how to explain the trinity to a new believer

The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. God is spirit (John 4:24). Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. 20:3; cf. ). Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? Essence and person are not the same thing. While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. That definition is a mouthful. 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]. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. With input from her father, fart followed within a day or two, and I was horrified, but also excited that she mysteriously managed an r-controlled vowel without any explicit instruction. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. Monotheism. Youngblood, R. F., et al. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. We need you. What is Gods essence? Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone.[2]. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). 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 . The Trinity is like an egg. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. How is God three? 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. The three members of the Trinity are Persons. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. The wordTrinitymeansthree-in-one. 12:28; Rom. It is fundamental to our worldview. Does it look like Grandpa? Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. 1:12). In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. It's so simple, it fits on one page. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. Deut. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. 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. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. Principle #3: Order. My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity, The Simplest but Still Clear Explanation for the Trinity, The 3 Most Common Trinity Analogies (and their limitations). You cant find an earthly match for this concept. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. A beautiful mystery. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Matthew 12:28. What is the Trinity? And certainly not if it were a contradiction. We just covered Gods one divine essence. 3:19; Eph. The Holy Spirit is God. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. 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. Gods essence is His being. And confusing ones. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earthand in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spiritand born of the virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic* Church,the communion of the saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. 15:28). You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". And all three members of the Trinity were involved. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Its NOT 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! They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. . Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! I am fully human. If belief in the Trinity is so essential to Christianity, it would have been explicitly stated in the Bible and wouldn't have taken over 300 years to officially define it. 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. 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. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. ), "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. The Holy Spirit isnt like an egg yolk, because the egg yolk is only part of an egg, whereas the Holy Spirit isnt part of God it IS God. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). Ironically, not much is known about his death; even the year when he passed away is up for debate. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons. 2:2729). The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Because these features make up the singular essence or nature of a triangle. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. 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. 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. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. For example: God the Father is a person. Hmmm. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. 3:1417). It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. The wordtrinitymeans tri-unity or three-in-oneness.. The Hebrew word for God isElohim. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. 5:7). God the Son. And then you will read eight critical truths about the nature of the Trinity. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. 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. 6:11; Gal. One of the problems is that most of us myself included are tempted to move too quickly to analogies that only help explainaspectsof the Trinity. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. 18:20; Matt. In this blog post, we will discuss how schools and parents can help girls to, Read More Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the StormContinue, Ill never forget the moment I watched in amazement as my newly-turned 4 year old sounded out her first few CVC words. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. So many things clamor to define you. 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. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. As a mom to three kids under 8, an instructional coach, and a former classroom teacher, I know a thing or two about how public schools REALLY work and the challenges we face in the United States. Most of them are less-than-helpful. 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.". Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 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. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. We are dealing with fact. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! AboutPressCopyrightContact. What is the essence of a triangle? Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. How is God different? Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. 3:16; 2 Pet. If we were to translate it . In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. 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. Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 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." He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. As I said earlier, it means the same thing as being. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 4:4). Learn how you can know God personally. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. 1:2;). But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. 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. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. 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. 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. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". 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). Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! The word Trinity does not appear even once in the Bible. Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. 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. Wayne Grudem explains: But if each person is fully God and has all of Gods being, then we also should not think that the personal distinctions are any kind of additional attributes added on to the being of God . Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. 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 . 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.

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