There are subtleties in our world that can seem benign but hold differences that can be drastic, especially when the topic at hand is a foundational topic. The subject of the Trinity is one that has left many scratching their heads, but that the church has sought to clarify in the face of false teachings. Many times it is much easier to say what something “is not” rather than what it actually “is.”False Teachers and False Teachings
False Teacher – Sabellius
Rightly Taught:
1. There is only 1 God
2. Jesus is fully God
Wrongly Taught:
1. God is one person
2. Patripassianism – the “Father” suffered on the cross
False Teachings
1. Modalism – 1 God and 1 Person (co-equal, one Being)
2. Tritheism – 3 Gods and 3 Persons (3 persons, coequal)
3. Partialism – 1 main God and 2 lesser gods (3 persons, one Being)
The Church’s Response
1. 1 Being
2. 3 Persons
3. Coequal
Examples:
Partialism = “name of the Father(1/3), Son(1/3), and Holy Spirit(1/3)”
Tritheism = “name(s) of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”
Modalism = “name of the Father, (name) of the Son, and (name) of the Holy Spirit”
Jesus says – “name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Bonus:
False Teachings
Adoptionism – Overemphasize Jesus’ human nature
Apollinarianism – Overemphasize Jesus’ divine nature
Nestorianism – Schizophrenic Jesus: 2 persons; 2 natures
Eutychianism – The Godman: 1 new person; 1 new nature
The Church’s Response
“Hypostatic” Union – 1 Person; 2 Natures
1 Peter 1:1-2
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect… who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood”
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”
Acts 20:28
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
2 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.”
Ephesians 3:14-1
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love”
Hebrews 9:14
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Jude 20-21
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
Application:
Worship God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity
1. To GLORIFY God the Father
2. Through OBEYING God the Son
3. By the POWER of the Holy Spirit