Holy Spirit is the Teacher Who brings revelation to the written and spoken word of God. He does use the mechanics of grammar to bring insight. More often than not, He opens our understanding by using small words (i.e. “of”; “in”; “by” and “through”). Obviously, as already pointed out in the previous blog, plural forms have been huge in discerning the Trinity. “Us” is one such word. Paying attention to singular and plural forms can be more important than we realize. When read the phrase, “Let Us,” as found in Genesis 1:26 and 11:7, that should also be an indication there would be shared titles and duties of the Trinity. Are there words that apply to our Father as well as to Jesus and Holy Spirit? We’ll investigate and see if that is the case. Keep in mind, one of our goals is to know Him as He really is, and not try to conform Him to some image we have in our minds. If we are going to be real with God, we have to allow Him to be real with us. Moreover, the more we understand Him, the better we’ll understand ourselves. After all, we are created in His image.
Have you ever been asked, or perhaps asked someone, “Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?” Did you realize that “Lord and Savior” actually points to the Trinity? Let’s take a look at the first place “Savior” is used in the Bible and compare it with other passages. 2 Samuel 22:1-3 And David spoke the words of this song to the Lord in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said, “The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer; My God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, My Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence (see also Psalm 18:1-3). As we learned in part two of this series, “God” (Elohim) is the plural form of its root. However, both “Lord” and “Savior” are in the singular. Psalm 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt. Again we find God as Savior, and in this case, this verse references the Exodus from Egypt. When God, Himself uses the term in relation to Himself, we should pay close attention. Isaiah 49:26 “…And all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (see also Isaiah 60:16; Hosea 13:4). This next two verses is important to underscore in relation to the Trinity. Isaiah 43:3,11 “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me (see also Isaiah 45:15,21; Hosea 13:4). What does that mean to us? To be sure, there is only One Savior!
So, it has been established for us that there is only One Lord God and Savior. Take a look at some New Testament scriptures. It gets rather interesting. The first place we find God and Savior is Luke 1:46-47, And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” 2 Peter 1:11 For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you (see also Philippians 3:20). Remember, in our previous verses “Lord” and “Savior” are connected to “God.”
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (see also 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:1).
1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
These passages not only help in seeing the reality of the Trinity, but also, reveals the Deity of Jesus Christ. Our opening Scripture used some other terms in relation to God: “Rock”; “Fortress”; “Deliverer”; “Refuge”; “Horn of my salvation” and “Stronghold”. We’ll briefly look at “Rock,” but be encouraged to look up the other titles and see what you can find in relation to the Trinity.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 For I proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He” (see also Deuteronomy 32:15,18).
1 Samuel 2:2 There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.
2 Samuel 22:47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock; And exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation (see also Psalms 18:31,46).
Jesus is also known as our Rock. In fact, Old Testament passages are quoted in the New in relation to Him. Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed (see Isaiah 8:14; 1Peter 2:4-8).
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual Rock which followed them; and the Rock was Christ (see also Jude 1:25).
It is important to let Holy Spirit speak through the Bible for Himself. If we can approach Scripture without some personal agenda to prove, it will be easier for Him to teach us those things He wants us to know. Stay open!
