Sunday School Grade XII 2010-11
Unit I Lesson 2
Three in One: Love in Community
The existence of God is known to us by the revelation of God to the human beings through centuries. “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”(Heb 1: 3). Jesus Christ who died for our sins is the ‘Radiance of God’s glory’ and ‘exact representation of His being’. Through Christ, God is revealed to us all.
The doctrine of Trinity is the central doctrine that distinct Christianity from all religions. Christianity teaches ‘Trinitarian Monotheism’ which is different from the Unitarian Monotheism of Islam and the tritheism of Hinduism (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).
The One true God is the Father, the Son and the Spirit. “Our God is not just a unit, but a union, not just unity, but community.”
How did we understand that God is Trinity?
The Jewish recited “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Dt: 6:4)
The followers of Jesus Christ who finally witnessed the resurrection understood that He was the full revelation of God and addressed Him “My Lord and My God” (Jn 20:28)
The Pentecost experience by which they got the supernatural love, courage and holiness was another landmark, in accepting Holy Spirit as God. "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5: 3) Ananias, when he lied to Holy Spirit, lied to God.
Doctrine of Trinity in the Holy Bible
The word Trinity is not found in the Holy Bible. Trinity is found in different orders in the Bible. The earliest form we see in the Bible is “Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor 13: 14).
“One Spirit, one Lord and One God and Father of all” (Eph: 4: 4-6).
“Foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: (1 Pet 1: 2).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mat 28: 19).
Other data of Trinity in the Bible
Col 2: 9, Phil 2: 6, Rom 9: 5, Acts 20: 28, Jn 1: 1-18, Jn 10: 30, Jn 20: 28, Col 1: 15-20, Tit 2: 13, 1 Jn 5: 20, Acts 7: 59.
Unity and Distinction of the persons in Trinity
Nothing in created order can show us or prove God. But can try to grasp and understand the doctrines by the simple analogies that are understandable for the human brain. Father, Son and Spirit in the Trinity compare with the existence of spring, stream and lake, which as a whole can be called the Nile.
Trinity and Sat-chit-ananda of philosophic Hinduism
These cannot be compared, as Sat-chit-ananda is impersonal. Sat-Chit-Ananda is a triple consciousness. Sat is existence, Chit is consciousness and Ananda is bliss.
Best definition or summary of the doctrine of Trinity
Trinity cannot be defined as God is to be adored and worshipped and not examined scientifically. Trinity cannot be demonstrated, but only understood by faith. We understand God through our faith and not through proofs. Our understanding is a Grace and not what we acquire.
“O Trinity, uncreated and without beginning,
O divided Unity, three and one,
Father, Son and Spirit, a single God:
Accept this our hymn from tongues of clay
As if from mouths of flame. (From the Lenten Triodion)
(The Orthodox Way, by Bishop Kallistos Ware p27)
**Suggested Reading: 'The Orthodox Way' by Bishop Kallistos Ware, Chapter 2 “God as Trinity”**
Notes:
“Three Persons in One Essence”
Father, Son and Holy Spirit have only one will and not three, only one energy and not three. None of the three acts separately, apart from the other two. They are not three Gods, but one God. (p30)
Read:
“On the Holy Trinity” (NPNF Vol V. pp. 326-336)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.iv.html
Unit I Lesson 2
Three in One: Love in Community
The existence of God is known to us by the revelation of God to the human beings through centuries. “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”(Heb 1: 3). Jesus Christ who died for our sins is the ‘Radiance of God’s glory’ and ‘exact representation of His being’. Through Christ, God is revealed to us all.
The doctrine of Trinity is the central doctrine that distinct Christianity from all religions. Christianity teaches ‘Trinitarian Monotheism’ which is different from the Unitarian Monotheism of Islam and the tritheism of Hinduism (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).
The One true God is the Father, the Son and the Spirit. “Our God is not just a unit, but a union, not just unity, but community.”
How did we understand that God is Trinity?
The Jewish recited “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Dt: 6:4)
The followers of Jesus Christ who finally witnessed the resurrection understood that He was the full revelation of God and addressed Him “My Lord and My God” (Jn 20:28)
The Pentecost experience by which they got the supernatural love, courage and holiness was another landmark, in accepting Holy Spirit as God. "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5: 3) Ananias, when he lied to Holy Spirit, lied to God.
Doctrine of Trinity in the Holy Bible
The word Trinity is not found in the Holy Bible. Trinity is found in different orders in the Bible. The earliest form we see in the Bible is “Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor 13: 14).
“One Spirit, one Lord and One God and Father of all” (Eph: 4: 4-6).
“Foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: (1 Pet 1: 2).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mat 28: 19).
Other data of Trinity in the Bible
Col 2: 9, Phil 2: 6, Rom 9: 5, Acts 20: 28, Jn 1: 1-18, Jn 10: 30, Jn 20: 28, Col 1: 15-20, Tit 2: 13, 1 Jn 5: 20, Acts 7: 59.
Unity and Distinction of the persons in Trinity
Nothing in created order can show us or prove God. But can try to grasp and understand the doctrines by the simple analogies that are understandable for the human brain. Father, Son and Spirit in the Trinity compare with the existence of spring, stream and lake, which as a whole can be called the Nile.
Trinity and Sat-chit-ananda of philosophic Hinduism
These cannot be compared, as Sat-chit-ananda is impersonal. Sat-Chit-Ananda is a triple consciousness. Sat is existence, Chit is consciousness and Ananda is bliss.
Best definition or summary of the doctrine of Trinity
Trinity cannot be defined as God is to be adored and worshipped and not examined scientifically. Trinity cannot be demonstrated, but only understood by faith. We understand God through our faith and not through proofs. Our understanding is a Grace and not what we acquire.
“O Trinity, uncreated and without beginning,
O divided Unity, three and one,
Father, Son and Spirit, a single God:
Accept this our hymn from tongues of clay
As if from mouths of flame. (From the Lenten Triodion)
(The Orthodox Way, by Bishop Kallistos Ware p27)
**Suggested Reading: 'The Orthodox Way' by Bishop Kallistos Ware, Chapter 2 “God as Trinity”**
Notes:
“Three Persons in One Essence”
Father, Son and Holy Spirit have only one will and not three, only one energy and not three. None of the three acts separately, apart from the other two. They are not three Gods, but one God. (p30)
Read:
“On the Holy Trinity” (NPNF Vol V. pp. 326-336)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.iv.html
1 comments:
Greetings Mr. J
On the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
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