Christian Foundations Class 1 - Trinity.pptx
Overview Class 1 – Trinity: God Is
What is the nature of God? Why do we need to be saved?
Class 2 – Bibliology and Apologetics
Who wrote the Bible? Why do I believe in it?
Class 3 – The Body of Christ
What is the role of the local church? Ordinances: Baptism & Communion
Class 4 – Stewardship
What, why, and how should I give unto the Lord?
Class 5 – Spiritual Warfare & Victorious Christian Living
The Battle For Your Soul Quiet Times: Prayer & Relational Reading
Overview Who is this class for? New Believers Non-believers who are interested in knowing the truth about God Believers who want to seek answers to foundational truths
Will I have homework? Yes and No No, you will not have to turn anything in Yes, you should come back and invite your friends!
The Trinity
The Trinity The Trinity is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who are each fully and equally God in eternal relation with each other. The Trinity is impossible to fully comprehend, but we can easily apprehend. We can understand the meaning of the Trinity. The word, “Trinity,” does not explicitly appear in scripture. Where do we see the Trinity in Scriptures?
The Trinity In the Old Testament: the Image of God Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” “Us” confirms that the unity and existence of the Trinity.
The Trinity In the Old Testament Genesis 1:1-4 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit present in creation.
The Trinity Where was Jesus in the beginning? “Beginning” in Hebrew is re’shet Often used in parallel with the Hebrew word for “first born,” which is bekor Used 4 times in the Old Testament
“Beginning” and “First born” can have the same meaning Paul describes the Son as, “the first born of all creation” Thus: “In the beginning, by the first born, God created…”
The Trinity In the New Testament John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John confirms that Jesus was in the beginning as well
The Trinity In the New Testament Luke 3:21-22 “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Trinity present in one place either visually or audibly
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Doctrinal Errors Definitions: Heresy – Dissent of deviation from established truths and doctrines Orthodoxy – Condition, quality, or practice of conforming, especially in religious beliefs
Doctrinal Errors Three Main Heresies in the Church Today:
q Modalism q Arianism q Tritheism
Modalism Modalism subscribes to a theory that God is successively Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and He is not simultaneously Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Creator (Father)
Redeemer (Son)
Sanctifier (Holy Spirit)
Modalism – Modern Day Council of Nicaea – 325 A.D. Bishops gathered to declare modalism as “heresy”
Oneness Movement Common among some Pentecostal churches Often claim that Jesus is the only God Deny that God is 3 divine persons
Arianism God is one; therefore, Jesus cannot be God. Council of Nicaea also declared this “heretical.” Jesus is the highest created being. Christ was fully human, but not fully God.
Arianism – Modern Day Jehovah’s Witnesses Founded in 1881 by Charles T. Russell Essentially believe what Arius taught in 3rd century
Problems with their doctrine:
They teach that there is no biblical basis for Trinity Jehovah God is creator and preserver of the universe Spirit is a cosmic force of Jehovah Jesus is God’s first created Therefore, Jesus must be Michael the archangel mentioned in the Old Testament
Tritheism Trinity consist of 3 equal and independent beings All are separate and act on their own accord Example: Egg with yolk, white, and shell
Problem: Emphasize plurality – separation
Tritheism – Modern Day Mormonism Stresses that God is 3 separate gods Father is an exalted man who became god Son is the spirit-child between father and wife Holy Spirit is another child between father and wife
None of the 3 are enteral or almighty Son and Spirit are not equal to God the Father, since they are children Many gods in many worlds These 3 gods are gods of our world
The Trinity Who is the Father? The Old Testament sacred named for God is YHWH “I am” – revealed to Moses in Exodus 3 Appears more than 6,823 times in the Old Testament as “LORD” Between 600 and 900AD, Jewish Rabbis placed vowels with YHWH to make JeHoWaH or Jehovah Importance: God is personal, He had a name, He is not a “Force”
What Does This Have To Do With Being A Christian? The 5 S-Words
q Sin q Separation q Savior q Salvation q Selection
The Problem - Sin Old Testament definition implies “missing the mark,” like an archer in war A trespass Rebellion against authority Lawlessness Ungodliness
The Problem - Sin All or Nothing Perfect or Imperfect Good or Evil Modern Moral Myths: “I’m better than the next guy!” 51/49 dilemma “If I’m 51% good and 49% bad, then I am good.” False Logic: Therefore God should let me into heaven.
The Problem - Sin One survey says…
82% of Americans believe in Heaven and Hell 46% of them believe they should go to Heaven 4% Believe they should go to Hell Where are the other 32% going?
The Problem - Sin How do I know I am a sinner? Ten Commandments I.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Exodus 20 V. Honour thy father and thy mother VI. Thou shalt not kill VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII. Thou shalt not steal IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet
The Problem - Sin So what, I broke a few commandments, what’s the big deal with that?
James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The Problem - Sin What does the Bible say about us and sin? Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Not one, Not a few ALL
Original Sin In the Garden, Adam and Eve had complete fellowship with God and they were not designed the die. Genesis 2:15 – “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
Original Sin Adam instructed to eat from any other tree other than the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God shows supremacy by instructing not to eat. Man shows disobedience by eating from the tree.
Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
Separation What is the Consequence and Penalty for Sin? Bad News – we all have to die! Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…”
Separation What is the Consequence and Penalty for Sin? Two Different Types of Death Physical Death - First Spiritual Death – Spiritual
As children of Adam: We all have sinned We all missed the mark We have individually earned punishment We are separated from God
Savior Good News – Christ paid the price!!! Romans 5:10 – “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Savior Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).
Savior C.S Lewis on who Jesus is? Only 3 Options to Jesus’ Claims 1. Con Man: Deceiver 2. Lunatic: Self-Deceived 3. Exactly Who He Says He is: God Who Has Come in the Flesh *He cannot be just a good man or a good rabbi.
Salvation Salvation is through Jesus Christ only John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Salvation is the gift only God can give us, it is not something we work toward or earn. Ephesians 2:9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Salvation Does God really want everyone to be saved? Who is Salvation for?
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Salvation is for everyone!
Selection Our response to God’s offering of salvation The sinner’s repentance, how does it work?
Roman 10:9-13 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Questions
?!
What is the nature of God? Why do we need to be saved?
Class 2 – Bibliology and Apologetics
Who wrote the Bible? Why do I believe in it?
Class 3 – The Body of Christ
What is the role of the local church? Ordinances: Baptism & Communion
Class 4 – Stewardship
What, why, and how should I give unto the Lord?
Class 5 – Spiritual Warfare & Victorious Christian Living
The Battle For Your Soul Quiet Times: Prayer & Relational Reading
Overview Who is this class for? New Believers Non-believers who are interested in knowing the truth about God Believers who want to seek answers to foundational truths
Will I have homework? Yes and No No, you will not have to turn anything in Yes, you should come back and invite your friends!
The Trinity
The Trinity The Trinity is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who are each fully and equally God in eternal relation with each other. The Trinity is impossible to fully comprehend, but we can easily apprehend. We can understand the meaning of the Trinity. The word, “Trinity,” does not explicitly appear in scripture. Where do we see the Trinity in Scriptures?
The Trinity In the Old Testament: the Image of God Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” “Us” confirms that the unity and existence of the Trinity.
The Trinity In the Old Testament Genesis 1:1-4 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit present in creation.
The Trinity Where was Jesus in the beginning? “Beginning” in Hebrew is re’shet Often used in parallel with the Hebrew word for “first born,” which is bekor Used 4 times in the Old Testament
“Beginning” and “First born” can have the same meaning Paul describes the Son as, “the first born of all creation” Thus: “In the beginning, by the first born, God created…”
The Trinity In the New Testament John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John confirms that Jesus was in the beginning as well
The Trinity In the New Testament Luke 3:21-22 “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Trinity present in one place either visually or audibly
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Doctrinal Errors Definitions: Heresy – Dissent of deviation from established truths and doctrines Orthodoxy – Condition, quality, or practice of conforming, especially in religious beliefs
Doctrinal Errors Three Main Heresies in the Church Today:
q Modalism q Arianism q Tritheism
Modalism Modalism subscribes to a theory that God is successively Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and He is not simultaneously Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Creator (Father)
Redeemer (Son)
Sanctifier (Holy Spirit)
Modalism – Modern Day Council of Nicaea – 325 A.D. Bishops gathered to declare modalism as “heresy”
Oneness Movement Common among some Pentecostal churches Often claim that Jesus is the only God Deny that God is 3 divine persons
Arianism God is one; therefore, Jesus cannot be God. Council of Nicaea also declared this “heretical.” Jesus is the highest created being. Christ was fully human, but not fully God.
Arianism – Modern Day Jehovah’s Witnesses Founded in 1881 by Charles T. Russell Essentially believe what Arius taught in 3rd century
Problems with their doctrine:
They teach that there is no biblical basis for Trinity Jehovah God is creator and preserver of the universe Spirit is a cosmic force of Jehovah Jesus is God’s first created Therefore, Jesus must be Michael the archangel mentioned in the Old Testament
Tritheism Trinity consist of 3 equal and independent beings All are separate and act on their own accord Example: Egg with yolk, white, and shell
Problem: Emphasize plurality – separation
Tritheism – Modern Day Mormonism Stresses that God is 3 separate gods Father is an exalted man who became god Son is the spirit-child between father and wife Holy Spirit is another child between father and wife
None of the 3 are enteral or almighty Son and Spirit are not equal to God the Father, since they are children Many gods in many worlds These 3 gods are gods of our world
The Trinity Who is the Father? The Old Testament sacred named for God is YHWH “I am” – revealed to Moses in Exodus 3 Appears more than 6,823 times in the Old Testament as “LORD” Between 600 and 900AD, Jewish Rabbis placed vowels with YHWH to make JeHoWaH or Jehovah Importance: God is personal, He had a name, He is not a “Force”
What Does This Have To Do With Being A Christian? The 5 S-Words
q Sin q Separation q Savior q Salvation q Selection
The Problem - Sin Old Testament definition implies “missing the mark,” like an archer in war A trespass Rebellion against authority Lawlessness Ungodliness
The Problem - Sin All or Nothing Perfect or Imperfect Good or Evil Modern Moral Myths: “I’m better than the next guy!” 51/49 dilemma “If I’m 51% good and 49% bad, then I am good.” False Logic: Therefore God should let me into heaven.
The Problem - Sin One survey says…
82% of Americans believe in Heaven and Hell 46% of them believe they should go to Heaven 4% Believe they should go to Hell Where are the other 32% going?
The Problem - Sin How do I know I am a sinner? Ten Commandments I.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Exodus 20 V. Honour thy father and thy mother VI. Thou shalt not kill VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII. Thou shalt not steal IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet
The Problem - Sin So what, I broke a few commandments, what’s the big deal with that?
James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The Problem - Sin What does the Bible say about us and sin? Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Not one, Not a few ALL
Original Sin In the Garden, Adam and Eve had complete fellowship with God and they were not designed the die. Genesis 2:15 – “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
Original Sin Adam instructed to eat from any other tree other than the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God shows supremacy by instructing not to eat. Man shows disobedience by eating from the tree.
Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
Separation What is the Consequence and Penalty for Sin? Bad News – we all have to die! Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…”
Separation What is the Consequence and Penalty for Sin? Two Different Types of Death Physical Death - First Spiritual Death – Spiritual
As children of Adam: We all have sinned We all missed the mark We have individually earned punishment We are separated from God
Savior Good News – Christ paid the price!!! Romans 5:10 – “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Savior Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).
Savior C.S Lewis on who Jesus is? Only 3 Options to Jesus’ Claims 1. Con Man: Deceiver 2. Lunatic: Self-Deceived 3. Exactly Who He Says He is: God Who Has Come in the Flesh *He cannot be just a good man or a good rabbi.
Salvation Salvation is through Jesus Christ only John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Salvation is the gift only God can give us, it is not something we work toward or earn. Ephesians 2:9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Salvation Does God really want everyone to be saved? Who is Salvation for?
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Salvation is for everyone!
Selection Our response to God’s offering of salvation The sinner’s repentance, how does it work?
Roman 10:9-13 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Questions
?!
