The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. All of this information is a lot to take in at once. What a challenge! But first, lets cover the basics. The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. 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. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . 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! To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 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. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. Everything in Christian theology and in the believer's life finally comes back to who God is: the divine nature, the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For example: One of the most common mistakes people make is to think of the Holy Spirit as some force ala Star Wars. But the Holy Spirit is most assuredly a person. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. Omnibenevolence (Jer. No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. 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). 6:45; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:60; 2 Kings 5:15; Isa. It is the revelation of who our Almighty Creator actually isnot just a god, but an infinite Being existing in eternity as three co-equal, infinite Persons, consubstantial yet distinct. . The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. 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. 3. 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. 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. These are all qualities of personhood. But what does it mean that God is gracious? 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. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). 2. Errr, not quite. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. 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. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. The Father is God. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. 2. First, we have God. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. 139:711; Jer. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. 4; 14; Jon. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. God the Son. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. 1:318; 1 Pet. 15:19), God is called Father (John 17:1; John 3; 20:17; 1 Cor. Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. 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. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. How can God be both one and three? Unsubscribe at any time. 9:14; Heb. He is the only God that exists. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. 3:3; Heb. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. What does essence mean? Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. 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. 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? Surely not. also 1:18). The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. But Scripture provides ample evidence of the existence of the Trinity. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. Is referred to in the second person (you; Ps. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? 20:23; Deut. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). 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. . After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. God is infinite. But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. So many things clamor to define you. 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 general pattern of prayer in the Bible is to pray to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. After all, theyre good questions. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. The The truth is always new, fresh, and exciting to the believer in Christ. 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. Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". Find resources for personal or group Bible study. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. 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 . To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. How do we receive His grace? (eds. 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. The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is as follows: The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. 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). After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. 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. And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. 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. Often it is objected that If Jesus is God, then he must have prayed to himself while he was on earth. But the answer to this objection lies in simply applying what we have already seen. 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 Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. I hate getting spam. 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). Learn how you can know God personally. 5:7). On the other hand, we must say that the Persons are real, that they are not just different ways of looking at the one being of GodThe only way it seems possible to do this is to say that the distinction between the persons is not a difference of "being" but a difference of "relationships." Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 4. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. In fact, kids who have been in church for many years will probably have already heard one of these illustrations. The three members of the Trinity are Persons. God the Son is the rays of sunshine. "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. I am also fully Keith Ferrin. You arent alone! Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. To be even more precise, essence is what you are. Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). And that knowledge can feel liberating. The seeds are like the Holy Spirit, because He helps us grow. 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. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. 20:3; cf. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. There are three Persons with one divine essence! He differs from the Father, but was and . Why, if they are ALL God? 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. We will never sell your information, for any reason. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. We believe God is one in essence. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. . Steam, water, and ice are all H20. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. 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. But it is possible to go deeper. The apple one is kind of cool. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. 4. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). 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. 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. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. 32:17, 27; Matt. While some say . 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. 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. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". One God? There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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.