Many parts of Scripture could be studied to reflect this marvelous truth that the awesome Triune God is the source of our salvation. In fact, that is why he reveals himself as three Persons in one God. It is not to confuse us, but to assure us of our eternal salvation. In this brief study we would like to focus mainly on two books, one from the Old Testament, Ezekiel, and one from the New Testament, the Gospel of John.

Let's look at Ezekiel first.

Read Ezekiel 34:1-23. What is the big problem in the first 10 verses? (The LORD is very displeased with the shepherds who are caring for his flock.) The flock here would be God's people, Israel, his Old Testament church. The shepherds would be those leaders he put in charge of their spiritual care, the Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings of Israel. They had failed to care for the faith and life of his people. So what does the LORD do? Look at verses 11-16 and count the number of times the pronoun "I" occurs there. (The LORD promises that he will take the salvation and care of the flock into his own hand.) How will he do this? Check again verses 22-24. (The LORD is going to put a shepherd over his flock whom he calls David. This reference to David reminds us of what Peter said about David in his Pentecost sermon. "David died and was buried," so the words of Psalm 16 that he quotes can't refer to David, but must refer to Jesus. The same is true in our passage. David is long dead by the time Ezekiel speaks these words. They too refer to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.) The heavenly Father in his concern for his flock of believers will send his Son as the great son of David to meet the needs of his flock. Both are inseparably involved in our eternal care.

The Lord also revealed through Ezekiel the role that the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, would play in our salvation. Read Ezekiel 18:30-32. What is the encouragement God presents to his people. (He calls on them to repent of their sins and then he tells them to get a new heart and a new spirit.) Can we really fill ourselves with a penitent heart and a spirit that trusts in God for forgiveness and seeks to serve him? Read Psalm 51:10. Where does a new godly heart come from? (Only the LORD can create a new heart in us.) Now read Ezekiel 36:24-27. What does the LORD promise here? (He promises to answer the prayer of Psalm 51. He will place his Holy Spirit in the hearts of his people. This will lead them to confess their sins which he will forgive, and it will move them to serve their Savior God by obeying his commandments.)