The Trinity
THE TRINITY
The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God (Deut 6:4; Is 43:11; 44:6; Mark 12:29; 1 Cor 8:4; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 2:5). At the same time, the Bible plainly indicates a plurality within God’s nature, consisting of three eternal and coequal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each the same in basic nature, but distinct in existence.
Although the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is a factual conclusion, reached by comparing and combining relevant scriptural truths “Which things also we speak, not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Cor 2:13). We know that God is the eternal and his ways never change and as well as the fact stated in 1Jn 4:8 that God is Love. Love
ONE OF THE BIBLE’S GREAT MYSTERIES
The Trinity is one of the great mysteries of the Bible that cannot be fathomed by the finite mind. Yet, if God were small enough to fully comprehend, He wouldn’t be big enough to worship. The Bible tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Though we will never fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity, there is no reasonable doubt that it is clearly taught in the Bible.
THE FATHER IS GOD
The Bible teaches that God is all-knowing (Job 37:16; Rom 11:33), all-powerful (Gen 1:1-3; Job 42:2), all-present (Ps 139:7-12), eternal (Ex 3:4; Rev 1:8), unchangeable (Mal 3:6; Jam 1:17), holy (Is 57:15; 1 Peter 1:15-16), righteous and just (Ps 116:5), merciful and gracious (Ps 103:8), and able to forgive sin (Ex 34:6-7; Mark 2:7). The Bible ascribes these characteristics to God alone.
THE SON, JESUS CHRIST, IS GOD
The Bible ascribes the same attributes of God to His Son, Jesus Christ (Matt 1:21-23; 28:18; Luke 5:20-24; Jn 1:1,14; 8:58; 16:30, 17:5; Heb 13:8). Jesus Christ is worshiped (Matt 14:31-33; 28:8; Heb 1:6); He is called God (Is 9:6; Matt 1:21-23; Jn 1:1,14; 20:28), and He can forgive sins (Luke 5:20-24; Jn 10:30-33). These attributes are ascribed to God alone.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
The activities and characteristics of God are attributed to the Holy Spirit (Ps 139:7-10; Luke 1:35; 11:13; Jn 14:26; Heb 9:14). The Holy Spirit is a person (Jn 16:13-15; Rom 8:27; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 12:11), He is Creator (Gen 1:2; Job 33:4), and He is called God (Acts 5:1-11).
A RATIONAL, BIBLICAL CONCLUSION
For the above reasons and more, we are left with no other rational, biblical conclusion than to believe that God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit exist as a Holy Trinity: the one God of the Bible. There is no question of the existence of the Trinity, the only question is one of belief. We should want to know God, not as we think He should be, but simply as the Bible reveals Him to be.