I am always amazed at how the simplest truths can again and again refresh my soul as though I am discovering them for the very first time. Part of this is no doubt due to a poor memory. But part of this can be attributed to the supernatural wonder of God’s word, which proves itself again and again to be “living and powerful” no matter how many times we’ve read it before. Because of this, the simplest doctrine of scripture can bring us to awe inspired silence, though we may have known them for decades, and though they have lain open on the pages of scripture for millennia.
Take, for example, the doctrine of the trinity. In our bibles, God reveals himself as a triune (three-in-one) God. Scripture portrays Him as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We see evidence of this in the very first verse of Genesis when “God [Elohim: plural form of masculine god used with singular verb] created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1) and shortly after when God said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gen 1:26). In the New Testament we have examples of this from Jesus’ Baptism where the God the Father is speaking to God the Son [Jesus] while God the Holy Spirit is descending upon Jesus (Mat 3:16-17), to the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20) and Apostolic Benediction (2 Cor 13:14) where all three persons of God are recognized by Jesus and by Paul the Apostle. We could go on and on about scripture supporting the doctrine of a triune God, but there isn’t much of a debate concerning this doctrine. Even the Catholics and Protestants agree on this one.
It isn’t the fact that scripture reveals God as a triune God that amazes me, as much as all the peripheral implications of this doctrine. Colossians tells us, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:15). And Romans goes on to tell us, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made…” (Rom 1:20). This means everything created, from authorities to natural wonders, not only came from… but reveal the Trinitarian nature of God. Just as a child comes from and carries the genetic markers of their parents, all of life comes from and carries the genetic markers of its Trinitarian God. True, sin has marred all that God has created. But these makers still exist to remind us and point us to God…
Why do we long for selfless, trustworthy, unending love? Because our Trinitarian God is a God of selfless, trustworthy, unending love. This love exists in the Triune God apart from creation. In John 3:35 and 5:20 we read, “The Father loves the son”. And in John 14:31 Jesus says, “I love the Father”. And because we were created by God, we get to experience that love. John 4:7-8 says, “Love is from God” and “God is love.” From God’s love, comes our love for God, for family, for friend, for neighbor, for stranger, and even for enemy. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We long for and desire this love because we were created for it.
Why do we long for communication, relationship, and community? Because our Trinitarian God is a God of communication, relationship, and community. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God [Father], and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1,14). God was communicating with His Word from the beginning. Jesus said, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am… because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” God’s very nature is one of communication, resulting in relationship and community. Why do we blog, text, call, Skype, Facebook, tweet, post? We were created for communication. Why do we gather at events, concerts, churches, conferences? We were created for relationship and community.
Why do we long for equality, yet with deference and order? Because our Trinitarian God is a God of equality, yet with deference and order. The Father¹ , the Son², and the Holy Spirit³ are all portrayed as fully and equally almighty, all-knowing, and all-powerful God. Yet there is clearly deference and order within the Trinity. God sent Jesus (John 3:16). Jesus said, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). He said, “I do as the Father has commanded me” (John 14:31). Jesus prayed to the Father, “not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). The Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name (John 15:26). Jesus said the Holy Spirit “will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “bear witness about me” (John 15:26). There is equality, yet deference and order in our Trinitarian God. From this comes equality, yet deference and order in society. This is why a child is no less valuable than their parents, but is to respect their parents; why a wife is no less esteemed than her husband, but is to submit to her husband; why a constituent has no less rights than their governing leaders, but is to pray for and honor their governing leaders; why a church member is no less important to the body than their pastor, but is to support, honor, and respect their pastor. We were created for equality, yet with deference and order.
We could go on to talk about why our created world has beauty, humor, and joy. If you’d like further information on this, check out the book “Doctrine – What Christians Should Believe” by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. But I think you get the point. All of creation, both things seen and unseen, point us to a Trinitarian God who is full of virtue and worthy of endless praise. May we all take some time to look beyond the marred effects of sin in our world. May we see the genetic markers all around us of a Trinitarian God who created us, loved us, died for us, renews us, and will one day bring us into perfect harmony with Him and all believers for all eternity…
Recommended Book:
Doctrine – What Christians Should Believe (PDF)
By Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Footnotes:
- John 6:27, 17:3, 1 Cor. 8:6, 2 Cor. 1:3, Eph. 1:3, 1 Pet. 1:3
- John 1:1-4, 14, John 5:17-18, Matt. 26:63-65, John 5:17-23, 8:58-59, 10:30-39, 19:7
- Gen 1:2, Ps 104:30, Heb. 9:14, Mic. 3:8, Acts 1:8, Rom 15:13,19, Is 40:13-14, Ps 139:7, Acts 5:3-4