Just hang on a little longer. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. Carrying this concept over to the Trinity, it is not a contradiction for God to be both three and one because He is not three and one in the same way. God Is Triune | Answers in Genesis 2:34; Heb. 20 Bible verses that mention all Trinity members - OverviewBible 2:18). Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! For if we deny this, we have denied Gods unity and affirmed that there is more than one being of God (i.e., that there is more than one God). 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. The apple one is kind of cool. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? How do we know whats age-appropriate for them to understand? The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! The Apostle Paul also affirms the doctrine of the Trinity. How To Explain the Trinity To Your Child - 4 Creative Ways Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. At this stage, your head may be swimming with all this new information about God! Amen. 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. Use Objects As Visual Aids. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). (Heavy sigh.) 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 . Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. Lets change that! 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. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. Looking for a great childrens Bible? 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? How could we? God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. How to Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Biblical Missiology 25:3146; 2 Cor. The concept of the Trinity. 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. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. 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.. 3:3; Heb. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Bellator Christi More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Are you still not a Christian? 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. 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. Within Gods one, undivided being is an unfolding into three personal distinctions. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. How can we pack more meaning and deeper, Read More Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter SundayContinue, Not every child is born with tons of self esteem. Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. Read more. Matthew 12:28. After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. How is God one? The seeds are like the Holy Spirit, because He helps us grow. The Trinity | Answers in Genesis 3:25; Dan. 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. 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 . Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t 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. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. 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. 1:18; Luke 1:2635). "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. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 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. 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. 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. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. 8:3539; Eph. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about the Trinity. 15:28). 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. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. Errr, not quite. ). 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. Baker Books, 1995, pp. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 1:2;). 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. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Sigh. For example: God the Father is a person. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. Now lets dig into these imperfect yet better than nothing representations of the Trinity for kids. 55:8-9). The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. 40:18; Rom. EXPLAIN THE TRINITY - How To Explain The Holy Trinity Simply How do they relate? Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. 2. Use the links below to jump to a specific section: The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. So many things clamor to define you. 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). God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. 8:6a). Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. EitherThe person were explaining it to will think that God simply changes from one to the other at different times and under different circumstances (water). .. The triangle illustration is easy to understand, but an imperfect analogy because: Nonetheless, a triangle illustrates how there can be a three-ness and one-ness same time. 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. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). This can only be if they share one essence. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. 32:17, 27; Matt. Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. 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. We all have a story. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. We can discern and apprehend what it is. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. 1:17; Dan. The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. 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]. 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. Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. The Trinity Explained in 8 Steps - Binmin The Holy Trinity - Explained. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Omnipotence (Jer. But Christianitys God is unique. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. You will and can grasp these principles. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. The word "scripture " graphe He exists as a Trinity. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. Theologian R.C. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. 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. The Trinity confuses many people. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. Satan. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. 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. Conclusion: Scripture teaches the Trinity. We are dealing with fact. 3:16; 2 Pet. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). 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. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. 18:20; Matt. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. 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. Can We Explain the Trinity? | Desiring God But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. As I said earlier, it means the same thing as being. The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. This is something far removed from our human experience, where every different human "person" is a different being as well. 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. Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. Some attributes include eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. 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. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. When you cut an apple in half, you can see that each of these three parts are different (at this point, you can cut the apple open for your kids! Ask them to draw it on the page. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 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. God created man in His image. 19:714; Ps. 20:23; Deut. 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. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 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. ), "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. (So I won't send you any.) How is God three? Believe it or not, the fact that God is too immense for our finite minds should be comforting, not discouraging! Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.". Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. It starts with a whisper. After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. 1. 2) It makes no sense 3) The doctrine is rooted in ancient pagan Babylon 4) Jesus himself said he is God's SON; not God himself as the Trinity teaches The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. Thus, we are not speaking with a forked tongue we are not saying that God is one and then denying that He is one by saying that He is three. 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. They are all eternal. Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). 1:318; 1 Pet. LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. What does essence mean? View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Its a devotional book. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. Lets start with the geometric figure of the triangle itself. 1. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. 3. 9:18; Matt. While I believe that this is a helpful definition, it should be recognized that Grudem himself is offering this as more of an explanation than definition of Person. The wordTrinitymeansthree-in-one. Our Triune God - Grace To You 3:1417). 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. Thats the one we think of as the Father. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. He exists as a Trinity. 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 answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. 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. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. This leads us to investigate more closely a very helpful definition of the Trinity which I mentioned earlier: God is one in essence, but three in Person. The Father is God. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? What Is The Best Way To Explain The Trinity To A New Believer The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. I am also Keith Ferrin. "Economic" has to do with the history of salvation, and discusses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the sending and mission of salvation. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. So, rather than starting there, heres where were headed: To think we will everfullyunderstand the Trinity is to make the mistake of thinking God is fully understandable. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. Rather, each person of the Trinity has all of the attributes of God, and no one Person has any attributes that are not possessed by the others. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. The answer is simple. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. 4. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. What Is the Unholy Trinity in the Bible? - Christianity.com Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages Discipleship 101: How to Disciple a New Believer - Crossway He is beyond us. To be even more precise, essence is what you are. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Here are three I found to be really helpful. Those centuries were t Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33). Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair!