how to explain the trinity to a new believer
However, these illustrations arent perfect, and really mature kids or teenagers (or adult new believers) could handle digging a bit deeper! The word "scripture " graphe But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. 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. 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. Famous pastor and authorA.W. 8:6a). The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. 1:2;). Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. 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. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. 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. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. 2:11), emotions (Eph. 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. But its not a mystery that can or should! This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Thats where the confusion comes from. We all have a story. If belief in the Trinity is so essential to Christianity, it would have been explicitly stated in the Bible and wouldn't have taken over 300 years to officially define it. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. But each member had a different function. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Looking for a great childrens Bible? 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. 3:6. 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.. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. God the Holy Spirit. That definition is a mouthful. This command lists all three persons of the Trinity. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. Even wonderful parents have kids who struggle with self esteem, despite excellent parenting and a supportive home environment. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? He brings all light and life to the world. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. 32:39), Has personal traits, such as the ability to communicate (John 14:31), He has intellect (John 2:25), emotions (John 11:35), and a will (John 6:38), Has intellect (John 14:26; 1 Cor. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. The Trinity is like an egg. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). Its three things, but all are complete on their own. The Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. Here are three I found to be really helpful. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. How do we receive His grace? Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. The Father is God. (eds. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. God is infinite. 2:34; Heb. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . He is the only God that exists. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. 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! 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.. 11:3336). The Trinity confuses many people. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. Principle #3: Order. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. Some attributes include eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. 2:17). 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). Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? Whats a Mama to say when the questions start flowing? However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. "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. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. Wayne Grudem explains: But if each person is fully God and has all of Gods being, then we also should not think that the personal distinctions are any kind of additional attributes added on to the being of God . Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. 1:7; 2 Tim. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. 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. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. 1:18; Luke 1:2635). Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. 6:11; Gal. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. 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). Its NOT God. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. Hmmm. Matthew 3:16. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. What is the Trinity? They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. 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 . My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity, The Simplest but Still Clear Explanation for the Trinity, The 3 Most Common Trinity Analogies (and their limitations). The verb for created isbara. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. 119; Prov. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. The idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy 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 . In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. 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). Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. We believe God is one in essence. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. 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. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. 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. 4. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. 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. Other references to the Trinity in the New Testament include Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, and more. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the same thing in three different forms. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 1. But Christianity's God is unique. . The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. Ive already done your research at my local library. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. 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. Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". 18:20; Matt. This analogy ignores the personal distinctions within God and mitigates them to mere roles. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. They include: Now you have a basic understanding of the Trinity. The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. This can only be if they share one essence. It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. 3. Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. 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). 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. We need you. 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. You will and can grasp these principles. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. 2:18). 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]. Monotheism. Youngblood, R. F., et al. In sum, the essence or nature of anything is what it is. This one is kinda fun for older kids who understand a bit of science. God is spirit (John 4:24). He differs from the Father, but was and . draws the believer into a new . Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. 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. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. Lets start with the geometric figure of the triangle itself. How to EXPLAIN The Trinity to a New Believer - Introduction to the Godhead In this video I will introduce the godhead or the trinity in one of the easiest te. Essenceis the objective set of attributes necessary to the thing being described. It's so simple, it fits on one page. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. I hate getting spam. 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. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Then you will learn the distinction between personhood and essence or nature. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. These three persons make up the one true God. 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 To confess that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in power of course means that one does not rule over the other in any way. But it is not. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. Have a great discussion about it! Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. (So I won't send you any.) He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. 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. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? Read Books About The Trinity. But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! December 19, 2018. My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! Find resources for personal or group Bible study. 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! There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. Essence and person are not the same thing. But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. Most of them are less-than-helpful. 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. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? How is God one? The divine essence is thus not something that exists above or separate from the three Persons, but the divine essence is the being of the three Persons. 2:2729). He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. This law states that A cannot be both A (what it is) and non-A (what it is not) at the same time and in the same relationship. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. AboutPressCopyrightContact. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. 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. 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. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. We just covered Gods one divine essence. To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. If we were to translate it . Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? Gods essence is His being. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. 15:3). And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. How can three and one refer to the same God? 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. 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. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. This doctrine is absolutely essential to New Testament Christianity. 1:12). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. "It has been said that there have been four centuries when the church's understanding of the person of Christ has been most under attack. The word Trinity does not appear even once in the Bible. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! So God is one what but three whos.. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. We exist to worship God. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. We will never sell your information, for any reason. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. As a mom to three kids under 8, an instructional coach, and a former classroom teacher, I know a thing or two about how public schools REALLY work and the challenges we face in the United States. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t God created man in His image. 20:23; Deut. Sigh. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. ). Lets do a quick review of the topics we have covered. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. 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. One God? How do they relate? And all three members of the Trinity were involved. 1:17; Dan. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. 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 . 2:511). All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. After all, if the trinitarian nature of God is not in the Bible, why bother talking about it at all? But what does it mean that God is gracious? Is the Trinity a contradiction? Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. But a common question arises: How do the members of the Trinity differ from one another?. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. What is Gods essence? Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. God the Father. To be even more precise, essence is what you are. Surely not. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. Simply stated, God is one in essence and three in person. That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. Use Objects As Visual Aids. These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. The Hebrew word for God isElohim. Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt.