To know the Lord Jesus is to know God "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also" (John 8:19). "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him" (John 14:7). To see the Lord Jesus is to see God "And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me" (John 12:45). "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father: and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:9). To believe in the Lord Jesus is to believe in God "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me" (John 12:44). To receive the Lord Jesus is to receive God "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me" (Mark 9:37). To hate the Lord Jesus is to hate God "He that hateth me hateth my Father also" (John 15:23). To honour the Lord Jesus is to honour God "That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him" (John 5:23). The Lord Jesus Christ is God These verses show that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and the first and the last. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty...I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:..." (Revelation 1:8,11). "...I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end..." (Revelation 21:6). "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:12,13). "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last" (Isaiah 48:12). "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6). In Revelation chapter 1 we read the following description of the Lord Jesus in His Glory: "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Revelation 1:13-16). In the next two verses the Lord Jesus speaks and identifies Himself as God. "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore..."(Revelation 1:17,18). "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive" (Revelation 2:8). The Lord Jesus who lived, died, and now lives forever identifies Himself as the first and the last. We have already shown that the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, and the first and the last refers to God Almighty. The Lord Jesus claims directly to be God in these verses. Who is coming? ... God is coming "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11). "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him" (Isaiah 40:10). "Behold, I come quickly:...And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:7,12,13). We see in the above verses that God Almighty is the one who is coming quickly and has His reward with Him. In the next verse the Lord Jesus is identified as the one who is coming. This gives conclusive proof that the Lord Jesus is God. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). The Lord Jesus is God and He is coming quickly. PRAISE GOD!!! TRINITY CHAPTER 4 God the Holy Spirit: Third Person of the Trinity "But a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:1-4). "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor 3:17,18). The Holy Spirit is God and He is the third Divine Person of the Trinity. We see in the first verse that to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God. In the second verse the Holy Spirit is called God. The Holy Spirit is a Person with personal attributes He speaks "Then the Spirit said unto Philip , Go near, and join thyself to this chariot" (Acts 8:29). "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2). He wills "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Cor 12:11). He testifies "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26). He intercedes "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). He leads "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). "But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18). He commands "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not" (Acts 16:6,7). He appoints "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). He can be blasphemed "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (Matthew 12:31,32). He can be insulted "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:29). He can be grieved "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them" (Isaiah 63:10). He teaches "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). He has intellect and understanding "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual with spiritual" (1 Cor 2:10-13). He has a mind "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). He is a Personal Being Many cults and false religions believe that the Holy Spirit is nothing more that the power of God. They deny that He is a personal Being. The above verses show that He is a Person with personal attributes. He is not the force or power of God. For example: electricity is power but it cannot talk. One can stick his finger into a light socket and get power but that power will not give advice or guidance. Radio waves are a form of energy but it is impossible to lie to a radar beam. Radio waves and electricity are both impersonal forms of energy but the Holy Spirit is God Himself...a personal Being. The Holy Spirit has God's Attributes He is eternal "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself..." (Hebrews 9:14). He is all powerful "...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..." (Luke 1:35). "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:..." (Acts 1:8). "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost....Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;..." (Romans 15:13,19). He creates "...And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life" (Job 33:4). "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth" (Psalm 104:30). He is everywhere present "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there..." (Psalm 139:7-10). He is all knowing "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God....even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Cor 2:10,11). "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). Old Testament and New Testament Comparision In this section the Holy Spirit will be shown to be God Almighty as we compare a verse in the Old Testament with its counterpart verse in the New Testament. First, let us look at Isaiah 6:8,9 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not". In this verse God gave Isaiah a commission to go and speak to the children of Israel. Now lets look at the counterpart verse in the New Testament. "...Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:" (Acts 28:25,26). When these two verses are compared it can be easily seen that the Holy Spirit the one who is speaking and He is God. We read in Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more". I think that it is clear that it is God Almighty who is talking in this verse. Next, we compare this verse with Hebrews 10:15-17 "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more". Again, it is clearly shown that the Holy Spirit is God Almighty as He is the one speaking in each verse. This section has shown that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person with personal attributes. He is not a mindless power or the force of God. He is God Almighty, the Third Person of the Trinity. TRINITY CHAPTER 5 The Trinity: One God --- Three Divine Persons Hinted in the Old Testament "And God said, Let US make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26). "And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of US, to know good and evil:..." (Genesis 3:22). "...let US go down, and there confound their language..." (Genesis 11:7). The Trinity: Revealed in baptism "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mark 1:9-11). This verse shows the Father speaking, the Son being baptized, and the Spirit descending. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). The Trinity: Revealed in salutations "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:..." (1 Peter 1:2). "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." (2 Cor 13:14). The Trinity in the Resurrection (1) The Father raised the Lord Jesus "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26). "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10). (2) The Lord Jesus raised Himself "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up....But he spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:19,21). (3) The Holy Spirit raised the Lord Jesus "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11). The previous verses show that the Father raised the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus raised Himself, and the Holy Spirit raised the Lord Jesus. The Trinity is shown in the resurrection. This final verse shows that it was God Almighty who raised the Lord Jesus: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). Remember, there is one God: three Divine Persons. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7). TRINITY -- FINAL WORDS I hope this study has been helpful in giving you, dear reader, a better understanding of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Use it wisely to stand against those who would distort and pervert God as revealed in the Bible. Remember, if a person is wrong about God and who He is, then he is wrong enough to lose his soul forever and is a path of destruction to others! "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). "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) "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor 4:3-4). "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8,9). DO YOU KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR? "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). SINNERS PRAYER Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I ask You to come into my life to forgive and save me. I now receive You as my Saviour (trusting in You ALONE to save me) and my Lord (making You my Master and committing my life to You). Thank You for Your blood that cleanseth me from all sin. Take control and cleanse my life from everything that is sin in Your eyes. by Alan Yusko THE SEED SOWERS, P.O. Box 2513, Stn F, Scarborough, Ont. M1W 3P2 THE SEED SOWERS Friendly BBS 24 hrs (416) 498-5259 , 498-5962