Scriptural Reference:
"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom
we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came
and through whom we live."
1 Corinthians 8:6

"May 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

"I and the Father are one."
John 10:30

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
Matthew 28:19

"For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three
are in agreement. "
John 5:7-8

Quotes:
"When thou sayest, 'Saviour,' remember there is a Trinity in that word — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, this Saviour being three persons under one name. Thou canst not be saved by the Son without the Father, nor by the Father without the Son, nor by Father and Son without the Spirit."
Charles Spurgeon

Reflection: There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Known as the Holy Trinity. This is a fundamental belief in the Christian faith, accepted by the majority of Christian denominations. However, there are some groups within Christianity who do not adhere to this belief. They are collectively known as nontrinitarian. Due to their alternative , I would suggest liberal, interpretations of the Bible. As for the divide between these two groups, there are perhaps a range of opinions regarding the trinity and justifications to the validity of the Trinity.

There are those who refuse to believe in its' existence. Such as the Unification Church, Mormon Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, Unity School of Christianity and another 7 such churches. In each of these the doctrine is similar as they refute the unique quality of the Trinity. And to other degrees the deny the deity of Jesus as the Christ. And that God was impersonal to His creation. To achieve their ends they have selectively gone through the Old and New Testaments and removed any mention of the Trinity.

While there are those who believe in the Trinity. Such as the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Churches of Christ, The Southern Baptist Church, The United Methodist Church and roughly another 23 churches. Within these churches they have studied the Bible and found what they believe are credible support for the Holy Trinity or Godhead of Three divine person. To this end they have made the Trinity a vital part of their doctrine. So that it becomes an intergral and functioning aspect of salvation.

Trinity Poem 1

Of course I won't leave out the third non religious group that deny the Trinity along with the Judaeo Christian image of God. Such as Atheists, Humanists, Judaism, Islam, Ahmadiyya, Bahá’í, Hinduism, Buddhism, The New Age Movement (recycled spiritualism) and many others. In each the doctrine or core belief points to a range of moral teachings, factors or images to build their belief system. Some may not openly or actively attack Jesus as in the case of both the Atheists and Humanists. Yet they do supplant the Judeo construct of God along with the Holy Trinity.

Trinity Poem 2

For those who support and follow the Holy Trinity we tend to look to the Athanasian Creed. Which is widely considered one of the most highly regarded summaries of the Christian faith.

We worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in unity, neither confusing the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person for the Father, another for the Son, and yet another for the Holy Spirit. But the divinity of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one … Thus, the Father is God, the Son
is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but
there is one God.

Within this excerpt there is a clear explanation of the traditional belief in the Trinity. It emphasises that the doctrine involves the existence of God in three Persons. With a truth of for of the following statements.

1. There is only one God.
2. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God
3. The Father is not the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son.

Over the years there have been various theological discussions and explanations as to how this apparent contradiction can still be viable and understandable. The one that I feel most comfortable with is the water doctrine. As water is one and yet can have multiple forms. Each unique and yet made from the original source or substance. We could start with 3 cups of water and from this have 1 cup of ice, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of steam. All from the original water and yet vastly different.

I know there are those for their own reasons don't like this analogy. They prefer to use either the Egg or Apple explanations for the Trinity. Which if they work for you than that is okay.

The Egg: The Trinity is like an egg. Just as One egg has Three different parts;

1. The shell
2. The white
3. The yoke.

The Apple: The Trinity compared to an Apple. One apple has three different parts;

1. The skin
2. The flesh
3. The seed.

The Shamrock: The Trinity is like a three-leaf clover which has

• Three different cloves coming together to make One leaf.

The Man/Woman The Trinity is like a man who is;

1. Father,
2. Husband,
3. Son

In each of these we are able to discern a unique singularity with three equally unique parts. As well as how all three can be experienced in a single sense and yet be also viewed is the sum total of being one thing. Though I can imagine this discussion will continue until the day of the Lord's return. When we will all see Him face to face and fully understand the the true beauty and mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Until that day I suggest that we consider the Holy trinity as a vital aspect of our Christian faith. That we continue to study the Bible for more insights into or Glorious God, Sovereign Saviour and Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

In this fragile and transitory life,
There are many mysteries.
Some we may be able to discern.
Some we may study in depth.
And some we will never truly know.

Yet we will live each day on earth,
In awe of of the Holy Trinity,
In the body of our Creator,
In the body of our Saviour,
In the body of our Comforter.

Amen