Chapter 2 | Who is God? The Doctrine of the Trinity
Key verse: These things I (Jesus) have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." John 14:25-26
For Further Study:
Book:
Delighting in the Trinity, Michael Reeves
Articles:
“The Trinity: Explain It to Me Like I’m a 2-Year-Old Edition,” by Justin Taylor
“The Doctrine of the Trinity: No Christianity Without It,” by Kevin DeYoung
Videos:
“The Trinity Simplified,” by Mike Winger
“The Trinity: Can We Defend It Biblically?” by Mike Winger
Class:
The Gospel Coalition course, “The Doctrine of the Trinity”
Kids’ content:
“The Trinity Explained for Kids by What’s in the Bible, by Loudmouth Pastor
“What Is the Trinity: A Sunday School Lesson for Kids,” by Douglas Talks
Infographic:
Trinity chart, by Tim Challies
Summary:
Brief Definition: God eternally exists as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God, yet there is one God.
Most doctrines are like limbs on a tree—firm limbs—but limbs, nonetheless. The doctrine of God is the trunk, and no limb can live without the trunk.
We need to hold in tension two important instincts: oneness and threeness. Both are essential.
God is one God, but He is One God who eternally exists as three distinct persons—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Each person is fully God. But the Father is not the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son, but they are the triune God who is perfectly one and distinct in three persons.
Economic Trinity
God the Father initiates the plan for salvation.
God the Son accomplishes salvation.
God the Spirit applies salvation.
Immanent Trinity
The Father, eternally unbegotten.
The Son, eternally begotten by the Father.
The Spirit, eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.
God is one. There is only one God, and He alone is worthy of worship. Think how many times this week, today, this hour, or maybe even this minute you have set your affections on a multitude of lesser things. … The oneness of God helps us to direct our worship away from the pantheon of our earthly desires to the only worthy Object of adoration.
The gospel is only possible if God is Trinity. Each member … plays an essential role. God the Father initiates. God the Son accomplishes. God the Spirit applies. Only the triune God can love sinners, die for sinners, live with sinners, and make sinners saints.
The triune God not only forgives sin, He invites us into fellowship with each person of the Godhead.
You are invited to fellowship specifically with God the Father. God the Father declares we are His sons and daughters. He has adopted us. …. He loves you the same way He loves His Son.
You are invited to fellowship specifically with God the Son. [He] came to bear your shame and guilt. Because of Him, you no longer stand condemned, but free. He is our brother, our mediator, our king who invites us to be coheirs in His kingdom.
You are invited to fellowship specifically with God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit now resides in you. He delights to be with you.
The most important question then is not, “What do you love?” Or, “Whom do you love?” But rather, “Who loves You?” God does. The one true God, the triune God. … The doctrine of the Trinity is the doctrine of God’s love. You are loved by God the Father, you are loved by God the Son, and you are loved by God the Holy Spirit. The love of the triune God toward you is the genesis for all other loves and the beginning of a love we will enjoy and explore for all eternity.
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
1. Why do you think the Trinity is so seldom taught, pondered, or celebrated in Christian circles today? What do we lose by neglecting this doctrine?
2. How is the oneness of God a necessary reminder for you personally? What divided worship does it challenge?
3. Of the three persons of the Trinity, which do you feel the most acquainted with? Which is easiest to attach your affections and worship to? How does your personal history of family or church shape the answers you gave?
4. What church traditions tend to emphasize one member of the Trinity over others? How is this potentially dangerous for our understanding of how God relates to us in the gospel?
5. On a scale from 1 to -10, rank your comfort level with the doctrine of the Trinity before reading this chapter. Now rank it after reading this chapter. Which insights do you most want to remember? Which insights do you want to explore further
