how to explain the trinity to a new believercombien de promesses dans la bible

how to explain the trinity to a new believer

Data dodania: 4 sierpnia 2022, 06:35

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. The Trinity is the perfect loving community of three Persons. If belief in the Trinity is so essential to Christianity, it would have been explicitly stated in the Bible and wouldn't have taken over 300 years to officially define it. While not a typical conversation starter, this question is one of the most important we can ask in life. The three Persons are distinct, yet only constitute one name. Think about it: Finite Christians serve an eternal and infinite God. At his death on the cross, sinless Jesus chose to substitute himself in our place (Heb. All three members of the Trinity have these characteristics. 13:14), the term Trinity does not appear. draws the believer into a new . Yet he also proclaimed, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live (1 Cor. Orthodox Christian theology has always affirmed that the one true God is triune in nature. Check out my tips for teaching your kids about bedtime prayer. Their prime usefulness it to show the mystery is not contradictory. Its okay to admit you dont know everything. 1:2;). Amen. Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. 20:23; Deut. A simpler way to talk about the Trinity is through "God grammar.". 2:17). While some say . This is great fun to see how teenagers draw a picture of God. A Christian would still be expected to understand it. Faith is recognizing that we dont have all the answers and deciding that its okay to keep believing and growing. 9:18; Matt. Begin and end with your object lesson, and be comfortable with the imperfect teaching. The general pattern of prayer in the Bible is to pray to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. The The truth is always new, fresh, and exciting to the believer in Christ. The word Trinity is never explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, countless scriptures mention all three forms of God. That is where I go back to the starting point I mentioned above. Trinity comes from two word parts: tri, meaning three, and unity, meaning as one. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms a union of three. He was sustaining and manifesting Gods immediate presence in his creation. God created man in His image. 2:8-9), we can become Gods children. 11:3336). 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. In explaining the Trinity to your friend, begin, perhaps, with the work of salvation. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earthand in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spiritand born of the virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic* Church,the communion of the saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. 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." The Bible is full of Scripture speaking of there being only one God (seeDeuteronomy 6:4for starters), as well as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all being God. Ignore the urge to tie everything up with a nice little bow. Best Age To Teach The Trinity To A Child. (Againwere trying to grasp something that isnt fully grasp-able.). Your Identity in Christ: How God Sees You. Two biblical teachings confirm the doctrine of the Trinity: How is that possible? So many things clamor to define you. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. The word "scripture " graphe We need you. 3:25; Dan. We just covered Gods one divine essence. Conclusion: Scripture supports the Trinity. 4. There are three Persons with one divine essence! Its a devotional book. Jesus (the Son) is God. God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus (God the Son) in the virgin Marys womb (Matt. At this stage, your head may be swimming with all this new information about God! How can God be both one and three? I think it is because they lack at least two pieces of information: The main confusion is that many people dont get this distinction. Now lets go a little deeper and consider the triangles three corners (angles). The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible . We can discern and apprehend what it is. When Jesus answered the question, What is the greatest commandment? he prefaced the answer by quoting the. However, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity does not rest on one verse of Scripture, but is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. 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. Satan existed with the angels at the beginning of creation as one of the cherubim. 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). 2:10), convinces (John 6:44), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:18), commands (Acts 1:2), moves (John 11:33), helps (Rom. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. 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). Is referred to in the second person (you; Ps. (Ohand I'll send you my free guideThe Simplest Way to Study ANY Bible Passageas a "Thank you" for jumping on board!). 9:5; Col. 2:9), The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:34; 2 Cor. Thats what faith is being content with our own confusion while still knowing that God is bigger than we can comprehend. 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. 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. Now lets dig into these imperfect yet better than nothing representations of the Trinity for kids. They are higher than the heavenswhat can you do?, "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.. Does the Trinity mean that God is divided into three parts? 23:2324). The Son and Holy Spirit are equal in deity to the Father. The Trinity is more than just a vital doctrine. know that I recognise only one God. Its probably the most classic Trinity object lesson, but its not my favorite. 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. We begin with a brief discussion of the doctrine in historical context, explaining more fully the nature of the problem it raises. Among the worlds religions, the Christian faith is unique. 5:510; 1 Cor. My passion is helping you not just read and study the Bible, but truly enjoy it! *catholic, meaning universal here, and not a reference to the big C Catholic. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogiesmighthelp them grasp aspects of the Trinity. Nothing is more astonishing, more challenging, and more potentially life-transforming than knowing God.". Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org. We are referring to two different features of God: (1) his singular essenceor natureand (2) three Persons. According to the American Heritage Dictionary the word It's so simple, it fits on one page. So, the Trinity is incomprehensible. Heres how the triangle analogy can help: Consider a triangle with me. But all three must be present simultaneously for the geometric figure to be a triangle. The all powerful one who lives up in Heaven and either judges us mercilessly or loves us endlessly, depending on who you ask. The three members of the unholy trinity are Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. 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 . 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. As youll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way: I am a human being. 4:4; Col. 1:15), Eternal (John 1:1-3; 17:5; Col. 1:16-17; Jude 25), Omnipresent (Matt. Ibid, p. 255. Need help teaching your kids about communion, either at Sunday School or home? 3:17), Omnipresence (Ps. 2:6), The image of God (John 12:45; 2 Cor. The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. It included Jesus miraculous conception in the virgin Mary (John 3:16)an act that we call the incarnation.. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. 1:2), and empowers us for service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. We baptize into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. A beautiful mystery. The concept of the Trinity is that we have God in three forms - a union of three. He sanctifies us (1 Pet. This is a limitation on God that doesnt acknowledge that God isalwaysthe Father,alwaysthe Son, andalwaysthe Holy Spirit. Three parts in one, yet all very much an egg. 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. 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. Ive already done your research at my local library. 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. Monotheism is foundational to Christianity. After all, so much happens in the week leading up to the resurrection of Christ. How can one explain the Trinity simply to a new believer? "The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.. 10:57), The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. However, Matthew 28:19 is frequently used in attempts to prove that the Trinity is a biblical teaching. These three-in-one are called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity" In the Hindu Puranas there is this passage: 'O ye three Lords! One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. While theconceptof the Trinity is evident in the New Testament (Matt. The word Trinity does not appear even once in the Bible. This is one of the books of the Torah. He sent Jesus to save us and then completed our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. Three separate beings, all rolled into one entity. Go ahead and start with one of the object lessons above. They had to wait another 50 year for the 381 update. They are not merely modes or manifestations of the same person (as Oneness theology incorrectly asserts) who sometimes acts as Father, sometimes as Son, and sometimes as Spirit. Thats the one we think of as the Father. (So I won't send you any.) Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, and Jerome mention it. And we can delight in praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit (John 14:1314; Eph. But the Holy Spirit is not an it, but a He (see John 14:26; 16:7-15; Acts 8:16). 5:2122; John 13:34), End-time judgment (Matt. The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. In other words, what are the objective attributes or properties that make up all rocks? But analogies cannot entirely explain the mystery of God. Ask teenagers hard questions about the Trinity that will make them think, and dont bother trying to come equipped with the perfect answer to everything. The Trinity doctrine developed over hundreds of years and was influenced by the teachings of pagan Greek philosophers. The prologue of the Gospel of John has the strongest argument for the Trinity. As a former youth minister and childrens minister, Ive already done your research! Why, if they are ALL God? Most of them are less-than-helpful. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. While I believe that this is a helpful definition, it should be recognized that Grudem himself is offering this as more of an explanation than definition of Person. The Father and the Son are God almighty, omnipotent God. God the Father. passage also demonstrates Jesus' early declaration of the Trinity. Perfect for the Bible newbie or the long-time Bible reader. 31:3; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8), Righteous (Ps. Firstly, we agree that finite humankind is limited. Is God the same as Jesus? 2. Weve made a comparison between this object and the Trinity. Others seem to come by it naturally, and its just not fair! Its three things, but all are complete on their own. Because of Gods nature, several mysteries exist within our faith. 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. 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. Essence and person are not the same thing. This explains how God can be both one and three. The problem with this is that it reflects a heresy called modalism. Many non-Christians and new Christians often struggle with the idea of the Holy Trinity, where we break up God into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Subjection and subordination do not mean inequality. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. 2:11), emotions (Eph. 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. In this case, "immanent" means "the action remaining within an agent.". With teenagers, you want to take a different approach, and celebrate the mystery of it all. See if you can let kids arrive at the notion that God isnt really made up of parts. The answer is they are gray and hard. The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. 3:1417). However, you dont want to stop there with a student who can participate in a discussion. The wordtrinitymeans tri-unity or three-in-oneness.. 5:7). The personhood of each member of the Trinity means that each Person has a distinct center of consciousness. If you go to YouTube and search on explain the Trinity youll findlotsof videos. And interesting they are listed under a single name. This refers to Gods single essence. Therefore, there is one God with one divine nature and three divine Persons. In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Yes, the Spirit was sent, but this does not imply that the Holy Spirit is less than they are. The doctrine is critical, even if not easily comprehended. The only way humans can know about these mysteries is because the Bible teaches them. 42. It's easy to turn doctrinal discussions into strictly intellectual affairs, but as Dr. Fred Sanders teaches in The Triune God course, we need to do so "in a way that enlists the reader's strict and holy attention for what is essentially a spiritual exercise." 119; Prov. Second, notice that each Person must be deity because they are all placed on the same level. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesn't mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, "God loves you . When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. God addressed in the second person singular (you): 2 Sam. Further, we clearly should not think of God as consisting of anything other than divinity. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. 2:10), knows (1 Cor. The Holy Spirit was moving or hovering over the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2). Genesis 1:1says this: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. There are many illustrations which have been offered to help us understand the Trinity. More simply stated, the essence of any entity is what it is. 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.". We cannot entirelycomprehendan infinite God and these mysteries (Rom. Sun The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat. "It has been said that there have been four centuries when the church's understanding of the person of Christ has been most under attack. We believe God is one in essence. Within a week,, Read More Is It Normal that My 4 Year Old Can Read? The answer hinges on the differences in their unique roles. 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. What is the Trinity? The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Phil. The Bible is clear that all three Persons are each one hundred percent God. A rumor is started, and it spreads like wildfire. From the 1950s to the 2000s, people wanted to see if they could make computers exhibit intelligence indistinguishable from humans. In fact, would Jesus have us baptize in the name of a mere creature? Third, notice that although the three divine Persons are distinct, we are baptized into their name (singular), not names (plural). The Holy Trinity is depicted in the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar, Ethiopia. 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. ), "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. Of course we are speaking by analogy here, for we cannot understand this in a physical way about God. 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. God the Son. What a challenge! While there are some illustrations which are helpful, we should recognize that no illustration is perfect. Here are three I found to be really helpful. And God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit is God. 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. However, within the nature of this one God are three persons, or three centers of consciousness - the Father, the Son, and the . Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Lets move on to Scriptural evidence for the Trinity. But I hope you have learned that the Trinity is not contradictory. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.. How to Support Gifted Readers, 27 of the Best Yoto Cards for Kids (sorted by age group), 40 Surprising and Fun Bible Facts for Kids (with a FREE true/false printable game), Holy Week for Kids: How to Teach Beyond Easter Sunday, 15 Powerful Self Esteem Activities for Kids to Do at Home and in School. 1:18; Luke 1:2635). Finally I would end with Deuteronomy 29:29 which helps us to realize that we cannot fully comprehend God. What does essence mean? The Trinity confuses many people. OksoWhat about this idea of one being who exists in three persons?. Did your kids give each form of God different personality traits? 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). Steam, water, and ice are all H20. Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery. See if they can think of anything better, and be ready to discuss where different ideas might not quite work. Why do so many people struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity? Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. 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. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. It is fundamental to our worldview. In regards to the Trinity, we use the term Person differently than we generally use it in everyday life. They include: Now you have a basic understanding of the Trinity. I am also Keith Ferrin. Jesus, the Word, was present in Genesis 1. But as a follower of Christ, your identity can and should be grounded in one thing: who He says you are. Example 1: What is the nature or essence of a rock? The Trinity is a mystery beyond our comprehension (Isa. Omnipotence (Jer. Thats where the confusion comes from. Because humankind is limited, God will always exceed our knowledge and understanding (Isa.

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