THE TRINITY AND THE CHURCH

We all acknowledge a strong connection between the doctrine of the church and the doctrine of God, yet I seldom read anything that emphasizes the close relation between church and the doctrine of the Trinity. In fact, the doctrine of the church originates from the Trinity. God's covenant with people whether in the Old or New Testaments has always been this, "I will … be your God, and you will be my people" (Lev. 26:12; 2 Cor. 6:16). His people, God's people, are his possession. God can say that. He formed them for himself. His people were and are supposed to sound forth his praise (Isaiah 43:21).

God revealed himself in inspired scripture, as the three person Creator God who said, "Let us make man in our image." This living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit created everything for his own glory, including people. When humanity's earliest antecedents disobeyed God, the Father introduced redemption to his people, the story of which is traced in scripture until it is ultimately realized in the Son's atoning death. Israel was once God's chosen people. The Father sent the Son to be incarnated as a Jew. Except for a few Jewish believers, Israel rejected Jesus. Thereafter, all who place exclusive trust in Jesus the Son become not only disciples but the temples of the Holy Spirit and together they are the people of God known now as the church. The church is a divine embrace of people that includes Gentiles, an international selection, whom the Apostle Peter called a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9) and adds that they once were 'not a people' but now are 'the people of God' (vs.10).

GOD’S INTENTION: NOT TO REFORM BUT TO REDEEM SOCIETY

God never intended to reform society when it went wrong within a few generations. He determined to redeem humanity. Interesting concept. Why redemption? Going wrong incurred penalty, the loss of relationship with God and the forfeiture of life. Resource data, the Bible, informs us that to accomplish said redemption, he sent his divine Son. Not as a swat team commander or warrior king, but as a human baby he came. Fully human, he identified with humanity. His deity remained unaltered. He was God in a human body. He grew up, matured, and never went wrong. He did not deserve the penalty. He should not die. He was innocent. However, the divine plan scripted that this supernatural son came specifically for this purpose, to die on behalf of all the other wrongdoers. That is, his death would count as the full payment for the transgressions of everyone else who ever lived on planet earth. The proviso being, faith.