Acts 5:30-32 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail. (The Message Bible)
In the book of Acts Luke sums up the core beliefs of the early church in speeches he records that various leaders of that church delivered. This one is by Peter, backed up by the rest of the gang, when they were hauled before the religious authorities. Years before the church formalized any doctrine of the trinity we have in this short paragraph mention of Jesus- the crucified one made Prince and Savior, the Holy Spirit- given to the obedient as a witness, and God- who gives the Spirit and sets Jesus at his side. Luke doesn’t use the word trinity. None of the biblical writers do. But they talk about this Father, Son and Holy Spirit in lots of ways. The longer and harder we look at the nature of God the more difficult it is to express. But that shouldn’t keep us from discussing the journey we take in attempting to comprehend or from affirming out loud what we confirm by faith within. You don’t need to understand everything to stand up for the core beliefs of your faith. How will you do that this week?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 