(preached at SMCGC)
Written By rev Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
Main Idea: doctrine of Trinity
Objectives: To help the congregation to understand doctrine of Trinity in balance.
A. Introduction
- In my last sermon, I preached to you the persons of Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit.
- For Jesus, I emphasized that He was a man; had personality; He is God; and the same for the Holy Spirit.
- Today, I shall give you a balance view of Trinity, God the Father, the Son and the Spirit both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
B. Trinity implicit in OT and Trinity explicit in NT.
- The general term for God in the Hebrew word is Elohim, in plural. It refers to the transcendence of God: His power and ‘otherness’. He creates by means of the Word and spirit.
- Genesis 1: 1-3, “…the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light…”
- The teaching becomes clearer in Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, …”
- In the NT the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets 2Peter 1:21 “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke form as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
C. The Trinitarian Implications in the NT
- The preaching of John the Baptist: Repentance toward God (Matthew 3:2, 7-8); Faith in a coming Messiah (Matthew 3:11); baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).
- The baptism of Jesus: The Father’s voice from heaven (Mathew 3:17); the Spirit like a dove (Mathew 3:16). The announcement of Jesus’ birth: the work of the Spirit in the incarnation (Luke 1:35); Jesus would be called the son of God (Luke 1:35).
- The baptismal formula (Mathew 28:19).
- The relationship between the Father and Son: The Word was ‘with’ God shows a Trinitarian relationship. No one knew the Son except the Father, and vice versa (Mathew 11:27). The Father sent the Son (John 6:44).
D. Relationship between the persons of the Godhead.
- They heap praise upon each other.
- Father: glorifies the Son (Mathew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:20-23).
- Jesus: honors the Father (John 5:19, 30-31; 12:28).
- Spirit: honors the Son (John 15:26; 16:8-10, 14)
- Intercession is made for us by both the Son and the Spirit.
- By the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)
- By the Son (Romans 8:31ff; Hebrews 7:25)
- There is no rivalry in the Trinity. You can pray to any person of the Godhead. Jesus said to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9ff). But in the bible there are prayers addressed to Jesus (Luke23:42; Acts 7:59).
E. Conclusion
- The doctrine of Trinity is central to the Christian faith. Any teaching that does not affirm the Trinity is heresy. It means false teaching not according to the bible.
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