The mystery of the Trinity is difficult to understand and explain, even by the most studied biblical scholars. However, the Trinity is a critical component of solid, orthodox Christianity.
Binitarianism is the belief in God as two persons, the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit, Binitarians contend, is the same person as Jesus. This is different than bitheism, the belief in two gods, but both bitheism and Binitarianism are unbiblical. A misunderstanding of Romans 8:9, in conjunction with the non-canonical "The Shepherd of Hermas" leads to this heretical belief.
Romans 8:9 says, "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
This verse refers to the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of Christ" because He is foretold by Jesus (John 15:26), He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26), He comes in the name of Christ (John 14:26), and He seals believers in Christ (Ephesians 1:13). In fact, that Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit and promises to send Him indicates to all that they are separate persons, both divine, both distinct parts of the Trinity.
Binitarianism is not biblical. The Bible teaches that God exists as three holy persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Son, became a man but held onto His divinity while fully man. The Spirit, though in existence forever, was sent to believers after Jesus rose from the dead and returned to the community of God.
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