LET'S DE-MYSTIFY THE TRINITY

  I've watched the most astute preachers of the Gospel stumble all over themselves when asked about the Trinity.  Many just bypass the question by saying, "It's beyond our understanding". I find nothing mysterious or "beyond understanding" about the Trinity. It's very reasonable.

Understanding the Trinity begins with Genesis 1:26 where it says, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...' ".   Notice the plural personal pronouns.  This is God's revelation of creation.  The Trinity was not only present at creation, but carried out creation.  (See Colossians 1:15-20).  The three members of the Trinity were present and involved in Jesus' baptism.  (See Matthew 3:16, 17).  The Genesis passage says that we are made in God's image and likeness.  That doesn't mean we look like God.  It means we are three in one like God.

It is universally accepted that humankind is not one dimensional.  From ancient times humans have been understood to be more than just physical.  For example, the YMCA, from its earliest days, has pictured humans as a triangle.  One side is the intellect or the MIND, the fleshly structure is the BODY, and the SPIRIT is that part of us that worships.  All three aspects are capable of growth and deterioration.  So it should not surprise us that we are a mirror image of the Godhead that made us.  He Who made us is three in one and so we are made in the same image.

This wonderful truth has ramifications for our lives.  The first ramification is the enormous value of each life.  Human life is precious and is of great worth.  Each life is uniquely designed and created in God's image for purposes determined in advance.  (See Ephesians 2:10).  No human life is accidental or the result of matter, plus time, plus chance as some teach to their detriment. 

The next ramification is that we should interact with each other with a respect due a design and creation of God.

Another ramification is that, since we are created in God's image, we also have an eternal aspect as our Creator is eternal in nature.

One final ramification we should not ignore is that Jesus taught that we are accountable for how we invest the life God has blessed us with.  (See the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-23).  We are also accountable as to how we perpetuate the great doctrines of our faith, like the Trinity.