2-Minute Theology - TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH

TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH

The Deity of the Holy Spirit: Part 2 - Equality in Name

3/27/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of The Holy Spirit: Part 2 - God By Equality

While equal to one another, each Person of the Godhead is distinct from the others. Though distinct, no one Person is inferior to the others. Because the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, He is God. The title Spirit of God emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is equal to God.

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:11

Rene Pache stated, “When He is called ‘the Spirit of God’ that means that He is the very Person of God. […] [A]s man and his spirit make one and the same being, so God and His Spirit are only one.”

In the same way, the titles Spirit of Christ or Spirit of Jesus emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s equality to Christ.

They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; - Acts 16:6-7
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:9-11
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. - 1 Peter 1:11

It is evident in Acts 16:6-7 that the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus are one and the same. In Romans 8:9-11, all three members of the Godhead are clearly stated. The Spirit dwells within believers, Christ is in believers, and the Father (Him) raised Jesus from the dead. Paul stated in Ephesians 4:4 that there is one Spirit.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; - Ephesians 4:4

Therefore, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are not four different spirits but one Spirit.

The Deity of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - God by Name

3/27/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of The Holy Spirit: Part 1 - God By Name

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity. Francis Chafer defined the doctrine of the Trinity as follows, “The Trinity is composed of three united Persons without separate existence – so completely united as to form one God. The divine nature subsists in three distinctions - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
These three persons — Father, Son, and Spirit — are each referred, in Scripture, as God.

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit […] You have not lied to men but to God. - Acts 5:3-4
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. - 1 Corinthians 8:6
But of the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, […] You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; - Hebrews 1:8-10

The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son or the Spirit. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father or Son.

The Great Commission underscores the equality of three persons of the Godhead. In Matthew 28:19, Christ commanded the disciples to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The term name (ónoma) refers to a title by which person is known. While three persons are mentioned, the singular use of name (ónoma) implies that all three persons share the same title — God.

The Deity of Christ: Part 5 - Preincarnate Appearance

11/7/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of Christ: Part 5 - Preincarnate Appearances

There are a number of proof texts from Scripture which support Christ’s deity. Previously, the Scriptures have demonstrated that Christ is God because He descended from heaven (John 3:13), bears the title Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6), created all things (John 1:3), is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), performed miracles only God could perform (Luke 7:22), received worship (Philippians 2:10-11), and is called YHWH (John 12:41).

Finally, Christ is God because He appeared on earth prior to His incarnation. These preincarnate appearances of Christ are called theophanies. A theophany can only be a preincarnate appearance of Christ as no one has ever seen the Father or the Holy Spirit. The Father and Holy Spirit are revealed through the Son, the Second Person of the Godhead.

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. - John 1:18

Many times, Jesus appeared as the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament.

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, - Judges 6:11

Not all angelic appearances in the Old Testament are the Son of God. However, when the term angel is used in the phrase angel of the Lord it is a specific title applied to the Second Person of the Godhead appearing in a preincarnate form. The appearance of Lord is the English translator’s means of translating the Hebrews name YHWH.

The term angel means messenger. Hence, the angel of the Lord means messenger of YHWH. A messenger is one who delivers the king’s word. After Christ came in the flesh (i.e., the incarnation) there is no mention of the angel of the Lord. That Christ was existing prior to His incarnation, indicates that He is God.

The Deity of Christ: Part 4 - YHWH

11/4/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of Christ: Part 4 - YHWH

There are a number of proof texts from Scripture which support Christ’s deity. Previously, the Scriptures have demonstrated that Christ is God because He descended from heaven (John 3:13), bears the title Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6), created all things (John 1:3), is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), performed miracles only God could perform (Luke 7:22), and received worship (Matthew 4:10).

As well, Christ is God because Christ is called by names and titles given only to God. The apostle John equates Isaiah’s statements about YHWH to Christ.

These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. - John 12:41

The name YHWH is derived from the Hebrew verb haya (hāyâ) meaning to be or exist. God revealed Himself to Moses as the I AM or YWHW.

God said to Moses, I AM (hāyâ) WHO I AM (hāyâ); and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM (hāyâ) has sent me to you. - Exodus 3:14

The declaration I AM WHO I AM ties to the I AM claims of Jesus.

…I am the bread of life… - John 6:35
…I am the Light of the world… - John 8:12
…I am the door… - John 10:9
…I am the good shepherd… - John 10:11
…I am the resurrection and the life… - John 11:25
…I am the way, and the truth, and the life… - John 14:6
…I am the true vine… - John 15:1

When Jesus refers to Himself as I AM, He is claiming to be YHWH. It is recognition of Jesus as YHWH that results in salvation.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; […] for Whoever will call on the name of the Lord (YHWH) will be saved. - Romans 10:9, 13; cf. Joel 2:32

By quoting Joel 2:32, in Romans 10, Paul affirmed Christ’s equality with YHWH.

The Deity of Christ: Part 3 - Miracles / Worship

11/4/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of Christ: Part 3

There are a number of proof texts from Scripture which support Christ’s deity. Previously, the Scriptures have demonstrated that Christ is God because He descended from heaven (John 3:13), bears the title Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6), created all things (John 1:3), and is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).

As well, Christ is God because He performed miracles while on earth. Only God could perform the miracles, which Christ did.

And He answered and said to them, Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. - Luke 7:22

Unlike the miracles of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and the Apostles, Christ used His miracles to prove His divine nature.

If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father. - John 10:37-38
Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— - Acts 2:22

Christ is also God because He received worship. Only God is to be worshiped.

You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. - Deuteronomy 6:13; cf. Deuteronomy 10:20
Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. - Matthew 4:10
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I too am just a man. - Acts 10:25-26

That Christ received worship and did not refuse it attests to the fact that He is divine. Paul prophesied that at a future day, all in Heaven and on Earth will worship Christ.

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:10-11

The Deity of Christ: Part 2 - Created All Things / Lord of the Sabbath

10/31/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Christ: Part 2

There are a number of proof texts from Scripture which support Christ’s deity. Previously, the Scriptures have demonstrated that Christ descended from heaven (John 3:13) bears the title Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6).

The third proof from Scripture that Christ is God is that He created all things.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. - John 1:3

He was the agent involved in creating all things.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made… - Psalm 33:6

The Word of the Lord is none other than Jesus, the Son of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1
…one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. - 1 Corinthians 8:6
…His Son… through whom also He made the world. - Hebrews 1:2

That Christ created the universe prior to His incarnation (i.e., taking on humanity) means He must be God.

Fourth, Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath.

So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. - Mark 2:28

The term Lord indicates that Jesus is sovereign over the Sabbath. He is the Lord of the Sabbath because He created the Sabbath.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. - John 1:1-3

All things includes the Sabbath and apart from Christ, the Sabbath would not exist. Therefore, He is the Creator of the Sabbath and as the Creator, Christ must be God.

The Deity of Christ: Part 1 - Descended from Heaven / Eternal Father

10/31/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of Christ: Part 1

When it comes to proving that Christ is God, one must have primary documentation to support that Christ is indeed God. The supporting primary documentation for Christ’s deity is the Scriptures.

The Scripture is a historical record. As a historical record, it must tested by the historical method to verify its validity as a primary document. The historical method is composed of three basic tests — the internal test, the external test, and the bibliographical test. The internal test determines whether the document agrees or contradicts with itself. The external test determines whether other historical records can validate the document. The bibliographical test examines the number of copies, elapsed time between the original document and copies, and degree of accuracy between the copies. The Bible passes each of these tests and is therefore a verified primary document.

There are a number of proof texts from Scripture which support Christ’s deity. First, Christ descended from heaven (John 3:13). No mere man has ever ascended into Heaven and returned to speak of Heavenly things. The only one who has been in Heaven and come down from Heaven to speak about Heavenly things was the Son of Man — God in human flesh.

No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. - John 3:13

Second, Christ bears the title Eternal Father (Isaiah 9:6). The title does not imply that Christ is the Father. The Hebrew term translated as Eternal Father means Father without end. However, this title should not be confused with the position of the First Person of the Godhead — the Father. In that sense, Christ is the Second Person of the Godhead — the Son. The title is Isaiah 9:6 is used in the sense of father of a family -- one who protects and provides. In the context of Isaiah’s prophecy, Christ will be born as a Child who becomes a King who will be a Father to the people of His kingdom without end.

The Deity of Christ

6/16/2020

Trinity Bible Church · The Deity Of Christ

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1
Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! - John 20:28
But of the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions. - Hebrews 1:8-9

Christ is the exact image or representation of God. As God, He possesses all the attributes of deity — eternality, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. In Christ dwells all the fullness or totality of the essence of God. Being God, it was and is impossible for Jesus to sin. If Christ were only a man and not the God-man, then He could not have died to save the lost.