ROOTED - Monday, June 16, 2025
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Reflection: Question #6, A Mystery, Part 1
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
Question: How many persons are there in the Godhead?
Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
There is a list of theological ideas that are hard to get one’s head around! The doctrine of the Trinity is on the top of this list! Question #5 affirmed that God is one God. Question #6 tells us that this one God is made of three equal but distinct persons! Don’t ask me how this works because I am sure I do not know! Occasionally, I read of an illustration to describe the Trinity. Here is a famous one: “God is like an egg. There is a shell, a yolk, and the egg white. All of these are distinctly different but are all ‘egg.’” Somehow, I hate this illustration… and I don’t know why. I think it adds more confusion and less clarity. Modalism (an early church heresy) tried to explain the Trinity by saying that God became Jesus, and now is the Holy Spirit. That is, God has taken different modes. But the Spirit does not exist at the same time as the Father or Son. Basically, God is a shapeshifter from one role, or mode, to another. He becomes the Father, becomes the Son, becomes the Spirit when the role is needed. Let us be clear: this is an error.
So, what do we do when there is something that we cannot understand? Well, we simply say, “God, I do not understand it, but I affirm that what your Word teaches, must be true.” And the Word certainly affirms it. We see this throughout the New Testament but note especially the Great Commission: “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” We baptize in the “name” (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… not “names.” It is one God in three persons. Distinct in person but together as one substance. We may not understand it, but we affirm it as the Church here on earth!
Prayer
Lord, we affirm that you are mysterious and altogether different. Our minds cannot comprehend how majestic and wonderful you are, but we accept by faith the teachings of your Word.