The Trinity

Scripture teaches us God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is what we call the Trinity. It is important to understand God is not a ghost, a force, or an impersonal spirit.

God reveals Himself as “Father,” which means He must have a child. And He does. The eternal Father has always had a Son. And this Son came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus brings other people into a relationship with God the Father so that God can have lots and lots of kids, and we can all have the best Father imaginable. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.

He is the One who binds the Father and the Son together in love and who binds us together with the Father, reminding us all the time that we are God’s children. Throughout Scripture (the Bible), we learn God is one being in three persons. The Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God. Paul said of the Father, “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV). Jesus said of Himself, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30 ESV). Finally, Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7 ESV).

You can pray to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Our prayers are heard by God the Father because of Jesus’s sacrifice and with the Holy Spirit’s help. So, we pray to the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. If you are a Christian, God the Holy Spirit is always with you. In fact, the Spirit stays in relationship with you and helps you pray to the Father and Jesus. Because God is one being in three persons, each member of the Trinity is listening to you, loving you, and ready to guide you when you pray.

Discuss with your child:

• How can you better connect with God, your church, or your friends and family?
• Do strong, healthy connections with other humans help your relationship with God?