The doctrine of the Trinity states that there is one God who exists eternally in three distinct persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the Son, is the second person of the Trinity. This means that Jesus is fully God and has existed eternally with the Father and the Spirit, but He has a distinct role and relationship within the Godhead.
Here are some key things the Bible teaches about Jesus as the second person of the Trinity:
1. Jesus is fully God
The Bible affirms the full deity of Jesus Christ. He possesses the divine nature and is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. Passages like John 1:1 state, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This means that the Word (Jesus) shared the divine nature with the Father from all eternity. Other verses like John 8:58 and Colossians 2:9 underscore that Jesus is the eternal “I AM” and that in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily.
As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ is just as much fully God as the first and third persons. There is no difference in essence, attributes, or glory between the Father, Son, and Spirit.
2. Jesus has a unique relationship with the Father
While all three persons of the Trinity are co-equal, the second person has a special relationship with the first person. From all eternity, the Father has perfectly loved the Son and the Son has perfectly loved, honored, and obeyed the Father. Jesus frequently spoke of the unique intimacy He shared with the Father while on earth (John 5:20).
This relationship is sometimes described theologically as the Father’s role of begetting and the Son’s role of being begotten. The Father eternally generates or begets the Son, and the Son is eternally generated or begotten from the Father (John 1:14,18). This refers to the relationship between them, not the essence or time of origin.
3. Jesus reveals and makes known the Father
A key role of Jesus as the second person is to make the invisible Father known to humanity. No one has ever seen God the Father, but Jesus reveals His character and nature (John 1:18). Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus came to earth as a man to demonstrate the love and redemption of the Father to the world.
As the perfect image of God in human form, Jesus displays the nature of the Trinity through His submission to the Father and dependence on the Spirit. Through taking on flesh, Jesus makes it possible for humans to know God intimately.
4. Jesus reveals humanity’s purpose
In becoming a man, Jesus revealed God’s original intention for human beings to reflect His glory as His image bearers. Jesus is the perfect image of God and the model human who fulfills this purpose for mankind (Colossians 1:15; Romans 8:29). His sinless life exemplifies what it means to be truly human in relationship with God.
By taking on humanity, Jesus also restored the broken relationship between God and man. He provides the way for sinful people to be reconciled to God and fulfill their purpose through faith in Christ.
5. Jesus will reign forever
The book of Hebrews calls Jesus the “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). As the eternal Son of God, Jesus has all authority and rules over all of creation. He existed before the world began and by Him all things were created (Colossians 1:16–17).
After completing His work of redemption, Jesus was exalted and enthroned at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Acts 2:33–36). He reigns as Lord and will subdue all enemies until the last one, death, is destroyed at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20–28). The Son will deliver the kingdom to the Father and reign with Him forever.
6. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God
While God cannot be seen, Jesus reveals God in visible, tangible form. As Hebrews 1:3 states, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). Those who saw Jesus were seeing the exact likeness of the unseen Father.
Through becoming human while remaining fully God, Jesus made it possible for humans to relate to God in a way that is comprehensible. God now has a face and a personality that we can directly connect with in Jesus Christ.
7. Jesus is the mediator between God and man
A mediator is one who stands between two parties to bring them together in reconciliation. Jesus fills this role as the one who bridged the gap between the holy God and sinful humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). He provided the blood sacrifice necessary to deal with sin once for all.
As a man, Jesus represents humanity and can relate to human struggles and temptations. As God, He is able to save completely with His divine power. Jesus’ death on the cross tore down the dividing wall of hostility, bringing humanity and deity together again.
8. Jesus accomplished redemption
While God the Father planned salvation, Jesus carried it out at great personal cost. Jesus said He came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). His incarnation was necessary so He could take human sin and guilt upon Himself as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Because Jesus is fully God, His death had infinite worth and atoned for the sins of the world. Without Jesus becoming human and dying on the cross, there would be no way for mankind’s relationship with God to be restored. The second person of the Trinity plays a vital role in God’s plan of redemption.
9. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit
Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit who would indwell believers and empower them after His departure (John 14:16, 26). The Son sends the Spirit from the Father to apply the benefits of salvation to God’s people. Pentecost happened 50 days after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
The Trinity is seen at work in the sending of the Spirit to dwell in believers and give them new life. Jesus had to first accomplish redemption before the third person of the Trinity could indwell those who trusted in Christ.
10. Jesus will hand the kingdom over to the Father
At the end of Jesus’ earthly work, He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). The Son’s submission to the Father is seen throughout eternity. The Father sent the Son, the Son accomplished redemption, the Son sends the Spirit, and the Son hands the kingdom over to the Father.
This shows both the unique roles of the persons as well as their unified purpose to redeem mankind. Each person of the Trinity works together to usher in the fullness of God’s reign.
In summary, Jesus as the second person of the Trinity teaches us about God’s intentions for mankind, His heart for relationship, and His wise plan of salvation. The incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of the Son displays the eternal love within the Trinity and God’s love for humanity. Understanding who Jesus is as the Son gives us an accurate picture of the nature of God and His work in the world.