John 17:20-23 NIV
[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— [23] I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

The Bible is shot through with the evidence of “echad”, the onenness that is everywhere in the universe and that echoes the “echad” in the divine Trinity.

Many religions try to deny, ignore, discredit, or argue away God’s “echad” by accusing us of worshipping three gods. No, the Bible never says there are three Gods. The Bible declares that there is one God, revealed in three distinct persons. In a sense, “God” (with a capital, “G”) is a species, just as “man” and “animals” are separate species. In the species, “God”, there are only three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of the three persons, they are one. There is never conflict or dispute. They are one in essence, character and purpose.

The Bible speaks of another “god” species but they are not “God”. They are spirit beings, created by God, to manage the nations in God’s behalf. He called them “gods”.

Psalms 82:6 NIV
[6] “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ “

Deuteronomy 32:8 NIV
[8] “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel (Hebrew – gods).”

The “sons of God” are identified as angels or spirit beings who were present at creation…

Job 38:4-7 NIV
[4] “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. [5] Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? [6] On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— [7] while the morning stars sang together and all the angels (elohim bene…sons of God), shouted for joy?”

…and to whom God gave the responsibility to rule the nations under His authority whom He called His “divine counsel”.

Therefore, the idea of “god” in Scripture does not belong to God alone. Gods are beings who have power and authority, but the God of Israel, the God of the Bible is the supreme God and sovereign over the gods. He has all power and all authority.

Now, let’s, get back to the Trinity.

The Bible describes God’s character as love.

1 John 4:16 NIV
[16] “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Since love has no meaning apart from an object, how can God be love if He has no one to love? Before He created humans to love, God was still love. He could only express His love within the Godhead if there were more than one person. When we speak of “God”, we are essentially referring the three persons who make up the Godhead or Trinity. The persons, who make up God have names… God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each is a separate person, distinct but equal, and each relating to the other in perfect love and harmony.

Hence, Jesus prayed…

John 17:22 NIV
[22] “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—”

During His life on earth, Jesus functioned as a son. He took on the role of a son, and a representative of all humanity, to fulfil the law and to usher in the new covenant.

After His victory over sin and death, the Father elevated Him to the status of “Lord”, the Supreme Authority in the universe because of His submission and obedience as a son.

Philippians 2:8-11 NIV
[8] “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Never once, during His time on earth, did Jesus ever do anything apart from the Father and without the Holy Spirit. His constant testimony was…

John 10:30 NIV
[30]”I and the Father are one.”

John 8:29 NIV
[29] “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Jesus challenged those who opposed Him…

John 8:46 NIV
[46] “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

The Father gave the Spirit to the Son at His baptism…

Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
[16] “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

…God in three persons, together in that sublime moment, preparing the Son for His mission on earth.

Jesus testified to His dependence on the Holy Spirit…

Matthew 12:28 NIV
[28] “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Before He returned to the Father in heaven, Jesus promised His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father to be with them and in them and to continue His work through them.

Acts 1:7-8 NIV
[7] “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Book of Acts is the historical record that tells the story of the Trinity at work through people to bring heaven to earth, the Kingdom of God to the hearts of those who would believe in Jesus.

Could there be any more convincing evidence from the Bible itself that God is in three persons, distinct and separate, yet perfectly one in all they were, said, and did?

No, Christians do not believe in three Gods. We believe in one God, revealed in three persons, perfectly one…echad…in essence and function, in love, in unity, and purpose, to restore those who believe in Jesus to unity and oneness with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, in answer to Jesus’ prayer…

John 17:20-21 NIV
[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

…the greatest testimony to the truth that Jesus came from the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit to restore humanity to God.