Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28, NIV)

The biggest difference between historic Christianity and little-c “christianity” is probably the understanding of who Jesus is in relation to God.

In short, historic Christianity has always been foundationally trinitarian. God exists as three divine persons united as one diving being (or one divine being in three divine persons).

Where do we get this trinitarian idea from?

In John 20, Jesus resurrects from the dead and appears physically (i.e., with a real body) to a number of people. In his appearing, however, Thomas was not present and did not believe the report about the resurrected Jesus because, as he said it, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Jesus, however, eventually does appear physically to Thomas. And, in that appearing, Jesus shows Thomas his wounds. He says, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27).

We’re not told that Thomas actually reached out and touched Jesus (maybe he did). What we are told is that Thomas responds to Jesus command to stop doubting and believe with the verse we’re looking at here. Thomas replies to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

It’s a wonderfully succinct and theologically loaded statement all at the same time. Thomas has just declared that Jesus is both his Lord and his God.

Now let’s be sure to remember something in particular about Thomas. He is a monotheist. Thomas believes in the one God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thomas does not believe there are a number of gods—Jesus being one of them. Therefore, for Thomas to declare that Jesus is his God is to say something new about how he understands the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Thomas has just found himself believing that Jesus is the physical manifestation of the one true God.

And, note one other thing. Notice that the text in John 20:28 says, “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God.’” It’s not as if Thomas was testifying that Jesus was his Lord and then testifying that the Father was his God, thus making it clear that Jesus was not God. Thomas said to him (Jesus), you are both my Lord and my God.

The entire Bible—and the New Testament in particular—declare two things to be true about God all at the same time.

God is one being—there are not a number of gods out there, which combined make up the one God of the Bible.
God is tri-personal—the one God exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

What’s a good, simple way to say something profound about God?

Jesus is Lord and God.