Or an Egg, three separate parts: White, Yolk, Shell, yet all one egg.
Also, a Tree: Roots, Branches, Trunk, all distinct yet all make up the whole.
I don't want to sound picky, but those examples are really modalistic, which is to say the parts make up the whole, which is not what Scripture teaches.
What Scripture reveals is there is One Essence which is God, and is revealed in three distinct Persons or Personalities who are co-equally of the exact same Essence God, not a subset of God, or a component that when added to the other components comprises the whole as in the examples you gave.
I hope you are not offended, but it's important that we use examples that are not confusing or inaccurate.
Ultimately, any example we try to use will break down as insufficient.
One of the best, if not the best statements concerning the Triunity of God is found in the Athanatian Creed. It's about as good as it gets.
Yeah, but this thread is the Trinity made easy. ;^)
No, I am not offended. I always appreciate a person who is on the look out against modalism!
But, I have to disagree with you, that my examples display such an apostasy.
I have eaten a yolk, haven't you? A yolk and a shell are distinct parts; the White is completely different. They can be separate, exist on their own, yet they are all egg.
Have you ever seen a tree cut down, yet the roots remain? And another tree springs from that root? The Tree trunk is made into lumber. Branches can be cut off, others grafted in, yet the tree remains. They are all separate, yet one.
Each of my examples express the same idea. Separate, different functions, yet one.
Modalism says that one, is mearly taking on different roles. It is like a person who takes on different roles, or "modes". Such as you: you are a "child" of your parents, a "spouse" in your marriage, and a "parent" to your children---three yet one. You are one person in three different roles. THAT is modalism---and it is apostasy. It is saying that Jesus prayed to himself---he called himself his "son". And the worst it says is that Christ did not actually die, because of course God can not die. But, Christ, in his humanity, because he is a distinct person, did die and was raised from the dead to pay the price of our sins. He conquered death in the flesh. And now we too have that same victory over death! We will not die, we will also rise from our graves and walk in renewed, uncorrupted flesh!