The Christian faith is built on the doctrine that God consists of three persons in one (Deut. 6:4/Hebrew word echad = compound unity). Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! The Father is not the same person as the Son who is not the same person as the Father or the Holy Spirit. It is a mystery our minds cannot completely grasp, the Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. And although the term “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, the concept represented by the word “Trinity” does exist in Scripture. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus’ baptism. In this passage, God the Holy Spirit descends on God the Son, while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son.

“Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)

“Therefore, concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.” 1 Corinthians 8:4 (NKJV)

Some people have mistakenly seen the Trinity as a Triad. In contrast to the Trinity, a triad is three separate gods. Each is a god. Therefore, in the doctrine of the triad, the Father is a god, the Son is a god, and the Holy Spirit is a god. This is not the doctrine of the Trinity, and it is not biblical.

The individual members of the Trinity have different tasks. The Father is the ultimate source of the universe. By His will, all things were created.

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

The Son is the agent through whom the Father works. Through Jesus, we are given divine revelation (Revelation 1:1); and salvation (John 4:42); The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent. Jesus intercedes day and night on our behalf before the throne of the Father.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” Revelation 1:1 (NKJV)

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” John 4:42 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is also used by Father God to provide divine revelation (Ephesians 3:5); salvation (Titus 3:5); and the works of Jesus (Acts 10:38).

“Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.” Ephesians 3:5 (NKJV)

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Acts 10:38 (NKJV)

The first chapter of the book of Revelation reveals even more about the Holy Spirit. Verse 4 tells us of seven spirits before the throne of God. David Guzik concludes that the seven spirits are actually seven aspects of the Holy Spirit. “It isn’t that there are seven different spirits of God, rather the Spirit of the Lord has these characteristics.”

“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
Isaiah 11:2 (NKJV)

May the Holy Spirit provide us with the wisdom, understanding, knowledge and counsel we need as we live through this strange time of chaos and spiritual warfare.