Christianity 101 - Acts: More Questions

Episode 4

Episode 4: The Three-In-One God

Special Guest – Dr. Fred Sanders

YOU CAN BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY

Dr. Fred Sanders advises that when you approach the subject of the Trinity, it’s good to ask three questions:

1. Is the Trinity Biblical?

Yes! The Trinity is profoundly and comprehensively biblical, even though the word “Trinity” never appears in the Bible. But not every correct doctrine is in the Bible in one verse (in fact, the word “Bible” isn’t even in the Bible). But all of the doctrines of the Trinity are in the Bible.

The doctrine of the Trinity is not an easy one to comprehend. You have to think about it and ask God to help you understand.

Special revelation (the Bible) + Thought = Understanding

Where do good doctrines come from? The Bible. You will find God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—throughout the Bible. Here are some verses and passages in the New Testament. Read these and watch how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned in the same context:

Matthew 3:16-17
Matthew 28:18-20
Romans 1:1-4
Romans 5:1-5
Romans 15:16
Romans 15:30
1 Corinthians 6:11
2 Corinthians 1:21
Galatians 3:1-14
Galatians 4:6
Ephesians 1:3-14
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
Titus 3:4-6

Watch Jesus and See the Trinity

Throughout the life of Christ, you will see the presence of the Father and the Spirit. For example:

Matthew 3:16-17 – His Baptism
Hebrews 9:14 – The Crucifixion
John 6:63 and Acts 2:24 – The Resurrection
Matthew 28:18-20 – The Great Commission
Acts 1:6-8 – The Ascension

2. Does the Trinity Make Sense?

The Trinity is not common sense, but neither is it nonsense. It makes sense once you know.

The Trinity is not illogical

Here’s an example of an illogical statement about the Trinity:

God is three persons in one person, or God is three beings in one being.

The doctrine of the Trinity does not say this. It says…

God is three persons in one being.

This is not a violation of the law on non-contradiction. It may be a mystery and it may be unexplainable, but it is not illogical.

So does the Trinity make sense?

Yes, because it makes sense of everything else. The Trinity is not the problem, but the solution.

Be Careful about Using Analogies

Analogies (the Trinity is an apple, an egg, water, etc.) may seem good at first, but the more you think about them, the more they break down. For example, one analogy is to compare the Trinity to a man who is a son, a husband, and a father. Isn’t that like the Trinity? At first it seems like it is, but it isn’t accurate. In fact, it’s heresy! Here’s why.

In the Trinity, there are three distinct Persons in one being, and each one is fully God. Yet there is only one God, not three Gods (that would be tri-theism, which is polytheism). The problem with the son/husband/father analogy is that you have only one person—a man. He’s one man playing three different roles. This isn’t the Trinity. It’s an ancient heresy called modalism, which teaches that God simply exists in three different “modes.” That isn’t the orthodox, historic teaching of the church.

3. Does the Trinity Matter?

Correct ideas matter! A correct understanding of the Trinity matters. The Athanasian Creed states: “Whoever wants to be saved must above all hold that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity.”

Can you be saved without the Trinity? Well, you can’t be saved without the Tri-une God, but you can be saved without understanding the concept, as long as you believe it.

Remember, as Dr. Fred Sanders says, the Trinity is…

The shape of your salvation and
The grammar of your faith.

If you’re doing things right in your Christian life, the Trinity is working in you.

When you were saved—

The Father authored your salvation (John 3:16)
The Son accomplished your salvation (John 19:30
The Holy Spirit applies your salvation (Ephesians 2:18)

As a Christian you are—

A child of God
A member of the body of Christ
A temple of the Holy Spirit

When you pray, you pray—

To the Father
Through the Son
In the Holy Spirit

Recommended reading

Knowing God 101by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
Making Sense of the Trinity by Millard Ericikson
Understanding the Trinity by Alister E. McGrath

Dr. Fred Sanders is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University, a “great books” program. Fred is known for combining his love for art with theology. Indeed, he is a published illustrator with several books that explain theology through whimsical cartoon illustrations. But don’t let his humor fool you. Fred is a serious and respected scholar who is known for his teaching on the Trinity.

Dr. Doctrine Christian Comix by Fred Sanders are a wonderful way to learn about your Christian life and the important doctrines that you should know to grow in your faith. There are four titles in all:

Click here for a description and ordering information