THE TRINITY

We do not find the word TRINITY in the Bible.

But that does not mean that the Bible does not teach the doctrine of the Trinity. But how do we answer the question, “How does the Bible teach the doctrine of the Trinity?”

The Bible also does not define the doctrine of the Trinity. The fact that God is three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not explicitly stated in the Scriptures.

But this is how the Bible teaches the doctrine:

At the beginning of his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul says, “the gospel of God.” He continues, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, …” and “according to the spirit of holiness, …” The spirit of holiness” is the Holy Spirit. Please read that in Romans 1:1-4! (Authorized Version)

And here are some more illustrations of the same thing:

1.  Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

2.  John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

3.  John 15:26: “‘When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

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

5.  First Peter 1:2: “who have been chosen  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.”

6.  Hebrews 9:14: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself…”

“The doctrine of the Trinity is the heart of Christianity.” That was once said by a famous theologian.

The heart

“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” – Proverbs 14:10

Who knows the name of this flower?

“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” – Psalm 47:8

Sunflower

“Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.” – Psalm 47:6

RURAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS!

Do you have a Plan?

What are your goals?

What do you need to do next?

Understand a want and a need

Find out how all this works together

With Kaitaia Community House – Budget Support Service

When: Thursday 18 September 2014

Where: Kauri Room, Far North REAP, Kaitaia

No Fee

Lunch provided

Time: 10 am – 2 pm

12 Puckey Ave

Kaitaia

REAP (Far North Rural Education Activities Programme)

I attended! Who does not want to be successful?

The 2014 General Election is on September 20.

An Election flyer admonishes me to make my vote count.

The first definition of the word vote  in The Collins Concise Dictionary says, “an indication of choice, opinion, or will on a question.”

When I was in  my teens the question that was uppermost on my mind was the question about life:

“What is life all about?” “Where do I come from?” “Where do I go to?” “What is the meaning of what lies between birth and death?” “Where do I find the answer about life?”

Children ask the parents. When the parents don’t know the answer, the teacher in the school is asked. If the teacher does not know the answer, the pastor is asked. But sometimes the pastor does not know the answer either. I think that actually happened to me.

“Make your vote count”

I read books by philosophers, but did really did not understand  what their writing was all about.

After a long search I found the answer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ when I was 18 years of age and chose to follow him.

The Lord Jesus Christ led me to go to a Bible school, to apply to a missionary society and to be a missionary. I worked as a missionary  in Thailand and New Zealand.

When I was in my teens I enjoyed reading books  about foreign countries, because I wanted to go there. And I don’t need to tell you that missionaries see quite a bit of the world. I remember a saying, “Join WEC and you see the world.” WEC is a missionary society.

When I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible was no longer like any other book on my bookshelf, but the Bible became alive for me.

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul writes, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Now I know that it was not me choosing the Lord, but the Lord choosing me and that happened before the creation of the world. I am glad and I rejoice that it is the Lord and not me who makes my vote count.