There is much to say about the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It is appropriate that we focus on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity one week after celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Although human beings can use both reason and poetic language to talk about the nature of theTriune God, our personal appreciation of this unique Christian teaching depends on the divine grace that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts and minds. In other words, perceiving, confessing, and appreciating the doctrine of the Trinity is not a natural human ability but a gift of divine grace.
There are numerous Scriptural passages that both maintain divine oneness and unity and refer to all three divine Persons. For example, there are texts such as Matthew 3:16-17, John 3:5-16, Ephesians 2:18, 2 Corinthians 13: 14, and 1 Peter 1:2. These biblical teachings are also summarized and explained in the three ancient Creeds, the ancient church fathers, and statements in the Lutheran confessional documents.
The lectionary Gospel this year is from John 8:54-58, and it points to a slightly different emphasis. It highlights one aspect of Trinitarian doctrine- the divinity of Jesus Christ. In first-century Palestine and at many times down to our current epoch, a key issue in discussions about the Trinity has been understanding who Jesus is. In John 8:54-58, Jesus asserts His unique relationship with God the Father. And in response to those who dispute His claim, Jesus boldly proclaims, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58 ESV).
These words "I am" are a reference to the divine name revealed in Exodus 3. When Jesus uses these words about Himself, both He and His opponents know that He is claiming to share one nature with God the Father. Jesus' divinity is a basic and essential aspect of who He is and the saving work that He accomplishes. Only a divine Savior can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil and save us from our sins. Only the divine Christ can lay down His life, take it up again, and offer us new and eternal life with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
