Trinity: Triune God

 The doctrine of the Trinity or the Triune God is a central mystery of the Christian faith. It reveals one God in three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal Persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

While the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, the truth of it is woven throughout Scripture. Here is an explanation supported by key verses.

Key Scriptural Foundations

The Bible establishes this truth in several ways:

1. The Oneness of God: There is only one true God.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" - Deuteronomy 6:4 (NKJV)

2. The Three Persons Are Distinct: All three Persons are present and active at the same time,demonstrating their distinct personhood.

· At Jesus’s Baptism:

  "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water... and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" - Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV)

  · The Father speaks from heaven.

  · The Son is being baptized.

  · The Spirit descends like a dove.

· The Great Commission:

  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

  · Note it says "name" (singular), not "names." One essence, three Persons.

3. The Deity of Each Person:

· The Father is God: This is clear throughout Scripture (e.g., 1 Corinthians 8:6).

· The Son (Jesus) is God:

  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." - John 1:1, 14 (NKJV) > "Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" - John 20:28 (NKJV)

· The Holy Spirit is God: The Spirit possesses the attributes of God, such as omniscience and eternity.

  "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God.'" - Acts 5:3-4 (NKJV)

An Analogy (with a caveat)

All human analogies for the Trinity fall short, but they can be helpful. Consider:

· Water: It can exist in three distinct forms—solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam)—yet all are H₂O.

· The Sun: The sun itself (Father), the light that shines from it (Son), and the heat that comes with the light (Spirit). All are one, yet distinct.

The Caveat: These are imperfect. God is not one Person who changes forms (that is Modalism, a heresy). He is one Being in three Persons who eternally exist and relate to one another in love.

A Poem: "The Triune God"

Here is a poem attempting to capture the wonder of our Three-in-One God.

"The Triune God"

Before the dawn of time and space, Before the human race, There was not loneliness,but Love, In glorious light above.

A perfect, holy community, A divine,eternal unity. The Father’s heart,the Spirit’s flow, The Word who is God,we’ve come to know.

The Father spoke the world to be, He set the stars and filled the sea. He planned redemption’s costly price, A perfect,holy sacrifice.

The Son obeyed, “Behold, I come!” He left His throne,He was undone. He took on flesh,He lived, He died, The Father’s wrath was satisfied.

The Spirit brooded at the start, He breathes new life within the heart. He comforts,guides, and makes us new, And seals God’s promise,firm and true.

One God in Three, and Three in One, A mystery‘neath the sun. Not three in number,one in name, But one in essence,forever the same.

The Father’s will, the Son’s embrace, The Spirit’s power,amazing grace. We worship You—the One,the Three, For all eternity.

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A Simple Prayer to the Triune God:

Heavenly Father, We praise you as the Creator and Author of all life.Your love devised the plan of salvation.

Lord Jesus Christ, We thank you as the Redeemer.You humbled yourself, became man, and died for our sins, revealing the Father’s heart to us.

Holy Spirit, We welcome you as our Comforter and Sanctifier.You apply the work of Christ to our lives, convict us of sin, and empower us to live for God.

One God, Holy Trinity, we adore you. Help us to know you more deeply and to live in the truth of your gracious nature.

Amen.