C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JULY 16, 2023 : LESSON ONE: TOPIC – THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

PREVIEW CLASS

16TH JULY 2023

UNIT ONE: THE TRIUNE GOD COMES TO REDEEM US

LESSON 1

TOPIC: THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one (1 John 5:7).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

1. What a mystery: God is united with, and in Himself! His unity challenges us to be united in the godly way.

2. The carnal mind cannot fathom the mystery of the Trinity. Yet, faith with sufficient reason (logic) helps us to unwaveringly hold on to this eternal reality (2 Co 5:7).

3. The established reality of the unity of the 3 Persons in the Godhead should therefore challenge us towards ensuring godly unity at all levels of relationship.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: John 17:11,21-23

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION:

This lesson is divided into two s, Division I and II. Division I is aimed at showing T from Deut. 4:35,39; 33:26; Isa. 45:21b; Matt. 28:19; and Eph. 4:6 that we aren’t serving 3 Gods as some erroneously insinuate. Our Living God is one! The second division proves the likes of Matt. 28:19; and 1 Tim. 3:16 that despite the fact that the Godhead consists of 3 distinct Persons, Their unity forever baffles the carnal mind, but is strongly believed by those who walk by faith.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. THE LORD GOD IS ONE II. THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. THE LORD GOD IS ONE (Deut. 4:35,39; 33:26; Isa. 45:21b; Matt. 28:19; Eph.4:6)

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! (Deut. 6:4)

COMMENT

6:4 Monotheism-belief in only one God-was a distinctive feature of Hebrew religion. Many ancient religions believed in many gods. But the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the mod God of the whole earth, the only true God. This was an important insight for the nation of Israel because they were about to enter a land filled with people who believed in many gods. Both then and today, there are people who prefer to place their trust in many different values, belief systems, and “gods.” But the day is coming when God will be recognized as the only one. He will be the king over the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9).

II. THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD (Matt. 28:19; 1 Tim. 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (1 Tim. 3:16).

Comment

3:16 In this short hymn, Paul affirms the humanity and divinity of Christ. By so doing he reveals the heart of the Good News, “the great mystery of our faith” (the secret of how we become godly). “Revealed in a human body”-Jesus was a man; Jesus’ incarna-

tion is the basis of our being right with God. “Vindicated by the Spirit”-Jesus’ resurrection showed that the Holy Spirit’s power was in him (Romans 8:11). “Seen by angels” and “taken to 60 heaven” Jesus is divine. We can’t please God on our own; we must depend on Christ. As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life, and so he is a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live a godly life- through following Christ.

Matthew 28:19: Jesus’ words affirms the reality of the Trinity. Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the Trinity and directly from Jesus himself. He did not say baptize them in the names, but in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

HOW MANY PERSONS ARE THERE IN THE GODHEAD?

Answer: Three persons, yet but one God.

‘There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.’ I John 5:5.

God is but one, yet are there three distinct persons subsisting in one Godhead. This is a sacred mystery, which the light within man could never have discovered. As the two natures in Christ, yet but one person, is a wonder; so three persons, yet but one Godhead. Here is a great deep, the Father God, the Son God, the Holy Ghost God; yet not three Gods, but one God. The three persons in the blessed Trinity are distinguished, but not divided; three substances, but one essence. This is a divine riddle where one makes three, and three make one. Our narrow thoughts can no more comprehend the Trinity in Unity, than a nut-shell will hold all the water in the sea. Let me shadow it out by a similitude. In the body of the sun, there are the substance of the sun, the beams, and the heat; the beams are begotten of the sun, the heat proceeds both from the sun and the beams; but these three, though different, are not divided; they all three make but one sun: so in the blessed Trinity, the Son is begotten of the Father, the Holy Ghost proceeds from both; yet though they are three distinct persons, they are but one God. First, let me speak of the Unity in Trinity; then of the Trinity in Unity.

I. Of the Unity in Trinity. The Unity of the persons in the Godhead consists of two things.

[1] The identity of essence. In the Trinity there is a oneness in essence. The three persons are of the same divine nature and substance; so that in Deo nonest magis et minus, there are no degrees in the Godhead’; one person is not God more than another.

[2] The Unity of the persons in the Godhead consists in the mutual inbeing of them, or their being in one together. The three persons are so united that one person is in another, and with another. Thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.’ John 17:7I.

II. Let me speak of the Trinity in Unity.

[1] The first person in the Trinity is God the Father. He is called the first person, in respect of order, not dignity: for God the Father has no essential perfection which the other persons have not; he is not more wise, more holy, more powerful than the other persons are. There is a priority, not a superiority.

[2] The second person in the Trinity is Jesus Christ, who is begotten of the Father before all time. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, was I brought forth.’ Prov 8:3-25 . This Scripture declares the eternal generation of the Son of God. This second person in the Trinity, who is Jehovah, is become our Jesus. The Scripture calls him the branch of David, Jer 23:3, and I may call him the flower of our nature. By him all that believe are justified.’ Acts 13:39.

[3] The third person in the Trinity is the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, whose work is to illuminate the mind, and enkindle sacred motions. The essence of the Spirit is in heaven, and everywhere; but the influence of it is in the hearts of believers.

This is that blessed Spirit who gives us the holy unction.1 John 2:20. Though Christ merits grace for us, it is the Holy Ghost that works it in us. Though Christ makes the purchase, it is the Holy Ghost that makes the assurance, and seals us to the day of redemption. Thus I have spoken of all the three persons. The Trinity of persons may be proved out of Matt 3:16. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son.’ Here are three names given to the three persons. He who spake with a voice from heaven was God the Father; he who was baptized in Jordan was God the Son; he who descended in the likeness of a dove was God the Holy Ghost. Thus I have shown you the Unity of essence, and the Trinity of persons.

How many God do we have? Just One. Three in one but they are COEQUAL

Coequal mean: equal with another or each other in rank, ability, extent etc.

If you conclude to serve 3, it

means you’re servicing/worshipping idols. God is one and there is no other. Understanding the issue of Trinity is deeper.

In order to avoid heresy, stop where Bible stop and hold on to it till we all see to understand deeper what trinity means in heaven.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. The oneness of God is non-negotiable. Any notion otherwise is idolatry.

2. Don’t let anything confuse you that any Member of the Godhead is less than the other. It is idolatry and foolishness!

QUESTIONS

1. Defend the oneness of God from the standpoint of the Scripture.

2. The three Persons of the Godhead are equally God in all regards. Explain.

This is just the beginning.

God bless you all.

Please

– Read

– Understand and

– Ask questions