Difficulty

One of the most difficult doctrines for me to grasp is the doctrine of the Trinity. Here is my professor’s simple breakdown:

1. God is one
2. God is three
3. Each of the persons is fully God
4. Each person is distinct from the other persons
5. The three persons are eternally related to one another as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

I appreciate the simplicity of these five points. When taken together as a whole they help you get your mind around the doctrine. I think one big reason why it is still difficult to grasp is that we have never experienced this kind of perfect relationship.

In this world our relationships are filled with strife, disharmony, disunity, and negative feelings toward each other. Every day we experience some kind of conflict with another person that makes us feel disconnected from them. This has never happened with God. Ever.

It is rare, but we do get glimpses of what a harmonious relationship looks like. When a marriage is on one of its peaks. When a team of people is working so hard towards a goal they don’t even recognize a chance for division. When volunteers have gathered to do something good and selfless for someone else. None of these are perfect in the way God is but we get tiny insights into the Trinity when we experience these.

Have you thought about this? What relationships have you experienced that have given you insight into the relationship of the Trinity?

Essential Doctrines

Pulpit Magazine has three interesting posts from John MacArthur on what he feels are essential doctrines that should not be compromised. It was helpful to me because rather than just stating a list of what he feels are essential, he provides a method for determining if a doctrine should be essential. Here is a quick overview:

1. All Fundamental Articles of Faith Must Be Drawn from the Scriptures
2. The Fundamentals Are Clear in Scripture
3. Everything Essential to Saving Faith Is Essential
4. Every Doctrine We Are Forbidden to Deny Is Fundamental
5. The Fundamental Doctrines Are All Summed up in the Person and Work of Christ

Read the posts here:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III