heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. We worship one God in the Trinity, or the triunity, you might call it, of his sacred persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we adore each as the God of all grace by whom we are saved. Last week, We consider these very points. The doctrine of the Trinity is a Bible doctrine. Now remember, throughout this book of basic Bible doctrine, Don's object is to take us into scriptures. And we're going to get there in just a moment, but I want to introduce what we're looking at today by way of what Don has as a title. Now, we looked at this last week. The doctrine of the Trinity is a Bible doctrine. It's talked about throughout all of Scripture. We looked at Genesis 1, and as it says in 1 John 5, verse 7, there are three that bear record in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. So we looked at different things such as that. Let's see what else I wanted to point out. Last week, someone accurately stated, wrote Don, the Father is the fullness of the Godhead invisibly, and you can read that in John chapter 1, verse 18. The Son is the fullness of the Godhead manifested, and you can read that in John chapter 1, verse 14 through 18. And the Spirit is the fullness of God acting immediately upon the creature, and you can read that in 1 Corinthians 2, verses 9 and 10. So this morning we're going to take up the second half of chapter 4, and he's titled this part of the study, The Doctrine of the Trinity is a Gospel Doctrine. Now what that means is the teachings of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as being one God, It's part of the gospel. It's part of the good news. It's taught throughout scripture as being part of the good... God the Father has something to do. He gave God the Son of people. God the Son has something to do. God the Son had to come and redeem us. And God the Spirit gives life to those who are dead in trespasses and sin that we might see Jesus Christ. Now remember this. The Spirit of God never speaks of Himself. He always speaks of Christ. So, this morning I will begin with what Don wrote here. He said, all three persons in the Godhead are equally gracious. Speaking of the gospel, it's a gospel doctrine. All three are gracious. This is one of the many great gospel truths, writes Don, the Holy Spirit shows us in the first chapter of Ephesians. As the three persons of the eternal Godhead are equal in divinity, but distinct in personality, so all three of the divine persons are equal in grace, but distinct in their operations of grace. God the Father is set before us as a fountain of grace. Turn over to Ephesians chapter one. As the fountain of all grace, and we can see that right here in Ephesians chapter one, verses three through six. Blessed be the God and Father. So we see here that God the Father is the fountain of all grace. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. So God the Father is the one who blesses us with all grace. He's the fountain of it. It is God the Father who in the covenant of grace proposed redemption, devised a plan, and chose the people whom he would save by his almighty grace. He found a way by whereby his banished ones could be brought back to him and never be expelled from his presence. Then, in the fullness of time, He sent his son to be the medium or the mediator of his grace. Turn over to the left, go back just a couple, just one page to Galatians chapter four. Look what it says here in verses four through six. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, so we see God the father, sent his son, and if you read John chapter 17, how often do we read in that chapter where it says, and God sent, they believe that I was sent by you, by God the Father. So I just wanted to point that out. In your own time, you can go read sometime, 17, and see how many times it talks about God the Father sending his son, and the people believing. Okay, so, but when the fullness of time has come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, that's in the flesh, to redeem them that were under the law, that's you and I, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit. Do you see all three right there? Do you see the scripture what Don's bringing out? That the scriptures point out that the three in one, the Trinity, is part of the gospel message. It's part of the good news. God the Father gave us, gave God the Son of people. And here we see, we are sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. What a great word that is. God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the channel of all grace. That's what we read in verses seven through 12 back in Ephesians chapter one. In whom? This is Ephesians chapter one. in whom, verse 7, in whom we have redemption through His blood. Here's all of our grace, comes right through Christ. We are redeemed through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us, now this is through the Spirit, the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He had purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him in whom also we have obtained the inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." So we see very clearly here that God the Son, the Lord Jesus is the channel. All grace must flow for him if he, that's what he says in verse three, who have blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ. Now all grace comes to sinners through Christ as our mediator. In this chapter, Paul tells us 14 times that everything God requires of sinners, does for sinners, and gives to sinners, is in Christ His Son. Apart from Christ, there's no grace. God will not deal with men, but by Christ. Man cannot deal with God, but by Christ. Christ is the revelation of God, the incarnation of God, and the only way to God. Are we chosen of God? We are chosen in Christ. Are we blessed of God? We are blessed in Christ. Are we predestinated by God? We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ. Are we adopted as the children of God? We are adopted in Christ. Are we accepted of God? We are accepted in Christ. Are we redeemed of God? We are redeemed in Christ. Are we forgiven of God? We are forgiven in Christ. Are we justified before God? We're justified in Christ. Are we sanctified? of God, by God. We are sanctified in Christ. Do we know God? We know Him in Christ. You see how He's bringing out all blessings? What are all the blessings He's listed here? It's being with God. It's being blessed of God, being in His presence, being predestinated. Everything that we need for salvation, we find in Christ. Do you see this? What a blessing. All grace comes to chosen sinners through Christ. There's no other way, Roger, no other way. Let no rejecter of God's Son imagine that he shall be the beneficiary of God's grace. It is the works of Christ upon the cross which has brought grace and justice together in the salvation of sinners. It is through his blood only, through the blood of the cross, that mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other as we read in Psalms 85, 10. Blissfully, writes Don, lost in the contemplation of God's matchless grace in Christ, John Bunyan penned the following moments, these following words. He said, O thou son of the blessed Grace stripped thee of thy glory. Grace brought thee down from heaven. Grace made thee bear such burdens of sin, such burdens of the curse as are unspeakable. Grace was in thy heart. Grace came bubbling up from thy bleeding side. Grace was in thy tears. Grace was in thy prayers. Grace streamed from thy thorn-crowned brow. Grace came through with the nails that pierced thee, with the thorns that pricked thee. Oh, how unsearchable are the riches of your grace. Grace to make sinners happy. Grace to make angels wonder. Grace to make devils astonished. Don goes on to say, the fountain of all grace is God the Father. The medium of all grace is God the Son, the mediator. And God the Holy Spirit is the administrator of all grace. Look at verses 13-14 of Ephesians 1. In whom? In Christ. Ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. In whom? Also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Do you see the Trinity in salvation? Do you see the Trinity spoken of in God's Word? Oh, how the Lord's Word is full of the Gospel. Look at verse 14, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the person's possession to the praise of His glory. Don writes, he goes, it is God, the Holy Spirit, who effectually applies the blood of Christ to the chosen redeemed sinners. He regenerates the dead by His omnipotent power. Turn over to John chapter 6. John chapter 6, go to the left. And look at one verse over there. John chapter 6, verse 63. John 6, verse 63. It is the Spirit. It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh, profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life. It is God the Holy Spirit who effectually applies the blood of Christ to chosen, redeemed sinners. He calls the redeemed with irresistible grace. Look over John chapter 16. And Don gives us several verses, but we're only going to look at one for the sake of time this morning. Look at John chapter 16 with me. Beginning at verse 8, And when he is come, speaking of the Spirit, Actually, let's go back to 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter, and that's the Spirit, will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. Now we start with verse 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment, Of sin, because they believe not on me. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father and ye see me no more. Of judgment, because the Prince of this world is judged. The Spirit gives faith to the chosen by almighty operations. Turn back to Ephesians chapter 2 this time. The Spirit gives faith to the chosen by the almighty operations of grace. Look at verses 8 and 9. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves is it a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Turn over to Colossians. Keep going to the right. Two more books there. Philippians and then Colossians. Look at one verse over there in Colossians 2. Verse 12. buried with him in baptism, also ye are risen with him through faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead." God the Spirit seals God's elect unto everlasting glory. Redemption was effectually accomplished for God's elect by Christ at Calvary and it is effectually applied to all the redeemed by God the Holy Spirit in the effectual calling. Keep going to the right there over to Hebrews chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9. Look at a couple verses with me over there. Verses 12 and 13 and 14. Neither by the blood of goats or calves, but by His own blood, He entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, see who makes it effectual, Christ made it possible, made it, no that's not, I don't want to use that word possible because that opens the door for you to receive it. He accomplished it by going to the cross. But here we see very clearly the Spirit's the one who applies it to our hearts. How much more shall the blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit, offering Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Without the sovereign, gracious operations of God, the Holy Spirit, writes Don, in conversion, no sinner would ever become the beneficiary of grace. He takes the things of Christ and shows them to His people. He quickens those, as it says in Ephesians 2, verse 1, those the Father had chose, reclaiming those that the Son had redeemed, and He leads the Good Shepherd, He leads to the Great Shepherd every one of those lost sheep for whom God the Shepherd laid down His life. A man by the name of C.D. Cole wrote these words. He says, he conquers the stoutest hearts. I can put that right there in my column. There's John, the stoutest heart. And he cleanses the foulest spiritual leper. I can put that one in my column. He opens the sin-blinded eyes. Oh, I could put that one in my column. He unstops the sin-closed ears. That one can go there as well. The blessed Holy Spirit reveals the grace of the Father. Oh, yes, he does. And he applies the grace of the Son to the hearts of his people. All three persons, writes Don, in the Godhead are equally gracious. and all three must be equally praised. In fact, whenever the three persons of the Holy Trinity are represented together in the scriptures, it is always in connection with redemption, grace, and salvation. Don says, I have not found an exception to that statement. Every time you read about the three, it has to do with that all that he just mentioned. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. What a beautiful day the Lord has given us, as Edward said in his prayer, and I said earlier, what a beautiful day for that very thing. Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. God the Father is presented alone as when He stood upon Mount Sinai, clothed with thunder and lightning. We've been looking at Friday night Bible study of the destruction in chapters 23, 24, 25 of Matthew. The Lord is very clear. Seven times He mentions, eight times He mentions the woes to the religious world. In chapter 24 he tells of the destruction of the temple and of this world, which is a picture of the destruction of this world. Thunder and lightning. Don goes on, he's delivering the law to Moses. Notice what he was delivering, God by himself, delivering the law. So terrible was His presence that the very mountain shook in the prospect of God's own judgment. You can read that in Exodus 20, verse 18 if you'd like. Sometimes God the Son appears alone, it says. He says, and when He appears in His glorious second advent, these men and women who have despised and rejected Him and pray in terror that they might be saved from the wrath of the Lamb. That's Christ. Notice what Don is bringing out here. When the three are together, the gospel news is there. When they're alone, it's judgment. When God the Holy Spirit is represented alone, the consequences are the same, he says. Those who blaspheme Him, committing the sin which can never be forgiven, are reserved as reprobates unto everlasting judgment. You can read that yourself, Matthew 12, 31 through 32. Whenever one person of the Trinity is presented alone, the result is judgment. However, when all three of the divine persons are set before us, The consequences is always mercy, grace, redemption, and salvation. Turn over to Revelation 1 and we'll read these words. I love pointing out grace, mercy, and redemption. Look at verse 4 of Revelation 1. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, which was, and which is to come. And from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins, and his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever. Amen. In other words, writes Don, the whole being of God, in all of His attributes, in all of His glory, in the Trinity of His persons, is set for the everlasting salvation of his elect. Turn over to Jeremiah 32. Jeremiah 32. Look at one verse with me over there at verse 41. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good. And I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. What does it say over in Jeremiah 33, I think it is? Verse 3, thus saith the Lord, no, it's not in verse 33. Can't remember which, maybe it's 31. No, but where the Lord says, I have loved them with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness I have drawn them. Isn't that good stuff? Let's close with this, shall we? Don has just a few words left to say here in this chapter, and that is the doctrine of the Trinity is an inspiring doctrine. Not only is it a doctrine that we see in Scripture, not only is it a doctrine that points us to the Gospel, it's an inspiring doctrine. No doctrine in the Bible, no teaching, is more forcibly, more forcibly inspires unity among true believers than the doctrine of the Trinity. This is not some abstract point of theological speculation, or some profitless point of doctrinal refinement. This is a subject so far above our comprehension that it should inspire our deepest reverence and humility, as well as the most circumspect consecration and unity. In our baptism, you and I have publicly avowed our consecration to our God. Look over Romans chapter 6. This is our declaration when we go to the waters of baptism, as God has said, repent and be baptized. Look at these words in verse 4. Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in a newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Being baptized in the name of the Father, writes Don, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we publicly declared our to obey the will of the Father, to live for the glory of the Son, to submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Let every thought about the Holy Trinity stimulate in us the desire that we may be one, even as God the Father, God the Son. and God the Holy Spirit are one. You can read that in John 17, verse 20-22. J. M. Pendleton wrote this, he said, Who can think of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as one? One in nature, one in love, one in purpose, and not hope for the day when the intercessory prayer of Christ will be answered in the union of all His followers. All true believers, writes God, should be earnestly devout to themselves as the sons and daughters of the triune God to unity. Oh, that God's saints on earth might truly be one in purpose, seeking the glory of God, one in labor, serving the cause of Christ, one in love of Christ, as the children of God are in this world for Christ's sake. For His glory, believers must learn by the grace of God to be patient with one another, to highly esteem one another, to forgive one another, to be forbearing with one another, and to give difference to one another. Soon, we will all be in glory as one. I was listening to Brother Gabe Stoniker preach this morning, Bible study. And he brought out that about esteeming one another. I mean this with all my heart. Every one of you, every one of the people that God sends to this church, brothers and sisters that I feel are my brothers and sisters in Christ, are better than me. That's just the way I see it. That's just the way God's people look at it. Brother Gabe was bringing out how he was the least of all of God's servants. Because that's how he feels in his heart. That's how I feel. You've heard me say it. And I've heard you say the same things. I esteem everyone else that loves God better than me. Because it just seems like they do. They don't see the depth of my depravity. as I do, and I thank God for that. I thank God that I still see it and am able to look at all of you as better than myself. Amen.