understanding God’s nature.For instance, Jesus prays to the Father, which wouldn't make sense if they were just modes of the same person. It's not as if one mode is praying to another mode—each person of the Trinity exists simultaneously, and each is distinct yet fully God.You might have heard various analogies for the Trinity, like the egg, water, or the shamrock. The problem with these is that they can be separated into distinct parts—such as separating the yolk from the egg or freezing water into ice—yet God cannot be separated into parts. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, and they cannot be divided in the way these illustrations suggest.I’ve used these analogies myself in the past, even thought I had a clever explanation. For example, I once tried to explain the Trinity by saying, "I’m a pastor, but I’m also a father and a husband." At first, it seemed like a good analogy: one person with three roles. But it doesn’t work because it’s not three distinct persons. It’s just one person in different roles. This analogy is actually a form of Modalism, and like other analogies, it falls short in explaining the Trinity.The reality is that, as humans, we often try to explain things beyond our full understanding. In the book of Job, the friends spend 38 chapters speculating about why Job is suffering, and when God finally speaks, He says, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” We can’t fully understand God's nature, and He’s not obligated to make it clear to us in ways we can fully comprehend. But He has given us a framework to understand that He is one God in three persons.A helpful illustration, though still imperfect, might be imagining we’re all in a kids' room doing arts and crafts. If we make popsicle stick people, they exist in two dimensions. If we jump into that world, we’d have no way to explain three-dimensional concepts to them. They wouldn’t have the frame of reference. Similarly, it’s difficult for us, being three-dimensional beings, to fully understand a reality that includes a God who exists beyond our dimensions.Historically, the best way to conceptualize the Trinity is to understand that the Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit. But each of them is fully God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not interchangeable but exist in unity, each fully possessing the divine essence. This is the Orthodox view of the Trinity: three persons, one essence. We need to let go of the notion that persons in the Trinity must function like human beings or that they must conform to our limited understanding of personhood. God is beyond that, and we need to approach His nature with humility. Let’s now take a look at how the Father is revealed in the Old Testament, starting with Exodus. In Exodus 4:22, God speaks to Moses...Exodus 4:22 Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”Moses is recalling all of this in Deuteronomy 1:31: "And you saw how the Lord, your God, cared for you all along the way, as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child, and now he has brought you to this place."We see this same relationship in the Psalms as well. In Psalm 103:13, "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him."The prophets also speak to this. In Isaiah 63:16, "Surely you are still our Father, even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past."In the New Testament, this concept is super common. Even if you've never read the Bible, you’ve likely heard the Our Father: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." God is constantly referred to as Father—it's a deeply codified concept. However, the Father, as a person of the Trinity, is not always fully seen, which can be complicated. We hear His voice in passages from Matthew and Mark.Jesus is giving some hard teachings, talking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, claiming to be the bread of life. This is significant as we continue. In John 6:43, "But Jesus replied, 'Stop complaining about what I said, for no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me. Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen Him.'"This brings us to Jesus. As we’ve already seen in the Trinity verses, He refers to Himself as the Son, which is clear. And, as the Son, He is the visible image of the invisible God. Putting together what Jesus just said with how Paul understands it, we see this in Colossians 1:15: "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God."Colossians 1:15 Christ [Jesus] is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.This ties in with Genesis very nicely, right? Jesus was there at creation. He created everything. So, everything I’m saying about Jesus walking in the garden, it all connects. The Word of God verifies that He is the visible image of the invisible God. He is now something we can see. To put it in simple terms, He’s in popsicle stick land, if you will.Now, I mentioned the number one point I made from the resurrection account—Jesus was God. We talked about witnesses, and the witnesses believed. Here, we see Paul affirming that Jesus is God. But even before Paul, even before the incarnation of Jesus, there are instances of people acknowledging it. Think of Thomas—Doubting Thomas, as we call him. When Thomas finally realizes who Jesus is, he declares, "My Lord and my God." They accepted this truth. Just before those verses in the apostolic commission, they worshiped Jesus.Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
For example, in Matthew 28:16, "Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go." And in verse 17, "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some of them doubted." Even in their doubts, they recognized His divinity and worshiped Him.If Jesus were not God, He would not have accepted that worship. No way. He is sinless, and according to monotheistic Judaism, He is acknowledging Himself as God.If you have a keen eye and you've been paying attention, you might have seen in some questionable television series that call themselves Christian. In those, Jesus denies worship. No, He would never deny worship. He is God. We must not make Him less than what He is.Again, Paul believed and affirmed that Jesus is God. We’ve talked about 1 Corinthians 15, which is significant because it’s an early creedal saying. These sayings were passed down to help people remember correct doctrine. You find another example in Philippians 2, my personal favorite. It's an early hymn dating back to the early days of Christianity, and Paul incorporates it into his letter to the Philippians. It begins with, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.” And then in Philippians 2:6, “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” There it is: Jesus existed in the form of God. The hymn concludes with every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord. There you go—very strong affirmation of His divinity.We looked at Romans in the last chapter, about being a living sacrifice, and I think the topic I was addressing was unity—the purpose behind Paul's letter to the Romans. In Romans 9–11, Paul discusses his kinsmen, the Israelites, and what happens to those who do not accept Jesus. He makes a very hyperbolic statement in Romans 9:5. “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” He emphasizes that Jesus is not just the Messiah, but God over all.Romans 9:5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.He is God, and even if you're trying to change that somehow, He rules over everything and is worthy of the worship we talked about. You don't worship anyone but God. In Titus, a book many people don't read, Paul gives instructions to Titus, who is tasked with appointing elders in every town as part of his work in church planting, particularly in Crete. The bulk of the instructions in Titus focuses on the behavior of the people. Paul is concerned about the church's reputation, wanting it to be known for its love. Thus, the instructions emphasize our behavior in that context. Titus 2:12 says, “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”Titus 2:12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.He's our great God and Savior. Remember, in the past, we've talked about how this world is evil. There's another place where it's clearly stated that Jesus is God—2 Peter 1:1.“This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I’m writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and righteousness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.”Peter and Paul agree.We see that Jesus is called “God” in the Gospel of John. This one is a little unusual because John uses the term logos (Word), but when he says "Word," he is referring to Jesus. This concept might seem strange if you’re new to it, but it’s no mystery—everyone knows who John is talking about.So, John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is writing the Gospel of John a bit later than the others. One reason for this is to address an early heresy—Arianism—which claimed that Jesus wasn’t God. This is one of the main points of the Gospel of John.Alright, let’s look at John 1...John 1:1 In the beginning the Word [Jesus] already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.So, Jesus gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. He is the Creator, and this ties in very well with what we see in Colossians. John and Paul are writing very similar things here. Jesus gave light to everyone—think let there be light. He was there, and everything was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. He is God.Now, some people say, "Okay, the disciples believed Jesus was God, but Jesus never actually said He was God." And this brings us back to the reason I told you that silly joke earlier. It’s a technicality—Jesus never used those exact words. But, like the joke, there are many ways to tell someone something without using the exact words. For example, I’m married—I could say, "I’m her husband," or she could say, "I’m his wife." Heather’s way of telling someone she’s married might involve slapping them in the face (those of you who know her are laughing because it’s true). There are many ways to communicate a truth without using the exact words.In the same way, in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus making these powerful "I am" statements. There are seven of them, two of which are metaphors, but there are also two important qualifying statements: "I am the door" and "I am the way, the truth, and the life." These are not just simple declarations of His divinity. Jesus is saying more than just, "I’m a god." Remember, polytheism was prevalent at that time—there were many gods, many idols—and Jesus’ words could easily have been confused with that. However, He is not merely identifying Himself as a god, but with the personal name of God.In the Jewish context, they would understand the significance of this. Jesus is using the divine name, the name God gave Himself when speaking to Moses at the burning bush. Moses asked, “Who should I say sent me?” And God answered, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is using that very name—I AM—which is not just a statement of existence but a claim to divinity. He’s saying, "This is My name." It’s not just "I am a god," but the I AM of the Scriptures. This is crucial, and it’s the claim that ultimately led to Jesus’ crucifixion. When He says "I am," it’s a direct reference to God’s name. The Jewish leadership knew this and understood the gravity of His statement.So, remember when Jesus was speaking to the council of Jewish leaders? They knew exactly what He meant when He said, “I am.” This was the claim that led to His death. Mark 14:60...Mark 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? 64 You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”Jesus is calling Himself God. He’s quoting from Daniel 7, where there’s a prophecy about this eternal one coming from the clouds of heaven. It’s a very strong statement—Here I am. They all knew what that meant, which is why they wanted to kill Him. He’s using the personal name of God. Now, there were other attempts to convey His divinity, and the strongest one in John’s Gospel is found in John 8.As a frame of reference, even if you've never read the Bible, you’ve probably heard the story about the woman caught in adultery, right? Everyone wants to stone her, but Jesus says, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Everyone drops their stones. After this, Jesus denounces the Pharisees, calling them children of the devil. He’s not always soft with them, but then He says something that blows their minds: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). They’re confused at first because it’s a strange sentence. “You’re not even 50 years old, and yet you say, ‘Before Abraham was, I am’?” But it’s clear what Jesus is doing. He’s identifying Himself as God. That’s why, in the next verse, they pick up stones to kill Him. He’s making a direct claim to divinity—before Abraham existed, He was, and He is.Then, in John 10, the Pharisees ask Jesus, “If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” And He responds, “I have already told you, but you do not believe” (John 10:25). Then, He says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Again, the people pick up stones to kill Him. He’s making it clear: He’s God. Even if He doesn’t say the exact words “I am God,” by invoking God’s personal name and saying, “I and the Father are one,” He is unequivocally claiming divinity.We see something interesting in this passage. Some might try to twist this by saying that the word one is plural in certain contexts. For example, in Deuteronomy, we are told that the Lord is one. But here, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one,” and the word used in Greek for “one” has a plural connotation in certain contexts. This makes it clear: He’s saying that He and the Father are united in essence—we are God. A literal translation of this phrase would be awkward in English, but in Greek, it’s very clear: Jesus is claiming unity with the Father as God.Now, this brings me to a point where I again, need to address that "Oneness" doctrine. The belief in this doctrine is that Jesus is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all in one person. It sounds strange to me, but some people believe it. They baptize people in the name of Jesus alone, without using the full Trinitarian formula. This might sound reasonable to them, but I’ll show you why this isn’t the biblical approach.Let’s take a look at Acts 8:14, where Philip goes to Samaria and baptizes people. Notice how the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John to confirm the believers in Samaria. They are not baptizing in just the name of Jesus but are instead continuing the practice of baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on the believers, and they received the Spirit. They hadn’t received the Holy Spirit because they were only baptized in Jesus’ name. This is why it is important to follow Jesus' instructions to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It’s crucial that we understand this distinction, especially if anyone has questions about the practice.Now, this brings us to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and Scripture affirms this. Many people don’t understand that the Holy Spirit is divine. In Acts 5, we see the account of Ananias and Sapphira. They sold a piece of property and lied about the amount of money they had received, keeping some of it for themselves. Peter calls them out:“Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit… How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us, but to God.” (Acts 5:3, 4)Peter’s words make it clear: the Holy Spirit is God. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he was lying to God Himself.Now, going back to the Gospel of John, we see Jesus presenting the Trinity. He talks about His departure and explains where He’s going. In John 14:6, Jesus says:“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”This is another one of His metaphorical “I am” statements. Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to the Father. He continues in John 14:7:“If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”Philip responds, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”Jesus replies:“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. So why are you asking, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9)Here, Jesus is revealing His unity with the Father. He is God, and anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father.John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.If you love Me, obey My commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him because He lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17)So here we arrive at the role of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:5-8, Jesus says:“But now I am going away to the One who sent Me, and not one of you is asking, ‘Where are You going?’ Instead, you grieve because of what I have told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin and of God’s righteousness and the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me.”The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, and He convicts the world of sin. This is a key point in apologetics, as we are called to gently and respectfully share the truth in love, trusting that the Holy Spirit does His work in convicting hearts. We are to present the truth with the fruit of the Spirit, but ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and leads people to salvation.Now, some people may believe that the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost, as if that’s when the Spirit came into existence. But this is a misconception. The Holy Spirit has always been present—He was there in the beginning, at creation. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the Spirit was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, co-equal with the Father and the Son, and He has been active throughout Scripture.Even before Pentecost, in the Gospel of Luke, we see multiple instances of people being filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). This shows that the Holy Spirit has been active long before Pentecost.In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would be selectively placed on individuals for specific purposes. For example, Saul was anointed with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10-13), but the Spirit was later taken away from him (1 Samuel 16:14), and an evil spirit tormented him. This demonstrates how the Holy Spirit was given for particular tasks and not always continuously.However, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out in a way that was far more abundant and available to all believers. This was a watershed moment for the Church, as the Holy Spirit began to indwell believers permanently. Through baptism, as we’ve seen, we receive the Holy Spirit, provided we follow Christ’s instructions correctly.This highlights a crucial distinction: Christianity is unique in its understanding of God as a triune being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity sets Christianity apart from other worldviews, not just in theological terms, but in how we experience God. While many religions view God as distant or aloof, Christianity teaches that God is active and present in our lives. The coming of Jesus in the flesh was the visible manifestation of the invisible God, and through Him, we can experience God in a personal, tangible way.In our prayers, we approach the Father in Jesus' name, with Him as our mediator. Jesus gives us this living example of how to relate to God, showing us that God is not just an idea but a real, accessible presence in our lives. This is an amazing truth that we can’t take for granted.If I go back to Philippians 2, it's incredible to think about. We shouldn’t take for granted that God would come and be like us, all while still being God. We experience Him that way—He gives us the ultimate example. Philippians 2:5-11 says:“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”This is our God—Jesus, as God, did this for us. It's something to deeply meditate on. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of humility and obedience. We serve a God who doesn’t just say, "Do as I say." He models it for us. He wouldn’t ask us to do anything He hasn’t already done Himself. Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility—being fully God and yet fully man, and still choosing obedience. He went to the cross for our salvation, leading by the ultimate sacrifice.This is where everything connects. Understanding the Trinity in this way is crucial. The Holy Spirit helps us live out that example. On our own, we can’t do it. But God knew that, so He sent the Spirit to be our Advocate, our Helper. Some translations call Him our Comforter. The fruit of the Spirit is the power we need to follow Christ’s example. Even when loving others seems impossible, the Spirit empowers us to love. He gives us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness—key traits that guide us in our faith. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit.Through the Trinity, we experience God’s active presence. We are never alone. God is not distant and aloof—He is in us, living and working through us. This concept is so powerful, and yet so many people need to hear it. It’s simple in its beauty, and though we could delve into technicalities or use analogies, sometimes it’s best to return to the basics.At the core of this is the simplicity of the Trinity: God is love. The three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—have loved one another for all eternity. This love is not just an abstract idea; it is the source of creation itself. God is not created, but in His love, He created us. In Him, love has existed from the beginning, and through the Trinity, that love is shared with us.This is the amazing truth we experience through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's an invitation to live in that love, to be part of that divine relationship, and to share it with others.He loved us so much that He died for us. And as I close, I realize something important. There are many people who feel alone, and I’ve caught myself feeling that way too. It’s not just something we know in our heads; it’s something we need to be reminded of. Sometimes, we feel alone, and God gently reminds us, "You're being silly. You're never alone. You have Me." He asks, "Why are you trying to find company in anyone else but Me? Who is better than Me?" And yet, we still do this. Many people feel unloved at times. They might say, "Nobody loves me," or "Even when I’m around people, I still feel alone." I hear these sentiments often.Especially in recent times, with what’s happened in our country and around the world, so many people experienced isolation. Whatever your stance on the events, it’s undeniable that many of us were left alone. It’s not normal, and sadly, many of those who were isolated didn’t have God. Some of us fared a little better because we stayed connected with Him—reading the Bible, praying—but we all felt the strain in different ways.It’s a good reminder that even in the Garden, when Adam was alone, God created a helper for him. While God wants us to have a relationship with Him, He also desires us to be with one another. This is part of why we have the church. Through the church, we see a reflection of the Trinity. United by the Holy Spirit, we are the body of Christ. This is the beautiful picture of community in the church—the connection we share, not only with each other but with the divine.Sadly, we've forgotten this at times. Even before the events of recent years, people were already walking away from the church, saying they didn’t need to be part of the body of Christ. Society, too, began to embrace isolation, as if it were somehow desirable. As a pastor, I saw it firsthand—the divorce rates skyrocketed, addiction rates soared. It was heartbreaking.This underscores how vital the church is. It is absolutely essential. It’s why I stopped streaming services. While we initially streamed to reach more people, I realized that watching from bed isn’t church. Church, in its essence, is an assembly—people coming together. It’s about being in the same space, worshiping together, and supporting each other.Maybe you needed to hear this today. If you're someone who hasn’t been baptized yet, or if you’re seeking peace, love, and joy through the Holy Spirit, I invite you to connect with us. Reach out, and I would be honored to talk with you about baptism. If you’re new here or haven’t plugged into our community yet, we’d love to help you get involved. We’re here for you, especially if you’re struggling with something—whatever it may be.I encourage you to get plugged in and experience this active, living God.Let’s pray.Lord, I thank You for everyone who’s here today, and even those watching online. I also lift up those who couldn’t make it for whatever reason. I pray they would feel the call to come back, to be part of Your body, and to engage with the community You’ve created. As we go out this week, remind us that we were made in Your image—those beautiful vehicles of Your mercy, kindness, love, peace, and grace. Fill us with Your Spirit and help us remember who we really are. I ask all of this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.