A Central Thought

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:1-6 ESV). I have often been asked whether or not the concept of the Trinity is Biblical. Well, it’s not true; it is also central to our faith and theology. Some argue that Christianity teaches belief in three Gods, or polytheism. That’s simply not the case. Christianity, like some other religions, is rigidly monotheistic. The difference between Christianity and all other monotheistic religions is that we believe in a concept of “three in one,” or the Trinity. No other religion does that; it is central to Christianity.

So, if it central, let’s see if I can better equip us to understand it better. I can try to explain by saying that I’m a father to my three sons, Kyle, David, and Aaron. They each know me in one way. I’m their father. However, I’m also a son of my parents. They knew me in an entirely different way. Additionally, I’m the husband to my wife, and she knows me another way. I have these three roles, but I am all the same person. That may be helpful; but, it’s still completely inadequate. It’s just a way for our finite minds to attempt understanding something so infinite. For example, how do we explain God the Son, praying to God the Father, as Jesus did? It is inexplicable to the human mind, because we are not God. The Trinity will always be a mystery that reflects the unfathomable greatness of God. Yet, when you believe, you begin to know the fullness of God. And this is the real importance of this belief. The Trinity brings together in a coherent manner the great truths about God’s historical, redemptive actions. For example, the Father sends the Son into the world to offer a propitiatory sacrifice on the cross; that is, a sacrifice that both appeases the Father’s just wrath against sin and extends the Father’s love and mercy by allowing repentant sinners to escape divine judgment. Then, it is the Incarnate Son who is able to provide this atonement because he is both God and man. The God-man conquers death, sin, and hell through his glorious resurrection from the dead. And, last, the Holy Spirit is directly responsible for the repentant sinner’s new birth in Christ through regeneration, and the believer’s life journey of sanctification. The three divine members of the Trinity make the entire plan of redemption possible. We need each revealed role of God.