Alrighty. We're in chapter 4 this morning
of Don's book. And if you'd like to turn to
1 John chapter 5, we'll be looking at one verse there and then several
other verses as you know as we go through this book that Don
wrote titled, Basic Bible Doctrine. And what a great way, I really
appreciate the way so far Don has brought us through. As you
know, those of you who have been able to join us in all of them,
first chapter was why do we study doctrine? Because how are we
going to know about the book? How are we going to know about
the Lord? if we don't study His Word, about the teachings that
He has in His Bible? How are you going to know about
election if you don't read about what God teaches about election
in Scripture? How are you going to know about
total depravity if you don't read the teachings, the doctrine,
about men and the death, or total depravity of men and sin? and all the other things as well.
We can go on for a while with that. Secondly, we looked at
the Word. The Word of God is the divine
Word of God. It clearly states, and I love
the way Don is taking us into the Word and showing us these
things where the Word says so. It's not his description of it.
It's not mine. It's not any single man's. It's
Christ. in the last two weeks into chapter
three where God is. God is who he says he is. He's
sovereign in all that is. He's almighty. He's all-powerful.
He's in everywhere at all times. He's eternal. This morning we begin chapter
four, which Don has titled, The Infantable Mystery of the Trinity. We used the Word of God for our
study. We begin where the Bible begins,
and that is God Almighty, the Creator of all that is in Genesis
1. And now we see, we take the next
step. Notice, see how it goes in steps
there? How well He's going in steps? Now we look at the Trinity,
the fullness of God in Christ Jesus bodily. And He takes us,
thoughts from 1 John 5, verse 7, where it says these words.
1 John 5, verse 7, for there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these
three are one. Now we're only gonna get through
this chapter in two weeks, so we'll spend, we'll go A and B. Chapter four A and chapter four
B. Don starts off, he says, what
do we know about the biblical doctrine of the Trinity? Do we
have a comfortable, crisp understanding of the doctrine, the teachings
of the Trinity as it is set forth in the Word of God? Don says,
he says, I think it's safe to assume that most people who profess
to believe the doctrine of the Trinity would be hard-pressed
to show from Scriptures why they believe it. Without question,
he writes, clear biblical instruction is needed. Multitudes fall prey
to the many heretical cults, and they are still heretical
cults which deny the doctrine of the Trinity and the eternal
deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. In these days of unity, at any
price, denominations, churches, and preachers who deny these
essential facts are even embraced as Christian by many. Such compromise
is both unbiblical and intolerable. I've heard people say that Jehovah's
Witnesses are Christians. Don is accurate in that statement. and they deny the Lord Jesus
as God Almighty. We worship one God in Trinity,
or tri-unity is a better way to put it, he says, of his sacred
persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we adore each as
the God of all grace by whom we are saved. It must be acknowledged
that it is an utter impossibility for sinful mortals to understand,
much less explain, the mystery of the Holy Trinity. No mortal
can comprehend the being of the Infinite God. The doctrine of
Holy Trinity is indeed an unfathomable mystery. I agree completely with that.
which is why I stand that some things in the Bible we should
not, just should not, try to explain. God being manifest in the flesh,
how difficult it is for us to explain that, and so many other
things. But we'll go on, Don goes on,
he says, critics, skeptics, and infidels arrogantly boast that
they will not believe anything that they cannot understand and
explain. but their boast is not true.
Consider this as an example they would not think of denying that
the sun shines, though few, if any, can explain or understand
why or how the sun shines. The fact is we live in a world
full of things we cannot and do not personally understand,
yet we never question them. Don says, I do not understand
how a brown cow can eat green grass and give white milk that
makes yellow butter, but I drink the milk and I eat the butter. Nothing is more confusing to
scientists than the complexity of the humanity. Neither the
biologist nor the psychologist can grasp the mystery of what
man is. They tell us in their folly that
we are the highest form of animal life, yet they cannot find an
animal anywhere like man. Why? Because man is not an animal,
that's why. He is the only creature in the
universe made in the image of God. Isn't that what the Word
of God tells us? That makes humanity an unfathomable
mystery as well. The Word of God speaks of man
as a trichotomy, a being of three parts. Unlike the animals around
us, we are all material, rational, and spiritual beings. Each of
us possess a material body, a rational mind. Well, I'm not so sure I
would agree with that. Looking at today's news, it's
kind of hard to say some of us are rational. Wouldn't you agree? But, we'll go on, we'll let Don
get away with that one, how's that? A rational mind and an
immaterial or spiritual soul. We are in one sense a unity of
personalities, yet in another sense we are a plurality, a tri-unity,
or a trinity. How do we put all that together
in one person? I cannot answer that question,
writes Don, but I know it is so. No one will ever be able
to adequately explain the complex mystery of humanity. All we can
do is watch and observe. It is true with regard to humanity,
how much more so, if it's true with regard to humanity, how
much more so would it be true when we think about the infinite
God? Think about the complexity of what God has created right
here in us, our being. And if that's so true, then think
about how much greater, Don is saying, the complexity of God
Almighty. And we sit here and try to compare
Him to us. We sit here and try to make Him
as us. What fools we are in the flesh
in doing so. We cannot understand or explain
the works of God in any way. We certainly cannot understand
His being. Don says, I make no pretense
of being able to explain the Trinity. I cannot explain what
I do not understand. Someone once said, the man is
a fool who denies the doctrine of the Trinity, and he is equally
a fool who tries to explain it. Don says, my only object in this
study is to show that the Word of God teaches this doctrine,
and that it is a doctrine full of comfort and encouragement. So with that in mind, let's consider
this a Bible doctrine. The Bible clearly and unmistakably
teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. This is not a matter of guesswork.
It is not a matter of a point of theological speculation. or
conjecture. Listen to 1 John 5, verse 7 again
specifically, and it clearly states this, there are three
that bear record in heaven, the Word, the Holy Ghost, and these
three are one. Now certainly this is not the
only place where the doctrine is taught. Throughout the scripture,
God reveals himself in a triune being, one in three and three
in one. All are equal in all things and
co-eternal. When we say we believe in the
Trinity of the divine person, we do not mean that there are
three equal but separate gods. We do not mean that there is
one God manifest in three personalities. We mean that we worship one God
in three divine persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Divine Trinity is a union
of these three persons in one Godhead, so that all three are
one God as to substance, but three persons as to individuality. And I gotta tell you something,
I'm still confused with that. I don't know how it is either.
And I'm thankful that God gives us men who study hard and try
to bring these things out, but still, I'm confused with it.
So we'll go on. A man by the name of A.H. Strong
wrote this. He says, in the nature of one
God, there are three eternal distinctions which are represented
to us under the figure of three persons, and these three are
equal. I see some of you shaking your
head. Yep, that's right. I'm still standing here going,
you know what? I believe it. It's not helping me yet. So if
it's not helping you folks, don't feel alone with it, okay? Let's go on. Is this or is it
not the doctrine of the Bible? Everybody's shaking their head
on that one. I'm in agreeable with it. I'm in agreeable with
it. Okay. That is the only thing that matters, writes Don. And
you know what? That's absolutely true. If the
Bible says it, I'm okay with it. That's all that matters. Search the Scriptures and see
for yourself that the Word of God clearly teaches the Trinity. The Trinity is a doctrine found
in the Old Testament Scriptures as well as the New. In self-disclosure
or self-revelation of God, the Old Testament, the Lord our God
is always represented as one God, but always as one God with
plural persons within the Godhead. Look over at Deuteronomy chapter
6. Turn over in the Old Testament
to the book of Deuteronomy. It's the last of the five books
that Moses wrote. We've got Leviticus, Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 6. Look at one verse over there,
and then we'll go to Genesis. Deuteronomy 6. Now this is the
example that Don has pulled up, and there are many. There are
many, by the way, but there's a couple examples that Don has
pulled up here for us. In verse 4 of chapter 6, we read
these words, Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord. Okay, now, he's one Lord. Take
that with what we're gonna read next. Go to Genesis chapter one.
Genesis chapter one. There is one Lord, very clearly
stated. Would you not agree with that?
Look here at verses one and two of Genesis chapter one. In the
beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Now that's what
Don used last week to show us that God is. He is what he says
he is. Verse 2, And the earth was without
form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep,
and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Now,
turn over to verse 26. Genesis 1, verse 26. So we see there in verse Chapter 1, verses 1 and 2, that
God's the one who created all the things. He moved upon the
faces of the waters and the earth. And over in 26, he says, and
God said, let us. Did you catch that? This is what
Don is bringing us to. He's showing us that in God's
word, he declares himself as being plural, yet declaring himself
as being one. And God said, let us make man
in our image. after our likeness, and let them
have dominion over fish, and over the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and the cattle of the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth on the earth." So we see right there that God
declares in plurality. And there's many other places
as well. The Old Testament Scriptures constantly point us to three
persons of the Godhead. We are often confronted with
God the Father, the Spirit of the Lord, and many pre-incarnate
appearances of Christ as the angel of the Lord. Yes, and we're
talking about the Old Testament. One of the most common Hebrew
words for God is the word El, E-L. You find it a thousand combinations
in the Old Testament. The plural form of the word El
is L-O-M. That's E-L-O-H-I-M. This is the
word used in Genesis 1. W.A. Criswell has a powerful
demonstration and significance of the way these words are used.
Listen to this. In the first chapter of Genesis,
that word, L-O-M, is used 32 times. In the books of Moses,
L-O-M is used more than 500 times. In the Old Testament scriptures,
L-O-M is used more than 5,000 times. In all 32 times of the
first chapter of Genesis, in all more than 500 times in the
writings of Moses, in all of the 5,000 times in the Old Testament,
without exception, L-O-M is used with a singular verb. L-O-M, plural, referring to the
majesty and the abounding marvel in the mysteries of God, and
it appears with a single verb every time. The implication of that fact
is obvious, that the Lord our God, the triune God is one God
and this triune God is the one true and living God, there is
no other God. The New Testament, Don writes,
clearly and emphatically declares the doctrine of the Trinity.
No effort is made in the Word of God to prove that doctrine. It's simply stated as a matter
of fact, a matter commonly received and believed by all who are numbered
among the saints. It is presented almost casually
to, in connection with the incarnate God. Look over Matthew chapter
one. We're gonna look at several verses
here for a few minutes. In the New Testament, Matthew
chapter 1, in verse 20, beginning in verse
20, we see these words. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife. For that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost. So we see the mark first thing
there, it's of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his
people from their sins. Now all this was done that it
might be fulfilled, which is spoken of by the Lord of the
prophets, saying, behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall
bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which
is being interpreted as God with us. It's almost casual, isn't
it? I mean, it's just like a conversation. It's almost casual in connection
with our Lord's baptism. Turn over to chapter 3, Matthew
chapter 3. Look what it says over here,
just a page to the right, verses 15 and 16. Matthew 3, beginning
at verse 15. This is speaking of the Lord's
Baptism. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer to be so
now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.
Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized,
went up straight away out of the water. And, lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and lighting Again, we see the relationship
between the Spirit of God and the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.
It's almost presented casually in connection with the Great
Commission. Turn over to Matthew chapter 28. Go to the right a
few more pages. Matthew 28. Look at verse 19 and 20. Go ye therefore and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Folks, the Bible's clear there's
only one God. Why wouldn't we baptize in three?
Because those three are one. That's what Don's telling us
here. Look how he takes us to the Scripture and shows us how
the Bible teaches us the Trinity in these different forms. teaching
them to observe all things I have commanded you, and lo, I am with
you always, forever and to the end of the world. Amen. It's
almost, it's almost casual in connection to the Savior's promise
to send the Holy Spirit, another comforter exactly like himself,
as we read over in John 14, 16. It's almost casual in the connection
of these apostolic benedictions. Turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter
13, one verse over there. 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians chapter 13. Look
at one verse over there, verse 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you
all. Amen. See how casual it is? Scriptures, they're very clear
of who Jesus Christ is. Christ never spoke lightly about
it. He spoke it openly. He told the
unbelieving Jews when they asked him, How long do you cause us to doubt?
Tell us plainly, are you the Christ? He says, I told you. He was so plain about it, folks.
He was so plain about it, who he is, God the Father, God the
Spirit, God the Son, that the works that he did proved it.
And he said they did not believe because they were not his sheep.
The New Testament declares that God the Father is God. Look over
Romans chapter 1. Keep going to the right. No,
I'm sorry, go back to the left. Look over Romans chapter 1. The New Testament declares that
God the Father is God. Look at verse 7. To all that
be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints, Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He declares
himself to be the Son of God, that God is the Son of God. Look
over at Hebrews chapter one. Hebrews chapter one. One verse over there, and we
will see clearly Verse 8. Is that right? Hebrews 1 verse 8. Yeah.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and
ever. A scepter of righteousness is
the scepter of thy kingdom. And God the Holy Spirit is also
declared as God. Look over at Acts chapter 5.
Go back again to the other side of Romans to the book of Acts.
Look at chapter 5 with me. Look at verses 3 and 4. But Peter
said to Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to
the Holy Ghost? and to keep back part of the
price of the land. While it is remained, was it
not thine own? And after it was sold, was it
not thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this
thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men,
but unto God. The Lord our God is one Lord. The doctrine of the Trinity runs
through all the Old and the New Testament. And Don gives several
verses to refer to that. You can spend the next three
days looking at all these different verses. If you'd like a list
of them, I'd be happy to give them to you. Without question,
the doctrine of the Trinity is a Bible doctrine, a Bible teaching. Someone accurately stated that
the Father is all the fullness of the Godhead invisibly. You
can read that in John 1.18. The Son is the fullness of the
Godhead manifested in the flesh. That's in John 1.14-18. And the Spirit is all the fullness
of God acting immediately upon His creation. 1 Corinthians 2. 9 through 10. I would say that's
a pretty good description of it, wouldn't you? Dauntz says,
I confess my inability to produce a single argument drawn from
scripture, drawn from nature or logic to prove the doctrine
of the Trinity. It is a mystery filled with such
grandeur that it defies comprehension by finite minds, but our faith
does not stand upon nature and logic. Amen. Amen. It says it in the book of...
You know, we were listening to our brother Marvin Stoniker this
morning preaching. He closed the last message over
there in Kingsport for their conference. He preached from the Scriptures,
Romans 8, 28, and we know. And his introduction was, it
was so good. It was such a blessing. Why do we know? Because it says
so right here in these words. You can stand there and you can
argue all day long about the things that you think you know
of this world, but God's people stand on this, His Word. I don't care what you say is
right. This is right. And I believe it to be right
because of my Savior. Because of His grace. I didn't give any justice to
what Marvin said. When he said, go listen to it.
It'll bless your heart. It'll throw you into tears. Why? Because that's the way I feel
in my heart about God's word. That's why. And I pray that you
have the same. Don says this in closing this
morning's study. He says, the mystery filled with
such grandeur that it defies the competition of finite minds,
but our faith does not stand upon nature and logic. Our faith
stands upon the word of God alone. Amen. All Christians believe
the doctrine, the teachings, of the Trinity because it is
revealed in Holy Scripture and I can see it clearly because
I believe it. Amen.