February 21 – LD 8, Day 3: God is Three Persons
by Rev J. Kortering
I John 5:7, “For there are three
that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these
three are one.”
One of the great mysteries concerning our God is that He is triune. This
word is made up of two words, the first can be translated one and the other
word can be translated three. Hence we conclude the confession of the
historic Christian faith is that we have one God who has three Persons. Three
Persons subsist in one being. That states briefly what we mean by triune or
trinity.
We considered before what is included in the one being or nature of God.
Now we have to say a brief word about the three Persons. A person is an
individual who has the ability to think, to will, to talk, to
enjoy friendship. Among all the creatures God has made, only human beings who
are created human persons have this ability.
God is three divine Persons who function in the one divine nature. To express
this somewhat simply, the three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all
function as Persons within the one divine nature. They think in the one mind of
God but think individually as Persons. They desire as Persons, they express
joy, sorrow, anger as Persons. They do all these things in the one heart and
will of God.
Each Person possesses His own personality and distinct qualities. Thus each
Person thinks individually, yet is united in the one mind of God. They are
divine, co-equal and co-eternal God, yet distinct from each other. They
complement each other and contribute to the personal relationship they enjoy
within the godhead.
The catechism acknowledges this is impossible to comprehend and sets God apart
from man in His own being and nature. We can at least understand that this
allows for God’s majesty and power. It is important for us to be humble and
accept these truths concerning God. We do this by the simple statement of
faith, “God hath so revealed himself in His Word.” Think of the passage quoted
above. Look at John 14:16,17, “I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you
forever.” The Son prays to the Father that He will give the Holy Spirit to His
children to comfort them.
The truth of the trinity is not man-made, it is divinely revealed.