God Is Love: The Trinity and the Heart of Christian Joy

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4 v 16

This wonderful verse from the New Testament is declared at the beginning of every marriage service in the Church of England to set the scene for what is about to happen in the ceremony. Of course, these are words of great encouragement for the couple about to be married, but they were originally nothing to do with weddings. Just like that other great wedding reading about love from 1 Corinthians 13, these words were written for church members. John is telling his Christian readers that God is love, and therefore we can enjoy a relationship of love with God and each other, because love is never self-contained, but always overflows to others.

Trinity Sunday: One God in Three Persons

Last week we celebrated Trinity Sunday, recalling the unique teaching of the Christian faith, that there is one God who eternally exists in three united yet distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though we may not realise it at first sight, John’s stunning claim that God is love lends strong support to this belief in the triune nature of God.

Why “God Is Love” Requires the Trinity

Notice that John does not say: God loves or is loving, but God is love. In other words, in his very essence, at the core of his being, God is love. He doesn’t just do loving things, he is love. Now, for this to be true God would have to be plural in his nature and being. “God is love” only makes sense as an eternal truth if God is Trinity, because love requires a lover, a beloved, and the love shared between them. A solitary, single‑person God could choose to love after creating others but could not be eternally love in His own being. If God is love (not just does loving things), then God must contain within His own eternal life the relationships necessary for love — which is exactly what the Trinity is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in eternal, self‑giving communion.

Rublev’s Icon: An Invitation to the Table

This glorious truth is famously reflected in the beautiful work of religious art called Rublev’s Icon. It depicts the Trinity, seated at a meal table, each person equal with the others, each resembling the others, and yet each distinct. Father, Son and Spirit each wear blue, representing divinity, but the Father also wears gold, signifying majesty; the Son wears red symbolising earthiness; and the Spirit wears green representing growth. They are sharing a meal, which in biblical days, as in many cultures today, speaks of friendship, relationship, community, love and intimacy. Tellingly, Rublev left an opening at the front of the circle – it is not closed and exclusive – rather, God the Trinity invites you and I into the circle, up to the table, to share in the meal, and in the eternal love of God. To be a Christian is to enter into that relationship of love, sharing in the love that has always flowed between Father, Son, and Spirit, and extending that love to others, who we also invite to join us with God at the table. Of course, this is all beautifully reflected whenever we gather at the Lord’s table as the church family to share holy communion together.

The Only Question That Matters

So, let’s rejoice that the Trinity is not a philosophical puzzle — it is the only way “God is love” can be eternally true. The Trinity is not a mathematical headache; it is the beating heart of Christian joy. God didn’t start loving when He made us. He invited us into the love He already had. If God is love, then the question isn’t whether you believe in the Trinity — it’s whether you’re willing to step into that love. God isn’t inviting you to admire an idea. He’s inviting you into the eternal relationship He’s always enjoyed. The only question is will you say ‘Yes’ to the God who has already said ‘Yes’ to you?

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Blessings, Rev Rob