how to explain the trinity to a new believer

These are all qualities of personhood. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. The Trinity - God and authority in Christianity - BBC Bitesize 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]. God the Holy Spirit is the warmth you feel from the sun. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? I'm an author, speaker, husband, father and ice cream lover. ), "If God was small enough for my brain to fully understand, He wouldnt be big enough to save me!, The authors of the Bible understood this. How to Explain the Trinity in 4 Steps - The Catechism Guy Before moving on tounderstandingthe idea of one Being existing in three Persons, I will point out that theBiblical idea of the Trinity goes all the way back to the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. 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. OrThe person were explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). The Trinity Explained in 8 Steps - Binmin Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? We can discern and apprehend what it is. After all, the Trinity is difficult to understand. December 19, 2018. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. Three parts in one, yet all very much an egg. We believe God is one in essence. What is Gods essence? Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. 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. Does Matthew 28:19 Prove the Trinity? - Life, Hope & Truth Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. Omnipotence (Jer. Hmmm. At Jesus baptism, when Christ came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the appearance of a dove. That means that, as Christians, we believe in only one God. 3:25; Dan. 3:1417). Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. They are all eternal. God created man in His image. The relationship between essence and Person, then, is as follows. AboutPressCopyrightContact. It is fundamental to our worldview. My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity, The Simplest but Still Clear Explanation for the Trinity, The 3 Most Common Trinity Analogies (and their limitations). Thus, Jesus prayed to God the Father without praying to Himself. Contrary to this, the passages we have seen imply that God always was and always will be three Persons. And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. The seeds are like the Holy Spirit, because He helps us grow. The Father is not one-third of the being of God, He is all of the being of God. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. So God is one what but three whos.. 13: Trinity | Putting the Fun In, Faith and Finances: 5 Steps to Get Started. Lets change that! 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. . Firstly, because finite humans cant comprehend an infinite God completely, Secondly, because many people confuse Gods one, Three distinct persons are God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Firstly, unfamiliarity between essence or nature and personhood, Secondly, practical analogies that help conceptualize the Trinity, On the one hand, there is Gods singular nature, essence, or substance, And on the other, there is Gods three Persons (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), The sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees, The three-ness refers to the three Persons: Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, The one-ness applies to Gods unity or his single divine essence, The Trinity is a plurality of Persons and a unity of essence, God is three whos (Persons) and one what (divine essence), The triangle corresponds to Gods essence, The three corners of the triangle correspond to the three Persons of the Trinity, A triangle is finite, and God is infinite, The corners of a triangle are not persons, Understanding of the difference between Gods one divine essence and three Persons, Old Testament: Ex. And yet, we run into the same problem again, because God isnt made up of parts. Trinity not mentioned in the Bible anywhere! As Christians, we derive our concept of person from the relations in the Trinity. As theologian and apologist Norman Geisler has explained it, while essence is what you are, person is who you are. 3:6. Jesus (the Son) is God. Sometimes the Personhood of the Father and Son is appreciated, but the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is neglected. 32:17, 27; Matt. There would only be a contradiction if we said that God is three in the same way that He is one. Below are several of the most popular ones. But what exactly are essence or nature and personhood? But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. But Keith Ferrin is noteveryhuman being.. He regenerates us with new spiritual life (John 3:58). These three persons make up the one true God. Read Books About The Trinity. Simply put: without three angles, theres no triangle! The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry 4:6; James 2:19; Jude 25. Yet Jesus would not have referenced the Trinity unless it was important. So, in this article, we will look at where the term originated. Sigh. Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. Whether an object is a rock or a triangle, we can classify it based on its objective characteristics. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. And confusing ones. For instance: Additionally, all three members of the Trinity participate together in several critical events. We hate SPAM. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. 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. This one is kinda fun for older kids who understand a bit of science. Third, we have the Holy Spirit, which is also God, living in our hearts and guiding us through life. 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. But its not a mystery that can or should! 1. 4:30), and a will (1 Cor. How to Know and Understand the Holy Spirit | Cru - Cru.org There is a clue that the Son is distinct from the Father, yet there is fellowship between them. He is one in essence. 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. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 10:15; 12:28; 17:1-26; 1 Tim. Ive got you covered with all the basics, no matter your denomination. I wont go into all of the verses here (simply type bible verses about the Trinity into Google and youll find plenty). Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. That definition is a mouthful. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship! After all, theyre good questions. You may be wondering how to wrap your mind around all this brand-new information! Answer. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. What is the Trinity? - Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry What is a functional order or subordination? It means that a Trinity member submits himself to one or both of the other members. What Is the Economic and Immanent Trinity? - Zondervan Academic Now youre gonna tell me theyre all the same but also different? Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. The verb for created isbara. The Trinity and Christian Unity - Ligonier Ministries 8:6a). Believe it or not, the fact that God is too immense for our finite minds should be comforting, not discouraging! The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). 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. He wrote, What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.. 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. I hate getting spam. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, 8. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? God is like the skin because He protects us. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. The Bible teaches the Trinity beginning with the days of creation. I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. Ive already done your research at my local library. Assign each group with one of the Godheads: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), or the Holy Spirit. What a challenge! Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? To understand more fully what God is like is a way of honoring God. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. 20:23; Deut. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. The substance of God is God, not a bunch of ingredients that taken together yield deity. 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. In his bookMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis points out an important distinction. . A triangle must have three sides three corners (angles), and the sum of the three angles must be 180 degrees. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. 9:14; Heb. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. EXPLAIN THE TRINITY - How To Explain The Holy Trinity Simply For example they: 5. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. 12:28; Rom. It is the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. 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. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. 1. In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . 3:16; 2 Pet. It is one of the two ordinances of the Christian Church. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. It starts with a whisper. Each member of the Trinity is . Geisler, N. L., and R. E MacKenzie, R. E. Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: agreements and differences. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. 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 . What we do mean by Person is something that regards himself as I and others as You. So the Father, for example, is a different Person from the Son because He regards the Son as a You, even though He regards Himself as I. Thus, in regards to the Trinity, we can say that Person means a distinct subject which regards Himself as an I and the other two as a You. These distinct subjects are not a division within the being of God, but a form of personal existence other than a difference in being.[3]. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. 4:4). Each person of the Trinity is equally and fully God, distinct from the others, and yet they remain just one God. To further our understanding of the distinction of persons within the one God it is best to move on to the next trinitarian principle. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. First, we have God. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Awareness of the distinct role that each Person of the Trinity has in our salvation can especially serve to give us greater comfort and appreciation for God in our prayers, as well as helping us to be specific in directing our prayers. 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. For example, it says of Christ that in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. Further, we should allow the fact that God is triune to deepen our worship. It has been said, Try to explain the trinity and lose your mind, try to explain away the trinity and lose your soul. 1:17; Dan. With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. Trinity may be a new term for you and can be confusing even for Christians to explain to others. How To Explain the Trinity to Muslims - crossexamined.org Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? How to Explain the Trinity to an Unbeliever - YouTube 2:1011; Heb. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. 1:2;). 139:711; Jer. 89:14; John 17:25; Rom. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. How to Support Gifted ReadersContinue, OurYotoplayer,Yoto Mini, and set of Yoto cards is the number one favorite toy in our household, and it has been for two years now. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. In the early 2000s, people began using a new approach called "deep . God is infinite. Or stated simply, the triangles what-ness.. After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others! In other words, there is one God who exists as three distinct Persons. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. To start, let me define what I mean when I say persons. Personhood is having intellect, emotions, and a will. The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. 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. Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. ETS members all confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to be "one in essence, equal in power and glory.". This is girl drama, and it can be extremely harmful to girls both mentally and emotionally. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. Hes the one who walked the Earth blamelessly, performing miracles, and extending mercy and love. Or what are the objective characteristics that all triangles share? The Trinity is like an egg. 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 different Persons, not three different ways of looking at God. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is 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. While no church is perfect, the Trinity is still the model for the churchs unity (John 1:2123). In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. 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! God the Holy Spirit. Tozerputs it well in The Knowledge of the Holy. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. Be cool with leaving the gathering with more questions than answers. As long as a shape has those three angles that add up to 180 degrees, it doesnt matter what the angles degrees are. Many other verses concurrently list the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. But they are eternally subordinate in their roles to him (1 Cor. know that I recognise only one God. Unfortunately, there are many illustrations which are not simply imperfect, but in error. He is an extension of the sun and brings the sun directly to the world. 1. Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. For example: God the Father is a person. The Nicene and Reformed Doctrine of the Trinity - CBE Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature.

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