Doctrine of the Trinity (Part II)

   The doctrine of the Trinity is seen in the life and work of the Lord.

1. It is clearly implied in the annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:35; Matt 1:18).  Here the Holy Ghost is the active agent.  The Child brought into the world is the Son of God.
2. It is seen in the openings of Jesus’ ministry (Matt. 3:16, 17; Mark 1:10, 11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:32-34).  The three Persons are thrown up to sight in a dramatic picture in which the Deity of each is strongly emphasized.  From the open heavens the Spirit descends in visible form, the voice out of the heavens declares:  “My beloved Son.”
3. It is boldly stated by our Lord in the final commission and His give baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19:  “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  Of this baptismal formula the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says:  “There can be no good reason to doubt that it was made by Him, when it is expressly attributed to Him by the record.”  According to this accepted authority, “The Hebrew did not think of the name, as we are accustomed to think of it, as a mere external symbol, but rather as the adequate expression of the innermost being of its bearer.”

     The doctrine of the Trinity is positively taught in The Acts and The Epistles.  Acts 5:31:  “Him hath God exalted...to be Prince and a Savior…we are witnesses…so is also the Holy Ghost.  To deny the Trinity is to make this passage of Scripture meaningless if not absurd.

• I Corinthians 12:4-6:  “There are diversities of administrations, but the same Spirit; and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
• II Corinthians 13:14:  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all.”
• Ephesians 2:18:  “For through him [Christ] we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by on Spirit unto the Father.”
• Ephesians 3:16-19:  Strengthened by the Spirit; indwelt by Christ; filled with all the fullness of God.

            These sublime passages become confusing and filled with meaningless repetition by denial of the doctrine of the Trinity.

            The doctrine of the Trinity is the historic teaching of the Church.  From the first the Christian church taught three Persons in one Godhead.  But heresy swept the church again and again, often involving the Deity of our Lord.  So to consolidate the beliefs of the Church, the great Church Council in Nice 325 A.D. declared that belief in the Trinity was to be the doctrine of the Church.  It was to safeguard the doctrine of the Deity of our Lord that this article was proclaimed with great vigor.  It is generally true that those who deny the doctrine and inadequate views of the person and work of the virgin-born Savior.

            But John Wesley made a vital statement when he said:  “Let man firmly believe, there is but one God, the object of any divine worship whatever.”

            The doctrine of the Trinity is boldly stated by our Lord in His final commission and His given baptismal formula; “God ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19).

--Oliver G. Wilson