It’s interesting when faith finds its way into the Media. We have bylines and idioms that we use to talk about “Christianity” very broadly.

There are so many groups that call themselves “Christian” that it begs the question: What is a true believer?

In today’s episode Michael teaches about the Doctrine of the Trinity using supporting texts from Deuteronomy and Matthew.

This series was originally given to the students and faculty at Moody Bible Institute.

Show Notes

Your church or experience may be a little different doctrinally, but I’d encourage you to listen and think critically.

Why we believe what we believe is not important, it is crucial.

There will always been new teaching fighting your doctrine.

Theology is seldom hammered out in a vacuum. It’s almost always forged in a fight.

Beliefs about the Godhead:
Modalism: God is 3 modes, like water – liquid, ice, vapor.
Oneness: Jesus only
Trinitarian belief: God is a person who has revealed Himself as a trinity in unity.

Deuteronomy 6:4: The Great Shema

1. It teaches monotheism: He alone is God

Why is it important to have a monotheistic God? He is the only true God, but more importantly, when Israel is going into a polytheistic culture rife with idolatry, God makes it abundantly clear to them: they have one God.

All the things that pull our hearts from God and cause us to doubt are nothing more, and nothing less, than little idols that call to us and promise things they can never deliver.

Believer in Jesus Christ, your God is one. and He’s good. and He’s loving.

2. He is loving: personal and available to us

God’s goal is always to love his own. He created us for fellowship. Not to be subservient serfs, but for relationship.

3. He is “plural”

Elohim is a plural term. He’s one, but He’s three.

Genesis 1:26-27 uses plural language in a different way, but with the same point.

By the way, we’re the only creature in all creation that are image bearers.

Only we bear God’s image.

Matthew 28:19

Making disciples: we often compartmentalize evangelism and discipleship. In this verse, they appear to be one and the same.

This is also a verse of trinitarian doctrine: the name (singular) of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. There is unity and connection here.

We have to align ourselves with what scripture teaches, not just our opinion about it. Studying why we believe what we believe is critical, it will shape our doctrine.

The person and work of Christ is the central hope, the key to scripture. He lived, He died, He was buried, and He came back from the dead.

Any and all who trust in Christ and Christ alone are promised a free gift of eternal life.

If you haven’t heard in a while, God loves you.

It doesn’t matter your situation in life, what you’ve done, whatever shame or guilt you feel, He loves you.

He loves you so much that Christ died in your place, on your behalf, instead of you.

There’s nothing more important in life than coming to terms with this, and knowing Him.

If you feel led to respond to this in faith, you can pray a prayer as simple as this:

Father, I am a sinner. I realize, maybe for the first time, that I am in desperate need, and that You love me and that Christ died for me, in my place, instead of me and on my behalf. He was so good to do for me what I could never do for myself. I put my faith in You. I trust You and believe in You, and by that faith You promised me a gift called eternal life.

Have a Biblical or Theological question? Ask Dr. E! Call us at 615-281-9694 and leave a voicemail with your question or email us at question@michaelincontext.com. Michael will answer it on an upcoming Ask Dr. E episode!