The Trinity

Explaining the Trinity at any rate can be a difficult task, let alone how you would explain it to a child. This is because the word “trinity” does not appear in the bible, yet the function of it most certainly does. We have to remember:

Isaiah 55: 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Ultimately, we can never wrap our heads around all the complexities of God, otherwise he wouldn’t be God. Yet, it is a good practice to continue to grow in our knowledge of him. The trinity is complex to say the least. We actually have the catholic church to thank, for coining the phrase “trinity” which is a triune God. One God but in different persons. There is God the Father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit. All three work together, and sometimes only one will be identified in the bible determining the situation. For me personally, this is best and most simplistic example of all three of the trinity showing up at the same time doing different things…

Matthew 3:16-17

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  

Jesus in human form is being baptized, the Holy Spirt is resting on him like a dove and God audibility is speaking from the heavens over his son.

So, the best way to explain the trinity to your child is this: “The trinity means by definition: The Christian Godhead as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The most important thing to communicate is there is ONE GOD. We do not serve, worship, love or follow multiple gods. We look to God alone, but we also hold the tension that he can show up in other forms. This is important to know, because God did not create all of existence including you and I because he was bored and alone. He was living in community with the trinity. This also provides a way where God relates with us as a sacrificial parent with Jesus, and Jesus could be sent to Earth to living among us. Then when Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, he sent his spirt to guide us, give us boldness and draw us to Jesus. All three working together as one.

Can you pray to Jesus? Sure.

God the father? Absolutely.

The Holy Spirit? Yep, totally.

They are all God.

There is an incredibly helpful picture to illustrate how the trinity works, again to the best of our knowledge.