All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Loving God, Loving the Body – Applications from the Trinity
Week of May 10, 2009
Ø Love originates within the Trinity and flows to us. (John 15:9; 17:22-26) We, in turn, love God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Read 1 John 4:7-21 and discuss the connection between God’s love for us and our responsibility to love one another.
Ø Over and over in the New Testament, love is singled out as the highest Christian virtue. Discuss the implications of the following verses: 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 3:14; Galatians 5:22-23 (where love is the first and possible primary fruit of the Spirit); and 1 Peter 4:8.
Ø There is great diversity within the Trinity, yet there is perfect unity. Because of the love and unity that exists between the Father, Son, and Spirit, everything that needs to be accomplished is accomplished. The differences that God has built into the body of Christ are sometimes causes for frustration because of the flesh and the negative influence of our enemy, Satan. Look at Ephesians 4:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-26. Discuss the need for every single person in the body and also the temptation to look down on others or ourselves because of our differences.
In Ephesians 4, notice the significance of “one” at the beginning of the chapter, the importance of teachers in the body, and the need for every single person to function as God has designed him or her (v 16) for the health and growth of the whole body.
In 1 Corinthians 12, notice the feelings of inferiority and superiority that are detrimental to the wellbeing of the body. In all of the discussion we need to remember the diversity within unity that exists in the Trinity.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Trinity Series - Sermon # 10
If you have not been following this series, please go to the post for January 22 where an explanation of the format is given. Happy studying!
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Love and Unity in the Body – Applications from the Trinity
John 17:1-26
This past Thursday was the National Day of Prayer. It is a shame that I am mentioning this today instead of last Sunday. I was remiss in not encouraging you to participate in the event, whether in Angier, Dunn, Lillington, Fuquay, or Raleigh. I was actually a participant in the program at Fuquay-Varina on Thursday. I was asked to pray for the church, which I was very glad to do. I have never heard so much about Jesus in one hour as I did at the event in Fuquay on Thursday. Apart from standing and sitting in the direct sun for an hour and a half without having applied any sunscreen, it was a great day and a real encouragement to me!
As I prepared for the two minutes I was allotted to pray for the church, I did so with an audience in mind. It was my desire to instruct those who were listening as well as to bring my petition to the Lord. Does that seem strange to you? Sometimes we hear people say things like, “Prayer is simply a conversation with God.” That’s true – but, that’s not all there is to prayer. There are all kinds of prayers – private prayers, small group prayers among believers or non-believers, large group prayers led by an individual in front of secular, religious, or church groups. During prayer we can worship, we may confess, we bring our requests to the Lord, and always we should give thanks to our Creator and Redeemer. Anyone can pray at any level, but not all prayers are exactly alike.
We are going to look at an extremely important prayer in Scripture today – Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night He was arrested, recorded in John 17. When we read this prayer in a moment, you will think it quite different from the other words Jesus spoke on this same occasion when He passionately asked the Father to allow the cup of suffering that was before Him to pass. In John 17, as we will read, Jesus will consecrate Himself in preparation for the cross. Is this a contradiction? Absolutely not! It is no surprise that Jesus was both resolute and horrified as He considered the burden of taking the whole world’s sin upon Himself! But, that’s another topic for another day. Today we will begin to make application to this long study that we have pursued about the mystery of the Trinity. We will continue to see how the Trinity matters in our everyday lives over the next few weeks.
Clearly, we would not have time to exhaust the truth in John 17 – truth that was given to us in Jesus’ prayer, a case where He taught doctrine as well as communed with His Father. Since our focus is on the Trinity, please look for references to the oneness of the Father and the Son and consider how that makes a difference in our relationship with God and in our relationships with one another. Also, you will notice, when we begin to read, that the first words of chapter 17 are “When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven” – and, then He began His prayer. What words had Jesus just spoken? The words that we have read so often these last few months, as we have learned about Father, Son, and Spirit, that are recorded in John 14-16 when Jesus taught His disciples about their relationship with the Triune God in His last major time of instruction with them. Even though John 17 does not bring the Holy Spirit into this relationship, we know, based on our understanding of Scripture, the Spirit was facilitating, and intimately involved in, this prayer. So, as you stand for the reading of the Word, please look for teaching about the Trinity in our text. John 17:
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You,
2 since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.
6 I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
7 Now they know that everything that You have given Me is from You.
8 For I have given them the words that You gave Me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
10 All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You take them out of world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
22 The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one,
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me.
26 I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
“I want, I want, I want!”
“I’m sorry, Justin, I am sorry Nicole – candy will ruin your dinner.” “I want, I want, I want!”
“I said, No.”
“You’re mean! I want, I want, I want!”
“Well, just a little piece – I want you to eat your dinner!”
That kind of scene occurs far too often in our day. And, even though many of us would be appalled when we observe it, or something similar, almost all of us are affected by the spirit of the age. It also subtly influences the way we think about God. For instance, when you think about Jesus praying for the Father to spare Him from the cross, how does that play out in your mind? Do you think of the Father as mean, or at the very least, stern, severely so? Maybe some of you think of His heart breaking as He says, “No, Jesus – I am so sorry, but this is the only way,” but I imagine that many would picture the Father replying, “I said No – don’t ask again!”
If so, it is a classic example of this world shaping our thoughts about God. Instead, we need to allow the truth about who God is to determine and direct our hearts, minds, and actions. Let’s put it into perspective. When your child is threatened, in any way, how do you feel? Afraid, angry, defensive, deeply hurt – the range of emotions. And we are imperfect parents. Our heavenly Father is perfect. And He loves the Son with a perfect love – He always has and His love did not change one bit when Jesus sought another way for the redemption of men and women other than bearing our sins on the cross. Can you imagine the agony of the Father when the Son asked, “Please, let this cup pass from Me?”
No wonder Scripture speaks so much about the Father’s love in sending the Son to die for our sins! And, it is why when we face pain and loss in this world, our best response is to look to the cross. I believe it was John Stott who said, “I could not live in this world of suffering and believe in God apart from the reality of the cross.” In other words, God understands our pain because He endured pain at a much higher level than He ever calls us to endure. “But,” you say, “that agony was temporary and had a very short end in sight – 3 days.” Two responses to that: 1) if, on the cross, the Father poured out and the Son endured the wrath of God that was equal to an eternity of hell for us, there is a dynamic that is so far beyond our comprehension that we should be quiet; and 2) for those who belong to Jesus, our struggles are also temporary. Heaven is our ultimate reality.
Let’s think about the love within the Trinity. Look at verses 22-24:
22 The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one,
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
From eternity past, the Father loved the Son and the Spirit, the Son
loved the Father and the Spirit, and the Spirit loved the Father and
the Son. Some have said that it was necessary for God to create men
and women in order to be able to love. But, the love that existed in the Trinity was the foundation for His love for us. In the portion of Jesus’ prayer that we have just considered, we see order – the Father loved Jesus; now Jesus wants His followers to know the Father’s love that He has known since before the foundation of the world.
C. S. Lewis addressed this question in Mere Christianity. Quote: “All sorts of people are fond of repeating the Christian statement that ‘God is love.’ But they seem not to notice that the words ‘God is love’ have no real meaning unless God contains at least two Persons. Love is something that one person has for another person. If God was a single person, then before the world was made, He was not love.”
But, of course, we have just read that God loved the Son before the foundation of the world. There is much more support for this truth throughout the New Testament, as there is support for the truth that there is complete unity within the Trinity. In verses 22-23, Jesus asks the Father to bring unity, perfect unity, within the ranks of His followers, and once again, the request is based on the perfect unity that already existed within the Trinity.
Next Sunday morning we will talk about how the order of authority and submission within the Trinity speaks to order in government, in society, in business, and in families. Our focus today is on the unity of purpose within the Trinity that exists along with the perfect love of the three for one another and for the one, for the three are one. The Trinity exists in a community and part of what it means that we are made in the image of God is that we were created to exist in community. In the process of creation, God repeatedly said, “It is good, it is good.” When He created Adam He said, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make a helper for him.” Community. Love and Unity.
Can you imagine how good it was for Adam and Eve before the fall? Perfect love for their Creator and perfect love for one another. Even though they were different, they had unity of purpose, looking to their Creator for guidance to know what to do and how to live. Then, sin ruined everything. And while there were excruciating consequences for their sin, God immediately began to work toward the redemption of those who would believe Him. He made a covering for Adam and Eve’s nakedness from the skin of animals, thus the first strokes on the canvas that displayed the picture of redemption that would point to the cross where Jesus, the Lamb of God, would die as the perfect substitute and sacrifice for our sins and so bring partial redemption to this fallen world. Full redemption awaits those who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died in their place.
In the midst of this fallen world, the church is a called out assembly, or, community, of believers. We are called to be salt and light to a dark and decaying world, a part of God’s plan to draw men and women to Himself. Jesus told His disciples “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) And, the value of such knowledge for those who do not believe? They begin to recognize something tangible about the character of God.
The more the community of Christ-followers reflects the true community of the Trinity, the greater our impact on this world will be. Many of us feel that our primary responsibility for love and sacrifice must be toward those outside the church. Scripture, in fact, says the opposite – our first responsibility for love and assistance is to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Though it may seem strange to you, loving one another is one of the ways we evangelize. True community among followers of Christ has a palpable effect on those who observe from without.
Unfortunately, Satan is aware of how important our unity and our love for one another is, and he designs his opposition to God’s plan accordingly. I would say that he is pretty effective in leading us to express true love – for ourselves – and to stand with self-righteous fervor against our brothers and sisters who see or do things a little differently than we do. Now, if you whole-heartedly agree with me, quit thinking about how you hope so and so is listening. The thing about love is that it always begins as my responsibility. It is not based on someone else’s actions or reactions to my love. Linda used to say that when a relationship between two people is at a breaking point, someone has to give 100%. Giving in love doesn’t mean “giving in,” but it does, indeed, speak to the way that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit love us.
I have heard far too often, “I get along with non-believers at my work better than I do with Christians.” That statement represents a host of inconsistencies that seem all too common in our day. Why do we allow ourselves to be caught in Satan’s snare in the way that we treat one another? I think it is the age old problem that when you put religious fervor behind a personal conviction that you have against a particular action or style that someone else exhibits, there is great danger. Something that has deeply impacted me these past few years as we have studied 2 Timothy and Philippians is the biblical principle that while there are some truths that are non-negotiable, such as the truth of the gospel, there is also much room for diversity within our community.
Just think of the diverse roles of the three Persons in the Trinity. Yet, there is perfect unity. I know, there is also perfection in the Trinity. Since some of you are not perfect, that makes my job much more difficult! Just kidding. I am the first to admit imperfections! Even with our imperfections, we are called to represent the nature of God on earth. How can we do that as the sinful men and women that we are? When we yield to the Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus, which is the eternal plan of the Father.
Oh, my goodness – we could stay here until 12 midnight and barely scratch the surface of the truth we have encountered this morning. I wish you could know only half of the Scripture that I considered bringing into this message. We will get to a little more application in the Home Fellowships this week, but I want to end with a word of hope and a word of challenge concerning our call to live in this community of believers, as love and unity identify us with the Savior. The Apostle Peter, writing to first century believers, said “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
All of us have the sin nature within us, whether we are Christ-followers or not. If we are Christians, either the old man, dominated by the sin-nature, or the new man, led by the Holy Spirit, will be in charge of our lives. My problem is that so often it is difficult to discern who is in charge, God or me. When I am in charge but I think that God is in charge, I can really make a mess of things, especially when I want to set someone else straight. The answer? Love. Love others in the community, because love covers a multitude of sins, and there is no way to anticipate the creative ways we can sin against each other in the body of Christ. So, let’s love one another and work together in unity in order that all will get at least a tiny glimpse of our triune God, where perfect love and perfect unity reign in the great three in one. Let’s pray.
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Love and Unity in the Body – Applications from the Trinity
John 17:1-26
This past Thursday was the National Day of Prayer. It is a shame that I am mentioning this today instead of last Sunday. I was remiss in not encouraging you to participate in the event, whether in Angier, Dunn, Lillington, Fuquay, or Raleigh. I was actually a participant in the program at Fuquay-Varina on Thursday. I was asked to pray for the church, which I was very glad to do. I have never heard so much about Jesus in one hour as I did at the event in Fuquay on Thursday. Apart from standing and sitting in the direct sun for an hour and a half without having applied any sunscreen, it was a great day and a real encouragement to me!
As I prepared for the two minutes I was allotted to pray for the church, I did so with an audience in mind. It was my desire to instruct those who were listening as well as to bring my petition to the Lord. Does that seem strange to you? Sometimes we hear people say things like, “Prayer is simply a conversation with God.” That’s true – but, that’s not all there is to prayer. There are all kinds of prayers – private prayers, small group prayers among believers or non-believers, large group prayers led by an individual in front of secular, religious, or church groups. During prayer we can worship, we may confess, we bring our requests to the Lord, and always we should give thanks to our Creator and Redeemer. Anyone can pray at any level, but not all prayers are exactly alike.
We are going to look at an extremely important prayer in Scripture today – Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night He was arrested, recorded in John 17. When we read this prayer in a moment, you will think it quite different from the other words Jesus spoke on this same occasion when He passionately asked the Father to allow the cup of suffering that was before Him to pass. In John 17, as we will read, Jesus will consecrate Himself in preparation for the cross. Is this a contradiction? Absolutely not! It is no surprise that Jesus was both resolute and horrified as He considered the burden of taking the whole world’s sin upon Himself! But, that’s another topic for another day. Today we will begin to make application to this long study that we have pursued about the mystery of the Trinity. We will continue to see how the Trinity matters in our everyday lives over the next few weeks.
Clearly, we would not have time to exhaust the truth in John 17 – truth that was given to us in Jesus’ prayer, a case where He taught doctrine as well as communed with His Father. Since our focus is on the Trinity, please look for references to the oneness of the Father and the Son and consider how that makes a difference in our relationship with God and in our relationships with one another. Also, you will notice, when we begin to read, that the first words of chapter 17 are “When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven” – and, then He began His prayer. What words had Jesus just spoken? The words that we have read so often these last few months, as we have learned about Father, Son, and Spirit, that are recorded in John 14-16 when Jesus taught His disciples about their relationship with the Triune God in His last major time of instruction with them. Even though John 17 does not bring the Holy Spirit into this relationship, we know, based on our understanding of Scripture, the Spirit was facilitating, and intimately involved in, this prayer. So, as you stand for the reading of the Word, please look for teaching about the Trinity in our text. John 17:
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You,
2 since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.
6 I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
7 Now they know that everything that You have given Me is from You.
8 For I have given them the words that You gave Me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
10 All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given Me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You take them out of world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
22 The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one,
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me.
26 I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
“I want, I want, I want!”
“I’m sorry, Justin, I am sorry Nicole – candy will ruin your dinner.” “I want, I want, I want!”
“I said, No.”
“You’re mean! I want, I want, I want!”
“Well, just a little piece – I want you to eat your dinner!”
That kind of scene occurs far too often in our day. And, even though many of us would be appalled when we observe it, or something similar, almost all of us are affected by the spirit of the age. It also subtly influences the way we think about God. For instance, when you think about Jesus praying for the Father to spare Him from the cross, how does that play out in your mind? Do you think of the Father as mean, or at the very least, stern, severely so? Maybe some of you think of His heart breaking as He says, “No, Jesus – I am so sorry, but this is the only way,” but I imagine that many would picture the Father replying, “I said No – don’t ask again!”
If so, it is a classic example of this world shaping our thoughts about God. Instead, we need to allow the truth about who God is to determine and direct our hearts, minds, and actions. Let’s put it into perspective. When your child is threatened, in any way, how do you feel? Afraid, angry, defensive, deeply hurt – the range of emotions. And we are imperfect parents. Our heavenly Father is perfect. And He loves the Son with a perfect love – He always has and His love did not change one bit when Jesus sought another way for the redemption of men and women other than bearing our sins on the cross. Can you imagine the agony of the Father when the Son asked, “Please, let this cup pass from Me?”
No wonder Scripture speaks so much about the Father’s love in sending the Son to die for our sins! And, it is why when we face pain and loss in this world, our best response is to look to the cross. I believe it was John Stott who said, “I could not live in this world of suffering and believe in God apart from the reality of the cross.” In other words, God understands our pain because He endured pain at a much higher level than He ever calls us to endure. “But,” you say, “that agony was temporary and had a very short end in sight – 3 days.” Two responses to that: 1) if, on the cross, the Father poured out and the Son endured the wrath of God that was equal to an eternity of hell for us, there is a dynamic that is so far beyond our comprehension that we should be quiet; and 2) for those who belong to Jesus, our struggles are also temporary. Heaven is our ultimate reality.
Let’s think about the love within the Trinity. Look at verses 22-24:
22 The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one,
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
From eternity past, the Father loved the Son and the Spirit, the Son
loved the Father and the Spirit, and the Spirit loved the Father and
the Son. Some have said that it was necessary for God to create men
and women in order to be able to love. But, the love that existed in the Trinity was the foundation for His love for us. In the portion of Jesus’ prayer that we have just considered, we see order – the Father loved Jesus; now Jesus wants His followers to know the Father’s love that He has known since before the foundation of the world.
C. S. Lewis addressed this question in Mere Christianity. Quote: “All sorts of people are fond of repeating the Christian statement that ‘God is love.’ But they seem not to notice that the words ‘God is love’ have no real meaning unless God contains at least two Persons. Love is something that one person has for another person. If God was a single person, then before the world was made, He was not love.”
But, of course, we have just read that God loved the Son before the foundation of the world. There is much more support for this truth throughout the New Testament, as there is support for the truth that there is complete unity within the Trinity. In verses 22-23, Jesus asks the Father to bring unity, perfect unity, within the ranks of His followers, and once again, the request is based on the perfect unity that already existed within the Trinity.
Next Sunday morning we will talk about how the order of authority and submission within the Trinity speaks to order in government, in society, in business, and in families. Our focus today is on the unity of purpose within the Trinity that exists along with the perfect love of the three for one another and for the one, for the three are one. The Trinity exists in a community and part of what it means that we are made in the image of God is that we were created to exist in community. In the process of creation, God repeatedly said, “It is good, it is good.” When He created Adam He said, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make a helper for him.” Community. Love and Unity.
Can you imagine how good it was for Adam and Eve before the fall? Perfect love for their Creator and perfect love for one another. Even though they were different, they had unity of purpose, looking to their Creator for guidance to know what to do and how to live. Then, sin ruined everything. And while there were excruciating consequences for their sin, God immediately began to work toward the redemption of those who would believe Him. He made a covering for Adam and Eve’s nakedness from the skin of animals, thus the first strokes on the canvas that displayed the picture of redemption that would point to the cross where Jesus, the Lamb of God, would die as the perfect substitute and sacrifice for our sins and so bring partial redemption to this fallen world. Full redemption awaits those who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died in their place.
In the midst of this fallen world, the church is a called out assembly, or, community, of believers. We are called to be salt and light to a dark and decaying world, a part of God’s plan to draw men and women to Himself. Jesus told His disciples “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) And, the value of such knowledge for those who do not believe? They begin to recognize something tangible about the character of God.
The more the community of Christ-followers reflects the true community of the Trinity, the greater our impact on this world will be. Many of us feel that our primary responsibility for love and sacrifice must be toward those outside the church. Scripture, in fact, says the opposite – our first responsibility for love and assistance is to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Though it may seem strange to you, loving one another is one of the ways we evangelize. True community among followers of Christ has a palpable effect on those who observe from without.
Unfortunately, Satan is aware of how important our unity and our love for one another is, and he designs his opposition to God’s plan accordingly. I would say that he is pretty effective in leading us to express true love – for ourselves – and to stand with self-righteous fervor against our brothers and sisters who see or do things a little differently than we do. Now, if you whole-heartedly agree with me, quit thinking about how you hope so and so is listening. The thing about love is that it always begins as my responsibility. It is not based on someone else’s actions or reactions to my love. Linda used to say that when a relationship between two people is at a breaking point, someone has to give 100%. Giving in love doesn’t mean “giving in,” but it does, indeed, speak to the way that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit love us.
I have heard far too often, “I get along with non-believers at my work better than I do with Christians.” That statement represents a host of inconsistencies that seem all too common in our day. Why do we allow ourselves to be caught in Satan’s snare in the way that we treat one another? I think it is the age old problem that when you put religious fervor behind a personal conviction that you have against a particular action or style that someone else exhibits, there is great danger. Something that has deeply impacted me these past few years as we have studied 2 Timothy and Philippians is the biblical principle that while there are some truths that are non-negotiable, such as the truth of the gospel, there is also much room for diversity within our community.
Just think of the diverse roles of the three Persons in the Trinity. Yet, there is perfect unity. I know, there is also perfection in the Trinity. Since some of you are not perfect, that makes my job much more difficult! Just kidding. I am the first to admit imperfections! Even with our imperfections, we are called to represent the nature of God on earth. How can we do that as the sinful men and women that we are? When we yield to the Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus, which is the eternal plan of the Father.
Oh, my goodness – we could stay here until 12 midnight and barely scratch the surface of the truth we have encountered this morning. I wish you could know only half of the Scripture that I considered bringing into this message. We will get to a little more application in the Home Fellowships this week, but I want to end with a word of hope and a word of challenge concerning our call to live in this community of believers, as love and unity identify us with the Savior. The Apostle Peter, writing to first century believers, said “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
All of us have the sin nature within us, whether we are Christ-followers or not. If we are Christians, either the old man, dominated by the sin-nature, or the new man, led by the Holy Spirit, will be in charge of our lives. My problem is that so often it is difficult to discern who is in charge, God or me. When I am in charge but I think that God is in charge, I can really make a mess of things, especially when I want to set someone else straight. The answer? Love. Love others in the community, because love covers a multitude of sins, and there is no way to anticipate the creative ways we can sin against each other in the body of Christ. So, let’s love one another and work together in unity in order that all will get at least a tiny glimpse of our triune God, where perfect love and perfect unity reign in the great three in one. Let’s pray.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Trinity Series - Small Group Notes #10
If you have not been following this series, please go to the post for January 22 where an explanation of the format is given. Happy studying!
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Jesus IS God, Week of May 3, 2009
Ø There is a difference in the way believers are called to deal with false prophets in the church and with those who are trapped in a false religion. In 2 Timothy 2:14-26, we see both groups. Read this passage and discuss the prescribed treatment for false prophets and for those who are confused about Jesus.
This passage begins with Paul’s call to Timothy to study the Word diligently (v 15) so that he will be an approved workman before the Lord. It would be necessary for Timothy to recognize truth and error, for there was already error in the body (16-19). That is not surprising b/c in a large house, there are all kinds of vessels, some for good use, some for not so good use! In the church, there will be honorable and dishonorable leaders. Timothy was encouraged to purge the dishonorable (false prophets) leaders from the church (See also 2 Timothy 3:1-9)
In the verses that follow (2 Timothy 2:22-26) however, it is clear that Paul did not want to cut off everyone who didn’t believe just like he believed. Paul urged patience and trust in God to turn them around. When it comes to teaching in our church, there are essentials and non-essentials. It is essential that GCC members believe in the Trinity and the authority of Scripture and that salvation comes by grace through faith. It is not essential that we agree on the mode of baptism in order to commune with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Discuss “essentials” and “nonessentials” if you would like – you can access our Church Constitution on the web to see what our church considers to be in each category.
Ø In the first 18 verses of John 1, the Apostle John makes a clear case for the doctrine that Jesus is God, although many try to point to the Greek of the first verse to deny Jesus’ equal status with God. John used the title “Word” for Jesus to make his point. In 1:14, John makes it clear that the “Word” to whom he is referring is Jesus. This verse could be literally translated, “The Word became flesh and pitched His tabernacle among us.” Read Exodus 33:7-34:35 to see some of the connections John was making between God and Jesus.
From D.A. Carson: “The ‘tent of meeting’ was the place where the Lord ‘would speak face to face, as a man speaks with his friends’ (Ex. 33:11). In Exodus Moses hears the divine name spoken by God Himself, and this is followed by God’s word written on two stone tablets. Now, John tells us, God’s Word, His Self-expression, has become flesh. He donned our humanity, save only our sin. God chose to make Himself known, finally and ultimately, in a real, historical man.
“The Word made His dwelling among us. More literally translated, the Greek verb ‘skenoo’ means that the Word pitched His tabernacle, or lived in His tent among us. For Greek-speaking Jews and other readers of the Greek Old Testament, the term would call to mind the ‘skene,’ the tabernacle where God met with Israel before the temple was built. The tabernacle was erected at God’s command: ‘Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them’ (Ex. 25:8).”
Clearly, Jesus is God and has chosen to speak to us not only through the written Word, but also by the living Word, Jesus, who is God in every way.
Ø During Sunday’s message, we talked about one way to engage Jehovah’s Witnesses through Scripture. Jehovah’s Witnesses seek to establish that in the Greek, the last phrase should read “and the Word was a god” rather than “and the Word was God.” In Jesus’ prayer on the night He was arrested, He acknowledged that the Father is the one true God in John 17:3. Ask a Jehovah’s Witness if there is only one true God. He will almost certainly agree. Then ask how it is consistent to call Jesus a god at all. Look at all of these claims that Jesus made about His equality with God in the gospel of John alone and discuss the implications of these verses: John 8:58; 10:30 (in both cases, the reaction of the religious leaders indicates that they knew He was claiming to be God); 14:9-11
If you are willing to engage in a discussion of the grammar found in John 1:1, you can use the following excerpt from the sermon as a guide – please feel free to call for clarification:
Perhaps you are familiar with the way that those who ostensibly derive their doctrine from Scripture and yet deny the deity of Christ interpret John 1:1. Let’s look again at the way we read this verse in English: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” But, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons like to point out that this is an improper translation from the Greek. They point out that there is not a definite article before the last word in the sentence.
Now, since I do not want to put the actual Greek up on the screen, I will do the next best thing and show you in English how some think this verse should look in the Greek since it is translated the way it is. At the end of the sentence, they say, if we are going to use the English translation, “the Word was with God and the Word was God” that it should say in the Greek “the Word was with God and the Word was the God.” It should have the definite article “the” in front of the word “God.” Since there is no definite article in the Greek text, some say that it should be translated this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
I can imagine that what we have been covering for the last few minutes is quite confusing for some, if not many, of you. So, I understand why you are unwilling to engage someone on your doorstep who is telling you all about the Greek structure of this sentence. The fact is, though, that they do not know what they are talking about.
Do you know what a predicate noun is? A predicate noun is a noun that follows a “to be” verb, like “is” or “was.” A predicate noun renames the subject of the sentence. An example of a predicate noun would be to say that Barak Obama is the US President, or, for those of you with different political inclinations, John Roberts is Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. The predicate noun, “President,” is renaming the subject of the sentence, “Barak Obama.”
That is what is happening in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In fact, in the Greek the absence of a definite article in this structure can actually add emphasis to what is being stated, so that we could say “the Word was with God and the Word was absolutely God.”
Ø Spend some time in prayer asking God to give you a heart for evangelism and the understanding necessary to engage those who claim to have a relationship with God, yet deny the doctrine of the Trinity.
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Jesus IS God, Week of May 3, 2009
Ø There is a difference in the way believers are called to deal with false prophets in the church and with those who are trapped in a false religion. In 2 Timothy 2:14-26, we see both groups. Read this passage and discuss the prescribed treatment for false prophets and for those who are confused about Jesus.
This passage begins with Paul’s call to Timothy to study the Word diligently (v 15) so that he will be an approved workman before the Lord. It would be necessary for Timothy to recognize truth and error, for there was already error in the body (16-19). That is not surprising b/c in a large house, there are all kinds of vessels, some for good use, some for not so good use! In the church, there will be honorable and dishonorable leaders. Timothy was encouraged to purge the dishonorable (false prophets) leaders from the church (See also 2 Timothy 3:1-9)
In the verses that follow (2 Timothy 2:22-26) however, it is clear that Paul did not want to cut off everyone who didn’t believe just like he believed. Paul urged patience and trust in God to turn them around. When it comes to teaching in our church, there are essentials and non-essentials. It is essential that GCC members believe in the Trinity and the authority of Scripture and that salvation comes by grace through faith. It is not essential that we agree on the mode of baptism in order to commune with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Discuss “essentials” and “nonessentials” if you would like – you can access our Church Constitution on the web to see what our church considers to be in each category.
Ø In the first 18 verses of John 1, the Apostle John makes a clear case for the doctrine that Jesus is God, although many try to point to the Greek of the first verse to deny Jesus’ equal status with God. John used the title “Word” for Jesus to make his point. In 1:14, John makes it clear that the “Word” to whom he is referring is Jesus. This verse could be literally translated, “The Word became flesh and pitched His tabernacle among us.” Read Exodus 33:7-34:35 to see some of the connections John was making between God and Jesus.
From D.A. Carson: “The ‘tent of meeting’ was the place where the Lord ‘would speak face to face, as a man speaks with his friends’ (Ex. 33:11). In Exodus Moses hears the divine name spoken by God Himself, and this is followed by God’s word written on two stone tablets. Now, John tells us, God’s Word, His Self-expression, has become flesh. He donned our humanity, save only our sin. God chose to make Himself known, finally and ultimately, in a real, historical man.
“The Word made His dwelling among us. More literally translated, the Greek verb ‘skenoo’ means that the Word pitched His tabernacle, or lived in His tent among us. For Greek-speaking Jews and other readers of the Greek Old Testament, the term would call to mind the ‘skene,’ the tabernacle where God met with Israel before the temple was built. The tabernacle was erected at God’s command: ‘Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them’ (Ex. 25:8).”
Clearly, Jesus is God and has chosen to speak to us not only through the written Word, but also by the living Word, Jesus, who is God in every way.
Ø During Sunday’s message, we talked about one way to engage Jehovah’s Witnesses through Scripture. Jehovah’s Witnesses seek to establish that in the Greek, the last phrase should read “and the Word was a god” rather than “and the Word was God.” In Jesus’ prayer on the night He was arrested, He acknowledged that the Father is the one true God in John 17:3. Ask a Jehovah’s Witness if there is only one true God. He will almost certainly agree. Then ask how it is consistent to call Jesus a god at all. Look at all of these claims that Jesus made about His equality with God in the gospel of John alone and discuss the implications of these verses: John 8:58; 10:30 (in both cases, the reaction of the religious leaders indicates that they knew He was claiming to be God); 14:9-11
If you are willing to engage in a discussion of the grammar found in John 1:1, you can use the following excerpt from the sermon as a guide – please feel free to call for clarification:
Perhaps you are familiar with the way that those who ostensibly derive their doctrine from Scripture and yet deny the deity of Christ interpret John 1:1. Let’s look again at the way we read this verse in English: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” But, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons like to point out that this is an improper translation from the Greek. They point out that there is not a definite article before the last word in the sentence.
Now, since I do not want to put the actual Greek up on the screen, I will do the next best thing and show you in English how some think this verse should look in the Greek since it is translated the way it is. At the end of the sentence, they say, if we are going to use the English translation, “the Word was with God and the Word was God” that it should say in the Greek “the Word was with God and the Word was the God.” It should have the definite article “the” in front of the word “God.” Since there is no definite article in the Greek text, some say that it should be translated this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
I can imagine that what we have been covering for the last few minutes is quite confusing for some, if not many, of you. So, I understand why you are unwilling to engage someone on your doorstep who is telling you all about the Greek structure of this sentence. The fact is, though, that they do not know what they are talking about.
Do you know what a predicate noun is? A predicate noun is a noun that follows a “to be” verb, like “is” or “was.” A predicate noun renames the subject of the sentence. An example of a predicate noun would be to say that Barak Obama is the US President, or, for those of you with different political inclinations, John Roberts is Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. The predicate noun, “President,” is renaming the subject of the sentence, “Barak Obama.”
That is what is happening in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In fact, in the Greek the absence of a definite article in this structure can actually add emphasis to what is being stated, so that we could say “the Word was with God and the Word was absolutely God.”
Ø Spend some time in prayer asking God to give you a heart for evangelism and the understanding necessary to engage those who claim to have a relationship with God, yet deny the doctrine of the Trinity.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Trinity Series - Sermon #9
If you have not been following this series, please go to the post for January 22 where an explanation of the format is given. Happy studying!
All of God: Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Jesus IS God
John 1:1-18
You are home on a Saturday morning and you hear the doorbell – the dreaded doorbell. When you open the door, you see two people dressed nicely with literature in their hands. You know that they are either Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons. OK, every once in a blue moon a Baptist will show up on your doorstep, but usually it is a JW or a Mormon and they want to talk with you. Problem is, you don’t want to talk with them for one of two reasons – 1) you feel it is a waste of time b/c they are not going to convince you and you are not going to convince them, or 2) you are afraid you will lose the theological debate that is almost certain to ensue.
Now, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons have significantly different doctrines, but they find common ground in their denial of the deity of Jesus Christ. This is true, of course, of all cults and other religions. In fact, we talked about the marks of a cult in the first message of this series. All cults deny the deity of Jesus – they all claim that Jesus was and is lower than God the Father. It automatically follows, then, that they also deny that salvation comes by grace alone. There is always a system of works that seeks to impress and obligate God for their salvation. Jehovah’s Witnesses say that we are saved by grace – but, some are not worthy of grace. I think that would be all of us! Another major mark of a cult is that there is always a source of revelation outside of the Bible; thus, the book of Mormon and Watchtower Society publications. Usually an authoritarian figure oversees the writing and dissemination of current revelation being given by God to the faithful.
Why are we afraid of JW’s and Mormons? Because they are so well trained to debate when they come to your door. Indeed, they are! When Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your door, they will use their translation of the Bible that sounds a whole lot like your translation with subtle differences. They will also tell you why these verses should be translated the way they are, even though none of the “scholars” who translated the New World Translation knew much, if anything, about Greek and Hebrew.
When Mormons approach you, they will tell you that Jesus Christ is very important to them. The official name of their church, in fact, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They speak of salvation through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It all sounds good, but as we have learned over and over in this study, we can say the same things about God but mean different things. Mormons contend that Jesus was pre-existent in spirit form, but all humans, according to Mormon belief, existed in spirit form before coming to earth. Mormons believe that Jesus was conceived in a literal physical union between God the Father and Mary.
One of the primary differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons is that a lot of the false doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses comes from faulty interpretation of Scriptures, though they certainly believe that their leaders are given special revelation from God to this day. Mormons derive much of their faulty doctrine from the book of Mormon. There are excellent books and websites designed to help you witness to people in these cults. I will mention a couple of these resources later. For us to deal with the primary heresies point by point would require a series of studies lasting many weeks. What I want to do today is to reaffirm our belief and understanding that Jesus is God and has always existed as God – He was not created. After we look at our text, John 1:1-18, I will mention specific errors taught by these two churches and how we might deal with the false teaching, but the primary goal is to encourage you to know truth well enough that you can articulate and defend the doctrine of Jesus’ deity. John 1:1-18 is our text – would you please stand for the reading of God’s Word?
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.’”)
16 And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Is that verse clear to you? Well, if you know what “Word” stands for it may seem quite clear to you. The English word “Word” comes from the Greek word logos. In Greek philosophy, logos stood for the principle of reason that governs the universe. There was no god beyond logos for many intelligent Greeks, even though many in the first century worshiped multiple gods.
For Hebrews, logos represented something much more sacred. It was the ultimate expression of God. The Hebrew word for “word” is dabar. D.A. Carson says that “God’s ‘Word’ in the Old Testament is His powerful self-expression in creation, revelation, and salvation.” Thus, the Jewish mind would understand God’s Word to be, in essence, inseparable from God Himself.
When John begins his gospel by saying “In the beginning,” he was recalling Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In other words, God existed before the world was ever created. Now John is telling us that the Word also existed before creation. If the Word is simply God’s verbal expression, then this is no big deal. But, verse 3 tells us that the Word was responsible for creating everything that exists.
Does that mean God spoke His word and the earth came into existence? That’s what Genesis 1 and 2 tells us. But, in John 1:3, the Word takes on personal qualities – “All things were made through Him – and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John was building a case. From this point he went on to talk about the life that is in the Word and how the Word was a light in the darkness. But, the light was rejected – and, it is clear that it was a Person who was rejected. For those who received Him, we are told in verse 12, He saved and gave the right to be called the children of God. Finally, in verse 14, we are told that the Word became flesh – or, He was born as a human – and, He lived among us.
The person is immediately identified as the Son of the Father, a claim Jesus makes for Himself repeatedly in this gospel. To further confirm that he was speaking of Jesus, the Apostle John went on to explain how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and that it is this very Jesus who came from God, who was with God, and who was God. It is very important that you understand the claims that are being made in this prologue to John’s gospel found in the first 18 verses of chapter 1. And, if you understand this very clear and profound statement about Jesus’ deity, then you will be ready for those who claim that Jesus is not God, right? Well, you have to understand that those who would deny Jesus’ deity, or divinity, are prepared to argue about this passage. They “see it another way,” as it were.
Perhaps you are familiar with the way that those who ostensibly derive their doctrine from Scripture and yet deny the deity of Christ interpret John 1:1. Let’s look again at the way we read this verse in English: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” But, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons like to point out that this is an improper translation from the Greek. They point out that there is not a definite article before the last word in the sentence.
Now, since I do not want to put the actual Greek up on the screen, I will do the next best thing and show you in English how some think this verse should look in the Greek since it is translated the way it is. At the end of the sentence, they say, if we are going to use the English translation, “the Word was with God and the Word was God” then it should say in the Greek “the Word was with God and the Word was the God.” It should have the definite article “the” in front of the word “God.” Since there is no definite article in the Greek text, some say that it should be translated this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
I can imagine that what we have been covering for the last few minutes is quite confusing for some, if not many, of you. So, I understand why you are unwilling to engage someone on your doorstep who is telling you all about the Greek structure of this sentence. The fact is, though, that they do not know what they are talking about.
Do you know what a predicate noun is? A predicate noun is a noun that follows a “to be” verb, like “is” or “was.” A predicate noun renames the subject of the sentence. An example of a predicate noun would be to say that Barak Obama is the US President, or, for those of you with different political inclinations, John Roberts is Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. The predicate noun, “President” is renaming the subject of the sentence, “Barak Obama.”
That is what is happening in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In fact, in the Greek the absence of a definite article in this structure can actually add emphasis to what is being stated, so that we could say “the Word was with God and the Word was absolutely God.”
So, now that we have cleared up the grammar of John 1:1, you are ready to debate anyone who denies the deity of Jesus Christ based on the structure in the Greek text. Right? Well, I wanted to let you know that not only is there an answer to the technical objection that are made by deniers of Jesus’ divinity, but that, in fact, the argument is problematic, at best, if not entirely bogus. Besides the illegitimate use of the Greek grammar, there is a significant problem saying, from John 1:1, that Jesus is a god, but not the God.
During this series on the Trinity, we have discussed, at length, the non-negotiable belief of both Jews and Christians that we serve one God. It would be unthinkable for the Apostle John, a leader in the 1st century church, to imply that Jesus was a lesser god than the Father. There is only one God, and to say that Jesus is a god rather than God Himself, as John actually says in John 1:18, would be antithetical to all Jewish/Christian thought. In context, the idea that Jesus is “a god” is impossible. Either He was God, or he was an imposter, a false prophet and blasphemer, as the Jews said He was. It was Jesus’ claim to deity that the Jewish religious leaders used to justify having Jesus crucified, though they had to go through Roman authorities in order to have Him executed.
So, how would you deal with a Jehovah’s Witness who denied the deity of Christ and pointed to the grammar of John 1:1 as evidence for his or her belief? First, you must deal in love, not defensively or angrily. There is a difference in the way we deal with false prophets in the church and with those who are mislead in their beliefs – you will discuss that this week at Home Fellowship. Second, please know that if you are willing to engage a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon about doctrine, it will most likely require several sessions together, so you would have to be patient, realizing that they are trying to convert you, also.
In dealing with someone who has been misled on this doctrine, you wouldn’t even have to talk about the grammar. One would have to reject or reinterpret a whole lot of Scripture in order to deny the doctrine of the Trinity. Not that one argument is going to make the difference, but just one example of how you can engage others about their beliefs is to go to John 17:3 and have them read this verse that is a part of Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night He was arrested: “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Ask your friend if he or she agrees with this statement that there is only one true God. Of course your friend will agree with you and in fact tell you that this is what he has been trying to show you, that there is only one God. Then, ask how it is possible for John 1:1 to be saying that Jesus is “a god” if there is only one God and Jesus is not that God?
We do believe that Jesus is God. We worship Him as God, just as the disciples that we read about last week in Matthew 28 did. The goal today was not to teach you how to witness to a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness in three easy steps. That is impossible to do. My goal was to show you how the debate goes regarding this most important truth and to help you see why you need to be able to articulate what you believe. If you have a strong belief system, you will be in much better position to help someone who is in darkness.
I would like to share a couple of resources with you. In preparation for this message, I went to Lifeway a few weeks ago and picked up a copy of Ron Rhodes’ book, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Though the copyright on this book is 1993, I would heartily recommend it as a resource to help you find biblical ways to interact with those who do not believe that Jesus is God.
Another resource is Watchman Fellowship. You may recall that the president of this apologetics ministry, James Walker, spoke here about three years ago. The web address is www.watchman.org. You will find a number of helpful resources at this site to help you interact with people in all kinds of cults and other religions.
This morning, as we prepare for communion, I want us to reaffirm our belief in the deity of Jesus as we quote, together, the Nicene Creed, which is really an updated version of the Nicene Creed, but we don’t have time to discuss that. In quoting this Creed, we affirm our connection in belief and spirit to our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and who did a great deal of work on the doctrine of the Trinity. Would you stand as we affirm our faith?
I believe in one God,the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,the only begotten Son of God,begotten of his Father before all worlds,God of God, Light of Light,very God of very God,begotten, not made,being of one substance with the Father;by whom all things were made;who for us men and for our salvationcame down from heaven,and was incarnate by the Holy Ghostof the Virgin Mary,and was made man;and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;he suffered and was buried;and the third day he rose againaccording to the Scriptures,and ascended into heaven,and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;and he shall come again, with glory,to judge both the quick and the dead;whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son];who with the Father and the Son togetheris worshipped and glorified;who spake by the Prophets.And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;and I look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
All of God: Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Jesus IS God
John 1:1-18
You are home on a Saturday morning and you hear the doorbell – the dreaded doorbell. When you open the door, you see two people dressed nicely with literature in their hands. You know that they are either Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons. OK, every once in a blue moon a Baptist will show up on your doorstep, but usually it is a JW or a Mormon and they want to talk with you. Problem is, you don’t want to talk with them for one of two reasons – 1) you feel it is a waste of time b/c they are not going to convince you and you are not going to convince them, or 2) you are afraid you will lose the theological debate that is almost certain to ensue.
Now, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons have significantly different doctrines, but they find common ground in their denial of the deity of Jesus Christ. This is true, of course, of all cults and other religions. In fact, we talked about the marks of a cult in the first message of this series. All cults deny the deity of Jesus – they all claim that Jesus was and is lower than God the Father. It automatically follows, then, that they also deny that salvation comes by grace alone. There is always a system of works that seeks to impress and obligate God for their salvation. Jehovah’s Witnesses say that we are saved by grace – but, some are not worthy of grace. I think that would be all of us! Another major mark of a cult is that there is always a source of revelation outside of the Bible; thus, the book of Mormon and Watchtower Society publications. Usually an authoritarian figure oversees the writing and dissemination of current revelation being given by God to the faithful.
Why are we afraid of JW’s and Mormons? Because they are so well trained to debate when they come to your door. Indeed, they are! When Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your door, they will use their translation of the Bible that sounds a whole lot like your translation with subtle differences. They will also tell you why these verses should be translated the way they are, even though none of the “scholars” who translated the New World Translation knew much, if anything, about Greek and Hebrew.
When Mormons approach you, they will tell you that Jesus Christ is very important to them. The official name of their church, in fact, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They speak of salvation through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It all sounds good, but as we have learned over and over in this study, we can say the same things about God but mean different things. Mormons contend that Jesus was pre-existent in spirit form, but all humans, according to Mormon belief, existed in spirit form before coming to earth. Mormons believe that Jesus was conceived in a literal physical union between God the Father and Mary.
One of the primary differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons is that a lot of the false doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses comes from faulty interpretation of Scriptures, though they certainly believe that their leaders are given special revelation from God to this day. Mormons derive much of their faulty doctrine from the book of Mormon. There are excellent books and websites designed to help you witness to people in these cults. I will mention a couple of these resources later. For us to deal with the primary heresies point by point would require a series of studies lasting many weeks. What I want to do today is to reaffirm our belief and understanding that Jesus is God and has always existed as God – He was not created. After we look at our text, John 1:1-18, I will mention specific errors taught by these two churches and how we might deal with the false teaching, but the primary goal is to encourage you to know truth well enough that you can articulate and defend the doctrine of Jesus’ deity. John 1:1-18 is our text – would you please stand for the reading of God’s Word?
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about Him, and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.’”)
16 And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Is that verse clear to you? Well, if you know what “Word” stands for it may seem quite clear to you. The English word “Word” comes from the Greek word logos. In Greek philosophy, logos stood for the principle of reason that governs the universe. There was no god beyond logos for many intelligent Greeks, even though many in the first century worshiped multiple gods.
For Hebrews, logos represented something much more sacred. It was the ultimate expression of God. The Hebrew word for “word” is dabar. D.A. Carson says that “God’s ‘Word’ in the Old Testament is His powerful self-expression in creation, revelation, and salvation.” Thus, the Jewish mind would understand God’s Word to be, in essence, inseparable from God Himself.
When John begins his gospel by saying “In the beginning,” he was recalling Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In other words, God existed before the world was ever created. Now John is telling us that the Word also existed before creation. If the Word is simply God’s verbal expression, then this is no big deal. But, verse 3 tells us that the Word was responsible for creating everything that exists.
Does that mean God spoke His word and the earth came into existence? That’s what Genesis 1 and 2 tells us. But, in John 1:3, the Word takes on personal qualities – “All things were made through Him – and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John was building a case. From this point he went on to talk about the life that is in the Word and how the Word was a light in the darkness. But, the light was rejected – and, it is clear that it was a Person who was rejected. For those who received Him, we are told in verse 12, He saved and gave the right to be called the children of God. Finally, in verse 14, we are told that the Word became flesh – or, He was born as a human – and, He lived among us.
The person is immediately identified as the Son of the Father, a claim Jesus makes for Himself repeatedly in this gospel. To further confirm that he was speaking of Jesus, the Apostle John went on to explain how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and that it is this very Jesus who came from God, who was with God, and who was God. It is very important that you understand the claims that are being made in this prologue to John’s gospel found in the first 18 verses of chapter 1. And, if you understand this very clear and profound statement about Jesus’ deity, then you will be ready for those who claim that Jesus is not God, right? Well, you have to understand that those who would deny Jesus’ deity, or divinity, are prepared to argue about this passage. They “see it another way,” as it were.
Perhaps you are familiar with the way that those who ostensibly derive their doctrine from Scripture and yet deny the deity of Christ interpret John 1:1. Let’s look again at the way we read this verse in English: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” But, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons like to point out that this is an improper translation from the Greek. They point out that there is not a definite article before the last word in the sentence.
Now, since I do not want to put the actual Greek up on the screen, I will do the next best thing and show you in English how some think this verse should look in the Greek since it is translated the way it is. At the end of the sentence, they say, if we are going to use the English translation, “the Word was with God and the Word was God” then it should say in the Greek “the Word was with God and the Word was the God.” It should have the definite article “the” in front of the word “God.” Since there is no definite article in the Greek text, some say that it should be translated this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
I can imagine that what we have been covering for the last few minutes is quite confusing for some, if not many, of you. So, I understand why you are unwilling to engage someone on your doorstep who is telling you all about the Greek structure of this sentence. The fact is, though, that they do not know what they are talking about.
Do you know what a predicate noun is? A predicate noun is a noun that follows a “to be” verb, like “is” or “was.” A predicate noun renames the subject of the sentence. An example of a predicate noun would be to say that Barak Obama is the US President, or, for those of you with different political inclinations, John Roberts is Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. The predicate noun, “President” is renaming the subject of the sentence, “Barak Obama.”
That is what is happening in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In fact, in the Greek the absence of a definite article in this structure can actually add emphasis to what is being stated, so that we could say “the Word was with God and the Word was absolutely God.”
So, now that we have cleared up the grammar of John 1:1, you are ready to debate anyone who denies the deity of Jesus Christ based on the structure in the Greek text. Right? Well, I wanted to let you know that not only is there an answer to the technical objection that are made by deniers of Jesus’ divinity, but that, in fact, the argument is problematic, at best, if not entirely bogus. Besides the illegitimate use of the Greek grammar, there is a significant problem saying, from John 1:1, that Jesus is a god, but not the God.
During this series on the Trinity, we have discussed, at length, the non-negotiable belief of both Jews and Christians that we serve one God. It would be unthinkable for the Apostle John, a leader in the 1st century church, to imply that Jesus was a lesser god than the Father. There is only one God, and to say that Jesus is a god rather than God Himself, as John actually says in John 1:18, would be antithetical to all Jewish/Christian thought. In context, the idea that Jesus is “a god” is impossible. Either He was God, or he was an imposter, a false prophet and blasphemer, as the Jews said He was. It was Jesus’ claim to deity that the Jewish religious leaders used to justify having Jesus crucified, though they had to go through Roman authorities in order to have Him executed.
So, how would you deal with a Jehovah’s Witness who denied the deity of Christ and pointed to the grammar of John 1:1 as evidence for his or her belief? First, you must deal in love, not defensively or angrily. There is a difference in the way we deal with false prophets in the church and with those who are mislead in their beliefs – you will discuss that this week at Home Fellowship. Second, please know that if you are willing to engage a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon about doctrine, it will most likely require several sessions together, so you would have to be patient, realizing that they are trying to convert you, also.
In dealing with someone who has been misled on this doctrine, you wouldn’t even have to talk about the grammar. One would have to reject or reinterpret a whole lot of Scripture in order to deny the doctrine of the Trinity. Not that one argument is going to make the difference, but just one example of how you can engage others about their beliefs is to go to John 17:3 and have them read this verse that is a part of Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night He was arrested: “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Ask your friend if he or she agrees with this statement that there is only one true God. Of course your friend will agree with you and in fact tell you that this is what he has been trying to show you, that there is only one God. Then, ask how it is possible for John 1:1 to be saying that Jesus is “a god” if there is only one God and Jesus is not that God?
We do believe that Jesus is God. We worship Him as God, just as the disciples that we read about last week in Matthew 28 did. The goal today was not to teach you how to witness to a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness in three easy steps. That is impossible to do. My goal was to show you how the debate goes regarding this most important truth and to help you see why you need to be able to articulate what you believe. If you have a strong belief system, you will be in much better position to help someone who is in darkness.
I would like to share a couple of resources with you. In preparation for this message, I went to Lifeway a few weeks ago and picked up a copy of Ron Rhodes’ book, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Though the copyright on this book is 1993, I would heartily recommend it as a resource to help you find biblical ways to interact with those who do not believe that Jesus is God.
Another resource is Watchman Fellowship. You may recall that the president of this apologetics ministry, James Walker, spoke here about three years ago. The web address is www.watchman.org. You will find a number of helpful resources at this site to help you interact with people in all kinds of cults and other religions.
This morning, as we prepare for communion, I want us to reaffirm our belief in the deity of Jesus as we quote, together, the Nicene Creed, which is really an updated version of the Nicene Creed, but we don’t have time to discuss that. In quoting this Creed, we affirm our connection in belief and spirit to our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and who did a great deal of work on the doctrine of the Trinity. Would you stand as we affirm our faith?
I believe in one God,the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,the only begotten Son of God,begotten of his Father before all worlds,God of God, Light of Light,very God of very God,begotten, not made,being of one substance with the Father;by whom all things were made;who for us men and for our salvationcame down from heaven,and was incarnate by the Holy Ghostof the Virgin Mary,and was made man;and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;he suffered and was buried;and the third day he rose againaccording to the Scriptures,and ascended into heaven,and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;and he shall come again, with glory,to judge both the quick and the dead;whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son];who with the Father and the Son togetheris worshipped and glorified;who spake by the Prophets.And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;and I look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Trinity Series - Small Group Notes #9
If you have not been following this series, please go to the post for January 22 where an explanation of the format is given. Happy studying!
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Tongues and the Holy Spirit’s Work in Acts, Week of April 5, 2009
Ø The following elements are almost always seen at conversion in the NT: 1) Repentance of sins, 2) Belief in Jesus, 3) Water baptism, 4) Spirit baptism. Is water baptism an essential element of salvation? Can one be saved if he/she has not been baptized by water?
It is true that some verses seem to make water baptism a requirement for salvation. Acts 2:38 is often used to promote this doctrine. But, other verses (such as Acts 16:31) omit the act of baptism as an essential element of salvation.
If baptism were a non-negotiable element of salvation, then surely Jesus, Who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 ), would have baptized converts. We are told, though, that Jesus did not spend His time baptizing His followers (John 4:1-2). In addition, the Apostle Paul, who gave his life for the gospel, went so far as to say that he was glad he had baptized very few believers in Corinth because of the rivalries that had developed in Corinth around church leaders (1 Corinthians 1:14-17, esp. v. 17 )
So, we conclude that baptism is not required for salvation. However:
Ø Though water baptism is not required for salvation, first century Christians could not conceive of a profession of faith that was not followed by water baptism. Discuss the importance of this crucial step in one’s relationship with Jesus.
Time and again in the book of Acts, we see baptism immediately following profession of faith (Acts 2:41; 8:26-40; 16:29-33 - the Philippian jailer from the first point). Baptism is an important step for the believer. It is a symbol of one’s faith and allegiance to Jesus, much like a wedding ring symbolizes total commitment to one person. In some cultures, when a family member makes a profession of faith in Jesus,, a great deal of energy is expended by the rest of the family in an attempt to dissuade the “wayward” member from his/her decision. When the person is baptized, though, the family will reject and cast out the one who has chosen to follow Jesus. Discuss the need for the church (at large – and GCC) to give more attention to this important ordinance of the church.
Ø There is a difference in a personal relationship with God and a private relationship with God. A private relationship indicates that God will reveal new and/or exclusive truth to me. I am not promised that kind of relationship. A personal relationship is not only a possibility, but it is a reality for all Christ-followers. I draw closer to the Lord as the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to point me to Jesus. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. Look for the work of all three Persons of the Trinity in our salvation, spiritual growth, and service.
Ø Our personal relationship with God is made stronger by our commitment to the Word. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that believers who behold the glory of the Lord (we behold God’s glory in the Word) are being transformed into the same image (Who do we see in all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation? JESUS) from one degree of glory to another as a result of the work of the Spirit. In other words, when the child of God spends time in the Word of God, he is changed into the image of the son of God by the Spirit of God. This concentration on Jesus is a serious, intense focus on Jesus in the Word. Spend some time, as a group, going beneath the surface on the following passages: Psalm 23; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians 1:9-14.
For Psalm 23:1, you could read the verse several times and emphasize a different word each time (The LORD is my Shepherd; The Lord IS my Shepherd; The Lord is MY Shepherd, etc.). Just read the passages slowly, picking up truth as you go.
All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
Tongues and the Holy Spirit’s Work in Acts, Week of April 5, 2009
Ø The following elements are almost always seen at conversion in the NT: 1) Repentance of sins, 2) Belief in Jesus, 3) Water baptism, 4) Spirit baptism. Is water baptism an essential element of salvation? Can one be saved if he/she has not been baptized by water?
It is true that some verses seem to make water baptism a requirement for salvation. Acts 2:38 is often used to promote this doctrine. But, other verses (such as Acts 16:31) omit the act of baptism as an essential element of salvation.
If baptism were a non-negotiable element of salvation, then surely Jesus, Who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 ), would have baptized converts. We are told, though, that Jesus did not spend His time baptizing His followers (John 4:1-2). In addition, the Apostle Paul, who gave his life for the gospel, went so far as to say that he was glad he had baptized very few believers in Corinth because of the rivalries that had developed in Corinth around church leaders (1 Corinthians 1:14-17, esp. v. 17 )
So, we conclude that baptism is not required for salvation. However:
Ø Though water baptism is not required for salvation, first century Christians could not conceive of a profession of faith that was not followed by water baptism. Discuss the importance of this crucial step in one’s relationship with Jesus.
Time and again in the book of Acts, we see baptism immediately following profession of faith (Acts 2:41; 8:26-40; 16:29-33 - the Philippian jailer from the first point). Baptism is an important step for the believer. It is a symbol of one’s faith and allegiance to Jesus, much like a wedding ring symbolizes total commitment to one person. In some cultures, when a family member makes a profession of faith in Jesus,, a great deal of energy is expended by the rest of the family in an attempt to dissuade the “wayward” member from his/her decision. When the person is baptized, though, the family will reject and cast out the one who has chosen to follow Jesus. Discuss the need for the church (at large – and GCC) to give more attention to this important ordinance of the church.
Ø There is a difference in a personal relationship with God and a private relationship with God. A private relationship indicates that God will reveal new and/or exclusive truth to me. I am not promised that kind of relationship. A personal relationship is not only a possibility, but it is a reality for all Christ-followers. I draw closer to the Lord as the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to point me to Jesus. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. Look for the work of all three Persons of the Trinity in our salvation, spiritual growth, and service.
Ø Our personal relationship with God is made stronger by our commitment to the Word. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that believers who behold the glory of the Lord (we behold God’s glory in the Word) are being transformed into the same image (Who do we see in all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation? JESUS) from one degree of glory to another as a result of the work of the Spirit. In other words, when the child of God spends time in the Word of God, he is changed into the image of the son of God by the Spirit of God. This concentration on Jesus is a serious, intense focus on Jesus in the Word. Spend some time, as a group, going beneath the surface on the following passages: Psalm 23; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians 1:9-14.
For Psalm 23:1, you could read the verse several times and emphasize a different word each time (The LORD is my Shepherd; The Lord IS my Shepherd; The Lord is MY Shepherd, etc.). Just read the passages slowly, picking up truth as you go.
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