Session 1: The Trinity
Part 1: Read
The Three Persons of the Trinity Expressed Together
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,” Romans 1:1-4
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:4-6
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:2
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21
God expressed as one Being
I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; Isaiah 45:5
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one Deuteronomy 6:4
Part 2: Watch Video 1—The Trinity
**Part 3: Discussion
The Doctrine of the Trinity can be expressed in 3 statements. This doctrine is easy to express but impossible to fully comprehend.
1. There exists only 1 being who we call “God.”
2. God exists in three beings: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (sometimes called Holy Ghost)
3. All three beings are always existent and are fully divine
There is no explicit expression of this Trinitarian formula, but the three persons are often mentioned in coordination, each person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are called God, and God is defined as one. This causes us to arrive at the definition above.
People often try to use metaphors to explain the Trinity but all of them fall short. The Trinity is like an egg: yoke, white and shell—put them together and you have one egg. The problem is that Jesus IS fully God, the Spirit IS fully God, and the Father IS fully God. If you have me a yoke I would not think it was a FULL EGG. The trinity is like water it can exist as Ice, Water or Steam. The problem is that one molecule of water cannot be soild, gas and liquid at the same time. God does not exist in forms but God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit exist all at the same time. The trinity is like a man who is a Father, an Employee and a Husband. He plays three different roles. The problem here is that there is not one being playing different roles, the trinity is three distinct persons all existing at once. There is no metaphor that can compare to the beauty of God’s Triunity.
**If you want a discussion on why I didn’t include 1 John 5:7 in the list of verses you can read below, otherwise skip to Part 4
A note on Textual Criticism
If you are reading the KJV or NKJV or AV or any derivative of those translation you would point to 1 John 5:7 as a perfect expression of the trinity. It reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Here’s the problem: this verse isn’t original to John and isn’t part of the inspired text. It’s the reason that any other translation doesn’t contain that verse. In the late 16th, early 17th century the first translations of the bible in the vernacular (the language ordinary people spoke) were being made. At the time, translators did not have A GREEK BIBLE. Instead, they had a handful of Greek manuscripts to work with and many of them were dated hundreds, even a thousand years after the original writings. As a result, some of the early translations of the bible contain miswording, verses or even whole sections which are not original to the authors. However, modern printings of these translations have held on to these original wordings. Today, we have thousands of Greek manuscripts (some dating within 50 years of the author’s first writing) and tens of thousands of manuscripts in other languages. The Greek bible that we have today is incredibly reliable and accurate to the original words penned by the apostles and prophets millennia ago.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Why is there no metaphor that can compare to the Trinity?
Do we need to understand God to love or obey Him? Why or why not?
If you have any questions about textual criticism or what was said about 1 John 5:7 write them here and feel free to email Pastor Zach. Zmcalack@calvarybaptistpa.org At some point I hope to put together a session explaining this subject further.
Session 2: The Hypostatic Union
Part 1: Read
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, Colossians 2:9
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 1 John 4:2
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
Part 2: Watch Video 2—Who is Jesus?
Part 3: Discussion
In the Hypostatic Union, Christ is of one body, but two natures—both human and divine—existing in one person and single substance without either suffering, diminishing or nullifying the properties of the other. We sometimes say that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God which totals 100%. This is a similar conundrum to the Trinity in that our finite minds cannot comprehend the complexity of this equation. Its truth is easy to state but impossible to illustrate.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Why must Jesus be God to be our SAVIOR? Could he have just been a really good man?
Why must Jesus be Human to be the savior for humanity? Could he have died for the angels or for animals?
Why must Jesus be both Human and Man to be a sufficient sacrifice for our sins?
Session 3: Heresies of Jesus as the God-Man
Part 1: Summary
This session will detail some of the ways that people have erred in their understanding of Jesus’ divinity and humanity together.
Part 2: Watch Video 3—Jesus: God and Man, why does it matter?
Part 3: Discussion
Some have Denied Jesus’ Humanity: In these circumstances Jesus cannot have died for humanity for he was not fully human.
Some examples
Docetism—Jesus only seemed to be human, but he was completely God.
Apollonarianism—the only thing human was Jesus’ body.
In these cases Jesus cannot die for OUR sins. If Jesus was not human then he was not tempted and his death and righteousness cannot be credited to us.
Some have Denied Jesus’ Deity: In these circumstances Jesus’ death cannot have counted for all humanity, without being God his death extends only to cover his own sins.
Some Examples
Ebionism—ordinary human with unusual but not supernatural ability.
Adoptionism—ordinary human who became the Christ at baptism.
Arianism—more than an ordinary human but not fully divine; the first created being.
In each case Jesus Christ is not eternal with God but is a created being (or human) who becomes divine or empowered. In all of these cases Jesus is not capable of being the all-sufficient savior because He is not God.
Some Deny Distinction or Unity: they do not acknowledge a separation of his humanity and his divinity.
Some Examples
Nestorianism—two natures divided into two persons (almost like a man possessed by divinity). In this case there is too much separation and the humanity and divinity are at war within Him.
Eutychianism—two natures blended into one; one nature and one person—he is like the wolfman (werewolf), in this case he is neither God nor Man but some weird blend of the two. In this case his humanity infects his divinity, and he cannot die for humans because he is not human.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Pick one or two of the denials above and explain it in your own words
Why is this explanation of Jesus so dangerous?
In your own words explain that Jesus is both God and Man and why it is important.
Session 4: Pneumatology
Part 1: Read
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:5-6
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21
None of the rulers of this age understood this… these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinthians 2:8-10
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 1 Corinthians 12:4
Part 2: Watch Video 4—What or Who is the Holy Spirit?
Part 3: Discussion
Pneuma (Greek) and Ruach (Hebrew) both have the same basic meaning: “breath.” The lifeforce of God which empowers others to accomplish the will of God. The Holy Spirit often fills this role, he accomplishes the work of God. In Genesis 1:2 the BREATH of God is hovering over the waters and when the command comes by the word, the Holy Spirit goes into action and empowers the act of creation.
The Holy Spirit is also sometimes called the comforter or guide of God. He came to dwell in all believers on the day of Pentecost. He regenerates their souls unto salvation, seals them in faith and enlightens them to understand scripture, and grants them gifts for the glorification of God and the unifying of the church body.
.
Part 4: Think Deeply
The Holy Spirit has many jobs, what are jobs that you knew about before reading these passages?
What did you learn about the Holy Spirit in this devotion?
What ties all of these jobs together and how does it relate to being God’s “breath”?