Here is the conclusion of the matter....
V. The Trinity Matters Because Human Salvation Depends on the United Action of the Triune God
John Frame reminds us that “much of the Trinitarian teaching of the NT comes in contexts where the writers wish to enumerate the richness of the blessing of salvation.” This can be seen by even a cursory examination of the following passages (Jn.17:3; 1Co.12:4-6; Eph.3:5-7; 4:4-6; 2Th.2:13-14; 1Pe.1:2 2; 1Jn.5:5-6). The doctrine of the Trinity especially comes to the fore in this context because sin is a big problem in the universe made by the sovereign, holy Lord and over which he rules. Sin is rebellion against his sovereignty, authority and presence. Sin cuts us off from God. One reason why people do not take sin seriously is they do not take God seriously. Sin is a monstrosity – it is the height of folly and irrationality – it is dark, ugly and isolating.
When we see God for who he is, and sin for what it is, then the biblical storyline makes sense. We realize that there is only one way back to God; a way that involves the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is exactly what we have in the Scriptures. God the Father plans salvation. He did not have to save, he did not have to set his love on any of Adam’s fallen descendants. But he chose to save, to bring to himself a great host of people that no one can number. Salvation is his idea.
God the Son executes the salvation planned by the Father. He agrees to come in fulfillment of the Father’s plan, to take to himself a human nature, to become the God-man in order to rescue those given to him by the Father from the their sins by the sacrifice of himself on the cross. If Jesus is not God he cannot forgive sins. If he is not God come in the flesh his sacrifice is insufficient.
God the Holy Spirit applies the salvation planned by the Father and executed by the Son to God’s people. He regenerates us. He indwells us. He teaches us about God and the authority of his word. He gives us divine strength and gifts to obey and to grow in God’s grace and knowledge.
If Jesus or the Holy Spirit are not God then there is no salvation; it is an illusion and we are still in our sins. The human problem is not merely skin deep. It is not just a lack of knowledge or role-models or some environmental problem that must be overcome. The complications created by our sin and rebellion are so profound that only the determined, personal action of the triune God can put us right.
So why does the doctrine of the Trinity matter? Because it is what God has revealed about himself in his word. It is what distinguishes the Christian God from all others. It brings into focus the infinite and yet personal nature of God. It provides an answer to the most profound philosophical questions. And because human salvation depends on the united action of the triune God. For these reasons it is essential that we hear the testimony of Scripture and meditate upon it. As Bruce Milne has said: “For all its difficulty, the Trinity is simply the price to be paid for having a God who is great enough to command our worship and service.”
What is the value of a conference on the doctrine of the Trinity? Invaluable! Especially if it gives us a deeper love and appreciation for our covenant Lord. When all is said and done knowing God is the key to everything because there is no area of our lives that he does not touch. As we study and meditate on him may we rejoice in his control, his authority and his presence: Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Why Does The Doctrine of the Trinity Matter (Part 5)
IV. The Trinity Matters Because It Answers Some of the Most Profound Philosophical Questions
The metaphysical question: What is the ultimate cause of being? The epistemological question: What is the ultimate standard of truth? The ethical question: What is the ultimate standard of right and wrong?
In our day many have given up trying to answer these questions. They see reality as ultimately meaningless and chaotic. The best they can do is attempt to create their own meaning. One reason for their failure to find answers is that they are looking in all the wrong places. If you reject the triune God of the Bible you are forced to find meaning in the impersonal. But an impersonal absolute is an idol that will collapse under the weight of those who lean on it. It cannot explain how the universe as we know it came into being. It cannot explain how we know as persons and in particular, how we can know truth from error. It cannot explain why anything is ultimately right or wrong unless we adopt some arbitrary standard.
Only in the triune God are all of these things brought together. He is the ultimate being – the ultimate truth – and the ultimate righteousness. He is all of these things because he is not dependent on the world. He made all things for his own glory and he is able to enter human history in meaningful ways without disastrous consequences to himself. He is able to speak in a way that we can understand and as we listen to him we gain answers to the most fundamental questions that cannot be found anywhere else.
To be continued...
The metaphysical question: What is the ultimate cause of being? The epistemological question: What is the ultimate standard of truth? The ethical question: What is the ultimate standard of right and wrong?
In our day many have given up trying to answer these questions. They see reality as ultimately meaningless and chaotic. The best they can do is attempt to create their own meaning. One reason for their failure to find answers is that they are looking in all the wrong places. If you reject the triune God of the Bible you are forced to find meaning in the impersonal. But an impersonal absolute is an idol that will collapse under the weight of those who lean on it. It cannot explain how the universe as we know it came into being. It cannot explain how we know as persons and in particular, how we can know truth from error. It cannot explain why anything is ultimately right or wrong unless we adopt some arbitrary standard.
Only in the triune God are all of these things brought together. He is the ultimate being – the ultimate truth – and the ultimate righteousness. He is all of these things because he is not dependent on the world. He made all things for his own glory and he is able to enter human history in meaningful ways without disastrous consequences to himself. He is able to speak in a way that we can understand and as we listen to him we gain answers to the most fundamental questions that cannot be found anywhere else.
To be continued...
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Upcoming Jerry Bridges Seminar
Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship Presents A Seminar Entitled "Living By Faith" With Jerry Bridges and Kirk Wellum
Friday, January 14 -- Saturday, January 15 -- Sunday, January 16, 2005
Friday Night Session: 7.30 PM at Hamilton District Christian High School (92 Glancaster Road, Ancaster) - " What is FAITH?" (Jerry Bridges)
Saturday Sessions: 9.00 AM to 3.00 PM at Hamilton District Christian High School
SESSION 1: " FAITH in our Standing with God" (Jerry Bridges)
SESSION 2: " FAITH and Spiritual Growth" (Kirk Wellum)
SESSION 3: " FAITH in our Relationship with God" (Jerry Bridges)
Sunday, January 16 at 10.30 AM and 6.30 PM at Bowman United Church on Garner Road, near Redeemer University-College in Ancaster.
AM Service: " FAITH in the Providence of God" (Jerry Bridges)
PM Service: " FAITH and Obedience to God" (Jerry Bridges)
Jerry Bridges has served on The Navigators' staff since 1955. Jerry is presently a staff member with The Navigators Community Ministries Group, where he is engaged primarily in Bible teaching ministry. He is the author of numerous books including "The Pursuit of Holiness", "The Practice of Godliness", "Trusting God", and "the Discipline of Grace". He and his wife, Jane, live in Colorado.
Kirk Wellum is the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship. He has been involved in pastoral ministry for more than twenty years. Presently he is also teaching "Christian Foundations" at Toronto Baptist Seminary. He and his wife, Debbie, have been blessed with four children.
No cost but we would like people to PRE-REGISTER BY JANUARY 10, 2005.
Register by e-mail (info@pilgrimbaptistfellowship.org) or by phone (905-304-0133).
Saturday Sessions: 9.00 AM to 3.00 PM at Hamilton District Christian High School
SESSION 1: " FAITH in our Standing with God" (Jerry Bridges)
SESSION 2: " FAITH and Spiritual Growth" (Kirk Wellum)
SESSION 3: " FAITH in our Relationship with God" (Jerry Bridges)
Sunday, January 16 at 10.30 AM and 6.30 PM at Bowman United Church on Garner Road, near Redeemer University-College in Ancaster.
AM Service: " FAITH in the Providence of God" (Jerry Bridges)
PM Service: " FAITH and Obedience to God" (Jerry Bridges)
Jerry Bridges has served on The Navigators' staff since 1955. Jerry is presently a staff member with The Navigators Community Ministries Group, where he is engaged primarily in Bible teaching ministry. He is the author of numerous books including "The Pursuit of Holiness", "The Practice of Godliness", "Trusting God", and "the Discipline of Grace". He and his wife, Jane, live in Colorado.
Kirk Wellum is the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Fellowship. He has been involved in pastoral ministry for more than twenty years. Presently he is also teaching "Christian Foundations" at Toronto Baptist Seminary. He and his wife, Debbie, have been blessed with four children.
No cost but we would like people to PRE-REGISTER BY JANUARY 10, 2005.
Register by e-mail (info@pilgrimbaptistfellowship.org) or by phone (905-304-0133).
Sola Scriptura will be providing a book table.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Why Does The Doctrine of the Trinity Matter (Part Four)
III. The Trinity Matters Because It Establishes The Infinite and Yet Personal Nature of God
The Scriptures reveal that God is both infinite and personal. Non-Christian thought and religion is not able to achieve this beautiful and essential balance. Either they concoct personal gods (bigger versions of ourselves) who are not absolute; or absolute gods that are not personal.
However, the Bible teaches that the Lord God is both infinite and personal and it does so in a number of ways. For instance, it presents God as both transcendent and immanent. As the transcendent Lord he is the great ‘I AM’ (Ex.3:14) exalted above all. He is absolute. He is the Creator and we are all his creatures. Furthermore, he is not dependent in any way upon his creation. He is self-existent. He exists without receiving existence, and if anything else exists, it is because he made it. We depend on him for life, breath, everything else. He is also self-attesting, which means that he knows without gaining knowledge. In fact, his knowledge is the standard for all knowledge. And he is also self-justifying. He is righteous in and of himself and the standard for all righteousness. But this is not all that God is. He is also immanent, or present and deeply involved with his creatures. He seeks fellowship and communion with them. From Adam in the garden, to the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel, God has been interacting with human beings. In the fullness of time God entered into our world in the Lord Jesus Christ and provided salvation and now he lives in believers by his Spirit and in the end we will dwell with him in glory forever!
The infinite and yet personal nature of God is also seen in his sovereign power and rule which is so extensive that nothing takes place outside of his providential reign. He is in control of all things and he has all authority (Is.40-45; Eph.1:11; 1Ti.1:17). Yet at the same time he is personal. He is not just a power or a force. He interacts with his creatures; particularly those creatures he has made in his image as persons. He loves and comforts; he is angry; he commands, listens and acts; contrary to polytheism, which is personal but not absolute; and pantheism, which is absolute but not personal; and naturalism, which is an impersonal process. The personal aspect of God’s nature is the basis for rationality, friendship, love, beauty and many other things.
The infinite and yet personal nature of God is also seen in his holiness. The biblical idea of holiness has two elements to it. The primary meaning is that of transcendence, separateness, distance and uniqueness. The secondary meaning is that of ethical separation from sin, moral excellence and perfection. Thus the holiness of God illustrates the fact that God is transcendent but he is also personal. God has a moral-ethical character. He hates sin and is offended by it. The wrath of God is the very personal reaction of a holy God toward sin and evil. Sin is an issue because of the kind of God he is. Sin must be dealt with in his way. This explains the storyline of the Bible beginning in Genesis and going through to Revelation.
But what does the infinite and personal nature of God have to do with the doctrine of the Trinity? Much in every way. The doctrine of the Trinity ‘establishes’ God as transcendent and immanent; sovereign and personal; and as holy. God is more than uni-personal.’ He is not a simple God in the sense that he lacks complexity. He is tri-personal. ’Within his very being there is a fundamental ‘I-Thou’ relationship. In other words, he is a being in relation with himself – there is a glorious fullness to God – he is complete within himself.
This is important because it is very difficult to maintain the transcendent, sovereign, independent and personal nature of God if he is not triune. If God is a unitary being and personal, then he needs the world in order to be truly personal. But if he is tri-personal from all eternity, then he needs nothing. He is personal and self-sufficient in the very fullness of his being. He did not need to create because he was bored or lonely. He was always whole and self-fulfilled. He did not need to make someone to love in order to be loving – He is love: eternally and supremely.
The existence of the triune God changes everything. It means that we live in a personal universe created by the transcendent, sovereign, authoritative God, who at the same time is immanent, present and personal! The implications for both Christians and non-Christians are staggering.
To be continued...
The Scriptures reveal that God is both infinite and personal. Non-Christian thought and religion is not able to achieve this beautiful and essential balance. Either they concoct personal gods (bigger versions of ourselves) who are not absolute; or absolute gods that are not personal.
However, the Bible teaches that the Lord God is both infinite and personal and it does so in a number of ways. For instance, it presents God as both transcendent and immanent. As the transcendent Lord he is the great ‘I AM’ (Ex.3:14) exalted above all. He is absolute. He is the Creator and we are all his creatures. Furthermore, he is not dependent in any way upon his creation. He is self-existent. He exists without receiving existence, and if anything else exists, it is because he made it. We depend on him for life, breath, everything else. He is also self-attesting, which means that he knows without gaining knowledge. In fact, his knowledge is the standard for all knowledge. And he is also self-justifying. He is righteous in and of himself and the standard for all righteousness. But this is not all that God is. He is also immanent, or present and deeply involved with his creatures. He seeks fellowship and communion with them. From Adam in the garden, to the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel, God has been interacting with human beings. In the fullness of time God entered into our world in the Lord Jesus Christ and provided salvation and now he lives in believers by his Spirit and in the end we will dwell with him in glory forever!
The infinite and yet personal nature of God is also seen in his sovereign power and rule which is so extensive that nothing takes place outside of his providential reign. He is in control of all things and he has all authority (Is.40-45; Eph.1:11; 1Ti.1:17). Yet at the same time he is personal. He is not just a power or a force. He interacts with his creatures; particularly those creatures he has made in his image as persons. He loves and comforts; he is angry; he commands, listens and acts; contrary to polytheism, which is personal but not absolute; and pantheism, which is absolute but not personal; and naturalism, which is an impersonal process. The personal aspect of God’s nature is the basis for rationality, friendship, love, beauty and many other things.
The infinite and yet personal nature of God is also seen in his holiness. The biblical idea of holiness has two elements to it. The primary meaning is that of transcendence, separateness, distance and uniqueness. The secondary meaning is that of ethical separation from sin, moral excellence and perfection. Thus the holiness of God illustrates the fact that God is transcendent but he is also personal. God has a moral-ethical character. He hates sin and is offended by it. The wrath of God is the very personal reaction of a holy God toward sin and evil. Sin is an issue because of the kind of God he is. Sin must be dealt with in his way. This explains the storyline of the Bible beginning in Genesis and going through to Revelation.
But what does the infinite and personal nature of God have to do with the doctrine of the Trinity? Much in every way. The doctrine of the Trinity ‘establishes’ God as transcendent and immanent; sovereign and personal; and as holy. God is more than uni-personal.’ He is not a simple God in the sense that he lacks complexity. He is tri-personal. ’Within his very being there is a fundamental ‘I-Thou’ relationship. In other words, he is a being in relation with himself – there is a glorious fullness to God – he is complete within himself.
This is important because it is very difficult to maintain the transcendent, sovereign, independent and personal nature of God if he is not triune. If God is a unitary being and personal, then he needs the world in order to be truly personal. But if he is tri-personal from all eternity, then he needs nothing. He is personal and self-sufficient in the very fullness of his being. He did not need to create because he was bored or lonely. He was always whole and self-fulfilled. He did not need to make someone to love in order to be loving – He is love: eternally and supremely.
The existence of the triune God changes everything. It means that we live in a personal universe created by the transcendent, sovereign, authoritative God, who at the same time is immanent, present and personal! The implications for both Christians and non-Christians are staggering.
To be continued...
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