The Triunity of God

(Article for publication week of 5-19-2010 AD)

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word , and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (I John 5:7). Many of the modern versions have removed this verse from the text, and that is one of many reasons to not use them. The doctrine of the Triunity of God is a vital doctrine, and I greatly fear for the souls of those who reject it.

The Bible teaches that God is one and three at the same time. This is too high for our small brains, but Christians believe it nevertheless. God is one in His being (Deuteronomy 6:4), and three in personality (Matthew 28:19). There is a distinction between being and personality, but I confess it is hard for me to define. As human beings we are created as one in being and personality, and so it is difficult for our limited minds to fully grasp the truths of the infinite God. But as I say, faith lays hold of and rests in God, even though He is past finding out.

One reason the doctrine of God's Triunity is so important is that we are saved by a Trinitarian salvation. God the Father purposed and planned salvation before the foundation of the world (II Timothy 1:9), and chose a people in Christ in the everlasting covenant (Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 13:20). God the Father gave an elect people to His eternal Son and He became their Head, and Surety, and Mediator (John 6:37-39, John 17:2). At the appointed time God the Father sent His Son into the world to keep the law to a jot and tittle and provide a perfect righteousness for His elect (Galatians 4:4, II Corinthians 5:21). Christ the Son made a real atonement for all those the Father gave Him and not one shall be lost (John 10:15,28,29). At the Father's set time the Holy Spirit regenerates every one the Father elected and for whom the Son died, applying the atonement of Christ to them personally and making them new creatures in Christ, granting them repentance and giving them the gift of faith (Psalm 110:3; John 6:37; II Corinthians 5:17). So we see that salvation is of the Lord from first to last. Salvation is truly all of God's sovereign grace.

Now any theory of salvation that is not in accord with this Trinitarian salvation is not biblical. The arminian theory of salvation has the Holy Triune God divided against Himself. Those who advocate free will instead of free grace have Christ dying for the whole world, but then they say the Holy Spirit is unable to regenerate most of those for whom Christ died. Thus they have God the Son divided against God the Holy Spirit. The arminians advocate that God willed the salvation of the whole world, but God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are powerless to execute the Father's will. This theory is completely unbiblical and must be rejected by true Christians.

Now my friend, I want to ask you, have you been saved by the Triune God? Were you saved in such a way as all the glory is to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost? Or do you vainly imagine that you did part of it yourself? These are not trifling questions, but eternally relevant. God's way of salvation is to bring eternal glory to Himself, the Great One in Three.