You must know God’s Trinity (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Introduction

In the last three sermons I have preached, I have charged that you must know God. In the first sermon, I charged you to know God through His two books: His works and Word. The next two sermons I charged you to know God’s Unity, which is incomparable, relational, and perfect. Now we move to the final subject of this mini-series on the Doctrine of God. The charge of this sermon is you must know God’s Trinity.

The bible teaches that there is one and only one God. This One God is three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons possess the one, common, and undivided divine essence. They are distinct from each other through the ways in which they relate to each other:

The Father eternally begets the Son and eternally spirates the Spirit.

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father and eternally spiriates the Spirit.

The Spirit is eternally spiriated by the Father and the Son.

The Father is God. The Son is God. The Spirit is God. The Father is neither the Son nor the Spirit. The Son is neither the Father nor the Spirit. The Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son. The one true God is the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit; these three are the same in essence and equal in power and glory.

To prove the doctrine of the Trinity, one has to show that Scripture teaches:

1) There is only one God

2) The Father is God and distinct from the Son and the Spirit

3) The Son is God and distinct from the Father and the Spirit

4) The Spirit is God and distinct from the Father and the Son

5) Each person is truly and equally one God

1. There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Exodus 20:3; Mark 12:29-30, 32)

2. The Father is God and distinct from the Son and the Spirt.

Like the proposition of there being only one God, this premise is easily proved and affirmed by most who hold the Bible as divine revelation.

That being said, the Father as the first member of the Trinity is distinguished from the Son on many occasions (John 1:4, 18; 5:17-26; 8:54; 14:12, 13; Psalm 2:7-9; 40:6-9; Isaiah 53:10).

The Father is portrayed as the source of God’s works in creation, providence, and redemption (1 Cor 8:6; Eph 1:3-6).

The Father works through the execution of the Son and the application of the Holy Spirit. The Father eternally sends, generates, or begets the Son, and the Spirit eternally proceeds or is spiriated from Him and the Son.

The Father is God, and so is the Son.

3. The Son is God and distinct from the Father and the Spirit.

John’s prologue declares the reality that God the Son is both God and yet, distinct from the Father.

The Word is said to be God and yet with God (Jn 1:1), and then John declares this Word is the One who became flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten Son from the Father (Jn 1:14). The Word was in the beginning and, therefore, before it (Jn 1:1a, 2). It is through Christ that all that exists came (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16).

Jesus elsewhere equates Himself with the “I am” that Moses encountered in the burning bush, which is how His audience interpreted His words (John 8:57-58).

Thomas calls the resurrected Jesus “Lord and God” (Jn 20:28).

Also, Jesus accepts the worship without reservation (Matt 28:17).

As for His distinction from the Father, Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (Jn 17:5 ESV). Only individual persons can share glory and give glory to another. He does not pray to His own person to give Himself the glory that His person has. God the Son is God. He is not the Father.

Jesus likewise distinguishes himself from the Spirit whom He and the Father send (Jn 14:15-31). God the Father and God the Son are God, yet they are distinguished from one another in how they relate to each other.

The last member of the Trinity also is God and distinct from the Father and the Son.

4. The Spirit is God and distinct from the Father and the Son.

Luke records the events of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Peter asserts in this passage that Ananias and Sapphira have lied to the Holy Spirit (v. 3) and, in doing so, they lied to God (v. 4). This passage is a clear demonstration of the Spirit’s personality—He can be lied to—and His divinity—lying to Him is lying to God.

There are several scriptural indications of the divinity and personality of the Spirit:

He is identified with the divine title (Ex 31:3; Ac 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21)

He is ascribed divine attributes

Divine Immensity: Ps 139:7-10; Is 40:13-14;

Divine Wisdom: 1 Cor 2:10-11

He is credited with divine works

Creation: Gen 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps 104:30

Salvation: Luke 1:35-37; Matthew 3:16-17; Jn 3:5-6; Tit 3:5; Rom 8:11

He is included with the other members of the Trinity

God the Father and Son: Matt 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:16-17

God the Son: Rom 9:1

* Inseparable Operations

It should be noted that in saying the persons are distinct from one another, we are not claiming that the members of the Trinity exist or operate in a divided fashion. All three persons are presented as actors and not mask, who act simultaneously and inseparably (Luke 1:35; Matt 3:16-17).

The Father works through the Son and by the Spirit in both creation (Genesis 1:1, 2; John 1:1-4) and salvation (Ephesians 1:4-14). We may assume this is God’s ordinary mode of operation.

As God the Father eternally generates God the Son (Jn 1:1; 3:16; 5:20; 14:11; 17;21; 10:38; Heb 1:3; Ps 2:7) and God the Father and God Son eternally spiriate God the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26; 15:26), so God the Father works through God the Son by the Holy Spirit.

Now, the equality of the said persons must also be demonstrated from Scripture to prove the traditional understanding of the Trinity.

5. Each person is truly and equally God.

All that has been said before necessitates this claim. Further support is found by the fact that each member is to be worshiped and possesses divine attributes. However, a clear Scriptural affirmation of this claim is found in the baptismal formula. What Jesus asserts in the great commission promotes the unity of God— “name” is in the singular—and the plurality of equal persons—the single name is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19).

Conclusion

The confession of one God who exists eternally as three co-equal and co-eternal persons is the best synthesis and formulation of the Biblical data. To differ on this doctrine is to divert from the Biblical faith into a form of idolatry.

You must know and worship the Triune God. You must Worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You must come to the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery that surpasses human comprehensibility. It is not to be understood or defined. Instead, the doctrine of the Trinity is to be believed and confessed. The Triune God is to be worshiped.

Believer

If you are a Christian, this God, the Triune God, has created you and redeemed you. You have communion with this God through your union with Jesus Christ, God the Son Incarnate. Your initial and continued existence is completely dependent on this God. Your salvation likewise is from, to, and for this God. Give glory to the Holy Trinity. Trust in the Holy Trinity.

Moreover, spiritual life this side of glory and in eternity is inseparably connected to the Tri-unity of God. You have communion with the Triune God. You read the Word of God which testifies to the Son of God and is inspired by the Spirit of God. You pray to God the Father through God the Son by God the Holy Spirit. Your union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection is secured by the regenerating and indwelling work of the Holy Spirit. No Trinity means no salvation. Contemplate the mystery of the Trinity. Consider each person as the relate to each other and you. Consider the oneness of God. Stand in awe of the Holy Trinity as this blessed doctrine that stretches your mind to the breaking point and fill your heart until it overflows. Your God is not a vague theoretical God. Your God is the Triune God. If you have been baptized, you were baptized in the singular name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Unbeliever

If you are not a Christian, this God is your creator and sustainer as well. However, He is not currently your redeemer. He is your judge. Your verdict in His eyes is guilty. You are not in communion with this God. You are His enemy. You are under His wrath and curse. You are destined to miseries of life, death, and eternal judgment. To where will you flee from this Holy, just, omnipotent, and omnipresent Triune God? There is no where for you to run. There is no way you can hope to overcome Him in a fight.

The only hope you have is the way of salvation this God has provided. Indeed He has provided such a salvation by which He may pardon sinners and remain just. You must come to this God through God the Son incarnate Jesus Christ. You must trust in His person and work for you salvation. You must turn from your sins and turn into Jesus by faith. Jesus shares His perfect righteousness and His full payment for sin with all who come to Him by faith. He alone is the way of salvation. He alone is the truth. Those whom the Father has chosen, He draws to the Son by the Holy Spirit. The people of God alone have salvation. They are those who have taken hold of the Son with the empty hand of faith. Seek the Son and you shall find Him. Come to Him and He will not cast you out. Reject Him and you are condemned already in your sin. Come to Him and have life eternal.

You must know God through His two books. You must know God’s unity which is incomparable, relational, and perfect. You must know God’s Trinity. May the Triune God grant you such unity.