The Trinity — and Porn A Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Trinity — and Porn Keyword: "Trinity” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The current studies explore the following premise: "If we want to behave Christianly, we've got to believe Christianly." Will the premise help us stand strong in the face of sexual temptation? Passages* Matthew 28:19 Jesus speaking] "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...." 2 Corinthians 13:14 [Apostle Paul writing] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Questions 1. What do the verses quoted above have in common?   2. What is significant about the mention of the three members of the Trinity in the same verse?   Practical help From the very beginning of Christianity, believers in Jesus have affirmed the deity of the Father, the deity of the Son, and the deity of the Holy Spirit. All three are Persons deserving rich worship. Yet, Christians have also been clear to say that we are not polytheists! The one God exists eternally in the three Persons of the "Godhead." After a while, theologians coined the term "Trinity" to describe what we believe about the nature of God. Belief in the Trinity stems from our understanding of what the Bible teaches concerning God. While no one can fully grasp what is involved in the nature of God (that makes sense — if we could fully understand God, wouldn't that make us God?), we do understand that the Bible teaches, namely that: • The Father, revealed in the Old Testament, is fully God; • The Son, revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, is fully God; and • The Holy Spirit, especially revealed in power during the early days of the church, is fully God. Verses like those quoted above assure us that each member of the Trinity is fully God, listing each of the three members together as they do. Their equal claim to deity also assures us of their involvement in our lives. Each member of the Trinity plays a vital role in our salvation. The Father initiates through calling and adoption. The Son redeems through His shed blood on the cross. The Spirit guarantees a safe arrival in Heaven through His ministry of "sealing" (see Ephesians 1). Each member of the Trinity also is vitally involved in our Christian growth and journey toward maturity: • Without the active Fatherly role played by the first Person of the Trinity, what discipline would any of us of — His kids — receive when we misbehave? And that discipline proves that we are His children. The Father also is the One from whom we long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant" at the end. • Without the active intercessory role of the Son, we would be laboring under a constant guilt complex for misdeeds. Confession of sin brings a reminder of our forgiveness and fresh cleansing. Only the Son who is God can offer that blessing. • Without the active strengthening ministry of the Holy Spirit, we could never stand firm against such temptations to sin as lying, cheating, stealing, gossip — and indulging in Internet porn. Yet only a divine Spirit is sufficient to give us the help we need in the moment of temptation. "Doctrines" such as the Trinity may seem unimportant. In reality, they are vital in fighting the good fight. Cling to the truth that you worship and serve a Triune God who will enable you to lead a life that brings Him honor and glory. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2003 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. ----