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They are personal forms of existence other than a difference in being. Unsubscribe at any time. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. 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. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. John introduces us to the Trinity in John 1:1- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God.". A Christian would still be expected to understand it. "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. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He exists as a Trinity. Amen. First, we have God. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Is God the same as Jesus? Monotheism. Youngblood, R. F., et al. He differs from the Father, but was and . 5:2), Miracles (Ex. All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. But each member had a different function. December 19, 2018. 3. 3:6. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? The Best Way to Explain the Trinity to Kids - The Purposeful Mom 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. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. 11:3336). OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN 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). 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. The answer is they are gray and hard. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. The Trinity does not divide God into three 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. God the Fathers plan of redeeming humankind involved sending his Son into the world (John 3:16), The Son accomplished redemption for us on the cross (Heb. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Bellator Christi Its a mystery the Bible teaches. 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. . But a common question arises: How do the members of the Trinity differ from one another?. But dont get confused. PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. Dont despair. 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. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? 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. Sun The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. God the Father. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. 5 Scriptural Points to Help You Understand the Trinity Baker Books, 1995, pp. How could we? Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! For example, if I say that the moon is made entirely of cheese but then also say that the moon is not made entirely of cheese, I have contradicted myself. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. As Hebrews 9:14 declares. But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One of the problems is that most of us myself included are tempted to move too quickly to analogies that only help explainaspectsof the Trinity. be explained away. In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. 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. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. The fact that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons means, in other words, that the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). 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. (eds. 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. 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. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. 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. Omnipotence (Jer. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. That's the one we think of as the Father. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? 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. How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? 11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity - Zondervan Academic We all have a story. So even if the Bible did call the Trinity a mystery it would only be saying it was unknown to the one not illuminated, i.e. . passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT What is the essence of a triangle? While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. We also see this evidenced in how the Son and Father sent the Spirit into the world (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). Its NOT God. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). Then you will learn the distinction between personhood and essence or nature. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. 1:17; Dan. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. 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. How Not to Be Scared of AI You can cut into an apple in front of your group. 32:17, 27; Matt. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. Find freedom from your sins today. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. And confusing ones. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. 2:1011; Heb. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. 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. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. A bright teen asked me to explain the Trinity. Here's what I said. Essenceis the objective set of attributes necessary to the thing being described. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. Ive already done your research at my local library. 1. So God is one what but three whos.. 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. It's so simple, it fits on one page. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. Ibid, p. 255. 8:3539; Eph. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. The Father is God. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. 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. It starts with a whisper. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. We are dealing with fact. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Its not unusual for teenagers to give Jesus a bunch of loving characteristics and then put words like justice and vengeance on God the Fathers poster. 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. While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. We exist to worship God. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. 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. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 2:18). Are you still not a Christian? But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. This one is kinda fun for older kids who understand a bit of science. But its not a mystery that can or should! 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. ), "If God was small enough for my brain to fully understand, He wouldnt be big enough to save me!, The authors of the Bible understood this. This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. 119; Prov. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church I am fully human. the one who is not a Christian. After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. The Trinity | Answers in Genesis Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! These three persons make up the one true God. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. 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. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is The technical term in case youre interested for this wrong way of thinking about God is calledmodalism. 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. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. 18:20; Matt. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. Can We Explain the Trinity? | Desiring God If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. He is beyond us. Ask them to draw it on the page. Simply stated, God is one in essence and three in person. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". 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. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. How do they relate? 15:19), God is called Father (John 17:1; John 3; 20:17; 1 Cor. The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. I hate getting spam. At this stage, your head may be swimming with all this new information about God! 25:3146; 2 Cor. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible Answer. 3:3; Heb. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. draws the believer into a new . We can discern and apprehend what it is. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! While some say . But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. Matthew 3:16. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! 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. One God? Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. 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. 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). Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. 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 . I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. Deut. How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. Why? 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 . 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. 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. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? I recently had some of my kids friends ask meWhat is the Trinity? How is God three? It may seem that the Catholic Church and all the Protestant denominations dont have much in common, but they do have this creed to share. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. This can only be if they share one essence. Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, cant explain it very well. 3:16; 2 Pet. 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. ). 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. 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 Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. Sigh. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. 4. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. What is Gods essence? It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin Looking for a great childrens Bible? And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. "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. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship.