Hi Mike,

Here I am one again. I thank you for your answers to my last questions. They certainly cast more light into my dim mind. I do not believe in the Trinity, but I am struggling to know exactly how to define what I believe. The article I have enclosed brings out the dilemma that I have. It goes like this. The Father and the Son are distinct Beings. There is the Father who in His sphere is described as God and then there is Jesus who is described as divine (and called God (and given the name of Almighty God by Almighty God) in his sphere. Clearly the Father is greater than Christ and is Christ’s Head and God, and Christ the Son of God is man’s Head and God. How does one describe this? One God in two persons who because they share the same spirit (mind or essence) are described as One God? In whatever way one understands the Father and Son, even as a Family, they are two divine beings. This must surely make a ‘Binity’. How do you define the Godhead in the light of these features?
Here is a quote from the article:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS. “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

Blessings,
B____

Hi B____,
It’s good to hear from you again. I’ll start with your quote above:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS.
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

There are several Biblical principles given to us to help us see the things of the spirit. One of those principles is that no prophecy is to be taken by itself.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Here is a much clearer version of what the Greek is saying in 2Pe. 

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.

So scripture is always to be taken in its sum, its totality.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

So when we take Joh 17:3 and use it in this way…:

“So does that make Trinitarians and anyone else who thinks that Jesus is God polytheists? It sure does! One God plus One God equals TWO GODS.
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Joh 17:3). Jesus’ own words.”

… is this person trying to make Christ contradict Himself when He says:

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

As you point out, those are Christ’s own wors. God has not placed upon any man the responsibility of giving any other person the ability to either believe or understand spiritual matters. But God has given to me the ability to see that Christ and you and I can all become God’s sons and still not impinge upon the oneness of God. The scriptures plainly state:

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called [ by God, Joh 10:34] gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 (a) Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…

Paul had no problem understanding that Christ had a God and a Father, and at the same time He understood that God’s children were, by their heavenly Father’s own declaration, lesser gods.

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

As I pointed out in that paper entitled Is God a Trinity, Christ’s defense for claiming to be the son of God was his quoting of Psa 82:6.

You ask:

I do not believe in the Trinity but I am struggling to know exactly how to define what I believe.  The following article brings out the dilemma that I have. It goes like this.  The Father and the Son are distinct Beings.  There is the Father who in His sphere is described as God and then there is Jesus who is described as divine and called God (and given the name of Almighty God by Almighty God) in his sphere.  Clearly the Father is greater than Christ and is Christ’s Head and God, and Christ the Son of God is man’s Head and God.  How does one describe this?  One God in two persons who because they share share the same spirit (mind or essence) are described as One God?  In whatever way one understands the Father and Son, even as a Family, they are two divine beings.  This must surely make  a Binity?  How do you define the Godhead in the light of these features?

I hope the verses I have quoted, which are inspired of the holy spirit, will help you to see that “I [ God] have said, Ye are gods… there are [ according to God] gods many… [ as “sons of God,” and of the same God family] but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and [ besides this “one” Father God] there is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.”
That makes perfect spiritual sense to me just as there is only one Adam, out of whom Eve came and we all subsequently by her.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Paul here, and Christ, in Joh 17:3, both think it is extremely important that we understand this principle, revealed at the beginning of this 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians:

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

This was written many years after Christ’s ascension to the right hand of His Father, and yet we are told “the head of Christ is God.” That doesn’t sound like a ‘binity’ to me. In scriptural terms “there are Gods many… [ yet] but one God of whom are all things.”
Your brother in Christ,

Mike

A___ wrote:

Thank you Mike for sharing the Word.  It brings such freedom in this otherwise world of bondage that everyone seems to want to put me in.  I will indeed pray for guidance from the Lord and ask His will in my life.  I have brought these points up to my husband in the past, and he got angry with me and said that I was just trying to plant bad seeds in his head and cause division.  That was not true at all.  So I had to stop discussing these things with him, and all I can do now is pray that the scales come off his eyes.  After all of this started happening, a friend of mine (who doesn’t attend church) told me about your site.  I have enjoyed it very much, and am happy that I found that I am not crazy.  May God bless you abundantly!  Have a great day. 

A___

Hi A__,
Letters like yours make all the persecution we suffer worthwhile. As you, too, are experiencing, it is not easy to remain faithful to God’s Word, but just when it seems we are being rejected by all, God sends words of encouragement that give us the inspiration we need to continue being faithful.
What Paul experienced is for our admonition:

2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

But in our darkest hour an angel comes to encourage us:

Act 27:22  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
Act 27:23  For t here stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Act 27:24  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Act 27:25  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

So “be of good cheer.” The hands we are in are much more reliable than ‘Allstate.’
Mike

Hello Sandi and Mike

Hope all is well. I have a question that my daughter asked me as I was listening to Mike’s “Christ… Through Our Offenses And Through Our Justification”.

The question was: How can I (that is me) be so sure that the scriptures [ bible] is the only authentic word of God and that the “holy books’ of the other religions are not and … why is Islam the fastest growing religion?

I could have told her about Satan deceiving the whole world including the Christian religion and about Babylon, but I think I would have ended up confusing her. I was not sure where to begin and end!

I was wondering if you could help me answer this question or even point me to a link in the site that addresses this?

Thanks

J____

Hi J____,
Thank you for your question.
You ask:

How can I (that is me) be so sure that the scriptures [ bible] is the only authentic word of God and that the “holy books’ of the other religions are not and … why is Islam the fastest growing religion?”

One reason Islam is growing so fast is that it never passes up an opportunity to point out the hypocrisy of “historical orthodox Christianity”. Many Christians bow down and worship before icons of Mary and Christ and many so- called saints. Islam does not do this Also they are very good at making sure that those to whom they are appealing see the inconsistency in teaching the first four commandments while at the same time violating every one of them. Because most professing Christians are so uncommitted to the teachings of Christ, because “historical orthodox Christianity places so much emphasis on free moral agency, and on man’s ability to make choices free from the influence of God, the Western ‘Christian’ world has essentially enshrined man as the one who decides what is man’s fate. Islam, on the other hand teaches that everything is preordained of ‘Allah.’ Here again, the Moslems are teaching a little bit of the Truth of God’s Word while Christianity ignores and denies God’s Truth:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

So one reason why Islam is growing so fast simply because Christianity has lost its connection with Christ who taught His followers to “love thine enemies.”

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Islam does not teach what Christ taught. Muhammad made no pretense of loving his enemies. But at least Moslems are honest about hating their enemies. The Jewish religion into which Christ was born was also taught to hate their enemies. Here is an example of what Christ referred to above:

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth :
1Sa 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. [“save alive nothing that breatheth”]

This was what God Himself told Israel to do, being a carnal nation. But the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16) is not to live by this “carnal commandment” which God gave His carnal people at that time:

Heb 7:11  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law ,) what further need [ was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 7:13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment , but after the power of an endless life.
Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Heb 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

We cannot conceive of God ever having a “carnal commandment” for a carnal nation. But that is exactly what He had. Physical Israel was as carnal as any of the nations around her:

Deu 9:4  Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 9:5  Not for thy righteousness , or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deu 9:6  Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Deu 9:7  Remember, [ and] forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.

Why did God bother to have a carnal nation? He had a carnal nation to show us that the church today is carnal and “has been rebellious against the Lord.”

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Everything that happened to Israel happened to them “for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The tings that happened to Israel was not for their admonition, but for ours:

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of [ your] souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Ever since Christianity became the accepted religion of Rome under Constantine, Christians have been taught the exact opposite of what Christ taught Peter and you and me:

Mat 26:51  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
Mat 26:52  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54  But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

“All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” is not logical to either the Christian or the Moslem or the Jewish mind. It is foolishness to them all:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It is impossible for the natural man to believe that he is to “love  his enemies” and refuse 12 legions of angels which could immediately right all of this wrong which we see around us. How utterly foolish to the natural man to not immediately right the wrong with his own sword. And yet here it is again:

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

The natural man simply “cannot receive… love your enemies… resist not evil… turn the other cheek.” It is the height of foolishness to him.
And it was just such faith which was displayed by Christians before Constantine adopted Christianity as the state religion of Rome. So long as Christians felt persecuted, they grew in numbers.
That is always what provides the dedication that produces great numbers of followers. When Christianity was so oppressed by Rome, Christianity grew exponentially. There was a time when Christians were willing to die for what they believed. Christians have never been suicidal as so many Moslems are today, but they were willing to lay down their lives for what they knew was coming later in spirit. But Christianity today is all about the here and now.
On the other hand Islam, as twisted as it is, still emphasizes the next life and promises great blessing there. That is one reason Islam is gaining on Christianity.
Christians were 33.2% of the earth’s population in mid 1990, while Islam was 17.7%. But ten years later Christians were 33% while Islams share had increased to 21%. This is all according to “the detailed country by country analysis done by David B. Barret’s religious statistics organization, whose data is published in the Encyclopedia Britannica.”
As for convincing your daughter that “the Bible is the only authentic word of God,” neither you nor I can do that. Here is why:

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [ Greek – drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Until the Holy Spirit first prepares your daughters heart and then drags her to Himself, “No man can come to me… except the Father… drag him.” Until that time Christ’s own parables are custom designed to keep them from seeing and hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Mat 13:1  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Christ taught the multitudes in parables. Why did he do this? His disciples wanted to know.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them [ the multitudes who seek to know Christ] in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

The beast within us wants to say that God blinds us because we refuse Him. Nothing could be farther from the Truth taught here and throughout God’s Word. The truth of God’s word is that He is working all things after the counsel of His Own will, and that we refuse him “because it is not given to us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

When then was this “election” made?

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Am I saying that your daughter is not part of God’s elect? Absolutely not. I pray, and you to need to pray that she is part of God’s elect. The apostle Paul was part of God’s elect “before the world began.” And yet it surely did not appear to be so while he was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.”

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Knowing and acknowledging God’s sovereignty does not keep his elect from crying out to Him for His mercy upon their loved ones and upon this world. In fact knowing and acknowledging God’s sovereignty make God’s elect to know that their heart- felt prayers for others are part of his sovereign will.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There is not hope of ever being at one with God until we confess the fact that we are not at one with Him. When we are at one with God, then we are healed. This is True even if God has seen fit that we, like Paul, must minister “through the infirmity of our flesh:”

Gal 4:13  Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

What I am pointing out is that the “ye may be healed” of Jas 5:16 refers much more to the eonian spirit than to the temporal flesh. Physical healing is of little value when given without spiritual healing of the heart and mind. When we are healed spiritually We can still function even when we must, by God’s sovereign decree “minister through infirmity of the flesh.”
Your daughter then must first be prepared of God to receive him. This is not something that you or I can do. Being brought to God is the work of His spirit in each life:

1Ch 29:18  O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
Psa 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

It will not be by her choice or by ours. It will happen at its appointed time and it will be His Work:

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Your daughter’s salvation, as well as yours and mine, is a matter of God showing mercy upon us. “He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens.” But as we do not know just who that is, we are to cry out for mercy. The formula for your daughters salvation as well as for ours is in Act 16:

Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [ them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

The ‘dragging’ of Joh 6:44 is the same thing as the “great earthquake” of Act 16. And it is all part of the ‘fire’ that is the Word of God in our lives. It is God’s Word which burns out the wood, hay and stubble which is in us all.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

It is ‘fire’ that both destroys and saves:

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

The ‘earth’ is you and me; the ‘earth’ is God’s own people who have rebelled against his Word:

Jer 22:2  And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by hese gates:
Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

It is out of this rebellious house that God calls His elect. And it is through his elect that “thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
It will be through your example, through your influence, through your readiness to give an answer to those who ask, that “your house will be saved.” It is all the work of the spirit, but God’s spirit works through those He calls to be used of Him.

1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

There is no ‘eternal hell fire’ awaiting anyone. Your daughter will come to know Christ and to know God through Christ. But she will very likely be brought to that point through you if you are used of God as a faithful witness to the end. I think you know that no one is saved while yet in this flesh:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption .
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

God is love. Rest in that love. He will bring your daughter to Himself in His appointed time.
In the meantime, you can point out to your her that the Bible is the only holy book of all the religions on the earth which prophesied of a coming Savior for all men. There were no prophecies of Buddha, or of Muhammad or Ghandi or of any other ‘holy’ man. Christ was promised only in the Bible. The Bible far exceeds the antiquity of any other holy writings. Only the Bible was written by various authors over thousands of years and yet, because it is written under the inspiration of God’s holy spirit, it agrees with itself from Genesis to Revelation.
Here is a prophecy of Christ hundreds of years before he came to earth to die for the sins of the world:

Isa 53:1  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [ there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [ our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5  But he [ was] wounded for our transgressions, [ he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [ was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [ was any] deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him [ a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Believers of Judaism, to this day, do not know what this chapter of their own Bible is all about. Like “historical orthodox Christians” today, Jews cannot see the things of the spirit. They are, to this day, looking for a Messiah who will make them the rulers of this earth. They cannot understand what the word ‘earth means in Biblical terms. They cannot “discern spiritual things.” Spiritual things to them and to most Christian’s are “just spiritual.” The real things, the things that matter are physical to both Christians and to Jews. And while the present emphasis in the Muslim religion is on the next life, they too, are expecting physical blessings, even in that life.
The Truth is as Peter said to Christ:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Joh 6:69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Christ told His followers that “the flesh profits nothing… no man can come to me except it were given him of my Father,” and “from that time many of His disciples went back and walked not more with Him.”
“The flesh profits nothing” was not a popular doctrine then, and it is even less popular today.
Peter was “given of the Father” to understand that Christ alone has the words of eternal life. But the only way Peter or you or me or your daughter can come to see this vital Truth is to have this revealed to us by the Father Himself:

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14  And they said, Some [ say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

That is the only way anyone ever comes to God. He reveals himself to them through Christ. But you must not confuse Christ with orthodox Christianity. Do not allow Catholicism to tell you that it was they who decided which books would be in the canon of scripture. Peter reveals to us that the apostles themselves were shown by God which epistles and Gospels were considered scripture.

2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Here is the apostle Peter referring to Paul’s epistles as scriptures.  It is obvious to any honest thinking person that God Himself had determined long before the Council of Nicaea what was and what was not scripture. Catholicism has actually added 14 books to scripture which God Himself has seen fit to disregard. The original King James Version also added these same 14 extra Biblical books which God Himself has see fit to reveal as not being divinely inspired.
I hope this gives you the peace of mind you need to approach your daughter. I think you probably realize that no one makes anyone see anything. That is all up to God’s holy spirit.
I pray that God will give you the ability to be an example to all of your family of what Christ can and does do in the life of those who are His. I will close with a couple of scriptures of admonition for us all:

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (Read Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth for more information on that subject)
1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Never become “puffed up with knowledge.” Always answer any who first “ask you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Your Brother in  Christ,

Mike

M____ wrote:
About witnessing,  how do you do that.  All I was asking for the contents of what would you say to someone about after- life if they asked it because if they don’t know anything about the after- life, and we start to say aions vs. orthodox beliefs, etc., it can cause confusion, or they might say “well, go through the fire now or I go through it later, I’ll just go through it later.”
Mike, this question is not to go against aion; this question is to see what would you say to avoid this type of situation from happening because he that wins souls is wise.
If I am going to get on this aion horse, I need to know everything about it. 
M____

Hi M____,
Thank you for your question. You ask about witnessing to the truth of God’s Word.
It takes the inspiration of the holy spirit to give us the right words to speak at the right time. It is but the efforts of a carnal mind to try and force anyone to see the truths in God’s Word. It is only natural for us to want others to see what we have been so freely given to see. But it is not given to the multitudes to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them [ the multitudes who come to Christ] in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

This is what Paul was dealing with in the church at Corinth which was wanting to identify with the various messengers instead of the message:

1Co 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

The orthodox churches can read this, but they cannot see or hear that it is speaking of them and their thousands of denominations all founded by men and not by Christ. Is Christ divided? According to those who teach “unity in the essentials and tolerance in the nonessentials”, Christ is very divided. But Christ and His Truth do not depend upon the opinions of men. The majority, no matter how great it is, does not impress Him who is The Truth. His Word is who He is, and it does not change to suit either the so- called essentials or the nonessentials. It has never changed, and it is as it always was and always will be, the simple Truth.
Now this is also true for the subject of babes in Christ who are still in Babylon. There is not one gospel for babes and another for those on the “strong meat” of God’s Word. I urge you to read Strong Delusion – Will God’s Strong Delusion Deceive You? The same gospel containing both the milk and the meat, is simply received in “babes in Christ” as the “Christ and Him crucified” milk that the entire orthodox Christian church thrives on to this very day. It is true that Christ died for our sins, but if that is all you are ever able to receive, then you will spiritually die of spiritual malnutrition. ‘The heir, as long as he is a babe is no different from a slave’ to sin and death.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

When you witness for Christ, your witness is much more a matter of how you live your life than it is whether you understand the doctrine of universal salvation. It is not incumbent upon any of us to tell those in Babylon about the doctrine of universal salvation, unless God gives us the opportunity to do so. When that opportunity arrives then by all means, “be ready to give and answer to him that asks you a reason for the hope that lies within you, with meekness and fear.”

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to [ give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The “sanctified heart” comes first because that is our walk. Our way of life speaks so loud that people cannot hear what we say:

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

The doctrine of universal salvation is what Hebrews six calls in the King James “eternal judgment.”

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving [ Going beyond] the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection [ Greek – completion]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Those are the six “milk” doctrines of “the first oracles of God.” They are one and all for “carnal… babes in Christ.”

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able .
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal , and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

“Carnal… babes in Christ” are just as much a prize for the Adversary as are the completely uninitiated. His goal is to keep us out of the kingdom of God at whatever the cost. Whether we ever get beyond this “carnal… babes in Christ” stage is entirely up to the holy spirit of God. So be ready to witness for Christ. But don’t be overly anxious about what you are to say. Here is what we are told to remember in every situation:

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

“When they deliver you up” is not the only time God’s spirit will tell you what to say. Anyone who is hungry for God’s Truth and is into His Word will always be made ready by the holy spirit to give an answer in every situation.
I appreciate your interest, and you do need to be familiar with what the Bible says about the subject of the aions. But you do not need to worry about how anyone will receive this Truth. Opening eyes is the work of the holy spirit alone.
I hope this helps you to see that your main concern should be to live a sanctified life. Always be digging into God’s Word and those very words which are spirit, the words of God himself, will make you ready and will give you the words you need when you need them.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mike

I just happened upon iswasandwillbe. com today. I was wondering why the Bible is God’s word. I am very interested as I have never fully answered the question myself.

G____

Hi G____,

First of all, let me say that you didn’t just ‘happen on upon iswasandwillbe. com today’. That ‘happening’ was none other than the deliberate work of God Himself.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

To be honest with you, it’s hard for me to discern the motives behind your question. Motives are important because my true desire is to abide only in the doctrine of Jesus Christ. I’m going to address both possible motives so that either way, I can remain ‘true and faithful’ to that doctrine. If you are writing your question in an effort to debate whether the Holy Scriptures are true and divinely inspired by God or are simply some great conspiracy that has been concocted by man, then our conversation must end. The reason for not entering such a foolish debate would be Christ in me, causing me to remain ‘faithful’ to His doctrine which clearly states not to do just that:

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Yes, your question, if asked with this first motive would undoubtedly be classified a ‘foolish question’ and one that has nothing to do with you asking me of the ‘reason of the hope that is within me with meekness and fear’. On the other hand, and I hope your question comes from this other hand, if your motive is to truly know where in the Holy Scriptures, we get confirmation that the words are actually those of God then I leave you with the following:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration (Gk. ‘theopneustos’ meaning divinely breathed) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That’s right, ‘all scripture’ is divinely breathed. But look at what else we see.

Joh 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word (Gk. Logos), and the Word (Gk. – logos) was with God, and the Word (Gk. – logos) was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And who is the Word that was in the beginning, was with God, was God, and was in the beginning with God? It was none other than Jesus Christ. That’s right… Jesus Christ is the word of God.

Joh 1:14 And the Word (Gk. – logos) 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.

I know you’re probably saying to yourself right now “Isn’t Jesus Christ and God one and the same?” Absolutely not! Read Mike’s article entitled ‘Is God a Trinity?’ for a better understanding of the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. But for the purpose of answering your question, you must come to see that all is of God, even Jesus Christ.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Yes, we are to understand ‘the invisible things of him from the creation of the world’ by understanding the things that are made, including the very Godhead itself.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

And what ‘thing that is made’ gives us such an example. It is marriage. Just like Eve is of Adam and is the mother of all living, so is Christ of God and the mother of all living. Christ is what God used to bring about all of creation.

Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Col 1:13-16 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Yes, Christ was created by God. He is, was and will be the beginning of the creation of God and through Him are all things. But look also at what we are told about these words.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

So from Christ Himself, we learn that His words are spirit and that this spirit is what give us life. And what is spirit?

Joh 4:24 God is a (the article ‘a’ is not in the original manuscripts) Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

So this is proof yet again that God is in His words, and in His Word Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ is all that God is. The very words He spoke and the very doctrine that He proclaimed are all ‘of God’ yet ‘through Christ’.

Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Joh 14:18 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

For now, only in the throne is the Father greater than the Son.

Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

So this is how I know the Holy Scriptures to be God’s word. Because I know His word to be Truth, because I know Jesus Christ who is the Word, and because I know that all has been given to Christ until He returns it back to His Father. Then and only then will the Father be All in all.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

I hope that this has answered your question and pray that you come to know this very same Truth.

Rob