Lesson Three: The Trinity
Pastor Jayson Combs
Recently, I visited the Nation of Israel. We went to the Western Wall and watched as many Jews came to the wall to pray to God. The Jews believe this is the closest that they can get to God’s glory. The Bible tells us in Exodus 40:34, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” We know that the glory of the Lord fell upon the tabernacle. To this day, Jews will go to the Western Wall because this is closest they can get to what is left of the old temple. The sad part is that they have missed where the glory of God is and has gone. The glory of God came as flesh as John chapter one would go on to describe as Jesus.
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is so simple that a child could understand it, but yet so deep we could spend months studying it. This chapter is the proclamation that God’s glory rests on His Son and that God came down in the flesh as Jesus. Three clear points are made here in verse one. First, the Word was in the beginning. This does not mean a specific period of time. The beginning could also be translated the source. This is saying that the Word was the start. The Word was before all and the source of all. John MacArthur, a biblical teacher and pastor, says, “The word of the Lord was the expression of divining power and wisdom.” The second part of this verse says, “the Word was with God.” This has stated the separation of the Word and God. MacArthur also goes on to say that this is a picture of, “2 personal beings facing one another and enjoying intelligent discourse.”
Lastly, we have the statement, “the Word was God.” If you have ever had a Jehovah’s Witness come to your door, this is one of the first places they will start. They are okay with the word being the beginning, and the word being with God, but they object to the truth that the “Word was God.” When we read John 1:14, we see who “the Word” is: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word (Jesus) became flesh. Jesus took up residence among us.
The wonderful thing about the Bible is that it continually supports itself.
“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” John 1:18
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” Colossians 2:9
“To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 9:5
“To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:1
These verses amazingly describe the Father and Son aspect of the Trinity. I challenge you to read 2 Corinthians 3 to see how the Holy Spirit fits into and completes this Holy Trinity that we trust.