how to explain the trinity to a new believer

1:8). Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". 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. 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. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Famous pastor and authorA.W. Then share them with another Christian or genuine seeker. Fortunately, the most popular analogy of the Trinity is the triangle. Here are three I found to be really helpful. It is very simple: All three Persons are one God because, as we saw above, they are all the same essence. What is Gods essence? Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! Thus, we are not speaking with a forked tongue we are not saying that God is one and then denying that He is one by saying that He is three. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. All three Persons of the Trinity are God. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. However, the Bible teaches us enough about these mysteries that we can apprehend them. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? 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). We can discern and apprehend what it is. But what does it mean that God is gracious? Ask the teenager this question: Where does this fall short? Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. 4. Lets change that! You cant find an earthly match for this concept. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Most of them are less-than-helpful. 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 . 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. He was "begotten, not made," and he was of the same substance or essence ( homoousios) as the Father. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. Is the Trinity a contradiction? Confusing them leads to misunderstanding. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. But first, lets cover the basics. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. 3. Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. He is one in essence. 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. But that doesn't mean the concept isn't clearly taught. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. 2:511). Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. Therefore, it is often difficult to have a concrete definition of Person as we use it in regards to the Trinity. also 1:18). To contemplate the Trinity is to lift up your heart and to "set your mind on the things above" (Col. 3:2). But it is not. Is God the same as Jesus? A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. It starts with a whisper. The Trinity is first of all important because God is important. Only older children will grasp the in one concept of H20. . 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. Does it look like Grandpa? For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). 15:3). With input from her father, fart followed within a day or two, and I was horrified, but also excited that she mysteriously managed an r-controlled vowel without any explicit instruction. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. ). What we do not mean by Person is an independent individual in the sense that both I and another human are separate, independent individuals who can exist apart from one another. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . 2. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. This is one possibility of explaining it. There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. 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. Girls become divided, friendships are ruined, and reputations are tarnished. Essence and person are not the same thing. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. 18:20; Matt. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! 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? 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. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. Let's explore each of these members. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". 15:16), inspires, intercedes (Rom. 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. This is one of the books of the Torah. Below are several of the most popular ones. After all, children deal best with concrete ideas. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. (eds. We will never sell your information, for any reason. Therefore, we must always endeavor to deepen our worship of God in truth as well as in our hearts. 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." He sanctifies us (1 Pet. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). Jesus (the Son) is God. 2:11), and performs miracles (Matt. 1:7; 2 Tim. Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. Read more. It is fundamental to our worldview. Baker Books, 1995, pp. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. Answer. 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! The Definition Of The Trinity. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. If it were the other way around and we understood God completely, how would he be the sovereign God? Since our personal relationship is with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lies within us, what role does God play as Father? There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. How is God one? Ive already done your research at my local library. 139:711; Jer. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? How do we receive His grace? 11:3336). I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. 3:6. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. God is infinite. 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. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. The Father is God. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. We then turn to the most important strategies that have been developed by Christians to resolve this problem. 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 . God created man in His image. Each person of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) really IS God. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. After Christ rose from the grave, he appeared to the disciples and gave them a job to do: preach the Word to everyone. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. In describing the Trinity, the New Testament clearly distinguishes three Persons who are all simultaneously active. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! 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. That isGod is three Persons in onethe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 1:2;). Most people, including many Christians, struggle trying to apprehend the Trinity. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The late theologian Herman Bavinck has stated something very helpful at this point: The persons are modes of existence within the being; accordingly, the Persons differ among themselves as the one mode of existence differs from the other, and using a common illustration as the open palm differs from a closed fist.[4], Because each of these forms of existence are relational (and thus are Persons), they are each a distinct center of consciousness, with each center of consciousness regarding Himself as I and the others as You. Nonetheless, these three Persons all consist of the same stuff (that is, the same what, or essence). And during his earthly ministry, Christ subjected himself to the Fathers will. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. What a challenge! Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. 1. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. This is absolutely true. 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. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. 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). Here are the best childrens Bibles, sorted by age. While some say . 4; 14; Jon. First, we have God. 1:12). The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. God the Father spoke from heaven and spoke of His Son, Jesus. Lets apply these concepts to the Trinity. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). But Christianitys God is unique. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! . This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. Why? 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. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts.

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