Jesus Christ and the Trinity
Day 16
by Gini Crawford, MSW
Trinity principle
How can Jesus be God? There is only one God, isn't there? Yes, God's Word teaches us there is only One True God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; Mark 12:29; John 17:3). However, God chose to reveal Himself to us in three distinct persons too (Matthew 28:19).
Some people think, the principle of God being triune is not true. But the fact is, God very clearly in scripture says: He is God the Father (Ephesians 1:2), God the Son (Isaiah 9:6), and God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Each person is fully God, and each person has a role in the Trinity. God the Father's role is directing, sending and originating like a father. The Son's role is obeying, accomplishing and revealing God to us. The Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity that literally lives within Christians. He empowers and teaches us. (John 14:8-11, 16-17, 16:7-15). This doctrine or principle is called the Trinity. The word trinity is never used in Bible, but it is a technical term people use to explain one of the most important principles in the Bible about God - that God has a triune nature.
I have been a Christian for about five decades, so of course I have contemplated how and why God is triune. In my personal deliberation, what I always seem to come to is, why shouldn't God be in three persons. This is because God is infinite and we are finite. He is the Creator Who spoke and all that exists took shape. He sustains all things on this earth or nothing would exist. His presence is everywhere but at the same time He is personal with us. He was on His throne in heaven but at the same time He died on the cross for us. I could go on but I think you understand, God is far beyond us in all ways. Yes, three persons just makes sense, at least to me, concerning Who God is. (Isaiah 42:5, 43:10-13; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Luke 23:44-47; Hebrews 1:1-3).
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV®
What are your thoughts about God being triune?
God the Son
Some of you might be a little confused concerning Jesus Christ being God but also God's Son. To explain it simply, in God the Son - the word "son" or huios in the Greek language means relationship of Son to Father, or likeness of character, but never of birth. An unbelievable but true happening is that God the Father sent God the Son (Who gladly obeyed) to die for our sins because of their love for us.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. / He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ... For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. / In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. John 3:16; Romans 8:32-39; 1 John 4:9-10 ESV®
Life Application
The surpassing love of our Triune God
Ephesians chapter three says, Jesus Christ's love surpasses our understanding. This is because God's love is different from what we are used to. Our love is given with conditions, and God's isn't. His love is intentional towards us in faithfulness and selflessness – constantly pursuing us to love us, but our loving intentions do tend to be selfish and at times not very faithful. God's love doesn't depend on what a person does or who she is, but on Him loving you. Our love does depend on the other person even though we try hard for it not too.
...that according to the riches of his glory he (the Father) may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 ESV®
Ephesians 3:14-19 is a beautiful prayer from Paul: The prayer asks that the Father through His Spirit would strengthen you with constant power to live a life of faith, so that Jesus may be at home in your heart, the controlling factor in your conduct and attitudes. The prayer also requests that Jesus' love would be as firm in your heart as a growing tree is in the ground, and that you would know the many aspects of this love. (Hopefully this daily devotional is doing that for you.) Then Paul realizes Jesus' love is so infinite that understanding it fully would be difficult. Only in Jesus will you be able to fully experience the Triune God of love.
The more you know about our God, the more amazed you will be by His love. Read Romans 5:5, Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 4:9-10, 15-16. Years ago when I realized the incredible love God had for me, it changed my Christian walk. I went from being thankful for my salvation to a love affair with my God. How much love do you feel God has for you by what you know about Him? On a scale of 1 being the lowest amount of love and 10 being the most, rate how much love you feel God has for you? Be honest.
Reflect on Ephesians 3:16-19.