So God is one what but three whos.. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. But each member had a different function. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. The Trinity is important to Christians because it reminds us that God is all-powerful, walked this Earth as a perfect human who can relate to our pain, and also lives on today in our hearts. Each member of the Trinity is . Most of them are less-than-helpful. And confusing ones. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. We believe God is one in essence. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as God and the persons/expressions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? He brings all light and life to the world. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. 2:511). Learn how you can know God personally. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Even wonderful parents have kids who struggle with self esteem, despite excellent parenting and a supportive home environment. Errr, not quite. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. For example: God the Father is a person. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. 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. 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. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. 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. What is the Trinity? 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. .. 5:510; 1 Cor. 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. 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. What is the essence of a triangle? Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. 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 . If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. 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. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. Thats the one we think of as the Father. I am also Keith Ferrin. But dont get confused. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. 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 . Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. 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! 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. It is the same thing in three different forms. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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. My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! Why? Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. This is something far removed from our human experience, where every different human "person" is a different being as well. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. AboutPressCopyrightContact. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. 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. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. 11:3336). Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. 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. 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. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. Why? 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! The Hebrew word for God isElohim. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. 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. Famous pastor and authorA.W. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. 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 It's so simple, it fits on one page. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. (So I won't send you any.) Read more. 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 addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. 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. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. From our understanding of the Trinity (a social being), we recognize that a person is a relational being, not just someone with a mind, a will, and . That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. (eds. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! 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! OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). Essence and person are not the same thing. Have a great discussion about it! . "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons." Unpacking the Definition The word Trinity means three-in-one. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. 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. Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. 9:18; Matt. Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. This analogy ignores the personal distinctions within God and mitigates them to mere roles. 3:25; Dan. Amen. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. Even then, he was not alone, because he had his Logos within him. Just like anything else, some kids have to work hard for what comes easily to, Read More 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in SchoolContinue. 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. 1:7; 2 Tim. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . 2:11), emotions (Eph. 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. 42. How is God three? Let's explore each of these members. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. 2:18). But what does it mean that God is gracious? The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. The answer is they are gray and hard. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. How could we? Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. The Trinity confuses many people. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. 2:2729). You arent alone! 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. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. But first, lets cover the basics. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. (Heavy sigh.) Learn why He did it and what it means for you. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. "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. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. Use Objects As Visual Aids. 23:2324). 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. While some say . 3:19; Eph. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. 3:1417). Thats why they wrote words like we find inJob 11:7-8, "Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. He exists as a Trinity. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? He exists as a Trinity. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. And that he is manifest as three Persons.. In sum, the essence or nature of anything is what it is. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). 20:3; cf. I hate getting spam. Jesus (the Son) is God. How is God different? 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).
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