Deeper Reflection
OUR SALVATION IS THE WORK OF THE TRIUNE GOD: “GOD chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit” (v.13), “God called you through the Gospel to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.14).The work of the Triune God in us is personal. Each of the three persons of the Godhead is personally committed and involved in it together as a Triune God. And it is in a relationship with us. Our relationship and fellowship with God ought to be consciously trinitarian. It is rather common to hear this prayer: “Father, we thank You that You loved us and died on the cross for our sins.” This reflects either a theological confusion or a lack of consciousness of who we are addressing in that prayer. God the Father did not die for our sins!The presence of God with us and in us is trinitarian. The trinitarian presence of God in us is a mysterious dynamic presence. The Holy Spirit indwelling us is “the Spirit of God” – “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead” and “the Spirit of Christ” (Rom 8:9, 11). But it is not that there are three Spirits. For there is “one Spirit” as there is “one Lord” and “one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:4-6) – Trinitarian! Paul prays that “the Father” will grant the church “to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts” (Eph 3:14, 16-17a). This is a trinitarian prayer for the Triune God’s empowering presence.