Sometimes things just don’t seem to add up.
Most of us understand basic math. If you add 1 + 1 + 1, you get 3. That’s simple. But what if someone told you:
1 + 1 + 1 = 1
That doesn’t make sense… at least not in math class.
But when we talk about God, we discover something amazing. The Bible teaches that God is three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity.
- God the Father is God
- God the Son (Jesus) is God
- God the Holy Spirit is God
- But there is only one God
It’s not easy to understand. And that’s okay. If God were easy to explain, He wouldn’t be God. He is bigger than our minds can fully grasp.
In John 14–16, the disciples were confused about many things. Jesus told them He was going away, and that worried them. But He also gave them comfort. He promised that even though He would leave, they would never be alone.
Why? Because God would be with them… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1. God Exists as Three Persons
In John 16:5-7, Jesus mentions all three members of the Trinity.
“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you…”
In these verses all three members of the Trinity are present.
Jesus, the Son of God, came from heaven to save us. He has existed from all eternity, but came to this earth to die for our sins.
It was the Father who sent the Son. Jesus lived in perfect obedience to his Father. Over and over again he made it clear that he came not to pursue his own will, but the will of the one who sent him. The Son glorifies the Father, and the Father glorifies the Son.
Jesus made a promise to send the Holy Spirit. Today, the Spirit permanently resides within God’s people. He is called the Helper or Comforter. In the midst of our weakness, the Spirit comes along side of us to strengthen us. He equips us to live for the Lord.
The passage clearly describes three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father. All three minister to us in our daily lives.
That means we are never alone.
2. Each Member of the Trinity Is Fully God
Jesus said in John 16:14-15, “He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
That’s a bold statement, “…all that belongs to the Father is mine…” Whoa! What are you saying? All of the Father’s glory? All of the His authority? All of the worship and praise due his name? If anyone else made this claim it would sound crazy. But Jesus wasn’t being presumptuous. Jesus could say it because He is God.
Jesus did things only God can do:
- He forgave sins
- He accepted worship
- He raised people from the dead
- He claimed authority over life and death
It’s not that the Father and Son bear a striking resemblance. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the exact representation of his being. What is true of the Father is true of the Son. The same can be said of the Holy Spirit.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three parts of God. Each one is fully God.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is much more than a good teacher. He is God who came to rescue us.
And that makes His love even more amazing. God Himself stepped into our world to save us.
3. There Is Only One God
In John 14:7-9, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus replied:
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
That’s incredible. Jesus was saying that when people saw Him, they were seeing God.
- To spend time with Jesus is to spend time in the presence of God.
- To listen to the words of Jesus is to hear the voice of God.
- To feel the love and compassion of Jesus is to experience the heart of God.
This is true because Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.
The Bible is clear: there is only one God. Christians don’t believe in three different gods. We believe in one God in three persons.
This can be hard to understand, but that’s okay. There are lots of things we accept even when we don’t fully understand them, like how Wi-Fi works, or how a phone can send a message across the world in seconds.
God is far greater than anything we experience, so it makes sense that we won’t fully understand Him.
Why This Matters for Us
The Trinity isn’t just a theological idea. It affects our everyday lives.
Because of the Trinity:
- We can pray to the Father
- We can trust in Jesus for salvation
- We can depend on the Holy Spirit for help
It also teaches us something about relationships. The Father, Son, and Spirit work together in perfect unity. There is no competition, no pride, and no selfishness.
That’s the kind of attitude God wants to grow in us: unity, love, and humility.
Conclusion
The Trinity will always be a mystery to us in many ways. But we know it’s true because the Bible teaches it.
And it’s comforting to know that:
- The Father loves us
- The Son saved us
- The Spirit helps us
God is everything we need so let us worship and follow him.
Discussion Questions
- Read John 16:7
Why do you think Jesus said it was better for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit could come? - Read John 14:9
What does it mean that seeing Jesus is like seeing the Father? - Which member of the Trinity do you find yourself thinking about most: Father, Son, or Holy Spirit? Why?
- Read Romans 8:26
How does it encourage you to know the Holy Spirit helps you when you pray? - How does knowing that God is always with you change how you face challenges?