It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. . The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. Ibid, p. 255. After all, plenty of, Read More 40 Surprising and Fun Bible Facts for Kids (with a FREE true/false printable game)Continue, Whereas most of us are pretty comfortable with our family traditions for celebrating Easter, Holy Week for kids is WAY more intimidating. 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. 2:2729). 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. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. God is like the skin because He protects us. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 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. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. 4:4). 139:711; Jer. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". 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. 42. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. First, we have God. The second point of clarification has to do with personhood. 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 . Read more. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. He exists as a Trinity. Now lets dig into these imperfect yet better than nothing representations of the Trinity for kids. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. The first commandment says, You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. 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. But it is not. See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. He differs from the Father, but was and . Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. How do they relate? 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. Conclusion: Scripture teaches the Trinity. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? It is fundamental to our worldview. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about the Trinity. 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. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? The word "scripture " graphe We are dealing with fact. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. 2. How do we receive His grace? And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. 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. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. 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. 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. 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. However, these illustrations arent perfect, and really mature kids or teenagers (or adult new believers) could handle digging a bit deeper! All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. 40:18; Rom. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). As Benjamin Needler preached: This doctrine should establish us in the truth of the gospel For my part, I would not worship that God that I could comprehend Bless God for the clear discovery of this truth under the gospel! 18:20; Matt. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. 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. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. You arent alone! Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. But what does it mean that God is gracious? Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. 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. December 19, 2018. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Looking for a great childrens Bible? Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. How could we? But each member had a different function. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. 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. 25:3146; 2 Cor. 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! Each member of the Trinity is . Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. The Trinity confuses many people. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. ). Some attributes include eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This can only be if they share one essence. In fact, kids who have been in church for many years will probably have already heard one of these illustrations. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. 2:11), emotions (Eph. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. Its okay for them to have a very limited understanding of God. 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 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. 5:7). The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The word Trinity does not appear even once in the Bible. The Father is God. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. 1. The Trinity is Christianity's most unique, defining, incomprehensible, and awesome mystery. The Trinity is like an egg. The Definition Of The Trinity. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. 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. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? But that doesnt mean the concept isnt clearly taught. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. 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. 3. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? He is three in Person. 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. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. While some say . Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. God is infinite. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). And confusing ones. Surely not. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. He is three in a different way than He is one. 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. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. Ive already done your research at my local library. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. 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! Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? 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. What is Gods essence? Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. Learn how you can know God personally. Errr, not quite. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . But he avoids contradiction with this statement because he means that in one sense it was the best of times, but in another sense it was the worst of times. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. 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. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. 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). Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). 4. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! The wordTrinitymeansthree-in-one. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). 2:17). Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. Ask them to draw it on the page. While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. It starts with a whisper. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . 1:8). 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. And then you will read eight critical truths about the nature of the Trinity. We need you. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . 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). Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. So God is one what but three whos.. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. 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). After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. Matthew 12:28. 2:511). Even then, he was not alone, because he had his Logos within him. 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. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. also 1:18). While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. But it also raises many difficult questions. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. 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. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. Use Objects As Visual Aids. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. 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. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. Sun The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat. 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). Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. 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. These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. So a closer look at the fact that God is one in essence but three in person has helped to show why the Trinity is not a contradiction. To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. 1:12). But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. Then you will learn the distinction between personhood and essence or nature. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Find freedom from your sins today. 15:28). As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. This is one of the books of the Torah. God the Son. But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. 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 answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2).