Doctrinal Outlines of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

The most important study one can embark on is the study of God. The Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah, “The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me—that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things” (Jer 9:23-24). To grow in experiential knowledge of God should be the primary pursuit of every believer since this knowledge affects all of life in time and for eternity.

I. The Knowledge of God

1. The Concept of Knowing God
   1. It involves the acquisition of accurate facts about God (John 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17)
   2. It involves a saving encounter with God (John 3:3; 1 John 5:20)
   3. It involves an ongoing intimacy with God (2 Pet 1:5-8; 3:18)
   4. It involves personal experiences with God (Jas 1:2-5; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 5:10)
2. The Possibility of Knowing God
   1. God commands us to know Him (Jer. 9:23-24)
   2. God desires to be known intimately (Exod 33:11; Ps 25:14)
   3. God has prescribed a way to know him (Acts 2:40-47)
      • - Worship
      • - Fellowship
      • - Education
      • - Outreach
   4. God has limitations on what can be known about him (Isa 40:12-14; 45:15; Deut 29:29)
   5. God has given believers the Holy Spirit to reveal the things of God (John 16:13-15; 1 Cor 2:10)
3. The Importance of Knowing God
   1. It is the only way a person can escape judgment and enter into eternal life (John 17:3)
   2. It is the only way a person can truly know themselves (Isa 6:5)
   3. It is the best way of having an accurate knowledge of the world (Rom 1:20; Col 1:15-17)
   4. It is essential for personal holiness (Jer 9:23-24)
   5. It enables people to be strong as they face the challenges of life (Dan 11:32)
   6. It generates the true worship of God (Rom 11:33-36)

II. The Revelation of God

1. Naturalistic Arguments for God’s Existence
   1. Argument of Cause-Effect (Cosmological): For every effect there must be a cause. Thus, there must be a powerful cause for the existence of the universe. This argument does not prove that the cause is the Christian’s God, but it does prove that the cause is powerful.
   2. Argument of Purpose (Teleological): There is definite order and design in the universe (seasons, earth rotating on axis, planets revolving around the sun, etc.). Thus, the first cause must be intelligent (just as a watch proves there must exist a watchmaker).
   3. Argument from the nature of man (Anthropological): Man’s conscience, moral nature (sense of right and wrong), intelligence, and mental capacities have to be accounted for. His Creator must thus bear these same qualities of personhood. Personal existence must have a personal source.
   4. Argument from the idea of God (Ontological): Man has the idea of a most perfect being (where did that idea come from given the imperfections of man and the universe). Since a most perfect being who does not exist is not as perfect as one who does exist, there must be a God.
2. Biblical Arguments for God’s Existence
   1. General revelation (that which is universally available in creation to all mankind)
      • - Creation reveals God’s glory and power (Ps 19:1)
      • - Creation reveals God’s supremacy and divine nature (Rom 1:20)
      • - Creation reveals God’s providential control of nature (Acts 14:17)
      • - Creation reveals God’s goodness (Matt 5:45)
      • - Creation reveals God’s intelligence (Acts 17:24-29)
      • - Creation reveals God’s existence (Acts 17:24-28)
      • - Man’s conscience universally affirms the existence of God (Rom 1:19)
   2. Special revelation (that which is limited to Jesus Christ and the Bible)
      • - Jesus Christ is the supreme and final revelation of God to man (Heb 1:1-2)
      • - Jesus Christ “exegetes” (explains) the person of God (John 1:18)
      • - Jesus Christ reveals the glory of God (John 1:14)
      • - Jesus Christ reveals the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24)
      • - Jesus Christ reveals the grace of God (Titus 2:11)
      • - Jesus Christ reveals the love of God (Rom 5:8)
      • - The Bible assumes and does not seek to prove the existence of God (Gen 1:1; Ps 14:1; Heb 11:6)
      • - The Bible is the inerrant revelation of God (2 Tim 3:16-17)

III. The Triunity of God

1. The Definition of the Trinity: Trinity is a theological term (not a biblical one) used to describe the biblical teaching of the nature of God. There is one God who exists in three co-equal persons who are one in essence yet distinct in personality. Thus, God is three in one.
2. The Delineation of Trinity
   1. There is only one true God (Deut 6:4; Isa 44:6; John 17:3; 1 Cor 8:4)
   2. There is plurality in God (Gen 1:26-27; Isa 48:16; 63:7-10)
      • - The Father is recognized as God (John 6:27; 1 Pet 1:2)
      • - Jesus Christ is recognized as God (John 1:1, 14, 18; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:8)
      • - The Holy Spirit is recognized as God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16)
   3. These three are distinct persons.
      • - The Father and the Son are distinct persons (John 5:20, 32, 37; 17:5)
      • - The Father and the Son are distinct from the Spirit (John 14:16; 15:26)
   4. These three are unified (Matt 28:19; 3:12-16; 2 Cor 13:14)
3. The Work of the Trinity
   1. The Trinity works together to provide salvation (John 6:63; 1 Cor 6:19-21; Eph 1:7-9)
   2. The Trinity works together in the revelation of God’s truth (John 1:17-18; 16:13)
   3. The Trinity works together in prayer (John 14:14; Eph. 1:6; 2:18; 6:18)
   4. The Trinity works together in creation (Gen 1:1-3,26; Col 1:16)
   5. The Trinity works together in confirmation (Matt 3:16-17)
4. The Praise of the Trinity
   1. The Father glorifies the Son (John 6:37-40; Eph 1:4)
   2. The Son honors the Father (John 5:19, 30-31; 12, 28)
   3. The Spirit honors the Son (John 15:26; 16:8-10,14)
5. The Essence of the Trinity: All three members of the trinity possess the attributes or perfection of deity.