C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR July 26, 2020 The Unity of Brethren. Unity One: BEFORE AND AFTER CREATION, LESSON ONE: TOPIC – DIVISION II

The Unity of Brethren.

Unity One: BEFORE AND AFTER CREATION

LESSON ONE: DIVISION II

July 26th, 2020.

II. TRINITY: BIBLICAL CONFIRMATION OF THE UNITY (Genesis 1-3,11; John 1:1; 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2)

There is nowhere else you can go to understand or explain Trinity than in the Bible. What the Bible reveals on the Persons of the Godhead, their function and position (office) is adequate for our present knowledge. We shall understand Him better, by and by, especially, when we get to see Him, face to face in heaven. Don’t be too knowledgeable than, or try to out-study the Bible, and don’t seek other meaning from sources other than the Bible.

A. THE BIBLICAL EXPLANATION (Gen. 1-3, 11; Jn. 1:1; Pet. 1:2).

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied (1 Pet. 1:2).

i. In the Scripture, 3 Persons were observed as ONE GOD: God the Father (John 6:27), the Son, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1, 18; Ti. 2:13, and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; Eph. 4:30).

ii. At Creation, the Trinity was seen at work. The Holy Spirit moved upon the surface of the deep, the Father spoke, and Jesus is the Word spoken and who brought everything to reality (Gen. 1:2-3; Prov. 8:22-31; Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16).

iii. At the creation of man, God called the Council of the Trinity (Gen. 1:26-27).

iv. The Trinity was seen at work when the language of man was confused at the building of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:7-8).

v. When Jesus Christ was baptised at river Jordan, God the Father spoke from heaven while the Son, Jesus Christ was being baptised, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son as anointing (Matt. 3:13-17. Hence, all believers in Christ are to be baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).

vi. On the mount of transfiguration, we see at work when the language of man was confused at the building of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:7-8).

v. When Jesus Christ was baptised at river Jordan, God the Father spoke from heaven while the Son, Jesus Christ was being baptised, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son as anointing (Matt. 3:13-17. Hence, all believers in Christ are to baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19.

vi. On the mount of transfiguration, we see the Trinity fully manifested (Matt. 17:1-5). The disciples present witnessed it.

vii. Under inspiration, writers of the Scripture, mostly Apostle Paul, depicted the concept of the Trinity at the benediction (2 Cor. 13:14).

viii. The Bible is the final authority that explains God and His activities. Commentaries, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and any other sources are good, but inadequate to talk about God, Triune and cannot take the place of the Scripture.

B. THE UNITY OF THE TRINITY IN MAN’S SALVATION (Jn. 3:16; Heb. 9:14).

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:14).

i. Jn. 3:16: For God so loved the world… Each Person of the Trinity took part in the work of our salvation.

ii. Examine the followings:

* In the creation of man: God breathed His Spirit into man’s nostrils (Gen. 2:7), after having spoken the Word (Job 33:4; Col. 1:15,16).

* In the incarnation of the Son for the redemption of humanity: God gave His only Son (Jn. 3:16). The Son chose to come in human form (Matt. 20:28; Rom. 5:8; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 9:14). And the Holy Spirit conceived Him (Lk. 1:35).

* In justification: God, by the Holy Spirit, justifies believers in Christ Jesus (Isa. 50; 7, 8; Rom. 4:25; 5:9; 8:33; 1 Cor. 6:11).

* In sanctification: The elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, are sanctified by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Thess. 2:13).

* In preservation: The Father keeps us, the Son gives eternal life, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 17:11; 1 Pet. 1:5; 5; Jn. 10:28; Eph. 4:30).

* In communion: We have access by Spirit, to the Father, through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:18; 1 Cor. 12:13).

* In prayer: The Spirit helps us to ask the Father, in Jesus’ name (Jn. 14:13-14; 16:23; Rom. 8:26)

* In resurrection: God would raise the dead in Christ, by His Spirit (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Cor. 1:9) — the same Spirit Who raised Christ from the dead according to the eternal redemptive will of the Father.

iii. From the above, we can see that each Person of the Trinity is wholly involved in every aspect of our salvation.

iv. The salvation of man is of paramount importance to the members of the Godhead. God The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ (the Word), to come and die for the sin of man, and after His departure from the scene, the Holy Spirit came as a Comforter and a seal for the believers.

LESSONS DERIVED

1) Before and from the Creation, the Council of the Trinity has continually jointly worked; no selfishness. This continues till eternity to come.

2) There are three Persons in the Godhead — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three is ONE GOD, equal in power, glory, wisdom, holiness and infinity (eternity).

QUESTIONS

1) Discuss the concept of the Trinity, and list 4 attributes that reveal each Person of the Trinity as God?

2) Mention 5 instances where the Trinity harmoniously worked in the world with relevant Bible references?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

The concept of Trinity: consists of God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. This does not connote that we have 3 gods but Trinity simply means the only one and living God that operates in three different forms, He manifests Himself in 3 distinct modes, one at a time.

The attributes that reveal each Person of the Trinity as God are:

1. Eternity, the Father is ever-lasting, as the Son is Alpha and Omega, likewise the Holy Spirit is eternal Spirit.

2. God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is all-knowing.

3. Father, Son and the Holy Spirit sees everything at the same time and is everywhere at the same time (Ps. 139:7,8; Jer. 23:24; Mat 28:20).

4. God’s unsearchable (Rom. 11:33). Jesus is God’s wisdom, and the Holy Spirit understands the things of the God (Omniscience)(Prov. 20:27; 1 Cor. 2:11)

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:

Instances where the Trinity harmoniously worked in the world includes:

1. In creation (Gen. 1:26,27; Jn. 1:1-3)

2. In the beginning of Christ’s ministry after His baptism (Matthew 3:16,17)

3. At the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:7)

4. When Abraham was visited (Gen. 18:2)

5. In Transfiguration.

6. In Resurrection (1 Pet. 3:18)

7. In Baptism (Matthew 28:19)

8. In Receiving grace (II Cor. 13:14)

LIFE APPLICATION

No one is a Christian who has not been touched by God, saved through Jesus Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit. So, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is inseparable. This is how God expects the Church to be bonded together against the enemy of the gospel, even Satan.

CONCLUSION

This is the end of the first lesson of this Holy Spirit-inspired series of the Sunday school. We have biblically explained what the concept of the Trinity is all about. We have been able to know that God is but one Lord, no plurality or dualism. We have also seen the unity that exists in Trinity viz-a-viz man’s salvation. We will no longer be in the dark as to what God is doing in the church on behalf of the brethren in Christ, in Jesus’ name.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO

Mon. 20: The Lord Is One God (Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6)

Tue. Tue. 21: The Trinity Works Out Our Salvation (Rom. 1:4; Heb. 9:14)

Wed. 22: Through The Trinity, We Shall Resurrect (Rom. 8:11)

Thur. 23: The Lord, Our Surest Stronghold (Jn. 10:28-30)

Fri. 24: The Trinity Grants Everlasting Life (Jn. 17:3)

Sat. 25: Through Jesus, We Can Reach God (Eph. 2:18)