The Mystery of the Trinity
There are two great mysteries in the Christian faith. One is the incarnation; the other is the Trinity. Why do we call these mysteries? It is because they are beyond complete human comprehension. Certain things are problems to be solved. Others are mysteries to be acknowledged. Science tries to solve problems. Religion recognizes the mysteries of life and points to God as the Creator. A problem can be solved. Scientists can discover the makeup of the atom, the process for photosynthesis, and geometric formulas. There are some things in life that do not have a solution, however. Religion helps distinguish between the two. It points to certain mysteries that cannot be solved by math or science. Such mysteries exist because the world is spiritual and is sustained not only by material processes, but by the providential hand of God.
Do all Christians affirm the Trinity? Yes. Belief in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is an essential Christian belief. Any faith that does not affirm this mystery stands outside the bounds of Christianity. Christianity affirms that this is the true nature of the living God. God is one essence who exists in three persons. That is, God’s nature is one. He is not divided in his essence. Yet within that existence, there is a distinction of persons. One might ask how such a thing can be. How can God be both one and three? The answer goes beyond our human ability to fully understand. For that reason, it is a mystery. We do not try to “solve” the problem of the Trinity. Rather, we stand in awe before the unique and wonderful nature of God. Our essential response to this mystery is worship.
Does this mean that God is beyond description? No. The Bible reveals the nature and character of God through his words and actions. From the words and accounts in the Bible, we learn many things about God. Theologians through the centuries have used “attributes” to describe God. Since God is not human and cannot be described by his appearance, attributes are a way to describe the nature and character of God. We believe that God is infinite, eternal, immutable, impassible, and ineffable.
What does it mean that God is infinite? It means that God is not bound by space. There is no limit or boundary that hinders God. God’s presence reaches the entire universe and whatever exists beyond it. That God is eternal means that God created time and stands within it and outside it. There was no time when God did not exist, and there will be no time when God is not present. That God is immutable means that God is not subject to change. God does not age. His character does not waver. He is not tempted by evil. He will never be anything other than holy, perfect, and good. To say that God is impassable means that God never suffers. That means that he cannot be acted on by outside forces. He never has a bad day. He is always perfectly pure, holy, and loving toward his creatures. God’s ineffability means that human intellect cannot comprehend the full wonder and mystery of the triune God.
God is the source of all things. Does this mean that God is the author of evil? No. God created all things good. Evil is a falling away from the good. That God allowed evil in the world is a great mystery. The fifth-century theologian Augustine recognized that the existence of evil must have been allowed by God as part of his gracious plan. He said that God thought it better to bring good out of evil than that evil would not exist. While evil exists temporarily in the world, God is the source of all goodness, all truth and beauty, all love, and all life. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He has all power, knows all things, and is everywhere present. Who could be and do all these things? Only the true and living God, who is beyond human comprehension. That such a God created and loves us is also a great and profound wonder.