How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? 2. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. 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. 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. Does it look like Grandpa? Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church 20:23; Deut. Our mind distinguishes each of the three leaves (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost), but at the same time recognizes they are one shamrock. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. He is one Being in three Persons (centers of consciousness), not merely three roles. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. 2:2729). Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . Lets apply what weve learned to the Trinity based on the graphic. How to Explain the Trinity to Children | Free Printable - A HEART TO KNOW As Hebrews 9:14 declares. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 15:28). It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. 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. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). The concept of the Trinity. How to explain the Trinity to a non-Christian - Quora If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). Teaching the Trinity to Students Youth Pastor Theologian What is the Trinity? That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. It is fundamental to our worldview. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? But Christianitys God is unique. The answer is they are gray and hard. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. LESSON 1: THE TRINITY AIM: To teach the children in simple terms the truth of the Godhead. Unsubscribe at any time. Dont despair. Thus, as Wayne Grudem writes, When we speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together we are not speaking of any greater being than when we speak of the Father alone, the Son alone, or the Holy Spirit alone.[2]. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. 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. 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. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. How is God three? Its a clear and concise explanation that works great for kids. 11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity - Zondervan Academic 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God exists as one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. 13:14; 1 Pet.1:2), In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1025), When Jesus promises the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:48), Peters sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:33; Acts 3839), Peter and apostles answer the high priest (Acts 5:3032), During Stephens heavenly vision at his stoning (Acts 7:5556), In Peters sermon to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10:3638; Acts 4448), When Peter reports to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:1518), When Peter speaks at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:811), During Pauls interaction with Jewish leaders in Rome (Acts 28:2531), Pauls epistles (Rom. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. 32:39), Has personal traits, such as the ability to communicate (John 14:31), He has intellect (John 2:25), emotions (John 11:35), and a will (John 6:38), Has intellect (John 14:26; 1 Cor. How can three and one refer to the same God? While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. 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. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. That leaves us with the modern definition of the word mystery. 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! At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. A bright teen asked me to explain the Trinity. Here's what I said. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. the one who is not a Christian. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. This is one of the books of the Torah. This is absolutely true. 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. Answer. also 1:18). He is one in essence. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. And that knowledge can feel liberating. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. 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. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. 3. Unfortunately, it is also a doctrine that is surrounded by disagreement and controversy among believers. Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. 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. He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. 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. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. God the Father. Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. 2. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. When he has gone further in his "explanation" of the Trinity than many have gone, he admits, "I am far from asserting this as any . 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. These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. We will never sell your information, for any reason. 1:12). What does essence mean? Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). We just covered Gods one divine essence. I am fully human. We believe God is one in essence. God is infinite. But it also raises many difficult questions. How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf - Canada Examples Step Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. 11:3336). 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. He is the only God that exists. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. There we read that " God said, 'Let us make man in our image' . In addition to these texts, the others we mentioned above make clear that the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Personhood of the Son and the Father. How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org That way were providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else were going to say (or any analogies we use). Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. Essence and person are not the same thing. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. 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. 5:510; 1 Cor. So many things clamor to define you. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. First, we have God. 3:1617). 92:8) and third person (he, his, him) singular pronouns (1 Kings 18:39). Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. 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). Explore answers to life's biggest questions. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. 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.. What a challenge! When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. The Trinity is like an egg. To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. The Son is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Here are three I found to be really helpful. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. What is the Trinity? - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. You arent alone! God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. How do they relate? Three parts in one, yet all very much an egg. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). The Trinity confuses many people. 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 New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. Of course, anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about (p. 145). And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. It is understandable that our finite minds cannot grasp an infinite God. 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. Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". 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. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word While some say . And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. 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 . My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! Jesus (the Son) is God. draws the believer into a new . It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. They only describe what makes up Gods singular essence. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. 5:10), Requested prayer in his name (John 14:1314) and to be honored as God (John 5:23), Begetting the human nature of Christ at the incarnation (Luke 1:35), Inspiring Scripture (2 Tim. This is one possibility of explaining it. 119; Prov. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. 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. I recently had some of my kids friends ask meWhat is the Trinity? How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever The Village Church - Flower Mound 118K subscribers 36K views 5 years ago The Trinity is confusing even to most Christians, so we want to pull the. You may feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. using the shamrock or the three states of H 2 O to explain the . 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). We exist to worship God. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. 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. But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. But each member had a different function. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. Matthew 3:16. A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity - Keith Ferrin I might end with sharing a few analogies from 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? The wordtrinitymeans tri-unity or three-in-oneness.. Our kids are currently 2, 4, and 7, and its equally loved by all of them, so the Yoto age range is really wide! Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. Other references to the Trinity in the New Testament include Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, and more. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. 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. The second point of clarification has to do with personhood. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. The next time you (or I) are asked to explain the Trinity, you could start with a 1-sentence definition and then unpack that definition. The Trinity. 1:7; 2 Tim. God Is Triune | Answers in Genesis Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about the Trinity. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earthand in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spiritand born of the virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic* Church,the communion of the saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.
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