What is Trinitarianism?

Answer

Trinitarianism teaches that God is triune, revealing Himself as three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. For an in-depth biblical exploration of the Trinity, please refer to our article on what the Bible teaches about the Trinity. This article aims to discuss the significance of Trinitarianism concerning salvation and the Christian life.

A common question we encounter is, “Must I believe in the Trinity to attain salvation?” The answer is both yes and no. Is it necessary for a person to completely comprehend and agree with every aspect of Trinitarianism to be saved? No. However, certain elements of Trinitarianism are pivotal in salvation. For instance, the divinity of Christ is crucial to the doctrine of salvation. If Jesus is not flawless, His sacrifice could not have atoned for sin. If Jesus is not pure, He could not be the Savior, the Lamb of God who removes the sin of the world «The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. », (John 1:29). An incorrect understanding of Jesus’ divine nature leads to a distorted view of salvation. Every cult labeled as “Christian” that rejects Christ’s true divinity also advocates for the necessity of adding personal works to Christ’s sacrifice for salvation. The complete and genuine divinity of Christ, a facet of Trinitarianism, refutes this notion.

Simultaneously, we acknowledge that there are authentic followers of Christ who do not adhere to complete Trinitarian beliefs. While we oppose modalism, we do not dismiss the possibility of someone being saved while holding the belief that God is not three Persons but instead manifested in three distinct “modes.” The Trinity remains a mystery beyond the complete comprehension of any finite human. To receive salvation, God requires us to place our trust in Jesus Christ, God incarnate.S the Savior. For salvation to be received, God does not require complete adherence to every precept of sound biblical theology. No, full understanding and agreement with all aspects of Trinitarianism is not required for salvation.

We strongly hold that Trinitarianism is a biblically-based doctrine. We dogmatically proclaim that understanding and believing in biblical Trinitarianism is crucially important to comprehend God, salvation, and the ongoing work of God in the lives of believers. At the same time, there have been godly men, genuine followers of Christ, who have had some disagreements with aspects of Trinitarianism. It is important to remember that we are not saved by having perfect doctrine. We are saved by trusting in our perfect Savior «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16). Do we have to believe in some aspects of Trinitarianism to be saved? Yes. Do we have to fully agree with all areas of Trinitarianism to be saved? No.

Below is the best symbol for the Trinity we are aware of (click to expand):