Essentials
Class #3 – God-Pt 2
September 8, 2013
EFCA Statement
God – We believe in one God, Creator of all
things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally
existing in a loving unity of three equally divine
Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Having limitless knowledge and sovereign
power, God has graciously purposed from eternity
to redeem a people for Himself and to make all
things new for His own glory.
Person of the God
Is unique to Christianity
This term is two-fold
Anthropomorphism-Assigning a human characteristic to something
which is not human, as a way of attempting to quantify or
explain it
Speaks to the “nature” of God
God bears all of the qualities of personality. He is intelligent,
rational, moral, conscious, has a will, and volition.
Even Augustine wrestled with this term and concept, only to
say that “human language labors altogether under great
poverty of speech, but that it might be left unspoken.”
This describes Him both interpersonally and intra-personally
Inter – His relationship with His creation
Intra – Trinity
Trinity
Scripture refers to God in the plural (*Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isa 6:8)
The Trinity is a delicate balance between the unity of God and the diversity of
each person within the Godhead.
Definition: There is precisely one true God, but in the unity of God, there are
precisely three coeternal and coequal Persons, of the same essence
but distinct in function.
All three persons are wholly God.
God is one in nature and essence, yet distinct in the relationship that
each person has with one another and creation. (Jn 17:5, 24 &
Jn 17: 11, 21 & Jn 17:3)
Father is God (Ps 2:7; Jn 1:18; 6:27; *Rom 1:7; *1 Cor 8:6; Phil 2:11; 1 Ptr 1:2)
Jesus is God (Ps 2:7; Is 9:6; *Mt 3:16-17, Jn 1:1; 14:9; 20:28-29; *Col 2:9;
Heb 1:1-13)
Characteristics of God (Mt 9:4; 28:18; 28:20, Mk 2:1-12, Jn 1:3; 5:27;
12:9, Col 1:17)
Holy Spirit is God (Gen 1:1-2; Ex 31:3; *Jdg 15:14; Jn 14:16-17; *15:26;
Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:10; 3:17)
Characteristics of God (Jn 3:5-6, 8; 1 Cor 2:10; 6:19)
Jesus distinct from the Father (Jn 17)
Holy Spirit distinct from the Father (Jn 14:26)
The Son distinct from the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16-17)
All three mentioned (Mt 3:16-17; *28:19; Jn 14:16-17; 2 Cor 13:13;
Eph 4:4-6; 1Ptr1:2)
Shield of the Trinity
3 Common Heresies of the Trinity
Modalism – One God in three modes
Sub-Ordinationism – The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and/or
attributes
Tritheism – The trinity is really three separate Gods
Bad Illistrations (http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/08/the-trinity-is-like-3-in-1shampoo-and-other-stupid-statements/)
1. The Trinity is like 3-in-1 shampoo. This can only point to modalism or tritheism. It
is modalistic if you are saying the shampoo performs three functions, yet is
one substance. But you can also break down the various elements that
perform each function and see them separately. That is tritheism since all of
the elements are not the same. They may work together to perform a specific
goal, but they are not really the same substance.
2. The Trinity is like an egg. This is most definitely tritheism. While the egg is one,
each of the substances that makes up the parts (shell, white stuff, and yoke),
are most definitely distinct. The yoke is completely separate in nature from
the shell.
3. The Trinity is like water. This is a modalistic illustration. Ice, steam, and liquid are
examples of the same nature which at one time or another has a particular
mode of existence. Sometimes it is liquid, sometimes it is ice, and sometimes
it is steam. God is not sometimes Son, sometimes Father, and sometimes
Spirit. He is eternally each, always at the same time.
4. The Trinity is like a three leaf clover. This is a form of tritheism. Each leaf of the
clover is a separate leaf. It does not share in the same nature as the other
leafs, but only has a similar nature. In the Trinity, each member shares in the
exact same nature.
5. The Trinity is like a man who is simultaneously a father, son, and husband. This is
an often used illustration, but it only serves to present a modalistic
understanding of God that is false. Father, son, and husband only describe
various functions of one person. Each function cannot exist in a
simultaneous relationship with each other, can’t talk to each other, and
cannot exist in an eternal relationship with each other.
6. The Trinity is like a person who is one, yet has a spirit, soul, and a body. This one,
like the first, can commit either a tritheistic or modalistic error, but cannot
be used to illustrate the orthodox definition of the Trinity. It is modalistic in
that the spirit, soul, and body are three functions of one conscience or
person. But it can also be tritheistic when one considers that the spirit is not
the exact same nature as the body (or the soul if you are a trichotomist).
No adequate illustration
Illustrations can only be used to accurately show what the Trinity is not.
Nobody truly “gets it.” The Trinity is a very difficult idea, which frankly is
beyond out comprehension. We do the best that we can.
God as Creator (*Gen 1&2; Ex 20:11; 2 Chr 2:12; *Neh 9:6; Ps 33:6; 90:2; 102:25;
121:1-2; Isa 66:2; Mk 13:19; Acts 4:24; 17:24-28; Rom 9:20; *Heb 3:4; 11:3;
*Rev 4:11)
God created all things outside Himself
God spoke creation into existence
Three theories on how God created
Day=24hrs
Day=Epic of Time
Gen 1&2 are literary in form not scientific, therefore, we can’t tell
Neither EFCA nor MEFC require a particular position be held.
We must not divide over the “how” but instead unite around the affirmation
of the following truths.
1. God is the creator of all things
2. God pronounced His creation as “very good”
3. God created with order and purpose
4. God is the sovereign ruler over all creation, which he sustains
5. God created the historical Adam and Eve as the first humans,
uniquely in His image
6. Through their sin, all humanity along with this created order is now
fallen
All things for His glory (*Ps 8:1; 19:1; Isa 43; *51:12-16; *Neh 9:5-6; Rom 11:36;
Eph 1:3-6)
All of creation has the sole purpose to glorify God (Heavens, Start, Earth,
Man)
Everything that exists has its existence from God and for God. (Rom 11:36)
Events that take place are for his Glory
Good events
Bad events
We are called to glorify God in all things (1 Cor 10:31; Mt 6:2)
Purpose to Redeem (*Mk 10:45; Rom 3:24; 4:25; 8:23; 2 Cor 5:17-19; *Eph 1:3-5; 1
Tim 2:5-6; *2 Tim 1:9; Tts 1:2)
The purpose of His creation was to glorify Himself and have a creation which
was in communion with Him. This is still the purpose of creation.
Even before the first sin, God knew how he was going to work throughout
time to redeem us.
God longs for our redemption, so that He can be better glorified and we can
be in ideal communion with Him.
Redemption/The Gospel does not begin with humanity, it begins with God.
Redemption was Christ’s primary purpose (Mk 10:45)
Definition
The term “redemption” holds both present and future tense meanings.
At salvation we are redeemed or “set free” from the bondage of sin by
a payment.
In the future our relationship will be recreated to its ideal state.
Synonyms are reconcile and ransom
EFCA Statement
God – We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and
eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power,
God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself
and to make all things new for His own glory.
Summary & Response
God is not an object, but is personal. How should that make our faith play out
different than other religions and their “gods?”
In what ways could you grow your personal relationship with God?
How does the fact that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, simultaneously
impact your relationship with Him?
What do you need to do to better glorify Him in the events of this week?
How does it make you feel that God longs to be I communion with you?
Next Week: Class #4 – The Bible-Pt 1
Essentials
Class #3 – God-Pt 2
September 8, 2013
EFCA Statement
God – We believe in one God, Creator of all
things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally
existing in a loving unity of three equally divine
Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Having limitless knowledge and sovereign
power, God has graciously purposed from eternity
to redeem a people for Himself and to make all
things new for His own glory.
Person of the God
Is unique to Christianity
This term is two-fold
-Assigning a human characteristic to
something which is not human, as a way of attempting to
quantify or explain it
Speaks to the “
” of God
God bears all of the qualities of personality. He is intelligent,
rational, moral, conscious, has a will, and volition.
Even Augustine wrestled with this term and concept, only to
say that “human language labors altogether under great
poverty of speech, but that it might be left unspoken.”
This describes Him both interpersonally and intra-personally
Inter – His relationship with His
Intra –
Trinity
Scripture refers to God in the
(*Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isa 6:8)
The Trinity is a delicate balance between the unity of God and the diversity of
each person within the Godhead.
Definition: There is precisely one true God, but in the unity of God, there are
precisely three coeternal and coequal Persons, of the same essence
but distinct in function.
All three persons are
God.
God is one in nature and essence, yet distinct in the relationship that
each person has with one another and creation. (Jn 17:5, 24 &
Jn 17: 11, 21 & Jn 17:3)
Father is God (Ps 2:7; Jn 1:18; 6:27; *Rom 1:7; *1 Cor 8:6; Phil 2:11; 1 Ptr 1:2)
Jesus is God (Ps 2:7; Is 9:6; *Mt 3:16-17, Jn 1:1; 14:9; 20:28-29; *Col 2:9;
Heb 1:1-13)
Characteristics of God (Mt 9:4; 28:18; 28:20, Mk 2:1-12, Jn 1:3; 5:27;
12:9, Col 1:17)
Holy Spirit is God (Gen 1:1-2; Ex 31:3; *Jdg 15:14; Jn 14:16-17; *15:26;
Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 2:10; 3:17)
Characteristics of God (Jn 3:5-6, 8; 1 Cor 2:10; 6:19)
Jesus distinct from the Father (Jn 17)
Holy Spirit distinct from the Father (Jn 14:26)
The Son distinct from the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16-17)
All three mentioned (Mt 3:16-17; *28:19; Jn 14:16-17; 2 Cor 13:13;
Eph 4:4-6; 1Ptr1:2)
Shield of the Trinity
3 Common Heresies of the Trinity
– One God in three modes
and/or attributes
– The Son is lesser than the Father in essence
– The trinity is really three separate Gods
Bad Illistrations (http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/08/the-trinity-is-like-3-in-1shampoo-and-other-stupid-statements/)
1. The Trinity is like 3-in-1 shampoo. This can only point to modalism or tritheism. It
is modalistic if you are saying the shampoo performs three functions, yet is
one substance. But you can also break down the various elements that
perform each function and see them separately. That is tritheism since all of
the elements are not the same. They may work together to perform a specific
goal, but they are not really the same substance.
2. The Trinity is like an egg. This is most definitely tritheism. While the egg is one,
each of the substances that makes up the parts (shell, white stuff, and yoke),
are most definitely distinct. The yoke is completely separate in nature from
the shell.
3. The Trinity is like water. This is a modalistic illustration. Ice, steam, and liquid are
examples of the same nature which at one time or another has a particular
mode of existence. Sometimes it is liquid, sometimes it is ice, and sometimes
it is steam. God is not sometimes Son, sometimes Father, and sometimes
Spirit. He is eternally each, always at the same time.
4. The Trinity is like a three leaf clover. This is a form of tritheism. Each leaf of the
clover is a separate leaf. It does not share in the same nature as the other
leafs, but only has a similar nature. In the Trinity, each member shares in the
exact same nature.
5. The Trinity is like a man who is simultaneously a father, son, and husband. This is
an often used illustration, but it only serves to present a modalistic
understanding of God that is false. Father, son, and husband only describe
various functions of one person. Each function cannot exist in a
simultaneous relationship with each other, can’t talk to each other, and
cannot exist in an eternal relationship with each other.
6. The Trinity is like a person who is one, yet has a spirit, soul, and a body. This one,
like the first, can commit either a tritheistic or modalistic error, but cannot
be used to illustrate the orthodox definition of the Trinity. It is modalistic in
that the spirit, soul, and body are three functions of one conscience or
person. But it can also be tritheistic when one considers that the spirit is not
the exact same nature as the body (or the soul if you are a trichotomist).
No adequate illustration
Illustrations can only be used to accurately show what the Trinity is not.
Nobody truly “gets it.” The Trinity is a very difficult idea, which frankly is
beyond out comprehension. We do the best that we can.
God as Creator (*Gen 1&2; Ex 20:11; 2 Chr 2:12; *Neh 9:6; Ps 33:6; 90:2; 102:25;
121:1-2; Isa 66:2; Mk 13:19; Acts 4:24; 17:24-28; Rom 9:20; *Heb 3:4; 11:3;
*Rev 4:11)
God created all things outside Himself
God
creation into existence
Three theories on how God created
Day=
Day=
Gen 1&2 are literary in form not scientific, therefore, we can’t tell
Neither EFCA nor MEFC require a particular position be held.
We must not
over the “how” but instead
around the affirmation of the following truths.
1. God is the creator of all things
2. God pronounced His creation as “very good”
3. God created with order and purpose
4. God is the sovereign ruler over all creation, which he sustains
5. God created the historical Adam and Eve as the first humans,
uniquely in His image
6. Through their sin, all humanity along with this created order is now
fallen
All things for His glory (*Ps 8:1; 19:1; Isa 43; *51:12-16; *Neh 9:5-6; Rom 11:36;
Eph 1:3-6)
All of creation has the
to glorify God.
Everything that exists has its existence
(Rom 11:36)
God and
God.
that take place are for his Glory
events
events
are called to glorify God in all things (1 Cor 10:31; Mt 6:2)
Purpose to Redeem (*Mk 10:45; Rom 3:24; 4:25; 8:23; 2 Cor 5:17-19; *Eph 1:3-5; 1
Tim 2:5-6; *2 Tim 1:9; Tts 1:2)
The purpose of His creation was to
creation which was in
the purpose of creation.
Himself and have a
with Him. This is
Even before the first sin, God knew
throughout time to redeem us.
he was going to work
God
for our redemption, so that He can be better glorified
and we can be in ideal communion with Him.
Redemption/The Gospel does not begin with
.
, it begins with
Redemption was Christ’s primary purpose (Mk 10:45)
Definition
The term “redemption” holds both
tense meanings.
and
At salvation we are redeemed or “
of sin by a
.
” from the bondage
In the future our relationship will be recreated to its ideal state.
Synonyms are
and
EFCA Statement
God – We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and
eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power,
God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself
and to make all things new for His own glory.
Summary & Response
God is not an object, but is personal. How should that make our faith play out
different than other religions and their “gods?”
In what ways could you grow your personal relationship with God?
How does the fact that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, simultaneously
impact your relationship with Him?
What do you need to do to better glorify Him in the events of this week?
How does it make you feel that God longs to be I communion with you?
Next Week: Class #4 – The Bible-Pt 1