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The Trinity is the Christian doctrine
that deals with and describes the nature of God. The doctrine asserts
the following:
- There is one and only one God.
- The one God eternally exists in three distinct persons.
- The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
- The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, the Father is not the
Spirit, etc.
Trinity Doctrine - Foundation of the Christian
Faith
What is the Trinity Doctrine? In a nutshell, there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son
(Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Godhead are coequal and co-eternal (Genesis 1:26, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew
3:16-17; 28:19, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 3:7-11, and 1 John 5:7).
Trinity Doctrine - How Can We Comprehend It?
The
most difficult thing about the Trinity Doctrine is that there is no way to adequately explain it. The Trinity is a concept
that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely higher than we are, therefore
we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God (Exodus 3:14), that Jesus
is God (John 8:58), and that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). The Bible also teaches that there is only one God (Deuteronomy
6:4; James 2:19). How these two statements of doctrine can both be true is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this
doesn't mean that they're both not true.
Trinity Doctrine - No Illustration Is Completely
Accurate
With respect to the Trinity Doctrine, none of the popular illustrations are completely accurate descriptions.
The egg fails in that the shell, white and yoke are parts of the egg, not the egg in themselves. The Father, Son and Holy
Spirit are not parts of God, each of them is God. The water illustration is somewhat better, but still fails to adequately
describe the Trinity. Liquid, vapor and ice are forms of water. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not forms of God, each
of them is God. So, while these illustrations may give us a picture of the Trinity, the picture is not entirely accurate or
complete. An infinite God cannot be fully described by a finite illustration.
Instead of focusing on the Trinity,
try to focus on the fact of God's greatness and infinitely higher nature than our own. "Oh, the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind
of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34)
Jehovah God is God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Spirit -- three Persons, one God. Tertullian (160-215 AD) explained, "We define that there are two, the Father and
the Son, and three with the Holy Spirit, and this number is made by the pattern of salvation... They are three, not in dignity,
but in degree, not in substance but in form, not in power but in kind. They are of one substance and power, because there
is one God from whom these degrees, forms and kinds devolve in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit." (Adv. Prax. 23; PL
2.156-7).
Trinity Doctrine - God is Beyond Comprehension!
The
core of the Trinity Doctrine is the reality of a triune Godhead - God lives in fellowship and relationship with Himself. This
is a difficult concept to grasp. But let's put a God-sized doctrine into perspective -- God is beyond our comprehension. "'For
My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9). It shouldn't bother us that we
can't understand "tri-unity." We can't comprehend infinity, eternity or electricity either, but reality is real whether we
can comprehend it or not.
All we really need to know about the Trinity Doctrine: "Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" (Matthew 28:19)
The Trinity – Strategically Biblical
The
Trinity is strategically biblical. The Elohim of Genesis 1:1, the plural form of the One God, is used over 2500 times
in the Old Testament. Not surprisingly then, the us in Genesis 1:26, 3:22, and 11:7 suggests at least a duality of
persons -- which other Old and subsequent New Testament texts clarify as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s
unreasonable to assume that the Old Testament, with its stringent emphasis on monotheism, would contradict itself by also
teaching polytheism. It’s altogether consistent with Genesis 1:1, and succeeding texts, that the Trinity would be stressed
repeatedly, though guardedly, in Moses and the prophets. Genesis 16:7-14, Exodus 3:2-7, Deuteronomy 18:18, Joshua 5:13-15
and Judges 6:12-25 offer a few examples.
The Trinity – Distinctively Christian
With
many references to the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus as three distinct persons (Matthew 28:19, Romans 1:1-4, 1 Peter 1:1-2,
Revelation 1:4-5), New Testament writers happily realized and publicized what their ancient associates anticipated. Which
is expected if the Bible is true history: forecast first, then implementation; shadow first, then substance; type first, then
anti-type. Equally important, the New Testament’s view of the Trinity harmonizes with Old Testament expectations: the
Father originates and the Son executes through the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit particularly reinforces
the Old Covenant’s emphasis. Genesis 1:1-2 notes that the Holy Spirit created life from a dark, formless, empty deep.
In Romans 8:11, Paul notes that the Holy Spirit re-creates life from old human natures. If, in the one He organized physical
elements, and in the other spiritual beings, creation was and is His work. And, as from His brooding over the chaos, all succeeding
fertility and order derives, so now, from His convicting of and residence in the converted, all spiritual life comes.
The Trinity – Inherently Essential
We
cannot logically say that the Trinity is undecipherable and, therefore, unacceptable. Much of the everyday life in the universe,
including weather patterns, crop growth, conception and birth remain mysterious, but acceptable; inexplicable, but believable.
Nor should we make the mistake of Michael Servetus, who charged the doctrine with being philosophically indefensible. A doctrine
doesn’t have to be philosophically defensible to be biblical. The mechanics of Christ’s blood shed to forgive
sin is just one example. All the theological theories of atonement postulated can’t make forgiveness more secure than
merely believing it true because Jesus said so!
The word god has meaning to all who speak or conjure it, if
it’s only an animist pleading for protection from evil spirits. The biblical God certainly has meaning as He defines
it, with our understanding of self and the world tied to God’s definition. He is one nature or essence expressed in
three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is co-equal and co-eternal with the other. They live in total, unreserved,
perfect love that is absolutely whole, lacking and needing nothing -- not even a universe of creatures, not even humanity
for fellowship. Most importantly, God did create the universe, with humanity made in His image as its climax, because LOVE
must be shared, expressed, and dramatized. Furthermore, humanity derives all its notions of fellowship, togetherness, association,
and relationships from the Trinity as their flawless model.
Articles from CARM.ORG
The Trinity
Trinity verses list
Objections to the trinity answered
General apologetics topics
On what issues should Christians stand firm or hold loosely?
Is there any Biblical basis for the New Age or Reincarnation?
How does Christianity differ from the other monotheistic religions, Islam
and modern Judaism?
How can we defend absolute truth and morality against post-modernism and moral
relativism?
Why should the Bible be trusted?
Is there evidence that the Bible is the inerrant word of God,
rather than mere stories and opinions of uninspired men?
Where did the individual OT books come from, and how were
they combined to form the OT?
Are there answers to skeptical attacks against the Bible?
Can the Bible mean anything we want? Or are there clear rules
for interpreting it?
Are there special codes embedded in the Scriptures that can be used to predict
the future?
God Questions and Answers
Does God exist?
Is one God really three persons?
How can an all-good God allow evil in the world?
What about the attributes and names of God?
Jesus Christ Questions and Answers
Is Jesus really God?
What is the evidence that Jesus ever existed?
Did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead?
Was Christ really born of a virgin? Are there answers to the sceptical objections?
Did Jesus fulfill any prophecies?
Is it rational to believe in Jesus’ miracles?
Jesus Seminar: Facts or fallacies? Is the Gospel of Thomas reliable?
Was Christianity just copied from pagan mythology?
What is the difference between Gnosticism and Christianity?
Why is Jesus Christ given the title of ‘the last Adam’ in 1 Corinthians
15:45?
Are near death experiences real?
Is there really a hell where the unsaved will be eternally punished?
Can someone be a creationist and a scientist? How was a Christian
world view responsible for the development of modern science?
Quantum mechanics — What is it, and how does it fit with
the Bible?
Philosophy Questions and Answers
Why does philosophy seem to be dominated by humanistic, anti-God
thinking? Have many philosophers throughout history believed in God?
Why are logic and reason important for Christians?
How is evolution linked to the lack of moral values, and
the increase of violence in our society today?
How are evolution and materialism related? Is evolution a type
of religion?
Creation: Why It Matters
General Topics:
How does the creation/evolution debate affect the church? Can
Christians believe both?
Can Christians who don’t accept a literal view of Genesis
still be effective witnesses for Christ?
How have evolutionary ideas contributed to enormous violence,
bloodshed and misery in the world?
What about movies and books that portray humanism and evolution
as ‘good’; and the Bible and creation as ‘evil’. How should Christians respond to this?
What is ‘Creation Evangelism’, and why is it so effective in reaching
today’s evolutionistic, humanistic world with the Gospel?
What Biblical evidence for creation can be presented to a Christian
who doesn’t accept Genesis?
‘Young’ age of the Earth & Universe Q&A
Survey:
Astronomy
What do comets tell us about the age of the solar system?
Is there evidence that the planets in our solar system are only thousands
of years old, instead of the millions of years claimed by evolutionists? What about the age of stars?
How old is the moon?
How old is the sun?
See also Astronomy
Atmospheric Science
What features of earth’s atmosphere are inconsistent with billions-of-years
belief?
Botany
Can tree rings reveal how long ago Noah’s Flood took place? What about
the Huon pine trees that the media claims could be as much as 30,000 years old?
Geology
General:
Is there any geologic evidence that, contrary to evolutionary
ideas, supports a young age for the earth?
What about the dating of fossils by evolutionists, who claim they are ‘millions
of years old’?
Doesn’t it take millions of years for caves to form?
How long does it take for coal formation? What about the argument that there
is too much coal for a young earth?
See also Geology
Glaciology
Does the great depth of some glaciers indicate that the earth
is millions of years old?
Human History
Have archaeologists truly found Aboriginal artefacts that are
about 176,000 years old? What was the dating method, and is it considered reliable?
Are human population growth studies an indicator of antiquity
or youth of humanity?
Can all people be genetically traced back to one woman ancestor,
as the ‘mitochondrial Eve’ hypothesis claims? How about tracing all people back to one common male ancestor?
Oceanography
Does it take a long time for coral reefs to form?
What oceanographic evidence points to a young age for the
oceans?
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| Home | Jesus Christ | God | Holy Spirit | Trinity | Bible | ChristianResources |Salvation | My Beliefs | Apologetics | Heaven | Hell | End Times |
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Christian Links And Resources
About Max Lucado
Max Lucado has touched millions with
his signature storytelling writing style. Awards and accolades follow Max with each book he writes. Max is the first author
to win the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year three times—1999 for Just Like Jesus, 1997 for In the Grip of Grace and 1995 for When God Whispers Your Name. In 2005, Reader’s Digest dubbed him “America’s
Best Preacher.” In addition, he has been an ECPA Gold Medallion finalist with more titles than any other author
in the industry.
In 1994, he became the only author to have 11 of his twelve books in print simultaneously appear on
paperback, hardcover and children's CBA bestseller lists. Lucado set a new industry record by concurrently placing nine different
Word Publishing titles on the CBA Hardcover Bestseller List in both March and April 1997. Max Lucado is a fixture on the national
bestseller lists – a Max Lucado title has appeared on the CBA hardcover bestseller list every month for the past
dozen years. He has appeared on the Publishers Weekly, USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. He has won eight
ECPA Gold Medallion awards.
In addition to his nonfiction books, Lucado has authored several award-winning children's
titles including, Just In Case You Ever Wonder, The Crippled Lamb, Alabaster's Song and the award-winning You Are Special. Max is also the author of Hermie: A Common Caterpillar, and the Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends collection
of books and DVD’s are quickly becoming a fixture on bestseller lists. He also served as the general editor for
the best-selling Lucado Study Bible and God's Inspirational Promise Book
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 Are you Thirsty? Hopelessness, loneliness, irritability,
insecurity, symptoms of a dryness deep within. Quench your thirst and flood your soul…the Well awaits!
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 God loves you. Personally. Powerfully. Passionately. Others have promised and failed. But God has promised and succeeded.
He loves you with an unfailing love. And His love--if you will let it--can fill you and leave you with a love worth giving.
Based on 1 Corinthians 13.
 Author Max Lucado proclaims the grace of God to be "the greatest discovery of my life." And he wants to share that
discovery by taking us on a journey through the mountaintop truths found in Paul's letter to the Romans. "Romans is the grandest
treatise on grace ever written. You'll find the air fresh and the view clear."
 Just Like Jesus: Learning to Have a Heart Like His. God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you there.
He wants you to be just like Jesus. Isn't that good news? You aren't stuck with today's personality. You are changeable...
 We applaud men for doing good things.
We enshrine God for doing great things. But what about a man who does God things? Next Door Savior takes a fresh look at Jesus,
irresistibly human yet undeniably divine.
 In this compelling quest for the Messiah, Max Lucado presents a poignant narrative that sheds new light on a story
readers thought they already knew by heart: the story of Christ's crucifixion.
Check Out Max Lucado Website
Antiquities of the Jews. The War of the Jews. Against Apion. The Life. Discourse To The Greeks Concerning Hades
Fox
 HIS IS a book that will never die -- one of the great English classics. . . . Reprinted here in its most
complete form, it brings to life the days when "a noble army, men and boys, the matron and the maid," "climbed the steep ascent
of heaven, 'mid peril, toil, and pain."
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly
influenced early Protestant sentiment as the Book of Martyrs. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than
a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification."
Sketches of Church History.
An in depth chronology of the
Church from AD 33 to the Reformation.
   OHN BUNYAN was born in 1628 at Elstow near Bedford, the son of a brazier. Between 1644 and 1647 he served in the Parliamentary
army; returning to Elstow to follow his father's trade, he underwent a deep spiritual crisis that lasted for several years.
In about 1653 he joined an independent church in Bedford and before long began to preach and to publish polemical and doctrinal
religious works. In 1660, following the Restoration, he was arrested and, on his refusal to stop preaching, was held in Bedford
gaol for the next twelve years. While in prison, he published several books, the most important being his spiritual autobiography,
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666), and also began to write The Pilgrim's Progress (1678). On his release from
prison in 1672 Bunyan became pastor of the Bedford congregation and the remaining years of his life were spent preaching and
writing. The best-known of his later works are The Life and Death of Mr. Badman (1680), The Holy War (1682) and the second
part of The Pilgrim's Progress (1684) He died in 1688 and was buried in Bunhill Fields.
Grace Abounding
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, written during this imprisonment,
is the spiritual autobiography of Bunyan, the traveling tinker who became the eminent preacher and author
The Pilgrim Progress
Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, in two parts, of which the first
appeared at London in 1678, begun during his imprisonment in 1676; the second in 1684. An allegory of Christian's journey
from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, it is written in a prose that unites biblical eloquence with the clarity
of common speech, and is the most successful allegory ever written. It is indeed commonly translated by Protestant missionaries
after the Bible. It is this read in all literary languages and is a worldclassic.
The Holy War
John Bunyan wrote this book sometime during the first six years of his incarceration in Bedford
Prison. It was first published six years before John Bunyan's death
The Life Of John Bunyan
The Life of John Bunyan, by Edmund Venables
Our earliest extensively preserved Latin
Christian author [140-230], who aligned himself around 207 with the "Montanist" Christian movement that was considered "heretical"
by the representatives of emerging mainstream Christianity
The Apparel of Women (AD 197)
To the Martyrs (AD 197)
Spectacles (AD 197)
Prayer (AD 200)
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St. Augustine
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The Confessions of St. Augustine -- The most popular work of the man who more than any other shaped western
civilization. The first 10 chapters constitute a spiritual autobiography and some spiritual and philosophical reflections;
the last three chapters are a reflection on the creation story of Genesis 1.
John Bunyan
Pilgrim's Progress -- A spiritual allegory. Of books written in English, one of the all-time
most popular.
G. K. Chesterton
Orthodoxy -- Chesterton's writing reminds me of C.S. Lewis, but a little more
colorful, a little more quirky. This book is an apology for the Christian world-view.
Jonathan Edwards
Religious Affections -- "What is the nature of true religion? . . . [What are] the distinguishing
notes of that virtue and holiness that is acceptable in the sight of God?" In this classic work by America's greatest theologian
and philosopher, Edwards considers the nature of revival and the genuine work of the Holy Spirit. Don't read this book if
you want to keep worshipping your idols.
George Fox
Autobiography of George Fox -- This is a fascinating journal of the exploits of the founder of the
Society of Friends (Quakers). It is also very illuminating about the political and religious state of seventeenth century
England -- for example, Fox lives through the commonwealth period, meets Cromwell, and prophesies his downfall after he treats
Quakers badly.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. John of the Cross
Dark Night of the Soul -- The writings of St. John of the Cross are unsurpassed for mystical
theology. The "dark night" is a must-read for anyone seriously concerned about growing spiritually.
Thomas à Kempis
The Imitation of Christ -- This book is said to have been published in more editions than any
other, apart from the Bible, with 6000 appearing by the turn of this century. This little devotional book is simply written
but immensely moving. Highly recommended.
William Law
Brother Lawrence
Resouces For Your Website
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Where Should
I Go to Church?
from Dose of Truth
There is no doubt that the desire of God in
His Word is that the church gather together corporately. The very definition of the word church (ekklesia) implies that we
assemble ourselves together. The word was used generally to mean, "A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into
some public place, an assembly"…
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Most of the articles on this website is used by permission.
If you see otherwise , please contact webmaster |LOGOS Ministry Indu-Iban|
Special thanks to Matt Slick Of CARM.ORG, ChristianUnite,AusAmerica,RBC
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