The Valley of Vision (2)

After Arthur Bennett’s own introductory prayer, the first prayer in his compilation is The Trinity, beginning:

“Three in One, One in Three, God of my salvation, heavenly Father, blessed Son, eternal Spirit…”

Then comes, “O Father, thou hast loved me…O Jesus, thou hast loved me…O Holy Spirit, thou hast loved me…”

Later we come to, “O Father, I thank three that in fullness of grace….O Jesus, I thank thee that in fullness of grace…O Holy Spirit, I thank thee that in fullness of grace…” (The Valley of Vision, Banner of Truth Trust).

If Christian prayer is communion with God, then Christian prayer is fellowship, koinonia, with the Trinity. The Valley of Vision begins with a prayer that portrays the mystery and ineffability of our life in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I have often been asked to whom in the Trinity should we direct our prayers; my response is along the lines of, “Enjoy God, allow Him to direct your heart, your mind, your soul – you can trust Him.”

Augustine writes (Sermon 52), “…the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are a Trinity inseparable; one God not three Gods. But yet so one God, as that the Son is not the Father, and the Father is not the Son, and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son…This ineffable Divinity, abiding ever in itself, making all things new, creating, creating anew, sending, recalling, judging, delivering, this Trinity, I say, we know to be at once ineffable and inseparable.”

Augustine also says in Sermon 52, “You have then, the distinction of persons, and the inseparableness of operation.”

Somewhere else, Augustine says to the effect, “If you have comprehended the Trinity, then whatever you have comprehended is not God.”

The Scriptures speak to us of our communion with the Father, our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working toward us, within us, and through us – drawing us onward and upward into the Holy of Holies, the Heaven of heavens. Our hearts are moved by the Holy Spirit in prayer. We speak the “Our Father”. We approach our Lord Jesus as our Great High Priest who has passed into the heavens – we come to the Throne of Grace. We assume our place before the Throne surrounded by elders and living beings and angelic choirs – we come to the great feasting Table of the Living God.

And we say, “Ah yes – we are home. Home in God, home in the Trinity.” We are reminded that we have new life in the New Man, that we are no longer in Adam but are now in Christ – we are new creations in the New Creation. We are putting on the wedding garments – and they fit quite well!!! As they should, for Christ Jesus is our heavenly tailor!!!!!

Yes, yes indeed: “Three in One, One in Three, God of my salvation.”