How Can One God be Three Persons?
CONVERSATIONS
First of all, to completely explain or understand this is difficult, because the fullness of what God knows or is capable of, is beyond the abilities of our human comprehension.
God can be so much more than we can grasp.
Here’s an illustration that might help you:
The Father is God.
The Son is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Yet the Father is not the Son.
The Son is not the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not the Father.
When Christians describe God, we see Him as a Trinity (3 persons in 1 God).
“Tri” meaning 3 and “unitas” meaning “one”. 3 Distinct persons yet One in Being.
We do not have 3 gods, but rather 3 persons in 1 God.
Throughout Scripture, there are many occasions when God reveals himself in this unique way:
1) When God created man:
Observe the plurality of the verse, when God created man: (Genesis 1: 26)
“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”
2) When God sent Jesus to earth:
We notice this also, as Jesus came to earth through the womb of Mary:
And the angel answered and said to her [Mary], "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring (Jesus) shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
3) Jesus baptism: Matthew 3: 16-17
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven (the Father) said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
The Matthew Henry Concise Commentary says:
“At Christ's baptism there was a manifestation of the three Persons in the sacred Trinity. The Father confirming the Son to be Mediator; the Son solemnly entering upon the work; the Holy Spirit descending on him . . . ”
My observation:
4) The Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit proves that God is a God of Relationship.
What a comforting thought! Yes, God is a God of power, of strength and might. Yet ultimately, He is a God of relationships. Relationships are important to Him. That is why the Savior came. To restore even us sinners, to a FULL relationship with the triune God.
[Jesus speaking to His disciples] "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you." . . . "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:16-17, 23)
Q: Do you know that God wants a relationship with you because He loves you? How does that make you feel?
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Q: What would be your response to a Triune God that loved you this much?
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PRAYER:
Dearest God,
I thank you that you are 1 God in 3 persons.
It is a mystery I can’t fully comprehend. Thank You that in you, I have an Everlasting Father, A Savior in my Lord Jesus Christ and a Helper in the Holy Spirit.
Not only are you a God of great power and might, you have chosen to reveal yourself to me as a God of love. A God of relationships.
Thank you for this revelation of the power 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
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