I heard that Christians believe in three gods. Is that true?
There is only one God, as the Bible makes quite clear. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,” says Deuteronomy 6:4. In Mark 12:28–29 of the New Testament, Jesus attests to this. In response to the question of which commandment is the most crucial, Jesus said, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Thus, it is acknowledged by Christians, Muslims, and Jews that there is only one God.
But why do Christians then speak about the Trinity?
Christians hold that there is only one God, who has shown Himself to us in three different ways: as our heavenly Father, as our Savior [Jesus the Son], and as our indwelling Holy Spirit.
Where can I find those three Gods in the Bible?
In Genesis 1: 26 God says: “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” So at creation we already learn there is a plurality within the one God. Let us look in Genesis 1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth […] and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light, and there was light.” Here we see: God created. And the Spirit of God moved upon the waters. But not only the Spirit was involved in creation. To create the world, God spoke a Word. In Hebrews 1, we read that God now has spoken to us by his Son through whom also He created the world. “Without him was not any thing made that was made“ (John 1:3).
Did God create the world by His Son? How can that be?
The words “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1–14) describe that Word of God. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In the flesh, Jesus is the Word of God. It is written about Jesus that He is gloriously one with the Father.
But why did Jesus not stay with His Father?
At this precise time, Jesus gives up all of his celestial splendor to come to Earth [in order to save humanity]. Jesus gave up all for you and me out of love. He took on the penalty for our transgressions. He let himself into heaven. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father except through Me,” he declares in John 14. He extends an invitation for you to trust and believe in Him. Additionally, He made a promise, saying in John 14:16–17, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever […] He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Christians therefore hold that there is only one God, and that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
