The Trinity and Justification

It is interesting how little is often said and written about baptism or indeed justification in reference to the Three Persons of the Trinity. In baptism, the centrepiece is not us, but the name of "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). In justification, in the Westminster Confession of Faith a Trinitarian doctrine is presented for this cornerstone truth which we should learn from.

Look with me at this statement in Chapter 11:4 (Of Justification) in the Confession:

God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,245 and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:246 nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit does, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.

Can you see that this is a Trinitarian statement on justification? How and in what way you may ask?

1. God the Father decreed to justify the elect in eternity.
2. God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the elect and rose from the dead for their justification.
3. The Holy Spirit in due time applies Christ to them.

To God be the glory for this work of redemption accomplished and applied by the Triune God.

Here are three Bible verses to undergird this truth.

1. The work of God the Father.

1 Peter 1:20 "He [the Lamb of God] was foreknown [by God the Father] before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.

2. The work of God the Son

Romans 4:24-25 "It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification".

3. The work of God the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:4-7 "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life".

My desire is that all sections of the church would think in far more Trinitarian terms than they currently do. After all this is the One True, Living and Only God, Amen.