1. The Trinity and the Manger Luke 1:26-38

5. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future All three persons of the Trinity are found here in Luke All three persons of the Trinity are found here in Luke v. 26,32,37—The Father v. 26,32,37—The Father v. 31,32,35—The Son v. 31,32,35—The Son v. 35—The Holy Spirit v. 35—The Holy Spirit

6. The Trinity Not some philosophical musing Not some philosophical musing The doctrine of the Trinity grows out of the text itself. The doctrine of the Trinity grows out of the text itself. The Father is God, The Son is God, The Spirit is God. The Father is God, The Son is God, The Spirit is God.

7. The Trinity The Trinity is three persons. The Trinity is three persons. Yet, God in three persons is one Being in essence. Yet, God in three persons is one Being in essence. No human analogy can fully capture the idea. It is suprarational. No human analogy can fully capture the idea. It is suprarational.

8. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future We are entering into a long unfolding drama. We are entering into a long unfolding drama. The particulars took place 2,000 years ago. The particulars took place 2,000 years ago. The event was specifically planned before the world began. The event was specifically planned before the world began.

9. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future The central part of the drama is never any human character. The central part of the drama is never any human character. The central part of the drama is the action taking place among the Father, Son, and Spirit. The central part of the drama is the action taking place among the Father, Son, and Spirit.

10. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future God chose to create knowing that satan would rebel and humans would fall into sin. God chose to create knowing that satan would rebel and humans would fall into sin. Before the world began He chose to save a people unto Himself. Before the world began He chose to save a people unto Himself. He chose to do so through the incarnation of His Son. He chose to do so through the incarnation of His Son.

11. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Eph. 1:3 ff Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Eph. 1:3 ff The Old Testament is about God the Father, Son and Spirit shaping world events through the real choices of humans to have the Son come, by the Spirit, at the right time. The Old Testament is about God the Father, Son and Spirit shaping world events through the real choices of humans to have the Son come, by the Spirit, at the right time.

12. The Trinity Has Planned Our Future God knows the future God knows the future God shapes the future God shapes the future God can be trusted with the future God can be trusted with the future

13. The Trinity Does All Things Well God always acts consistently in accordance with His nature. God always acts consistently in accordance with His nature. Strange Way to Save the World Strange Way to Save the World Many do think it is strange that God became man and died and rose again. Many do think it is strange that God became man and died and rose again.

14. The Trinity Does All Things Well Why couldn’t God just forgive? Why couldn’t God just forgive? Doesn’t He tell us to forgive? Doesn’t He tell us to forgive? He couldn’t “just forgive” because He is God and not man. He couldn’t “just forgive” because He is God and not man.

15. The Trinity Does All Things Well ‘forgiveness is to man the plainest of duties; to God it is the profoundest of problems.” ‘forgiveness is to man the plainest of duties; to God it is the profoundest of problems.” Isaiah 45:21 Isaiah 45:21 There was only one way. There was only one way.

16. The Trinity Does All Things Well God will always be righteous, consistent and do all things well. God will always be righteous, consistent and do all things well. We can trust Him, to work out all of the apparent contradictions of human existence. We can trust Him, to work out all of the apparent contradictions of human existence.

17. The Trinity Invites Us Into God’s Loving Family We see the Trinity acting as the Trinity has for all of eternity. We see the Trinity acting as the Trinity has for all of eternity. In perfect love and perfect harmony. In perfect love and perfect harmony. He comes into our experience to invite us into His circle of perfect love. He comes into our experience to invite us into His circle of perfect love.