Can you explain the Trinity?

QUESTION:
What is the difference between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Can you explain the Trinity? 

ANSWER:

Scripture tells us that God is one:

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

At the same time, the Bible is specific in the fact that He is also three persons. You can find these facts in books like Isaiah(Isaiah 6, 9, 42, 48, 63), and even in Genesis 1:26.

Although there is NO way of fully understanding the Trinity in this life, we can only peer into the facts we have revealed to us in scripture. It mentions three distinct, specific titles: God the father, God the son, and God the Spirit.
God the Father = God (unseen)
God the son = Jesus
God the spirit = “Holy Spirit”

We also find in scripture that the three members of the Trinity’s titles are interchangeable at times. Example is the “Spirit of Christ” in Romans 8:9 & 1 Peter 1:11. These specifically refer to the Holy Spirit and Jesus being “one”. Jesus himself even said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). How is this possible?? We will never know until we meet our eternal God in heaven.

Before I talk about the unique roles each member plays, according to scripture, it is worth mentioning something about each one’s relationship to the other. In 1 John 4:8, 16 we read that God, Himself IS love. Love isn’t God, God IS love. What’s this mean for us? Simply put, “Love doesn’t exist without relationship”. Perhaps second only tot he mystery of the Trinity itself is love itself. What is is? Where did it come from? The answer to all things regarding Love center directly on the Trinity! God himself being Love is a great place to start when trying to understand the essence, origin, meaning, and all other aspects of love. God is simply just not “loving”. Mormonism, Judaism, and Buddhism among others teach about a God who loves. However, Christianity proclaims a God who is the very origin of Love. How is this accomplished? It cannot be true unless there is a Trinity. Although we don’t read specific verses in scripture that tells us about the love experienced between the members of the Triune God, it can be logically concluded that the members of the trinity have loved eachother. Think about it. God cannot be love if He was some solitary divinity. He could want to love, or maybe learn to love, but never could actually BE love. There MUST always be an object of love for love to manifest itself. This doctrine of the trinity also answers some of the greatest questions surrounding nature, meaning, and creation and other questions that have puzzled the minds of great thinkers in years past. We can see that the very desire we have for relationships comes from a God who’s image we bear. Understanding the members of the Godhead and their relationship (and purpose) helps us dig past the surface emotions that come and go with sediment and grounds us to the dirt and rocks of the Love we have all be longing for. We all need it. We all long for it. Though we, ourselves don’t understand it. Similarly we need God and God IS love. This aspect of the fellowship shared between the three persons of the Trinity will unlock your understanding of what worship is! Why we worship God, and why we are created to give Glory to God. Understanding this will illuminate 1 Corinthians 13 the next time you read it. If you really want a mind and heart trip, just take a pass through “Song of Songs” and ask the Holy Spirit to show you a new revelation of what Love is. You need an example of real love? Look at the one who IS love. I love this verse that shows a glimpse of what our magnificent God is all about:

“Greater love has no one than this,” Jesus said, “that someone lay down his life for his friends” - John 15:13

Each member of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has unique differences and roles. For example:
God the Father = active in the election of believers (Romans 9)
God the Son = reconciles us to the Gather by His death and resurrection, AND His imputed righteousness (Romans 4-5)
God the Spirit = makes us spiritually alive (Ephesians 2)
A good way to put it is this - We are chosen by the Father, reconciled through the Son, all by the Spirit. Even better way to say it is Ephesians 2:18

“for through Him [Jesus] we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”

A mountain of books have been written on this subject and I suggest you don't stop reading, studying, praying for God’s wisdom on the subject of the God’s Trinitarian nature.