What Is the Trinity?

Deuteronomy 6:4 states that “the Lord our God is One.” In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How do we reconcile these two verses? How can we possibly explain the Trinity? I once did a Bible study with a man who simply could not wrap his mind around the concept. He refused to believe anything unless he understood everything.

I would suggest that we cannot fully explain even a single member of the Godhead much less the relationship between them. I do think, however, that the Bible gives us adequate information to wrap our minds around the concept of a triune God. In 2 Corinthians 13:14 Paul tells us that Jesus gives us grace, God gives us love and the Holy Spirit gives us friendship. This is a revealing picture of a God that works as One.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 3:16,17 we see an amazing picture of Jesus baptized in the Jordan River. Imagine with me a rugged man with long dark hair and a full unkempt beard. He is dressed in a robe of camel skin, calling out to a large crowd to repent, and be baptized. Jesus stands in line waiting His turn. Finally, the rugged man turns to Jesus and says, “It should be you baptizing me.” However, John plays his role, and when Jesus comes up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descends on Him like a dove. Following with an audible voice, the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

In the beautiful picture of Jesus’ baptism, set in a slow back eddy of the Jordan River, we see God. We see God the Father and His overwhelming love for His Son, Jesus. Next, we see God the Holy Spirit surrounding, comforting, and strengthening the Son of Man. Finally, we see God the Son, the Lamb of God, sacrificing His time, His comfort, and His very life to save humanity.

Throughout eternity, we will study God and assuredly understand more every day. I doubt that we will ever know all there is because, then we would be God, and that will never be. I am comforted for now that God has given me all the evidence I need to know that God is three, and God is one.

If you would like to start on your Bible reading journey, see our Bible study "The Godhead".

The GROW Bible study meets on Zoom Thursday at 7 pm. PST. We invite you to join us as we learn about God's amazing love for us and His plan for your future.