“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.”
(2 Corinthians 13:14)
The biblical doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one God (Isa. 44:6) who eternally exists as three distinct Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Phil. 1:2, Titus 2:13, Acts 5:3-4).
This doctrine is not only foundational to the Christian faith; it is at the heart of redemption as each Person of the Godhead is intimately involved in the plan and work of redeeming sinners.
God the Father demonstrated His love to us by decreeing the sacrifice of His Son to pay for our sins (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8). God the Son demonstrated His love for us by bearing our sins in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24) and thereby securing the covenant of grace on our behalf (Eph. 5:2). And the Holy Spirit remains faithful to accomplish the Father’s will in us, as He continually applies the work of redemption to sinners and the process of sanctification to those who have been redeemed (Titus 3:5-6, 1 Peter 1:2).
How marvelous that each Person of the Trinity deeply engaged in solving the epic problem of man’s need for redemption through Jesus Christ! God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all vitally and indispensably necessitated. Thomas Manton said it well, “… all the Persons of the blessed Trinity do agree to give happiness and salvation to believers.”
How blessed are we who experience redemption through the work of the Triune God! Though we can only embrace this mysterious redemptive work of the Trinity by faith, we are bound to always adore God for this unspeakable gift!
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:4-6)
- Paul’s famous prayer for the Corinthians is a source of blessing for me Lord. He shows that to love others is to desire their good, to bless them. What better blessing to give the people of God than that they experience Your love, Your grace, and communion with You. For if they have You, they have direct access to Your wisdom, power, and goodness, to save them from all evil and bring them into eternal blessedness.
- Lord, You are the Almighty God – three persons in one essence. What an amazing thought… an incomprehensible thought!
- The names of God in Scripture are in the plural form, “Let Us make man in our image,” (Gen. 1:26). “Let Us go down, and there confound their language,” (Gen. 11:7). How can I better adore You… one in three and three in one! One essence in three persons! Help me to love You as the Triune God more every day!
Further References for 2 Cor. 13:14
Phil. 2:1; Rom. 16:20; Jude 1:21; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 16:23
