Understanding the Trinity

There have been those who have many questions about the Bible. I would like to share my responses and hope it enlightens others as well.

A student asked this question. Can you give me a basic understanding about the "Trinity"?

To begin lets understand that the actual word "Trinity" cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth of it can. While there's only one God, the Godhead consists of three distinct persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equally omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, and unchanging, but each one has unique functions.

When we study the Bible, Scripture shows how each member of the Trinity fulfills His specific role, and it also reveals how those three roles interrelate. This is an important factor of understanding. Basically in simple terms:

• The Father creates a plan,
  
• Jesus Christ implements the plan, and
  
• The Holy Spirit administers the plan.

To get further clarity one should recognize that the way of redemption showcases these roles in a clear manner. First, The Father designed and organized how mankind would be redeemed (Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) "4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." God set into motion a complex set of events, actions, and prophecies which culminated in the life and death of a Savior, Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son.

The Son carried out the plan (John 6:37-38) "37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." He followed the Father's instructions to come to earth, even though that meant He would have to die. In doing God's Will, Jesus became the single path the the Father.

The Holy Spirit sees to it that every person feels a call toward God's saving grace (Romans 1:19-20) "19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Furthermore, He transforms the lives and hearts of those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in their divine attributes. Yet each relates to mankind in a different way because He has a specific role. It's very important to understand this distinction: We do not have three gods; we have one God in three persons functioning uniquely and perfectly.

Be Blessed.