GOD THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT 

I’m still at the phrase, “In the beginning God.” As I began to understand that God is the Creator of the  universe and that God is, was, and is to come and that God is my beginning and my end, I sought to  know Him even more intimately. Who exactly is this God who was there in the beginning? And that  question led to my study of the Trinity. Now, I won’t pretend to fully understand the doctrinal intricacies  of the Trinity. And again, these studies aren’t designed to be deep theological inquires; rather, they are  glimpses of my understanding and the revelations received from God’s Word and its impact on my life.  

With that said, the way that I’ve come to understand the Trinity is to compare it to the composition of  an apple. The apple is made up of three parts – the core, the flesh and the skin. Each component has  different purposes and characteristics, and each can be separate, but each part is an apple.  

I think of God the same way, but way, way deeper and bigger. There is one God in three persons: the  Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with each of the Trinity being completely and truly divine. There is  plurality within God’s Oneness. Each person is distinct in the roles they take on in God’s works and in the  ways they relate to one another and each of us. Yet, amidst the distinctions of the Three, God is One  essence, not a jumble of parts put together to form God. They each are God, reflecting a perfect, loving  fellowship of Three in the being of One.

Scripture

John 15:26 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth  who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

Lessons Learned

My feeble attempt to understand the Trinity led me to apples. So don’t take my word for it. Spend time  in the Word, gaining your own understanding of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Hopefully, these texts can get you started.  

 God the Father 

  • Creator: Genesis 1 and 2 
  • The Giver and Sustainer of Life: Isaiah 2:22, Job 34:14-15, Isaiah 42:5 ∙ Compassionate and Gracious: 2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalm 86:15, 116:5, Ephesians 2:7-8, 2 Peter 3:9∙ Transforms: Proverbs 21:1, Philippians 1:6, Revelation 21:5, Jeremiah 18:1-6, Ezekiel 11:19,  36:25-27, Psalm 51:10, Galatians 2:20
  • Is Wise/Wisdom: Job 12:13, Isaiah 40:28, Romans 11:33, Psalm 104:24,147:5, Daniel 2:20 ∙ Is Love: John 3:16, I John 3:1,4:7-8,16,19, Song of Solomon 8:6-7 ∙ Is Just and Merciful: Daniel 9:4, Psalm 86:15, 103:8, Lamentations 3:22, Exodus 34:6, Ephesians  2:4-5, Titus 3:5,
  • Is Faithful: Deuteronomy 7:9, Lamentations 3:23, I Corinthians 10:13, I John 1:9, Numbers 23:19,  Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 10:23, Psalm 33:4, 36:5, Exodus 34:6, I Peter 4:19 ∙ Omnipresent (in our midst): Zephaniah 3:17, Jeremiah 23:24, Psalm 46:1,139:7-12, Hebrews  13:5
  • Omniscient: Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 1391-6, Isaiah 55:8-9
  • Omnipotent (Is Power): Psalm 24:8, Jeremiah 32:27, Ephesians 1:19, Romans 1:16, Philippians  4:13,I Corinthians 10:13, Isaiah 40:28, I Chronicles 29:11-12, Revelation 19:6 ∙ Steadfast: Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 102:25-27,  Deuteronomy 7:9
  • Is Truth: I John 1:5, Hebrews 6:18, John 1:1, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 25:5 ∙ Forgiver of Sin: I John 1:9, Isaiah 55:7
  • Redeemer: Romans 6:23, Zephaniah 3:17, Jeremiah 50:34
  • He is Righteous: Psalm 145:17, Job 4:17
  • Infallible – Psalm 136
  • Holy: Isaiah 6:3
  • Deliverer: I Samuel 14:39
  • Supreme: Psalm 50:1
  • Eternal: Genesis 21:33
  • Victorious: Revelation 5:5
  • He is Sovereign: Genesis 17:1, Psalm 103:19, 115:3, Daniel 4:35, I Timothy 6:15 ∙ Our Provider: Philippians 4:19, Romans 8:32, James 1:17, Genesis 22:14, Psalm 37:4, 104:14-15∙ Our Healer: Psalm Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:3
  • Our shield and exceeding great reward: Genesis 15:1
  • The Beginning and the End/Infinite – Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13, Psalm 147:5

God the Son 

  • In the form of God (Philippians 2:6, John 10:30, Colossians 2:9 ∙ Took on the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7, Galatians 4:4, I John 4:2 ∙ Relates to us and our struggles (Mark 6:3, Hebrews 4:15, 
  • Redeemed Us (Hebrews 2:9, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 1:4, Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 44:22, John  3:16, John 10:10)
  • Mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15,
  • Is Holy and Righteous (I John 3:7, I Peter 5:15-16, Acts 3:14, Hebrews 7:26) ∙ Is Pure (I John 3:3, Hebrews 7:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21, I Peter 1:19)
  • He loves (Ephesians 3:18-19, 5:1-2, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 5:14, John 13:34, 15:13, John  8:1-11)
  • He forgives (Colossians 3:13, Luke 5:24, 7:48-49, Ephesians 1:6)
  • He is compassionate (Philippians 2:1-2, Colossians 3:12, II Peter 3:9)
  • Died for our sins (I Peter 3:18,
  • Was a servant: (Mark 10:45, Acts 4:27, Philippians 2:5-8, John 13:4-8, 12-17, Isaiah 49:3-7) ∙ Spoke truth: John 18:38, Mathew 22:16, Revelation 1:2
  • Met the needs of the people: Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 6:31-44 ∙ He Healed (John 4:46-47, 5:1-9, Mark1:23-28, 30-31, 40-45, Matthew 8:5-13, 23-34, 9:1-8,  Luke 8:43-48)
  • Performed Miracles: (John 2:1-11, Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 8:23-27, 14:15-21)
  • Restored Life: (Luke 7:11-18, Matthew 9:18-26, John 11:1-46)

God the Holy Spirit 

  • Primary work is to bring glory and honor to Christ – John 15:26, John 16:13-14, I John 4:2,  Romans 15:19 
  • He is eternal – Hebrews 9:14
  • Gives us life – Psalm 104:30, Romans 8:11, John 6:63
  • He Inspired and enabled the writing of the Bible – 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16 ∙ Knows fully the things of God – I Corinthians 2:11
  • Reveals the things of God to us – 2 Corinthians 2:9-12, John 16:13, Heb. 3:7; 10:15, I Peter 1:12,  Job 32:8
  • Guides us – Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 5:16-18, 25, Acts 8:26,29, Acts 16:6, Romans 8:14, Matthew  4:1,
  • Reconciles us all into one body – I Corinthians 12:13
  • Speaks to us (spokesperson for God of prophecy): 2 Samuel 23:2, Acts 1:16, I Timothy 4:1 ∙ He witnesses – John 15:26
  • He loves – Romans 15:30
  • Call us to work – Acts 13:2, Acts 8:26-40
  • Empowers us – Numbers 27:16, I Samuel 11:16, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:10, I Thessalonians  1:5, Luke 1:35, I Corinthians 2:4, Zechariah 4:6-7
  • Helps us pray/intercedes on our behalf – Romans 8:26-27
  • Gives us gifts/talents – I Corinthians 12:6-11 (gifts to be used to minister I Peter 4:10)

Lessons Lived

In essence, the Trinity helps me be the version of me God intended. And because I’m such a hot mess, I  need all the help I can get. See, because I was born and shaped in iniquity, I could never stand before  God the Father on my own. His greatness, His power, and His very presence would overwhelm and  consume me (Exodus 33:20). I’d never be good enough, holy enough, worthy enough to please Him  (Romans 3:23). My worship would always pale in comparison to the glory and honor due His name  (Isaiah 64:6).  

But praise God for His Son who bore my sins, died a horrific death, and then rose again to sit at the right  hand of God the Father (Luke 22:69). Jesus, the Son of God, serves as my mediator. Now, when God  looks at me, He doesn’t see my filth and flaws, the defects or the damage. He sees me purified, washed  by the blood of the Lamb. I can be presented before Him as one who is holy. And not only that, Jesus,  the Son of God, made what seemed utterly impossible possible. He faced temptations, withstood scorn  and shame, was misunderstood, experienced pain and sorrow, yet He walked, talked and lived as One  Who is righteous (John 1:14). He loved and served (Luke 22:27). He adds nothing and everything (Luke  9:58). And He showed me how I should “live, move and have my very being” in Him while here on this  earth (John 13:13-16).  

Knowing my tendency to forget the law and the example of Jesus and my inclination to be drawn to sin,  God the Father sent God the Spirit to dwell within me, serving as that reminder of how I should live  (John 6:63). God the Spirit reveals truths to me (I Corinthians 3:16), guides me (John 14:26), rebukes me  (John 16:7-8) and empowers me (Romans 8:26-27).  

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Three persons, One God, working together for my  good. AMEN!

Reflections

    1.  How does John 15:26 speak to you? 
    2. How do you describe or have come to understand the Trinity? 
    3. What are your personal LIFE Lessons?
      • Liberation: What new insights have you gained that have freed you from past thoughts  or practices?
      • Inspiration: In what ways have you been spiritually, emotionally or mentally motivated  to live for Christ?
      • Fortification: What additional scriptural texts, passages or stories can reinforce and  strengthen you against the attacks of the enemy?
      • Edification: How might you share your story to edify others and bring glory to God?

Playlist

As you process, digest, and apply what’s been shared, here are a couple of songs from my playlist that  remind me of Who God Is. Listen, Let the music infiltrate your soul. Read the lyrics and let the words  encourage you. And I pray that you’ll be blessed as I was. 

Prayer

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