Day 3: The Holy Trinity

The very first binding summary of biblical doctrine in the history of the church was produced at the Council of Nicaea in 325AD. Crafted exactly 1700 years ago, the Nicene Creed remains the most basic litmus test of Christian orthodoxy. If one cannot affirm this theologically rich statement, he or she is a certified “heretic” in the most basic sense. But the Creed is more than a fence to keep false teaching out; it’s also a beautiful description of the triune God. It begins:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible. 
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God, 
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; 

The phrase “God of God” might sound strange, but the primary idea is that Jesus, the Son of God enfleshed, is not part of God. He is not less than the Father because they have the same essence (“Light of Light”). The Father, Son, and Spirit are not “pieces” of God but are rather persons of God — equal in deity, glory, and attributes. They are three in one, or rather three and one. 

Therefore, who better for the Father to send as His representative and our mediator than His eternally begotten Son? When we see Christ, we see the Father! (John 14:9) And the Son has sent us His Spirit, who proceeds from both the Father and the Son. (John 14:26, 15:26)

Prayer:

God of our fathers, enthroned in light, how rich, how musical is the tongue of England! Yet when we attempt to speak forth Thy wonders, our words how poor they seem and our speech how unmelodious. When we consider the fearful mystery of Thy Triune Godhead we lay our hand upon our mouth. Before that burning bush we ask not to understand, but only that we may fitly adore Thee, One God in Persons Three. Amen.   – A.W. Tozer

Response:

When God gave us His Son, He was in essence giving us Himself. What does that say about the Father’s love?

From election to the atonement to the rebirth, every step of our salvation is accomplished by persons of the triune God. How does this truth shape our prayers to the Father?