But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). Read Books About The Trinity. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. 7:28; Ps. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. also 1:18). We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Silica Bible Chapel Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. 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.. 4. But Christianitys God is unique. But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. Use Objects As Visual Aids. Matthew 3:16. But it is not. Showing God in action in and through His people. The Easiest Way to Explain the Trinity | SsouthernLifestyle Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? No, the wordTrinitydoes not appear in the Bible. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. God the Father. He is three in a different way than He is one. 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! Dont despair. ). The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. 55:8-9). For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. 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. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. 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. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. 8:6a). How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever - YouTube Theologians have pointed out that if it were not true, the Bible would be unreliable, Christ would not be divine, and His death on the cross would not atone for our sins, being merely the death of a martyr. He is beyond us. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. Principle #3: Order. 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. A triangle must have three sides three corners (angles), and the sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. 2:11), emotions (Eph. Below are several of the most popular ones. 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 Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. What is the Trinity? God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! 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. 4:4). Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? It may seem like a daunting question at first, but when we think about it the truth of God's triune nature is meant to be a joy, a comfort, and a wonder to us! Satan. 19:714; Ps. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. 4; 14; Jon. The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. Our Triune God - Grace To You 3:16; 2 Pet. 32:17, 27; Matt. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. 3:3; Heb. 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! That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE Teaching the Trinity to Students Youth Pastor Theologian This one is kinda fun for older kids who understand a bit of science. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. The three members of the Trinity are Persons. That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. 12:28; Rom. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. The Holy Trinity - Explained. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. 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 And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). They are all eternal. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. The Trinity is like an egg. But each member had a different function. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. First, we have God. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. 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! How to EXPLAIN The Trinity to a New Believer | Introduction to The The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 40:18; Rom. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. 2:1011; Heb. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. 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! That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Have a great discussion about it! 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). Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. 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). How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. 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.". It's easy to turn doctrinal discussions into strictly intellectual affairs, but as Dr. Fred Sanders teaches in The Triune God course, we need to do so "in a way that enlists the reader's strict and holy attention for what is essentially a spiritual exercise." Our kids are currently 2, 4, and 7, and its equally loved by all of them, so the Yoto age range is really wide! Its okay to admit you dont know everything. They only describe what makes up Gods singular essence. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. How to Talk Right(ly) About the Trinity - pursueGOD.org As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. Then you will learn the distinction between personhood and essence or nature. So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. 5 Scriptural Points to Help You Understand the Trinity 1:7; 2 Tim. 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. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . Theologian R.C. 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. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. 2:511). (eds. After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. Discipleship 101: How to Disciple a New Believer - Crossway The concept of the Trinity. 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. Whats a Mama to say when the questions start flowing? 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). 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. But it is possible to go deeper. Here are three I found to be really helpful. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). 2. Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! How can three and one refer to the same God? One God? Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, cant explain it very well. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. John 1 tells us that the Word is Yeshua - that he was with God and was God from the get go, right there at creation. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? Thats where the confusion comes from. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. 2. 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. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. 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). 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. 8:1417). Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. 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. And when he speaks, he refers to himself in first personas I (Deut. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. And he should be referred to by personal pronouns and never as it. The Holy Spirits is a person because he: Scripture also proves that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are God. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". 3:19; Eph. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds Ask them to draw it on the page. While some say . The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Looking for a great childrens Bible? The Definition Of The Trinity. C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity: The Trinity (The Three-Personal God Most people, including many Christians, struggle trying to apprehend the Trinity. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? 8:3539; Eph. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. The The truth is always new, fresh, and exciting to the believer in Christ. Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. 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 . After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. . What is the Trinity? - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry 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. 15:28). The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. 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 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 . For example: God the Father is a person. Can We Explain the Trinity? | Desiring God As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. The first commandment says, You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. Ive already done your research at my local library. 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 . Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. God the Holy Spirit. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". Somehow Gods being is so much greater than ours that within his one undivided being there can be an unfolding into interpersonal relationships, so that there can be three distinct persons.[5]. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. God is infinite. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. 1:12). Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. 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). Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. 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. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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. That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. . 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. Sigh. May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. How do we receive His grace? Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. 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. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). 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. The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. Ibid, p. 255. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. In John 1:1 it is affirmed that Jesus is God and, at the same time, that He was with God- thereby indicating that Jesus is a distinct Person from God the Father (cf. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! know that I recognise only one God. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. 1:17; Dan. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). 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). Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). 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. 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. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. 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. 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. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. Errr, not quite. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. A beautiful mystery. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. And that knowledge can feel liberating. ). He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. But Christianity's God is unique. 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. Find freedom from your sins today. 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. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. 3:25; Dan. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

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