This leads us to take a closer look at a very useful definition of the Trinity that I mentioned earlier: God is one in essence, but three in person. This formulation can show us why there are not three gods and why the Trinity is not a contradiction. And we have to be honest enough to say, “No, it`s not, it`s a deep secret.” And yet it is so clearly revealed that Jesus is in the water to be baptized, that the Father speaks from heaven, that the Holy Spirit descends upon him like a dove, and that we are there. The reality of his experience of Gethsemane is so explained, the difference between who he is as a son and the father looking down on his son. In fact, I think in one part of the book, and this came to mind because it struck me, I think in one part, Sinclair suggests that when Jesus finally said, “But not my will, but your will be done,” Sinclair says, “And here we have the Father singing, `My Jesus, I love you. I know you`re mine. And it`s a wonderful thought of the interaction between father and son, but it`s difficult. – Pastor Alistar Begg C. The Trinity teaches us that God is beyond all human understanding. After all, if we could explain God, He would not be God. I have no doubt that God is much more than “one in essence, three in person,” but since I can`t even understand these simple phrases, I don`t worry at all about what might be true about God. If you feel stunned by the Trinity, join the crowd. The greatest minds in history have stood amazed at a God so great that he cannot be contained by our meager explanations.
Someone put it this way: If you try to explain the Trinity, you will lose your mind. But if you deny it, you will lose your soul. Let`s take a look at the definition of the Trinity and what the role of the Trinity is today. As far as the Trinity is concerned, we use the term “person” differently than we generally use in everyday life. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of the person as we use it in relation to the Trinity. What we do not mean by anyone is an “independent individual” in the sense that I and another human being are separate and independent individuals who can exist separately from each other. All these analogies try to explain how an entity can be three people at the same time. Without definition, however, the effect of such illustrations is ineffective. Illustrations should only be used to demonstrate a definition.
Many Christians begin to mistakenly explain the Trinity without first giving a correct definition. A closer look at the fact that God is essentially one, but three in person, has helped to show why the Trinity is not a contradiction. But how does this show us why there is only one God instead of three? It is simple: we believe in a living and true God who is the Creator of heaven and earth; Who is eternal, omnipotent, immutable, infinitely powerful, wise, just and holy. While I`m sure this statement is biblically correct, I also understand that it can be very intimidating. Let`s break it down into six small statements about the Trinity that are easier to understand: There are many places we could go to find a proper definition. Each of the great ecumenical creeds would serve us well in this regard. However, let`s stay closer to home and simply reprint article B – The true God of Calvary Memorial Church`s Articles of Faith. My favorite illustration is that of the famous scientist Henry Morris.
He declares that the entire universe is intrinsically Trinitarian. The universe consists of three things: matter, space and time. Remove one of these three and the universe would cease to exist. But each of them is itself a trinity. At this point, I think we should recognize the main objection to the doctrine of the Trinity, which is that it is absurd. Sometimes Jehovah`s Witnesses (who demonstratively deny the Trinity) scoff at this little equation: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. In their minds, Christians worship three gods, not one. The answer is quite simple.
The doctrine of the Trinity is not absurd if that is what the Bible teaches. In addition, there is more than one way to play with equations. You could also put it this way: 1 x 1 x 1 = 1! The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who exists eternally as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In other words, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are different persons, (2) each person is perfectly God, (3) there is only one God. Any description of the Trinity must contain two basic elements. First, he must affirm that there is an eternal God. Second, he must affirm that this God has always existed in three persons.
This is why theologians use the Trinity to describe this “three in one” of God. He is one god (uni- means “one”) and three persons (tri- means “three”). Therefore, it is Trinitarian. An example of a basic statement of the Trinity describes God as “three different persons in one divine essence.” [13] A similar statement confirms that “God exists as three persons, but he is one God.” [14] Ultimately, the Trinity should be defined as an eternal God who exists in three eternal and equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To explain the Trinity, we first need a definition. Footnotes: (1) Genesis 1:26–27 (2) John 8:56–59 (3) John 5:16–18 (4) Barry Adams, The Kingdom Belongs to Little Children, 40. (5) Deuteronomy 6:4 (6) Isaiah 45:5 (7) 1 Corinthians 8:4 (8) Matthew 3:16-17 (9) Matthew 28:19 (10) John 10:30 (11) John 14:9 (12) John 12:45 (13) Romans 8:9 (14) Matthew 1:20 (15) Luke 1:35 (16) John 14:16-17, 23 The personality of each member of the Trinity means that each person has a specific center of consciousness. This is how they relate personally to each other—the Father sees Himself as “me,” while He sees the Son and the Holy Ghost as “you.” In the same way, the Son sees Himself as “me,” but the Father and the Holy Ghost as “you.” “Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, three we call you; While we are essentially one undivided God, we claim you.
So worship, bend the knee and confess the mystery. You and I live in a three-dimensional world. All physical objects have a certain height, width and depth. A person may look like someone else, or act like someone else, or even sound like someone else. But one person can`t really be the same as another. They are different individuals. The late theologian Herman Bavinck said something very useful at this point: “Persons are modes of existence in being; As a result, people differ from each other in how one mode of existence differs from the other, and – to use a common illustration – how the open palm differs from a closed fist. [4] The Trinity should lead us to bow in humble worship before a God greater than our spirit could ever comprehend. The Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit explainedArmor of God – What is it and how to use itWhat is agape love? What is salvation? The Holy GhostWhat is sin? The doctrine of the Trinity is fundamental to the Christian faith. It is crucial to fully understand what God looks like, how He relates to us, and how we should deal with Him. Isaiah 48:16 seems to refer explicitly to the three persons of the Trinity (with my additions in parentheses): “And now the sovereign Lord (the Father) has sent me (the Son) with His Spirit (the Holy Ghost).” I am not suggesting that Isaiah fully understood the Trinity or that Jewish readers understood what it meant, but I think we can say in light of the New Testament that it seems to be a clear statement of the Trinity in the Old Testament.
