Focus of the Month: May Trinity

How can we define the Trinity? ​Within the one Being of God there are three co-equal, co-eternal persons, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. 

Scripture teaches us that there is only one God. 
Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

The Persons of the Trinity Have Different Primary Functions in Relating to the World: the economy of the Trinity. Different functions in creation. Different functions in redemption.


The Persons of the Trinity Eternally Existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
The roles were not interchangeable in redemption. The roles are eternal, not just in time or temporary. There are no differences in deity, attributes, or essential nature of any of the Persons of the Godhead.

What is the Relationship Between the Three Persons and the Being of God?
Each Person is completely and fully God. This means that God’s being is not divided into three equal parts belonging to the three members of the Trinity. 
T
he personal distinctions in the Trinity are not something added onto God’s real being. This means that each Person of the Trinity has all the attributes of God, and no one Person has any attributes that are not possessed by the Others. 

The Persons within the Trinity are real, and not just different ways of looking at the one being of God. This means that each Person relates to the Others as and “I” (1st person), and a “you” (2nd person) and a “he” (3rd person). “The only way it seems possible to do this is to say that the distinction between the Persons is not difference in “being” but a difference in “relationships.” 

There are three distinct Persons, and the being of each Person is equal to the whole being of God. It is a kind of existence far different from anything we have experienced, and far different from anything else in the universe.


Scripture is full of text that include Plural forms with reference to God. 

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Genesis 1:26 ESV
26 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.”


Isaiah 6:8 ESV
8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Scripture also includes Messianic Passages that speak of Jesus as God. 

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Psalm 45:6–7 ESV
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. 

The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 

7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. 

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you 

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;


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Hebrews 1:8 ESV
8 But of the Son he says, 

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, 

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.


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Psalm 110 ESV
A Psalm of David. 

1 The Lord says to my Lord: 

“Sit at my right hand, 

until I make your enemies your footstool.” 

2 The Lord sends forth from Zion 

your mighty scepter. 

Rule in the midst of your enemies! 

3 Your people will offer themselves freely 

on the day of your power, 

in holy garments; 

from the womb of the morning, 

the dew of your youth will be yours. 

4 The Lord has sworn 

and will not change his mind, 

“You are a priest forever 

after the order of Melchizedek.” 

5 The Lord is at your right hand; 

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 

6 He will execute judgment among the nations, 

filling them with corpses; 

he will shatter chiefs 

over the wide earth. 

7 He will drink from the brook by the way; 

therefore he will lift up his head.


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Matthew 22:43–45 ESV
43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 

44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, 

“Sit at my right hand, 

until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? 

45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
More complete revelation of the Trinity is found in the New Testament. 
God is one.

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Mark 12:29 ESV
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.


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1 Corinthians 8:4–6 ESV
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Each Person of the Trinity is God. 
God the Father. 

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John 6:27 ESV
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”


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1 Peter 1:2 ESV
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
The Son is God. 

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Philippians 2:1–11 ESV
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


John 1:1–18 ESV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.


Hebrews 1 ESV
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 

“You are my Son, 

today I have begotten you”? 

Or again, 

“I will be to him a father, 

and he shall be to me a son”? 

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 

“Let all God’s angels worship him.” 

7 Of the angels he says, 

“He makes his angels winds, 

and his ministers a flame of fire.” 

8 But of the Son he says, 

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, 

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; 

therefore God, your God, has anointed you 

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 

10 And, 

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, 

and the heavens are the work of your hands; 

11 they will perish, but you remain; 

they will all wear out like a garment, 

12 like a robe you will roll them up, 

like a garment they will be changed. 

But you are the same, 

and your years will have no end.” 

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, 

“Sit at my right hand 

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?


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John 5:18 ESV
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.


​John 10:30 ESV
30 I and the Father are one.”
The Spirit is God 

​Acts 5:3–4 ESV
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”


​1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Scripture shows us that each person is distinct from one another. 

The Son is distinct from the Father 

​Matthew 11:27 ESV
27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.


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Matthew 27:46 ESV
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


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John 5:20–22 ESV
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

​The Spirit is different from the Father and the Son 

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John 14:16 ESV
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,


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John 16:7 ESV
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Trinitarian references in the Bible include.... 

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Matthew 28:19 ESV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,


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1 Corinthians 12:4–6 ESV
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.


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Galatians 3:11–14 ESV
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.


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Galatians 4:6 ESV
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”


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Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.


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Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


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2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 ESV
13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Titus 3:4–6 ESV
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,


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1 Peter 1:1–2 ESV
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, 

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


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Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Chosen by the Father, Purchased by the Son, Called by the Holy Spirit.