Can one plus one plus one equal one?

For years, theologians and the people in the pews have taught, debated, denied and struggled with the concept of the Trinity. How can there be One God yet three are called God? We come up with illustrations, like the three parts of an egg (inadequate in my mind), or H₂O being ice, water and steam (better). Another is that my husband is a father, a son and an uncle; the same person with three titles, but that isn’t quite it either.

The Bible does not get into a detailed explanation of how this works, it just declares it. The Hebrew people understood God is one. He revealed it to them; it was not something they came up with themselves. While they resisted God and His rule over them, they still let it be known that they were worshipers of the one true God. He is their Creator who gave them His Law, who led them and who eventually allowed them to be in bondage in Babylon. It was in this pagan place where they finally became so disgusted with idols and idolatry that they never dabbled in it again.

Their monotheism or belief in only one God stood out from all other societies. It was so strong that when Jesus came, they could not accept His claim to deity as anything but blasphemy and therefore crucified Him. But Jesus was not lying or insane. He was God in human flesh. Even though the New Testament church supported monotheism, God’s people understood more about God and found no other explanation of what He revealed to them except that He is three persons yet one God.

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5–6)

These verses and many others support the OT revelation of one God. While the Father and the Son are often the focus, the Holy Spirit is also included as the third person of this Triune being . . .

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4–6)

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Lord Jesus, I cannot explain even to my own mind the idea of three equaling one. However, knowing You is not about mere human logic and never has been. Instead, knowing You is by revelation. You reveal yourself to me as a triune God. When Jesus came into my living room and into my life, that was the first truth that was firmly placed in my understanding. By faith, I know it is true — Jesus is fully God. The evidence is in Your Word but without any explanation except this description of faith:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1–3)

You have convinced me of that which I cannot see, just like You convinced the people of old. I know You created all things, regardless of anything that appears otherwise. I know that You are God, even though I cannot figure out how that works or makes sense. Faith makes sense, not because I can make sense of everything but because You have proven yourself worthy my total trust!

Revealed truth makes sense . . .

Someone advised me to first read the Gospel of John five times, then Romans two times, then the New Testament. I was a new Christian. I had read the Bible for more than a dozen years yet before Christ came into my life, none of it made sense. Now it did, and that advice was wise.

While Romans is mainly about the major beliefs of Christianity, John is about the identity of Jesus Christ. John wanted his readers to understand that Jesus is a man but no ordinary man; He is God yet God in human flesh, demonstrating it by His words and deeds.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1–2)

As Tozer writes, critics read this and compare it with Genesis where it says God created the heavens and the earth and other verses that say the Word — who is God the Son — created all things, or they read that the Holy Spirit was at work in creation. Some think these are contradictions, but Tozer responds that the Father, Son and Spirit worked together in creation and in human redemption. These three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ‘consubstantial’ which means they are one in substance and cannot be separated.

However, I’ve learned that this is a revealed truth — it cannot be rationalized. The human brain is unable to process it. Only when God, by His Spirit, opens our hearts, can we be certain this is true even though we cannot explain it.

This week is full of such conundrums. God saved one person’s home from incineration in a raging fire that burned almost everything else. Many were praying for that home, yet I’m certain others were praying for their homes as well. Why did God save one and not the others?

Thirteen young men were dramatically rescued from a watery cave in Thailand, but hundreds have drowned in the rain and flooding in Japan. A large group of children in a camp in Alberta escaped gunmen who fired at them, but many young people have died in school shootings.

Similar comparison could be made regarding car accidents, illness and other tragedies of life. Some survive, some die, most pray and many of those who pray believe in the sovereignty of God, yet the outcome of prayer — while sometimes delightful — can be a total mystery, even to those who know God.

We say things about God’s mysterious ways, yet to those who do not know Him, this seems a cop out. The human mind wants control, predictability, assurance, not a God who seems whimsical.

Reading and rereading John and Romans answers many of my doubts and questions. Jesus reveals the heart of God. We can know the Father and the Spirit by learning about the Son. Christian doctrines also reveal the heart of God. Romans begins with:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ . . .” (Romans 1:1–6)

In a nutshell, Paul does not try to explain the mysteries, just declares Jesus to be fully man and fully God who came that we who are called to believe in Him can trust and obey what God says and asks of us. Faith is not about reasoning it out but about that trust issue. Is God good? Right? Trustworthy? A good look at Jesus says He is. He makes me look at myself and realize that I am a speck in the universe and compared to God, totally unable to understand things beyond my limited awareness. Who else’s hand will I hold? The choice is simple: it is God’s or my own, and I’d rather be clinging to a Mystery who makes good every promise than the duh looking back from my mirror.

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Jesus, today begins with this choice and with the certainty that You are trustworthy and I am not. I put my hand in Yours and plan to go wherever You lead me. Already I know that I don’t know where that might be, but I also know that You can be relied on to do whatever is best for me and gives You the glory You deserve!

God is always near – one way or another!

My kettle boils and steam comes out the spout. I put water in my glass and an ice cube. All three, the steam, the water and the ice are H₂O. I can distinguish them, but they are the same compound. For me, this is the best analogy for God. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.

We might use their names and job descriptions somewhat loosely at times, yet when they do differing tasks, all three are usually somewhat involved. One example is creation:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1–3)

God created (is that the Father?) and the Spirit was there, and when God spoke, His Word made all things. His Word is Jesus Christ . . .

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

These verses are explicit yet throughout Scripture, the implication is the same; the three in one godhead actively works to bless the people of God.

The saving and keeping power of God is continually associated with the Holy Spirit. As Tozer says, He subsists in a form that can impart itself to our consciousness. He reveals the Father and the Son to us. He enables us to understand the Word of God and the will of God. He gives us love, peace, and joy and guides us through life.

This week I watched an expose on a particular cult. When asked about the Holy Spirit, they say ‘it’ is an influence, an idea, but they missed it. In their belief system, there is an absence of the main item on the Spirit’s to-do list: illumination. They are unaware of the depth of sin, the nature of who Jesus Christ is, the power of God to change lives, and that salvation is by grace through faith, not a result of works. They believe Jesus died to give us the right to earn salvation, and that He did not physically rise from the dead. Without the personal illuminating power of the Holy Spirit, these cult members are unaware of the main truths of the Gospel.

While I was once like that, after being a follower of Jesus Christ for many years it seems as if the Spirit is showing me truth all that time, that He is everywhere I go, involved in everything I do. The psalmist said:

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7–10)

He lives in me. He puts thoughts and ideas into my head. He enables me to do things far beyond my capabilities and personal ambitions. He comforts me in trials, reminds me of who I am and what God’s Word says when I stray. He guides me in decision-making and gives me light in the dark times, and humility when needed (which is most of the time). He knows me better than I know myself.

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Jesus, Your Spirit is a blessing, a wonderful gift from You, the very Friend and companion I need all the time. Thank You for sending this special and amazing Comforter!