.. . Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. 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. You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. 4; 14; Jon. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. And likewise with the Holy Spirit. 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! 12:28; Rom. Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. Deut. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. This doctrine is absolutely essential to New Testament Christianity. The Holy Spirit is God. 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. But Christianity's God is unique. Just hang on a little longer. Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. . And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? 2) It makes no sense 3) The doctrine is rooted in ancient pagan Babylon 4) Jesus himself said he is God's SON; not God himself as the Trinity teaches How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity (+ Free Printable) Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. But Christianitys God is unique. Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. In brief, how we view God will profoundly impact our everyday lives. Matthew 3:16. The seeds are like the Holy Spirit, because He helps us grow. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. From our understanding of the Trinity (a social being), we recognize that a person is a relational being, not just someone with a mind, a will, and . He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. In order for something to be contradictory, it must violate the law of noncontradiction. Explaining the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit will be needed at some point when presenting the God of the Bible to children, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and other non-Christians. The different roles refer to a functional order or functional subordination.. Deity of Jesus: 10 Essentials You Need to Know! As a result, Jesus death covered or atoned for our sins (2 Cor. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. Baker Books, 1995, pp. 1:7; 2 Tim. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? And the triangle can help us distinguish one essence from the three Persons. How would you explain the Trinity? - The Gathering Community Church Mumbai While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. 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. Let's explore each of these members. 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? To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. draws the believer into a new . 12:11), When the Holy Spirit speaks, he refers to himself in first person (Acts 13:2). We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. Steam, water, and ice are all H20. 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. Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. 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). While this is in my mind the simplest, clearest explanation, I understand that even this breaks down when we go further and say I am a human and I am Keith Ferrin. Lets do a quick review of the topics we have covered. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? But dont get confused. 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. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. The Trinity - God and authority in Christianity - BBC Bitesize After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian The word "scripture " graphe 2:11), emotions (Eph. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. Each member of the Trinity is . So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. The Best Way to Explain the Trinity to Kids - The Purposeful Mom How to explain the Trinity to a new believer - Quora How To Explain the Trinity To Your Child - 4 Creative Ways That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. How do we receive His grace? Most people, including many Christians, struggle trying to apprehend the Trinity. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. He is the only God that exists. Question & Answer: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church How Do You Explain the Trinity? - A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily Do Trinity Crafts/Printables. After understanding the difference between essence and personhood, most objections evaporate! The concept of the Trinity. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. I might end with sharing a few analogies from nature. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. We can be adopted by the Father and united with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1223; Rom. Ive got you covered with all the basics, no matter your denomination. How To Explain St. Patrick's Day To A Child, From Fun To Facts - MSN The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. 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. Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. While some say . Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. God is spirit (John 4:24). This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. Why? Conclusion: Scripture teaches the Trinity. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. 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. Ask them to draw it on the page. The three members of the Trinity are Persons. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! This is one of the books of the Torah. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. 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). Clearly, he appreciated a plurality within the Godhead. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? how to explain the trinity to a new believer - NewJeru Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. 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. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. This is one possibility of explaining it. 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. Matthew 12:28. Its obvious that the Trinity is important to Christianity because its the framework for one of our oldest texts that crosses multiple denominations: the Apostles Creed, written in the 5th century. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? He exists as a Trinity. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. The New Testament lists all three Persons of the Trinity simultaneously, 6. Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org 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. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever - YouTube 28:18-20; 2 Cor. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. Read more. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. So a closer look at the fact that God is one in essence but three in person has helped to show why the Trinity is not a contradiction. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. We can discern and apprehend what it is. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. Why, if they are ALL God? Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. So many things clamor to define you. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". 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. Show them that there are three parts: seeds, flesh, and skin. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds 19:26). Learn the basics of what Christians believe. 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. ). Grace is the promise that you stand forgiven before God if you know Jesus. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. However, these illustrations arent perfect, and really mature kids or teenagers (or adult new believers) could handle digging a bit deeper! How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - Bellator Christi He is one in essence. They are personal forms of existence other than a difference in being. Ibid, p. 255. It is the Matthew 28:19 baptismal formula: Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in thenameof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (emphasis mine). You arent alone! He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. But each member had a different function.