1. Knowing an Unknowable God

2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1

3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” -John 1:1

4. “but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.” -Hebrews 1:2

5. “[Jesus]…Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…” -Philippians 2:5-11

6. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” -Genesis 1:2

7. “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” -John 16:8-11

8. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” -John 3:8

9. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” -1 Corinthians 12:4-11

10. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’” -Genesis 1:26

11. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?...” -Isaiah 6:8

12. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” -Deuteronomy 6:4

13. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 28:19

14. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” -Matthew 3:16-17

15. “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkles with His blood…” -1 Peter 1:2

16. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” -John 1:1

17. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” -John 14:16

18. “I and the Father are one.” -John 10:30

19. “…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” -John 14:9

20. “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” -John 17:21

21. 6 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINTY

22. 1) The unity of God is basic. There is one God, not several.

23. 2) The deity of each of the three persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, must be affirmed. Each is the same in essence.

24. 3) God is three persons at every moment in time.

25. 4) The Trinity is eternal. There has always been and will always be God.

26. 5) The function of one member of the Trinity may for a time be subordinate to one or both of the other members, but that does not mean He is in any way inferior in essence or authority.

27. 6) The Trinity is incomprehensible. We cannot fully understand the mystery of God.