The Holy Trinity is fully supported in Scripture in both Old Testament and New Testament. In this article, I would like to share some of these Scriptures and how they proclaim existence of God in Three Persons.

The idea of Trinity is found early in Bible in Genesis 1:26, "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over fish of sea, over birds of air, and over cattle, over all earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on earth.'" As we see here, God said "Let us make man in Our image. . ." indicating that we (man) are made in image of God and others. We know from reading Scripture that angels are different from us in many respects. The fact that angels do not have gender is one. Therefore, it is unlikely that God would have been referring to Himself and angels in this passage. The Bible does not speak of any other beings in heaven. The only conclusion that we can draw from use of plural pronoun "Our" is that God was referring to Himself along with at least one other being or person on a level with Him.

The plural pronoun "Us" is also used in Genesis 3:22a where Lord said, "Behold, man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil." Again indicating that there is more than one person in Godhead.

Those who reject idea of a Holy Trinity usually accept or have some belief in God. They just do not believe that Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are a part of God. Therefore let's take a look at Holy Spirit and preexistence of Christ.

The Holy Spirit

References to "Spirit of God" abound in Old Testament. "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on face of deep. And Spirit of God was hovering over face of waters." (Genesis 1:2) The first occasion is in second verse of Genesis. We see here that God was at least two different persons – God Father and God Holy Spirit – at beginning of creation. Many other Scriptures refer to Holy Spirit in some manner. Here are just a few: "My Spirit" (Genesis 6:3), "Spirit of God" (Genesis 41:38), "Your Holy Spirit" (Psalms 51:11), "Spirit of Lord" (Isaiah 11:2), and "My Spirit who is upon you" (Isaiah 59:21). Throughout Old Testament we see these and many other references to Holy Spirit.

In New Testament we find that Holy Spirit is more fully explained, and we know in more detail purpose that Holy Spirit has in our lives. He is a comforter or helper for us, as Christians.

The Holy Spirit was there when Jesus was conceived in womb of Mary, "Now birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18) The Holy Spirit was there when Jesus went up into wilderness to undergo temptations of devil, "Then Jesus was led up by Spirit into wilderness to be tempted by devil." (Matthew 4:1) The Holy Spirit was there when apostles needed guidance to preach gospel and write New Testament and do it without error, "For Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." (Luke 12:12)

First of all, wages of sin is death. In other words, punishment for living a life of sinfulness without repentance and salvation is surely death. The death spoken of here is also referred to in Scriptures as "second death." The meaning of word "death" is a separation. (The meaning of word "death" in secular world means an ending of life, or that person has ceased to live.) In physical sense, death is separation of spirit of person from physical body. This is first death. The "second death" is eternal separation of spirit of a person from presence of God. In as much as God is our Creator - both as a human race and as an individual - it is our desire for our spirit to return to God upon physical death to be able to live with Him for eternity. However, due to sin - or more specifically a life of sinfulness without remission of sin and salvation - one will experience "second death" which is eternal separation of spirit with God.

If one is eternally separated from God, then where will his spirit be? "But cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is second death." (Revelation 21:8) "And I saw dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is Book of Life. And dead were judged according to their works, by things which were written in books. The sea gave up dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up dead who were in them. And they were judged, each according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into lake of fire. This is second death. And anyone not found written in Book of Life was cast into lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15) "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from presence of Lord and from glory of His power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9)

These Scriptures paint a grim picture for those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and strive to live a life pleasing to Him. This picture is one of a spiritual separation from our Creator. It is also a picture of eternal suffering in "lake of fire."

The Bible does not give us a great amount of detail as to place we call Hell. Perhaps it is to protect us from knowledge of that awful place. It is possible that very knowledge would destroy us. (No Scripture for this, just my opinion.) But Bible does give us a glimpse of what it will be like. Jesus tells us of rich man who went to hell in Luke 16:19-24. In this passage, verses 23 and 24 say, "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." How severe torment must be if a single drop of water would be desired to bring whatever slight relief it could. There is no way on earth that we can even begin to imagine torment that awaits unrepentant sinner.

The good news (no, great news) is that a sinner can be forgiven. "For God so loved world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into world to condemn world, but that world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16,17) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)