How Does Trinity Work?

UPDATE: Since the original writing, I’ve been told this explanation may fall under the theological category of modalism (and even heresy). So read and digest at your own risk. That being said, I’ve written a newer version, with updated imagery that I hope might express my views more eloquently… and less heretically… here.

One of the more vexing concepts in the Christian religion is the idea of the Trinity; God as one, but also God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I too struggled with it as a youth, and spent hours enjoy complex multi- faceted explanation. But here I came back to the faith, I feel that the true nature was revealed to me during a service (an early one at that, oddly…) and I’d like share to either help someone else who struggles with it… or to hear how I may be over simplifying.

The main revelation to me was that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are unique expressions of the same “entity” (that being “entity” being God in this case.)

Look at it like this: I am me… but I am also:

• A father
• A son
• An employee
• A boss
• A friend
• A brother

Each of those is a unique expression of the same primary entity, but they are unique in how they manifest or how. others experience them.

In the case of the Father, that is the expression of the God who is both Creator and Still-creating. The active force outside of humans that is constantly at work, conducting the symphony of the universe at the macro level.

In the case of the Holy Ghost (Spirit), that is the expression of God that is present inside each human; acting as inner voice and guide. The Holy Spirit acts in profoundly internalized ways including offering inspiration, insight, moral compasses, gifts, and offering direct access access to divine thought.

The Son is a tad more complicated, but for the reason that his expression, Jesus (unlike the previous two) was once also tangibly present in human form, so we have a hard time separating the physical form from the spirit that animated that physical form. But just as Father and Holy Ghost (Spirit) are expressions of a singular entity, the Son is the spiritual expression of God which illustrates the potential and value of perfection that can be achieved through perfect realization of the qualities of goodness and righteousness as designed by God. This was true before Jesus and remains true after his death*, but.. the reason that was placed into human form was to be more clearly tangible (and to set the example for) for us humans.

So, roughly speaking… that’s it.

The Trinity is God in his 3 expression. 1 being, entity, concept, universal truth… but 3 distinct expressions.

**** footnotes ****

* Why do I state that this is the expression both before and after Jesus?

1. During Jesus’ inhabitation of a mortal body, it is self-evident that he stands for the which begs us to seek clues of the before and after him. And…

2. Before his arrival, the OT consistently speaks about (hints at, eludes to, points to) the coming of the Son. When it does so it does so in the sense of something better that is to come; or the coming of that which is currently being awaited or sought out. And that is perfection… likely one achieved by way of righteousness.

Said another way, it is spoken of as the realization of a potential that has yet to be reached, but is possible and is ever imminent for the faithful. (I would note: we continue to await those things… through the second coming of the Son)

**** epilogue (ha!) *****

As I wrote this, two new thoughts dawn on me about the Holy Spirit and our need for it.

1. If the Holy Spirit is the voice of God, pushing us with perfect direction toward righteousness, The other concept that sounds just like this is the concept of Heaven itself. A place (state?) that is fully “with” God and never “apart” from God. Said another way… a place that is the realization of all that the Holy spirit intend and it guiding us toward; pure goodness, righteous and perfection.
2. We are called to “be like” Jesus; (who is the embodiment of the Holy Spirit) and the way for us to do so is by following the Holy Spirit which resides in us. The Holy Spirit IS the spirit of goodness, righteousness and perfect… which means we are full of that potential but only by acting on it can we live in a way that is “as aligned as possible” with that goodness we are capable of.

The infinite depth cooked into all of this never fails to amaze me. Praise God for the power he has imbued us with…the intellect, inspiration, revelation and will he shares to guide us toward it… and the love, guidance and patience he offers as we seek to follow it.