The Trinity & Person of God

Question 1

What is the biblical basis for the confession, “There is one God”?

Answer 1

• Deut 6:4 (the “Shama”)

Question 2

Where would you go in Scripture for support of the doctrine of the Trinity, that God exists “in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit”?

Answer 2

• Matthew 28:19 - baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
• Gen 1
• Baptismal stories in the gospels
• Jesus
  
  • John 1:1
  • John 8:58
  • John 10:30 (I and the Father are one)
• Holy Spirit
  
  • Luke 12:10 - “anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven”
  • Acts 5:3-4 - “You have lied to the Holy Spirit… You have lied to God”

Question 3

How would you summarize the teaching of Scripture on the Trinity?

Answer 3

Three persons in complete unity of thought and purpose though having different functions and roles

Question 4

How does Scripture define God?

Answer 4

• God is Spirit - John 4:24
• God is love - 1 John 4
• God is a consuming fire - Heb 12:29
• I AM - Ex 3:14

Question 5

What is the basis for the Christian belief that God is a Person (i.e., a personal being)?

Answer 5

• The continuous use of pronouns
• Jesus Baptism - Father, Son, HS
• Act of the will - Gen 1 (create in our image)
• Personal relationships - Abraham is his friend - James 2:23
• Emotions
  
  • Anger - Exodus
  • Love - Psalm 5:7 - But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple
  • Mercy - Psalm 25:6 - Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Question 6

What are some of the attributes/characteristics of God (and give a Scriptural reference for each)?

Answer 6

• All powerful/omnipotent - Dan 4:35
• All-knowing/omniscient - Psalm 147
• All-present/omnipresent - Psalm 139:7-12
• Does not change - Psalm 102

Holy - Isaiah 6:3 - Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty

• PSalm 145 - a bunch of attributes
• Love - 1 John 4:8
• Grace & Truth - John 1:14

Question 7

What is the meaning of “holy” in reference to the character of God?

Answer 7

• He is separate and beyond anything else, and he is perfect in his character
  
  • Exodus 15:11 - Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
• Morality
  
  • Matth 5:48 - Be perfect as your Father is perfect
  • Rom 6:22
• Wholeness/completeness
  
  • 1 Peter 1:9 - but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
• Sinless
  
  • Matth 5:48 - Be perfect as your Father is perfect
• The beauty of holiness
  
  • Psalm 96:9 - Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth
• Holiness is God’s self affirming purity
  
  • 1 Peter 1:16 - for it is written, “Be holy because I am holy”

Question 8

Why does God’s holiness underlie all else in the character of God?

Answer 8

All of the characteristics of God are perfect, flowing from his holiness. Completeness of is characteristics in him

Question 9

What are some of the evidences and arguments for the existence of God?

Answer 9

1. There must be an “uncaused cause”
2. Teleological (design and order in nature)
3. Fulfilled prophesies
4. Evidence of miracles and changed lives
5. Ethics