Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition - Mentor's Guide

M E N T O R N O T E S / 1 1 3

God the Father The Triune God – The Greatness of God

L E S S O N 2

Welcome to the Mentor’s Guide for Lesson 2, God the Father: The Triune God – The Greatness of God . We will introduce to the students the idea of the Trinity, the biblical concept relating to the triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This cannot possibly be covered fully in the time frame allotted to us by the video teaching. What is possible, however, is that we provide a skeleton outline of the major issues associated with both of these interrelated doctrines which will allow the students to continue their study of these important subjects in the months and years to come. As you lead your students to engage the teaching of the Trinity, seek to keep in mind four simple ideas that can guide you as you discuss this important doctrine with them. First, remember that God is one God . There are not two Gods in the Bible, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New Testament. The same God is in both testaments, and the nature of God receives a fuller and more comprehensive display in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who provides a complete and comprehensive knowledge of the Father to us (cf. John 1.14-18). Second, God reveals himself to us in three distinct personalities all involved in the salvation event, and yet God remains one undivided unity . As you will see as you explore the texts in this lesson, that the Father reveals himself in the Son and Spirit without in any way ever melding personality with them, or they as persons with the Father’s person. The Godhead is diverse yet unified. Third, we can grasp the Trinity best as we understand the role of each person in the plan of salvation . The Father purposes, the Son executes, and the Spirit applies the blessing of redemption in the believer and in the Church. The New Testament doesn’t speculate about the essence of the Godhead, but rather reveals what each person does in regards to the salvation won for us through Christ. Fourth, the scriptural doctrine of the Trinity cannot be plumbed by an appeal to logic and analysis alone; it remains for us an absolute mystery . While there have been numerous attempts to make plain the meaning of the biblical teaching of the Trinity, it simply ought not surprise us that

& 1 page 197 Lesson Introduction

2

T h e o l o g y a n d E t h i c s