Define The Trinity (Bible Dictionary): The term by which is expressed the unity of three persons in the one God. Trinity is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Ask about the Trinity: What’s the difference between the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit?…Father: God in heaven, Son: God in flesh (Jesus), and Holy Spirit: God in us
Ask about the confusion with the trinity: How can God be three entities and one entity at the same time?…There are three forms of God as there is three forms of water.
Talk about the water analogy: Water/H20 has three different forms: Solid, liquid, and gas. These are all 3 forms of the same molecule (Water/H20). God is very similar. Remember this: He is not like us. He is God. He has the ability to have 3 forms. If He wants, He could have 2,000 forms, but He chose to have three (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). They are 3 forms of the same God.
Read Gen 1:26…”Then God [singular] said, ‘Let us [plural] make mankind in our [also plural] image, in our [also also plural] likeness, so that they may rule over the fish….livestock…animals….creatures of the ground’”.
Talk about the confusing aspects of the trinity: It sounds like God is singular and plural at the same time. I wonder why that is indicated in Genesis. Probably because it is important! If we seek the answers to the confusions we have in the Bible, we will find them. If we seek confusions in the Bible so that we may confuse ourselves and others about the Bible, we will find them. What are your intentions in reading the Bible? Are you reading the Bible to seek the truth? If so, let’s move on!
Read Isaiah 53
Talk about the prophecy of Jesus from the Old Testament…This is scripture in the Old Testament that is prophesying Jesus Christ (God in Flesh) dying on the cross. “…He took up our pain,..was pierced for our transgressions,…bore the sins of many…and by his wounds we are healed”. This is Old Testament Scripture. Also to note, this man (Jesus Christ/God in Flesh) was directly sent by God from heaven, the dwelling place of God himself. Verse 8 says, “For he was cut off from the land of the living [heaven]”.
Read Numbers 6:24-26…These verses indicates a potentially prophetic indication of Jesus’s (God in Flesh) coming to Earth “making His face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace”.
Read Isaiah 63:7-14… These verses indicate obvious connections between the Father and Holy Spirit. “..He who set His Holy Spirit [God in us] among them.”
Talk about the connection between God and the Holy Spirit: These verses show that God places His Holy Spirit in us, thus clarifying the connection between Him and His Holy Spirit.
Talk about Polytheism: I want to overemphasize that Christianity is not polytheistic. Polytheism is a belief in more than one gods. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Christians believe in one God (Deut 6:4, Isaiah 44:6). Our God has three forms of himself (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Read 1 John 5:1-12…These verses show the connection between all three. “Jesus [God in flesh] is born of God [Our Father in heaven]”..”And it is the Spirit [God in us] who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth”.
Talk about the reasons for the Holy Spirit: With the Holy Spirit, God will reveal himself to us and will live through us.
Talk about the reasons for Jesus: Jesus was needed to fulfill a prophecy of God [Isaiah 53]. God always keeps his promises [Psalm 145:13]. Jesus’s life is fantastic guidelines to live by [1 John 2:6].
Ask about the lesson: Do you now understand the Trinity? Is Christianity Polytheistic or Monotheistic?
Make a last note: Lastly, we must exalt God far above us and live as Jesus did through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
References:
Bible Study Tools. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/
NIV Life Application Study Bible. (2011). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament. (2004). Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament. (2004). Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society.
Unger, M. F. (1976) Unger’s bible disctionary. Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.