Lesson 11: Relating to Father, Son and Spirit

What is your relationship to each person of the Trinity?

If you have chosen to trust Jesus as your own Savior, you are in a relationship with God that cannot be broken. God the Father is beyond anything we can imagine. He lives forever and does not change. Big as He is, He is also personal. He is near to us. He created a great variety of people. And He wants us to be close to Him. In a way, variety exists in His own nature. Father, Son and Holy Spirit have a relationship with each other. They also have perfect unity. God teaches us to relate to Him in lots of ways.

Our relationship to the Father
When I think of the Father, I remember His right to direct me. Because of what Jesus did, God is also my adoptive Father. He loved me so much, He gave His Son to keep me from perishing. (John 3:16; 1:12; Galatians 3:26). To the Father, I am a beloved son worth recovering. For a picture of this, see the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Because all things were created by Him, all things belong to Him and therefore it is His right to both dispose of everything as He pleases, or to give what He owns to anyone He pleases. He will give everything to Jesus as His inheritance, and we inherit those “all things” along with Jesus (Ephesians 1:11-14. Romans 8:17).

In relation to the Son
When I think of the Son of God, I remember I am meant to look like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). To Jesus, I am His sheep (John 10:27-30), and no one is able to snatch me from His hand. For a picture of this, read about the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for me (John 10:11-16). He even says I am His friend (John 15:14). He is unashamed to call me His brother (Hebrews 2:11-18).


In relation to the Holy Spirit
When I think of the Holy Spirit, I remember that He is a Helper to me as I desire and serve God (John 14:16-17). He makes up for my limitations. His constant presence in my life is a taste of what I will eventually fully inherit (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 1:22). To the Spirit, I am His home. Because God Himself lives in me, I am home base for His earthly ministry. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19 for an explanation of this: “Do you not realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself” (1 Corinthians 6:19). As God floods my heart with His love (Romans 5:5), my life produces His fruit in response (Galatians 5:22-23).

Pray: Father God, please show me Your will and make my life count for eternity. Lord Jesus, because You live, I live also. Make me over into Your most holy image. Holy Spirit, give me the desire and the ability to glorify Jesus.
Memorize: 1 Corinthians 12:3-6 – “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”