The Trinity
The Implications of the Trinity
Isaiah 48:16
Come closer and listen. I have always told you plainly
what would happen, so that you could clearly understand. And now the Lord
God and his Spirit have sent me (with this message):
TLB
Consider the more practical side of the doctrine of the Trinity. If God is One, and if He exists in Three Persons, than those religions that reject, in any form, this concept are false! This includes the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, New Age with its multiple gods, or all-in-one gods, Christian Science, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and a flock of others. The Trinity is the doctrine that distinguishes Christianity from all others, for it says that God became one of us, to die for us, so that we might reestablish the broken relationship with Him. No other religion comes close to making such a claim.
But, there are other, more relevant concerns for the Christian as well. What the relationship of the Trinity teaches is that if we are to be true children of God, we must learn about God, for our long-term goal is to match His character. We may not achieve this matching in our present life, but we are to strive toward this goal, at all times, at all costs. In other words, we are to move closer to the attributes of God. What better place than to review these attributes at work than in the relationship of the Trinity?
In other words, since the Bible teaches the existence of the Trinity, how should this doctrine affect my day-to-day actions? For example, the Trinity teaches that God Himself has suffered in manners similar to what we have endured. Jesus was rejected, scorned, laughed at, spit-upon, beaten, and ultimately killed on a Cross. How does this compare to the things you have suffered? Shouldn&t it give you great comfort to know that GOD has experienced suffering equal to or worse than what you have gone through?
If God has faced such suffering (the evil of this world) and, yet, still loves the world enough to care about its salvation, how should you act?
For example, if God is a Trinity, when we worship should we not acknowledge and worship all of God, not just the Father or the Son? And if God is a Trinity, then when Scripture speaks of God indwelling us, we must understand that a portion of this Trinity resides within us. And not just one Person, but the entire Trinity! The God of heaven has placed Himself within you! Ponder that idea for awhile!
And, as a last thought on the implications of the Trinity, remember the picture of the progression or generation of God -- from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit, for the Father? This idea, as well as most of the teachings of Christ, show that the relationship of the Trinity involves submission. Everyone is more important than yourself. Everyone in the church is on equal footing. All believers share the same status before God as children of God. Why? If for not other reason than that all are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, by God. How should you be treating the other members of God&s body? How should this drive your relationship with others?
