Trinity and Humanity

Readers of this blog have asked certain questions from time to time that have risen out of our underlying theology.  Perhaps you have asked some of these questions yourself? Admittedly, this will be more academic than what we usually post, but hopefully useful, nonetheless.

What is Trinitarian theology? This is the question that forms the basis for this blog and one I was required to answer this week for my Grace Communion Seminary course, The Nature of God and Jesus Christ, taught by Dr. J. Michael Feazell.

If we are all included, what is the difference between believers (Christians) and non-believers (non-Christians)?

If we are included and already saved (Universally) why should we seek to help others understand they are saved (Personally)?

What is the difference between Universal salvation and Personal salvation?

What difference does it make how I live my life today?

Why should I obey God if he has already forgiven and included me?

What difference does faith and repentance make?

If it was all “done” by Jesus Christ at the Cross, what is there left for me “to do” today?

Why do the Gospels and Epistles speak about being blind and lost if we are included already?

How can we speak about a loving God when the Bible speaks at the same time about his wrath and judgment?

Who is Jesus?

Who or what is humanity?

How is it that we can say everyone is our brother and sister (especially for someone like me who lived as an only child of my parents)?

I think you will be able to find answers to each of these questions if you look closely enough at my answer to the question “What does Trinitarian theology mean to you (in this case me personally)?  Let’s give it a try, but before we begin, please realize that this is my personal definition, written in my own words, based on the many things I have read and studied from many other Trinitarian authors.

“Trinitarian theology means to me that before time, space, and any creation existed, the Father, Son, and Spirit existed as three distinct persons that so completely interpenetrated themselves that they existed as One God in Love and purpose.  From that loving relationship came about the desire and plan to create and include humanity to exist with them in union and communion in the same loving relationship.  This theology establishes that God is relational with and not distant from all humanity.

“In order to include humanity (created) in them (non-created) a hypostatic union was needed and brought about by the incarnation, God becoming man through the Son, Jesus Christ.  Through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension, humanity was united and became one with the Son, and thereby gained access to (was included in) the Father-Son relationship through the Son (by the Holy Spirit) forever.

“This theology provides the foundation for answering who we are by addressing the question who is Jesus?  By knowing who we are in union with the triune God gives us purpose and requires a response of belief and trust (faith) through repentance to participate in that relationship thereby living in communion with the Father, Son, and Spirit.

“Only by knowing first who God is, can we fully know who we are.  Through our understanding of Trinitarian theology and living out of the love God first had for us, can we truly love others and live into the Kingdom life described by Jesus in the Gospels, and the apostles in their letters.

“When we come to that belief the blindness and darkness of our fallen humanity is exchanged by seeing and living in the light, walking in the Spirit, participating in Jesus’ ministry through the Great Command and Great Commission of making disciples who make disciples.”

The answer to this primary question loosely forms the basis for the team of writers who blog here weekly, as we write about the tremendous relationship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has provided and into which all of us has been included.

~by Craig Kuhlman