using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . 8:1417). "Economic" has to do with the history of salvation, and discusses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the sending and mission of salvation. 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. But it is not. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. They are all eternal. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. The verb for created isbara. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. 3:16; 2 Pet. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. The Hebrew word for God isElohim. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. He exists as a Trinity. If we can understand more precisely what is meant by essence and person, how these two terms differ, and how they relate, we will then have a more complete understanding of the Trinity. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. What a challenge! 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. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Thus, they relate to each other personally the Father regards Himself as I, while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as You. Likewise the Son regards Himself as I, but the Father and the Holy Spirit as You.. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). Principle #3: Order. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as God and the persons/expressions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. 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. But Scripture provides ample evidence of the existence of the Trinity. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. 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. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. After all, if the trinitarian nature of God is not in the Bible, why bother talking about it at all? For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. 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. I hate getting spam. "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. Let's explore each of these members. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. The Bible is full of Scripture speaking of there being only one God (seeDeuteronomy 6:4for starters), as well as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all being God. The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. (eds. 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. Use Objects As Visual Aids. Showing God in action in and through His people. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). God is infinite. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". Jehovah's Witnesses and the Trinity | Bible.org 42. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. 11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity - Zondervan Academic See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. The Holy Trinity - Explained. 1:318; 1 Pet. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). 2. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin 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. 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. 6:11; Gal. 1. 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). This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. 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! God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . I am also Keith Ferrin. OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). God the Son is the rays of sunshine. 12:32; 28:19; Luke 3:22), There is one God and three Gods (a contradiction), God is one person and three persons (a contradiction), God has one nature and three natures (a contradiction), There is a functional order within the Trinity, Bowman, R Jr. The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/bowman_robert/trinity/trinity.cfm#trin_1 Accessed: 1/20/2022. 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]. 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.. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - crossexamined.org In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. 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 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. Amen. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. "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. 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. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? 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. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. These three persons make up the one true God. 20:3; cf. 1:2;). 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. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. 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 . 4:4). How do we receive His grace? It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! Famous pastor and authorA.W. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). 3:1417). Its a devotional book. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. 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. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org While this is in my mind the simplest, clearest explanation, I understand that even this breaks down when we go further and say I am a human and I am Keith Ferrin. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. Sproul cites as an example Dickens famous line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Obviously this is a contradiction if Dickens means that it was the best of times in the same way that it was the worst of times. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. Yoto has lots of great stuff for, Read More 27 of the Best Yoto Cards for Kids (sorted by age group)Continue, If youre a Sunday School teacher or a mom hoping to instill a love of Bible learning in your children, Ive got some goodies for you! 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. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. 2. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. How do we know whats age-appropriate for them to understand? Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". be explained away. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. 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. How to Talk Right(ly) About the Trinity - pursueGOD.org Matthew 12:28. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. There are three Persons with one divine essence! Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. 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. 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. Each member of the Trinity is . What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. 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. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. 2:17). For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf - Canada Examples Step For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. 1:7; 2 Tim. Theologian R.C. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. Two Reasons the Trinity Matters - The Gospel Coalition 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. .. The wordtrinitymeans tri-unity or three-in-oneness.. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. . This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. 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. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. Deut. But each member had a different function. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. 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. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? 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.. The Apostle Paul also affirms the doctrine of the Trinity. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. . If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). It starts with a whisper. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. 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. Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. EXPLAIN THE TRINITY - How To Explain The Holy Trinity Simply how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. 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. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? The doctrine of the Trinity states that God exists as one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. Matthew 3:16. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. 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. How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy 1:18; Luke 1:2635). 8:6a). After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. This can only be if they share one essence. Unsubscribe at any time. 55:8-9). 3:25; Dan. Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. The Trinity. Its NOT God. 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. What we do not mean by Person is an independent individual in the sense that both I and another human are separate, independent individuals who can exist apart from one another. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. He is one in essence. How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf Our kids are currently 2, 4, and 7, and its equally loved by all of them, so the Yoto age range is really wide! After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. 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. Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. 3. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). Our Triune God - Grace To You And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). 3. 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! How can three and one refer to the same God? Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. This is one of the books of the Torah. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. 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. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. 9:14; Heb. A bright teen asked me to explain the Trinity. Here's what I said. The Trinity Explained in 8 Steps - Binmin Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. With input from her father, fart followed within a day or two, and I was horrified, but also excited that she mysteriously managed an r-controlled vowel without any explicit instruction. 20 Bible verses that mention all Trinity members - OverviewBible Conclusion: Scripture teaches the Trinity. They only describe what makes up Gods singular essence. 12:28; Rom. 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. When he has gone further in his "explanation" of the Trinity than many have gone, he admits, "I am far from asserting this as any . As Hebrews 9:14 declares. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey What Is the Trinity in Christianity? - Learn Religions The answer is they are gray and hard. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. Amongst other books, I have read 'The Forgotten Trinity" by James White, but remain unconvinced that acceptance of or belief in the confusing doctrine of the trinity is essential for Salvation. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever - YouTube The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. 6:45; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 5:15; Isa. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. . On the other hand, we must say that the Persons are real, that they are not just different ways of looking at the one being of GodThe only way it seems possible to do this is to say that the distinction between the persons is not a difference of "being" but a difference of "relationships."