What a challenge! Deut. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. A triangle must have three sides three corners (angles), and the sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees. Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. For example, if I say that the moon is made entirely of cheese but then also say that the moon is not made entirely of cheese, I have contradicted myself. That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? 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. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. Understanding who the Holy Spirit is, the place He holds within the Holy Trinity and the role He plays in individual lives is vital to anyone exploring what it means to become a Christian and anyone trying to follow Jesus. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. AboutPressCopyrightContact. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. How can God be both one and three? Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about the Trinity. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. But each member had a different function. 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 Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE Just hang on a little longer. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. 3:1417). If we can understand more precisely what is meant by essence and person, how these two terms differ, and how they relate, we will then have a more complete understanding of the Trinity. The concept of the Trinity. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. Thats where the confusion comes from. 3:19; Eph. How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. This is one possibility of explaining it. Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. He is three in a different way than He is one. Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33). For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. First, we have God. Essence and person are not the same thing. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. 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). . There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. Errr, not quite. 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.". We will never sell your information, for any reason. The Trinity is like an egg. However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. PDF A Brief Explanation of the Trinity - TheologicalStudies.org.uk 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]. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. Ask teenagers hard questions about the Trinity that will make them think, and dont bother trying to come equipped with the perfect answer to everything. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. I am also Keith Ferrin. 3:25; Dan. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org How do we know whats age-appropriate for them to understand? The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? He exists as a Trinity. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? Discipleship involves a lot, but one of the most important things you can do with a new believer is read the Bible with them-teaching them how to read, understand, respond to, and apply God's Word. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! (Heavy sigh.) be explained away. The verb for created isbara. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be distinct from the Father and the Son. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Use Objects As Visual Aids. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. Is the Trinity a contradiction? 11:3336). The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. 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. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. 1. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. Read Books About The Trinity. Most of them are less-than-helpful. PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. Lets do a quick review of the topics we have covered. The first commandment says, You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. Its a devotional book. Each member of the Trinity is . 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. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? 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. Answer. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . They are personal forms of existence other than a difference in being. While I believe that this is a helpful definition, it should be recognized that Grudem himself is offering this as more of an explanation than definition of Person. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! A Christian would still be expected to understand it. 15:3). Matthew 12:28. 2:11), and performs miracles (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. 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. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. . How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - crossexamined.org 4:4). ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth How to Teach Kids the Trinity with an Apple Object Lesson Grab an apple and share these five truths with your kids: An apple has three parts: the seeds, the flesh, and the skin. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. He brings all light and life to the world. Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity (+ Free Printable) Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 2. . Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. Find freedom from your sins today. Dont despair. How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy That's the one we think of as the Father. First, we have God. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? 1:8). 18:20; Matt. 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! They are higher than the heavenswhat can you do?, "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT God is infinite. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. Surely not. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. 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). Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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. 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. 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. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? What Is the Trinity? (Free Downloads) - Ligonier.org LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? What Should Christians Know about the Trinity? We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. It's so simple, it fits on one page. Actually, March 17 commemorates St. Patrick's death, actually. So God is one what but three whos.. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic What is the Trinity? - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. 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 . Ive got you covered with all the basics, no matter your denomination. After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! We believe God is one in essence. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. How is God different? 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. This leads us to investigate more closely a very helpful definition of the Trinity which I mentioned earlier: God is one in essence, but three in Person. The technical term in case youre interested for this wrong way of thinking about God is calledmodalism. Gods essence is His being. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). 1:12). Now lets dig into these imperfect yet better than nothing representations of the Trinity for kids. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. 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. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts?
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