Categories
Bible Insights

Embracing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Celebrate the Trinity

Many people are surprised to learn the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible.

Trinity reflects the nature of God, one God, with three distinct parts: the Father (creator), the Son, Jesus (savior), and the Holy Spirit (guide).

I understand Trinity to mean “three in one.” It’s not a polytheistic implication, as some people assume, but an acknowledgment of God’s character.

Just as I relate to my wife in different ways (friend, partner, lover, and so forth), depending on the situation, God can reveal himself to us through different personas—and we must accept all three.

Not able to find Trinity in the Bible, I looked for mentions of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the same verse.

Matthew 28:19 is the only place I can find all three—and it’s a most significant circumstance. In baptism, all three aspects of God’s person are affirmed—and with equal standing.

We must do the same, equally embracing God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our true worship of God should be to all three unified parts of his singular reality.

A most helpful book on the subject is The Threefold Art of Experiencing God by Christian A. Schwarz.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Matthew 26-28 and today’s post is on Matthew 28:19.]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

Categories
Christian Living

The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The Great Three in One

The prophet Isaiah gives four descriptive names for Jesus. They are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

However, I tend to think of Jesus as Savior, Healer, Redeemer, and so forth, but not so much the names Isaiah gives.

In fact, to me, Wonderful Counselor seems more descriptive of the Holy Spirit, while Everlasting Father and perhaps even Mighty God seem to point to God the Father.

Does Isaiah have his names mixed up? Am I confused? The answer to both questions is “no.”

If we truly perceive the God who is revealed in the Bible as three persons in one, then the names given to one part of the godhead appropriately applies to all three.

Therefore, Jesus really is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace—as are the Holy Spirit and God the Father.

They are, three in one.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

Categories
Reviews of Books & Movies

Book Review: The Threefold Art of Experiencing God

The Liberating Power of Trinitarian Faith

By Christian A. Schwarz (reviewed by Peter DeHaan)

The Threefold Art of Experiencing God is a short book (32 pages) that is packed with profundity.

Author Christian Schwarz asserts that although most Christians believe in the Trinity (that God exists in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in practice there is a tendency to focus on only one part, be it the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

The other two persons of the trinity are downplayed or even ignored.

This over-emphasis is generally a result of the church we attend, how we were trained, or our particular theological bent. Some people may address two parts of the trinity, but again dismiss the third.

Only occasionally do people equally consider all three.

Providing balanced attention and maintaining a holistic perspective of all three persons of the trinity is the result that we should pursue.

As such, this book is poised to make a significant improvement in how one views God and connects with him.

[The Threefold Art of Experiencing God: The Liberating Power of Trinitarian Faith, by Christian A. Schwarz. Published by ChurchSmart Resources, 1999; ISBN: 978-1889638140; 31 pages.]

Read more book reviews by Peter DeHaan.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”

​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.