Introduction:
Over the next six days we will take a journey down a familiar path for some readers and an anxious one for others; however, it just might have the most profound impact on your Christian development. When we take this path, we will meet the one Jesus left to reside in us. Although it is likely you have heard of Him; you may not have been exposed to His personhood, purpose, or His transformational presence. He is the third person of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit.
Scripture:
John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Acts 10:37–38, “You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
Thought:
People love mysteries. Writers and filmmakers depend on this fact. How many CSI television shows can there be? One for every city I guess. We watch and our minds work to solve the mystery with every clue given to us along the way. We don’t like mysteries we can solve right away, but we also can’t tolerate mysteries that can’t be solved in the end. We want to be in suspense, but we are not built to live there. We simply can’t put up with things we don’t understand, and the spiritual life is no exception.
Trying to understand the Trinity is like trying to solve an unsolvable mystery. The Father is fully God, Jesus is fully God, and The Holy Spirit is fully God. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not reasonable or logical that God could be both three and one, yet the Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. John 14:26 show us Jesus speaking about The Holy Spirit, which the Father would send to believers. Our Acts 10:37-38 passage demonstrates three distinct persons were working together for one common purpose: “doing good.” Jesus’ baptism gives us another example. The Spirit descended on Jesus and God, the Father, declared from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. John 14:26 show us Jesus speaking about The Holy Spirit, which the Father would send to believers. Our Acts 10:37-38 passage demonstrates three distinct persons were working together for one common purpose: “doing good.” Jesus’ baptism gives us another example. The Spirit descended on Jesus and God, the Father, declared from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
Trying to understand the Trinity is like trying to solve an unsolvable mystery. The Father is fully God, Jesus is fully God, and The Holy Spirit is fully God. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not reasonable or logical that God could be both three and one, yet the Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. John 14:26 show us Jesus speaking about The Holy Spirit, which the Father would send to believers. Our Acts 10:37-38 passage demonstrates three distinct persons were working together for one common purpose: “doing good.” Jesus’ baptism gives us another example. The Spirit descended on Jesus and God, the Father, declared from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. John 14:26 show us Jesus speaking about The Holy Spirit, which the Father would send to believers. Our Acts 10:37-38 passage demonstrates three distinct persons were working together for one common purpose: “doing good.” Jesus’ baptism gives us another example. The Spirit descended on Jesus and God, the Father, declared from heaven, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).
John Bevere explains it this way:
“Water (H2O) can manifest as three different forms. Temperature determines whether H2O will appear as a solid, liquid, or gas. Water’s substance – its molecular structure – never changes one iota, but its expression will change based on its environment (the temperature). In the same way, God’s central makeup doesn’t change. When you see the Son, you see the Father; and the Spirit was sent to reveal the Son to us (see John 17:21; Ephesians 1:17-18). God is one in purpose, and yet He has three expressions (Persons) who perform unique functions. Though there are three Persons, there is only one God.”
John Bevere uses H2O to illustrate the Holy Spirit. What other ways have you heard that help you understand the idea of Three in One?
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