2. Job 11:7 “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? 8 It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol (the grave) —what can you know? 9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. Our Awesome God

3. “One God in three Persons. One essence or substance in all three. Indivisible. All coequal and coeternal.” Truths in tension Not 3 separate parts = 3 gods Not 3 expressions of just 1 = Modalism Note - Tertullian The Trinity

4. Apparent Contradiction 3 = 1 / 1 = 3! The Son is not the Father or the Spirit The Spirit is not the Son or the Father The Father is not the Spirit or the Son Yet they are one! The Dilemma:

5. Water * Ice * Steam Western logical (Augustine) 1. will/intellect/memory 2. lover/beloved/shared love Emphasises the unity while blurring the distinctions a bit Analogies – all limited

6. Eastern social/relational Explores love expressed between perfectly unified people Emphasises the distinction while blurring the unity a tad Mystery! Analogies – all limited

7. So we take care expressing human concepts to explain the Divine! 1. Avoiding a blurring of difference or distinction between the Three 2. Avoiding making too much distinction or separation of the One Analogies – all limited

8. Because Scripture teaches us God is Three in One! “Because the Holy Spirit is not just a blessing from God, He is God! He is an equal member of the Godhead and he lives inside all believers! Why is this Important?

9. Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The L ORD our God, the L ORD is one. 5 You shall love the L ORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Scriptures:

10. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 2 Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Scriptures:

11. 1 Cor. 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. Scriptures:

12. 2 Cor. 1:21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Scriptures:

13. Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Scriptures:

14. Ephesians 2:20... Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Scriptures:

15. Titus 3 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Scriptures: