Word Count: 2256

Contact Terrence Hatch

Scripture Study: The Trinity

by Terrence Hatch  
5/01/2009 / Bible Studies

Here is the Biblical case for the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the divine personality of the Holy Spirit. This study is important because if counters attacks from both secular and religious sources, and at the same time presents scriptural arguments that are not well-known. For example, the Biblical model that Christ is the Arm of God has been overlooked by most who write on this subject.

Note: Since a few may be unfamiliar with the timeline of the Bible, the ^ carot symbol indicates that a verse reference is from the Old Testament, and was written more than 400 years before Christ.

1. CHRIST'S IDENTITY IS A MYSTERY, YET CRITICALLY IMPORTANT

The God and Savior of Israel hides himself. [^Isaiah 45:15]
How God could become human is a great mystery. [I Timothy 3:16]
The relationship between God and Christ is a mystery. [Colossians 2:2-4]
Christ is mysterious concerning his own identity. [Matthew 16:20]
For Thomas, Christ's divine identity was a revelation from God. [John 20:27-29]
CAUTION! You will die in your sins if you believe wrongly concerning Christ's identity. [John 8:24-28]
WATCH OUT! Don't let anyone mislead you concerning Christ's divinity! [Colossians 2:8-10]

2. AS GOD, JESUS CHRIST IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP AND PRAYERS

Jesus Christ is worthy to receive glory. [Revelation 5:12]
God will not share his glory with anyone else. [^Isaiah 42:8]
Worship the Lord God and serve Him only. [Matthew 4:10]
We serve Jesus Christ. [Colossians 3:24]
Do not worship any other God. [^Exodus 34:14]
The angels worship Jesus Christ. [Hebrews 1:6]
We are to honor the Son in the same way that we honor the Father. [John 5:23]
The wise men worship Jesus without rebuke. [Matthew 2:2,11]
When John worships an angel he is rebuked and told to worship God. [Revelation 22:8-9]
Cornelius is not allowed to worship Peter. [Acts 10:25-26]
Jesus accepts the worship of those disciples who don't doubt.[Matthew 28:16-17]
Jesus accepts the worship of a leper. [Matthew 8:2]
Jesus accepts the worship of a ruler. [Matthew 9:18]
Jesus accepts the worship of the disciples. [Matthew 14:33]
Jesus accepts the worship of the Phoenician woman. [Matthew 15:25]
Jesus accepts the worship of the man who was born blind. [John 9:38]
The disciples worship Jesus, and when told to rebuke them, he commends them instead. [Luke 19:38-40]
Every knee will bow to Jesus, and every tongue will praise him. [Philippians 2:10-11]
Stephen prayed directly to Jesus. [Acts 7:59]
Jesus taught the disciples to ask him anything, in his own name. [John 14:14]
The Apostle John addressed a prayer to Jesus Christ. [Revelation 22:20]

3. GOD'S NAME BELONGS TO JESUS CHRIST

The name of Jesus is higher than the angels. [Hebrews 1:4]
Jesus Christ has a name that only he knows. If he was not God, God would know it also, for God is all-knowing. [Revelation 19:12]
Only God's name is above every other. [Psalms 148:13]
God gave Jesus the name that is above every other. [Philippians 2:9]
God gave his own name to Jesus Christ. [John 17:11]
Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus. [Philippians 2:10]

4. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD

Isaiah prophecied that the Messiah would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father. [^Isaiah 9:6]
There is no God besides Jehovah. [^Isaiah 44:6]
Furthermore, there is no true God or Savior besides Jehovah. [^Isaiah 43:10-11]
Jesus Christ was the Word, and the Word was God. [John 1:1] [John 1:14]
The Apostle John stated that Jesus made himself equal to God. [John 5:18]
Thomas called Jesus Christ "My Lord and my God," and was commended.* [John 20:27-29]
* No, Thomas did not take the Lord's name in vain, as some suggest. If he had, Christ would have rebuked him for breaking the Second Commandment, rather than commend him for believing.

5. WHEN WE SEE JESUS CHRIST, WE SEE GOD

The one who sees Jesus Christ, sees God. [John 12:44]
Jesus is the exact representation of God. [Hebrews 1:3]
Jesus Christ is what we see of God. [Colossians 1:15]
God was revealed in the flesh. [I Timothy 3:16]
Men will see God's arm coming down with judgement. [^Isaiah 30:30]
God will let the nations see his holy arm, the Messiah. [^Isaiah 52:8,10]
God and his glory will be seen on the day of the Lord. [^Zechariah. 9:14]
The nations will see Jesus Christ and his glory on the day of the Lord. [Matthew 24:27, 29-31]

6. GOD PROMISED HE WOULD COME TO REDEEM AND SAVE HIS PEOPLE

A messenger would prepare the way for the Lord God himself to come. [Malachi 3:1 ]
A messenger would prepare for the arrival of Jehovah. [^Isaiah 40:3,5]
John the Baptist would go in advance before Jehovah's arrival. [Luke 1:76]
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord. [Matthew 3:1-3] Also see Mark 1:2,3
Jesus would be known as Immanuel, which means "God with us." [Matthew 1:23]
Martha believes that Christ was the promised One who would come. [John 11:27]
Christ is the King that would come. [Matthew 2:6]
The Redeemer would come to Zion. [^Isaiah 59:20]
Jehovah is our Redeemer. [^Isaiah 44:6] Also see ^Isaiah 43:1,15, 44:23, 24, 47:4, 48:17, 20, 49:7, 49:26, 52:9, 54:5, 8, 59:20, 60:16, 63:16
Redemption came through Jesus Christ. [Romans 3:23,24]
Jehovah would come as Savior and personally redeem his people. [^Isaiah 63:7-9]
The Father sent his son as Savior of the world. [I John 4:14]

7. THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE GOD

The three are spoken of as though they are the same. [Matthew 28:19]
The three are spoken of interchangeably. [Romans 8:9,10] Also see, 2 Cor. 13:14, 1 Peter 1:1-2, Matt. 28:19, John 14:16, Eph. 2:18, John 14:26, John 15:26, 1 Cor. 12:4-6, Gal. 4:6.
Eternal life is gained by knowing God the Father and by knowing Jesus Christ. [John 17:3]

8. JESUS CHRIST IS BEFORE AND AFTER ALL

Jesus Christ is the First and the Last. [Revelation 1:17-18] Also see Rev. 2:18 and 19:15.
The one seated on the throne is the First and the Last. [Revelation 22:12-20]
The one seated on the throne is the Alpha and the Omega, (first and last letters), and is God. [Revelation 21:5-7]
Jehovah God is the First and the Last. [^Isaiah 41:4] [^Isaiah 44:6] [^Isaiah 48:12]
Jehovah is the Alpha and the Omega. [Revelation 1:8]

9. JESUS CHRIST IS ABOVE ALL

Jehovah God is the Lord of lords. [^Deuteronomy 10:17]
God is the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality. [I Timothy 6:15-16]
Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. [Revelation 17:14]
Jehovah God is the Lord of lords. [^Psalms 136:1-3]
Of all lords, we honor only one. [^Isaiah 26:13]
The one who came from above is above all. [John 3:31]

10. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR GOD TO DIE

The word for 'covenant' in Hebrews 8:8 and 9:6 is the Greek word 'diatheke' which can also be interpreted 'will' or 'testament'.

God promised to make a new covenant with Israel. [Hebrews 8:8]
It was necessary for the maker of the covenant to become flesh and die. [Hebrews 9:16]

11. A BIBLICAL MODEL OF THE TRINITY: JESUS CHRIST IS THE ARM OF JEHOVAH, AN EXTENSION OF GOD

Jehovah will bare his holy arm, and the whole world will see God's salvation. [^Isaiah 52:10]
Who will recognize the arm of the Lord? [^Isaiah 53:1]
Jesus Christ is the Arm of God, but the people did not recognize him. [John 12:37-38]
Jehovah's arm will be seen. [^Isaiah 30:30]
The Sovereign Lord will come. His arm will rule and he will care for his people like a shepherd. [^Isaiah 40:10]
The arms of Jehovah will judge, the islands will wait for his arm. [^Isaiah 51:5]
Only Jesus Christ will judge. [John 5:22,23]
God's own hand made everything that exists. [^Isaiah 66:2] [^Isaiah 64:8]
Jehovah used his arm to make everything that exists. [^Jeremiah 27:5]
Jesus Christ made everything that exists. [John 1:3] [Hebrews 1:2] [Colossians 1:15-17]
God the Father is the head of Christ. [1 Corinthians 11:3]
Jesus does nothing on his own but speaks those things the Father taught him. [John 8:28]

12. JEHOVAH'S ARM, THE LORD HIMSELF, JESUS CHRIST WILL BE SEEN ON THE DAY OF THE LORD

The arm of Jehovah will come with the clouds on the Day of the Lord. [^Isaiah 30:30]
The Lord himself will descend on the Day of the Lord. [I Thessalonians 4:16]
Men will see Jesus Christ coming with the clouds on the Day of the Lord. [Matthew 24:30]

13. JESUS CHRIST IS THE COMING KING

Rejoice! The Lord God is the coming king, and he will bring peace. [^Zephaniah 3:14-15]
Rejoice! The Messiah is the coming king. He will ride on a donkey, and will bring peace. [^Zechariah 9:9-10]
The people rejoice as Jesus, their king, comes riding on a donkey. [John 12:14-15] Also, see Matthew 21:5.
The Wise Men called Jesus the King of the Jews. [Matthew 2:1-2]
Jesus is the prophesied King who would arrive sitting on a donkey. [Matthew 21:5]
The King is the Son of the Father. [Matthew 25:34]

14. NO ONE IS LIKE GOD

No one else is like the Holy One. [^Isaiah 40:25-26]
There is no king like Jehovah. [^Jeremiah 10:6-7]
There is no-one like Jehovah. [^Isaiah 46:9]
The Lord is God and there is no other. [^Isaiah 45:5]
There is no savior besides God. [^Isaiah 43:10-11]
Jehovah treds the winepress alone, only his arm and wrath help him. [^Isaiah 63:3-5]
Jesus Christ treads the wine press of the wrath of God. [^Revelation 19:15-16]
God alone created everything by himself, without any help. [^Isaiah 44:24]
God's own hand made everything that exists. [^Isaiah 66:2] [^Isaiah 64:8]
Jesus Christ created everything that exists. [John 1:3] [Hebrews 1:2,10] [Colossians 1:15-17]

15. JESUS CHRIST IS WITHOUT SIN

Jesus is true and there is no unrighteousness in him. [John 7:18]
Jesus Christ was without sin. [Hebrews 4:15]
Jesus Christ is the Holy One. [John 6:68-69]
God is the Holy One. [^Isaiah 43:14]
The Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer. [^Isaiah 54:5]
If Jesus is Good, he must be God, for only God is good. [Luke 18:19][Matthew 19:17]

16. GOD / JESUS CHRIST IS THE BRIDEGROOM OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD

God rejoices over his people as a bridegroom over his bride.[^Isaiah 62:5]
God is a husband to his people. [^Isaiah 54:5,6]
Jesus Christ is the bridegroom. [Mark 2:20], [Luke 5:35], [John 3:29]
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. [John 1:36]
New Jerusalem will be the bride of the Lamb. [Revelation 21:9-10]

17. AS GOD, JESUS CHRIST CHOSE SERVANTHOOD, WITH HUMAN LIMITATIONS

Jesus Christ is the Arm of Jehovah. (see section 15, above)
Like an arm or a slave, Christ could do nothing on his own initiative. [John-5:19]
Just as the body is greater than the arm, so the Father is greater than the Son. [John 14:28]
A slave is not greater than his master. [John 15:20]
Jesus Christ existed in God's form but became a slave and a human. [Philippians 2:5-7]
Christ was limited in strength, and experienced temptation, hunger and tiredness as a man. [Hebrews 4:15]
Christ is our example. [1 Peter 2:21]
As a man, God the Father was Christ's God, just as He is our God. [John 20:17]
Jesus Christ was truly a man, and therefore qualifies to represent us before God. [1 Timothy 2:5]
Like an arm, and like a man, Christ was limited in knowledge. [Mark 13:32]

18. JESUS CHRIST IS CREATOR, AND ALL THINGS WERE MADE FOR HIM
God created the heavens and the earth.[^Genesis 1:1]
Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth.[Hebrews 1:10]
All things were made by Christ.[John 1:3]
God created all things through Christ Jesus.[Ephesians 3:9]
All things were made for Christ.[Colossians 3:16]

19. TITLES OF JESUS CHRIST PROCLAIM HIS DIVINITY

Jesus Christ is God with Us. [Matthew 1:23]
Jesus was the fully human Son of Man and the fully divine Son of God. [Matthew 14:33], [Matthew 9:6]
God is the stone of stumbling and offense. [^Isaiah 8:13,14]
Jesus Christ is the stone of stumbling and offense. [Mark 12:10], [Acts 4:10-11] [1 Peter 2:6-8]

20. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE LIVING GOD

These verses counter the arguments of those who claim that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force - a belief promoted by those who argue against the Trinity doctrine.

The Holy Spirit is spoken of as being a person. [^Isaiah 40:13,14]
Who is the Comforter? None other than the Lord God. [^Isaiah 51:12]
The Holy Spirit can experience emotional pain. [^Isaiah 63:10]
The Holy Spirit can speak. [Mark 13:11]
Jehovah is a spirit. [John 4:24]
The Holy Spirit is the Helper, and he can teach. [John 14:26]
The Helper is referred to as "him" and "he". [John 16:7-14]
The Holy Spirit can be lied to, and is Jehovah God. [Acts 5:3,4]
The Holy Spirit speaks and refers to himself as "I". [Acts 13:2]
The Holy Spirit expresses desires. [Acts 15:28]
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Jesus and exercises authority. [Acts 16:7]
The Holy Spirit speaks. [Acts 20:23][Acts 21:11]
God's Spirit and Christ's Spirit are the same Spirit and he can live within us. [Romans 8:9-11]
The Spirit pleads for us. [Romans 8:26,27]
The Spirit has knowledge, and teaches us the things of God. [I Corinthians 2:11-13]
Jehovah is the Holy Spirit. [2 Corinthians 3:17]
The Holy Spirit can grieve. [Ephesians 4:30] NWT
The Holy Spirit speaks. [Hebrews 3:7]

This study is free for non-profit use, and is also available in book and e-book form under the title "The Trinity Doctrine in Scripture," from Amazon.com. Terrence is also author of the books, "Amazing Evidence: Grounds for Belief" and "Big Flood Big Faith: Noah's Flood and Earth's Extreme Makeover"

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Terrence Hatch

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer