Battle of the Gods: How the Trinity Changes Everything

Welcome to the radio ministry ethically returns in Henderson. Marco is to make Christ visible Clearview is a place of genuine worship with ministries for all age groups and all people. For more information, visit us at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson for visit us online@clearviewb.org now join us for this week's message by Pastor Otto and today were starting a brand-new series in our ongoing study of the life of Christ in the series is called battle of the gods.

How the Trinity changes everything were going to deal with a very critical subject.

It's a battle. It is not a battle out there on a field somewhere is the battle in our minds of what we believe about God who is the living true God who is the biblical God and one thing you will learn today is that many times we have a lot of ideas in our minds. Lot of preconceptions and ideas that are not biblical and hopefully the message will help you to align yourself to correct yourself through the Holy Spirit to have the right image of God.

So very important series coming up and today's mess is to be deep, but I want you think that all these messages will be very deep. You know some spiritual discourse coming up to be very applicable for our family for a marriage or church for salvation.

But today's going to be deep is the foundational message for this entire series. If you have your Bibles turn to John chapter 5 starting in verse 18. Therefore the Jews meaning the Jewish people sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his father making himself equal with God then Jesus answered and said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of himself.

But what he sees the father do whatever he does, the son also does. In like manner for the father loves the son and shows him all things that he himself does. And he will show him greater works than these that you may marvel. Have you ever been misunderstood or misrepresented, sometimes it can anger you. Sometimes it can annoy you.

Sometimes it's really flat amusing.

It happened to me some years ago this lady had seen her around town. Somehow we interacted time to time. Always friendly to me and always nice and we would talk about the weather and wife and kids.

Whatever.

One day she said to me, so how is your job at the hospital going job at the hospital. You aren't your doctor in town. I said no ma'am. I actually work in a church all now. Always nice to me interacted with me but she completely misunderstood what I was, if there is one person in the world who is repeatedly misunderstood and misrepresented more than anyone else in this world that person is God. People talk about him.

They even talk to him. They even believe in him, but they have a wrong conception of him in their mind the series before us is to somehow help us align ourselves and our beliefs with the biblical understanding of God before we do that several questions I need to ask you question number one.

What do you believe about God.

I mean when you pray, what comes to your mind folks. Sometimes I have talked to people when they describe to me who God is. It is scary because they actually do not have the Christian God in mind that actually have a Muslim God in my not will never in a million years claimed to be Muslim or Islamic but they are describing a deity that is far, far, far away from what biblical reality is all about. Sometimes I talk to people Christian people to believe in Jesus. Of course, all this same yes but there conception of God is actually Hindu sounds very similar. It is scary sometimes. I've talked to people in it and I'm thinking to myself, you're not describing the biblical Trinity you have something else in mind not know some of you may say well, God knows my heart and doesn't matter what I can say or what I can explain I know what I believe. Yes.

Imagine telling that to your spouse. I don't care who you are or what makes you who you are just happened to humanity what she will say to you, she will say well that's true but I really want you to know who I really am.

He will say the same thing to you folks. God wants you to know him for who he is just like this lady nice to me interacted with me but she completely misunderstood or misrepresent who I was. I wonder what she told her friends now. The question I ask every week is the same question. When asked again this morning and the question is do you know Jesus as your Savior.

Are you saved both the Trinity is so vital because you cannot go to the father unless you come through the son. Jesus is the way the truth and the life you have to come to Jesus first. Do you know Jesus as your Savior. If you don't I pray this morning you will give your heart to him. We also say this, you don't have to understand the Trinity in order to be say, but if you are say you will believe in the Trinity.

Would you agree with that post. Little kids tend 12 years of age. Cannot explain to you what it means that God is three persons in one essence but they know what it means to ask Jesus in their hearts. But if you are a Christian you cannot say that not believe in the Trinity. It is foundational. It is the cardinal doctrine of Christianity this morning with the layout of the foundation and hopefully in the weeks ahead. You will see that this is not just some you know the material ideas somewhere in it. You know up in the sky. Trinity some philosophers discourse.

This is very applicable to our lives. Okay so let's begin three questions were going try to answer to help us understand this battle that is going on question number one. Why is there even a battle of the gods. Why is there even a discussion over the Trinity.

Why are we so conflicted over what it's all about. Listen to what he says in verse 18, the Jewish people were then the Jewish people. The Jewish leaders sought all the more to kill Christ because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his father making himself equal with God, why did the Jewish leaders have a problem with Jesus, making himself equal with God because monotheism the believe that there is one God was a cardinal doctrine of the Old Testament and the Jewish people. In fact, if you notice the first of the 10 Commandments listen to what it says in Exodus 23 you shall have no other gods before me, the Shema, which is a declaration in Deuteronomy 6 verse four hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Not many God's not three gods one God in Isaiah 45 verse five God says I am the Lord, and there is no other.

There is no God besides me. I will gird you, though you have not known me that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting. There is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other repeatedly in the Old Testament God said there's only one there is only one and that is me. Do not bring any more along with me one more reference Zechariah chapter 14 verse nine and the Lord shall be king over all the earth in that day, it shall be the Lord is one in his name. One reason the Jewish leaders had a problem with Jesus and because Jesus made more than one, and there were like this is wrong. This deserves a death penalty. And guess what they were right. But here's a deeper question where the right now.

Please don't miss this. The Trinity being father-son spirit. Three. And yet one is not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament there was always the idea of the plurality of God. What is it mean by plurality, that God is one and yet inside that one somehow there is more that idea was always there, not on the surface, but deep within. Listen to Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 right in the beginning God said, let us is the singular or plural plural. Now, some scholars have said well that's really the way royalties spoke and so what Moses is doing here is trying to portray God as a king. So let us like we will decide what we shall do you know the way kings talk that's not truly happening in this passage.

When you look at the Hebrew construction is simply what it says God is saying, let us means he is speaking within himself. Apparently there is more, let us make man in our image, according to Saul plural. Another one Genesis 322 after Adam and Eve send. Behold, the man has become like one of us, to know good and evil. Another one. Genesis 11 seven God said, come, let us go down there and confuse their language. One more Isaiah 68 Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I sandwiches what that's it singular. Whom shall I send, and then who will go for us. This plural see the idea that God is one and yet somehow it seems like there more people in their was always there. Another one in Psalm 110 verse one.

David says the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool conversation going on between two individuals. Both are referred to as God.

Here's my question why didn't God just come out right from the get go and say hey in the beginning there was the Trinity father-son spirit. Three.

And yet one done deal. We would not have any problem between who is God what is God what is a Trinity. All these councils had to meet through the years into the centuries and even today denominations are divided. Why did God not just come out and say I am Trinity father-son spirit. Three. Get one done deal. Well, for two reasons. Number one the people of God were not ready for the full exposure of the doctrine of the Trinity.

I think about it like this, a newborn baby newborn baby comes into the world. The first thing is what mother's milk oriented depends on what's going on baby formula, and then the baby begins to grow, mature, and we give them baby food which is very yucky by the way, we had for under this nasty thing in the world and gradually move them onto an almost solid food.

I have a suggestion.

I think about the baby is like sitting in the mother's womb jostled around the whole time in 09 months of being cooped up in that thing then then come to the birth canal with all the trauma I suggest instead of these mothers milk or whatever were trying to be the one we just go on ahead and give a mistake mean look at all the mess. Poor thing had to go through.

Give them a big old not just like of these restaurants and no steak restaurant have this big sword given life in a four why when we do that is ridiculous.

Why because baby can handle that it hardens out that there's no reason why we would even consider that you see God in his divine wisdom and sovereignty knew that if from the beginning he had given them the whole picture of the entire meal that will hurt themselves. He had to remind them that God is one that is the fundamental doctrine you cannot ignore. So he said I want to let him know but not too much. That's why some of these people. People tell me Ohio so-and-so preacher is my favorite of this caller that's called folks sometimes of these scholars find more about the Trinity in the Old Testament, and there is even there I will not go along with them. Why because that's called stretching the truth for personal benefit. That's why people who are not in our camp when they look at our scholarship. They say what else do you make it sound like what you wanted to sound like I am going to stick to the Scriptures and let the Bible be my guide. God is very selective and he does not give us the whole picture for a purpose because they were not ready for it and that's okay.

It does not negate the Trinity. It simply reminds us of the goodness of God. But something else. God reveals himself gently and progressively so my told me this years ago. Be careful of someone who shares everything about themselves in the first five minutes of your encounter. You know someone like that sit next to them what it is for their whole life story to you what you do when you walk away you go man were best friends usually walk a going house creepy so is God. He is not going to come to you and said let me show where even with Moses and Moses know you can see, you cannot handle it. So why is there a battle of the gods because God in his divine wisdom and mercy and foresight and omniscience in whatever you want to add to it. He knew how much we could handle it each day is it will manage the mess today with the Trinity know it's not. It would've been much worse if he had told him in the beginning so number two.

Why is there a battle because God chose to reveal himself gently and progressively which is the right side of the battle of this is like the meat.

What is the Trinity, give you three sentences. Maybe you know these by heart. Maybe you don't. Maybe this morning. Some of you will find yourself going over me three statements of the doctrine of the Trinity number one God is three persons, father, son and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God number three there is one God. This is the biblical doctrine of the Trinity know someone missed same and this is kinda contradictory. You know three persons in one person or three asked what it meant I didn't say three persons in one person that would be logically fallacious.

What I'm saying to you is, it is three persons in one essence in one substance and one nature that's not contradictory that is complex, not contradictory. God is three father-son spirit. Three.

And yet, one not have time to go through every passage and explain to you why believe that way about believe a lot of the church believe this or you know Christianity has believe this limit is green. The first one why we believe God is three persons father-son Holy Spirit will what did Jesus say on the way to heaven going to all the world make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father son holy rather all right. But let me tell you the errors. Let me go over quickly.

The mistakes that people have about the Trinity. The first mistake is that the first error is that there are three God that's called tritheism. That is a heresy, we don't believe in three gods. We believe in one God is and what I don't make any sense to me three persons.

I mean it over father-son with their ego. Three.

Know it is still one God if I could describe it as a mathematical equation I can come up with it. Scholars have been using it for a long time. One plus one plus one equals three 1󪻑 = 1. The Trinity is 1󪻑.

It is still one of the first error is that God is three separate gods not true. The second error is that God is just one person who appears to us in three different form.

Sometimes he shows up as a father.

Other times he shows up at the sun and then he comes as the Holy Spirit.

That is also fall's I will say this, some of you are listening to preachers and recommending their books who are actually moralists who do not believe in the biblical Trinity and you will be shop who those people are, they are on TV.

They are bestsellers and they have Bible studies out but they don't believe in the cardinal doctrine of Christianity, which is the Trinity is an old heresy.

There's another one where the sun or those Holy Spirit or both are inferior to the father. That is also a heresy now under this category. There are several. For example, the first one is the heresy of Arianism that claim that the sun was created by the father and he was not divine.

While I thought Jesus was born was anymore. Yes, he was born as a man, but he was always God and always will be.

In the beginning was that mean in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. That's a way of saying that Jesus did not have a start, even though 2000 years ago. He was born of this little girl this virgin named Mary, yet he did not have a starting point. Another heresy that falls under that third category. The father is superior to the sun and the spirit of the heresy of subordination is him which claims that the sun was eternal and divine, but he was not equal to the father.

He's somewhere here and the sun actually derived his being from the father. So here's the father and the son. You know, somehow, proceeds from him. Not true. Father, son, Holy Spirit, there's another problem in the same category as the heresy of adoption is him which claims that the sun was not eternal but just a man that God adopted at his baptism in the heavens opened and the voice was hard. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

At that moment father adopted. That's not true that's a heresy. Another one is the heresy over the Holy Spirit that claim that the Holy Spirit came only from the father and not from the sun and very early on, the church fix this known as a filial means from the sun as well. Controversy to make it what is supposed to be father-son equal and the Holy Spirit comes from both of them, who is also equal to them fully God can ask you this morning and I'm not doing this out of pride or I got you. I'm asking you this morning. Don't raise your hand. Don't shake your head in your heart and your mind. Did you have to realign yourself. I'm sure many of us did folks the truth will set you free. You may be sincere and sincerely saved in worshiping God. But it's only the truth about the living true triune God that will set you free this morning which side of the battle. Are you on.

Do you have the right view of God. That's the question we need to ask. Here's number three. Why is there battle of the gods because God chose to reveal himself gently and progressively which is the right side of the battle explained to you. God is three persons in one essence coequal, coeternal does the battle matter.

Of course it does give you several reasons. If Jesus was not fully God and he was just a man, do you think a man can bear the sins of another man of the person I can even take your sins upon myself.

I got my own problems. Only someone who was fully God, perfect and holy and powerful who can take the sins of the entire human race in the creation upon himself. Jesus was fully God.

You see this battle matters. Another question if Jesus was not fully God and he was just a man could you trust him.

I hate to say it as well as I trust y'all, but I don't trust you and guess what.

Same goes for you to visit you.

Trust me, but you don't really trust me can really do that with anybody right because were human beings will make mistakes will break our promises.

We will let each other down. There's only one person would never let you down, and that is God is always faithful. From beginning to the end Jesus you can trust him and place your faith in him and his sacrifice because he was fully God. If Jesus was not fully God. How can you worship him, how can he pray to him. I know I know some the other problem with me, praying to Jesus.

Not all of you do.

Yes, you need to pray to the father through the son and the spirit. You can also pray to the sun and you can also pray for the spirit is what you mean that it would just come to the father. Jesus said heavily what weight there's a guy in the Bible.

His name is Paula and if you ever heard of him. This know how he begins. First Corinthians chapter 1 verse two to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place. What call on the name of Jesus that mean to call in the name of Jesus Christ was a Mimi: somebody you talk to him.

That's called prayer maybe another lustration second Corinthians chapter 12 verse seven. You know the passage where Paul prayed and said God would you remove this porn from my flesh right. Have you read the passage let's read together. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations it porn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure concerning this thing I pleaded with whom the Lord is a lot of that could be God three times that it might depart from me and he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of God in Christ, who is also God may rest upon me. Yes, folks, you can pray to the sun.

You can pray to Jesus as well is or how about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prays for you want to pray to the one was praying to you.

Praying for you and tell him what to pray for him. He's praying for you with groanings that cannot even be ordered wanted to tell him Holy Spirit would you open my eyes that I may see Jesus is all in the family and this is what you will find when you begin to talk not just to the father but also the son of the spirit. You will develop a sense of intimacy with that is that what happens when you begin to talk to people one on one.

Get to know them, understand them. Yes, you can worship God. Yes, you can worship the sun and the spirit was something very quickly because of the Trinity.

We know that God can relate with us because he has related within himself. We have a God who condescends and comes down to our levels and wipes our peers and picks us up. Why because he can relate with us. That's because of the Trinity because of Freddie. We understand the unity in a marriage where there are two will become one flesh. And by the way. Please don't miss the series of messages because were going to learn how much your marriage can be help if you go back to the Trinity because the Trinity. We understand the unity in the church where there are different people, and yet we are one body.

Because of the Trinity understand the unity between Christ and his church. I can go on and on. We ask you this morning. The question is not you believe in God which God do you believe the you believe in the living true triune God. Do you know the father the son and the Spirit. Do you believe that they are three and yet they are one this morning if you want to come to the father. You gotta come through the sun and then you will receive the Holy Spirit. Thank you so much for listening to this message and River. You have to understand the Trinity to be a Christian, but if you're Christian you believe in the Trinity.

For more information, visit Clearview be.org and for the notes for this sermon visit Pastor Shah's blog@abbottonshah.com