The Deep Things of God

The Trinity is central to the life of the Christian and yet, so little is done with such a central doctrine, that many believers are left wondering what the payoff is, if there is any at all! It seems that affirming the doctrine and moving on, without so much as a second's thought, is the best-- and most efficient-- way to deal with the subject. Not only is a frustrating intellectual exercise avoided, but many messy heresies (such as modalism) are avoided altogether. There just seems to be no point in troubling ourselves, so long as we can politely nod at the proposition that God is three persons existing eternally in one nature. We are left to conclude that intellectual assent will suffice. 

Fred Sanders' book, The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything, argues against this mindset. How does gospel intersect with the trinitarian life of God? What does the Trinity have to do with our everyday Christian lives-- with how we pray and study Scripture? What implications does the Trinity have on how we think of God? These are questions that Fred Sanders deals with, expressing the conviction that the Trinity changes everything. 

This book is not an extended treatment of the Biblical witness to the Trinity, so much as it is an argument for the significance that the Trinity places in the Christian life, whether we consciously recognize this or not. In this regard, it is not unique in the history of the Church, though perhaps it does stand out as a bit unique for today's Church. Part of Sanders' method of drawing attention to the Trinitarian nature of the gospel (and those whose lives it changes) is to draw on the witnesses of Christians throughout history. Such witnesses include, but are not limited to, Nicky Cruz, Susanna Wesley, C. S. Lewis, and John Flavel. Sanders' point is to show that historically the Church has recognized that the Trinity is undeniably important in defining how sinful human beings can possibly stand forgiven in the sight of a holy God. Yet, while Sanders wants to draw out some of the details of Trinitarian theology, ultimately, he is suggests the best place for our Trinitarian theology is in the background, working to amplify the deep nature of the things of God: 

"We do not need so much to talk about the Trinity at all times to talk about everything else in a way that our convictions about the Trinity are 'somehow... secretly present' in everything we say or do. Our words and works need to be supported by a tacitly Trinitarianism that distinguishes Christ-centeredness from Father-forgetfulness and Spirit-ignoring" (Sanders, 239).

Evangelicals are not unaffected by the Trinity. They are deeply affected, though perhaps it is the case in recent years that such the effect of the Trinity goes largely unrecognized in most of our circles. Sanders encourages readers, "If you trust Jesus to be your salvation, you already know the Trinity. But it's a great benefit to know that you know the Trinity. It's a great benefit to know that you're a Christian because you've received a Spirit of adoption from the Father, a Spirit that lets you call God 'Abba, Father.' The Trinity is lurking in the gospel, just as it is lurking in the life of every believer. This Trinitarian reality is going on in our Christian lives whether we know it or not" (Sanders, 46).

The book is a difficult read, though a helpful one. It would particular be helpful to pastors, professors, and church leaders who want to explore how they can encourage their congregations and fellow believers to "know that they know"-- that they in fact are already engaged in-- the Trinitarian life. 

The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders 

Published: 2010 by Crossway Books

Length: 256 pages  

Thesis Statement: "The central argument of this book is that the doctrine of the Trinity inherently belongs to the gospel itself" (Sanders, 9).

Difficulty (out of 5): Four 

Rating (out of 10): Eight

Recommended For: Pastors and Professors; those interested in understanding the Trinitarian nature of the Christian life   

Cheapest Place to Buy: Christianbooks.com is selling it for $11.99 (US)