ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. We will never sell your information, for any reason. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as God and the persons/expressions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend. The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one being made up of three distinct persons who exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit . Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. 2. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. How can God be both one and three? Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. He is the only God that exists. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. 1. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). Question: How do you explain the Trinity? For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? 55:8-9). 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. The most popular is probably the one found in the Great Commission: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit . 6:2122), Resuscitation of the dead (1 Kings 17:1724; 2 Kings 4:1837), The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:10; Acts 10:40), Sustains the universe (Col. 1:17; Heb. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. Let's explore each of these members. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. When he has gone further in his "explanation" of the Trinity than many have gone, he admits, "I am far from asserting this as any . 5:10), Requested prayer in his name (John 14:1314) and to be honored as God (John 5:23), Begetting the human nature of Christ at the incarnation (Luke 1:35), Inspiring Scripture (2 Tim. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru The word "trinity" cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth is that the three of them have been there together all the way along. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. Baker Books, 1995, pp. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity: The Trinity (The Three-Personal God And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. It is the revelation of who our Almighty Creator actually isnot just a god, but an infinite Being existing in eternity as three co-equal, infinite Persons, consubstantial yet distinct. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! We exist to worship God. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. While some say . But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. For if we deny this, we have denied Gods unity and affirmed that there is more than one being of God (i.e., that there is more than one God). As Benjamin Needler preached: This doctrine should establish us in the truth of the gospel For my part, I would not worship that God that I could comprehend Bless God for the clear discovery of this truth under the gospel! Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. The Holy Trinity - Explained. We can discern and apprehend what it is. Ask teenagers hard questions about the Trinity that will make them think, and dont bother trying to come equipped with the perfect answer to everything. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons." Unpacking the Definition The word Trinity means three-in-one. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? They are higher than the heavenswhat can you do?, "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. Theologian R.C. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! We believe God is one in essence. 1:2;). Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Ive been thinking about it a lot, doing some research to see how people smarter than I have explained the Trinity, and come to a better understanding of the Trinity andhow to explain the Trinity in simpler terms. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. The first commandment says, You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. And this illustration helps us understand the Trinity: This illustration shows how the doctrine of the Trinity does not divide God into three parts. Instead, it reveals that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit possess the same divine essence. Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, cant explain it very well. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. Why, if they are ALL God? Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. And Scripture provides many descriptors, orattributes,of Gods singular essence or nature. How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai 25:3146; 2 Cor. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. The Son is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialogue between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff ) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness. But it is possible to go deeper. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. 2:2729). Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone.[2]. Showing God in action in and through His people. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian For example: One of the most common mistakes people make is to think of the Holy Spirit as some force ala Star Wars. But the Holy Spirit is most assuredly a person. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. The oldest member of the unholy trinity. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2), In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1025), When Jesus promises the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:48), Peters sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:33; Acts 3839), Peter and apostles answer the high priest (Acts 5:3032), During Stephens heavenly vision at his stoning (Acts 7:5556), In Peters sermon to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:3638; Acts 4448), When Peter reports to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1518), When Peter speaks at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:811), During Pauls interaction with Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:2531), Pauls epistles (Rom. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.". It's easy to turn doctrinal discussions into strictly intellectual affairs, but as Dr. Fred Sanders teaches in The Triune God course, we need to do so "in a way that enlists the reader's strict and holy attention for what is essentially a spiritual exercise." Satan. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. . The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. John 1 tells us that the Word is Yeshua - that he was with God and was God from the get go, right there at creation. In sum, the essence or nature of anything is what it is. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. God told Moses in the Torah to tell God's people these words: M. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." ( Deuteronomy 6:4) C. Yes, that's right. See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. Rather, the being of each Person is equal to the whole being of God.[1] The divine essence is not something that is divided between the three persons, but is fully in all three persons without being divided into parts., Thus, the Son is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. know that I recognise only one God. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Sigh. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. The next time you (or I) are asked to explain the Trinity, you could start with a 1-sentence definition and then unpack that definition. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Principle #3: Order. That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. Gods essence is His being. 4. 2) It makes no sense 3) The doctrine is rooted in ancient pagan Babylon 4) Jesus himself said he is God's SON; not God himself as the Trinity teaches What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? Two Reasons the Trinity Matters - The Gospel Coalition But dont get confused. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. 2:1011; Heb. Ibid, p. 255. 6:11; Gal. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? (Heavy sigh.) In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! 3. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. 42. According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . Elohimis the plural form of the word God. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). This post is full of Bible facts for kids that will spark the imagination, encourage lots of good questions, and even inspire some Bible reading. Trinity: Loving relationship defines God's very being The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. They are not merely modes or manifestations of the same person (as Oneness theology incorrectly asserts) who sometimes acts as Father, sometimes as Son, and sometimes as Spirit. How is God three? When you cut an apple in half, you can see that each of these three parts are different (at this point, you can cut the apple open for your kids! In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. And he should be referred to by personal pronouns and never as it. The Holy Spirits is a person because he: Scripture also proves that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are God. Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! God the Holy Spirit. Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. Believe it or not, the fact that God is too immense for our finite minds should be comforting, not discouraging! The apple one is kind of cool. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. Many non-Christians and new Christians often struggle with the idea of the Holy Trinity, where we break up God into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? How to explain the Trinity to a non-Christian - Quora But Christianity's God is unique. Is the Trinity a contradiction? The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. While I believe that this is a helpful definition, it should be recognized that Grudem himself is offering this as more of an explanation than definition of Person. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. Heres the problem (and why we shouldntstartwith these analogies):If these analogies are the only way someone thinks of the Trinity, it will lead to one of two errors. The answer is simple. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. Engage Children in learning The Holy Trinity through Reading, Writing, Playing, Creating, Singing!Included in this resource:Bible Lesson Book-Teacher Edition: Read Aloud!Full sized, colorful large print . Read more. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Lets go back to the Trinity triangle graphic, and you will see: By now you understand that the three Persons of the Trinity equally share Gods essence. Trinity comes from two word parts: tri, meaning three, and unity, meaning as one. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms a union of three. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. Find freedom from your sins today. Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? 8:3539; Eph. 2:511). Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. While we cannot fully understand everything about the Trinity (or anything else), it is possible to answer questions like these and come to a solid grasp of what it means for God to be three in one. Genesis 1:1 reads: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If we look more closely at the word we translate "God," Elohim, we see it is plural. 1:318; 1 Pet. Thus, we are not speaking with a forked tongue we are not saying that God is one and then denying that He is one by saying that He is three. Ive already done your research at my local library. . Lets start with the geometric figure of the triangle itself. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. We all have a story. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. . The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry He said, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Mark 12:29). Dont despair. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? How can we pack more meaning and deeper, Read More Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter SundayContinue, Not every child is born with tons of self esteem. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. How to Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Biblical Missiology The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. 4:4). What is the essence of a triangle? Ive got you covered with all the basics, no matter your denomination. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. Sun The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). Object Lessons on the Trinity for a Child or New Believer, The Difference Between Teaching the Trinity to a Child vs. a Teenager, Books that Explain the Trinity to a Child, Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the Storm, Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. How Do You Explain the Trinity? - A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. After all, if the trinitarian nature of God is not in the Bible, why bother talking about it at all? Those centuries were t Read Books About The Trinity. It is fundamental to our worldview. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he bids farewell to them: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Everything in Christian theology and in the believer's life finally comes back to who God is: the divine nature, the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. In addition to these texts, the others we mentioned above make clear that the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Personhood of the Son and the Father. Why? EXPLAIN THE TRINITY - How To Explain The Holy Trinity Simply In the baptism of Jesus, we see the Father speaking from heaven and the Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove as Jesus comes out of the water (Mark 1:10-11). We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. As Hebrews 9:14 declares. 2:34; Heb. Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. First, we have God. Our Triune God - Grace To You But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? Just like anything else, some kids have to work hard for what comes easily to, Read More 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in SchoolContinue. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Silica Bible Chapel They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. This is absolutely true. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. One God? Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! He is also referred to in third-person singular pronouns (John 14:26), He engages in actions only a person can do: He searches (1 Cor. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nicene Creed: An Outline of the Trinity Doctrine While this is in my mind the simplest, clearest explanation, I understand that even this breaks down when we go further and say I am a human and I am Keith Ferrin. Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. ). You cant find an earthly match for this concept. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. The general pattern of prayer in the Bible is to pray to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . This analogy ignores the personal distinctions within God and mitigates them to mere roles. A beautiful mystery. Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. 3:16; 2 Pet. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. 23-26; Luke 7:11-17; Luke 11:1-45), Sends the Holy Spirit and his gifts (John 16:714), Put his words on a par with Gods (Matt. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. You will and can grasp these principles. So many things clamor to define you. Sproul cites as an example Dickens famous line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Obviously this is a contradiction if Dickens means that it was the best of times in the same way that it was the worst of times. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Our kids are currently 2, 4, and 7, and its equally loved by all of them, so the Yoto age range is really wide! He brings all light and life to the world. 3. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier.
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