The Trinity
I pray that today we would all know God better; in a way that is more robust and meaningful than at anytime in our lives. God is three co-equal and co-eternal persons; the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, known as the Trinity. May the eyes of our hearts be opened so we can understand His nature and character. Through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit I pray we would know the Farther.
Ephesians 1:1-2, “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
STUDY OF THE TRINITY
THE TRINITY DEFINED: The term itself simply means, “tri-unity or three-in-one,” God’s nature is composed of three separate co-eternal persons that share the same divine substance known as the Trinity. God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There are not three separate gods coming together to form one god (like multiple parts making one car) or three individual persons of god each having 1/3 of divinity and together making one god (like a three sliced pie).
There is only one being which is called God and He is triune in His nature. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each fully divine and one in nature, yet separate in personality and function. Think of there being only one “what” and three “who’s.” For example, What is God? One divine all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present being. Who is God? Three separate yet equal persons sharing the divine nature; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
THE THREE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE TRINITY:
- Foundation One: There is only one God worthy of worship who is all knowing, all powerful, and ever present, Isaiah 43:10.
- Foundation Two: Three divine persons claim to be God and act as one God- the Father, the Son (also known as the “Word” and “Jesus”), and the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 13:14.
- Foundation Three: The three divine persons are equal in their nature as God, Matthew 28:19.
PAUL’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRINITY
(1) THE JEWISH SHEMA: Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Paul’s mind was impacted by the Jewish prophets but his heart was led by the Holy Spirit to interpret them in the New Covenant.
(2) GOD AND LORD: Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to separate the two terms “Lord/Yahweh” and “God/Elohim” in the Shema to describe the Father (God) and Son (Lord) both as divine.
- Ephesians 1:2, “2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, “5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”
(3) FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT: Notice in the following four passages from Ephesians Paul’s description of the Trinity working together in the believer’s life.
- Ephesians 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
- Ephesians 2:18-22, “18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
- Ephesians 3:14-17, “14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.”
- Ephesians 4:4-6, “4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
JESUS IS LORD (YAHWEH)
(1) Philippians 2:9-11, “9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
From, Isaiah 45:22-24, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD (Yahweh) alone are deliverance and strength.’” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.”
(2) Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
From, Joel 2:32, “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (Yahweh) will be saved.”
JESUS IS GOD (ELOHIM)
Titus 2:13, “While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:15-20, “15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Hebrews 1:8-9 (Psalm 45:6), “8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LORD
2 Corinthians 3:16-18, “16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
EXTRA VERSES ON THE TRINITY IN PAUL’S WRITINGS
1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
Galatians 4:6, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better! (Ephesians 1:17)
“Humanity was made to know divinity through the Trinity!”