The Holy Trinity

One God in three Persons

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

— Matthew 28:19

Jesus did not command baptism in the names of three gods, but in the name — singular — of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. At His own baptism all three were present: the Son in the water, the Spirit descending like a dove, and the Father’s voice from heaven (Matthew 3:16–17).

Yona Tree presents the Trinity in these words:

The Holy Trinity is one God made manifest to the world through three distinct Persons who are equal in all things pertaining to Godhood, yet diverse in office pertaining to creation and the redemption of mankind.

Equal in Godhood, distinct in office

Theologians speak of two kinds of study. Ontology contemplates God’s oneness — the self-existence, eternity, power, presence, knowledge, goodness and changelessness that belong equally to all three Persons. No Member of the Trinity is higher than another in being.

Economy contemplates God’s threeness — the distinct roles of each Person in creation and redemption. Here a family-like order appears. The Son is sent by the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father, through the Son, to accomplish the Father’s will. Both willingly take up these roles. This order of office never implies inequality of nature. Read more about ontology and economy.

God the Father

Jehovah, our loving Provider. The Maker of all things and the Speaker of the creative Word. The One from whom the Spirit proceeds. The Ancient of Days, the LORD of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel. The personification of divine will, the sovereign Judge of the universe, the One whom no man living may behold, the consuming Fire from whose face the heavens and earth will flee away. The Great I AM (Exodus 3:14) — and the eternal Fountainhead of the River of Life, which flows from His throne (Revelation 22:1) through the Tree of Life to all who have been granted access past the fiery Sword of the Spirit, by His grace, through faith in His Son.

God the Son

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who died for our sins. The Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), our soon-coming King, the Lord of lords and the Prince of Peace. The Good Shepherd of our souls; Immanuel, God with us; our Mediator before the heavenly throne, seated at the right hand of the Father. The Bridegroom of New Jerusalem. The Word of God by whom the universe was spoken into existence (John 1:1–3), the express image of the Creator — and the Sword of the Spirit that keeps the way to eternal life.

God the Holy Spirit

The Breath of God. The Comforting Helper Jesus promised to send (John 14:16–17). Our Teacher, the Indweller of our souls, and our Intercessor. The Seven Lamps that burn before the Throne of Grace, the Free Woman of Jerusalem above, the Whirlwind of His divine presence, and our Tree of eternal life.

The Family of God

Yona Tree’s founding statement describes “a Family that begins with the Holy Trinity and extends far beyond to everyone begotten of the Heavenly Father, born of the Spirit, and betrothed to their Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Two Members of the Trinity are pictured as our Parents, and One as our Bridegroom — so that “ye are complete in him” (Colossians 2:9–10).

A blessing

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

— 2 Corinthians 13:14