The One True God: Father, Son, and Spirit

Have you ever looked at something so beautiful or complex that it felt impossible to fully describe?

Maybe it was a mountain range where the peaks seemed to touch the sky, or the way light dances on the surface of a still lake.

Understanding who God is can feel a bit like that.

We serve a God who is bigger than our vocabulary and deeper than our best logic. Yet, He hasn’t left us in the dark. He has revealed Himself to us in a way that is both breathtakingly simple and wonderfully mysterious.

At Boundless Online Church, we lean into the foundational truth that there is one true God. But this one God has revealed Himself as three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

If that sounds like a lot to wrap your head around, don't worry. You’re in good company. People have been studying this "mystery of the Trinity" for thousands of years.

Let’s take a walk through what it means to know the One True God.

The Foundation: One God, Three Persons

The starting point for everything we believe is found in what we call the "Theology of the One True God."

In the Assemblies of God tradition: which guides our teaching here: this is Truth #2. It states that the one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind.

But here’s the beautiful part: He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This isn't a case of "three gods." We are monotheists. We believe in one God.

However, this one God exists in three Persons.

Think of it like those three mountain peaks reflecting in a lake. They are distinct peaks, each with its own shape and height, yet they are part of the same massive mountain range, grounded in the same earth, and reflected in the same water.

God the Father: The Source and Planner

When we talk about God the Father, we are talking about the "Source."

The Bible shows us a Father who is the architect of creation and the author of the plan to rescue humanity. He is the one who so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

The Father is not "more" God than the Son or the Spirit. He is fully God. He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere at once).

For many of us, the idea of a "Father" can be complicated based on our own earthly experiences. But the Heavenly Father is the perfect version of that role. He is the one who provides, protects, and pursues us with an everlasting love.

He is the one who creates the plan for our lives and for the world.

If you are a seeker looking for a sense of belonging, knowing God as Father is a game-changer. It means you aren't an accident. You were planned.

God the Son: The Redeemer and Implementer

Then we meet Jesus Christ.

Jesus isn't just a great teacher or a historical figure who did some nice things. He is the Son of God: God in human flesh.

The Son is the one who implements the Father’s plan. When the world was broken by sin, the Son stepped out of eternity and into time. He took on a human body, lived a perfect life, and died a sacrificial death to pay for our mistakes.

The Son is the bridge.

He is fully God and fully man. Because He is God, He has the power to save. Because He is man, He understands our struggles, our pains, and our temptations.

When you look at Jesus, you are looking at the heart of God. He said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

If you’ve ever wondered what God thinks about you, look at how Jesus treated people. He welcomed the outcast, healed the broken, and offered grace to the failure. That is the character of the One True God.

God the Holy Spirit: The Presence and Administer

After Jesus rose from the dead and returned to the Father, He didn't leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is often the member of the Trinity that people find most "mysterious," but He is just as much God as the Father and the Son.

If the Father creates the plan and the Son implements the plan, the Holy Spirit is the one who administers the plan in our lives today.

He is the "Comforter" and the "Helper." He is the presence of God living within those who follow Him. He convicts us when we’re off track, guides us into truth, and gives us the strength to live a life that reflects God’s character.

The Spirit is the one who makes the Bible come alive when you read it. He is the one who gives you peace in the middle of a storm.

He is God with us, right now.

Why Does the Trinity Matter?

You might be thinking, "This is great theology, Penny, but how does it change my Tuesday morning?"

It matters because God is, within Himself, a relationship.

Because God is Father, Son, and Spirit, God is love: even before He created us. Love requires someone to love and someone to be loved. Within the Trinity, there has always been a perfect flow of love, communication, and honor.

This means that when God created you, He wasn't looking for a "staff member" or a "servant" to fill a void. He was inviting you into the relationship He already has.

We are invited to experience the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Religion often feels like a set of rules. But the doctrine of the Trinity tells us that the universe is built on a foundation of relationship.

Knowing the One True God means you are never truly alone. You are connected to the Creator, the Savior, and the Sustainer.

Common Questions About the One True God

We get questions about this all the time in our online programs. Here are a few common ones:

1. Is "Trinity" in the Bible? The word "Trinity" isn't in the Bible, but the concept is on almost every page. We see it clearly at the baptism of Jesus: The Son is in the water, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven. All three are present, distinct, yet one.

2. Is one Person of God more important? Nope. They are co-equal and co-eternal. The Father is all of God, the Son is all of God, and the Spirit is all of God. They work in perfect harmony. There is no jealousy or competition in the Godhead.

3. Do I need to understand this perfectly to be a Christian? If we could perfectly understand God, He wouldn't be much of a God, would He? Faith isn't about having all the answers; it's about trusting the One who does. You don't need a PhD in theology to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit or the salvation of Jesus.

Finding Your Place in the Story

Whether you are a long-time student of theology or someone just starting to ask big questions, the One True God is reaching out to you.

We see this reflected in our blog categories: from deep dives into scripture to practical life questions. Everything points back to the nature of God.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of life, remember the mountain peaks. They are solid. They are steady. And they are reflected in the quiet waters of a life that trusts in Him.

God the Father has a plan for you. God the Son has made a way for you. God the Holy Spirit is ready to empower you.

We invite you to keep exploring. Check out our books or join one of our group lists to talk more about these truths with others who are on the same journey.

We help people meet Jesus and grow in faith online.

There is no question too small and no doubt too big for the One True God. He is welcoming you home.

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Next Steps

If this post sparked a question or if you’re looking for a deeper study on the nature of God, we’d love to hear from you. You can browse our blog posts for more topics like this, or simply reach out for prayer.

We believe that spiritual growth happens best in community, even if that community is digital. You aren't meant to figure this all out on your own.

Need prayer? Text 1-901-213-7341 (message & data rates may apply). Not for emergencies.

Boundless Online Church is a ministry of FA Memphis.