Printable Version | Who Is God? Part 2
Opening
Our society today has a fascination with the great empires of the past and the gods they served. This fasciation has made its way to the big screen, with countless movies including these ancient gods. To test your ancient history knowledge, list the names of as many of those gods you have heard of before (example: Greek god Zeus).
Going Deeper
1. Trinity Means One God
1.1. Living in our in a pluralistic society, what is your initial reaction to the idea that there is only one God?
1.2. Israel worshipped the one true God. In what ways would this truth have caused them to stand in opposition to their neighboring nations?
1.3. Paul tells us in Romans 1:20-23, that the creation of other gods was the result of sinful human imaginations. Why do you believe people from all cultures and nations create other gods to worship?
1.4. Jesus, God in the flesh, came to earth and died on the cross and rose from the grave so that new life could be given to all the people of all the nations. How does this action of God stand in contrast to the actions of the many other “gods” of this world?
1.5. Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God and prayer–these are the spiritual weapons of the kingdom of God. How can God use these weapons to change the lives of men and women today.
2. Trinity Means Three Persons
2.1. Read Genesis 1:1-3 and John 1:1-4. Notice the parallels in the passage and identify the three active participants in the creation of the world (see also Matthew 3:16-17).
2.2. Why do you think the Lord inspired the Gospel writers to record the baptism of Jesus and make clear and explicit the Trinity at the Baptism of Jesus?
2.3. Why is it important for us to study and learn how the early Christians in the centuries that followed Christ’s resurrection came to understand the Trinity? What kind of credibility does it bring to a particular Biblical belief/doctrine if the Church for many centuries has held it as credible?
2.4. Why is it important that our definition of the Trinity, one God in three persons, remain as consistent as possible with the clear teaching of the Scriptures?