Hey All,
Over the last couple of weeks in Community Group and last Sunday in worship we touched briefly on our belief in God. We believe in the Trinity or (3 in 1) Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now many of us learned this in confirmation as we went through the Catechism but at times we all need a refresher. In thinking about this the best source we have that explains our beliefs in the trinity is either the Apostles Creed or the Nicene Creed. Lets Look at the Apostles Creed a little deeper.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth.
God, the Father, the first person of the trinity, He is the creator of all things. Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth. John 1:1-5 Also explains that God (the Father) created everything from the word, to light, and through him was life and all things created. We call Him the Father because he is the Father of the Son, Jesus Christ, but also our heavenly father. In Ephesians 3:14-15 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Finally, in Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth both visible and invisible. The Father protects us and provides for all our needs purely out of divine goodness without any merit or worthiness in me.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the trinity, is true God begotten from the Father from eternity but also was true man born of the virgin Mary is our Lord. Jesus redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and the power of the devil. Not with gold or silver but with His holy, precious blood and innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. Even as He has risen from the dead, He lives and reigns throughout all eternity.
God, the Father, sent His son into the world to be truly human, Jesus slept, he wept, he bled and suffered much pain for our sins. 1 John 2:2 says that He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. This means Christ took the place for us and the whole world. He made the payment, or using Old testament language, He made atonement, for us through His death on the cross and subsequent life again conquering death and the devil. He did what we could not which was to lead a perfect and sin free life to once again reunite with the Father. 1 Tim 2:5-6 says For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. Jesus’ role while on earth was to be a Prophet making disciples for future generations, Priest living the perfect life by example for us to follow, and King as he now reigns with God the Father in heaven. Finally Paul explains in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Let’s not forget that Hebrews 11:1 says that Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen.
I believe in the Holy Ghost (or Spirit); the holy christian church, the communion of saints; and the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
The third person of the trinity is the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. We believe that the Holy Spirit has called us into belief of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we cannot do this by our own reasoning or strength. It is through grace that the Holy Spirit, calls us to faith, gathers us, enlightens us, and sanctifies us with Jesus Christ. We all know Ephesians 2:8-9 explains this well but Titus 3:5 says that He saved us,…..by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Paul also explains the Holy Spirit’s role in 1 Cor 12:3 and no one can say that Jesus is Lord without the Holy Spirit. So what is spoken here is that the Holy Spirit has many purposes to help us, comfort us, and connect us with God, but without the life saving grace, we cannot experience any of these gifts. This means we must have the Holy Spirit to experience the life saving grace of God through Jesus our Savior.
So to wrap up
We worship one God which is a trinity. Three distinct persons with unique purposes yet all are equal and undivided. Several weeks ago we looked at the nature of God: all knowing, all powerful, all present, and etc. All of these characteristics exist in all three persons. God the Father loves us and wants a relationship with us but hates sin. God the Son is our mediator that took our place so that we can be one with the Father. God the Holy Spirit is the means of grace that connects to the Father through the sacrifice of God the Son Jesus.
Father I thank you this day, that on the day we (mankind) rebelled and chose the path of sin in the Garden of Eden, that you made a way for us to be once reunite with you. For it is only through the sacrifice that your Son Jesus made becoming a man and taking our place on the cross, for the sin in the Garden of Eden and everyday there after, that we are even given a chance for salvation. Yet through the Holy Spirit’s grace are we able to obtain this life giving reward, paid for by Christ crucified. I ask for forgiveness for the many days that I take this gift for granted and ask that you would strengthen all who believe to Go and make Disciples! Amen? AMEN!
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