Comprehending God as a Trinity can be difficult, particularly for those new to the Christian faith or for individuals trying to understand the nature of Jesus Christ and Christian theology.
I believe I have discovered a clear way to describe "who's who in the zoo." This guide is intended to help you navigate this topic. Keep in mind that there are multiple approaches to understanding it, and this is simply a method I have developed over the years.
Regardless of how we might individually explain the Triune God to people (especially new believers), we can all agree that it must start with God's character.
THE CHARACTER OF GOD
GOD IS LOVE
At the heart of God's nature is love. He is the source of all love; thus, true love originates from Him. God loves us deeply, and because we are all created in His image, humans share love with one another.
The Bible teaches us that God's love moves Him to freely and selflessly give Himself to others for their benefit or good. God's love is more than just an attitude or emotion; it is the very nature of God. God is loving because He is benevolent, graceful, merciful, and patient. God embodies love in the purest sense possible.
GOD IS HOLY
God is holy, which means pure and without sin. The term "holy" also signifies being "separated" or "set apart" from humanity. This term has two important meanings when describing God's character.
Firstly, it means that God resides above all creation and is uniquely distinct from anything on this earth or in the universe He created. In other words, God alone is God—separate, incomparable, and transcendent.
Secondly, God's holiness means that He is above and separated from the moral corruption of His creation, humanity. Therefore, God cannot sin and cannot be accepting of sin.
GOD IS RIGHTEOUS
God is always committed to the highest moral standards. The Bible tells us that God always acts in ways that are perfectly consistent with His loving and holy character. In simple terms, He is perfect, as are His works, decrees, and judgments. He will always do what is right.
God's perfect righteousness describes both His character and His relationship to humanity. It can be challenging to understand how God reveals His Will, but the truth is that He does so through His Word (the Bible), His Creation (the world), and humanity's consciences. Thus, He will judge everyone according to the standard revealed to them.
There will come a day when God will judge every person according to His strict standards of justice and fairness, rewarding good and punishing evil. Despite what we might sometimes believe, it is critical to understand that God's judgment of mankind is not unwarranted or needlessly cruel. Instead, it is a consequence of His righteous character and is necessary within His regime.
GOD IS GOOD
God is the author of all good things, and everything truly good in this world belongs to Him. However, the existence of goodness also implies the presence of evil. If God does not judge evil, He cannot be considered loving, righteous, or just. Therefore, a creation where evil is not properly restrained or judged would ultimately fail.
You see, God almighty is so good, loving, and holy that He must be separated from all things evil, unloving, and unholy.
ONLY ONE GOD
The Bible teaches that God exists as a Trinity, which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity means "three parts" or "a state of being three." These three persons are distinct from one another, but together, they make up the entity of God. In other words, they are three but also one because there is only one God. They share the same divine essence and possess identical divine qualities.
GOD THE FATHER (CREATOR OF ALL)
God the Father is the Heavenly Father of all. He was God's first and original persona, and He existed before He created the universe as we know it to be.
GOD THE SON (JESUS CHRIST)
God's Son, Jesus Christ, is God in the flesh. God had a unique purpose for sending Himself down to earth in human form, (which we will get to later) but make no mistake, Jesus is God in the flesh, and as a part of the Triune God, Jesus is God the Son.
GOD THE SPIRIT (HOLY SPIRIT)
God sent the Holy Spirit (also referred to as the Holy Ghost) to mankind as a helper to guide humanity as they sought to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (God the Son). The Holy Spirit is meant to live within us once we acknowledge what God accomplished for us by sending Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
The Trinity is a fundamental concept in Christian theology that describes God as one being in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that there is only one God who exists in these three entities, all of whom are entirely God. While the Trinity is a mystery that can be challenging to comprehend fully, it is fundamental to the Christian faith.
This concept is rooted in the Old Testament and is more clearly articulated in the New Testament.
HOW TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCEPT OF THE TRIUNE GOD
C. S. Lewis, author of several Christian works, and the famed Chronicles of Narnia book series put it well in his masterwork Mere Christianity:
Lewis then goes on to apply this illustration to the Trinity:
Find a cube—preferably a traditional Rubik's Cube—and use it to illustrate this concept from C.S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity to the person you are shepherding.
For an example of how this might look, check out this video from our YouTube channel, where I explain the Trinity using a Rubik's Cube.
ADDRESSING COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
The Trinity does not refer to three separate gods but describes one God who exists in three distinct persons. Although the term "Trinity" is not explicitly found in the Bible, the concept is clearly presented throughout scripture. The Trinity is not a contradiction but rather a mystery that can be challenging to comprehend.
As Christians, part of our journey as the body of Christ is to help others navigate life's uncertainties and bring them to the truth. We strive to explain what may seem unexplainable and to find meaning in what appears senseless. While we may not have answers to every question life raises, it is essential for us to act, make way for God the Spirit to move, and lead with love. So try, we must.
KNOW YOUR SCRIPTURE!
So much harm has been done by Christians who do not fully understand their faith and what the Bible teaches. I know this struggle; I've been there myself. I was once so certain of my faith that I couldn't fathom how anyone could not want to believe in what Jesus taught.
At times, I even found myself growing angry at those who would tarnish the name of Jesus or mock those who believe in Him. "How could they?" I would ask, and you know what? I still do it from time to time...
However, I must remind myself that history is filled with examples of those who called themselves "Christians" and caused harm, using scripture as an excuse for committing horrific atrocities. It's essential to recognize that the issue of sin in our world has broken the created order so severely that people with the best intentions can inadvertently turn others away from the redemptive and healing lessons shared by Jesus.
There are many answers to this question, but one important response is that we need to know our scripture. Just as surgeons cannot effectively use their instruments without a thorough understanding of medical techniques, disciples of Jesus must realize that to win hearts and minds as Christ did, we must seek to find the truth and wisdom necessary to lead well in God's economy.
The Word of God and the teachings of Christ serve as our guiding principles. I have sometimes used scripture to argue with others in an attempt to outsmart them (and I am ashamed of it). However, the Word of God should not be a weapon against our fellow man or woman; it is meant to free us from sin, not to condemn or cut down those who do not believe.
The Bible embodies truth and is a source of liberation from sin, not a tool for division.
ALWAYS CONNECT BACK TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
As a Christian, it is always crucial to connect back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember, this is the central thrust of the Holy Bible, and we can see the speckle of the Gospel message in virtually every book of this sacred library, both the Old and New Testaments.
Author John Mark Comer said it best in his book Practicing the Way:
As followers of Christ, we are called to disciple others. Discipleship should not just be an activity we engage in; it must become an integral part of who we are. Being a disciple of Christ means adopting a new identity that flows from the new life we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior and King.
EMPHASIZE THE RESURRECTION
Of course, the Gospel message includes the Resurrection and is a foundational belief in Christianity. According to the Bible, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day following His burial.
His Resurrection is a sign that He is the true Son of God and that God accepted His sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
This event distinguishes Christianity from other religions, as it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ and His victory over death rather than just a set of rules or philosophical beliefs.
No other religion is based on sacrificial love like Christianity. The belief that the God of the Universe took on human form, lived a blameless life, and willingly faced an unjust death at the hands of humankind as a sacrifice for sinful people is one of the many aspects that sets Christianity apart.
EXPLAIN WHAT "ETERNAL LIFE" MEANS
Right before His death, Jesus declared, "It is finished!"
Jesus emerged victorious, accomplishing all that was necessary for humanity's salvation. By satisfying God's demands for justice, He made pardon and justification available through faith in Him. All those who believe in what Christ did for humanity will not perish but have eternal life.
By acknowledging that God sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, we can believe in God's goodness and mercy and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out, enabling us to repent and be redeemed.
EMPHASIZE WHAT CHRIST DIED FOR
After explaining the Trinity and transitioning into the Gospel message, we can emphasize Jesus's character and the significance of His death and Resurrection for humanity.
We are all flawed sinners who need a savior, and Jesus fulfills that need. We were born incomplete, and whenever we turn away from God, destruction follows. Jesus, through God's mercy, wisdom, and grace, paid the price of sin in full.
Belief in Jesus Christ and subsequent transformation by the Holy Spirit bring us salvation by granting access to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the story of the Gospel accounts in the New Testament of the Bible and the message of Jesus's disciples.
DO THE WORK & PRAY FOR GUIDANCE AS A DISCIPLE
The Trinity is a fundamental concept in Christian theology that is essential for understanding God's nature. It plays a crucial role in our worship and prayer as we seek to honor and glorify God in His fullness.
The Trinity reminds us of the complexity and mystery of God's nature, prompting us to approach Him with humility and reverence. Although the Trinity may be difficult to comprehend fully, it is a vital aspect of the Christian faith; therefore, as disciples of Christ, we must become proficient in describing it to newer believers or those who express curiosity about Christianity.
We must continue to study scripture, contemplate the difficult questions that arise in our world, and strive to draw nearer to God by opening our hearts and minds to what He wants to communicate to us.
While we may never uncover all the answers to the challenging questions humanity has grappled with since the fall, we can undoubtedly sharpen our minds and soften our hearts by reading God's Word.
By clarifying the Trinity and other theological concepts to others, we can deepen our understanding of God and strengthen our relationship with Him daily.
