Is the Trinity of God a reality or a man-made idea? There are ample references throughout the Bible, to the work of the three Persons of the Godhead.
The Godhead is consubstantial, as they are of the exact same essence and as such inseparable. When you speak to the Father, you speak to the Son and the Holy Spirit, for they are One.
Origin of the Trinity
The term trinity does not appear in the bible as such, but the concept was formalized by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 BC.
Yet, there is plenty of evidence in the Bible of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Each being total God in omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience. That is all powerful, everywhere present and all knowing.
Beyond Human Comprehension
God is a concept that Christians accept by faith. In His totality, He is far beyond human comprehension.
It is no wonder that faith is a gift from God, Ephesians 2:9, for faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1. We need to stop limiting God down to our earthly level and our finite logic.
No Separation
While some claim each Person of the Trinity appear to have different roles, all are involved in what God does. None operate separately. A three-leafed clover is still one piece of clover.
God is total in Himself and can neither be added to, or detracted from. When God gives, nothing is detracted from Him. When God receives, nothing is added to Him.
Trinity in Creation
God spoke and created all things, Genesis 1. Of Jesus it is said, All things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together, Colossians 1:16,17. The Holy Spirit hovered over the surface of the waters, Genesis 1:2.
The plurality of the Godhead is also seen in the creation of man, Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, Genesis 1:26.
Birth of the Messiah
A virgin gave birth to the promised Messiah, Isaiah 7:14. An angel of the Lord said to Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God, Luke 1:35.
The Son came as a man at the directive of the Father. The Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, John 1:1.14.
Baptism and the Trinity
Before Jesus entered His earthly ministry He underwent water baptism by John the Baptist. His task was to prepare the way of the Lord, Isaiah 40:3.
Jesus came to His distant cousin, John, and asked to be baptised. As Jesus came up out of the water the heavens opened and the Spirit, like a dove, descended upon Him and a voice came out of the heavens. You are my beloved son, in You I am well-pleased, Mark 1:10,11.
Crucifixion
The Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16. Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8.
At the Father’s behest Jesus came to earth in the form of a man. He alone had the currency to pay for the redemption of fallen man.
The Son offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father through the Spirit. He empowered, enabled and upheld the Son on the tree, in order to accomplish our redemption.
Trinity in the Resurrection
We see the work of the Trinity in the resurrection. Christ died for the sins of the world once for all, so that He might bring us into a right relationship with God. Having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 1Peter 3:18.
The Spirit raised Christ from the grave, He then appeared unto Mary in the garden and said, Stop clinging to Me for I have not yet ascended to the Father, John 20:17. The resurrected Lord needed to present the finished work to the Father just as the Old Testament High Priest presented sacrifices to Yawheh. Was the Ark of the Covenant in heaven sprinkled with the shed blood of the Lamb?
Trinity in Salvation
Calling fallen man to receive God’s gift of salvation, Ephesians 2:8,9, involves all three Persons and the work of the Trinity.
No man can come unto Me except the Father which has sent me, draw him, John 6:44. Jesus said, Come unto Me all you that labour and are heavy laden, Matthew 11:28. The Spirit and the bride say, Come, Revelation 22:17.
Indwelling Trinity
God walked with Adam, He then appeared in the Old Testament as a theophany, in the form of the pre-incarnate Christ. Jesus became a man and walked with His disciples until He returned to heaven. Then came the greatest wonder.
Jesus said, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My father will love him and We will come to him and make Our abode with him, John 14:23. This is the same ‘We’ in whose image man was created.
Ongoing Work
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you, John 14:26. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches and helps us to understand the Word of God.
Jesus’ final words to His disciples were, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19.
Admonition from Paul
Paul closed his letter to the Corinthians with The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, 2 Cor 13:14.
It is time we stopped thinking we pray to one or the other of the Godhead. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit David wrote, The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet, Psalm 110:1. All three are firmly involved in the redemption, justification, and sanctification of man.
The Trinity of God a Reality
When we pray, we pray to all three Persons of the Godhead. If you ask the Father for anything in My name He will give it to you, John 16:23. But, we pray at the prodding of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for the believers, Romans 8:34. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, Romans 8:26, as the Father calls us into a covenantal relationship with Him.
Everywhere you look in the Bible you find instances of the Trinity of God as an absolute reality.
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