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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 10/6/02 Radio Program

Question:

Address and explain the trinity.

Answer:

This question concerning the trinity comes up from time to time. We need to understand that while the actual word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, we are nevertheless shown that there are three persons in the Godhead. The Bible speaks of God the Father (Eph. 4:6), God the Son (Heb. 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4).

To show that such is the teaching of the Bible, consider the account of the baptism of Jesus. Here, we read, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:16-17). Notice, that in this account, 1) Jesus has came up from the water, 2) the Spirit descends on Him like a dove, and 3) there is a voice from Heaven which is heard. Paul ends his second epistle to the Corinthians be saying, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (II Cor. 13:14). Again, three are mentioned. Furthermore, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, and spoke of "One Spirit ... One Lord ... One God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:4-6). I am no mathematician, but I know that 1+1+1=3!

When reading John 3:16, we read of God sending His "only begotten Son" into this world. Now, is the sender the thing sent? In other words, if I send a piece of mail to you, am I sending myself to you? Of course, not! The sender is not the thing sent. Similar language is used when Christ speaks of sending "the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit" to the apostles (Jn. 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-13). While the word "trinity" is not in the Bible, the Bible is very clear about there being three separate personalities in the Godhead.

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