The Trinity and Salvation
You can easily zip through 1 Peter 1:2 and miss the Trinity in the work of salvation. Many Christians forget—or at least fail to appreciate—the fact that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect harmony to secure our eternal destiny. One author writes, “Each person of the Godhead plays a distinct role: the Father chooses, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies.”¹
We must recognize that although the Triune persons affect distinct aspects of our salvation, the work is done in complete unity. At the same time, we must be careful not to confuse the persons of the Trinity in ways that imply that they are the same person with different names. For example, Christians who thank God the Father for dying on the cross are carelessly attributing the work of the Son to the Father. We must follow the New Testament example, understanding that Father, Son, and Spirit, though eternally united, are also distinct in their works.
1. J. Carl Laney Jr., “God: Who He Is, What He Does, How to Know Him Better,” in Understanding Christian Theology, ed. Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 206.
Taken from Mike Svigel, “The Trinity and Salvation,” in Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade Workbook (Plano, Tex.: IFL Publishing House, 2005), 14. Copyright © 1990, 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
About the Author // Michael J. Svigel
Michael J. Svigel serves as an assistant professor of Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), teaching theology and church history. Prior to accepting his position at DTS in 2007, he worked as a writer in Creative Ministries at Insight for Living. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, are parents to three children, Sophie, Lucas, and Nathan.
