I have been asked a few times over my years as a pastor, “Is it alright to pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, or should it be just to the Father?” And just recently I was asked, “When I refer to God I am often using it interchangeably with Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit. Is this alright?”

 As one who often acknowledges Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in my prayers and in my speech, I appreciate the concern for affirming the distinctive confession of God in the Christian Faith that is upheld when we address each person of the Godhead. The doctrine of God is summarized by the Shorter Catechism #5-6, There is but one only living and true God who is three persons within the Godhead: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal is power and glory. The 2nd century doxology “Gloria Patri” also affirms the truth that the Lord our God who is one [Deuteronomy 6:4] is three persons, each of whom are worthy of our worship: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen. Affirming the doctrine of the one God in Trinity sets the Christian Faith apart from all other religions, and denies that worldly notion that all religions worship the same god, they simply call him by differing names.

 So can we pray to each person specifically? My immediate response is, “Of course!” We read in Revelation 4:8-11 worship is given to the Lord God Almighty, and Revelation 5:9-14 speaks of the worship of all the hosts of heaven being given to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. A significant part of our worship is prayers, which may be directed to each person. Consider the Psalms: many of those prayers are directed to the LORD, which is Yahweh, inclusive of all three persons; yet, “LORD” in a number of the Psalms has a specific reference to Christ [i.e. Psalm 23]. However, the preeminent manner for prayer is to be to the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus, by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Such was the manner of Christ’s prayers [Matthew 11:25ff, John 17]; as well as his clear instruction when asked by his disciples to teach them to pray [Luke 11:1-4]. It is also the work of the Holy Spirit within us to urge us on to pray, “Abba, Father” [Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6]

 When it comes to referencing the persons of the Godhead, the use of the common name, “God”, for each person, again, is acceptable. The Lord Jesus is referred to as God in a number of New Testament places: John 1:1; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; 1John 5:20. The Holy Spirit also is referenced as God: Acts 5:3-4. But, most often the New Testament uses the name “God” to refer specifically to the Father. I believe there is benefit in using the particular names for each person of the Godhead. As the one God, they are our Creator and Saviour, yet, as persons they accomplish specific functions in those works: in Creation – Genesis 1:1-2, Hebrews 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16, and in salvation – elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ [1Peter 1:2]. In confessing each person of the Godhead, we are expressing the truth of who the one living and true God is, and the glory of their unity, love, and work toward us. Addressing each person of the Godhead distinguishes more clearly those who say they believe there is a God, and those who know God as he has revealed himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 May we confess the Lord our God, the Lord who is one in three persons, even as Augustine prayed: Grant, O God, of your mercy, that we may come to everlasting life, and there beholding your glory as it is, may equally say: Glory to the Father who created us, Glory to the Son who redeemed us, Glory to the Holy Spirit who sanctified us. Glory to the most high and undivided Trinity, whose works are inseparable, whose kingdom without end abides, from age to age forever. Amen.