It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).

2 Corinthians 5:19 (AMP)

 

The concept of the Trinity is not an obscure doctrine in the Scriptures, but an essential truth that defines our faith. We believe in one God who exists in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Their oneness and unity form a community of love in which each Person loves and fellowships with one another from eternity past to eternity future.

The Cross cannot be understood without the Trinity.

We would see God as vindictive, spiteful, and enjoys punishing sinners, but He was only satisfied when His Son suffered the punishment for our sins. God was not punishing Jesus because He was offended by our sin. Rather, God was punishing sin in the Person of His Son so that He could be the just and justifier of our salvation (Romans 3:26).

According to the Apostle Paul, God was in Christ when Christ was crucified on the cross, reconciling us to Himself and not counting our sins against us. In other words, Christ was not rescuing us from an angry God, but rather He was revealing to us a loving Father who stops at nothing to save us.

As the Father sent the Son for the salvation of the world, both the Father and Son sent the Spirit to dwell and enlighten the hearts of those who have heard and received the wonderful message of reconciliation.

Understanding the Trinity changes the way we see the Cross, as does our relationship with God. We have no fear of further punishment or condemnation because we truly believe God is love.