How does spiritual rebirth occur through the Trinity?
Spiritual rebirth occurs through the Trinity, which comprises God the Father, Jesus as the spiritual True Father, and the Holy Spirit as the spiritual True Mother. This spiritual Trinity restores humanity to God's lineage, freeing us from original sin. It prepares us for the complete physical and spiritual rebirth that will come through the returning Messiah and his bride, who will establish the substantial True Parents and the Kingdom of Heaven.
The concept of the Trinity, encompassing God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, has often confused and divided Christians for thousands of years. However, when understood through the lens of Principle, its nature and function in spiritual rebirth become clear, aligning biblical accounts with God's original purpose for creation and restoration.
The Biblical Foundation
Scripture unequivocally presents three distinct divine persons acting in concert. Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 instructs disciples to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." This single verse underscores their unified authority and purpose. At Jesus' baptism, recorded in Matthew 3:16-17, the distinct yet harmonious operation of the three is spectacularly displayed: Jesus is baptized, "the Spirit of God descending like a dove" upon Him, and "a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The Apostle Paul consistently invokes all three in his blessings, such as in 2 Corinthians 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." Jesus Himself spoke of the intimate relationship, promising the Comforter: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). While these passages establish distinct persons, Jesus also declared a profound unity with the Father, proclaiming, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). Simultaneously, He engaged in fervent prayer to the Father, indicating a personal distinction (John 17). These passages, seemingly paradoxical, have historically fueled theological discussions regarding the precise nature of their "oneness" and "threeness."
Divine Principle's Clarification
The Divine Principle reframes the understanding of the Trinity, grounding it in God's purpose of creation and restoration. God's original intent was to establish a True Trinity with Adam and Eve as His children, creating a Four Position Foundation centered on God. In this original plan, Adam and Eve, having fulfilled the purpose of creation, would have become the True Parents of humankind. Together with God, they would have formed a Trinity: God, God's son, and God's daughter, co-equal expressions of God's Logos, one love in three persons, three persons one in love. This substantial physical Trinity was meant to be the foundation for God's Kingdom on Earth.
The human fall, however, tragically prevented the realization of this original, physical Trinity. Adam and Eve instead built a Trinity and a Four Position Foundation centered on Satan. Therefore, the providence led to Christ and the Holy Spirit rebuilding the Trinity. We call this a spiritual Trinity: God the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to be the True Father to give rebirth to fallen human beings (John 3:3, John 5:24). He was one with God physically as well as spiritually, thus he is the one who came to give us rebirth spiritually and physically as a True Father. However, a father alone cannot give birth; a True Mother is also needed. Jesus was meant to find his bride and together with her become True Parents, but he went to the cross without a bride. The Holy Spirit appeared from God to fulfill the True Mother's position, giving new life to believers. Thus, the spiritual Trinity, comprised of God the Father, Jesus (the True Father), and the Holy Spirit (the True Mother), acts as our spiritual True Parents, forgiving us and restoring us.
This spiritual Trinity provides the foundation for spiritual salvation, mediating spiritual rebirth and guiding humanity back to God. It enables us to become children of goodness, free from original sin, and to develop our spirit, restoring us to the status of Jesus (Romans 8:14-16). However, complete restoration also requires a substantial physical Trinity for physical salvation, meaning Jesus' return to become a True Parent both in spirit and flesh. This entails recognizing the returning Jesus and His bride, and receiving rebirth through them through the Holy Marriage Blessing. This understanding maintains the essential unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in purpose but clarifies their distinct roles and historical functions within God's providence. They are one in heart, will, and direction, yet maintain individual identities and specific tasks in the grand scheme of creation and restoration.
Understanding the Deeper Meaning
The deeper meaning is that spiritual rebirth is not merely an individual salvation event, but a crucial step toward the restoration of God's ideal family and world. Spiritual rebirth, facilitated by the Spiritual Trinity, connects individuals to the lineage of God through Christ. It is a process of purifying one's heart and spirit to resonate with God's original love and truth. The Holy Spirit helps us to "be born again" (John 3:3), guiding us into all truth (John 16:13), and helping us to cultivate the heart of "a son or daughter of God." This rebirth is spiritual in nature, preparing us to eventually become part of the actualized, physical Kingdom of Heaven built on True Parents and True Families, and ultimately reach the level of a Divine Spirit.
Living the Principle
1. Embrace God as your True Parent: Cultivate a deep, loving relationship with the Creator, understanding God as the origin of all true love and life. 2. Receive Jesus as the True Father: Strive to internalize Jesus' teachings and example, allowing him to engraft you into God's lineage and restore your spiritual connection to God. 3. Be guided by the Holy Spirit as the True Mother: Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort, inspire, and nurture your spiritual growth, enabling you to be born anew and develop God's character. 4. Prepare for the returning True Parents: Understand that complete spiritual and physical rebirth requires receiving the full blessing of the returning Messiah and his bride.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.