test
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Personal Space<br />
“The important point is not whether we can understand the Trinity, even with<br />
the help of illustrations, but whether we will believe what the Bible has to say<br />
about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and about their relationship to each other.”<br />
—James Montgomery Boice<br />
You don’t have to<br />
understand.<br />
You do have to<br />
trust.<br />
4<br />
Acknowledge God as three in one.<br />
Thursday> 7/30<br />
God is three in one.<br />
5<br />
Eggs are unique. They’re made up of the yolk, the white, and the shell.<br />
All three are different, but it is still only one egg. Water can take on three<br />
different forms—liquid, gas, or solid, but it is still always water. Can you identify<br />
other things that contain three different parts but are still one? Go ahead, see<br />
how many you can name.<br />
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Memorize verse 4.<br />
“Listen, Israel: The Lo r d<br />
our God, the Lo r d is One.”<br />
—Deuteronomy 6:4<br />
What is God the Son’s role?<br />
What is God the Holy Spirit’s role?<br />
Why did God choose to show Himself in this way?<br />
Who is the “One” in “the Lord is<br />
One”?<br />
How would you explain the three<br />
distinct Persons of God?<br />
What is God the Father’s role?<br />
There are several things in life that we have a hard time explaining. Trying to<br />
understand that God is three Persons but still only one God is one of those<br />
things. However, when we break it down like the egg or water, it is much easier<br />
to understand. Each Person in the Trinity has a distinct function. They function<br />
independently but together are still only one God.<br />
Throughout history, theologians and deep thinkers have spent countless<br />
hours coming up with analogies to help us understand the concept of the<br />
Trinity. In the end, they all break down because there’s always going to be some<br />
mystery about how these three distinct Persons are interrelated. Each One is<br />
different and relates to us differently, but they aren’t three gods. This is God the<br />
Father who created us and loves us without limit, yet can’t look upon our sin;<br />
Jesus the Son who died so that we could have a relationship with God; and the<br />
Holy Spirit who is our Guide, Comforter, and Friend. You’ve seen the Trinity at<br />
work in your life. You can’t explain it, but you know it’s true. Trust God.<br />
Friday > 7/31<br />
In His Name.<br />
Have you ever given or recited<br />
a pledge to something or<br />
someone? I’m sure you have. How about<br />
the Pledge of Allegiance? If you have<br />
obtained a passport, you had to affirm<br />
a pledge regarding your citizenship to<br />
this country. Can you think of any other<br />
things that you pledge? What does it<br />
mean when we pledge allegiance to<br />
something? It means that we endorse<br />
not just the pledge but what the pledge<br />
stands for as well.<br />
“Go, therefore, and make<br />
disciples of all nations,<br />
baptizing them in the name<br />
of the Father and of the<br />
Son and of the Holy Spirit.”<br />
—Matthew 28:19<br />
Read Matthew 28:16-20. What do<br />
you need to be doing, in light of<br />
verse 19?<br />
What does baptism represent?<br />
How is God the Father represented<br />
in baptism?<br />
How is God the Son represented in<br />
baptism?<br />
What about the Holy Spirit is<br />
represented in baptism?<br />
Why do we baptize in the name of<br />
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?<br />
What are we saying when we do<br />
this?<br />
Why is this important?<br />
We know and understand that<br />
baptism is a <strong>test</strong>imony and a symbol<br />
of what has already taken place in<br />
us when we accept Christ into our<br />
lives as Lord and Savior. When we<br />
baptize somebody in the name of the<br />
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are<br />
recognizing and acknowledging that<br />
God is three in one. We are displaying<br />
and indicating an oath to the Triune<br />
God when we follow in obedience in<br />
baptism. We acknowledge that God<br />
is our Creator and Jesus’ Father; that<br />
Jesus is our salvation; and that the<br />
Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Guide,<br />
and Teacher.<br />
52 | jul 2009 ec magazine ec magazine jul 2009 | 53