23rd June, 2022.

WHY I BELIEVE IN TRINITY Pt.4

2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

LEARNING SUBMISSION AND HUMILITY FROM THE TRINITY

The holy Trinity is an embodiment of vital Christian lessons for us. Whenever we preach or teach humility, submission to authority and order, we need to draw our lessons from the holy Trinity. Some of the things that exist in Trinity is subordination, humility, submission and order yet they are coequal and coeternal. In John 14:28( NLT), Jesus said, "Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am." Jesus clearly revealed the father is greater than Him. In fact, He said in John 5:19(NLT), "So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does". These scriptures shows that Jesus Christ is subordinate to the Father yet He is coeternal and coequal with the father. We know this because scriptures says, "Though he(Christ) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to."( Philippians 2:6 NLT, Emphasis mine). That mean He is equal with the Father but because of his role in the Trinity, He didn't consider that equality.

Christ is God yet he's in full submission to the father. When Paul said "he did not think of equality with God", that's not a denial of his coequality with God. In context, Paul was trying to teach humility and submission using Christ as an example. Look at verses 7&8: "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross". Despite Christ being God, he humbled himself to the position of a slave and died the death of a criminal though He wasn't. That's the extent of His submission to the father's will yet He is God with full attributes of divinity. If Christ wasn't subordinate to the Father, He wouldn't have been a saviour. He will prove points that God shouldn't become man to die for sins. The Holy Spirit is also subordinate in the Trinitarian relationship: "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you"(John 14:26 NLT). It still beats the imagination of the carnal and unregenerated man that Christ is God yet He calls God the Father His father. If the Holy Spirit isn't subordinate, He wouldn't be here with us today, leading and guiding us into all truths.

Let's not try to unravel mysteries that are exclusive to God. Only the Godhead knows why their relationship is that way. Paul says, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"( Romans 11:33, KJV). Who are we to question God on why Christ and the Holy Spirit are subordinate to the father? Yet, their subordination doesn't reduce their coequality and coeternality. That's a lesson in humility and submission for us today. You don't humble yourself because you're in a lower state/ position than others. You do because it is consistent with the nature of a new creation in Christ. Wives, God is not telling you to submit because you're inferior. After all, Christ is not inferior to the Father. Submission won't reduce you, it will only amplify your uniqueness. God's command for you to submit to your husband is to bring orderliness and peace in marriage and to make you play certain roles. The true of measure of your humility will be shown when you have power, influence, money, influence, knowledge yet you submit to authority. In human relationships, let's recognize hierarchical order and submit to it. Imagine a world where everyone claims equality in power& authority, there'll be confusion and disorderliness. This is one of the greatest lessons from the Trinitarian relationship.