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The doctrine of the triune God is unique to Christianity.

There is only one God, yet three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each with His own distinct relationship to mankind, yet each equally, fully and eternally God.  Although these truths are implicit throughout the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is seldom presented explicitly as a formal doctrine.

There are numerous passages, however, where all three Persons are mentioned in the same context, and each one deals with a significant aspect of the Christian life.

Let’s begin with the Triune God’s Intercessor:

• “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights.  I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” – Isaiah 42:1.  Isaiah prophesying of the coming of Jesus Christ.
• “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.” – John 3:34-35

The Pre-Incarnate Son speaks of the Father and Spirit:

• “And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit.” – Isaiah 48:16

The provision of salvation:

• “The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God.” – Hebrews 9:14

The Holy Spirit proclaimed as One with the Son:

• “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, ‘Abba!  Father!’ ” – Galatians 4:6

We are baptized in the Name (singular) of the Triune God:

•  “ ‘… baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’ ” – Matthew 28:19

Father and Spirit at the Baptism of the Son:

• “Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’ ” – Mark 1:10-11

The Three Person Lord:

• “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever.  Amen.” – Romans 11:36 [‘from Him’ – is referring to the Holy Spirit, ‘through Him’ – the Lord Jesus Christ and ‘to Him’ – the Lord God]
• “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20
• “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
• “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” – Romans 8:9-11

The chief resource of the believer is prayer, and this also involves all three Persons:

• “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” – Romans 15:30
• “… for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” – Ephesians 2:18

The Triune God watches over His Church:

• “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit had made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” – Acts 20:28 

He must also continue to learn of Christ, and to bear witness of Him:

• “ ‘When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.’ ” – John 15:26
• “ ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.’ ” – John 14:26
• ” ‘The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.’ “ – Luke 12:12
• “ ‘But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.’ ” – John 16:13-15

Peter acknowledges the Triune God:

• “… who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.’ – 1 Peter 1:1-2

Paul writes about the Holy Trinity:

• “…set apart for the gospel of God…concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord…” – Romans 1:1-4
• “… to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:16
• “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11
• “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14
  “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” – Ephesians 3:14-17
• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:4-6
• “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:17
• “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” – 1 Timothy 3:16

Here is a beautiful illustration of the Godhead in the first verses of Genesis:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth … the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  Then God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.” – Genesis 1:1-3

• God – created the heavens and the earth
• the Spirit – was moving over the surface of the waters
• God / the Lord Jesus is God – said, ‘Let there be light’.  Scripture reads: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1; “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory.” – John 1:14; “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world.’ ” – John 8:12.

“ ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’ ” – Revelation 2:7

” ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ “ – Revelation 3:21

We end with – the eternal blessing of the triune God:

• “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”                    – 2 Corinthians 13:14

The three persons of the Godhead described – each with their own distinctive qualities:

• the grace of the Lord Jesus (“The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:17)
• the love of God the Father (“God is love” – 1 John 4:8)
• the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (” ‘I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.’ ” – John 14:16)

Use the box below for your questions and/or comments.  God bless.

Read the Book of Revelation now in more chronological order: First of Three Part Series: Revelation Scripture