how to explain the trinity to a new believerwhere is sandy koufax today

If we were to translate it . Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the earth by his word. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. Egg A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell. That may sound intimidating but dont worry Ill unpack that definition below. Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. They are three real persons, not three roles God plays. 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. 2:34; Heb. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. He exists as a Trinity. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. During this period, it was attempted solely by using algorithmswhich are basically rules or sets of rules you tell a computer to follow. What does essence mean? Tertullian coined the term Trinity during the second century. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. What's the Origin and History of the Trinity in the Church? The Definition Of The Trinity. Now we will turn our attention to showing the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are persons.. This is very important: God is one and three at the same time, but not in the same way. How is God different? 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . For I am God, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:21-22; see also 44:6-8; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Kings 8:60). 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. We also see this evidenced in how the Son and Father sent the Spirit into the world (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). draws the believer into a new . Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. The Trinity is like an egg or apple. How to Teach Kids the Trinity with an Apple Object Lesson Grab an apple and share these five truths with your kids: An apple has three parts: the seeds, the flesh, and the skin. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. But Christianitys God is unique. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. 2. Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). Dont despair. God the Holy Spirit. There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as God and the persons/expressions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. But he avoids contradiction with this statement because he means that in one sense it was the best of times, but in another sense it was the worst of times. They have eternally (John 17:5, 24) sought to glorify each other (Phil. Essence and personhood are NOT the same thing. How do we come to terms with these different ideas of God? Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". Jesus is like the flesh, because He became flesh so we could know Him better. 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.. Thats why they wrote words like we find inJob 11:7-8, "Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. Why? 10:2831), In Johns writings (1 John 4:1314; Rev. 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. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. Its three things, but all are complete on their own. 12:711), The Father is not the Son (Matt. 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 we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. Actually, March 17 commemorates St. Patrick's death, actually. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). He is the only God that exists. Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! And God created humankind to share that love (John 17:2126; Acts 17:25). Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. They are different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. 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. As I said earlier, it means the same thing as being. But how does it show us why there is only one God instead of three? You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. No, the wordTrinitydoes not appear in the Bible. Is God the same as Jesus? It's so simple, it fits on one page. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. That is ok when it comes to rocks and triangles. 1:3), Demonstrated divine sovereignty over nature (Matt. And the Trinity is an essential doctrine to our understanding of God. As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. The Trinity. John introduces us to the Trinity in John 1:1- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God.". 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. 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). Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. 20:3; cf. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . 28:20; Col. 3:11), Omnibenevolent (John 13:34; Rom. Hmmm. Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. The verb for created isbara. Rather, everything that one Person is involved in, the other two are also involved in, one way or another. 20:23; Deut. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian 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. 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. If you are a Christian, why not memorize some of this blogs verses? To this day, this scripture inspires the language we use to baptize people across Christian denominations. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). It is the revelation of who our Almighty Creator actually isnot just a god, but an infinite Being existing in eternity as three co-equal, infinite Persons, consubstantial yet distinct. . And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 15:3). Of course, if the triangle illustration were perfect, we would be able to comprehend God fully, but we cant. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. A subreddit for the encouragement and discussion of the Biblical Unitarian position which holds Use the links below to jump to a specific section: The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But it also raises many difficult questions. 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! While Jesus and the Father are both God, they are different Persons. For example they: 5. Here is an object with three parts: a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. If there is one passage which most clearly brings all of this together, it is Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First, notice that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as distinct Persons. 1:2;). the one who is not a Christian. 3:19; Eph. 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. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). I am fully human. Fill this out to make sure you don't miss a thing! Its not unusual for teenagers to give Jesus a bunch of loving characteristics and then put words like justice and vengeance on God the Fathers poster. God is spirit (John 4:24). The Trinity is Christianity's most unique, defining, incomprehensible, and awesome mystery. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. 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 told Moses in the Torah to tell God's people these words: M. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." ( Deuteronomy 6:4) C. Yes, that's right. . Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Our fellowship with God should be enhanced by consciously knowing that we are relating to a tri-personal God! God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. 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. Simply stated, God is one in essence and three in person. That is why understanding what the Trinity is and is not asserting. He is also referred to in third-person singular pronouns (John 14:26), He engages in actions only a person can do: He searches (1 Cor. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. 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. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? Jesus (the Son) is God. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him to equip Him for His ministry. I am also Keith Ferrin. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. These are all qualities of personhood. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. Rather than let that frustrate you, let it encourage you. 8:26), comprehends (1 Cor. 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. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. It is fundamental to our worldview. 4:4). 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. 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! 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]. For example the: Finite humankind cannot wholly comprehend these mysteries. Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. Monotheism. Youngblood, R. F., et al. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. So God is one what but three whos.. Surely not. Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. 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). Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. The second point of clarification has to do with personhood. Amongst other books, I have read 'The Forgotten Trinity" by James White, but remain unconvinced that acceptance of or belief in the confusing doctrine of the trinity is essential for Salvation. The best way to teach the Trinity to ANYONE who is confused is with an object lesson. 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. This leads us to investigate more closely a very helpful definition of the Trinity which I mentioned earlier: God is one in essence, but three in Person. 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 . 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. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. The Trinity is like an egg. Lets change that! Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Have a great discussion about it! Look at what the Bible clearly shows: that there is one God ( Deuteronomy 6:4) that the Father is called God ( Ephesians 4:6 ), that Jesus (the Son) is called God ( Titus 2:13) and existed with God before creation ( John 1:1; 17:4) and the Holy Spirit is attributed . Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! Are you still not a Christian? 8:6a). God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. Errr, not quite. While it is good for us to seek understanding of the Trinity, we cannot fully comprehend God. But its not a mystery that can or should! In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . 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 But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. Below are several of the most popular ones. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. But first, lets cover the basics. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. 1:20-21), In salutations and benedictions (2 Cor. Famous pastor and authorA.W. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. 8:3539; Eph. Divide your group into three teams and give each group a sheet of butcher paper or poster. We will never sell your information, for any reason. Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". 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. The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We hate SPAM. 4. The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct, simultaneous persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. be explained away. These personal distinctions are modes of existence within the divine being, but are not divisions of the divine being. Sproul cites as an example Dickens famous line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Obviously this is a contradiction if Dickens means that it was the best of times in the same way that it was the worst of times. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 1. Showing God in action in and through His people. 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. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam.

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