TRINITY: “THE GOD WHO IS FOR US, WITH US, AND WITHIN US”       

Genesis 1:1 - 2: 4a; Matthew 28:16-20

Today is Trinity Sunday in the church calendar. On this day, Christians reflect upon one of the central mysteries of our faith: the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Trinity Sunday has been celebrated in the Christian church for many centuries. Some people wonder why we speak about theology at all. Should we not simply preach practical matters? Yet Christian faith and Christian living cannot be separated. What we believe shapes how we live.

The Bible teaches us many truths for faithful living. We cannot choose only our favorite subjects, such as salvation or blessing, while neglecting the fullness of God’s Word. The church proclaims the whole Gospel through the seasons of the church year—Advent, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and today, Trinity Sunday.

How can we speak of Advent without the incarnation, or Easter without the resurrection? And how can we enter the season of Pentecost without speaking of the Trinity?

The doctrine of the Trinity does not attempt to explain God completely. God is greater than human understanding. Rather, the Trinity describes what God has revealed about Godself to us. It is like seeing only the tip of an iceberg above the water—we do not see the whole iceberg, but what we do see is real.

The word Trinity is not stated directly in Scripture, yet the truth of the Trinity is woven throughout the Bible. Christians discovered that they could not speak about God without speaking of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This does not mean there are three Gods. Christians worship one God who reveals Godself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A simple way to understand the Trinity is this: God the Father is for us. God the Son is with us. God the Holy Spirit is within us.

First, we believe in God the Father. Many people believe in some kind of higher power, but the important question is: What kind of God do we believe in?

The Bible calls God “Father” and Jesus taught us to call God “Abba,” a tender word like “Daddy.” Imagine that—the Creator of the universe inviting us into such intimacy.

Sometimes we think of God only as powerful, holy, and righteous Judge. God indeed is holy and just. Yet Jesus teaches us that God is also compassionate, patient, forgiving, and loving.

Think of the father in the parable of the prodigal son. He waits patiently, watches hopefully, and runs to welcome his lost child home. That is the heart of God.

Throughout Scripture one message stands above all others: God’s steadfast love. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declares, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” God’s purpose has always been redemption and love.

Second, we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son. Christians confess that God came among us in Jesus Christ. Jesus shared our life, our struggles, our suffering, and our humanity. He was fully human and fully divine—God incarnate. Why did God come to us this way?

A Danish theologian once told this story: A prince desired to marry a poor village maiden. He faced a problem. If he commanded her to marry him, her answer would not be free. If he arrived in royal splendor with horses and servants, he could never know whether she loved him or merely feared his power.

So the prince chose another way. He laid aside his royal robes, dressed as a peasant, and moved among the people. He lived their life, shared their struggles, and spoke their language. In time, the maiden came to love him—not because of his power, but because she knew his heart.

This story helps us understand the incarnation. God did not remain distant. In Jesus Christ, God came among us. God spoke our language, shared our suffering, and walked our roads.

This matters for two reasons: First, Jesus shows us beyond doubt that God is with us and loves us. Second, Jesus reveals what God is like. When people ask, “What is God like?” Christians point to Jesus Christ. In Jesus we see compassion, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and sacrificial love. In Christ we see a God willing to go even to the cross to redeem humanity. That is what God is like.

Finally, we believe in the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God’s living presence with us today. The Spirit reminds us of Christ’s truth, comforts us in suffering, strengthens us in weakness, and guides us in faithful living.

The Spirit makes our faith more than knowledge. The Spirit brings intimacy with God. We experience the Holy Spirit in prayer, worship, Scripture, service, fellowship, and every time in quiet moments of peace and conviction.

Yet we must be careful not to confuse every personal feeling with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit always leads us toward Christ, truth, love, and holiness. The Holy Spirit continues Christ’s work among us today. This is why the Trinity matters.

Some people try to explain the Trinity through examples such as water, ice, and steam. While these comparisons may help a little, every illustration falls short. The Trinity remains a holy mystery.

We may never understand the mystery of God perfectly, yet we can truly know God. The Triune God calls us through the Gospel. Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”

The Father created us. The Son redeemed us. The Holy Spirit sustains and guides us. Christian theology begins and ends with the mystery of God, yet this mystery is not distant from us. The Triune God is with us now and always.

Therefore, let us open our hearts to God’s presence, seek to grow in godliness, and trust the One who promises: “Take courage; I have conquered the world.” And, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever!

Amen.