Study #13

In Matthew 28:19,20 Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples (followers of Christ) of all nations, teaching them to observe all things that He commanded them. Now that you have believed the gospel and have personally become a follower of Christ, we will turn our attention to the doctrines of the Bible. The next thirteen lessons will therefore cover the main doctrines of Scripture, beginning with the Godhead.
God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever-present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole of creation.
The doctrine of the Godhead is based on the Biblical truth that there is one God constituting a unity of three co-eternal divine persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This profound truth is beyond our finite human understanding but is a truth clearly revealed in the Word of God and we accept it by faith.
All three members of the Godhead are infinitely concerned and involved in the redemption of mankind. The Father chairs the plan of salvation, the Son is the Saviour of the world, and the Holy Spirit communicates this salvation to the human race and in the life of the believers.
In this lesson we will study what the Bible reveals about the triune God and the part each member of the Godhead plays in their united effort to save fallen humanity from the sin problem.

1. What two pronouns are used to indicate that there is more than one person in the Godhead involved in the creation of man?

Genesis 1:26: (i) _________________ (ii) _________________

Note: The pronoun “us” and “our” clearly indicate that the Godhead consists of more than one person (see also Genesis 3:22; 11:7). In the Old Testament the name for God is “Elohim.” In the Hebrew language, the singular for God is “El,” the dual for God is “Elohaim,” and the plural for God is “Elohim.” Thus the very name for God points to the fact that the Godhead consists of at least three persons. It is in the New Testament we fully realize that the Godhead constitutes three divine persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

2. In what three names did Jesus say believers are to be baptized?

Matthew 28:19: (i) _______________ (ii) _______________ (iii) _______________

Note: The reason why a believer is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, is because all three members of the Godhead are actively involved in our salvation. It is important that from the very start of our Christian experience we realize that all three members of the Godhead are infinitely concerned about our salvation.

3. How does Paul describe the Godhead’s involvement in our salvation?

Note: In this benediction, the apostle Paul clearly indicates that all three members of the Godhead are actively involved in the redemption of mankind. Let us now proceed to see what part each plays in the plan of salvation.

4. What part does the Father play in the plan of redemption?

John 3:16 __________________________________________________

Note: As the chairperson of the plan of salvation, God the Father so loved the world that He gave His Son to be the redeemer of fallen humanity. According to verse 17, the Father did not send His Son to condemn us sinners but to save fallen humanity. This is the divine purpose of the Godhead.

5. When the fullness of time came, why did the Father send His Son to be under the law?

Galatians 4:4,5 __________________________________________________

Note: God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind from under the law that condemns all sinners to death. By His perfect life and His sacrificial death, Christ satisfied the holy demands of the law on behalf of all humanity. All who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This is the good news of the gospel.

6. What was Christ, the Word, made in order to be the Saviour of the world?

John 1:14 __________________________________________________

Note: In order to be our substitute and representative, Christ had to be united to the human race that needed redeeming. In the incarnation, God the Father, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, united the divine life of His Son to the corporate life of the human race He came to redeem. By this act, Christ, the Son of God, was made flesh and became the Son of man. This qualified Him to be the Saviour of the world.

7. At the end of His saving mission, what two things did Jesus say to His Father?

8. What is Christ the end of, to all who believe in Him?

Romans 10:4 __________________________________________________

Note: The Greek word “end” can either mean “terminated” or “completed.” Both meanings are true of what Christ accomplished in His earthly mission. By His perfect life and sacrificial death, Christ fully satisfied the demands of the law on man’s behalf. Thus He terminated legalism (the need to keep the law in order to be saved), as well as becoming man’s complete righteousness.

9. What happens to a sinner who believes in the Father who sent His Son to save the world?

John 5:24 __________________________________________________

10. Whom did Jesus promise His Father would send after He returned to heaven?

John 14:16 __________________________________________________

Note: The Greek word translated “comforter” or “counselor” is paracletos. It means someone who is by your side to guide, comfort, encourage, and meet all your needs.

11. Who is this Comforter or Counselor and what is His mission?

John 14:26 __________________________________________________

12. What did Jesus promise the disciples when He gave them the commission to preach the gospel into all the world?

Acts:1:8 __________________________________________________

Note: Jesus promised His weak disciples the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out His great commission of witnessing the gospel to the world. That same power is available to us who are called to witness Christ to our modern world.

13. Of what three things does the Holy Spirit convince or reprove the world?

14. How did Jesus define sin in the above text?

John 16:9 __________________________________________________

Note: We often limit sin to transgression of the law. But here Christ defines sin as unbelief because it is only this sin that will deprive us of heaven. Every sin against the law can be forgiven because of the cross, but the sin of unbelief, (deliberately rejecting the convictions of the Holy Spirit), is the unpardonable sin (see Matthew 12:31).

15. How did Jesus explain righteousness?

John 16:10 __________________________________________________

Note: Since it was the Father who sent His Son to save the world, Jesus could not return to the Father until His earthly mission was complete. Going to the Father means that Christ obtained a righteousness that qualifies sinners for heaven. This is the good news of the gospel!

16. Why must the world be convicted of judgment?

John 16:11 __________________________________________________

Note: When Adam sinned, the whole human race was taken captive by Satan. On the cross, Jesus bought us back and Satan was judged for destruction (see John 12:31). Those who refuse God’s gift of redemption in Christ must be warned that they are deliberately choosing their destruction with Satan (see Matthew 25:41).

17. What great comfort does Paul give to those who put their trust in God for salvation?

Romans 8:31 __________________________________________________

Note: The wonderful truth about the Godhead is that God is on the side of the believer. While it is true that Satan is against us and accuses us day and night (see Revelation 12:10), the good news is that he is a defeated foe and all who put their faith in Christ will be vindicated in the judgment (read Romans 8:35-39).

18. What is cast out by the knowledge of the Godhead’s love for us?

1 John 4:16-18 __________________________________________________

Note: As Christians we no longer have to fear the judgment of God. The Godhead is on our side and will never let us down. With such peace, dear believer, you can live above the problems and heartaches of this life.