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Explaining the Trinity
Disclaimer: Any explanation of the Trinity falls short of the magnificent reality of one God revealing himself in three persons. It is impossible explain God, the creator of everything, by comparing the Trinity to an apple or water. Ultimately, it requires faith to accept the revelation of God as the Holy Trinity—but it is the truth that everyone who is Christian believes and teaches.
Supplies Needed Apple, knife, water, ice, and a cup of very hot water so the steam can be seen.
Grab an apple and share these five truths with your kids: o An apple has three parts: the seeds, the flesh, and the skin. When you cut an apple in half, you can see that each of these three parts are different (at this point, you can cut the apple open).
o The skin is like God the Father because He protects us. o The flesh is like God the Son because Jesus Christ took on human flesh. o The seeds are like God the Holy Spirit because He through His power, we grow in faith. o Each of the parts of an apple are different, but they are ALL apple.
So are the persons of God all different (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), yet they are ALL God.
These three forms of water can remind us of God's unique qualities:
Ice, the solid form of water reminds us of God the FATHER. Ice is hard. It is solid. In the same way, God the FATHER is our solid foundation. "You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong; your right hand is ever exalted. Justice and judgement are the foundation of your throne; mercy and faithfulness march before you." (Psalm 89:14- 15 ).
Liquid form of water reminds us of God the SON. We use water to clean ourselves. In the same way, God the SON, died on the cross to cleanse us of our sin. Jesus is also called the Living Water (John 4:10)—that’s where we get the name of our Area Faith Community: Jesus Our Living Water! "How much more will the blood of Christ…cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14).
Steam, the gas form of water reminds us of God the HOLY SPIRIT. Gas cannot be seen, but you can see its effects; as the steam rises or when we felt the warmth of the steam. In the same way, the HOLY SPIRIT cannot always be seen, but the effects of his presence can be felt in our lives as the HOLY SPIRIT works to make God’s will known to us and to change us to become more like Jesus. "When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide
you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; but he will speak only what he hears, and will declare to the things that are coming." (John 16:13).
The next time you drink a glass of water, see an ice cube, feel steam, or eat an apple, let them remind you that God is three Persons in One!
The word Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, but the Hebrew word for God appears approximately 2,570 times in the Old Testament writings. There are plenty of Scripture references (in both the Old and New Testaments) that display the nature of God and interrelationship of the Trinity such as those listed below.
Genesis 1:1- 2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
John 1:1-2, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made...The Word became flesh (Jesus) and made his dwelling among us."
Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, (Jesus) and they will call him Immanuel—which means, ‘God with us.’"
John 14:9, 11 "…Anyone who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father…Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me…"
John 14:25- 26 "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name (Jesus) will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
Ephesians 1:13- 14 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."
Colossians 1:15- 20 "He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
