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 . This is something far removed from our human experience, where every different human "person" is a different being as well. God the Father. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. Matthew 12:28. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. The late theologian Herman Bavinck has stated something very helpful at this point: The persons are modes of existence within the being; accordingly, the Persons differ among themselves as the one mode of existence differs from the other, and using a common illustration as the open palm differs from a closed fist.[4], Because each of these forms of existence are relational (and thus are Persons), they are each a distinct center of consciousness, with each center of consciousness regarding Himself as I and the others as You. Nonetheless, these three Persons all consist of the same stuff (that is, the same what, or essence). There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. 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. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? 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. 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2), In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1025), When Jesus promises the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:48), Peters sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:33; Acts 3839), Peter and apostles answer the high priest (Acts 5:3032), During Stephens heavenly vision at his stoning (Acts 7:5556), In Peters sermon to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:3638; Acts 4448), When Peter reports to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1518), When Peter speaks at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:811), During Pauls interaction with Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:2531), Pauls epistles (Rom. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. God the Son. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. But Christianity's God is unique. The Trinity is like an egg. . Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. 2. 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. 3:3; Heb. 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. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. Read Books About The Trinity. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. 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. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. Why? 2:10), knows (1 Cor. 9:18; Matt. 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. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. 12:28; Rom. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. Here is an indication of the divinity of the Word. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? 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. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). Satan. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. 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. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. 8:1417). 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. 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. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Actually, March 17 commemorates St. Patrick's death, actually. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 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. 1:8). 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 After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? 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. They are all eternal. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . 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. But Christianitys God is unique. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. While some say . The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. 5:510; 1 Cor. 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. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. Even wonderful parents have kids who struggle with self esteem, despite excellent parenting and a supportive home environment. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. 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. 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. Dont despair. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. It is the Matthew 28:19 baptismal formula: Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in thenameof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (emphasis mine). I am fully human. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds Answer. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! The apple one is kind of cool. 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. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). 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. No, the wordTrinitydoes not appear in the Bible. They include: Now you have a basic understanding of the Trinity. So many things clamor to define you. Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity. Surely not. Its a devotional book. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). 2:34; Heb. The wordTrinitymeansthree-in-one. Rather, the being of each Person is equal to the whole being of God.[1] The divine essence is not something that is divided between the three persons, but is fully in all three persons without being divided into parts., Thus, the Son is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. How to Support Gifted Readers, 27 of the Best Yoto Cards for Kids (sorted by age group), 40 Surprising and Fun Bible Facts for Kids (with a FREE true/false printable game), Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter Sunday, 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in School. 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 . The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. 3:25; Dan. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. For I am God, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:21-22; see also 44:6-8; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:60). 7:28; Ps. Does it look like Grandpa? 1. In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialogue between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff ) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness. To be even more precise, essence is what you are. 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. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. Unsubscribe at any time. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". How do we receive His grace? At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. This can only be if they share one essence. (eds. Specifically, distinguishing between Gods one essence and his three Persons. 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. 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. The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not an impersonal force (like gravity), is also shown by the fact that He speaks (Hebrews 3:7), reasons (Acts 15:28), thinks and understands (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), feels (Ephesians 4:30), and gives personal fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14). He is three in a different way than He is one. 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. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. Then I'll share an activity using the Celtic Trinity Knot to explain the Trinity to children along with the love that exists between each of its Persons and us. 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 easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. God is like the skin because He protects us. But what does it mean that God is gracious? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. But it also raises many difficult questions. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. . Answer. 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. Omnibenevolence (Jer. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. Thats the one we think of as the Father. 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. . You will and can grasp these principles. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. He brings all light and life to the world. 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 ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. 4:4). He sanctifies us (1 Pet. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. . Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . 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). Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. (So I won't send you any.) Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. The Trinity confuses many people. Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . Simply stated, God is one in essence and three in person. We just covered Gods one divine essence. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 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. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. 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. Here are three I found to be really helpful. What is Gods essence? 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. 23:2324). 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 Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. Why, if they are ALL God? 55:8-9). God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. Essenceis the objective set of attributes necessary to the thing being described. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. So God is one what but three whos.. December 19, 2018. To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. Those centuries were t That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. 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! Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. Below are several of the most popular ones. The word "scripture " graphe ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. We exist to worship God. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. "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. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. be explained away. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! How is God different? 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. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. That's the one we think of as the Father. 3:6. Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. 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. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). 1:7; 2 Tim. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. If youd like to get away from simple object lessons and move your child toward a deeper understanding of Gods nature, check out The Attributes of God for Kids. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. Have a great discussion about it! As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. The wordtrinitymeans tri-unity or three-in-oneness.. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Other statements may at first seem contradictory but are really not. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. 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]. In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons. 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. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! Is the Trinity a contradiction? For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). 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). Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). 2:18). Sigh. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Steam, water, and ice are all H20. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. "Economic" has to do with the history of salvation, and discusses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the sending and mission of salvation. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. Omnipotence (Jer. 3. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. 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). 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, the Trinity is difficult to understand. But he is not inferior in Gods divine essence. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . Looking for a great childrens Bible? 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.. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 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. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. 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. 6:45; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 5:15; Isa. 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. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows.
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