“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
—2 Corinthians 13:14
The Trinity is a biblical doctrine that teaches that there is one God who exists in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
According to Scripture, each of the three persons of the Trinity is fully God, coequal and coeternal with one another. They are not separate gods, but rather distinct persons of the one true God.
While the New Testament does not use the term "Trinity," it does present the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as distinct but inseparable persons who are all fully God.
For example, in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to himself as "the Son" and speaks of the Father as a separate but equal entity. He also promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide his disciples after his departure from the world.
Similarly, in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is depicted as a distinct person who acts in concert with the Father and the Son.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
—2 Corinthians 13:14
Over the centuries, theologians have sought to further define and explain the nature of the Trinity. In 325 AD, the concept was studied, discussed, and affirmed in the at the Council of Nicea. The theological formulation came to be known as the Nicene Creed, which states that there is one God who exists as three distinct persons. This creed remains one of the most widely accepted statements of essential Christian doctrine.
In Ephesians 1:1-14, Paul describes how each person of the Trinity plays a role in God’s plan of salvation.
The Father is the one who has chosen us before the foundation of the world and predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.
The Son, Jesus Christ, is the one through whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins through his blood.
And the Holy Spirit is the one who seals us as God's own possession, guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of his glory.
Discussion Questions
How does Scripture present the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct but inseparable persons who are all fully God? How is this different from polytheism (i.e., the belief in many gods)?
When and why was the Nicene Creed formulated? What does it affirm about the nature of God?
According to Ephesians 1:1-14, what role does each person of the Trinity play in our salvation?
Prayer
Dear Father, Son, and Spirit,
Thank you for the opportunity to grow in our understanding through this brief lesson on the Trinity. Help us to understand that you are one God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Father, thank you for choosing to save us.
Jesus, thank you for redeeming us with your blood.
Spirit, thank you for sealing us as a deposit guaranteeing our eternal inheritance of joy in your presence forever.
May this knowledge deepen our faith and increase our understanding as we live as your fully forgiven, perfectly accepted, and dearly loved children.
For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.