Kaleo San Diego Church

INTRODUCTION

Tonight we will continue our journey through the Gospel of John chapter 10 verse 30. You may have noticed over the last 9 months why the Apostle John was considered the great theologian of the Apostles and why he was so well loved by the early church.

We know the close relationship he shared with our Messiah, no one knew Jesus better than he did. He walked with him from day to day, he was there the night of the Supper, and he reclined on the chest of his Master. You could even say this author has heard the very heart beat of God. He stood by the cross as Jesus was crucified, and he even entered his tomb.

As we observed in the first chapter, John clearly and articulately teaches the early Church, which has been preserved for us, that Jesus is God. We even studied the Deity of Christ several weeks ago and derived much of our Biblical understanding of that great truth from the writer of this Gospel.

Tonight, we continue to read the dialogue that John records with the Pharisees. We began this chapter with Jesus telling the Pharisees that if they assume themselves to be shepherds of Israel, they are liars. Worse, they are robbers and thieves. Last week we discussed the beautiful Grace that God has given us through no work of our own, and we read Jesus promise in verse 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. Jesus then appeals to a greater authority to further explain our eternal security in verse 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”

This same thought continues as we come to our next verse in this chapter.

Verse 30 "I and My Father are one."

From this verse we are going to be taking an excursus through several books of the Bible. In doing so, we will be discussing the great doctrine of the Trinity.

If you do not have a pen in hand, I suggest you get one. If you do not have a Bible in hand, we will provide one to you.

Before we read through the rest of Chapter 10, I though it would be wise for us to establish clearly what it means to worship, and serve, and love, and be loved, by a Trinitarian God.

I will mention before we begin this study, that in the course of debating this topic more times than I care to count, there are objections raised by each and every cult that exists over this issue.

Tonight’s study is not intended to teach the cults remedial theology. This study is intended “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” as Paul tells the Ephesians.

I LOVE THEOLOGY!

As you have heard me say many times from behind this pulpit, I love theology. I love it! Not the academic, dusty, lifeless theology of many Christians imagination, but the living, active, beautiful theology that gives me joy, that comforts me, that brings me to tears, and infuses boldness into my frail mind, because it reveals to me something about the incredible power and majesty of the Holy God of eternity.

I have attended churches that proudly confess they dislike theology, to the cheers of the rest of their congregation. They say “it’s all about Jesus.” Yet before they ever open their mouth about Jesus they must rely on theology to speak about anything relating to God.

Theology means: The study of the nature of God, which treats the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice.

So to say that you do not like theology as a Christian, is to say that you are not interested in understanding who God is, what He is like, what He teaches us to believe, and what we are to practice as Christians.

For a preacher to say that He doesn’t like theology can be translated to mean that he doesn’t care for any truth about God beyond that which he feels is right, according to his opinion.

Tonight’s study is not just a theological exercise, it is not just a doctrinal topic. Tonight’s study is a study to teach you about the God you worship. This topic is the greatest revelation God has made of Himself to His people.

THE TRINITY

It is said: “Trying to explain the Trinity may cause you to lose your sanity, denying the Trinity may cause you to lose your salvation.”

A BASIC DEFINITION

Within the Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The way in which we will discover these truth will be by basic IF/THEN logical argument. This is called a conditional statement.

For example, as Christians we begin with the Bible being true, so…: IF the Trinity is true, THEN we should find its concepts in Scripture.

What should we find if the Scriptures taught the Trinity?

We would find that there is only ONE GOD.

We would find that the Father is God.

We would find that the Son is God.

We would find that the Holy Spirit is God.

We would find that they all have the attributes of God (eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, creates, sovereign, saves, and is worshipped).

Let’s see if this is taught in God’s word.

Part 1 - There is only one God

Deuteronomy 32:39

'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Isaiah 43:10

"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.

Isaiah 44:6

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

Isaiah 44:8b

“'And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"

Isaiah 45:5-6

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other

Isaiah 45:18b

I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:21-22

"Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

2 Samuel 7:22

“For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You

The evidence is so overwhelming that even the demons understand there’s one God.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!

John 17:3

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

1 Thessalonians 1:9

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Conclusion:

There is only one, true, eternal, living Being who is God by nature and Maker of heaven and earth.

Part 2 - God is identified as Father, Son, Holy Spirit

A. The Father is God

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

NAS 2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Attributes of the Father reveal He is God

He is described as:

• Eternal

(Rom. 1:20) “His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen”

• Omnipotent

(Rev. 19:6) "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

• Immortal

(1 Tim. 1:17) ”Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

• Omniscient

(Matt. 6:32) He knows what we want before we ask.

• Holy

(1 Pet. 1:15) ”as He who called you is holy, you also be holy…”

• He creates

(Heb 3:4) ”He who built all things is God.”

• He is sovereign

(Matt. 11:25) He’s called the ”Lord of heaven and earth”

• He saves

(Isa. 45:21) ”there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.”

• He is worshipped

We give our

• Faith

• Hope

• Love

• Obedience

To Him (Matt. 5:16; 6:9-13; John 4:23-24; Eph. 3:14; Phil. 4:20; Rev. 4:9-11, etc.)

B. The Son is God

The same method we used to prove that the Father is God can be used to prove that the Son is God.

The Bible says Jesus is GOD!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He’s the only true God

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Bible says he’s all the fullness of Deity bodily:

Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Attributes of the Son reveal He is God

Jesus is:

• Eternal

(John 1:2) ”He was in the beginning with God.”

• Omnipotent

(Rev. 19:16) He’s called ”KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

• Omniscient

(John 16:30) ”You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You”

• Omnipresent

(Matt. 18:20) ”For where 2 or 3 have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.”

• Holy

(John 6:69) ”You are the Holy One of God.”

• He creates

John 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

NAS Colossians 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him.

Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

• He is sovereign

Revelation 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

• He saves

NKJ John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the LORD; And there is no savior besides Me.

Hosea 13:4 Yet I have been the LORD your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.

• He is worshipped

Revelation 5:8 the elders… fell down before the Lamb…

saying, "Worthy art Thou…"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."…to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.

C. The Holy Spirit is God

The same method we used to prove that the Father and Son are God can be used to prove that the Holy Spirit is God.

Acts. 28:25

Acts 28:25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; 27 For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Lest they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I should heal them."'

Isaiah says the Lord YHVH was speaking and Paul says that the Holy Spirit was speaking.

Hebrews 10:15-17

Hebrews 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And upon their mind I will write them," He then says, 17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

Quotes from Jeremiah 31:31-34 where YHVH is speaking…

Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD (YHVH)…

Attributes of the Holy Spirit reveal He is God

• Eternal

Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

• Omniscient

NKJ Isaiah 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?

• Omnipotent

Continuing in Isaiah 40…

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

• Omnipresent

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

How can the Holy Spirit have fellowship with all believers at the same time? He’s omnipresent.

• Holy

He is called the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29).

• He creates

Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Word for “was moving” is similar to an eagle hovering over its young in the nest. It’s a participle and indicates continuous action.

• He is sovereign

Isa 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD…

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

• He saves

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

• He is worshipped

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Whatever “fellowship” is applied to the Father also should be applied to the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion To Part 2

God is identified as Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Part 3 – Each member is distinct from the other.

A. Jesus is not the Father

John 8:16 – Jesus is not alone

John 8:16 "But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me. 17 "Even in your law it has been written, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 "I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."

John 14:23-26 – Jesus’ words were not his own

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 25 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father

Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet "?

Father addresses the Son, telling Him to sit down at His right hand for a duration of time. Thus, for this duration, you have the Father and the Son at the right hand. They are two persons.

Jesus will confess men before his Father

Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.

How can the Son confess you and I before the Father, and still be the Father? They are two distinct persons.

Jesus prayed to the Father

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes.

John 5:30 – Jesus was obedient to the Father

Jesus came to do the will of the Father:

John 5:30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me

This is why it was said that he became obedient.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If Jesus were the Father, wouldn’t he have come to do His own will?

B. Jesus is not the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is “Another” Helper

John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

Holy Spirit will Glorify Jesus

John 16:14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.

If Jesus were the Holy Spirit, why didn’t Jesus say the Holy Spirit would glorify Himself?

Luke 3:22 - The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus

Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased."

You have the Holy Spirit interacting with Jesus. They are clearly two distinct persons.

Matt 28:19 - Jesus says all 3 persons are distinct

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

If all 3 are the same person, then Jesus would seem to be a poor communicator.

2 Corinthians 13:14 – Implies 3 Persons

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Not Just a New Testament Doctrine

If Trinity were true we would expect to see a multi-personal God in the Old Testament.

That is, we’d expect to see the 3 persons of the Godhead interacting, distinct from each other.

This is exactly what we see.

Genesis – God addresses Himself in the plural.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

NAU Genesis 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil

Tower of Babel – Let Us go down

NAU Genesis 11:7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Call of Isaiah – Who will go for Us?

NAU Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

“The Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

Isaiah 48:12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. 13 "Surely My hand founded the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together. 14 "Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 15 "I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful. 16 "Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit."

Here we see all 3 Persons of the Godhead interacting with each other.

Conclusion:

1. There is one true God of the Bible

2. He is identified as Father, Son, Holy Spirit

3. The Father The Son Holy Spirit.

So the question on each of your mind may be this: Does it really matter?

Jesus said that the Father is seeking worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. God is not honored in worship when we have either false impressions of who He is, or are ignorant of His identity. We must worship Him in truth as much as we worship in spirit. That truth is based on His own self-description.

True Christian worship is founded upon Christian truth. We must have knowledge of our God to worship Him correctly. God does not play musical chairs, where we can simply choose our own impression of Him and then expect Him to accept our worship with a God that is nothing more than a figment of our imagination.

Each and every group that does not accept God as He has revealed Himself in His own word, not only worships a false God, but they will stand before the true God guilty of leading others to do the same.

Are you worshipping God in spirit and truth?

Do you desire to learn more of the God you serve?

Are you actively studying so that you can grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord?

Communion….

Pray

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