Do You Notice The Trinity When Reading Your Bible?

We Christians acknowledge that God is 3 Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), yet 1 God. We acknowledge that the Trinity is mysterious. Perhaps we say something like, "No one can fully understand the Trinity," and leave it at that. Likely, we think or conclude that the Trinity has little "practical application" to our Christian life: "Studying the Trinity doesn't tell you to do anything." But since God created us in the image of the Trinity (Gen 1:27), surely we would benefit from learning what we can about our trinitarian God.

The Biblical Teaching of the Trinity Embodies 4 Essential Affirmations

1. There is one and only one true and living God.
2. This one God eternally exists in 3 persons--God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
3. These 3 persons are completely equal in attributes, each with the same divine nature
4. While each person is fully and completely God, the persons are not identical.
   

Some References to the Trinity in the Bible

Far from being comprehensive and exhaustive, here are some obvious and less obvious references to the Trinity in both the OT and the NT.

1. The Trinity and Creation (Gen 1:1-2; John 1:1-3).
2. The Trinity and the creation of man (Gen 1:26).
3. God's calling of Isaiah (Isa 6:8).
   
4. Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Messiah (Isa 48:16b; 61:1; 63:10).
5. The baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:10,11).
6. Jesus' great commission (Matt 28:19,20).
7. Paul's trinitarian blessing (2 Cor 13:14). "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
8. The Trinity and the atonement (Heb 9:14). "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

Practical Application from the Trinity

1. The Trinity and the Church (1 Cor 3:6-9; 9-15; 16-17).
2. The Trinity and ministry (Missional, Doctrinal, Relational) (Unity and Diversity)
   
3. The Trinity and inter-personal relationships and friendships (Order and Equality). "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work" (1 Cor 12:4-6). "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:4-6).
4. The Trinity and marriage (Eph 5:21-33; 1 Cor 11:3).
   

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