Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 2. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. How can three and one refer to the same God? He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. God the Father. Matthew 12:28. How to Talk Right(ly) About the Trinity - pursueGOD.org Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. Our mind distinguishes each of the three leaves (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost), but at the same time recognizes they are one shamrock. 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. 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. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. How Do You Explain the Trinity? - A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. How can God be both one and three? After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. Sigh. The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not an impersonal force (like gravity), is also shown by the fact that He speaks (Hebrews 3:7), reasons (Acts 15:28), thinks and understands (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), feels (Ephesians 4:30), and gives personal fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14). Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. 2:511). Understanding who the Holy Spirit is, the place He holds within the Holy Trinity and the role He plays in individual lives is vital to anyone exploring what it means to become a Christian and anyone trying to follow Jesus. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. 5:7). God created man in His image. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? The Trinity is like an egg or apple. 25:3146; 2 Cor. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). Learn how you can know God personally. How to Support Gifted Readers, 27 of the Best Yoto Cards for Kids (sorted by age group), 40 Surprising and Fun Bible Facts for Kids (with a FREE true/false printable game), Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter Sunday, 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in School. 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. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! 32:17, 27; Matt. Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? 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. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. No, the wordTrinitydoes not appear in the Bible. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Why? We can discern and apprehend what it is. 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? For example they: 5. What we do mean by Person is something that regards himself as I and others as You. So the Father, for example, is a different Person from the Son because He regards the Son as a You, even though He regards Himself as I. Thus, in regards to the Trinity, we can say that Person means a distinct subject which regards Himself as an I and the other two as a You. These distinct subjects are not a division within the being of God, but a form of personal existence other than a difference in being.[3]. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. The Trinity | Answers in Genesis Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. The second point of clarification has to do with personhood. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. The Trinity is Christianity's most unique, defining, incomprehensible, and awesome mystery. Sun The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat. And in John 16:13-15 we see that although there is a close unity between them all, the Holy Spirit is also distinct from the Father and the Son. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God." Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. This is one of the books of the Torah. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. 1:318; 1 Pet. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. How do we receive His grace? First, we have God. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. 1:12). Discipleship 101: How to Disciple a New Believer - Crossway The late theologian Herman Bavinck has stated something very helpful at this point: The persons are modes of existence within the being; accordingly, the Persons differ among themselves as the one mode of existence differs from the other, and using a common illustration as the open palm differs from a closed fist.[4], Because each of these forms of existence are relational (and thus are Persons), they are each a distinct center of consciousness, with each center of consciousness regarding Himself as I and the others as You. Nonetheless, these three Persons all consist of the same stuff (that is, the same what, or essence). And all three members of the Trinity were involved. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. 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. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. He said, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Mark 12:29). ). How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is God is spirit (John 4:24). Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. But what does it mean that God is gracious? While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. 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. These three-in-one are called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity" In the Hindu Puranas there is this passage: 'O ye three Lords! One God? Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. This is one possibility of explaining it. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). You will and can grasp these principles. 3:1617). So many things clamor to define you. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. Its obvious that the Trinity is important to Christianity because its the framework for one of our oldest texts that crosses multiple denominations: the Apostles Creed, written in the 5th century. What Is The Best Way To Explain The Trinity To A New Believer Ask them to draw it on the page. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. We all have a story. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. Its a devotional book. But its not a mystery that can or should! In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. This is absolutely true. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. So a closer look at the fact that God is one in essence but three in person has helped to show why the Trinity is not a contradiction. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. Dont despair. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. Discipleship involves a lot, but one of the most important things you can do with a new believer is read the Bible with them-teaching them how to read, understand, respond to, and apply God's Word. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 5 Scriptural Points to Help You Understand the Trinity Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. God is like the skin because He protects us. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. 1. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? We need you. Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. (Heavy sigh.) 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. 2:34; Heb. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. A beautiful mystery. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. And that knowledge can feel liberating. Obviously we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? 1:17; Dan. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. know that I recognise only one God. How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? The Holy Trinity - Explained. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. I am fully human. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT 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. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. 3:1417). He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. 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. Explaining the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit will be needed at some point when presenting the God of the Bible to children, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and other non-Christians. The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). 18:20; Matt. That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. 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. (So I won't send you any.) 11:3336). Our Triune God - Grace To You A Christian would still be expected to understand it. We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. This one is kinda fun for older kids who understand a bit of science. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. 4. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. The Easiest Way to Explain the Trinity | SsouthernLifestyle 139:711; Jer. These three persons make up the one true God. How could we? The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! He is three in a different way than He is one. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? God the Son. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. 1:8). It is the Matthew 28:19 baptismal formula: Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in thenameof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (emphasis mine). Often it is objected that If Jesus is God, then he must have prayed to himself while he was on earth. But the answer to this objection lies in simply applying what we have already seen. Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. It starts with a whisper. 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." The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. This command lists all three persons of the Trinity. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! Matthew 3:16. Omnibenevolence (Jer. The Holy Spirit is God. Satan. 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). How to Support Gifted ReadersContinue, OurYotoplayer,Yoto Mini, and set of Yoto cards is the number one favorite toy in our household, and it has been for two years now. Even wonderful parents have kids who struggle with self esteem, despite excellent parenting and a supportive home environment. The Son is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. We exist to worship God. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. This formulation can show us why there are not three Gods, and why the Trinity is not a contradiction. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). Hmmm. Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women Surely not. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. Find freedom from your sins today. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. We hate SPAM. The The truth is always new, fresh, and exciting to the believer in Christ. 3. He is beyond us. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. We will never sell your information, for any reason. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. 119; Prov. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. We just covered Gods one divine essence. 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. Whats a Mama to say when the questions start flowing? What Is the Trinity in Christianity? - Learn Religions They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever The Village Church - Flower Mound 118K subscribers 36K views 5 years ago The Trinity is confusing even to most Christians, so we want to pull the. 8:1417). 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 . It's so simple, it fits on one page. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Silica Bible Chapel 42. How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. 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 God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. 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. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. 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. In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru We define personhood by three key characteristics: Now that you understand the critical distinction, you know that essence is what. And you know personhood is who.. How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai 40:18; Rom. 12:28; Rom. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. They are all eternal. 20:23; Deut. Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. Monotheism. Youngblood, R. F., et al. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. Gods essence is His being. Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. 19:714; Ps. The Holy Spirit isnt like an egg yolk, because the egg yolk is only part of an egg, whereas the Holy Spirit isnt part of God it IS God. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. 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 . For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. Firstly, because finite humans cant comprehend an infinite God completely, Secondly, because many people confuse Gods one, Three distinct persons are God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Firstly, unfamiliarity between essence or nature and personhood, Secondly, practical analogies that help conceptualize the Trinity, On the one hand, there is Gods singular nature, essence, or substance, And on the other, there is Gods three Persons (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), The sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees, The three-ness refers to the three Persons: Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, The one-ness applies to Gods unity or his single divine essence, The Trinity is a plurality of Persons and a unity of essence, God is three whos (Persons) and one what (divine essence), The triangle corresponds to Gods essence, The three corners of the triangle correspond to the three Persons of the Trinity, A triangle is finite, and God is infinite, The corners of a triangle are not persons, Understanding of the difference between Gods one divine essence and three Persons, Old Testament: Ex. AboutPressCopyrightContact. 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. God Is Triune | Answers in Genesis Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth One of the reasons Jonathan Edwards's vision of God has proved so helpful in my worship and ministry is that he does, and he doesn't, "explain" the Trinity. Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles.