IN DEFENSE OF THE TRINITY Every cult and false religion denies in differing ways that the Lord Jesus is God Almighty in human flesh. The doctrine of the Trinity is what makes Biblical Christianity stand alone. I heard the late Dr. Walter Martin say several times: 'If you are wrong about God and who He is...you are wrong enough to lose your soul for eternity!'. How true that statement is. (Dr. Martin has written several excellent books on the cults and false religions) In His Word, the Bible, God has revealed Himself as a Triune God. The definition of the Trinity is as follows: The Bible says there is only one God but within the one God there exist three Divine Persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three Divine Persons are the one God. This study on the Trinity gives Biblical proof to those who doubt or deny the doctrine of the Trinity. I approach the question by first showing from God's Word that there is only one God. After this point is made, I show that there is a Person called the Father and that He is God. Next, I show that there is a Person called the Son and He is God. Finally, I show that there is a Person called the Holy Spirit and He also is God. Three Divine persons...One God. Keep in mind that we as finite men cannot fully understand an infinite God by our own understanding. However, God has revealed Himself to us in His Word and through His Word He is revealed as a Triune God. Alan Yusko Main Points to cover in this study: 1........There is only one God 2........God the Father 3.........God the Son (The Lord Jesus Christ) 4.........God the Holy Spirit 5..........The Trinity: One God -- Three Divine Persons TRINITY CHAPTER 1 The Bible teaches there is only one God God reveals in His Word that there is only one God and that no other gods exist apart from Him. The following verses illustrate this fact: "Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him" (Deuteronomy 4:35). "Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me" (Isaiah 43:10). "...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God....Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any" (Isaiah 44:6,8). "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:...Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:5,22). "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19) These verses show that there is only one God that exists. Men may call different things gods or worship different objects, but there is only one eternal God who exists apart from His creation. TRINITY CHAPTER 2 God the Father: the First Person of the Trinity This section will show to the reader that there is a Person called the Father and that He is God Almighty. The following are a few of the verses that state that the Father is God: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)...Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:1,3). "Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:2,3). "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 6:23). "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11). "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (2 Timothy 1:2). "...Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 1:4). "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 1:2,3). "Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love" (2 John 3). "...to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" (Jude 1). "Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God" (John 8:54). TRINITY CHAPTER 3 God the Son (Jesus Christ): Second Person of the Trinity Who is the Son? What does the Bible have to say? Did God take on human form and come to the earth? Did the Lord Jesus claim to be God? We address these questions here. "For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (2 Peter 1:17). This verse shows two things: (1) There is a person called the Father and He is God (2) There is a person called the Son. This section deals with the Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ. Several scriptures will be examined that deal with the diety of the Lord Jesus. This is an important section since every cult and false religion denies that the Lord Jesus is God in human flesh. The apostle John warned: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7). "Beloved believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:1-3). His warning is clear. If someone denies that the Lord Jesus is God in the flesh, that person is a false prophet and an antichrist. God the Son became a man and dwelt on earth "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23). "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). These verses describe the birth of the Lord Jesus, when God the Son took on flesh and was born on earth. The next three verses give more evidence to the fact that God took on a body and became a man. Who became flesh? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1,14). ?? Who was the Word? ..... The Word was God ?? Who became flesh and dwelt among us? .. The Word (Jesus) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (2 John 5:20). "...God was manifest in the flesh..." (1 Timothy 3:16). "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). The Lord Jesus claimed to be God "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:13:14). Notice in this verse that God told Moses I AM is the Divine name to tell to the children of Israel. The following verses is when the Lord Jesus was speaking to the Jews in John chapter 8. Notice two things in these verses: (1) The Lord Jesus takes the Divine name I AM and applies it to Himself (2) The Jews clearly understood what He was saying. Look at their reaction when the Lord used the Divine name. "Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by" (John 8:54-59). The Lord Jesus used the Divine name and applied it to Himself: "...Before Abraham was, I AM." The Jews clearly understood that the Lord Jesus was claiming to be God because they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy. There are recorded two other occasions when while talking with the Jews the Lord Jesus claimed to be God. Again the Jews clearly understood what He said because each time they got so angry they wanted to kill Him. The first verse is John 5:17,18 "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." The second verse is John 10:30-33 "I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father: for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." The Lord Jesus made a claim that He was God Almighty. You dear reader must decide if He was a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord from Heaven. The Word of God is either all true or all false. Do not forget that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Thomas confesses that the Lord Jesus is God After the Lord's resurrection He was seen by the other disciples except Thomas. When Thomas saw the Lord Jesus he called Him his Lord and his God. The Lord Jesus did not correct Thomas but instead He said he was blessed because he believed. The account of Thomas confessing that the Lord Jesus is God is found in John 20:27-28 "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." The Father calls the Son, God "But unto the Son He Saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands" (Heb. 1:8,9,10). Look closely at this verse and its context. In this verse God the Father is speaking to God the Son and He calls the Son (Jesus) God. The Diety of the Lord Jesus in the Creation The following are verses that show that God Almighty is the one who created the heavens and the earth. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1). "Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that gaveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:" (Isaiah 42:5). "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together" (Isaiah 48:12,13). "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6). The following verses are about the Lord Jesus Christ who created the heavens and the earth. These verses show that the Lord Jesus is God and He is the creator. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him (Jesus); and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1-4,14). "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: For by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: And he (Jesus) is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col 1:14-17). Notice that in the above verse it says that " For by him were all thing created,...all things were created by him,...And he is before all things". This shows that the Lord Jesus created ALL the things that were created. The Lord Jesus is the Creator of all things! Also notice that the Lord Jesus is 'before all things'. On the one side there is God; and on the other side there is the created things. Now since the Lord Jesus is before all things, then He is God because only God existed before the created things. Worship and the Diety of the Lord Jesus "And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve" (Luke 4:6-8). In the Bible worship belongs only to God. It is wrong for men or angels to be worshiped. In the above verse the devil wanted the Lord Jesus to worship him but the Lord said only God is to be worshiped. Here is the point, only God is to be worshiped. Now if it can be shown that the Lord Jesus Christ is worshiped then He is God. The following verses show that the Lord Jesus is worshiped both on earth in heaven. The Lord Jesus is worshiped on earth: "While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live" (Matt. 9:18). "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him" (Matt 28:9). The Lord Jesus is worshiped in heaven: "And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him" (Heb.1:6). "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever" (Rev 5:13,14). God's Glory and the Diety of the Lord Jesus The following verses show that God will not give His glory to another: "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8). "For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). The Lord Jesus is God because He has God's glory: "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5). Our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ The following verses show that our Saviour is God and there is none other: "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour" (Isaiah 43:11). "...and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:21,22). "...My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46,47). "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior" (Titus 1:3). The Lord Jesus is God and He is our Saviour. We read: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). The Diety of the Lord Jesus in Ezekiel "Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east: and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut" (Ezekiel 44:1,2). The closing of the Eastern Gate is one of the many fulfillments of Bible prophecy. Notice that the verse says that the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it. The Lord Jesus is the Lord the God of Israel. He entered the gate with His triumphal entry a few days before the crucification.