Day 51

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 3.

“…the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and Being; but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties, and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.”

Scripture Lookup

John 15:26.

Galatians 4:6.

Reflection

The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This is different than what is taught in Eastern Orthodox churches, which claim that the Spirit proceeds only from the Father. Looking at John 15:26 and John 16:7, though, we see that the Spirit proceeds from the Son.

While the trinity is mysterious, it is important to know. Not only is it revealed truth from God, which is always wondrous and beneficial for us, it is also the basis of our “communion with God”. Without a knowledge of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we cannot have salvation. Zacharias Ursinus writes:

It is necessary…that all who will be saved, should have a knowledge of the one God, the eternal Father, the co-eternal Son, and the co-eternal Holy Ghost; for unless he is known as such an one as he has revealed himself, he does not communicate himself unto us, neither can we expect eternal life from him.

May we agree with the doxology, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”!

Questions to Consider

• Have you ever reflected on the doctrine of the trinity as the foundation of your communion with God?