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