Roles and Relationships in the Trinity

Introduction

This the first post and video in a series about Spirit-filled living. In this series, I hope to describe how Jesus set an example for us to follow, and he empowered us to do so in ways that are truly astounding.

The Godhead

In the Bible, God has revealed himself as three distinct and distinguishable, but not separate, persons.

He is revealed as God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit

He is One God in Three persons. Theologians call this the Trinity, or the Triune God.

Different Roles in the Godhead

The Father , Son, and Spirit are always in agreement on everything God does, but when you look closely, you will see that each person operates in a different role.

In John 3:16, we read that God sent his Son. But we never read that the Son sent his father.

In Philippians 2:5-11, we read that God the Son, Christ Jesus, humbled himself and voluntarily took on human form and human limitations. But we never see any mention of the Father or the Spirit doing anything like this.

In Luke 1:35, we read that it was the role of the Holy Spirit to bring Jesus to earth into the physical realm so that he could be born.

We can see that the Trinity was in full agreement with the plan for God the Son to become a human being. But we see the three persons of the trinity playing very different roles.

God the Father initiated a plan, God the Son performed the plan, and God the Spirit caused it to be realized in the physical world.

As you read scripture, you can see this play out again and again.

Another example is the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river in Luke 3:21-22.

Jesus is voluntarily obedient to the plans of God, God voices his approval, and the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus to empower his human self with the supernatural abilities he will begin to display during his remaining time on earth.

The Father initiated. The Son carried it out. The Spirit made it possible in the physical realm.

Click this link for the next post and video in this series – The Humanity of Jesus