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. Holy Spirit , The Trinity Sometimes called the "Spirit of God," the "Angel of God" or even the spooky-sounding "Holy Ghost," the third person of the Trinity can seem so confusing and mysterious that we don't talk about Him very much. Choose one of these beliefs and explain more fully, including a supporting quote from one New Testament reference. Among churches that reject the doctrine of the . What is the Trinity? (5) The Father is not the Son. They are distinctive, and connect with us meaningfully in different ways, but they are One. Note: "After 24 years of association with the Ministry of John MacArthur, we have now been asked by Grace To You to no longer maintain John's resources directly on Bible Bulletin Board. The guiding principle has been the creedal declaration that the . Name 3 qualities or virtues taught by Jesus which would be helpful in nursing, whether or not a nurse is Christian, and explain why. It would be 1x1x1=1. We worship all three as equals when we worship God. Like much of this part of the Fourth Gospel, it is reflective, repeats things that have been explored before (in chapter 14), and when a few verses are . Bible Lesson Plans for Kids, Uncategorized. The Son of God is Jesus Christ, begotten by the Father. 8. Not the answer an enquiring young mind was looking for. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. He alone is the Creator. Knowing that each person of the Trinity has a role, even in our prayers, gives us hope of our salvation . The reason is that all of John's works are now available in totality on their website. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" ( John 8:32 . In fact, Christian teaching says that the Father is fully God, Jesus is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God. Jesus can stand in the gap for us because of His deity. Too many Christians lack a solid understanding of the Triune nature of God. 3) The indwelling Spirit installs the new believer as . God has given us this truth through His Word, and the Trinity is important simply because the doctrine is revealed in Scripture. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. "It's a mystery. Water can exist in liquid at room temperature. There are simplified illustrations such as water, ice, steam (very inadequate) and sun, light, heat (not as bad, but still quite inadequate). God is three distinct individuals - God the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit . That's sound advice. Amen.". It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the . INTRODUCTION. Introduction. The Roman emperor Constantine the Great, while himself not really a Christian, convened and played a major role in the Council of Nicaea, which laid the groundwork for acceptance of the Trinity doctrine. The Trinity is mysterious, of course, to us adults. God is like H 2 O - like water. The Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Trinity Sunday in this Year C is John 16.12-15. It is another very short reading (four verses) from the 'farewell discourse' of Jesus, and I think is actually quite a difficult reading to preach from. In this context, the three persons define who God is, while the one . Each of the persons is distinct from the other in relation (Economic Trinity), yet each is identical in essence (Ontological Trinity). The doctrine of the Trinity is the concept that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are found in one God. This starting place is absolutely critical. Telling children that Jesus is God in human flesh is the next step part of the Trinity. The first thing you do when explaining the trinity is to explain that there is only one God. 22 God sent Jesus Christ to the world, his disciples recognized him as a sign of God and He revealed the Father and the Holy Spirit. Using the multiplication model, we show that the three form a union, thus why people have moved to calling it the Tri-Unity. (2) The Father is God. The word trinity means "tri-unity" or "three-in-oneness." The three-ness refers to the three "Persons": Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I think the Trinity is all about God's infinite ability to meet us - each of us, all the time - exactly where we are, with divine understanding that we aren't always in the same place. THE Roman Catholic Church states: "The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion . Our emotional needs change, not just from childhood to adulthood, but in a constant ebb and flow as life challenges and upholds us. Yet it appears to be almost entirely . God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Nothing within the created world serves as a complete model or analogy for him. December 19, 2018. newjeru Holy Trinity, holy trinity definition, holy trinity meaning, how to explain the trinity, how to explain the trinity to a child, how to explain the trinity to a new believer, mystery of the trinity, the difference between the father son and holy spirit, understanding the trinity, what is the holy spirit. The Trinity is like H2O. 33 Bible verses that prove it." https://www.. But emphasizes that there is only ONE God. Stop trying to understand and just believe.". The concept of the Trinity is often referred to during worship, which helps Christians to understand it. 1. Each performs their role with full cooperation of the other members. Is the Trinity in the Bible?Watch the next video: "Jesus is God. 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. This supplementary document discusses the history of Trinity theories. However, each form is different and serves different purposes. This is the new birth Jesus spoke of in John 3:1-8. Unfortunately, most of them actually give us the wrong idea about what the Trinity is. False view 1: Polytheistic view Some people think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. 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. We can never fully understand him or get to the bottom of his mysteries. And, the Holy Spirit is not the same person as Father. A conversation with Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry about their new book, 'The Flag and the Cross,' about the rise and threat of white Christian nationalism in the United States. I was inspired to write this lesson after overhearing my eleven year old daughter trying to explain to my six year old niece that God was born into the world as a baby. Theologians have offered more sophisticated and philosophical ways to understand the Trinity. ONE apple has three different parts - the skin, the flesh, and the seed. Scott Ashley. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. Can you explain the Trinity? The Encyclopedia Americana notes that the doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be "beyond the grasp of human reason.". 1) The indwelling Spirit comes to a soul dead in sin and creates new life ( Titus 3:5 ). This is what we call the Trinity. It says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. (6) The Son is the not the Holy Spirit. 1. . God the Father is The one responsible for creating the universe which will be carried out by His Son, Jesus Christ. Christian apologetics is needed today in churches with pastors and leaders discipling Christians through the Scriptures, and protecting them from false doctrines, false teachers and teachings. They throw up their hands and say, "It's a mystery!". 1. But whether you, or I, or others believe in the Trinity really isn't critical . This is perhaps the most common analogy for the Trinity. The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the . My niece understood that Jesus is the Son of God, but didn't understand that Jesus is God; that he was born as a human baby. ; Place of Action: Jerusalem Golden Text: "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. It's impossible to be an Orthodox Christian without professing belief in the Triune nature of God. God is infinite. The Trinity Sunday School Lesson for Kids. Download the printable craft directions below, watch the video directions, and gather your craft supplies as you prepare to teach. The Bible clearly speaks of: God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. As a Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love one another completely and entirely. Explain the Trinity. Lesson Text: Isaiah 6:1-8; Time of Action: between 740 and 739 B.C. 3 Tips for How to Explain the Holy Trinity to a Child. Thus the term: "Tri" meaning three, and "Unity" meaning one, Tri+Unity = Trinity. Yet it seems more in keeping with Scripture that they have been eternally ordered as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 'triad', from Latin: trinus 'threefold') defines God as being one god existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons sharing one homoousion (essence). This is known as the economic Trinity. 55 years on I've yet to hear or read an explanation of the Trinity that makes sense. We cannot explain the how of the Trinity only the fact of it. A: The Bible shows very clearly that there is only one God, and yet that there are three personal distinctions in His complex nature, traditionally referred to as "three Persons in the Godhead"God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Such verses include Matthew 1:23, John 1:14 and John 10:30. The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. Can you explain the Trinity to me? He is a systematic theologian who studies and teaches across the entire range of classic . The Bible teaches that God is a spirit, yet He interacts with creation in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. First, the Trinity matters because Jesus had to be fully God to save us. The Trinity is like an egg. This week's lesson emphasizes the greatness, power and holiness of God through a vision the LORD gave to the . Water is another way to explain the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief . When they are pressed with tough questions about how God can be three persons or how each member of the Trinity can fully be God, some Christians resort to an unfortunate tactic. understand the doctrine of the Trinity. When Jesus left the earth, there was no longer any physical sign of God's . I. Even though the word "Trinity" is not found in . Yet most Christians have difficulty explaining the Trinity clearly and Biblically. "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. Ironically, the Holy Spirit is probably the most relevant person in our daily Christian life. Heat it up, and it turns to vapor. In the Old Testament there are various verses that distinguish between God the Father and God the Son. Monsignor Eugene Clark says: "God is one, and God is three. The only mention of the Holy Spirit along with God the Father and Jesus Christ is II Corinthians 13:14. Its development began by an attempt to understand the nature of God in terms of Greek philosophical concepts, i.e. A Trinity doctrine is commonly expressed as the statement that the one God exists as or in three equally divine "Persons", the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What is the Trinity? Many who accept the Trinity view it that same way. In eternity past, before the beginning, God was alone. Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity, may we, through the steadfastness of this faith, evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God . Man cannot adequately explain these things so how could he devise . It is a way of acknowledging what the Bible . C. What makes you say that? The Trinity is one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. But, Jesus can make atonement for us because He is fully God. The Holy Spirit gives us . If we were to translate it . The Trinity is definitely not biblical truth and is completely a man-made concept. . The doctrine developed slowly over a period of over 200 years, and continued to be refined in the way it was explained for hundreds of years after. The way that he acted and responded is accurately reflected below. Yet its roots go back much farther in history. You can describe the Trinity in different ways: God is three persons in one nature. There have been those who have argued that each member of the Trinity is free to perform any role within the Godhead. If we were to use math, it would not be, 1+1+1=3. The Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is at the heart of the Christian Faith. It means one God in three persons. A Trinity doctrine is commonly expressed as the statement that the one God exists as or in three equally divine "Persons", the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let's break it down into six smaller statements about the trinity that's easier to understand: One God and One Only Exists in three Persons Equal and Eternal Worthy of equal praise and worship Distinct yet acting in unity Constituting the one true God of the Bible As you might imagine, the early church struggled mightily over this doctrine. There is one God. Here are three reasons children's ministers should use precise illustrations about the holy Trinity. Sunday, June 12, 2022. In the new issue of Cre do Magazine, "The Trinity and the Christian Life: Why a Triune God Makes All the Difference," Fred Sand ers has contributed an article entitled, "The Trinity: The God Behind the Gospel." Fred Sanders is Associate Professor in the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University. Every term in this statement (God, exists, as or in, equally divine, Person) has been variously understood. Similarly, we often hear the Trinity compared to an Apple. It's Okay to Leave Room for Mystery. They are not three gods nor three beings. That is called polytheism. We do not believe in three gods. How to Explain Jesus to a Non-Believer. But each Person of the Trinity is truly distinct. The Holy Spirit is usually the. Genesis 1:1 reads: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If we look more closely at the word we translate "God," Elohim, we see it is plural. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts - the shell, the white, the yoke - ONE God has THREE different Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Even then, he was not alone, because he had his Logos . For example: The Nicene Creed is recited during every service of Holy Communion . If the smartest and best educated followers of Jesus struggled with the meaning of the "trinity," then we can assume this is no simple question. The Trinity According to Edwards Now, when Edwards penetrates through the cloud-line and pushes farther up the mountain of Trinitarian truth, he attempts to provide a conception of the Trinity that is true, rooted in scriptural language, intelligible, and helpful, even while making no pretense to fully comprehend the mystery. (3) The Son is God. The doctrine or concept of the Trinity is central to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. In the 2nd century, "the simple" preferred not to think about this. A few improper understandings of God are. We cannot think of the Holy Trinity as a sum of three parts (1 + 1 + 1 = 3), but instead, show how each part multiplies the others to form a wonderful whole (1 x 1 x 1 = 1). It is well known that the Council of Nicea defended the Trinity against Arius and the Arian party. My oldest son . The guiding principle has been the creedal declaration that the . God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Trinity Defined The trinity, simply put, refers to God being One person, but existing in three coexisting, coeternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is confusing even to most Christians, so we want to pull the conversation back to the effects of our triune God on the world we inhabit. The word trinity comes from "tri" meaning three and "unity" meaning one. Some use math to explain the Holy Trinity. Each is distinct from the others but never acts independently. The term Trinity is not used in the Bible. The work each member of the Trinity is involved in is also very complicated. It is rooted in the fact that God came to meet Christians in a threefold figure: (1) as Creator, Lord of the history of salvation, Father, and Judge, as revealed in the Old Testament; (2 . Here are four. The Trinity from the one God. Use these craft ideas for hands-on fun while learning about the Trinity in your children's ministry, Sunday School, or kids church lesson. There are two men in their 20s who came to faith in Christ in recent weeks through the ministry of our church. But the concept is clearly there. This only means that Christians are bonded and unified by God's . Thus, they relate to each other personally the Father regards Himself as "I," while He regards the Son and Holy Spirit as "You." Likewise the Son regards Himself as "I," but the Father and the Holy Spirit as "You." The Holy Spirit is not a person or entity, but is God's great power - his invisible, active, penetrating, and vital force. Pray for Wisdom. Here is one of my approaches, expressed in a conversation between a Muslim ("M") and a Christian ("C"), summarized from my conversations with Faysal, over the course of several weeks. It's been said, "Before you talk to people about God, talk to God about people.". When we rightly try to solve kids' questions . God is a triune God. Every term in this statement (God, exists, as or in, equally divine, Person) has been variously understood. Use this free Sunday School lesson to teach kids about the Trinity. How Is the Trinity Explained? May 23, 2012 by: Justin Buzzard. It is simple to say, yet the explanation has evaded man since the subject was undertaken for study. Here we will summarize some of the fruits of their labor. M. You Christians believe in three Gods; Father, Mother, and Son. Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: 'the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God.'. He would have just been another created being. Are you ready? This does not support the Trinity doctrine. To make this concept clear to children, you may want to point them to Bible scripture where it tells that God is Jesus. We Christians believe that God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. . Messiah, Son of God, Crucified and Resurrected Savior, 2nd Person of the Blessed Trinity. However, the Father is not the same person as the Son. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. Here's a summation of the Nicene Creedas explained by the early Christiansfrom the previous pages: Note: Points 2, 3, 4, and 6 below all link to the same page, as do 7 and 8. Use it in your children's ministry or kids church to explain how God is three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is three persons in one God. To the other major monotheistic faiths (Islam and Judaism), it is rank heresyTrinitarianism is therefore definitional to Christianity. (4) The Holy Spirit is God. Check out How to Explain the Trinity Doctrine . Genesis 1:1 reads: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." If we look more closely at the word we translate "God," Elohim, we see it is plural. At times the Trinity may seem like a dull doctrine, but Jesus showed us this truth about who God is to reveal God's inner life to us. It taught there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. In the Trinitarian communion the dialogue between the persons is ongoing. The New Testament and the Old Testament teach God is one, monotheism, and the Trinity-Unity of God. A clear example is Psalm 110:1, where David . Explaining the Trinity to Children. The Trinity is one God in three distinct, simultaneous, eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although early Christian theologians speculated in many ways on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, no one clearly and fully asserted the doctrine of the Trinity as explained at the top of the main entry until around the end of the so-called Arian Controversy. The Bible tells us, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). the idea that God is impassable and immutable. . For many years there was . In this essay I would like to teach you how to defend the doctrine of the Trinity, a truth clearly denied by Jehovah's Witnesses. Love is truly the essence of God's inner life. The Council's definitions concerning the Trinity are really as easy as one, two, three four. The Son "proceeds" from the Father, and the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son." 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. We let kids know that we don't just take deep things about God, put a bow on them, and move on. Steam, liquid water, and ice all consist of 2 parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen-essentially, the same. 2) The indwelling Spirit confirms to the believer that he belongs to the Lord and is an heir of God and fellow-heir with Christ ( Romans 8:15-17 ). -- John MacArthur. All of the creedal formulations and theological jargon and . M. Since there is nothing like this in creation, we cannot understand it, but only accept it.". Nonetheless, their creed says, "We believe in one God, the Father." Why?