The Trinity
The word "Trinity" means ‘tri-unity’ or ‘three-in-oneness.’ It is used to summarize the teaching of Scripture that God is three persons yet one God. Essentially, the doctrine of the Trinity teaches these three things:
- There is one God
- God is three individual persons and each is fully God.
- God is a unity (three-in-oneness)
Though the word Trinity is never found in the Bible, the doctrine is. God is a person, eternally existing as a Trinity in unity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and have the same attributes and perfections.
- The Father. God is the Father and creator of all things. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, all-loving, and all-wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all mankind.
- The Son. Jesus is the Son of God. He was supernaturally begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and is truly, totally God and truly, totally man, yet without sin (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:30-36; 2:10-11; John 1:1-15, Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15). He is the only begotten Son of God (John 1;14; 3:16,18; I John 4:9) and at the same time God the Son; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ, sinless, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, Saviour of sinners.
- The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination, He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration, He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
God is one and three persons
There is one God and within God are three personalities. There is one essence and there is one nature. There are three persons. The term ‘God’ normally in scripture relates to, not a particular person the Trinity, but to the essence and nature of God. It refers to ‘deity.’ There are times when ‘God’ is used and elsewhere in the context the Word identifies ‘God’ as one particular person of the Trinity.
1. One God
Where do we see the teaching that we have one God?
- James declares this in James 2:19: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (emphasis mine).
- Paul similarly teaches this in 1 Corinthians 8:4: “4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.“ (emphasis mine).
- Jesus states that he and his father (God) are one in John 10:30-36 - I and [my] Father are one.
The teaching of the entire Scripture is very clear; there is only one God, and therefore, we should not worship any other. And because he is the only God, the Creator, we should love him with all our heart, soul, and might. Nobody else deserves our devotion and the best of our affections except God.
2. Three Individual Persons
The scriptures also teaches that the Trinity is three individual persons (the father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost also known as the Holy Spirit). This can be seen in:
- Matthew 28:19 – 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Corinthians 13:14 – 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
- 1 John 5:7-8 – 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
We have seen this in every place that speaks of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as uniquely and fully God.
3. Distinct
The Bible also teaches that the three persons of the God-head are distinct.
- Identification: There is the obvious, in that there needs to be a way of distinguishing the three members of the Trinity from one another.
- Ministry: There is a specific area of ministry for all three persons of the Trinity. The Father is the Prime mover and planner. The Son is the prime activator. The Holy Spirit is the prime messenger between God and Man.
- Subordination: The three have definite ministries and laces in the overall scheme of the decrees. The Father seems to be the one that set the plan into motion, while the Son is the one that provided the possibility of the plan’s completion, through his shed blood. The spirit is the person that moves in the universe and in man to do the work of the Father.
The Father for five reasons:
- He is the Father of all creation.
- He is the Father of Christ.
- He is the Father of Israel.
- He is the Father of all believers.
- He is the Father of all mankind.
The Son for the following reasons:
- He is the Son of man.
- He is the Son of God. He is completely and totally God.
- He is the Son of Mary. He is completely and totally man.
- He is the Son of David. He is descended from the royal line of David so that he can sit upon David’s throne in the Millennial kingdom.
The Holy Spirit for four reasons:
- He is the Spirit of God. He is in close relation to the Father.
- He is the Spirit of the Lord. He is in close relation to the Son.
- He is the Holy Spirit. He is Himself.
- He is the Spirit of truth.
In conclusion, God the Father is the one over us with the power to judge, God the Son is in front of us with the power to cleanse, and God the Holy Spirit is the one in us with the power to minister to our soul. God is not just the Son and he is not just the Holy Spirit. He is all three.
