“. . . baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)
The doctrine of the Trinity is a very deeply significant, albeit mysterious, biblical truth. How God is both one God and yet three distinctly separate Persons is beyond the reach of our finite minds. And yet, as God allows, we can embrace this magnificent truth by faith in what Scripture teaches as we take a closer look at what God reveals to us about Himself.
The word “trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the number of passages that support a triune God are numerous. Further, God begins unveiling this aspect of who He is in the very first verses of Genesis.
A rewarding and effective way to study Scripture is to consider complementary passages together. And one of the best examples of complementary passages in all the Bible is Genesis 1:1-2 and John 1:1-3.
Genesis 1:1-2 states: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Its complementary passage, John 1:1-3, adds “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”
Here are a few significant truths regarding the Trinity unveiled between these two passages:
- The “Word” in John 1:1 is a reference to Christ, God’s Son (John 1:14).
- Christ is both God… and distinct from God (the Father) (John 1:1).
- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit were all present and active in creation (Gen. 1:1-2 and John 1:2).
And just to be sure we don’t miss this, three times God makes reference to Himself in plural form in Genesis 1:26: “And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’”
In the Old Testament God is seen as the Redeemer and Savior of His people (Job. 19:25; Ps. 19:14; 78:35; 106:21; Isa. 41:14; 43:3,11,14; 47:4; 49:7,26; 60:16; Jer. 14:3; 50:14; Hos. 13:3). And in the New Testament the Son of God is described in the same way (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:76-79; 2:17; John 4:42; Acts 5:3; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Phil. 3:30; Tit. 2:13-14). Additionally, Scripture tells us that God sent His Son into the world (John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:6; I John 4:9); and that both the Father and the Son sent the Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; Gal. 4:6).
Louis Berkhof says, “The separate persons of the Trinity are made to stand out clearly before our minds. At the baptism of the Son the Father speaks from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove (Matt. 3:16,17). In the great commission Jesus mentions the three persons: ‘. . . baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’ (Matt. 28:19). They are also named alongside each other in 1 Cor. 12:4-6, 2 Cor. 13:14, and 1 Peter 1:2.”
As God repeatedly reveals Himself in this way throughout the entirety of Scripture, it is our obligation as believers to recognize the significance of the Trinity relative to the foundation of our Christian faith and, more particularly, in the work of our redemption. And as we contemplate this great truth, may it lift our hearts to adore our great Triune God through the redemption he provided in Jesus Christ!
- Lord, while contemplating You as the Triune God, Your Spirit moves me to worship. I am in awe of who You are – infinite perfection in the One highly exalted God. Help me adore You as Triune each and every day so that I may better understand that the whole of my salvation rests in the work of the Trinity.
- I often think about Christ’s words, that He desired to have that glory manifest which He had with You before the world began. Not because He lost it, but because it was veiled during His earthly ministry. It is a most blessed thought to know that the Triune Godhead glorifies each other exceedingly – You, Father, glorify Your Son, and You, Son, glorify the Father, and You, Holy Spirit, glorify the Father and the Son (John 17:4-5, 22 and 16:14). May I learn from these examples how to better glorify You!
- I am grateful to You, Lord, for revealing through Your Word and Your Spirit the great mystery of Jesus Christ – “wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom…which none of the rulers of this age knew…but God has revealed to us through his Spirit (1 Cor. 2:7-8, 10). How can I not sing of Your glory, praise You for Your being, and be moved to love You more?
- It is a most terrible thing for me to sin against You. I break my communion with You, with the Trinity, when I sin. And when do I not sin? When do I do all things perfectly before You who are most glorious and require my perfection? Yet, I know because of Your covenant, Your faithfulness, and Your promises, that You will not leave me nor forsake me. I desire to be rid of my sin, able to fully glorify You as the Triune God all the days of my life and into eternity.
Further References for Matthew 28:19
James 3:9; Gal. 4:6; Heb. 1:5; 1 John 4:14; 2 Cor. 13:14
