This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. 1:7; 2 Tim. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. What is the essence of a triangle? 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). For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). 8:1417). The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. This is something far removed from our human experience, where every different human "person" is a different being as well. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. Errr, not quite. They are all eternal. 15:3). He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? The answer is simple. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. 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. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. For I am God, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:21-22; see also 44:6-8; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:60). In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). We believe God is one in essence. . That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Those centuries were t But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. Lets change that! Theologians have pointed out that if it were not true, the Bible would be unreliable, Christ would not be divine, and His death on the cross would not atone for our sins, being merely the death of a martyr. Thats the one we think of as the Father. For example: God the Father is a person. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru Then I'll share an activity using the Celtic Trinity Knot to explain the Trinity to children along with the love that exists between each of its Persons and us. In this blog post, we will discuss how schools and parents can help girls to, Read More Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the StormContinue, Ill never forget the moment I watched in amazement as my newly-turned 4 year old sounded out her first few CVC words. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. 8:6a). Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. 3:6. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - crossexamined.org . know that I recognise only one God. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. But dont get confused. The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . 12:28; Rom. PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. Principle #3: Order. However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. Carrying this concept over to the Trinity, it is not a contradiction for God to be both three and one because He is not three and one in the same way. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. What is Gods essence? The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. 4. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. Look at what the Bible clearly shows: that there is one God ( Deuteronomy 6:4) that the Father is called God ( Ephesians 4:6 ), that Jesus (the Son) is called God ( Titus 2:13) and existed with God before creation ( John 1:1; 17:4) and the Holy Spirit is attributed . Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is as follows: The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Essence and person are not the same thing. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? We can discern and apprehend what it is. 2:11), emotions (Eph. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 5:510; 1 Cor. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. What Is the Unholy Trinity in the Bible? - Christianity.com 4:4). Most of them are less-than-helpful. Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . 2:18). be explained away. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. 19:714; Ps. Now lets dig into these imperfect yet better than nothing representations of the Trinity for kids. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). 1:2;). Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. But a common question arises: How do the members of the Trinity differ from one another?. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. 1:18; Luke 1:2635). Matthew 3:16. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. 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. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Unsubscribe at any time. Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. 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. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. After all, theyre good questions. But each member had a different function. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 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. How to Teach Kids the Trinity with an Apple Object Lesson Grab an apple and share these five truths with your kids: An apple has three parts: the seeds, the flesh, and the skin. Omnipotence (Jer. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. He exists as a Trinity. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN Its NOT God. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. The Trinity confuses even adults, so when youre tasked (or inspired) to teach the Trinity to a child, teenager, or new believer, it can be overwhelming. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? The Trinity is important to Christians because it reminds us that God is all-powerful, walked this Earth as a perfect human who can relate to our pain, and also lives on today in our hearts. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? 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. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey . Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. How is God different? 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. From our understanding of the Trinity (a social being), we recognize that a person is a relational being, not just someone with a mind, a will, and . He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. 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. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. 32:17, 27; Matt. God Is Triune | Answers in Genesis How to Talk Right(ly) About the Trinity - pursueGOD.org This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. They include: Now you have a basic understanding of the Trinity. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? I am also Keith Ferrin. If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. And when he speaks, he refers to himself in first personas I (Deut. Can We Explain the Trinity? | Desiring God 7:28; Ps. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. The concept of the Trinity. Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. What Is The Best Way To Explain The Trinity To A New Believer Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. The answer is they are gray and hard. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? Awareness of the distinct role that each Person of the Trinity has in our salvation can especially serve to give us greater comfort and appreciation for God in our prayers, as well as helping us to be specific in directing our prayers. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. We exist to worship God. Sigh. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? These three persons make up the one true God. Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. Essenceis the objective set of attributes necessary to the thing being described. 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.. EitherThe person were explaining it to will think that God simply changes from one to the other at different times and under different circumstances (water). The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. 3:25; Dan. The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. If youd like to get away from simple object lessons and move your child toward a deeper understanding of Gods nature, check out The Attributes of God for Kids. 3:1417). 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 The idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. Its a devotional book. Before moving on tounderstandingthe idea of one Being existing in three Persons, I will point out that theBiblical idea of the Trinity goes all the way back to the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible. But what does it mean that God is gracious? He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. 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. Both the New Testament and Old Testament testify that there is only one God: Unfortunately, we cannot go through each of these passages in detail. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. 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 Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. Ask them to draw it on the page. 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. 2:34; Heb. Are you still not a Christian? Below are several of the most popular ones. 23:2324). He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. It's so simple, it fits on one page. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. 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]. The oldest member of the unholy trinity. And that knowledge can feel liberating. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! 3. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. 42. What does essence mean? But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. You will and can grasp these principles. Nonetheless, while recognizing the distinct roles that each Person has, we should never think of their roles as so separate that the other Persons are not involved. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. God the Holy Spirit. Every time the wordElohim(plural) is used throughout the Old Testament referring to the one, true God, it is used with a singular conjugation of the verb. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? I work hard to produce evidence-based information about school for both teachers and parents, and to produce and share resources that can help at home and in the classroom. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Nicene Creed: An Outline of the Trinity Doctrine A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. I am fully human. How Not to Be Scared of AI In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. He is one in essence. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. Hmmm. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earthand in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spiritand born of the virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic* Church,the communion of the saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.