Question 3

Question:

“How many persons are there in God?

Answer (Kids in bold):

“There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.”

Memory Verse:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
– 2 Corinthians 13:14

Commentary:

“It’s like the three parts of an egg”

“It’s like the three stages of water.”

No matter how we try, there are some concepts about God we simply cannot understand. The Trinity is one of them. But before we resign to not understand it, we must try to comprehend it as best we can. There is a Latin phrase, Deus cognosci potest, comprehendi non potest. It means that God is known but not comprehended. So let’s take a moment to know him a bit better.

The word “trinity” or “triune” is not in the Bible. Instead, the Trinity is a concept in Scripture in which God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons which, all three together, make up God. He’s not three Gods, or three types of God, or three roles of God. He is one God in three distinct persons. Three existing in perfect unity, a tri-unity.

Probably the best analogy I’ve ever heard is time. Time exists in the past, present, and future. Each part is time in of themself, but without all three together, time doesn’t exist. You can’t have the past, present, or future without the others.

Before we tune out because this is getting impractical and deep, take a look at why the concept of the Trinity is so important to Christians. In other words, what does this mean in our relationship to God?

Each member of the Trinity has a distinct purpose in our salvation. Throughout Scripture, we see it is God the Father’s plan for our salvation. From the fall of mankind in Genesis 3 through his setting up of the final kingdom in Revelation, our redemption has been part of his plan. It has always been the Son, Jesus Christ, who was to be the sacrifice for us. We come up short in our perfection, so Jesus took on the wrath of God for us. Finally, it is the sealing of the Holy Spirit which sets us apart from the world in that salvation so when the final judgement comes, we are safely adopted into his family.

It’s easy to say we can’t understand the Trinity, so what benefit is there learning about it? When we see the role each members of the Trinity have on our behalf, it should create in us a mentality of worship and awe. As we go through this conversational creed this year, we will look at each of the unique persons of the Trinity in more detail, so I won’t go into particulars here, but it is important that we understand what God is and what he is not.

I think the Athanasian Creed is helpful in this regard. The section on the Trinity is extensive and worth diving into. Take a moment to read each statement.

We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.

Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

The trinitarian nature of God is an incredible mystery. Yet, God still desires for us to know Him and reveals Himself in His trinitarian nature. Though it’s a mystery, we are called to live in faith of it and to understand it in as much as He has revealed it to us. Our minds can’t fully comprehend everything that the Trinity means, but through the Scriptures we can do what the Athanasian creed does – repeat over and over again what the Trinity is and repeat over and over again what it is not.

Resources:

Other Questions for Discussion:

• What does it mean for God to be “the one true and living God,” and how does this trinitarian view differ from that of other religions?
• What makes the doctrine of the Trinity difficult to grasp?
• What are the seven truths that Kevin mentioned in the video that make up the doctrine of the Trinity?
• Despite the lack of the word “Trinity” in the Bible, why do we understand this doctrine to be true?
• What are the roles of each person of the Trinity?
• How does the community found between the persons of the Trinity impact the way we, as believers, consider community?
• Can you reject the doctrine of the Trinity and still be a Christian?
• How does this question relate to and remind us of the gospel?

Prayer:

We worship you, our holy triune God. Thank you for making your incomprehensible nature known to us. We pray that as the church of Jesus Christ we could reflect the unity in diversity that we see in your divine person to the world. Let them see our love for one another and know that this unity is a work of God. We pray to you Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Other Scripture References:

Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Psalm 45:6; John 1:1; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Jude 1:24-25