Introduction: A God Worth Knowing Deeply

In a world full of confusion, watered-down preaching, and motivational speeches masquerading as sermons, there are still people who hunger for truth—for sound doctrine, for the fear of the Lord, and for a real understanding of who God is.

Many believers know about God, but few take time to truly know Him as He reveals Himself in Scripture: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The Trinity isn’t a manmade theory—it’s the foundation of everything we believe. Without it, there’s no Gospel, no salvation, and no indwelling Spirit.

Understanding the Trinity helps us understand the heart of God, the work of Christ, and the presence of the Spirit who lives in every believer.

Yet for most every one of us, it’s hard to grasp how one God can exist in three Persons. Children ask about it. Adults wrestle with it. And that’s okay—because we’re not trying to fit God into our understanding because our human minds are limited and God is not limited in any way! Think about how AMAZING God happens to be. It’s always hard for us to understand that! So we must allow His Word to reveal who He is. That’s the only way!

This study is written for anyone who wants to grow deeper in truth, strengthen their family’s faith, and learn how to explain the Trinity clearly—to children or adults who might be struggling with the understanding of the Trinity. Just remember that we all struggle with this because God is so great.

If you’ve ever asked, “How can I understand the Trinity?” or “How can I explain the Trinity?”— this page is for you.

The Mystery and the Majesty of God

The Bible teaches that there is one God who exists eternally in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

We do not believe in three gods, but one God revealed in three co-equal, co-eternal Persons. Each Person is fully God, yet there is only one divine nature. The Word in the verse above = Jesus Christ who is called the Word of God.

The Father is God. The Son, Jesus Christ, is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Each are fully God on their own. For example, when Jesus Christ was in the flesh at His first coming, when people saw Him, He was (He is) God. Always. Jesus never ceased from being God at any moment nor will He ever cease from being God. Same thing with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Let’s break down 1 John 5:7 in detail as this will help.

1 John 5:7 — What it Says and Why it Matters

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1) “There are three that bear record…”

John uses legal-witness language. God reveals truth with corroborating testimony.

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

God Himself provides the highest testimony about His Son: not merely one witness, but three—perfect agreement, impossible to overturn.

2) “…in heaven…”

The origin of this testimony is divine, not human. Heaven’s court bears witness about Jesus Christ. That means the doctrine taught here is from God, not from men. This is big time. HEAVEN IS BEARING RECORD! I get excited when talking about heaven!

3) “…the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost…”

The Father: openly testifies about the Son. He is the GREATEST WITNESS in existence-the majesty on high!

Matthew 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Word: John’s title for the Son, Jesus Christ—eternal, divine, and personal.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Holy Ghost: sent by the Father and the Son to testify of Christ.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

So, each divine Person actively bears witness to Christ, and all three agree perfectly.

4) “…and these three are one.”

This is the clearest, simplest confession of the Trinity: one God in three distinct Persons—co-equal, co-eternal, undivided in essence, will, and work. Not three gods (tritheism). Not one Person wearing three masks (modalism). Three Persons; one God.

John 10:30
I and my Father are one.

5) The flow of the passage (vv. 6–8)

Verse 7 sits inside John’s broader “witness” theme: who testifies about Jesus and how God has established the case.

1 John 5:6
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1 John 5:8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Heavenly witnesses (v. 7): the Father, the Word (the Son), and the Holy Ghost—who God is.
Earthly witnesses (v. 8): the Spirit, the water (Christ’s baptism/ministry), and the blood (His atoning death)—what God did in Christ.

Together, heaven and earth agree: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the only Savior.

6) What God expects us to do with this testimony

God’s own witness about His Son demands faith.

1 John 5:9
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Believing God’s testimony about Jesus brings life.

1 John 5:11–12
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Explaining 1 John 5:7 Simply

One God. Three Persons.
The Father says Jesus is His Son.
The Son (the Word) came to save us.
The Holy Ghost tells us the truth about Jesus.
All three always agree—and these three are one.

You can say: “God is one. He has revealed Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. They are always together, always telling the same truth about Jesus—and these three are one.”

One God – Three Persons

Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

John 1:1–3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Acts 5:3–4
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Ghost is God. Yet the Bible never says there are three Gods—only one.

Ephesians 4:4–6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Explaining It Simply

No earthly comparison can capture the fullness of God’s being, but these illustrations help children grasp part of the truth:

Water can be ice, liquid, or vapor—three forms, one substance.
The Sun gives light, heat, and power—three expressions, one source.
A person can think, speak, and act—different functions, same being.

These are imperfect, but they show the unity and diversity that exist in God. He is not divided or changing forms—He is eternally three in one.

How to Explain the Trinity to Children

For children—especially those who are more logical and more visual, simple truths work best and remember that God will be there helping to explain these things as well as He wants them to understand:

There is one God.
God has shown Himself in three ways:
- The Father loves us and sent His Son.
- The Son—Jesus—died for our sins and rose again.
- The Holy Ghost lives inside believers and helps us follow God.
They are always together and always agree.

You can tell them:

God is one, but He lets us know Him in three ways—like one family name shared by three who love and work perfectly together.

John 14:16–17
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In these verses, all three—Father, Son, and Spirit—work together. The Son prays, the Father sends, the Spirit comes.

The Trinity in Salvation

1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

The Father planned salvation.
The Son accomplished salvation.
The Spirit applies salvation to our hearts.

Without the Trinity, there would be no Gospel—no Savior sent, no Spirit indwelling, no Father receiving His children.

John 3:16–17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Faith, Not Confusion

The Trinity cannot be dissected like a science experiment—it must be believed by faith. God does this for everything! He simply wants us to put our faith in Him and His words. And this is what unlocks everything for us including our understanding. We come to Him in faith!

Romans 11:33–36
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

We trust what the Bible says even when we cannot explain every detail. Our human minds are limited, but God’s Word is sure. And we simply give all that to faith! And God increases our understanding.

How to Grow in This Truth

John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Knowing the Trinity means knowing God as He truly is. At True Words Baptist Church, we teach the Word verse by verse so that you and your family can grow in understanding the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—the one true God revealed in Scripture.

Encouragement for Parents Explaining Spiritual Truths to Children

Children often think concretely and value order. God is a God of order, and His truth never changes. Use short, clear statements, visuals, and repetition.

Show them that:

God is one.
God has three parts of Himself we can know.
All three are always together.

Keep it simple, repeat it often, and let Scripture speak for itself.

Psalm 119:130a
The entrance of thy words giveth light;

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Matthew 3:16–17 — The Trinity Revealed in One Scene

I wanted to include this example because this is my go to example in showing someone when out preaching the Gospel that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons. You can clearly see this in these Scriptures that God gave to us:

Matthew 3:16–17
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

1) Three Divine Persons, Present and Acting Simultaneously

The Son is on earth, in the water—obediently submitting to baptism.
The Spirit is seen descending like a dove and lighting upon the Son.
The Father speaks from heaven, identifying and approving the Son.

This is not one Person taking turns (modalism). It is three distinct Persons acting at the same time—yet one God.

2) Clear Personal Distinctions

The Father speaks: “This is my beloved Son” (a real relationship—Speaker and Son, not one Person pretending to be two).
The Spirit descends and remains upon Jesus (a personal act, not an impersonal force).
The Son obeys and is anointed for His public ministry.

John 1:32–34
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

3) Unity of Essence and Work

All three Persons act together in perfect agreement:

The Father publicly owns the Son: “my beloved Son… well pleased.”
The Spirit anoints and empowers the Son for His mission.
The Son fulfills all righteousness, stepping into His Messianic work.

This fulfills the Old Testament promise of God’s Servant, loved by the Father and endowed with the Spirit:

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

4) Why This Is a “Best” Example of the Trinity

Simultaneity: Father, Son, and Spirit are all present at once.
Visibility/Audibility: The Spirit is seen; the Father’s voice is heard; the Son is there in the water.
Role Clarity: Distinct actions, one purpose—no confusion of Persons, no division of Deity.

This same triune Name later grounds Christian baptism:

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(Note “name” is singular—one God—followed by three Persons.)

5) For Children and Concrete Thinkers

Ask three simple questions right from the text:

Who is in the water? — Jesus, the Son of God.
Who comes down like a dove? — The Spirit of God.
Who is speaking from heaven? — The Father.

Then say: “One God showed Himself here as the Father speaking, the Son obeying, and the Holy Ghost coming upon Him—these three always agree and are one.”

6) What This Moment Announces

Jesus is the beloved Son—the promised Messiah.
The Spirit’s anointing marks the start of His public ministry.
The Father’s voice gives heaven’s endorsement—no higher witness exists.

Psalm 2:7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Doctrinal Summary

There is one God.
God is three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Each Person is fully God.
They are co-equal and co-eternal.
They never disagree, never act separately, and always work together in perfect unity.

1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Understanding the Trinity: One God in Three Persons