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Featured The doctrine of the Trinity

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Nov 19, 2014.

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  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Just spent a little while writing a letter trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity. Not an easy one to explain but I did my best in a page and a half and I try not to go much more than that in a letter to a apostate. I sure wish there was a good gospel tract that did the job better for me. Does anyone know of any?

    How do you explain the trinity? Cal and Armin should be united in this doctrine so I doubt there will be much debate here. I used Wayne Grudem's systematic theology to aide me in explaining the doctrine to this apostate. I know he will read my letter since we spoke on the phone and built some level of a relationship. The systematic theology summarizes the doctrine, while a good book on the topic may give me more depth than necessary to write a summary letter.

    Please explain the doctrine so I will see if I missed something.
     
    #1 evangelist6589, Nov 19, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 19, 2014
  2. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Are you a friend?
    Are you a student?
    Are you a husband/wife?
    Are you a son/daughter?

    So, from the questions above, are you four people or one person?

    *These questions can vary and you can add to the list. We are many things to different people, but we are only one person.
     
  3. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Actually CBT this is not an accurate representation of the Trinity and is called modalism because it does not present a plurality of persons or a distinction of the persons of the Trinity.

    The simplest English sentence defining the Trinity is - God is three distinct persons in one divine essence.

    The closest scripture to this definition is 1 John 5:7 which is not considered apostolic by most "authorities" however I do accept it as the inspired scripture through John the Apostle.


    HankD
     
  4. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    Some things are truly hard to explain...

    God is God the Father....
    God is God the Son...
    God is God the Holy Spirit...

    These three are One...1 John 5:7...

    Yet, Jesus is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, Counsellor, King, and so on...


    Some things just are a little to hard to to truly express to the lost....
     
  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Personally I do not believe in Christian apostasy. The person is either in Christ or he is not (and should be treated in that manner). If I were to argue the doctrine of Trinity, I suppose I'd simply provide passages that explained the Godhead. It took the church quite a long time to develop the doctrine, and I don't think that there is an easy answer if someone wanted to understand all aspects.
     
  6. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Hank, I realize that all analogies break down if pushed too far.

    The example is only to show that all of us are many things to different people, but we are only one being.

     
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yet the Father is not the Son nor is the Son the Holy Spirit. I am all at once a daughter, a wife and a sister.
     
  8. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Understood.

    HankD
     
  9. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Works based salvation is another gospel Gal 1:8-9. Regardless I am trying to explain the trinity with him in my letter.
     
  10. Greektim

    Greektim Well-Known Member

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    Read your boy Grudem on this. He uses 3 simple statements which is how I teach my 10th graders:

    God is 3 persons
    Each person is fully God
    There is 1 God

    Each statement is confirmed in Scripture. It is how you formulate the conclusion that describes or defines the Trinity.
     
  11. Greektim

    Greektim Well-Known Member

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    Which is exactly why modalism has been deemed heresy for hundreds of years. Good post.
     
  12. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    True so its still modalism because though you are a daughter, wife and sister simultaneously you only one person.

    HankD
     
  13. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I was referencing the condensed version of his systematic theology but I do have the full version in electronic form.
     
  14. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    An egg has three distinct elements.

    The shell, the white, the yolk.

    The shell has its own uses and is neither the white nor the yolk.

    The yolk, has its own distinct uses apart from the others and is neither the shell nor the white.

    The white has its own distinct uses and is neither the shell nor the yolk.

    Yet without one of those elements there is no egg.

    Neither do we say there are eggs because of the three distinct elements.

    It is always one single egg.
     
  15. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    That would be Modualism though, as you would have one God in three diffferent roles, while Trinitarians hold to one God, but in 3 seperate and disticntive Persons!
     
  16. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    There is but One God, so use the verses that show where the father/Jesus/Holy Spirit all called God, yet Jesus and Ftaher and Spirit are seperated!

    Look to Isaiah, where God knows of no other gods, He alone is Saviour, yet Jesus called that very title!

    John in His Gospel bent over backwords in the Greek Construction to tell us that while both Father and Jesus were and are very God of very God, both are distinct and not the same persons!
     
  17. percho

    percho Well-Known Member
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    What is the necessity of Trinity?

    What does Trinity protect or protect against? Why does, "hear-you ! Israel Yahweh Elohim-of·us Yahweh one," need to be understood as Trinity?
    Deut. 6:1 Interlinear Scripture4all.org

    'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God Jehovah one. YLT I took out, "is," and moved, "one."

    BTW I am Presbyterian/Baptist SBC type and I still ask this.
     
    #17 percho, Nov 19, 2014
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  18. Greektim

    Greektim Well-Known Member

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    Your interlinear translation is wrong. Or stupid at the very list. Unhelpful for sure.

    What is the necessity in understanding God as revealed by God?

    What is the necessity to understanding creation and redemption in Trinitarian roles?

    What is the necessity to understanding our propensity for relationship being created in the image of a relational God?

    Great in every respect I'd say.
     
  19. Greektim

    Greektim Well-Known Member

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    This is flawed b/c these 3 elements of the egg are only part of the egg. Jesus is not partly God but fully God, as the Father and Spirit are fully God. Thus these illustrations break down.
     
  20. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I'd expect Cal and ARMIN to agree on this doctrine. Anyways lots of helpful replies. I am gonna choose the best to modify and add to my letter. I not only used a condensed Grudem systematic theology but also the CrossWay ESV SBC which was helpful as well.

    This man believes in works salvation and also denies the trinity. He is no JW nor Mormon but of another cult. Interesting the church does preach hard on sin and emphasizes repentance very hard, but they also add a List of works to salvation including how one dresses when they attend church.
     
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