The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is one God who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 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. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. 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]. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). 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. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. How could we? The early church absolutely believed and taught the belief in a God who was three-in-one. Use Objects As Visual Aids. ). 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. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Yoto has lots of great stuff for, Read More 27 of the Best Yoto Cards for Kids (sorted by age group)Continue, If youre a Sunday School teacher or a mom hoping to instill a love of Bible learning in your children, Ive got some goodies for you! 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. Deut. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). 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. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. 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 . 1. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. .. Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). 5:21), making it possible for us to have a relationship with God. How do we know whats age-appropriate for them to understand? Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. 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. After all, plenty of, Read More 40 Surprising and Fun Bible Facts for Kids (with a FREE true/false printable game)Continue, Whereas most of us are pretty comfortable with our family traditions for celebrating Easter, Holy Week for kids is WAY more intimidating. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. 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. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. The trouble with this one is that its a bit less visual. 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. Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. 5:7). Ive already done your research at my local library. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. 3. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). This is one possibility of explaining it. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. While some say . We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. 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). 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. 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). 9:14; Heb. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Ask them to draw it on the page. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. This is one of the books of the Torah. 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. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. 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]. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. Matthew 3:16. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And Scripture provides many descriptors, orattributes,of Gods singular essence or nature. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. 1:318; 1 Pet. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. What is the Trinity? 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. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. He is one in essence. 1. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. 3:3; Heb. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. Errr, not quite. 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! 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. But each member had a different function. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! We need you. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. 4. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. 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. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. Famous pastor and authorA.W. First, we have God. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. be explained away. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. So many things clamor to define you. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. 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. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. Is God the same as Jesus? For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. . 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. These are all qualities of personhood. God created man in His image. See, each member participated in the creation, the incarnation, and redemption. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. Essence means the same thing as being. Thus, since God is only one essence, He is only one being, not three. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. God the Holy Spirit. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. 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. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. How can three and one refer to the same God? And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. The Trinity confuses even adults, so when youre tasked (or inspired) to teach the Trinity to a child, teenager, or new believer, it can be overwhelming. The three-ness and one-ness are two different features. 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. He is three in a different way than He is one. Why? We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. The Trinity is like an egg. Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. He said, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Mark 12:29). The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Unsubscribe at any time. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. The Trinity. 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. "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. 20:23; Deut. 4:4). Whats a Mama to say when the questions start flowing? Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). Why, if they are ALL God? How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. 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. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. Because these features make up the singular essence or nature of a triangle. We just covered Gods one divine essence. Hmmm. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t EitherThe person were explaining it to will think that God simply changes from one to the other at different times and under different circumstances (water). 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. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. . 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. The apple one is kind of cool. Before moving on tounderstandingthe idea of one Being existing in three Persons, I will point out that theBiblical idea of the Trinity goes all the way back to the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible. 3:1617). There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! 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). And likewise with the Holy Spirit. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. ), "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. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa. You arent alone! My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! 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). As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. 1:2;). Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. 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.". And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. 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). He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. The Holy Spirit is God. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. 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. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. How is God different? I am also fully Keith Ferrin. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. Principle #3: Order. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. Amen. know that I recognise only one God. 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. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Dont despair. The word Trinity does not appear even once in the Bible. 2:18). Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). But how can finite humans know anything about Gods infinite essence? 23:2324). 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. 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. They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. Before anything was created he begat his Logos as a person distinct from himself. Looking for a great childrens Bible? What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. 42. While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). How can we pack more meaning and deeper, Read More Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter SundayContinue, Not every child is born with tons of self esteem. This law states that A cannot be both A (what it is) and non-A (what it is not) at the same time and in the same relationship. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. 18:20; Matt. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. 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. Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. 2:34; Heb. Gods essence is His being. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? 3:25; Dan. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. The first commandment says, You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. 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. 2:2729). The technical term in case youre interested for this wrong way of thinking about God is calledmodalism. 19:714; Ps. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? And confusing ones. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. Find freedom from your sins today. Satan. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. . Let's explore each of these members. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 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.

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