Christians must consider many difficult – even mysterious – concepts and one of the most impenetrable is the reality of the Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity states that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One key word above is “eternally” meaning that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father have always existed as one.
Genesis 1:26
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness.”
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness.”
Tri (3) + Unity = Trinity
One key to understanding the “Trinity” is the word itself. Three in unity. That doesn’t mean that God is like a pie chart with three different slices making up the whole. In fact, we can’t separate one of the Persons from the whole.
Some folks make the mistake of thinking of God being “experienced” as three different Persons. Imagine that a woman can be experienced as mother, wife, or daughter … depending on the circumstance. Explaining the Trinity this way is known as Modalism and it’s dangerously wrong.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
Though the word Trinity is not found in the Bible, there are many scripture verses that help reveal the truth of the Trinity. For example, in 1 Peter 1:2, the Apostle Peter immediately details the reality of the Trinity by referring to each Person as God the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John makes it clear that Jesus participated in the creation of the world.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And Jesus was wonderfully clear when He told the disciples that God would send the Person of the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide Christ’s followers after He departed (John 14:26).
In the verse found below Matthew shows how each of the three Persons of God were working as one for the salvation of humanity.
Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Not only do Christians believe that God in one in the three Persons, but this truth is also understood by the enemy.
James 2:19
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
Jesus (God) came to this world to teach us and bring us salvation. The Holy Spirit (God) came to comfort, strengthen, and guide us. The knowledge of the Trinity should give us confidence, hope, and faith to be Christlike and grow closer to God every day!
