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. However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. We believe God is one in essence. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. 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. Does it look like Grandpa? 4. ). In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. Looking for a great childrens Bible? The word "scripture " graphe That definition is a mouthful. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. 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." If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. Jesus (the Son) is God. Answer. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Ask them to draw it on the page. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. 139:711; Jer. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. And these three Persons are 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. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. How do they relate? But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. This is just an egg, or an apple, or H2O. 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. Some attributes include eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. 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). God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. 2. 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. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. It is fundamental to our worldview. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). Lets start with the geometric figure of the triangle itself. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). "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. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. 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. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? 3:19; Eph. Are you still not a Christian? 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. We define personhood by three key characteristics: Now that you understand the critical distinction, you know that essence is what. And you know personhood is who.. It is the same thing in three different forms. 9:18; Matt. 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). They are all eternal. draws the believer into a new . If you are teaching young children, these object lessons are both the perfect starting and stopping point. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. What is the Trinity? The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For example, it says of Christ that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). 15:28). Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. Object Lessons on the Trinity for a Child or New Believer, The Difference Between Teaching the Trinity to a Child vs. a Teenager, Books that Explain the Trinity to a Child, Navigating Girl Drama: 20 Ways Schools and Parents Can Help Calm the Storm, Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? 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. 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. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). Ive got you covered with all the basics, no matter your denomination. 1:17; Dan. 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. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. Principle #3: Order. 2:511). 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. Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. Answer. Amen. . You will and can grasp these principles. Each member of the Trinity is . Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? 42. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! 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. And confusing ones. (eds. And this teaching gives us a glimpse into the incomprehensible greatness of God. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. 104:30), sanctifies (Rom. At the risk of sounding too physical, essence can be understood as the stuff that you consist of.. You arent alone! 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. 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. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. 40:18; Rom. Have a great discussion about it! Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! They are personal forms of existence other than a difference in being. Most of them are less-than-helpful. Ive been thinking about it a lot, doing some research to see how people smarter than I have explained the Trinity, and come to a better understanding of the Trinity andhow to explain the Trinity in simpler terms. After all, theyre good questions. What is the essence of a triangle? And all three members of the Trinity were involved. But it is possible to go deeper. Essence and person are not the same thing. 1:318; 1 Pet. But what does it mean that God is gracious? (Heavy sigh.) Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . And when he speaks, he refers to himself in first personas I (Deut. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. We hate SPAM. 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. And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. This formulation can show us why there are not three Gods, and why the Trinity is not a contradiction. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". Why? 317 subscribers in the BiblicalUnitarian community. And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. 2:1011; Heb. We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. 12:28; Rom. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. They are not merely modes or manifestations of the same person (as Oneness theology incorrectly asserts) who sometimes acts as Father, sometimes as Son, and sometimes as Spirit. They include: Now you have a basic understanding of the Trinity. Find freedom from your sins today. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. Binmin Podcast 8: God & Origins | What Questions Should I Ask About My Faith, Binmin Podcast Ep. 2:17). However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Its a devotional book. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. No, the wordTrinitydoes not appear in the Bible. Most people, including many Christians, struggle trying to apprehend the Trinity. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. This can only be if they share one essence. Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. While some say . Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. 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. 6:11; Gal. There are three Persons with one divine essence! Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. 55:8-9). 32:17, 27; Matt. Lets do a quick review of the topics we have covered. At this stage, your head may be swimming with all this new information about God! 11:3336). One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! Allegedly, Saint Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor to explain the Trinity: three leaves, one shamrock. A beautiful mystery. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not unite people by neglecting t Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? It starts with a whisper. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. That's the one we think of as the Father. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. We are dealing with fact. Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. He is one in essence. 3:1417). Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. 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. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. 15:3). For example: God the Father is a person. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.". 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. But it also raises many difficult questions. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. We also see this evidenced in how the Son and Father sent the Spirit into the world (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. 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). John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . The Father is God. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. Lets change that! He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). 19:714; Ps. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. 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. We will never sell your information, for any reason. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. Matthew 3:16. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. 2. May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). 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 word "trinity" cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth is that the three of them have been there together all the way along. This is one possibility of explaining it. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. 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. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. 2. The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. 4:4). Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? This doctrine is absolutely essential to New Testament Christianity. 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. But it is not. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. But dont get confused. 2:2729). 119; Prov. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. 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). What a challenge! Other statements may at first seem contradictory but are really not. However, these illustrations arent perfect, and really mature kids or teenagers (or adult new believers) could handle digging a bit deeper! 1:18; Luke 1:2635). Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. 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! A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! 5:2), Miracles (Ex. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. 2. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. Then you will learn the distinction between personhood and essence or nature. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. 2:18). How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? 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. This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. But Christianitys God is unique. 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. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. 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. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. He exists as a Trinity. Famous pastor and authorA.W. 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. Thats where the confusion comes from. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. ), "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.