How important is the idea of the “Trinity” to our
relationship with God?
Understanding the Trinity came up in a sidewalk conversation
with Bryan, early 20’s, who like many Catholics tends to view Jesus’ primary reason
for dying on the cross as setting an example of humility and service for us to follow.
I would agree with Paul in his letter to the Philippians
that yes, Jesus did set the ultimate example of humility: “Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own
advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to
death— even death on a cross!”
It’s one thing to be humble because as a human one has no
other choice. But Jesus is one person of
the Trinity. As Paul wrote, he was equal
with God though he chose not to use it for his own advantage. He modeled submission to another’s role of authority,
an example that we can follow in our family and workplace relationships without
any loss of personal dignity.
Jesus gave us the opportunity to identify with Him – in his
suffering, yes, but also in the joy and power of His resurrection, as Paul also
wrote: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and
participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so,
somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
But if we only focus on following and relating to Jesus’ example,
we could get the mistaken impression that we just need to simply follow it – as
if we could – and if we make a good effort at making ourselves righteous, we think
we might win God’s favor and heaven for eternity.
So right there in the middle of Paul’s letter, trying to
encourage the Philippians to follow Jesus’ path of humility, Paul reminds them
and us of the primary reason and blessing of Jesus’ death and resurrection: “…not
having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of
faith.” (3:9)
I told Bryan that what we need is not “self-righteousness” –
which is the main fault of the Pharisees whom Jesus criticized severely. We need the righteousness that Jesus offers
through faith and identification with Him, not through our own human
efforts. He came as our Savior for a
reason – because we can’t save ourselves – and to offer us the crown of life
that only He could win.
Paul concluded “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we
eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
We can’t save ourselves simply by following Jesus’ superhuman
example of humility. But as God the Son He
saves us into a right relationship with God the Father, as we trust in Him
through the guidance of God the Holy Spirit.
He is the Savior, and because of His role in the Trinity, we can be
saved!
Thanks, Bryan, for allowing me to record our
conversation! It can be seen HERE at https://youtu.be/ChL1cy7BDRQ
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