The Trinity

The Trinity.  Hard to understand.  And difficult to explain.  But I’m so thankful for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

Trinitarians have been accused of believing in three God’s but the Scriptures make it clear:  “Hear, O Israel!  The Lord is our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4)!  Perhaps the most poignant illustration of the “Three in One” occurs at the baptism of Jesus. “After  being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).  

God the Father spoke from heaven, God the Son came up out of the water, and God the Spirit descended as a dove.  Three in One!

While the Scriptures make it clear that we worship only One, we affirm that He’s one God, eternally existent in three Persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Another explanation uses the word “role” to discuss the Trinity.  Perhaps these are feeble attempts to explain the unexplainable!

How do we teach children about the Trinity?  My wife uses the following object lesson, which helps bring clarity to this wonderful mystery:  She places a pan full of ice on the stove.  Within a few minutes of course, the ice begins to melt and then boils, releasing steam into the air.  The ice is gone, the steam evaporates and water remains in the bottom of the pan.  Then she says, “It’s all water, but in three different forms!”  

I remember how the Trinity operated in my life during my boyhood to draw me into saving grace.  I was always fascinated by the stories of the Old Testament, where I heard about the holiness of God along with His righteous judgments.  I often stared into the sky, feeling the love of the God of nature wash over me.  The Old Testament prophets spoke eloquently and with detailed accuracy of He Who was to come -- God the Son.  Isaiah 53 beautifully foretells the coming of the Suffering Servant!   

Then, when I went to Sunday School and church, I learned about Jesus, Who declares in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”  He was God.  During those formative years, God the Spirit continually convinced me that I needed a Savior.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit were all active agents in bringing me to salvation.  How wonderful!

How I praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for working in my life!  I love and worship the Lord for His constant and faithful presence.  While the doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the New Testament (the word “Trinity” cannot be found), it possesses a triadic understanding of God and contains countless verses that support Trinitarian doctrine.  Following are five:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 8:19).

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5).

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called into one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

“According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ, and be sprinkled with His blood.  May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure” (1 Peter 1:2).

Completely understand the Godhead?  Not really!  Love them?  Absolutely!

While in church, we sometimes sing:

“Father, I adore You.  Lay my life beforeYou.  How I love You.”

“Jesus, I adore you.  Lay my life before You.  How I love You.”  And finally, with gusto…

“Spirit, I adore You.  Lay my life before You.  How I love You!”

Oh, worship Him today!  Let the Spirit touch you.  He will draw you to Jesus, Who will present you to the Father, all because of Jesus’ precious blood!  

The Right Tools

Have you ever tried to complete a task without having the proper tool(s)?   It’s frustrating!

Some weeks ago, I decided to cut off two dead limbs from a tree in our front yard.  I found a dull hand saw in my tool shed and went to work.  Two hours later, the limbs were still attached to the tree and I was completely worn out and admittedly very upset.

All that hard work created open sores on both hands and aching muscles.  Why?  Because I did not use the right tool.  I needed a chainsaw!

Sadly, many go through life without discovering the right “tools” to make it easier.  Life at best brings difficult days, so we need to use the tools God has given us to help navigate our years.  What are some of the most important “tools” we need?

1.  We need to place our faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  We need SALVATION.  “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  

2.  We need a daily re-fueling (IN-FILLING) of power to help us be effective witnesses.  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

3.  We need the BIBLE.  The Bible is God’s Word and our roadmap for success.  I once heard Billy Graham say, “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”  The psalmist understood the need of connecting with God when he said, “Thy word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against God” (Psalm 119:11).  How true!  When we read the Bible, we literally ingest the life of God.  “My words are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). 

4.  We need to PRAY.  Prayer to the believer is what oxygen is to the body.  It is life-giving and life-sustaining.  God invites us to pray so that heaven comes to earth!  “Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  He has given us both the privilege and authority to pray so that when we come into agreement with His Word, we receive help in our time of need.  “Let us draw near with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace in the time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

5.  We need the LOCAL CHURCH.  None of us were made to do it alone.  Life is rewarding and wonderful when we come alongside other believers who encourage us.  The love, accountability, teaching, friendships, and many other benefits we experience in Christian community cannot be equaled elsewhere.  When sinners saved by grace gather to worship, heaven kisses earth, “and we which were dead in our transgressions, (are) made alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised up with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”   I can’t imagine not having a local church to call “family and home.”  Percentage wise today, fewer in America are making church a regular part of their lives.  And mores the pity! 

6.   Finally, we need PEACE.  To know Jesus is to know peace, and “No Jesus” leads to “no peace.”  He is the peace-giver!  I can’t imagine not having Him in my life.  When life circumstances threaten to overwhelm me, I count on His peace to sustain me and to keep me on track.  “And the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).    

How we need Him today and every day!  He has given us these tools, among others, to experience life to its fullest – and the one to come!    

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

In my experience, a lot of believers totally misunderstand what blaspheming the Holy Spirit really means, and unfortunately, they erroneously try to tell others what they think the Bible teaches on the subject.  Like anything else, we want to embrace the truth!  So, here we go!

Once a man was overheard saying, "This Holy Spirit stuff (he was specifically speaking about tongues in the corporate worship services) is a bunch of nonsense."  Did he blaspheme the Holy Spirit?  Probably not, but I'm sure he grieved the Holy Spirit.  That man needed an encounter with the Holy Spirit!  Many years ago I sat in a Sunday School class where the teacher told us that speaking in tongues was of the devil.  Was he blaspheming?  It was probably not his intention to blaspheme.  He only taught what his denomination believed, and perhaps God will not hold this to his charge.  I'm not the judge!

I often remind believers that they may or may not agree with certain teachings about the Holy Spirit, and they may not feel comfortable in churches that we identify as "Spirit-filled," but they should be careful about what they say.  I tell them, "Never attack another Christ-honoring church, just because they don't believe certain doctrinal truths you might hold dear."

So, what constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?  Let's allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves.  Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day in Matthew 12:31-32: "Wherefore, I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.  And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

I'm not going to attempt to wax theologically eloquent on this point.  Allow me to simplify it for you.  Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is rejecting the Holy Spirit's convicting power – because one can be saved only as the Holy Spirit draws him. To refuse to repent or to acknowledge one's sin is to refuse God's forgiveness.  In short, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is rejecting Jesus Christ!

Sometimes believers worry that they have accidentally committed this unforgivable sin. But only those who have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith have any need to worry.  Anyone who continually rejects the prompting of the Holy Spirit removes himself from the only source that can lead him to repentance and restoration to God.

If you're afraid you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, you're probably on good ground.  Had you truly rejected Him, you would not care.  Your conscience would be seared!

Jesus makes an interesting statement, "...neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (v. 32).  To what is He referring?  Those who blaspheme the Spirit can't be saved in this life, and as a result will suffer eternal separation from God because of their choice.  In the final analysis, who goes to hell?  Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ!

Some have wrongly taught that using God's Name in vain or using God and Jesus as cuss words constitutes blasphemy   Of course, such talk is dreadful to hear, but Jesus makes it clear that blasphemy relates only to the Spirit's work.  I hate it when people use God's Name or Jesus' precious Name as curse words.  They curse the only One Who can save them!  But the Scriptures make it clear that the Spirit draws--He convicts of sin--Jesus forgives and then presents us to the Father because of His shed blood!

Why not welcome the Spirit's work in your life today?  The Holy Spirit is so wonderful.  He always glorifies Jesus Christ.  And He wants to draw you to the Master today.  If you're already saved, ask the Holy Spirit to touch you more deeply.  He desires greater intimacy with you!

Kathryn Kuhlman was a nationally acclaimed healing evangelist from yesteryear, who taught me as a young believer to respect the Holy Spirit.  She never wanted to do or allow anything in her services that grieved Him.  While her mannerisms may have been somewhat peculiar, I loved to listen to her, for she loved and honored the Holy Spirit.  And God showed up in her meetings!

Let's bid Him welcome today and always!