how to explain the trinity to a new believer

4. 1. also 1:18). Question: How do you explain the Trinity? And likewise with the Holy Spirit. . 4:47), In Hebrews (Heb. A beautiful mystery. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Those centuries were t Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. The Holy Trinity - Explained. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. the one who is not a Christian. 4 Visual Ways To Explain The Trinity To A Child. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. God the Father spoke the creative words to bring the universe into being (Gen. 1:1). The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Learn how you can know God personally. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? And the voice of the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased (Matt. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. Baker Books, 1995, pp. Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. How do we know whats age-appropriate for them to understand? God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. 2:17). All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. PDF A Brief Explanation of the Trinity - TheologicalStudies.org.uk Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. 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. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. 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? 11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity - Zondervan Academic They only describe what makes up Gods singular essence. 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). Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? PDF UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY - Andrew M. Bailey However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. How to explain the trinity to a new believer pdf 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. However,barais the singular conjugation of the verb. 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. It's a great reminder of the three parts of the Holy Trinity! After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! 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. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. 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 . Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. The fact that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons means, in other words, that the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Gods essence is His being. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. 20:23; Deut. However, these illustrations arent perfect, and really mature kids or teenagers (or adult new believers) could handle digging a bit deeper! I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. 2. The Trinity - God and authority in Christianity - BBC Bitesize For example: God the Father is a person. The Holy Spirit isnt like an egg yolk, because the egg yolk is only part of an egg, whereas the Holy Spirit isnt part of God it IS God. 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. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Trinity? 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! The Fathers plan for our redemption shows his great love for humankind. Why, if they are ALL God? But Jesus did not become less than the Father during his incarnation. 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. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. It is fundamental to our worldview. Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. 2:11), speaks (Mark 13:11), testifies (Acts 20:23), reveals (1 Cor. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. But each member had a different function. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. 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. Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. You can cut into an apple in front of your group. To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). So all three members of the Trinity have unique personhood. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is as follows: The Bible teaches that there is one eternal God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . This can only be if they share one essence. 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. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org You cant find an earthly match for this concept. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! In fact, kids who have been in church for many years will probably have already heard one of these illustrations. 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 answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. Teaching the Trinity to Students Youth Pastor Theologian He is three in Person. 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 . Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, cant explain it very well. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . You can't explain the Trinity to anyone who reasons because: 1) The Bible does not support it. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. 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. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. The Hebrew word for God isElohim. Christs resurrection is variously attributed to: Multiple verses distinguish each member of the Trinity. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. What Is the Doctrine of the Trinity? - Blue Letter Bible 3. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. 2. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Believe it or not, the fact that God is too immense for our finite minds should be comforting, not discouraging! The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. Each member of the Trinity is . To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. (So I won't send you any.) Does it look like Grandpa? God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. 2. I hate getting spam. The Father is God. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. Essence and person are not the same thing. A triangle must have three sides three corners (angles), and the sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees. Ask them to draw it on the page. 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. Use Objects As Visual Aids. Let's explore each of these members. Famous pastor and authorA.W. 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. 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. That is because it is the only religion that believes in the Trinity. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. Every time the wordElohim(plural) is used throughout the Old Testament referring to the one, true God, it is used with a singular conjugation of the verb. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Why is the Trinity important to Christianity? He differs from the Father, but was and . 1. Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. And that knowledge can feel liberating. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. 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. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. Several analogies help us apprehend the Trinity. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? We can never completely understand the Trinities one essence and three Persons. 119; Prov. The Trinity is important to Christians because it reminds us that God is all-powerful, walked this Earth as a perfect human who can relate to our pain, and also lives on today in our hearts. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? 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 As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. It starts with a whisper. 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. "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. 2:11), emotions (Eph. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. The Holy Trinity is 'the Center of Everything.'. While we cannot fully understand everything about the Trinity (or anything else), it is possible to answer questions like these and come to a solid grasp of what it means for God to be three in one. God the Father, Jesus His Son, with the Holy Spirit, they are three in one! Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. For instance he: Jesus has all the features that ensure he, too, is a person. 3:1617). How Do You Explain the Trinity? - A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily 5 Scriptural Points to Help You Understand the Trinity Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. 118:28, God referred to in the third person singular (he, his, him): Gen. 1:5, 10; Ex. 139:711; Jer. But it is possible to go deeper. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. It may seem like a daunting question at first, but when we think about it the truth of God's triune nature is meant to be a joy, a comfort, and a wonder to us! In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Is the Trinity a contradiction? Kids understand the three different forms clearly, as separate objects. Understanding the Trinity - Busy Blessed Women The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. God the Holy Spirit. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. He exists as a Trinity. The Holy Trinity Prek Teaching Resources | TPT 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. This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? The Trinity is like an egg or apple. How To Explain The Trinity To A Child Or Teenager - Mama Manages 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? 1:318; 1 Pet. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? Understanding the Doctrine of the Trinity (+ Free Printable) Looking for a great childrens Bible? know that I recognise only one God. Three parts in one, yet all very much an egg. . 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;). God is infinite. This triune God (or Trinity) began to allude to this aspect of His nature right in Genesis 1:26-27. Surely not. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? 15:3). However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. 3:3; Heb. How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org 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. Amen. This verse accurately states the doctrine of the Trinity that God is One God in three Persons. Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. 8:6), Jesus is called God (John 1:1-5; John 20:28; Rom. "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? ). Below is the easiest way that I have ever heard it explained: God the Father is the sun. 45:5-6, New Testament: Mark 12:29; John 5:44; Eph. All of this information is a lot to take in at once. 23:2324). We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. Simply stated, God is one in essence and three in person. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. How to EXPLAIN The Trinity to a New Believer | Introduction to The Paul unequivocally taught Jesus is God (Col. 2:9). But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. We exist to worship God. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. Matthew 3:16. 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. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? Its a devotional book. But dont get confused. Trinity | Definition, Theology, & History | Britannica While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. Lets change that! Does the Holy Spirit look like Casper? What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. If youre wondering how to explain the Trinity to a child, keep it simple. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. Here are three I found to be really helpful. Matthew 12:28. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. 5:510; 1 Cor. Christ took Gods punishment, and wrath meant for us because of our sins (Heb. 8:26), guides (John 16:13), creates (Ps. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is Find freedom from your sins today. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. But secondly, Christians need to clarify that God is incomprehensible. 9:14; Heb. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. .. Well, we can know because God has given us his special revelation: the Bible. This is one possibility of explaining it. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . 3:6. 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. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. He is one in essence. We need you. This command lists all three persons of the Trinity. 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. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. But is there any easy way to apprehend these exciting discoveries? Lets go back to the Trinity triangle graphic, and you will see: By now you understand that the three Persons of the Trinity equally share Gods essence. 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. be explained away. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. Remember, the nature or essence of an entity is the property or attributes that make it what it is. 18:20; Matt. The most popular is probably the one found in the Great Commission: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit . Jehovah's Witnesses and the Trinity | Bible.org 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor.