Perichoresis: Crazy Math and Vocab Words

Math: 1+1+1=1

English: perichoresis

In honor of all of the high school students taking their SAT’s this summer, here’s a little math and English—Trinity-style.

First, math. The Trinity. Three-in-one. One God eternally expressed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

1+1+1=1

God extends His crazy math to us.

Marriage: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24 NIV)

Friendship: “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1)

Church: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Now for English. Perichoresis refers to the indwelling of the Members of the Godhead. Each remains independent in thought, will, and action. Yet, Each lives within the Others.

Not only does the Bible confirm perichoresis, Scripture says we can join in. God designed man so the Holy Spirit could live inside him.

The Old Testament is filled with examples of people who temporarily received the Holy Spirit. Ever heard of Bezalel? “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—” (Exodus 31:1-3) The Holy Spirit was given to Bezalel for a time to help him make the Tabernacle and everything that would go in it.

We see the same thing in John the Baptist in the New Testament, “ . . . and he [John the Baptist] will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.” (Luke 1:15) John had the job of preparing the people for Jesus.

In the book of Acts, something new happens with the Holy Spirit. After Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given to all believers—permanently. Paul explains in Ephesians, “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13) The Trinity invites us into fellowship by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell us.

We throw around the words “asking Jesus into your heart,” but do we believe God Himself, the Holy Spirit, lives within us? That we are, in essence, a Holy of Holies?

If God feels distant, that feeling is false. Scripture promises He will never leave us or forsake us. If you are a Christ-follower, His Spirit is with you.

Are you with Him?

Questions:

What does “ask Jesus into your heart” mean to you?

If God lived in your home, would you act any differently than you do now?

How can a God who makes His home in you be distant?

What kind of Holy of Holies are you?

Tweetables:

God extends His crazy math to us. Click To Tweet
Not only does the Bible confirm perichoresis, Scripture says we can join in. Click To Tweet
We are, in essence, a Holy of Holies. Click To Tweet
If God feels distant, that feeling is false. His Spirit is with every believer. Click To Tweet

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