What’s in a name?

Theology is important because it is a framework for our belief in what God is like, and what he’s doing in and with us. But there are many versions of Christian theology. We call our Trinitarian theology, not because we are the only ones who believe in the Trinity, but because the doctrine of the Trinity provides insight and structure into all other doctrines.

Although the doctrine of the Trinity has been widely embraced in the church down through the ages, some have called it the “forgotten doctrine,” because it has often been overlooked.

Our salvation depends on the Trinity. Each person of the Godhead plays a vital role in our lives. God the Father has adopted us (Ephesians 1:5) as his “beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). This is because God the Son, Jesus Christ, has completed his work, and he is enough for our salvation (Ephesians 1:3-7). We can be confident in our salvation because God the Holy Spirit lives in us as a guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). Each member of the Trinity plays a role in welcoming us into God’s family.

However, it can sometimes feel like the doctrine of the Trinity is difficult to live it out in a practical way. But when our understanding and practice conforms to this central doctrine, it has the potential to transform our daily lives. The doctrine of the Trinity reminds us that we cannot do anything to earn our place in the family – God has already invited us and accomplished the work necessary to get us there.

Thanks to salvation through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can come before the Father, caught up in the love of the Triune God. This love is available to all who believe – at no cost to us – because of the eternal, unchanging relationship of the Trinity.

Living in Christ means that God’s love enables us to care for people around us. The love of the Trinity overflows to include us, and through us, it reaches others. God doesn’t need us to complete his work, but he does invite us, as his family, to join with him. We are empowered to love because of his Spirit inside of us. The Trinitarian, relational God wants to free us to have richer relationships with him and with others.

A minister gave an example from his own life:

As a minister, I can get caught up in “what I do” for God. Recently, I was meeting with a group of people. I was focusing so much on my own agenda that I forgot to pay attention to who else was in the room with us. When I realized my worry about accomplishing things on God’s behalf, I took a moment to laugh at myself – and to celebrate that God was there with us, guiding us.

We don’t have to be afraid of making mistakes when we know that God oversees it all. We can serve him joyfully. It transforms our daily interactions when we remember that there is nothing God can’t redeem. Our Christian calling is not a heavy burden, but a wonderful gift. Because the Spirit of God indwells us, we are free to participate in his work without worry.

One phrase often used in GCI is “You’re included.” It means that we seek to love one another in the way the Trinity loves – to care for one another in a way that celebrates our created difference while still coming together. The Trinity is a perfect model of love. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enjoy perfect unity, while remaining distinct divine persons. The love expressed within the Trinity teaches us the significance of loving relationships within God’s kingdom.

Trinitarian theology motivates how we care for one another. We want to love people around us, not because we need to achieve something, but because our God is a God of community and love. God’s Spirit of love guides us to love others, even when it isn’t easy. We know that his Spirit is not only in us, but in the lives of our brothers and sisters as well.

This is why we don’t just meet together to worship every week – it’s why we sometimes eat together, why we eagerly look forward to what God might do in each other’s lives. It’s the reason we offer help to people in need in our neighborhoods and around the world, why we pray for the sick and those who are struggling. It’s because of our belief in the Trinity.

When we grieve or celebrate together, we seek to love each other as the Triune God loves. When we live out Trinitarian theology in everyday life, we embrace our call to be “the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). We are showered with the Father’s love through the salvation of his Son and the presence of his Spirit – and through the care of his body, the church. From a meal made for a sick friend, to rejoicing with a family member’s accomplishment, to a donation that supports the work of the church, we are able to live out the good news of the gospel.

Author: Joseph Tkach, edited by Michael Morrison in 2026