2:17). 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. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. 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]. 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. 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! Have a great discussion about it! This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? For example they: 5. God is truth, so the unity that He is effecting between believers is a unity grounded in truth. Answer: Jesus came to lead us into relationship with the Father and that required the sacrifice of his own life because of our rebellion. 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. And this illustration helps us understand the Trinity: This illustration shows how the doctrine of the Trinity does not divide God into three parts. Instead, it reveals that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit possess the same divine essence. 12:28; Rom. Now lets go a little deeper and consider the triangles three corners (angles). . Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? 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. Jesus (the Son) is God. Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. Just hang on a little longer. However, let me highlight some of the most significant passages that confirm monotheism: Are you interested in learning more about the Godhead? Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. Gods attributes are not parts of his singular divine essence. Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. He is three in a different way than He is one. Jesus himself spoke of the one-ness of the Godhead when he quoted the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4. He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. 2:511). Its a devotional book. Lets change that! Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? The answer must be no, because the Bible also indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. 1:7; 2 Tim. Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). 1:12). How to explain the Trinity to a new believer - Quora 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). 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 . Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. In fact, it is precisely the continuing dialogue between the Father and the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 5:19; 11:41-42; 17:1ff ) which furnishes the best evidence that they are distinct Persons with distinct centers of consciousness. But first, lets cover the basics. 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. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! Trying to fully understand God is like a 2-year-old trying to fully understand the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting! Most of them are less-than-helpful. All will play a role in the events mentioned in Revelation. 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. And these three Persons are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We can discern and apprehend what it is. First of all I want to tell you that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What does essence mean? We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? 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. That is why any discussion of the Trinity is based on Scripture (Ps. Each corner is distinct (i.e., different) from the others. The Trinity was present in the atonement at the cross. Can You Explain the Trinity to Me? - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association 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. 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. 3 in 1: A Picture of God This one is for anyone interested in using the apple object lesson. Question: How do you explain the Trinity? The oldest member of the unholy trinity. 5:2), Miracles (Ex. 15:19), God is called Father (John 17:1; John 3; 20:17; 1 Cor. The Trinity | Answers in Genesis Theologian R.C. Then study the pronouns used in Scripture point to the Trinity: This one-ness is Gods one divine essence (Heb 1:3). Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. For instance, the Father is the first person of the Trinity. His function is superior to that of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Why? (eds. Sigh. The Trinity and Christian Unity - Ligonier Ministries Gods One-ness is his One divine essence, 3. In sum, the essence or nature of anything is what it is. In the baptism of Jesus, we see the Father speaking from heaven and the Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove as Jesus comes out of the water (Mark 1:10-11). Our Triune God - Grace To You More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. And all three members of the Trinity were involved. . In other words, Christianity is unique among all other worldviews. The Trinity consists of one being revealed in three distinct persons. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. The Trinity: Easy As 1, 2, 3? - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry He differs from the Father, but was and . Through accepting the undeserved gift of salvation (Eph. Thats the one we think of as the Father. 23-26; Luke 7:11-17; Luke 11:1-45), Sends the Holy Spirit and his gifts (John 16:714), Put his words on a par with Gods (Matt. It was God who took the initiative to save humankind. Jesus carried out these creative decrees (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). Modern theologians have created a distinction between the "economic Trinity" and the "immanent Trinity.". The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16; Gal. 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). 20:3; cf. Jesus is the one whose life we try to copy. These verses make it impossible to deny their individuality and deity. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. 2:34; Heb. 2. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. 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). This can only be if they share one essence. How could we? Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. 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. 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. I am also Keith Ferrin. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. Why not consider these truths and place your faith in Jesus (1 John 5:1)? For instance, each Person: Scripture often names all three members of the Trinity together. Then, ask them to write words on the poster that make up the character of God. 2:2729). Does it look like Grandpa? Matt Perman is the director of career navigation at The Kings College NYC, a blogger, and an author. 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. Being Gods child, we can worship the Father and Jesus through the Spirit (John 4:2324; Phil. The Trinity Is Unique Among Monotheistic Religions Christianity is a "monotheistic" religion. How do I explain to a non-believer that belief in the Trinity is In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? 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 . But continue seeking to understand why the Trinitarian nature of God matters. Is the Trinity a contradiction? 28:18-20; 2 Cor. First, we have God. The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. 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. They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. Perhaps for the first time, you have read that the Trinity is a mystery and not acontradiction. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. I think the major problem involves not distinguishing two different features of God. 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. 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. Principle #3: Order. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. God Is Triune | Answers in Genesis We need you. Other statements may at first seem contradictory but are really not. Thats where the confusion comes from. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. 12:32; 28:19; Luke 3:22), There is one God and three Gods (a contradiction), God is one person and three persons (a contradiction), God has one nature and three natures (a contradiction), There is a functional order within the Trinity, Bowman, R Jr. The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/bowman_robert/trinity/trinity.cfm#trin_1 Accessed: 1/20/2022. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different . John says in the first verse of the book: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God.". This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. 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. 2:5), The Father is not the Spirit (John 14:26; John 15:26), The Son is not the Spirit (Matt. One helpful Scripture explicitly refers to the essence and personhood of the Trinity. More posts you may like r/TrueChristian All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). 3. Its a mystery the Bible teaches. After all, each of these illustrate the idea that God is made up of parts, and thats not really true. The idea that God is somehow three and one starts onPage 1and never changes. You cant find an earthly match for this concept. 4:15), dying for our sins (1 Cor. Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. This should make it clear why it is so important to understand that all three Persons are the same essence. 2. Understanding the Trinity: How Can God Be Three Persons in One? - Cru.org .. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Bible reveals that God isone, in essence, eternally revealed inthree Persons. 25:3146; 2 Cor. Why not plan on studying verses in each section to prove to yourself that the Bible does claim that God is a Trinity? 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. Many of us say it every single Sunday morning. Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Discipleship involves a lot, but one of the most important things you can do with a new believer is read the Bible with them-teaching them how to read, understand, respond to, and apply God's Word. The easiest way to explain the Trinity is with an object lesson, and thats true no matter how old someone might be. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. " Here God is a plural noun, said is in the . PDF Understanding the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity (Godhead) - Bible Truth Steam, water, and ice are all H20. 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. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. There are two other major monotheistic world religions namely Judaism and Islam. 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. That's the one we think of as the Father. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. After all, if the trinitarian nature of God is not in the Bible, why bother talking about it at all? Fun fact: The 325 Nicene Creed does not state Trinity. If youd like to get away from simple object lessons and move your child toward a deeper understanding of Gods nature, check out The Attributes of God for Kids. Among the three persons of the Trinity, there is a proper order: The Father is the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity. The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. 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. In Hinduism, the trinity (Trimrti, or The Three Forms) is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. While admitting the lack of conformity among believers, we must never consider it a minor issue of doctrine. Elohimis the plural form of the word God. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: The wordspersonsandessencerefer to entirely different features relating to God. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. Second, we have the son of God, Jesus. To be even more precise, essence is what you are. Anytime you see a geometric figure with these features, it is a triangle. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. How To Explain the Trinity To Your Child - 4 Creative Ways Omnibenevolence (Jer. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. 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. These questions arealwaysasked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. Trinity | Definition, Theology, & History | Britannica Nicene Creed: An Outline of the Trinity Doctrine Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. 4. This is something far removed from our human experience, where every different human "person" is a different being as well. The Holy Trinity - Explained. . Third, Christians believe that the entire New Testament is inspired. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the Holy Trinity in simple terms. . A triangle must have three different corners in order to be one triangle.
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