Welcome to our final lesson in this first module! We've covered your new identity in Christ, the significance of your decision, the assurance of your salvation, and the role of the Holy Spirit. Today, we're looking at a foundational doctrine of our faith – the Trinity. This might seem like a complex theological concept, but understanding it is vital for your growth as a believer.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Notice that – one name, three persons. This points to the core truth of the Trinity: God is one in essence but exists eternally as three distinct persons.
Let me try to illustrate this, though any illustration has limitations. Think about water – it can exist as liquid, ice, or steam. It's all H2O, but in three different forms. The Trinity is somewhat like that, except that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all exist simultaneously and eternally as God. They're not three gods, and they're not three modes or forms of God – they are the one true God existing in three persons who have always been in perfect relationship with each other.
Throughout Scripture, we see clear evidence of the Trinity. At Jesus' baptism, the Son is in the water, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven. In creation, God the Father speaks, creating through His Word (the Son), while the Spirit hovers over the waters. In salvation, the Father initiates, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies. Each person of the Trinity plays distinct yet harmonious roles.
Why does this matter for your daily walk with God? Because the God you worship is a relational God – He exists in perfect community within Himself. This helps us understand why relationships are so central to human experience. We're made in God's image, and God is relational at His very core. It also helps us understand the different ways God relates to us – as our heavenly Father who loves and provides, as the Son who redeems and befriends us, and as the Holy Spirit who indwells and empowers us.
When you pray, you can approach God as Father because of what Christ the Son has done, through the power of the Holy Spirit who helps you pray. You're invited into the life and love of the Trinity! As Jesus prayed in John 17:21, "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." The perfect love and unity of the Trinity becomes the model for our relationships with God and with others.
This week, try being more intentional about relating to each person of the Trinity in your prayers. Thank the Father for His sovereign care and provision. Thank the Son for His sacrifice and ongoing intercession for you. Thank the Holy Spirit for His presence and work in your life. You're not just entering into a religion – you're entering into relationship with the Triune God!
We've now completed the first five lessons of our journey together. These foundational truths set the stage for everything else we'll explore. Remember, Christianity isn't primarily about rules or rituals – it's about relationship with this amazing three-in-one God who has invited you into His life and love through Jesus Christ!
Talk soon!