Several years ago I had a lovely friend who was a Muslim, and this was something that had hung her up about Christianity. The explanation I gave her was simple, but seemed to hit the spot because not too long after we had this discussion, she turned her life over to Jesus Christ and became a Christian. She even (later) became an ordained pastor! I don't pretend to be some prophet or divine messenger of the truth -- but I do know that if you ask the Lord to give you wisdom, He is faithful to those who seek His truth in the Word and in Spirit. So, let's talk about the Trinity, and hopefully this little simple explanation will help someone reading this to further their walk towards their God and Creator!
First off, we Christians are bound by one fundamental truth that is found in Deuteronomy 6:4
"Here oh Israel, the Lord our God -- the Lord is One"So where does that leave the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do New Testament Christians worship three Gods when the God of Abraham was clear about making sure His children knew He was ONE?
I am ONE person. I am also a daughter. I am also a wife. I am also a mother. I am also a sister. I am also a friend. Does that make me several people? No, I am still ONE person. I am known, however, in a different capacity to all the people in my life. So is God.
Sometimes God is the Father -- that nurturing Creator and "parent" to us that disciplines us and also holds us tight in His love when we are frightened or facing severe trials. And other times, God is the Son. He is that man Jesus who walked this earth thousands of years ago and became the bridge between man and that overwhelming force that is Jehovah God who was so powerful that it's written that "No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father" (John 6:46). God had to come to Moses in a blazing bush because His presence, WITHOUT THE SON, was severe and devastating to a mere human's presence. Jesus, the Son, held the Spirit of God within his own human body and therefore He became the most necessary "connector" between God and man.
And finally, there's God the Spirit. The Holy Spirit had visited only a few up until Jesus came into the world, and yet all those earlier prophets died and went to the grave (except for Enoch and Elijah). Noah died and went into the grave, as did Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Jeremiah, etc. Jesus, however, was not meant to go into the grave and stay there. Part of His mission was to bridge that gap, as we said above -- so once He was resurrected and went to live in the New Jerusalem in Heaven, He promised He would send that Holy Spirit, or "Comforter" to live with men in His stead -- so that, now, ALL men, not just old testament prophets could have that direct line via the Spirit to Jehovah God and we would ALL be able to take part in the works of the Spirit. Those "works" include prophesying, healing, casting out evil, etc. It's also about having an active prayer life and a day-to-day reliance on our Father God to guide us through this world He created. He knows our every need because He created us.
So just as our family members and friends relate to us at different levels and in different capacities, we relate to God, AS HE IS in three different capacities as well. He is our Father (Jehovah), our Brother and Redeemer (Jesus) and our daily guide (Holy Spirit). All One God, but three different ways to relate to Him.
So next time someone questions Christianity because they can't buy into the idea of a Triune God, try using this logic! If it can help lead one life-long Muslim to Christ, then it must be a useful explanation, brought to me from the Holy Spirit, Himself!
Praise be to God and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on this first Sunday in October. I will leave you with this:
Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Happy Sunday!
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