The Trinity: God is Triune

God is Triune. God is one God who is manifested in three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully divine and equal to the other two; yet they are not three Gods, but one, fully and completely united in purpose. The word used to describe this attribute of God is known as the Trinity (triad, union of three). The doctrine of the Trinity states:  

1st: God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

2nd: Each person is fully God. 

3rd: There is one God.

Trinity is not a word which Jesus used. It is not even found in the Bible, but it is used to describe what we know about God. The doctrine of the Trinity is a difficult subject to understand even for many Christians. But one must be clear on one fact--- Christianity stands or falls by what the doctrine says. The doctrine of the Trinity is not an invention of men, nor is it an addition to the Bible. The Trinity is a crystallization of the teachings of the Bible.

The creation story hints of the Trinity with the plural words US and OUR, "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness" (Genesis 1:26 KJV).

Jesus said "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9 KJV). Many scriptures mention all three persons of the Godhead. Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26 KJV).

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3 NIV).

“That all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him” (John 5:23 NIV).

The Son has been entrusted with the power of judgment. He possesses equal dignity with the Father and shares with him judicial as well as executive authority. Conversely, since the Son is equal in authority, He can rightly claim equal honour with God.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV).

"The most important one” answered Jesus, "is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Mark 12:29 NIV).

That God is one does not deny the doctrine of the Trinity.

“I and the Father are one" (John 10:30 NIV).

"I and the Father" preserves the separate individuality of the two Persons in the Godhead; the word "one" asserts unity of nature or equality. The Jews were quick to apprehend this statement and reacted by preparing to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he, a man, had asserted that he was one with God.

Three significant things took place when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. These three things further validate and authenticate the doctrine of The Trinity.   As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16 & 17 NIV).

Jesus Christ, the Son, was baptized. When Jesus stepped out of the water the Holy Spirit came down upon him. Then the voice of the Father is heard. In one single episode, we find the manifestation of all three persons of the Trinity.

Selie Visa