Thank you for taking time to read the post. The Word of God is alive and active, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May the Holy Spirit give you a revelation of the truth of His Word and the significance it has for your life. Eric

To quote Harold Lindsell and Charles Woodbridge, “The mind of man cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity.” An unknown person is quoted as saying, “If you try to explain the Trinity, you will lose your mind. But if you deny it, you will lose your soul.”

My goal for this blog post is not to prove or necessarily explain our Triune God. My focus is that you will come to understand fully that the Triune God consists of three persons.

There are certain Scriptural truths which we must accept simply because we see it in the Word of God, therefore, we must accept it purely on faith. The Trinity is one of those truths. Over the years, theologians have debated concerning the concept of the Trinity and have, as of yet, come up short in fully explaining how exactly it works. We do know the Scripture reveals that there are some things known only to the Creator and Sustainer. “The way and judgments of God, though never unjust are often hidden from us, unsearchable by our shallow capacity” (Benson Commentary). Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Then, in Job 11:7 and 8 (NLT) we read, "Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? 8 Such knowledge is higher than the heavens--and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld--what do you know?“

So, get ready to jump into this study with me on the ‘personhood’ of God in three persons.

As I looked at various definitions of the word ‘person’ in numerous dictionaries, the first definition I encountered was, “a living human.” If that is our only perception of what a person is, then we will miss out on our ability to have a personal intimate relationship with God.

The American Heritage Dictionary gave an additional definition which is, ‘the composite of characteristics that make up an individual personality.’

Wikipedia defines ‘a ‘person’ as a being who has certain capacities or attributes such as: reason, morality, consciousness, or self-consciousness.’

I am going to share a portion of the description I read at gotquestions.org. It explains the personhood of God well. “When we talk about God, we are using the word person to show that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (even though they are One) each have personhood or personality. That is, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have intellect, emotion, and volition (exercising the will). Any being with rationality, emotion, and a will can be considered a person. When we speak of God existing in three Persons, we mean that God’s existence is comprised of three distinct centers of intellect, emotion, and will. Each Person of the Trinity had a unique role in creation and in the salvation of mankind. The Holy Spirit is unique and is not the Father nor the Son. (He proceeds from the Father and the Son). John 15:26, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds (from one’s abode, one’s vicinity) from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” The Father and the Son are also unique. (When Jesus prayed to the Father, He was not praying to Himself). Luke 23:34a, “And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Each is God, but each is a separate “Person.” Using the word person is one of the only ways our language has to describe this concept.”

“All three Persons of the Trinity together comprises the one, perfectly unified God. They share the same nature and essence, and they are the same God, but each individual Person of the Trinity is distinct and unique.”

“Personhood” is defined as, the state or condition of being a person, especially having those qualities that confer distinct individuality. So, the best way I can state it is: each entity or Person of God reveals and fulfills distinct operational functions of God. In realizing that there is One God, in three persons, we can enjoy a very personal and intimate relationship with each person of the Godhead!

There were various scriptures given in www.christianity.com in which all three Persons of the Godhead are associated together on an equal basis.

By topic they are:

Jesus’ baptism - Matthew 3:13-17 (NKJV), “16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [Son baptized, Spirit descending like a dove, voice of the Father]

Salvation - I Peter 1:2 (NIV), “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” [chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, sprinkled with the blood of Jesus.]

Sanctification - 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV), “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” [grace of Jesus, love of God, fellowship of the Holy Spirit]

Christian baptism - Matthew 28:19 (NIV), “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
[One name of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]

Prayer - Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV), “ For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” [Strengthens by His Spirit, know the love of Christ, filled with the fullness of God]

Christian Growth - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV), ”But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” [Loved by the Lord (Jesus the Messiah), chosen by God, sanctified by the Spirit.]

Going back to my earlier statement that “Each entity or Person of God reveals and fulfills distinct operational functions of God.” I want to share a bit of the Scriptural meanings of the names of Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

‘Father’ signifies God’s role as the life—giver, the authority, and powerful protector, often viewed as immense, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent with infinite power and charity that goes beyond human understanding.

In the Scriptures we see - “Father of:

“Glory” - majesty (Ephesians 1:17)

“Lights” - light (James 1:17)

“Mercies” - most merciful, all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3)

“Spirits” - spirits of men and angels power of knowing, desiring, deciding and acting (Hebrews 12:9)

“the Lord Jesus Christ” - the Messiah (Colossians 1:3)

“Jesus’” names and meanings:

Yahweh and Yeshua - saves (reveals mission) and delivers

“Alpha and Omega” - beginning and end (Revelation 1:8)

“The Good Shepherd” - protector (John 10:11-14)

“Prince of Peace” - health, well being, happiness, cessation of enmity (Isaiah 9:6)

“Savior” - saves from eternal evils (Isaiah 43:11)

“Redeemer” - redeem from slavery, or death, bondage (Isaiah 47:4)

“Light of the World” - source of light, radiance (John 8:12)

“Cornerstone” - head, chief corner, holds together two walls, sustains the building (Ephesian 2:20)

“Heals” (Acts 9:34)

“The “Holy Spirit” enables Christian life by dwelling in the individual believers and enables them to live a righteous and faithful life. The Holy Spirit acts as comforter or paraclete, one who intercedes, supports, or acts as an advocate, particularly in times of trial.” (Wikipedia)

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the life of a believer.

The Holy Spirit empowers us! Acts 1:8a (NKJV), “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,”

The Holy Spirit is called: Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Convictor of Sin, Seal, Earnest, Guide, and Indweller. From within, He directs, guides, comforts, and influences us.

He is the Producer of the fruit of the Spirit.

You can have a relationship and conversation with God in all three persons of the Godhead.

If you are in relationship with only two of the Persons of the Godhead, such as the Father and the Son, and ignore the third, the Holy Spirit, then you are not living in the fullness the Lord has for you.

I will close with the words from the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” (1826) by Reginald Herber.

Verse 1: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee!

Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Unless noted otherwise all scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.

NLT New Living Translation

NKJV New King James Version

NIV New International Version