The Holy Trinity
According To The Book Of Matthew
What is the Trinity? Is it in the Bible? Is the term "Trinity" even found in scripture? No. So why do Christians believe in the Trinity?
Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims reject this concept because the term isn't found in the scriptures at all. They say it's a man-made concept, and it's the worship of three separate Gods instead of one God. In this study, we will be looking at the book of Matthew and see what it has to say about the concept of the Holy Trinity.
The concept of the Trinity is not difficult to understand. The only reason why I believe people can't understand the Trinity is that people put a materialistic understanding on it. Because it doesn't logically make sense, it must not be true. How can three be in one? Why can't there just be God? Why does God make this more complicated than it should be?
The Trinity has always been a tough concept for many to grasp because they don't have the Spirit in them. They can't understand how Jesus can say that the Father and I are one (John 10:30). They can't understand what Jesus meant by "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him," in Matthew 11:27.
What does it require to understand the Spirit? The obvious answer should be the Spirit.
John 14:16-17 "16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
Point one: We worship one God. The God of the Bible. This God is the same God of the Old Testament and the New Testament
Matthew 4:10 "Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve"
Point Two: Even though God is one, God exists in three persons
Q: How would you describe the Trinity to someone who does not know this concept?
The first example of the Trinity I want to go over can be found in the baptism of Jesus.
Matthew 3:16-17 "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
In Matthew 3:16-17, we see an inexcusable example of the Trinity. First, Jesus is baptised. Second, the Holy Spirit comes down. Third, the Father speaks.
Another example of the Trinity can be found in the birth of Jesus. Not many think about this being evidence of the Trinity, but three people are involved in the story of Jesus' birth.
Matthew 1:18-23
Christ Born of Mary
"18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Who sent the son? The Father sent the Son, as stated in John 20:21, 'So Jesus said to them again,' Peace to you! "' As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Q: What is something about the Trinity that causes you to wonder about God?
Another example of the Trinity is in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20.
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
"16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What is the significance of being baptised in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit? Why not be baptised in the name of 'Ehye' (אֶהְיֶה: Eh-HEH-yeh), which means "I AM."
God wanted to make it clear about His character and divine nature.
When Peter was speaking on the Day of Pentecost to faithful Jewish people who already had an understanding of God the Father and God’s Spirit. The part of the equation they were missing was Jesus, the Son of God—and without Jesus, they could not be saved (Acts 4:12). In presenting the gospel to the Jews, Peter commands them to be baptized in Jesus’ name; that is, to exercise faith in the One they had crucified. They had professed the Father and the Spirit, but they needed to profess the Son. Those who received the gospel that day devoted themselves to the lordship of Jesus. They no longer rejected Him but acknowledged Him as their Messiah and only Hope for salvation. - Gotquestions.com
