A. Three persons exist in the one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, and equal in power and glory.
In the beginning was the word. And the Word was with God and the word was God...The Word became flesh and lived among us. (John 1:1,14)
Thoughts: There are three statements that define the trinity: 1) There is one God; 2) The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God; 3) Each of these three persons are distinct from each other and from creation but equal in power and glory. This denies some views, and in their denial it might help us to understand what we affirm in the trinity.
1. Unitarianism- that denies the divinity of the Son and Spirit.
2. Polytheism- that denies the oneness of God. The trinity idea also denies the idea of different gods in different gods (which Mormons uphold).
3. Pantheism and panentheism- which cannot draw a distinction between God and creation.
4. Modalism- that God appeared in one form but not at the same time in another (like an actor in a play- assuming different roles). That is when Jesus became human, there was no Father or Holy Spirit.
3. Monarchism- that one of the three persons was superior to the other two (usually the Father). So the shorter catechism answers "equal in power and glory."
The Trinity affirms the experience of Christians all over the world of a unified-one God but that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God. The Trinity means that God is plural enough to be self-existent- with the Father loving the Son and Spirit; The Son loves the Father and Spirit; the Spirit loves the Father and Son. God's love within Himself also elicits love within us.
Prayer: Lord, help us to love you as you are full of love. Give us grace also to love others and ourselves.
Prayer:
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