The Trinity
The Holy Trinity is difficult to understand for believers and skeptics alike. Yet when God made the universe and everything in it, when He created matter, He built in an example for us to understand how there can be a 3-in-1 nature of God: the three states of matter. When we look at H2O, we see that this molecule can exist in three different states—3-in-1. And yet, some people struggle with believing that the God of the universe who exists outside of time and space and cannot be made of matter, could also be 3-in-1. Let’s look at how the Bible depicts God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, in a three-in-one manner relatable to H2O.
First, God is often described using water imagery.
“‘My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’” (Jeremiah 2:13)
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb….” (Revelation 22:1)
Second, Jesus is the solid, tangible image of God.
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
“Jesus replied, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?’” (John 14:9)
“Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’” (John 20:29)
Third, the Holy Spirit as gas, vapor…spirit!
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
“‘The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:8)
“Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.” (Acts 2:33)
Our God is always trying to reveal Himself to His people, and in water, we have a tangible, scientific example of 3-in-1. Water can exist in three different states of matter: solid, liquid, or gas and yet it is still H2O. In this tiny example, we can see that our God can and is indeed three in one: the Holy Trinity.
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
“‘The Father and I are one.’” (John 10:30)
“‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 28:19)
The next time you doubt or you hear of someone else’s doubts, offer them a glass of water and this explanation.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
