On this edition of The Exchange, Ed Stetzer and Dr. Fred Sanders discuss how understanding the Trinity is essential to understanding the Gospel.

Dr. Fred Sanders is a systematic theologian and professor at Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University.

In his book, , Dr. Sanders discusses how the Trinity is the focal point of evangelical theology and the Gospel itself.

“The Trinity is the conclusion about the identity of God from the Gospel.”

The Trinity is a term used to describe the combination of the three persons of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is unity as well as distinction between the three persons.

Dr. Sanders describes how it is impossible to separate the Trinity from the Gospel. The very essence of the Gospel is the Trinity.

“God the Father, sending his son Jesus Christ, and sending the Holy Spirit, you really can’t talk about the Trinity meaningfully without saying the Gospel.”

As humans, we try to satisfy our curiosity regarding the nature of the Trinity by comparing it to things of this world like water. Water can take on liquid , solid, and gas forms  – but this comparison still falls woefully short of expressing the mysterious nature of the Trinity.

Dr. Sanders concludes that nothing is like the Trinity and we have nothing for which can compare it to in order to gain understanding.

The Trinity and the Gospel