THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS THE PATTERN FOR HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

INTRODUCTION

Let us think anew about the Trinity. We can see the Trinity shows us that God is the first relational community. There is relationship within the Godhead. And the doctrine of the Trinity is therefore the premier pattern for our human relationships because we are made in the image of God.

The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689: “In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word (or Son) and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and Eternity, each having the whole Divine Essence, yet the Essence undivided. The Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding, the Son is Eternally begotten of the Father, the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and Being; but distinguished by several peculiar, relative properties, and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.”

Last Sunday Morning’s outline why the Doctrine of the Trinity is important:

1. One of the most distinguishing doctrines of the Christian Church.


2. Our Prayer and Worship acknowledges of the Trinity.
To the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit


3. Our Salvation and Sanctification is the work of the Trinity.
God loved the world that He sent His Son, Holy Spirit convicts us.


4. There is community in the Trinity.
Father send the Son, the Son prayed to the Father, Father sent H.S.


5. The Trinity is a pattern for human relationships.

Three Fold Graphics of Natural Church Development

The Three Fold Art of Experiencing God, by Christian Schwartz

1. One God: Three persons Creator/Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit.


2. Three works: Creation, salvation, sanctification. Three locations: God above us, God among us, God in us.


3. Three emphasis: Reflective, Proactive, Affective. Different emphasis of churches: Mainline, Evangelical, Pentecostal/charismatic.


4. The Trinity of Loving Relationships. Importance of Balance.

Justice	Righteousness, fairness, judges sin, rights wrongs.
Truth	“Speak the truth in love”, Trustworthiness.
Grace	Undeserved acceptance, forgiveness, kindness.

If out of balance brings: legalism, or hypocrisy, or soft on sin

The Truth Project lists six social systems in Scripture: between man and God, family, church, labor, state, community. The first three are the Intimate three. These systems effectiveness is based upon the triune, relational nature of God Himself - The Godhead is a community. Our social relationships should be a reflection of Who God is.

From The Truth Project: “Relationship, union, communion, intimacy, fellowship, love, and community - these things have existed from all eternity within the economy of the Godhead. Accordingly, they serve as the basis for the smooth and ordered functioning of creation. It is for this very reason…that basic social institutions such as marriage, family, and church have come under such heavy attack in our day: just as the world, the flesh, and the devil hate the Creator with a fervent and undying hatred, so they inevitably stand opposed to the social order that bears the imprint of His divine nature.” (Lesson #7)

We have to fight back the forces of evil, and we have to faithfully enjoy living the model of the relational Trinity. Some Trinitarian Principles for us today.

1. Equality of Essence and Distinction of Roles

• The Baptism formula Matthew 28:19-20


• Scofield’s formula. “of the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit and unto the Father.” 1 Cor. 8:6; John 3:17; Eph. 3:5; Eph. 2:18 p. 1046


• One but three. Equal but with different roles. Each identical in nature, not three natures, but one - fully divine, fully eternal.


• The Trinity of the Family: Husband, Wife, children. Husband and wife the two become one flesh Gen. 2:24/ Eph. 5:31 - oneness of essence, but clear distinction of roles - male and female, parents and children.
ILLUS: I pay household bills, Jeannette pays for the groceries.
I maintain the cars, Jeannette maintains Facebook.


• The Trinity of Church: Christ, leaders, flock. One body, many members 1 Cor. 12:12-14. Some are leaders - such as elders. Divine trinity and leadership in church Acts 20:28. Even in our distinctions, we are clearly equal each of are “children, fellow heirs in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:17.


• Distinction of role does not suggest distinction in value. There is no superior and inferior values attached. In all relationships were all each fully human, fully made in the image of God, fully eternally valuable.

2. Unity and Diversity

• “A unity that is not redundant, and a diversity that is not discord.” (Ware, 134)


• Unity is not uniformity - where everyone is a clone of each other - walk the same, talk the same, dress the same, same hairstyle. But in unity we have common blood line of Jesus Christ, common God given values.


• Jesus prayed for unity, Trinitarian unity in us - John 17:20-23


• The Trinity of the Family - completely different people, husband and wife are one flesh this is a mystery. United by marriage, blood or adoption.


• The Trinity of the Church: Christ, leaders, flock: Oneness and unity Eph. 4:4-6. Diversity of Spiritual Gifts of Romans 12:4-8.
ILLUS: We are diverse. In marriage - opposites attract - between Jeannette and I we eat the whole chicken - I eat the white, she the dark meat. I like to throw stuff away, she likes to keep.

In the church we have everything from Cadillac’s to Kia’s. From young guys with long hair to old guys with no hair. All ages, different jobs, and personalities - Type A = active and energetic - L. = laidback and relaxed.

Diversity of Gifts: Youth workers, adults. People who make spiritual decisions, and fix up buildings. Teachers. Musicans, Givers.


• Unity in diversity is an amazing testimony of the beauty of the Trinity.


• Rather than moan the fact of our differences, we can work with them, complement each other - we have a common God who loves us, a common blood line of Jesus, common filling & giftedness of Holy Spirit.


• Equality of Essence and Distinction of Roles, then Unity and Diversity.

3. Authority and Submission

• This is the hard one. We don’t like authority or submission - to place oneself under authority. In the Trinity it is glorious. To us it is countercultural and demeaning - doormat syndrome.


• In later times - lack of submission - 2 Timothy 3:1-4
ILLUS: Christian church has been part of the problem. We let culture define “submission,” rather than God. Took it out of marriage vows, don’t talk about the necessity of sheep to follow the shepherds. PTL voices calling us back to Biblical truth - Truth Project is one voice - an unexpected issue. Bruce Ware book has 14 pages I wish I could read to you...137-151.


• Authority in the Godhead - of the Father - Jesus did the will of the Father, said the Father will send the Holy Spirit.


• Authority in the family - Christ is to lead husband, husband leads the wife, father and mother together lead the children. Colossians 3:18-22 is condensed version of Eph. 5:21-6:5.


• Authority in the church - Christ leads leaders, leaders shepherd flock, and the flock follow. Hebrews 13:17

4. Fellowship and Intimacy

• The most personal of all relationships is God is in us. We are the temple of God. We are not alone. There is no competition, or competitiveness, no struggling for power in the Trinity, there is Oneness. Enjoyment of relationship. There is success - purposes are fulfilled.


• Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in Our image...”


• The family should be closest thing to heaven on earth, healthy families built a healthy church - both have rich fellowship, deep intimacy.


• 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”

CONCLUSION/APPLICATION

Equality of Essence and Distinction of Roles, Unity and Diversity, Authority and Submission, Fellowship and Intimacy.

Can you imagine a marriage/family like this? I have seen some. Have you?

Couples look at your roles and relationships again? Reflect these?

Can you imagine a church like this? I thought I saw some, then a problem.

Leaders and congregation look at your roles and relationships?

Look at your relationships in a new light, we are to be the image of God.

Renew your relationships with your family, your church.