The Holy Trinity has bestowed eternal blessings upon the elect. In what theologians call the Covenant of Redemption, the Trinity has purposed, secured, and applied redemption for the church. Our salvation is no small feat, certainly not dependent on a mere human decision, which flows from the poisoned wellspring of our soul and the enslaved sinful will. At best, the unrenewed will can only offer a feeble faith that can never endure harsh realities or competing desires. No, our glorious bodily resurrection and entrance into the everlasting kingdom takes an invested Trinitarian effort forged in love, for God’s own glory.

Let’s briefly examine each member of the Trinity’s involvement in the Covenant of Redemption:

Deus Pro Nobis. God For Us.

Before the cosmos materialized into existence at the Father’s word, He plotted the course of history from the universe’s birth to the blessed eternal state (Eph 1:11-12). He has left nothing to chance, all occur according to His design. The salvation of a multitude that no one can number from every tongue, tribe, and nation has been preordained by the Father’s eternal decree (Rev 5:9-10).

He knows His elect by name, creating us, bestowing abilities, and blessing us with salvation to be utilized for His glory. Every hair follicle is counted and not a single strand will perish from our heads. He has declared our blessed end from the beginning.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39).

Why?

God is for us! No power or principality has the strength or authority to take away the gifts of grace bestowed on the elect.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:31-34

Deus Nobiscum. God With Us.

The Father’s election of a people for Himself and His glory, while powerful and irresistible, doesn’t in itself accomplish the redemption so decreed. The character of God is such that the wicked cannot be counted guiltless – they have offended a just and holy God. Punishment for cosmic treason is steep and none can bear it.

The Father, in His mercy, not only purposed to ransom a people but plotted out the bloody proceedings that procure them. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the second member of the Holy Trinity, gave his life a ransom for many, shedding his own innocent blood. He surrendered his body over to be broken, becoming sin that the Father’s wrath might abide on him rather than on us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Justice served, mercy meted out.

The word became flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:14). Jesus is our Immanuel- God with us (Mat 1:23). He was with us on that dark day on Golgotha, stripping away our shame. He dined with us on the day of our salvation. He strolls with us down the road to Emmaus, discipling us in the Scriptures. He will greet us at the gates of heaven at the hour of our death. We will reign at His side in glory.

He is with us always, even to the end of the age (Mat 28:20).

Deus in Nobis. God in us.

In Christ, the Father arrested the powers that held us in chains and shattered our bonds. The next step in redemption is to set the captives free, to lead us in a procession outside the gates of hell. One by one over twenty centuries God has done just that. By the agency of the Holy Spirit, through the means of gospel preaching, the purpose of God has been victorious and continues to succeed.

The third member of the Holy Trinity applies the redemption hard won by the Son. One must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom (John 3:5-7). God being rich in mercy with the great love in which He loved us, made us alive together with Christ (Eph 2:4-5). Our souls, dead in trespasses and sins have been given spiritual life by the Spirit of grace that proceeds from the Father. He caused us to be born again to a new hope (1 Pet 1:3). He teaches us of Christ and dispenses a measure of faith that we may trust our salvation to God alone.

Summary

The Father loved us, planned and executed our transformation from ashes to beauty before the worlds were made.

The Son loved the Father and in willing obedience died our death that we may abide in His word, rule under His kingship, and minister under His priesthood.

The Spirit applies our blood-bought redemption, sets our hearts aflame, transforms our desires, and renews our minds.

Salvation cannot be accomplished by any means other than the combined effort of the Godhead. Redemption is miraculous from beginning to end. This is why all other religions are false. No amount of human work or merit can bring us to God. Salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone. This cornerstone doctrine of the Christian faith can never be abandoned nor compromised.

The good news of the gospel is this:

God. Saves. Sinners.

How?

God is for us.

God is with us.

God is in us.

Hallelujah!