How Can There Be One God in Three Persons?
The term "Trinity" is not present in the Bible; it is a concept from the second century that is not explicitly detailed in the scriptures. Despite this, the Bible does not provide a comprehensive statement on the Trinity doctrine. Consequently, the question arises: why should one consider the Trinity a doctrine rooted in the Bible?
In essence, biblical authors assert the existence of only one God while simultaneously acknowledging three distinct entities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each referred to as "God." The New Testament, while maintaining the oneness of God, distinguishes Jesus Christ as the divine Son, separate from God the Father. It further distinguishes the Holy Spirit as a divine entity, separate from both the Father and the Son. These assertions compel us to develop a theological doctrine that encompasses these aspects, leading to the formulation of the Trinity doctrine.
All Doctrine Must Be Derived from the Bible
At the outset, we must state that any belief about the Trinity must come from the Bible and the Bible alone. It is the only authoritative source to discover answers about God and His nature. The Bible, by itself, must answer the question as to whether or not there is a Trinity. Tradition, or the pronouncements of some church authority, does not make the Trinity doctrine true. Scripture alone must be our guide.
The concept of the Trinity can only be understood through divine revelation. Furthermore, the doctrine of the Trinity is accessible solely by this revelation, beyond the grasp of human reason. The inner workings and nature of God are known to us because God has chosen to reveal them to humanity. Thus, the Trinity is a doctrine disclosed to humankind through the Scriptures, not derived from human reasoning.
The Definition of the Trinity
The word Trinity means tri-unity or three-in-oneness. It is used to explain the God who is revealed in Scripture. The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who exists. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. However, within the nature of this one God are three Persons or three centers of consciousness. They are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are co-equal and co-eternal.
They are also distinguishable, or distinct from one another. These three distinct Persons are the one God. In other words, everything that is true about God is true about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, God is one in essence, but three in Persons. While the Bible teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, it is wrong to say that God is the Father, God is the Son, or God is the Holy Spirit.
The nature of God is comprised of three distinct Persons, making it inaccurate to confine God to a single entity within the Trinity. Moreover, despite there being three centers of consciousness, they share one divine and harmonious will. The triune members of the Godhead always act in unity, not independently.
The Trinity: One God in Three Persons
The Bible says that only one God exists—there are no others. The one God is infinite, eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He is also a personal living Spirit. There is something else—this one God consists of three distinct eternal Persons or centers of consciousness. They are God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. All three are a tri-unity, working together to accomplish the divine design and purpose in the universe. The fact that one God exists in three Persons is known as the Doctrine of the Trinity.
This difficult doctrine needs to be understood as best as we possibly can. We will look extensively at what the Bible says regarding God’s triune nature. We will find that each distinct Person in the Trinity has attributes, or characteristics, that belong to God alone. In addition, each member of the Trinity does things only God can do. We will also look at how the different members of the Trinity work together in the various ministries that God performs.
Understanding The Nature of the God of Scripture
Each has a particular function within the Godhead. We must understand the role of each member of the Trinity. In addition, we will find that the doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. Without the Trinity, there is no salvation for humanity, no forgiveness of sins, and no guidance for believers today.
Consequently, the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to Christianity. It is indeed one of the most important doctrines that a Christian needs to understand. The Tri-Unity of God is holy ground because it discusses the nature of the one, true, God. Consequently, we should approach this special subject with all humility and reverence.
There Is Only One God That Exists
Foundational to the doctrine of the Trinity is the biblical teaching of the existence of only one God. No other so-called god has any genuine existence. Trinitarians, those who believe in the Trinity, are emphatic that only one God exists. Furthermore, the essence of God cannot be divided. God, by nature, is spirit—He has no physical form. It is not possible to divide up the spirit. The God of the Bible is one single eternal, infinite being who is indivisible— that is impossible to divide.
There Is ONE God
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
"Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one" (Galatians 3:20).
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!"(Deuteronomy 6:4).
"Therefore, concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4).
He wrote the following to the Corinthians about the fact that only one God exists:
"So now, what about it? Should we eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God and no other. According to some people, there are many so-called gods and many lords, both in heaven and on earth. But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life"(1 Corinthians 8:4-6 NLT).
According to Paul, there is no other God. In another place, Paul again said that there is only one Lord, one God. When he wrote to the Ephesians he said:
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4- 6 NET).
The Trinity Consists of THREE Persons
The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. These three persons are God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods. Remember when studying this subject that the word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. But the concept, meaning, and reality are throughout the Bible. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who are God. God is a Trinity. He is three in one, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. God is one and expresses Himself as three persons having personalities and roles or tasks. This Holy Trinity is (present), has always been (past), and will be forevermore (future) God Almighty.
In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for “us” is used. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun “us” are plural forms, definitely referring in the Hebrew language to more than two. While this is not an explicit argument for the Trinity, it does denote the aspect of plurality in God. The Hebrew word for "God," "Elohim," definitely allows for the Trinity. The Trinity consists of three Persons (Isaiah 6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26).
"Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever—” (Genesis 3:22).
"Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” (Genesis 11:7).
Each Person of the Trinity is God
The Bible conveys that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each God. They are all referred to as God, embody attributes unique to God, and carry out deeds only God can do. The divine essence resides in each of these Persons. The Father is fully God, the Son is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God. Jesus is distinct from the Father yet is truly God, as is the Father. This truth also applies to the Holy Spirit.
The Father is God.
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal” (John 6:27).
"To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7).
"According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure" (1 Peter 1:2).
The Son (Jesus Christ) 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 (Jesus), and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1, 14).
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
The Holy Spirit is God.
"Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:4b).
"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Trinity Distinguished From One Another
The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages. In the Old Testament, “LORD” is distinguished from “Lord.”
"Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24).
"And the Lord said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel" (Hosea 1:4).
The LORD God Has a SON
For example, Jesus prayed to God the Father, He did not pray to Himself. At His baptism, the voice of the Father spoke in an approving way of Jesus—it was not Jesus who spoke of Himself. Therefore, the three Persons should not be confused with one another. In other words, they are distinguishable.
"I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You" (Psalm 2:7). "Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:12).
The following describes Scriptures showing the event of Jesus’ baptismal indicating the Triune God.
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
"Surely I am more stupid than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man. Neither have I learned wisdom, nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!" (Proverbs 30:2-4).
The Holy Spirit is distinguished from the “LORD” and from “GOD.”
"So, the Lord said to Moses, take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him" (Numbers 27:18).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12).
God the Son is distinguished from God the Father
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows" (Psalm 45:6-7).
But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions” (Hebrews 1:8-9).
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit.
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you"(John 14:16-17).
This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also the other instances when Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He talking to Himself? No. He spoke to another Person in the Trinity—the Father.
Important Clarifications of the Doctrine of the Trinity
Some much-needed clarifications should be made about the Trinity. They include the following.
Each Person Is Fully God and Equal in Importance
All three Persons of the Trinity are fully God. Each is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present. In addition, each member of the Trinity is of equal importance. Christians often overlook the importance of the Father, and the Holy Spirit because Jesus, God the Son is where our faith centers. He is the one who became a human being, suffered for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead. He is the one who will return to the earth and set up His everlasting kingdom. Eternal life will be based upon how we view Him.
Consequently, Jesus Christ is central to the heart of the believer. However, we must realize that each member of the Trinity is of equal importance. They are equal in dignity, majesty, glory, and power, but different in the roles in which they have.
Each Person is Distinct in Their Roles
The members of the Trinity have distinct roles. Although they are all equally God, they have different functions within the Godhead. For example, the Father is the one who sends, while the Son, Jesus Christ, is the One who was sent. It is the Holy Spirit who has been sent to testify of Jesus.
Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal to God the Father in essence. Yet, they are subordinate in their relationship and roles. Being subordinate in a role does not imply inferiority in nature. It is vital to grasp this distinction.
3 Scriptural Examples
“For God (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 also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:22).
"By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:13).
There Are No Analogies of the Trinity in Nature
The notion of three centers of consciousness, or three separate entities, is unique in human experience and the natural world. Attempts to draw parallels between the Trinity and other phenomena inevitably fall short. This is true for analogies that liken the Trinity to a human with intellect, emotions, and will, which are not comparable to the Triune God's three distinct centers of consciousness. Therefore, it is most precise to recognize that the Trinity transcends any analogy within our grasp.
The Doctrine of the Trinity is Unique to Christianity
The doctrine of the Trinity is unique to the Christian faith. While other monotheistic religions like Judaism and Islam believe in one God, they do not embrace a Trinity doctrine. Indeed, no other religion possesses a doctrine identical to the Trinity. The belief that polytheistic religions share a similar concept is a misconception of the Biblical teachings on the nature of God.
Christianity upholds the belief and teaching that there is only one God, not three separate gods. It also proclaims that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are this one God. The simultaneous existence of God as three and one is not a contradiction but rather a divine mystery, as revealed by the God of the Bible regarding His nature.
Eternal Generation and Procession
There seems to be a subordination within the Trinity. Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father and the Son, and the Son is subordinate to the Father. This is an internal relationship and does not deny the deity of any Person of the Trinity. It does indicate different works, roles, and functions which all manifest the will of One God in three Persons.
In What Ways Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Important for Christian Belief?
While Bible-believing Christians confess to believing the doctrine of the Trinity, many people do not understand its importance. Indeed, it seems that belief in the Trinity is something that we hold to, but we do not understand why it is significant, or how it can affect our daily living. Consequently, the idea of the Trinity is not at the center of our thinking about God.
The Doctrine of the Trinity is fundamental to the Christian faith. It is central to Christianity; without the Trinity, Christianity itself would not exist. This concept is reflected in various aspects of the faith, such as trusting in the Bible, Jesus, Salvation from sin, Jesus' ability to save us, and the assurance of Salvation.
The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Crucial If We Are to Trust the Bible
To begin with, if humans are to trust the Bible as the written Word of God, then the doctrine of the Trinity needs to be true. Why? It is because the Scripture says that the Holy Spirit is the One who reveals the things of God to the human race. Peter wrote the following words to the believers in his day.
"First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation. No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God’s direction" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Peter said that no prophecy ever had its origination with human beings but rather it originated with the Holy Spirit. He is the One who ultimately directed everything contained in Scripture. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, He emphasized that the only one who fully knows the truth of God is God Himself. He put it this way:
"God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God. After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Paul says that the only one who knows a person is that person himself. In the same manner, the only person who knows who God is, or what He is thinking, is God Himself.
The Bible is presented as a written revelation from God, with the Holy Spirit as its ultimate source. It is the Holy Spirit who guides the authors of Scripture in documenting divine truths. However, if the Holy Spirit were not God, He would not possess knowledge of God's thoughts, potentially leading to errors. Under such circumstances, humans could not trust the written Word of God, nor could they be sure it reflects God's true intentions.
Hence, it is essential to recognize that the Holy Spirit shares the same essence as God, as affirmed by Scripture.
The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Essential for Us to Trust Jesus
Not only is the doctrine of the Trinity essential for us to trust the Bible, but it is also essential if we are to trust Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not God, then we would have no guarantee that His teachings were true. The stakes could not be higher. For example, the entire thrust of the New Testament message is that Jesus Christ came to reveal God to humanity. John wrote:
"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God (Jesus) who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (John 1:18).
Here is the claim: Jesus, who is Himself God, came to earth to reveal God to us. If we want to know what God is like, then all we have to do is look to Jesus.
However, if Jesus were somehow lesser in nature than God the Father, then certainty in His representation of God would be unattainable. As previously discussed regarding the Holy Spirit, only the individual can truly know their own thoughts. If Jesus is not God, our confidence in His accurate revelation of God's thoughts would be compromised. Indeed, if Jesus were lesser in character than God, He may have misunderstood God’s thoughts or .
The Bible's clear teaching that Jesus Christ is God eliminates any problem. This underscores the significance of the Trinity doctrine. Jesus, as God the Son, shares the same essence with God, a truth that also applies to the Holy Spirit. Thus, when they communicate, it is on behalf of God. They possess an accurate understanding of God's truth and can impart it to us. Hence, we can trust fully in all that Jesus proclaimed and instructed, as well as in the written Word of God, which is ultimately guided by the Holy Spirit.
Without the Doctrine of the Trinity, There Is No Salvation from Sin
A third reason why the doctrine of the Trinity holds paramount importance in Christian faith pertains to the salvation of our souls. According to the Bible, humans have sinned against a holy God, and sin requires punishment. The penalty for wrongdoing must be paid with life. The Gospel proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ, God the Son, bore the penalty for our sins on the cross at Calvary.
Since He died as our substitute, we are spared from God's punishment for sin. This is contingent on Jesus being fully divine and fully human. The reason is that sin's penalty and guilt affect all humanity, which has transgressed against a holy God. Therefore, only a human could atone for another's sins. Animals, angels, or other supernatural beings could not achieve this. For Jesus to be the ideal sacrifice and meet God's just requirements, He needed to be fully human.
Jesus Must Be Fully God for Our Salvation to Be Accomplished
Simply being fully human is insufficient. Jesus is also required to be God Himself, fully divine. No mere human can atone for their own sins, let alone the sins of the entire world. Thus, the one who redeems us from our sins must be God Himself. Without this divinity, the act of sacrificing one's life for others would hold no value.
This is where the doctrine of the Trinity is of vital importance. Unless Jesus is fully God, we cannot have forgiveness for our sins. His nature must be greater than the nature of human beings, and the nature of angels. He must be of equal nature with God the Father—if His sacrifice is to be sufficient.
Hence, if Jesus Christ is not the Son of God, then the certainty of our salvation through His crucifixion would be in question. This underlines why the doctrine of the Trinity holds such significant weight for humanity. Jesus Christ must be God Himself to ensure that our redemption from sin is achieved through His death. The Bible affirms that Jesus is indeed God.
The Holy Spirit Must Be God Himself for Our Salvation to Be Assured
The significance of the Trinity in our deliverance from sin encompasses the role of the Holy Spirit. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit enters the life of the believer at the moment of placing faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. He is responsible for our regeneration. Moreover, He remains within us and guides us throughout our entire Christian journey.
If the Holy Spirit is not fully divine, then the authenticity of our conversion and the reality of our Christian experience could be in doubt. Should the Holy Spirit be lesser than the Father and the Son, our confidence in true salvation from sin, or in performing His will, would be undermined. The Holy Spirit must be equal to God the Father and God the Son, not only in nature but also in purpose, to ensure the certainty of our redemption from sin.
Divine Attributes, Or Characteristics, Ascribed to Each Member of the Trinity
The Bible indeed teaches that each member of the Trinity possesses divine attributes and characteristics unique to God. Each one is directly referred to as God, and divine attributes are ascribed to them.
Omnipotent- They Are All-Powerful
Scripture affirms God’s omnipotence, He is all-powerful, by saying that God does whatever he is pleased to do.
"But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalms 115:3).
Nothing is too hard for him.
"Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son” (Gen 18:14).
His word is never void of power, so everything in creation obeys him when he speaks.
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Isiah 55:11).
Of course, creatures do disobey him in one sense; that is the essence of sin. But God has control even over sinful actions.
"So, then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires" (Romans 9:18).
He ordains sinful, disobedient actions for his good purposes. So, his word always prevails, and we can trust that His prophecies always come to pass.
"You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).
Often we infer from these passages that God “can do anything.” But that doesn’t quite reflect the full biblical teaching. There are things that God cannot do. He cannot lie.
"In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" (Titus 1:2),
Similarly, He cannot commit any immoral acts. As God is the epitome of holiness and goodness, He is incapable of evil. Being the embodiment of perfect truth, He cannot engage in logical contradictions, such as creating round squares. His truth is the absolute alignment of thought and deed.
So how should we define God’s omnipotence more precisely? I think the most helpful definition of God’s omnipotence is this: that he has complete and total control over everything, this includes the smallest details of the natural world, like the falling of a sparrow or the number of hairs that grow on your head.
"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" (Matthew 6:30).
"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:29-30).
Even the events we call random, that we ascribe to chance, are really God at work.
"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord"(Proverbs 16:33).
That includes not only the small things but also the big things. He determines what nations will dwell in which territory.
"And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 17:26).
He decides what king is to rule, and when, and where.
"It is I who says of Cyrus (the King), ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.” (Isaiah 44:28).
He decides whether the purposes of a ruler will stand or fall.
"The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation" (Psa 33:10-11).
And he decided, once, that wicked people would take the life of his dear Son so that we sinners might live.
"This Man (Jesus), delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power" (Acts 2:23-24).
God rules not only the important events of human history but also the lives of individual people. He knits us together in our mothers’ wombs.
"For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them" (Psalms 139:13-16).
He decides whether we will travel or stay home.
"Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:15-17).
He controls even the decisions of wicked people, as we saw above. But he also exerts his power to save sinners, to bring forgiveness and new life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Our salvation is entirely the work of God’s power, not at all our own work. We believe in Christ because he has appointed us to eternal life
"When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48).
and because he has opened our hearts to believe.
"For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29).
So, his power is universal: it controls everything in the universe.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
"Also. we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11).
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen"(Romans 11:33-36).
Each Person of the Trinity is Omnipotent
Scripture teaches that the members of the Trinity are omnipotent. The Father possesses all power, and Jesus has declared His ability to safeguard the salvation of believers. John records Jesus' statements regarding this subject.
"My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father" (John 10:29).
No force can separate a believer from God the Father. He has the power to save and preserve those who place their trust in Jesus Christ, owing to His omnipotence. Jesus was also all-powerful when He made the following claim recorded in Matthew’s gospel:
"Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
All authority resides with Him. Such a declaration could only come from God. While angels, other supernatural beings, and humans might receive a measure of authority, none possess it in its entirety.
The Holy Spirit is all-powerful. Paul told the church in Rome that he preached and worked miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God—all by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ all the way from Jerusalem clear over into Illyricum" (Romans 15:19).
Paul's ability to perform miracles was attributed to the power of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit, alongside God the Father and God the Son, possesses omnipotence. This attribute of being all-powerful is exclusive to God. Therefore, since all three persons are omnipotent, each one is recognized as God.
Omniscient- Each Member of the Trinity Is All-Knowing
Omniscient means knowing all things; universal knowledge. This word comes from two Latin roots: “omnis” which means “all” and “scientia” which means “knowledge.” When Christians say God is omniscient, they mean that God knows all things — the past, present, and future. God is the source of all knowledge.
God's power and knowledge is purposeful and goal-oriented, not arbitrary. With a universal scope, God's knowledge encompasses all: His intentions, His creation, and the span of history. He is aware of every possibility within any circumstance. God understands each individual's thoughts even before they form. His knowledge is boundless. Recognizing God's omniscience can inspire trust in His will, His Word, and His timing. While we may not grasp everything, God does.
“He is omniscient, which means that He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, all relationships, all events” (A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God).
Each Person of the Trinity is Omniscient
Having all knowledge, or being omniscient, is attributed to each of the members of the Trinity. The evidence from the Scripture is as follows. God the Father knows all things. He is omniscient. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said the following about the Father:
"Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:8).
The Father knows what we are going to ask Him before we even ask it! This is because the Father knows everything.
God the Son has all knowledge. This was acknowledged by Simon Peter. He said the following to Jesus after His resurrection from the dead:
"He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep" (John 21:17).
Peter acknowledged that the risen Christ knows all things. Jesus, who always corrected errors in His presence, did not correct Peter here. The Son does indeed have all knowledge.
God the Holy Spirit is all-knowing. Jesus said the following to His disciples on the night that He was betrayed:
"But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you" (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit could instruct Jesus' disciples in all matters because of His omniscience. If He lacked knowledge of "all things," He wouldn't be able to remind the disciples of Jesus' teachings or guide them into "all truth." His ability to do so further confirms His omniscience, a trait unique to God. No human, angel, or any other being possesses this attribute. The ascription of complete knowledge to each member of the Trinity further substantiates their divinity.
Omnipresent- Each Member of the Trinity Is Everywhere Present
God’s omnipresence—His presence in every place and time. God is here with us, really here, not absent. God does not have a body; he is immaterial. So how can we tell when God is present or absent?
Scripture states that God is omnipresent, as His power and knowledge extend everywhere. If every occurrence is shaped by God's power and He possesses complete knowledge of all that transpires, then He is indeed present in every event. His presence, however, differs from that of physical entities. Thus, God's omnipotence and omniscience necessitate His omnipresence.
His omnipresence is a presence both in place and in time, Psalm 139, indicates that God is present in every place. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and so he is in every location. He is also the creator of time, the one without a beginning or end. So, he has been present in the world since its creation, and there will never be a time from which he is absent. In Scripture, he freely enters history and interacts with creatures. Supremely, he entered human history in Jesus Christ, where he died and rose again to save us from our sins.
God's omnipresence transcends mere theory; it is a cherished reality of redemption. Despite our sins and the judgment, we merit, God approaches His faithful and proclaims, "I will be with you." This assures us that God is present in our midst and advocates for us. He stands with us not to condemn, but to offer forgiveness and deliverance from sin.
So, this “with you,” this redeeming divine presence, is found often in Scripture as his gracious promise. To Isaac, God said
“I will be with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:3),
and that language often forms the basis of God’s redemptive covenant. The heart of the covenant, God’s redemptive promise, is that “I will be your God, and you will be my people,” a precious togetherness of God with his people
"For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2 Corinthians 6:16).
It should not surprise us that a biblical name for Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
As the Old Testament tabernacle was a place for God to dwell with his people, so Jesus, the Son of God, “tabernacled among us”
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14).
Each Person of the Trinity is Omnipresent
Each member of the Trinity is said to be omnipresent, or everywhere present. The evidence is as follows. God The Father Is Everywhere Present Jesus stated that God the Father is everywhere present in the universe. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
'When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you (Matthew 6:6).
There is no place where one can hide from God the Father. He is everywhere present. He hears and sees us in our private rooms when we are praying to Him.
God the Son is also everywhere present. Jesus said the following to His disciples as He sent them out to preach His message to the world:
"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
He is with every believer, at every place, and at every moment. He will never leave us. He is everywhere present.
In the same manner, the Holy Spirit is present everywhere in the universe. The psalmist recognized that there was no place where he could go to flee from Spirit’s presence. He put it this way:
"I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7).
He could never escape from the presence of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is everywhere present. Again, we emphasize that it is God, and God alone, who is everywhere present. If the Father, Son. and Holy Spirit are everywhere present, then each one of them must be God.
Immutable- They Are Unchanging
The immutability of God (His quality of not changing) is clearly taught throughout Scripture. For example, in Malachi 3:6 God affirms, "I the Lord do not change." Because of the Immutability of God: His Word is reliable, His purpose is unalterable, His judgments are irrevocable, His Love is unbreakable, and His character is unchangeable.
"I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God." (Ezekiel 24:14).
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit do not change in their basic character. nature, or essence.
Scripture emphasizes that God the Father does not change.
"Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed"(Malachi 3:6 CSB).
The Lord Himself made this claim—He does not change!
In the New Testament, the writer James emphasized this same fact:
"Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning" (James 1:17).
The character of God the Father is unchanging. He remains the same Person He has always been.
Jesus Christ likewise always remains the same. The writer to the Hebrews made this plain with the following statement:
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
The fact that Jesus Christ does not change is another indication He is the eternal God. God does not ever change in His character.
We are told that the Holy Spirit is also unchanging. The Lord said:
"My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid" (Haggai 2:5).
Once more, we observe that the three distinct entities of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—possess this unique attribute of God alone. They remain constant in their fundamental nature and character.
Eternal- All Three Persons of the Trinity are Eternal
They have had no beginning, and they will have no end. God The Father Has Existed Forever God the Father has existed for all eternity. When Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus, he spoke of the Father choosing us in Him before the foundation of the world:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:3-4).
The Father has existed for all eternity. He made certain choices or decisions before the world was formed. This is the world that He created.
God the Son did not have a beginning. In the first verse of the Gospel of John, he wrote the following about Jesus:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).
God the Son, Jesus, has existed eternally. In other words, there was never a time when He did not exist. At the very beginning of all things about this universe the Son of God was already in existence.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)"
The Holy Spirit is also eternal. The writer to the Hebrews declared the following about the nature of the Spirit of God:
"Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins" (Hebrews 9:14).
He is called “the eternal Spirit.” Since eternal existence is limited to God alone, the Holy Spirit must be God. Therefore, like the Father and the Son, we have direct statements about the nature of the Holy Spirit that leads us to the conclusion that He is God.
Divine Works Attributed to Each Member of the Trinity
Each member of the Holy Trinity is referred to as God, endowed with attributes that only God possesses. A closer look at the Scriptures reveals that each person of the Trinity engages in divine acts or roles. The Scriptures specify works uniquely attributed to each member of the Trinity.
Each Person of the Trinity Was Involved in Creating the Universe
The Bible says that each member of the Trinity was involved in the creation process. Apostle Paul said God the Father was the Creator. He wrote the following to the Corinthians:
"But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him (1 Corinthians 8:6).
Paul says that God the Father created everything. Apostle, John wrote that God the Son is the Creator:
"All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created" (John 1:3).
Jesus made all things. We find that apart from Jesus Christ there was nothing which was created. He made everything! The Apostle Paul also wrote about the involvement of Jesus in creation. He said:
"For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him"(Colossians 1:16).
Jesus made all things “in heaven and on earth.” This is the way the biblical writers describe the entire universe. In other words, Jesus created the universe.
The Holy Spirit was also involved in the creative process. In the Book of Job, we are told that He is the one who gives life. Job stated it this way:
"The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (Job 33:4).
The Spirit is the one who gives life. Yet, in the Book of Genesis, we are told that God is the one who gave life to the first man, Adam:
"Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7).
The conclusion is that the Spirit must also be the Creator God. Although each is the Creator, there is only one Creator. The psalmist testified that the Lord has made us:
"Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are His—His people, the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3).
The Lord is the One who has made us. He is the Creator. This is another indication that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the one God. They are the Lord.
Each Person of the Trinity Is a Lawgiver
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all Lawgivers. Paul speaks of the law of God in the following manner:
"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, I am a slave to the law of sin" (Romans 7:25).
in this case, God would be referring to God the Father.
Scripture also speaks of the “Law of Christ.” Paul wrote about this to the Galatians:
"Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ"(Galatians 6:2).
This is a law that originates with Jesus Christ. This is different from the Law of Moses. Moses was given the law by God to give to the people. He did not originate it. However, the law of Christ is a law that originates with Him. Only God can originate the law.
There is also the law of the Spirit. To the church in Rome, Paul wrote:
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).
The Spirit is a lawgiver. Again, the ability to provide an absolute standard of law, of right and wrong, is something that belongs to God alone. Nobody else, human, angel, or any other created being, can present an unchanging standard of right and wrong.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Each Raise the Dead
Only God has the power to resurrect the dead. Yet, it is evident that all members of the Trinity partake in this act of resurrection. Jesus proclaimed that He, along with God the Father, would raise the dead. This is reflected in the words found in the Gospel of John.
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes" (John 5:21).
Notice Jesus places Himself in the same category as God the Father—one who can raise the dead. In the same passage, Jesus emphasized again that He will someday raise the dead.
"I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live" (John 5:26).
This is an astounding claim! The Son, as well as the Father, will raise the dead.
Not only do God the Father and God the Son raise the dead, but God the Holy Spirit also raises the dead. Paul wrote about this to the Romans. He said:
"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you" (Romans 8:11).
The Spirit is involved in the resurrection of the dead. Hence, the resurrection of the dead is something in which each member of the Holy Trinity participates.
Each Person of the Trinity Raised Jesus Christ from the Dead
The Trinity was involved in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Paul wrote about how God the Father raised Jesus:
"And God (Father) raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power"(1 Corinthians 6:14).
The Bible also teaches that Jesus raised Himself from the dead. He told the religious leaders the following: Jesus answered,
“Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” Therefore, the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body" (John 2:19-21).
Christ predicted that He would raise Himself from the dead. Jesus, as God, has the authority to bring Himself back to life.
Not only did God the Father and Jesus Himself participate in the resurrection of Christ, but the Holy Spirit also raised Christ from the dead. Peter wrote:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
The Spirit of God was also intimately involved the resurrection of Christ. Therefore, each of the members of the Trinity was involved in the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Each Person of the Trinity Commissions the Christian Ministry
The Bible says that each member of the Holy Trinity commissions the Christian ministry. God the Father Commissions a Christian Ministry.
"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he stated that Jesus Christ commissioned him to the ministry. He put it this way:
"I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service (1 Timothy 1:12).
Christ was the commissioner of Paul.
The Book of Acts says that the Holy Spirit also commissions the ministry. Paul said the following to the Ephesian elders:
"And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his blood— over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders" (Acts 20:28).
The Holy Spirit personally appointed these men as elders of the church. This is an indication that the three members of the Trinity work together in the commissioning of the ministry.
Each Member of the Trinity Sets Apart and makes Holy, God’s People
Scripture says that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, “sets apart,” or “makes holy,” God’s people. The writer to the Hebrews said that God the Father sets apart people:
"Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters" (Hebrews 2:11).
Paul wrote about Jesus Christ as well as the Holy Spirit setting apart those who are involved in Christian service:
"I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:15,16).
Here, both the Holy Spirit and Jesus are involved in the work of the Christian ministry. Again, each member of the Trinity is involved.
Each Member of the Trinity Was Involved in the Writing of Scripture
All three members of the Godhead were actively involved in the composition of the Holy Scriptures, God's breathed out, revealed, and inspired Word. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of both God, meaning the Father, as well as His Son, as revealing divine truth to humanity: First through the prophets and then through the Son, Jesus Christ.
"Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it: (Heb 1:1,2).
Jesus said the Holy Spirit, who represents Him, would guide the disciples into “all truth.”
"On the night of His betrayal, as He was about to leave this world, He told them the following: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13,14).
Guiding the disciples into “all truth” would include the composition of Scripture. Thus, Jesus is referring to the future work of the Holy Spirit since the Spirit did not perform this ministry until after Jesus ascended into heaven. Peter wrote of the work of the Holy Spirit in the past through the prophets. The Spirit of Christ was within them. He wrote:
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory (1 Peter 1:10,11).
Peter also said it was the Holy Spirit who supernaturally guided the prophets to speak for God. He wrote:
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God" (2 Peter 1:21).
The composition of Scripture was a work of the three members of the Trinity.
Each Member of the Trinity Indwells Those Who Believe in Jesus
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all said to indwell believers. The evidence is as follows.\Paul wrote about how the Father indwells believers:
"[There is] one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything" (Ephesians 4:6).
He is “in all.” This certainly includes the life of the believer.
The Apostle Paul said that Jesus Christ also dwells “in” the believer. He wrote the following to the Colossians:
"To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Paul said that the bodies of believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When writing to the Corinthians, he put it this way:
"Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves" (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit indwell believers. Hence, believers are indwelt by God the Holy Trinity.
Each Member of the Holy Trinity Keeps Believers Secure
All three members of the Trinity are involved in keeping the believer secure. Jesus spoke of the work of God the Father in saving and keeping the believer:
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them
away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand" (John 10:27-29).
The Father keeps the believer secure. Paul wrote of God keeping the believer secure. He wrote:
"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns" (Philippians 1:6).
God will bring to completion every work He has begun. Indeed, this is a truth that offers comfort.
Jesus Himself kept His disciples secure. He prayed the following to God the Father on the night of His betrayal:
"While I was with them (specifically Apostles and generally all Christians), I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true" (John 17:12).
While on earth, the Lord Jesus ensured the safety and security of His disciples. There is no reason to believe that He would cease to do so after His ascension into heaven.
The security of the believer is also the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul wrote the following to the believers in Ephesus:
"And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God" (Ephesians 1:13,14).
The Holy Spirit also keeps believers secure. Indeed, He is God’s “guarantee” that every promise made to the believer will be fulfilled.
In Conclusion
Thus, the Scriptures affirm that divine acts are ascribed to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Consequently, it is concluded that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are each God. Yet, as there is but one God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are collectively this one God—this constitutes the doctrine of the Trinity.
JESUS PLUS NOTHING SAVES YOU
This is a detailed discussion of who Jesus is and how He Saves you!
We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND FEEL HIS LOVING PRESENCE?
This is the ultimate Christian online course on learning how to be intimate with God, not just knowing about Him, but to experience Him so He influences your heart, your marriage, family, church, and world.
Kommentare