Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one – Deuteronomy 6:4
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19
The Trinity is the spiritual reality and the theological truth that the God we serve is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three in one and one in three. The Holy Trinity is the full expression of the One True God.
The word “trinity” is not found in the Bible. It was first used in the second century by Tertullian to express the truth taught in the Bible. It is a theological term which helps us to quickly and clearly summarize beliefs about God.
The church I pastor, the First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas, has public statements on our core beliefs. Here is our statement on the Trinity:
The God we serve is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three in one and one in three:
We believe that God the Father reigns with providential care over humans and human history. He is our Creator and Provider: a great and mighty God, sovereign over all.
We believe that God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of the world. He is our Lord and Master: a gracious and loving redeemer, fully human and fully divine.
We believe that God the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, calls men to the Savior, and bestows spiritual gifts. He is our Comforter and Guide: a convicting and enabling presence.
We believe that the Holy Trinity is the only full expression of the One True God.
I can quickly and clearly say “I believe in the Trinity” to summarize this entire statement.
God the Father is our Creator and Provider.
As our statement teaches: We believe that God the Father reigns with providential care over humans and human history. He is our Creator and Provider: a great and mighty God, sovereign over all.
He is the God who …
- Spoke the world into existence
- Parted the Red Sea
- Brought down the walls of Jericho
- Protected Daniel in the lion’s den
- He knitted you together in your mother’s womb and has sustained you every day of your life.
He is fully and truly God and has been and will be for all eternity.
God the Son is our Gracious and Loving Redeemer.
As our statement teaches: We believe that God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the Savior of the world. He is our Lord and Master: a gracious and loving redeemer, fully human and fully divine.
He is the God who …
- Gave sight to the blind
- Fed the hungry
- Provided hope to the hopeless
- Welcomed the stranger and outcast
- Broke bread with sinners like you and me
- Died on the cross for the sins of the world
- Rose from the dead to provide victory over sin and death
He is fully and truly God and has been and will be for all eternity.
God the Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Guide.
As our statement teaches: We believe that God the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, calls people to the Savior, and bestows spiritual gifts. He is our Comforter and Guide: a convicting and enabling presence.
He is God who …
- Indwells those who believe
- Convicts the comfortable
- Comforts the conflicted
- Provides boldness and courage
- Blesses the church with spiritual gifts
He is fully and truly God and has been and will be for all eternity.
Worship the One True God.
A substantial portion of your relationship with God is a proper understanding of God. Of course, we will never fully know God here on earth. His power, love, and wisdom are too great to know in entirety. Yet, we should seek to know him more each day.
If you know God the Father, as your Creator and Provider, you will passionately worship.
If you know God the Son, as your Gracious and Loving Redeemer, you will passionately worship.
If you know God the Holy Spirit, as your Comforter and Guide, you will passionately worship.
The Trinity is Essential.
The Trinity is an essential Christian truth. To distort the Trinity is to abandon the orthodox Christian faith. The Bible reveals that there is only one God and the One True God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Scientists (to name a few) distort, pervert, or reject the Trinity.
The three persons of the One True God are not modes or roles of God’s existence. Nor does a hierarchy exist among the Trinity. Nor are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three gods. The One True God is three in one and one in three. This might be hard to explain but it doesn’t make it any less true. The Bible describes how God revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet, each person of the Trinity has the same essence, nature, and character.
Over the course of church history, many poor analogies have developed in an attempt to describe the Trinity. Don’t pay them much attention. I prefer to stick with the images provided by the Bible. Matthew 3:13-17 details the scene of Jesus’ baptism. On that day in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son, the Father affirmed the Son by saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” and it was witnessed by the gathered audience to the benefit of modern-day readers.
Jeff Gravens 
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