In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. 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. He differs from the Father, but was and . You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. . Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. 18:20; Matt. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai ). 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. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. How to Explain the Trinity to Children | Free Printable - A HEART TO KNOW One of the reasons Jonathan Edwards's vision of God has proved so helpful in my worship and ministry is that he does, and he doesn't, "explain" the Trinity. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. 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. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. 20:23; Deut. Scriptural evidence supports every element proving the Trinity. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. But what does it mean that God is gracious? To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. We Reflect God's Personhood and Relations. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Unsubscribe at any time. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds After all, if the trinitarian nature of God is not in the Bible, why bother talking about it at all? It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. 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. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! The word "scripture " graphe Thats the one we think of as the Father. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. Learn how you can know God personally. 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. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. 3. Ive already done your research at my local library. 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. To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. So many things clamor to define you. We need you. These three persons are of the same substance, equal in power and glory. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. Ask them to draw it on the page. Therefore each of the Persons into whose name we are to be baptized must be deity. Showing God in action in and through His people. And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. But each member had a different function. Just like anything else, some kids have to work hard for what comes easily to, Read More 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in SchoolContinue. The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. . But Christianitys God is unique. 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. How can God be both one and three? PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. Steam, water, and ice are all H20. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? The important difference between complexity and incomprehension: If Christianity was something we were making up, of course, we could make it easier. Amen. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. To confess that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in power of course means that one does not rule over the other in any way. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1:7; 2 Tim. Why? However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? 1. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Rather, each person of the Trinity has all of the attributes of God, and no one Person has any attributes that are not possessed by the others. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. 25:3146; 2 Cor. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. Discipleship 101: How to Disciple a New Believer - Crossway This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. 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). In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. As Hebrews 9:14 declares. This formulation can show us why there are not three Gods, and why the Trinity is not a contradiction. 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. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. 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. The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Read Books About The Trinity. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? 2. Disclaimer: I believe Trinity. I recently had some of my kids friends ask meWhat is the Trinity? 4; 14; Jon. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! 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. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. 8:1417). Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. 20:3; cf. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. "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. For example, since the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16), He cannot be the same person as the Son. As you might expect, some people consider these mysteries as contradictions. But in response we can point out both agreement and clarification. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. The Trinity does not divide God into three parts. 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. There are three Persons with one divine essence! Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. Secondly I'd like you to read this verse with me from the Bible. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. 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 one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. Jesus (the Son) is God. 1. 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. 8:3539; Eph. I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. We all have a story. And certainly not if it were a contradiction. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. 4:4). 1. However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. 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. 2:18). See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. What Should Christians Know about the Trinity? How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. 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.. 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). Engage Children in learning The Holy Trinity through Reading, Writing, Playing, Creating, Singing!Included in this resource:Bible Lesson Book-Teacher Edition: Read Aloud!Full sized, colorful large print . Thus, they relate to each other personally the Father regards Himself as I, while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as You. Likewise the Son regards Himself as I, but the Father and the Holy Spirit as You.. He realized Scripture alone is the only way we know about the Trinity (1 Cor. 5 Scriptural Points to Help You Understand the Trinity I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. This doctrine is absolutely essential to New Testament Christianity. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. Use Objects As Visual Aids. 15:28). Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. 3. Omnibenevolence (Jer. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church 8:2327), Resuscitates the dead (Matt. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 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. The ancient church fathers at first simply acknowledged the Trinity without feeling the need to explain a theology of that understanding. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. Our kids are currently 2, 4, and 7, and its equally loved by all of them, so the Yoto age range is really wide! Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. One God? The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Now lets go a little deeper and consider the triangles three corners (angles). 1:17; Dan. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. Baker Books, 1995, pp. What is the essence of a triangle? .. He exists as a Trinity. Trinity comes from two word parts: tri, meaning three, and unity, meaning as one. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms a union of three. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic "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 idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. The Trinity is Christianity's most unique, defining, incomprehensible, and awesome mystery. Why, if they are ALL God? Some attributes include eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. 9:18; Matt. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. 6:2122), Resuscitation of the dead (1 Kings 17:1724; 2 Kings 4:1837), The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:10; Acts 10:40), Sustains the universe (Col. 1:17; Heb. For instance, the Trinity does not mean that: Instead, we need to clearly distinguish two categories (Persons and essence). How to explain the Trinity to a non-Christian - Quora But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? 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. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. 42. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is 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.