May 18, 2008

What We Believe - About God: The Trinity
Steve Lane

A. Review

2 Peter 1: 2 - 4 Knowledge of God
epignosis : A special participation and unity with the object known; experiential knowledge.
God desires us to have this kind of knowledge of Him.

John 15 The branch is active, but entirely dependent on the Vine.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have donw better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.

-Teddy Roosevelt, April 23, 1910

Knowing God... by desperately depending on Him in the crucible of a life of service to Him.

Desperate dependence on God, and then knowing and experiencing Him.

Psalm 59: 16 - 17

B. Introduction

Correct thinking on God

It is those who... will know God

"If we are not willing to set aside the distractions of the world, and the yearnings of the flesh, to go and meet with Him and take on His purposes and daily put our trust in Him, we will never truly know Him."

Those that know their God (Daniel 11: 32) will be strong and take action.

C. Trinity, Tri-unity or Three-in-Oneness of God

We believe there is one (1) God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- equal in substance, power and Glory; Creator of the Universe.
Deuteronomy 6: 4
Matthew 28: 19
2 Corinthians 13: 14
Matthew 3: 16
So, the Father is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Son. The Son is not the Father. But, they are of the same essence.

What is God like?

Genesis 1: 1 "In the beginning God..." (Elohim)
'im' suffix in Hebrew is plural, but used here in a singular way.

Genesis 1: 2 "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
ruach which is also used for breath, or even wind.

2 Peter 1: 21
John 1: 1
Genesis 1: 26 God said let Us make man in Our own image.