Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

There are many scriptures in this Psalm and throughout God’s word that declare that “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation”, and in this particular Psalm we are being encouraged to see the careful and perfectly designed process that God is causing to unfold to save His children as were brought to be convinced that He can “save now” and “bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar“.

We are called to have a blessed assurance of what God has promised He will do through us as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), who are being sacrificed as Christ was for the world (Joh 3:16) laying up a good foundation of works through Christ which will assure our hearts that we are in fact His workmanship in this age, whose good pleasure it is to give us the kingdom .

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jn 3:19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [Rom 14:23]
1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. [Rom 8:16]

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come [the times to come (Mat 24:7, Luk 17:28)], that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Tit 3:14  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Here is a list of some of the words in this Psalm alone which point to the assurance we have in Christ who declares we can and will drink the cup of His suffering which symbolizes our filling “up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” It is those sufferings that help produce the good works which God says are foundational to our calling, and those works are accomplished “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” and that power is represented by  the “horns of the altar” (Mar 10:39, Col 1:24, Zec 4:6).

• I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place
• The LORD is on my side
• The LORD taketh my part
• All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them
• but the LORD helped me.
• The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation
• the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
• Open to me the gates of righteousness
• bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar

The more we confirm these promises of being able to overcome by His power in this age, the better. We are being raised in earnest today (Eph 2:6) by his power (Php 3:10-12, Joh 11:25-26) hopeful we will one day experience the fullness of that resurrection in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52). The fruit which is born as a result of being steadfast and going through much tribulation in this age (2Pe 3:18, Act 14:22) is described in these following verses (Eph 3:16-21).

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection [Joh 11:25-26], and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[Paul is striving for the mark of the prize of the high calling [the first resurrection] (Php 3:14) and understands that he has been “apprehended of Christ Jesus” for that purpose and is following after him with a steadfast spirit in hopes that he may obtain to that blessed and holy first resurrection knowing this can be accomplished by continuing in the faith and going through much tribulation (Act 14:22). He clearly shows us by what he is saying in these verses above that he understands that boasting is excluded by the law of faith as he strives or follows after that he “may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Rev 20:6, Rom 3:27)]

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Verses that speak of giving thanks and praise for the salvation promised:

• O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever
• The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
• The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: [because] the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
• I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation
• Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD

God’s mercy is shown to His elect by binding “the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” being expressed by Paul with these words [“I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus“]

• Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever

Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Another way that this verse is expressed is found in Psalm 107:26-32 where we learn what the meaning of “the day which the LORD hath made” is, and how blessed we are to be judged first, today, in this day of the Lord or “day which the LORD hath made“.

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Act 26:23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess [for our old man], a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath [against our old man], a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

It takes God’s strong judgment against our flesh to bring us to a place of rejoicing and being glad as expressed in these verses:

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.

Tit 2:12  Teaching^G3811 us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth^G3811, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

We are learning of God’s power through the things which we suffer, not by avoiding the trials, but rather by being perfected through them, and that leads to our rejoicing as we learn through these experiences of judgment and suffering that He is faithful and that we can commit our souls to Him as unto a faithful creator.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psa 118:14  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psa 118:15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psa 118:18  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Psa 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Here is Peter’s and Paul’s inspired conclusion in regard to all suffering:

1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit [meaning if the spirit is not in you, you will NOT be raised up until the second resurrection] of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [Rom 8:9]

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:12  Therefore [because of God’s spirit working in our heavens], brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [Rom 6:11]

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

[Not everyone has this hope today within them:  Col 1:27, Rom 8:25, Rom 8:9, Mat 22:14]

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [Heb 11:25-27]

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [type of being dead to sin and alive in Christ  (Rom 6:11)]
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [type of being saved by hope which we don’t see (Rom 8:24)]

Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

“Save now“, judge me now is what we are being told, also expressed this way from King David who is a type of the elect:

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you [Col 1:27, Rom 8:9], except ye be reprobates?

Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

The words “O LORD: O LORD” in Psalm 118:25 are uttered twice to remind us of the witness that it is only through Christ our Lord that we can find true “prosperity” which God sends our way. Christ is sent to us, and we are prospered so that we can be sent as He was to bring spiritual prosperity to others.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

We can only bless people when we come “in the name of the LORD“, and it is through Christ alone that we can come in obedience to the commandments of God, not just keeping His words but being doers of his word.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God is sending us forth as the body of Christ for this express purpose of blessing and not cursing and overcoming evil with good as Christ did.

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We bless people as one body coming “out of the house of the LORD” as we witness His discipleship in working together as one body with many members.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Unless the veil is ripped, we won’t see the light about which is being spoken in this verse which the LORD has shown us. The veil is flesh (Heb 10:20, Exo 27:21), and the flesh is the body of Christ (Eph 5:30, Col 1:24) and this veil is torn little by little (Exo 23:30) or from glory to glory (2Co 3:7-18, Psa 84:7) to bring us to understand, declare and be persuaded that “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” and that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:39).

“God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light”, and He is also the one who binds the “sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” as explained in Exodus 29:1-46. The last three verses of Exodus 29 reveal that the purpose behind all these sacrifices being offered is to “sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar” which represent to the body of Christ that is being prepared for the world as a living sacrifice (1Co 3:16). The sanctification of the priest is accomplished through the sacrifices being offered that represent our giving our whole life in service to God. The altar represents the cross of Christ which we bear for each other as those whom He has made kings and priests (2Co 1:22, Gal 6:2, Rev 1:6).

Exo 29:44  And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office.
Exo 29:45  And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Exo 29:46  And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

God is the one who gives us the power through Christ to “bind the sacrifice“, and it takes the three-fold cord process of maturing through judgment in the church [Christ’s body] to make the bride ready. It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom in earnest today, and He knows the plans He has for us and where all this sacrifice is leading. So we have great reason to be glad and rejoice today, right NOW! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Eph 3:13  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

Let us rejoice, let us be glad, let us not fear, and above all these things let us “give honour to him” as His little sealed remnant who have been blessed to receive of His incredible mercy and kindness in this age.

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives, and the spirit bears witness that we are His children (Rom 8:16) who are blessed to declare “Thou artmy God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee“. God gives us the power through Christ to overcome, and therefore we say “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” for He is the reason we can believe, and he is our helper (Heb 13:6, Psa 54:4) who helps us build up the body of Christ in love (Joh 14:12, Joh 14:26, Eph 4:16).

Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

A most fitting way to end this Psalm is to give thanks for the undeserved mercy which He has extended to the weak of the world who are first called and chosen to be sanctified and made “meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Those good works could never be accomplished unless we were (being) sanctified by our Lord (Joh 17:17, Joh 16:13) and as we have seen, it is “Aaron and his sons” who are first sanctified, an event which typifies these words: “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 44

(Key verses: Gen 9:9-11, Gen 17:5-8)

[Study Aired May 1, 2014]

We are continuing with the theme of covenants as they appear in the Scriptures which all help us to understand a few important spiritual aspects involved in this theme. All these aspects are included in the one “everlasting covenant” of God to make all in Adam spiritually perfect in Christ (Rom 1:20, Eph 2:11-12, Heb 8:6-7, Heb 13:20-21). Some of the aspects we briefly covered included the cutting of flesh (typified by the killing of animals during covenant making) and the cataclysmic changes or metamorphosis that covenants bring about (2Co 3:18, Rom 12:2). The first time the word “covenant” appears in Scripture is in relation to the flood in Noah’s days where things on the earth were changed to usher in a brand new world for the eight people who were inside the ark. That flood was used by God as a type to show us how the spiritual or everlasting covenant will be applicable through the death of the first man Adam in all of us (Rom 6:3-11, Heb 13:20, Gal 2:20).

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The “filth of the flesh” pertains to all physical and carnal things, but even more so to our own carnal conscience. God’s creation of flesh, with its natural mind, was never His final product with the generation of the first Adam. Flesh and blood is just the first step in the process of eventually making man after the exact spiritual image of God:

Gen 1:27 (CLV) And creating [The Hebrew verb is in the imperfect mood which indicates an action, process or condition which is incomplete] is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them.

God created the carnal mind as a false and deceitful witness as it walks in the valley of the shadow of death of spiritual wickedness and darkness (Isa 45:7, Pro 6:1, Psa 23:4, Rom 8:6-8, Eph 6:12):

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Jer 17:9 The [natural] heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Through that covenant with Noah, and all other subsequent physical covenants mentioned in the Scriptures, God established the spiritual patterns of how all in Adam will go through the judgment process to save us from the “filth of flesh” to be able to enter into the spiritual mind and life of God through Christ Jesus (Heb 9:27, Rom 6:23, Isa 26:9). The first time the Hebrew word “berı̂yth” was used for covenant in the Scriptures it pertained to Noah (Gen 6:17-22, Gen 8:20-22, Gen 9:9-11):

Gen 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Gen 6:18 But with thee [Noah] will I establish my covenant [Hebrew: berı̂yth]; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

The destruction of all flesh is the only way all spiritual blessings are brought to us (Eph 1:3, Rev 5:12-14). This brings to the fore another interesting aspect of covenants. We read about the promise of blessing in the covenants God made with Noah and Abraham, among others:

Gen 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful [Hebrew: “pârâh”=growth], and multiply [Hebrew: “râbâh”=increase], and replenish [Hebrew: “mâlê/mâlâ”=full/wholly] the earth.

Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful [Hebrew: pârâh], and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Gen 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

God’s covenant promises include blessings of fruitfulness and rulership over all the earth. After we are given to accept that all things in the flesh will be taken from us, we learn that all “these things” will be replaced by “better things” which our natural man cannot grasp at this time (Mat 6:31-34, 2Co 2:14, Heb 8:6, Heb 10:34, Heb 11:16, Heb 11:40, Heb 12:24). We see these “better things” also in type in the life of Job after he was stripped of all physical possessions and his ten children in a short but intensive devastating series of events (Job 1-2). Added to this were his dealings with his own self-righteous thoughts and the condemnations of his so-called comforters. The Lord made Job fruitful again and blessed “the latter end of Job more than his beginning” as a type of what our spiritual inheritance in Christ is, even in down payment in this life (Ecc 7:1, Mat 5:5, Mat 19:29, Mat 25:34, Act 20:32, Rev 21:7):

Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Job 42:14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
Job 42:15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
Job 42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.

Every physical thing we lose in judgment is for our good because “the breath” of the old life is taken away (Gen 2:7, Gen 7:22, Job 12:10). Only when our old life is blotted out will the “times of refreshing” come:

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing [Greek: “anapsuxis”=a recovery of breath] shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

The Greek word “anapsuxiz” means the recovery of breath or to be revived from death. What the world proclaims as “revival” is nothing more than the regaining and accumulation of physical things and the boasting with earthly possessions. The real spiritual revival is only found in the repentance from the dead works of flesh and a spiritual conversion to have the mind of Christ (Heb 6:1-2, 1Cor 15:31, 1Cor 2:16, Heb 12:2). The “times of restitution of all things” has nothing to do with getting back physical kingdoms and things of this world, but everything to do with that which is found in the spiritual kingdom of God:

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

All these things of the fleshly kingdom are what the heathen in us naturally wants to have and cleave to. That is why the so-called “prosperity gospel” has so many followers. The only true gospel brings real prosperity as we learn through the loss of “these things” that tomorrow is quite different to what we naturally expected it to be:

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Today is indeed that day or age of evil, but “the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” which also include the restitution of the spiritual things which God established and declared from the beginning, long before we could see them:

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

The Lord’s will and counsel is to give spirit life to all in Adam, and He will be 100% successful despite those who proclaim that He will not be able to do that because of a so-called “free” will of puny man that will prevent Him. Absurd! Man indeed has a will which is ordained by God to initially be in opposition to Him and to disobey His ways:

Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

This brings us to yet another aspect which is found in covenants, namely commandments or laws which are connected to that covenant. In any covenant there are conditions that need to be honoured by all parties involved. In the Scripture God is the One who initiates all covenants, and He sets up laws or commandments by which those with whom He enters into an agreement must abide by. The purpose for those covenants in the Old Testament was not to give spiritual perfection to anyone. There was another reason:

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

No physical covenant can reveal God in spirit and in that sense it cannot make anybody righteous.  Through those physical covenants and their commandments come the knowledge of what we are in the first Adam. Naturally we cannot see our own ignorance, and we need physical laws to reveal our own carnality and physical limitations:

Rom 5:20a Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.

Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

We indeed learn about the extent and depths of the sinfulness of flesh and blood by the very physical laws God gave to mankind in whatever forms (Rom 2:14-15). The strange thing about flesh is that when we eventually discover our shortcomings through failures in those commandments from God, we tend to add more laws to the ones we could not keep in the false hope that we will improve or keep our flesh and subordinates under control (Mat 23:1-4). In that sense we also add to God’s word and in doing that we actually add more plagues:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

Naturally we really want to have confidence in the flesh as we continually fall back in thinking that perfection can be attained in the flesh (Php 3:4-6). We are always tempted to compare according to fleshly standards and worldly measures (2Co 10:12, 2Co 5:16). The physical commandments are good when we use it “lawfully”, even as it shows us how carnal and inadequate were are in comparison to what God is (1Ti 1:8-10). Yes, we learn through opposites, and we understand the invisible things of God via the natural, but the flesh is never spirit – they are actually opposites (Rom 1:20, Joh 3:6, Gal 5:17). That is why we first experience evil and darkness because to become like God in spirit was never and will never be an instantaneous event – it involves a painful process of learning spiritual obedience (Gen 2:7, Luk 13:32, Mat 16:21, Luk 24:46, Heb 2:9-11). Our disobedience to keep even the physical covenants emphasizes the weakness and corruption of flesh as it was made in the hand of the Potter (Jer 18:4, Rom 8:20):

Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

God is spirit, and He is what holiness and perfect love is all about. Through Jesus Christ God expressed His spiritual law which is the way He reveals His holiness and nature of love, which is also called “the law of Christ”, “the law of the spirit” or “the royal law” in the Scriptures (Gal 6:2, Joh 13:34, Jas 2:8, 1Jn 5:2-3):

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The law of the spirit in Christ Jesus is that same spiritual covenant that was there before the foundation of the world and before any physical law or covenant was given, which included the law of Moses which “was added because of transgressions” (Joh 17:24, 1Pe 1:20):

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after [the covenant God made with Abraham], cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The “new” covenant is therefore only new because it is only revealed when Christ comes “afterward” in us – that is when we can see the man of sin, the first man Adam and when we can accept his fate (Heb 8:8, Heb 12:24, Joh 1:12-13, Mat 11:27, Mat 5-7, Joh 5:36, Joh 14:6):

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

It is only through the spiritual law (Christ in us) that we will be able to keep and obey any law, whether in flesh or in spirit (Rom 12:2):

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The law of the spirit of Christ in us produces the fruit whereby we can indeed do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Php 4:13):

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

In our next study on the foundational theme of covenants we will be discussing more interesting aspects which will also help us to appreciate the spiritual covenant of Jesus Christ, God willing.

———-

Detailed studies and emails written relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/What_law_before_Moses.php
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/freefromlaw.php
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/christandlaw.php
http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/christandtorah.php

Hi Mike,

I read your document and found it very compelling, but have a question as to what you believe the nature of Jesus Christ is. Do you believe in the dual nature, and so believe that Jesus is God? I have recently come out of the belief in the trinity, and have some thoughts on this, but would be very interested in hearing what you believe. Thank you in advance for your time.

J____

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

I… have a question as to what you believe the nature of Jesus Christ is. Do you believe in the dual nature, and so believe that Jesus is God?

I am not certain what “dual nature” means, but to answer your question directly, yes, Jesus is God, as He said:

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Joh 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
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?

So yes, Christ did have a “dual nature”, in the same sense that we all have a dual nature when once we are “sealed with the holy spirit of promise”, and we too take on the “divine nature”.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But the difference between Christ, who never sinned, and us, who do sin, is that Christ was not given the spirit “by measure” whereas we are all given a “measure of faith”.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Christ doesn’t claim to be God the Father, from whom He came.

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

Christ said, “If He called them gods… 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?”
Before Christ came into this realm of death, we are told in Joh 10:36, that His Father “sanctified and sent” Him here, and since we are also told…

Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

… it is therefore clear that even before Christ came to this earth, His Father was “greater than [ He].”

Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

This explains why Christ’s defense for claiming to be God’s son was ‘Ye are [ also] ‘gods’, so why are you upset with me for saying that I too, am a son of God?’
Notice He says in Joh 10:30, “I and my Father are one”. If indeed there were a third person of equal rank in the Godhead, Christ just gave him a slap in the face by totally ignoring him. But of course such is not the case. There is not one word of scripture to establish the holy spirit as a separate individual in the Godhead. The use of the pronoun “he’ is no more reason to say there is therefore a third person than Christ saying His words “are spirit”.

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.

Does the fact that Christ’s words “are spirit” make them a separate person from Christ? What an absurd thought! But it is no more absurd than calling “the holy spirit of God” a separate person, simply because Christ personifies that spirit with the pronoun ‘he’ while explaining to His disciple how He, Christ, will be with and in them all after His death and resurrection.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

“My Father… ye… and ye in Me”. No mention of another part of the god head. Again, Christ Himself denies such a doctrine:

Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

The trinitarians argue this was true only while Christ was in the flesh. But as we noted above, it was the Father who “sanctified” and “sent” Christ, before He was in the flesh. Besides all of that, the scriptures reveal that the holy spirit is simply “the holy spirit of God”.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The scriptures also reveal that even now God the Father is “the head of Christ”, and Christ is not “co- equal” with His Father.

Joh 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.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

So the “comforter… spirit of Truth” is the Father’s spirit which He has given to Christ to give to “reveal… the Father… to whom the Son will reveal Him”.

Luk 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Father and Son, but where is the holy spirit? Well, again, here he is:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

That is where and what “the holy spirit” is. It is “the holy spirit of God”. But notice that the word ‘holy’ is not capitalized by the King James translators simply because they are blinded by their false trinitarian doctrine, and to capitalize the word ‘holy’ here would reveal their false doctrine.
So is Christ now equal with His Father, now that He is no longer in the flesh? Absolutely not. Many years after Christ’s death and resurrection we are told this about Christ’s relationship to His Father, now that He is back in a body of spirit:

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.

Christ’s head is God, His Father. God is not Christ’s Father simply because Christ came in the flesh. The Father is said to be “the Father of spirits”:

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto t he Father of spirits, and live?

So Christ was “of… the… one God, the Father… the Father of spirits”, before He ever came into this dying realm of the flesh. That is why He tells us plainly that He is “the beginning of the creation of God [ His Father]:”

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;

Let’s get it all together and see what we have:
Christ was “sanctified… and sent” of His Father.

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?

He tells us “My Father is greater than I”…

Joh 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

… and He tells us He is “the beginning of the creation of God”:

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;

Add to all those Truths the fact that He “subjects” Himself to His Father at the end of the ages:

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.

That years after His resurrection from the dead, we are told that “the head of Christ is God”:

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.

That the holy spirit is said to be “the holy spirit of God”:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Then we, with Christ, must agree that He is “the son of God” in the very same manner that “Ye are gods”.

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?

 In conclusion we must also agree with the apostle Paul that:

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

The word ‘by’ in that verse is the Greek word ‘dia’, and it means ‘through’ Him, through Christ.
I hope all these verses of scripture serve to make clear how the scriptures reveal the godhead to us. They reveal that Christ was “the beginning of the creation of God”, “the image of the invisible God”, created by His Father, who we are told is “the Father of spirits”, and that then “in… by… [ and] through Christ” all the rest “of the creation of God” came into being and “consists… in [ Christ]”:

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:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 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:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

“It please the Father”. If indeed there were a “third and equal” member of the godhead, both Christ and His apostles missed every opportunity to reveal that to us. But this all just serves to reveal clearly that there is no such thing as a trinity, and it also reveals clearly that Christ is the “image of the invisible God”, and no “image” is the actual thing it portrays.
Your brother in His service,
Mike

Mike,

I read your study on “Is God a Trinity?” and I just have a couple of questions. Is your conclusion that God is Trinity or is not Trinity? And if God is not Trinity and the Father is the only God, why does Jesus not rebuke Thomas for saying “my Lord and my God” in Joh 20:28? It’s very clear in the Greek that that’s exactly what Thomas said. It seems that for Jesus to be the truth (Joh 14:6) he would have to rebuke Thomas, wouldn’t he? And if the Scriptures are divine then everything that is in them is there for a reason and Jesus wouldn’t want to confuse future generations about who he is. He should have rebuked him if he wasn’t God, right?

Now I’m confused. Can you clear this up?

M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your question. It is a question that all who come to see that Christ says “My Father is greater than I am” must resolve.

I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have been given the faith to understand that when there appears to be a contradiction in the Word of God, that the real problem is in our lack of understanding. The fact that the scriptures never contradict themselves is pointed out in the very context of Christ’s claim of being the “Son of God.” It is in His defense of this claim that you will find the answer to your dilemma:

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Joh 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
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?

If there is any point in what Christ is saying, then you have your answer. Once again “the scriptures cannot be broken.” Once again they are demonstrated to be consistent throughout. And so what the Holy Spirit inspired Christ to say here agrees with what it inspired Paul to tell us:

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father [ What happened to the Son and the Holy Ghost?], of whom are all things [ including the “one Lord Jesus Christ”], and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we [ are gods] by him.

So, as Paul makes so clear in 1Co 11, Christ is “of God” and we in turn are “by Christ… but all of God.” So there are two scriptural ‘gods’; one is created and the other is the Creator. Which of these two ‘gods’ is Christ? Let us not speculate. Why not just let Christ tell us?:

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;

Christ Himself reaffirms Paul’s statement that the Father is God and that He, Christ is the “beginning of God’s creation.” Paul, of course, tells us that after God created the “one Lord Jesus Christ,” that it was “by Him” that we were all created:

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things [ including the “one lord Jesus Christ”] of God [ the Father].

Did you catch that? “ AS the woman is OF the man… all things are OF God.” God the Father is NOT ‘ of‘ Christ. If He were, this would make Christ the father and the head. But what saith the scripture? Here it is, in this very chapter:

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 [“the Father… of whom are all things”].

I can’t rewrite the whole paper here, but I hope this helps.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply. You didn’t really answer the question: Why doesn’t Jesus rebuke Thomas for calling Jesus God?

Hi M____,

I will answer you with scripture, paragraph by paragraph. This is an opportunity to display the contrast between the Truths of God’s Word versus the “idols of the heart” (Eze.14:1-9) that comprise the “whole stay” (Isa. 3:1) of orthodox Christian teaching.

An answer from me is no better than an answer to me from you. If we do not let Christ talk for us, we are wasting each other’s time. I gave you the scripture where Christ quotes Psa 82 telling us that we, like Him are called “gods” and you still say I “didn’t really answer the question.” Christ answered your question, and you just don’t like what he said. Here is your response to Christ’s answer to your question:

“My problem is that even though God [ and Christ] called these men ( rulers or princes, (see vs. 7) gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not.”

You do indeed have a “problem” when you can say what you say here: “even though God called these men ( rulers or princes, (see vs. 7) gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not.” All I have in my arsenal is the Word of Christ. What chance do I have against your “they clearly are not?” What I have is a “sharp two edged sword,” and you come against me with your switch key to your car. But let us continue on:

But your response below brings up another question. The Greek word for “greater” in Joh 10:29 and is also found in Joh 14:28 is meizwn (maizon) which, when used in the New Testament is translated greater, greatest and elder. The Biblical definitions that I’ve seen have been: greater, larger, elder or stronger. I certainly don’t disagree with you that the Father is greater, larger, elder and stronger than Jesus at the point in time that Jesus is making this statement. After all, Jesus is still in his earthly ministry, clothed in the flesh and bound by our space and time which God the Father, obviously, is not. In fact, I believe that it is the Trinitarian view that within the Godhead, the Father is superior to the Son (Jesus) and the Son is superior to the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s Words are spirit. They do not change with each “point in time.” Is anything changed when this statement is made under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, many years after Christ is no longer “clothed in flesh:?”

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.

Does your argument still hold water? Will you argue that “Jesus is still in His earthly ministry, clothed in flesh and bound by our space and time which God the Father obviously is not?”

After all, Jesus is still in his earthly ministry, clothed in the flesh and bound by our space and time which God the Father, obviously, is not. In fact, I believe that it is the Trinitarian view that within the Godhead, the Father is superior to the Son (Jesus) and the Son is superior to the Holy Spirit.

Let me get this straight: “The Father is superior to the Son (Jesus), and the Son is superior to the Holy Spirit?” Is that what you are saying? If that is what you are saying, then please explain to me how one of the spirits of the triune, co- equal Godhead begets something “superior” to Himself:

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Is Jesus the Son of His Father, or is He the Son of the Holy Ghost? “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” And yet you tell me: “the Son is superior to the Holy Spirit.” Following the logic of your argument, there would be no point at all in Paul’s statement that:

1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

What is Paul’s point? Here is your argument:

“They [ the Corinthians] would have understood the words God and Lord as referring to one and the same God ” [(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).

So you are telling me, and all who read this, that what Paul is trying to explain when he tells us…:

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.

… is that ‘they [ the Corinthians] would understand that the words MAN and CHRIST are referring to one and the same…???’

I quoted Paul, and then I asked you:

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things [ including the “one lord Jesus Christ”] of God [ the Father].

Did you catch that? “ AS the woman is OF the man… all things are OF God.” God the Father is NOT ‘of ‘ Christ. If Christ were not “ OF the Father… AS the woman is OF the man, then Christ would be the father and the head. But what saith the scripture? Here it is in this very chapter:

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 [ the Father “of whom are all things”].

Obviously you did not catch that. You simply do not believe that “AS the woman is OF the man… all things are of God.” You see no point at all in Paul’s argument because to you Eve was not really “made for Adam” neither is God really the “head of Christ,” but in reality they all “should be understood as one and the same.” And rather than relinquish this “idol of your heart” (Ezk. 14:1-9), you twist and distort the plain words of scripture in this manner:

But to us [ there is but] one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ. (I placed the comma before Jesus Christ after referencing several other English translations which all had a comma). In comparing his comments about God to that of the idols, they would have understood the words God and Lord as referring to one and the same God.

The “other English translations” you quote have all fallen for the same lie which you believe. Now is that a really scripturally sound way to understand God’s Word – “other English translations?”

You also left out, and totally ignored, the “OF whom are all things…” that the Holy Spirit deliberately placed where you have nothing but dots. Why do you suppose that the Holy Spirit placed those words between the words “God the Father” and the words “the Lord Jesus Christ?” Could it possibly have been to underscore Paul’s whole point in this chapter that :

AS the woman is OF the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things [ including the “one lord Jesus Christ,” is] of God [ the Father].

Could it possibly be that:

Rom 1:20 … The invisible things of him [ God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [ Christ created for the Father just as Eve was made for Adam], even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they [ that includes you] are without excuse:

Look at what Paul says about what the marriage union reveals concerning God’s relationship to Christ :

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 is not while “Jesus is still in his earthly ministry, clothed in the flesh.” Speaking of this same relation, here is what Paul says in Ephesians:

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father [ why no mention of the Holy Ghost? Could it possibly be that Eve coming out of Adam and being made for Adam, is what reveals “even His eternal power and Godhead?”] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body [“And the head of Christ is God” 1Co 11:3].
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church

“And the head of Christ is God.” “His eternal power and Godhead… is understood by the things that are made.” The “things that are made” are understood to be the things the scriptures refer to as revealing the Godhead. The scriptures do not refer to the “different forms of H2O, or the three parts of an egg,” as “the things that are made… revealing the godhead.” The one thing that the scriptures do refer to as showing us God’s relationship to Christ, is man’s relationship to woman. It is not an Adam, Eve and Steve relationship. Mary was found to be with child of God’s holy spirit, which He gives to those who ask Him. God is not ‘a’ spirit. “God IS spirit!” “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Act 17:28). It is out of this ‘spirit’ that He created Christ and through Christ, He created all the rest of His creation.

Col 1:15 Who [ Christ, not Adam, is the true ‘image.’] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (An ‘image,’ is not the actual thing.)
Col 1:16 For by him [ Christ, just as “the man, by the woman,” even though “the woman is of the man” like Christ is ” OF God”] 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:
Col 1:17 And he [ Christ] is [ created] before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, [746-arche– same word as in Rev. 3:14. Will you argue that this also refers to God the Father, or is Christ not really “the beginning of the creation of God?”) the firstborn from the dead; that in all things [ including creation] he might have the preeminence [ Being the first thing the Father created by His holy spirit].
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him [ Christ] should all fulness dwell;

Therefore, Trinitarians, I believe, would see no contradiction in Jesus making the statement “My Father is greater than I am”. If Jesus wanted to make the statement that the Father is Deity and Jesus is not, wouldn’t he have used the Greek word pleiwn (pleion) which, by definition means greater in quantity and quality, superior to or more excellent? As to your use of Psa 82 which Jesus references in Joh 10:34-36, you seem to be using it as the foundation of your argument that Jesus is not God in that you claim that if God called mere men gods in Psa 82:1,6 then Jesus could rightly claim the same thing without being blasphemous as the Jews thought. My problem is that even though God called these men ( rulers or princes, (see vs. 7) gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not. If you look at verse 7 it says “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Not only that, the Hebrew word for gods, eloheym, (not singular, not dual, but plural) used in the Old Testament is used in reference to men who are rulers or judges, angels and false gods. It is also the same word used for God in Psa 82:1. Now, you are not claiming that these men that God is speaking about in Psa 82 are God themselves, are you?

It is not I who used this verse. I am claiming nothing. It is Christ who quoted this verse in defense of His claim of being “the son of God.” Why on earth would you say that “I am using this verse as the foundation of my argument…” It was not MY idea to bring this verse of scripture into this discussion, in the context of what Christ’s relationship to the Father is. That was Christ’s idea. That was Christ’s decision. And here is your response to our Lord’s use of this verse to justify His claim:

My problem is that even though God called these men ( rulers or princes, (see vs. 7) gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not.

And then, as if I am responsible for bringing Psa 82 into this discussion, you ask:

Now, you are not claiming that these men that God is speaking about in Psa 82 are God themselves, are you?

No, I am not. I merely repeated the words of our Lord in response to being asked why He considered Himself to be God’s Son. I am “claiming” nothing.

Now, I have no illusions of being able to convince you of something which God Himself has chosen to hide from you. I am answering this letter for the sake of those who do not realize how much God despises our “idols of the heart.” This “Even though God called these men gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not” attitude toward God’s Word,” is without a doubt the single most despicable thing in the world to our God. Look at what he tells Ezekiel about people with this attitude of coming to His Word and saying ‘even though God says such and such, He (God) is clearly wrong.’ They approach God’s Word, not to learn of God, but to decide where “God… clearly is not” right:

Eze 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. [ As are you coming to Psa 82:1 and 6]
Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols [ The trinity being but one of thousands] in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity [ All these thousands of “idols of the heart] before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? [ They don’t believe Psa 82:1 and 6. Why would I expect them to believe that “The Head of Christ is God?”]
Eze 14:4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart [ All of His thousands of false doctrines], and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet [ or the Word of God]; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; [ God will use your disregard for His Word as a means to keep you deceived]
Eze 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart [ with the idols of your own heart], because they are all estranged from me through their idols [ like the false doctrines of the trinity, the fall of man, the immortality of the soul, the doctrine of free moral agency, the blasphemous doctrine of a loving Father supernaturally sustaining physical flames to torture physical bodies for all eternity, etc.]
Eze 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel [ God’s own people], Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Eze 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet [ or to the Word of God] to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet [ You don’t believe this verse either do you?], and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
Eze 14:10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

Yet eloheym is used twice in 82:1 translated two different ways; once God, once gods. In all things context, both literary and historical, would dictate how a passage should be translated and interpreted.

If this “in all things context” is the only way to understand God’s word, then I would very much appreciate your explanation of why all the synoptic gospels quote this verse as proof of Christ’s messiahship:

Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

This is the only place this phrase appears in all of “the prophets.” Now compare this statement of Matthew, Mark and Luke with the ‘context’ of the scripture from which this statement is quoted:

Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hos 11:2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
Hos 11:3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

Does this sound to you like a prophecy whose context is describing Joseph fleeing into Egypt before the face of Herod? This is but one of dozens of such prophesies in the New Testament which you, and all of today’s seminary graduates, would crucify the writers of the New Testament for “quoting out of context.” Read How To Rightly Divide The Word Using A Principle Only The Apostles Understood. You might come to understand the true meaning of “the natural man receives not the things of the spirit for they are foolishness unto him.” But it is not likely that you will do that. Most likely God will continue to speak to you through your own ‘idols of the heart.’ When God deceives a person, He is good at what He does. It is not likely that I would be able to undo what He has done.

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness [“idols of the heart”].

If we look at the context of Jesus’ comments, we can see that the Jews are pressing him to come right out and tell them that he is the Christ (Joh 10:24). Why do they want him to come right out and say it? So they can justify stoning him via the Law! Here’s his response:

Joh 10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works (miracles) that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, [ and do not say that He “is clearly wrong”] and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [ man] pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave [ them] me, is greater than all; and no [ man] is able to pluck [ them] out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and [ my] Father are one.

I’ll leave off here and pick up at verse 37 because you already have the intervening verses shown below.

Joh 10:37 If I do not the works (miracles) of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works (miracles): that ye may know, and believe, that the Father [ is] in me, and I in him.

So, the Jews want a reason to stone Jesus. He then explains to them that the miracles that he does proves who he is. He says straight out, I and My Father are one. The Jews proceed to pick up stones to stone him and then Jesus proceeds with his Psa 82 discourse. Psa 82 is being used not to explain away Jesus’s claim about himself but to explain to the Jews that mere words do not make a claim to be God true, actions, in the form of miracles, do. He then goes on to say again, believe the works… and believe, that the Father [ is] in me, and I in him. So it seems that Jesus wasn’t using the Psa 82 passage for anything more than to say that anyone can claim to be God and that claiming to be God is no reason to stone someone. Let the miracles speak for themselves. As far as 1Co 8:6 is concerned, again context and sentence structure would indicate that this verse supports the Trinitarian view of God rather than not. Keep in mind that this passage is referring to food sacrificed to idols and as such, Paul is not attempting to make some deep theological statement about God, even though he does.

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [ is] nothing in the world, and that [ there is] none other God but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called 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.

First of all, I don’t know why you put [ are gods] in vs. 8 as you did below because those words are not in the KJV or RKJV. But I’ll let that slide.

That is very gracious of you. After all, I do have ‘are gods’ in brackets, and I use Christ’s own argument to justify doing so, but I’m up against a person who thinks nothing of saying:

My problem is that even though God called these men ( rulers or princes, (see vs. 7) gods in Psa 82:1, 6, they clearly are not.

I can deal with that attitude only as God Himself does:

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

The main point of this passage is whether the Christian should eat food that has been sacrificed to idols. Paul says, in essence, food is food, it doesn’t bring one closer to God nor does it push him away from God.

1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

However, there are brothers that are weaker in the faith that by eating the food would cause them to stumble and damage their faith. Paul warns them to be careful in how the use their new found freedom in Christ.

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

This is the context into which Paul writes the words in verse 6. And now the historical context, Corinth was rampant with idolatry and had hundreds, if not thousands, of idols to sacrifice food to. This is why Paul wrote, as there be gods many, and lords many. He knew that for each of these ‘gods’, the person sacrificing to that idol would also call it ‘lord’. The term god and lord were interchangeable when referring to the same idol. It was in this context that Paul wrote: But to us [ there is but] one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ. (I placed the comma before Jesus Christ after referencing several other English translations which all had a comma). In comparing his comments about God to that of the idols, they would have understood the words God and Lord as referring to one and the same God.

Show me where to put the comma in this verse, so I can see that the Father of Christ is not His God, as He is my God. Place the comma so I can see that what Paul is trying to say is that Jesus and His God are really “one and the same God.”

2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

“One and the same” you say? Why is the Holy Ghost never mentioned in the same breath with ‘God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” in any of Paul’s epistles. The same holds true of all of the other New Testament writers in their epistles. Why, if they “are one and the same God,” is the Father always called ‘God,” but Christ is never called God the Father or even God the Son? Rather He is always referred to as “our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As far as 1Co 11:3 is concerned, a Trinitarian would have no problem saying that the head of Christ is God. That’s exactly what the doctrine is about. But to somehow take a passage discussing how worship services should be done and try to say that this is somehow saying that Christ is a creation is a bit of a stretch especially when you then use Rev 3:14 as your basis for this. The Greek word for beginning used in this Rev 3:14 arch (arche) is used three other times in the book of Revelation (1:8, 21:6 and 22:13) and in each instance it is used in reference to God. It seems hard to believe that John the Revelator would change the meaning in this one instance in order to imply that Jesus Christ was a creation of God.

That is a good point. It is not John, but Christ who is dictating this book. But you are so right. Christ would not “change the meaning in this one instance in order to imply that Jesus Christ is a creation of God.” The only problem with your argument is that “the Alpha and the Omega,” which is the subject of every verse you reference, Is Christ. It is not God the Father.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,

Now pay attention:

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

I realize you don’t believe this claim of being dead to begin with, but surely you will not try to tell me and my readers that God the Father had a fleshly body that died, will you?

So who is this that keeps claiming throughout this book of the unveiling of Jesus Christ, that He is the Alpha and the Omega?

Here is your answer:

The Greek word for beginning used in this Rev 3:14 arch (arche) is used three other times in the book of Revelation (1:8, 21:6 and 22:13) and in each instance it is used in reference to God.

Once again we are forced to choose between the idols of the heart of orthodox Christian Teaching and the Words of our Lord:

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Sorry, but I for one will have to agree with my Lord. The Alpha and The Omega are not “one and the same God” as “God the Father.” Christ is the only man yet who can to this day say “I am He that liveth, and was dead.”

Now here is the truth of the way the Holy Spirit uses this word ‘arche.’ I am more than happy to let my readers decide with these facts before them whether this word is best translated ‘beginning.’

G746 -αρχη – arche Total KJV Occurrences: 59 beginning, 39Mat_19:4, Mat_24:8 (2), Mat_24:21, Mar_1:1, Mar_10:6, Mar_13:19, Luk_1:2, Joh_1:1-2 (2), Joh_2:11, Joh_6:64, Joh_8:25, Joh_8:44, Joh_15:27, Joh_16:4, Phi_4:15 (2), Col_1:18, 2Th_2:13, Heb_1:10, Heb_3:14, Heb_7:3, 2Pe_3:4, 1Jn_1:1, 1Jn_2:7 (2), 1Jn_2:13-14 (2), 1Jn_2:24 (2), 1Jn_3:8, 1Jn_3:11, 2Jn_1:5-6 (2), Rev_1:8, Rev_3:14, Rev_21:6, Rev_22:13 principalities, 6Rom_8:38, Eph_3:10, Eph_6:12, Col_1:16, Col_2:15, Tit_3:1 first, 4Act_26:4, Heb_2:3, Heb_5:12, Jdg_1:6 corners, 2Act_10:11, Act_11:5 principality, 2Eph_1:21, Col_2:10 began, 1Heb_2:3 beginnings, 1Mar_13:8 magistrates, 1Luk_12:11 power, 1Luk_20:20 principles, 1Heb_6:1 rule, 11Co_15:24

Based on the Greek and Hebrew words used, the context, both literary and historical, it appears that the Trinitarian view of God fits better with these Scripture references than does the belief that Jesus Christ was the first creation of God especially in light of Joh 20:28 which is the verse that I questioned you about in my initial email and was answered with your reply below. I could be wrong about this, but as I read the passages of Scripture that you have cited below, I can’t quite see why you hold the view that you do if, in fact, you don’t believe in a God that is Trinity. Are there other verses in the Bible that confirm that Jesus is just a creation and is not God incarnate (in the flesh)?

Our contention is not whether Christ is “God incarnate.” Christ is ‘God in the flesh.’ But since God is spirit and not flesh, our contention is what does the word ‘God’ mean. I have no “problem’ with Christ’s use of the word ‘god.’ You, on the other hand, admittedly “have a problem” with Christ’s use of the word ‘god.’

Yes, There are dozens of other verses everywhere in the Bible that confirm that Jesus is a creation of “His God.”. But they are seen only by those without denominational “I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos [ Catholic and Protestant] “idols of the heart” blinders. The contents of the “little book” of Rev 11 is clearly to be delivered to “Judah and Jerusalem” according to Ezekiel Chapters two and three. This reveals that “Babylon The Great The Mother Of Harlots” is God’s own people. That “great city wherein our Lord was crucified” is still His own people who reject and despise the words of that “little book.” And well they should, for it contains nothing but “lamentations and mournings and woe.”

Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Eze 2:10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

This is all because of the “idols of the heart” which have consumed all of God’s people. All but a remnant have fallen prey to the “Strong Delusion” of idols of the heart, which are so numerous that they blot out the light of the Sun.

Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

Look at what comes out of this smoke:

Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

And what are we told are these ‘scorpions?’ The force of this symbol is right here in the chapters about the “little book:”

Eze 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them [ God’s own idolatrous people], neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

‘Scorpions’ are associated with “their words… they be a rebellious house.” And what do ‘scorpions’ do?

Rev 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

And what do you suppose the ‘tail’ symbolizes in scripture? That is right, we are right back to the essence of our discussion. We have come right back to the false doctrines of false prophets which Ezekiel calls ‘idols of the heart.’

Isa 9:14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
Isa 9:15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

There it is. It is the “leaders” of orthodox Christianity who are “causing God’s people to err.” They are “teaching lies.” And this lie of a ‘triune God’ is the very foundation for all the other lies; like the doctrine of the immortality of the soul and the doctrine of free will. For the serpent to make his lie; “Ye shall not surely die” to stick and take root, he had to convince man that he was really, contrary to the word of God himself, not just dust. The serpent had to convince man that he was in reality an immortal, triune being, composed of ‘body, soul and spirit.’ In order to make this lie stick, the serpent had to convince mankind that since they were a triune being, it only stood to reason that they were just like their Creator. Their Creator must therefore also be a triune being. Yes, that is it. They must believe in a trinity. Only then could they be convinced that instead of being merely a mortal dusty, clay body being conformed to the spiritual image of Christ, they were instead an immortal, spiritual soul having a physical experience. It is upon this lie that all of the serpent’s other lies depend. And that is why belief in the false doctrine of the trinity is considered as the first test of whether one is a member of a cult.

Nevertheless neither Paul, nor any of the writers of the New Testament, include ‘the third person of the Godhead’ in their salutations or in the body of their letters. Just a few examples should suffice:

Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he [ Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
2Co 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

God is “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now that is a revolutionary idea.

2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

Do you believe that the Father is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or do you insist that “Our Lord Jesus Christ” is “referring to one and the same God” as you put it above? Paul was very careless in the way he worded things if your assertion is true. It is nothing less than a slap in the face of a third co- equal member of the Godhead to be so consistently left out of the picture and replaced by someone who you say is inferior to him. And to think, Mary was “found to be with child by the Holy Ghost.” And this ‘child,’ Christ, was supposedly conceived of the very person being ignored by all of the New Testament writers. But let us continue:

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Why do you suppose Paul felt compelled to put the title ‘God’ before ‘the Father,’ but never before ‘Jesus Christ?’

Why, if as you insist, everyone is aware that Jesus is “one and the same God,” is He NEVER addressed as such when mentioned in the same sentence with the Father? Now let us see if there are any more scriptures like these. Why, here is another one only two verses after Gal. 1:1:

Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Did you catch that? It is “the spirit of His Son” that is in our hearts. ” I will not leave you Comfortless I will come unto you.”

How can Christ claim to be the Comforter?

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Why must Christ leave His flesh before “the Holy Ghost, which is the Comforter, [ could] come unto them?”

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

And exactly who is the Truth?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

But I thought we had to be born of the Holy Spirit?

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But let’s get back to Christ’s explanation of what the Holy Spiritis:

Joh 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.
Joh 16:14 He [“The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath [ including the gift of His spirit] are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Do you believe Christ? Or do you cling to your idol? Does “theComforter which is the Holy Spirit” really belong to Christ?

Are there more scriptures that leave out the unscriptural supposed ‘third member of the Godhead?’

Eph 2:18 For through him [ Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

What is the “one spirit?” I repeat:

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Will you argue with Paul, too, that here is more than “ one Spirit?”

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phi 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phi 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Do you still insist that they are “one and the same God?”

Phi 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he [ Timothy] hath served with me in the gospel.

Are Paul and Timothy “one and the same?” Or are they ‘one’ in the same sense as:

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And where does this leave us?

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s [ one] seed, and heirs according to the promise.

That is the sense in which “I and my Father are one.” It is the same sense in which we are one with God:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye [ who are “given eyes to see and ears to hear’] shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

That is the nearest thing to a ‘trinity’ to be found in scripture. And we all agree that this includes at least one hundred and forty four thousand “in me and I in you.”

Now how about this verse?

1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once again Paul has two opportunities in one verse to give at least some recognition to the ‘third co- equal member of the Godhead, and he passes up that opportunity once again. I could go on and on and on, but the wording is always the same. There is never so much as a mention of anyone other than the Father and the Son.

Still searching,

M____

I don’t think so. You come to God’s word to defend trinitarians. You would not dare to think that all of the elders of God’s spiritual Israel would come to the Bible with idols of their heart. Nevertheless that is what they all do, and that is what you are doing. As a result Isaiah tells us that the land of God’s people is “full of idols.” Of course you will tell me that I am quoting this out of context and that it has no application to the church today. You will tell me this in spite of Paul’s assertion:

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.

So much for context only exegesis. Will you tell me that Paul too, as you said of Christ’s defense of His Sonship, “is clearly [ wrong]?” Please read Rightly Dividing. Learn to handle God’s word the way the writers of God’s Word handled it, and not with the ‘context only’ understanding as all of the seminaries teach. Would the apostles of Christ use God’s Word in one way and tell us to use it in some other way? I think not! This should be an area of grave concern to you.

Getting back to Isaiah’s prophecy:

Isa 2:8 Their land [ the land of God’s own people] also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Isa 2:9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself [ to these idols of the heart]: therefore forgive them not.
Isa 2:17 And the loftiness of man [ with all of his ‘idols of the heart’] shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
Isa 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah [ God’s own people] the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

God’s ‘bread and water,’ is the Truth of His Word. “The whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water has been taken away from orthodox Christianity! Not one doctrine is true! They don’t even believe that Christ died for our sins! Orthodox Christian doctrine, like your argument here, has it that as God, Christ was really incapable of dying. You believe that in reality Christ never died at all. It was only His body that died, Christ Himself was alive and well down in hell preaching to spirits in prison, and at the same time in paradise with the repentant thief. Click on that link and find out what the scriptures really teach on this subject.

May God grant you a truly Berean heart. May He grant you the ability to search the scriptures daily, not to prove some orthodox idol of the heart, but to honestly “see whether these things be so.”

Mike

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

How does Christ accomplish this? He comes to us through His Father’s spirit which His Father gave to Him:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he [ the comforter, the holy spirit, the spirit of Truth] shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:16  A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. [ Read Is God A Trinity?]

That is what Christ meant when He said, “I come again unto you.”
Does this deny that some of his elect will be standing on this earth when He takes control of the kingdoms of this world? Absolutely not:

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Those who happen to be standing on this earth when Christ takes over and gives the kingdoms of this world to His Christ will then be changed into spirit.
I hope this helps you to see that Christ’s second coming for His elect is spiritual and NOW, but for all others it is future.
Your brother in Christ.
Mike

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Now according to what “the many” teach, Christ completely left out a very important “person” in this statement.

Now look at this verse:

Joh 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.

Does not this verse clearly say that the Holy Spirit will come “in MY NAME?” Of course it does. So when Paul says (1Co 8:6) “But to us [ there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [ are] all things, and we in him; and [ besides this “one God” there is also] one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [ are] all things, and we by him,” I simply believe him. Is Paul saying that Jesus is not God? No, he did not. Do I say that Jesus is not God? NO I DO NOT!!! I simply agree with Paul that, (2Co 11:31) “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” is indeed “the God … of Christ.” This order is not reversed anywhere in scripture. Christ is never called ‘the God of the Father,’ simply because He is NOT ‘the God of the Father.’

Do you not believe that Paul wrote “as [ he was] moved by the Holy Ghost?” (2Pe 1:21). I believe he was. So how does “the Holy Ghost” inspire Paul to tell us to understand the Godhead? Are we told that, to understand the Godhead, we should listen to the theories of modern day Pharisees? No, but here is how “the Holy Ghost moved” Paul to tell us how to understand the Godhead:

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:

“I ask you to know in Truth” if the Holy Ghost inspired Paul to write those words? If so, why would you pass them off as “a natural way to study scripture, but no way to comprehend Christ Jesus?” Paul carries through with this ‘understand the invisible things of the Godhead by the things that are made’ principle when he makes this statement:

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.

Then he elaborates on this point a few chapters later:

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.

Where does a “third person of the Godhead” fit into this scriptural reasoning which “the Holy Ghost moved” Paul to write? Is this really “any way to comprehend Christ?” And Paul doesn’t stop there:

1Co 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

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.

This whole chapter is concerned with the proper relationship between a husband and a wife. Paul reveals that the marriage relationship is a reflection of the Godhead. God created marriage to help reveal Himself to us. In doing so, he created Adam and Eve, NOT Adam, Eve, and Steve.

Now does not Matthew tell us (Mat 1:18) “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” I suppose it would simply be “a natural way to study the scripture, but no way to comprehend Christ” if I simply believed that scripture.

Now look at this scripture:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Why didn’t the translators translate this “grieve not the Holy Ghost of God?” Could it be that it might have conflicted with this “idol of their hearts?” We can’t have the scriptures saying that the Holy Ghost is “of God” while the ‘idol of the heart’ says they “are separate but equal.” Read what the scriptures reveal about “idols of the heart:”

Ezekiel 14:1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me[“Elders’ would equate to modern day leading ministers]

Ezekiel 14:2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men[ leading modern day ministers] have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity [ false doctrines] before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Ezekiel 14:4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel[ God’s People of any age] that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity[ false doctrines of every denomination] before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Ezekiel 14:5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.[“Many are called, but few are chosen”. Many shall come in my name saying that I am Christ and shall deceive many”]

Ezekiel 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn[ yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me,[ Separates himself from what the scriptures really teach] and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face[ Church doctrines that conflict with the plain teachings of scripture], and cometh to a prophet[ Comes to the scriptures] to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

Ezekiel 14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I [ am] the LORD.[ But Christ tells us the majority, “the many,” will not see this]

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

When ‘God deceives a prophet’ or a minister, it is “Strong Delusion”:

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Read the paper on the web site by the same title, ‘Strong Delusion.’ This ‘strong delusion’ is not sent to the Catholics and the world. It is not sent to communists and Hindus. It is sent to the ‘many called but not chosen’ Christians, “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved ” (2Th 2:11). It is sent to those Christians who ‘say that I am Christ and shall deceive many.’ It is NOT ‘weak delusion that would deceive babes in Christ if possible;’ it will “deceive the very elect if possible.”

Now with all the emphasis in the Christian church on ‘the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,” let’s notice how the new Testament writers referred to the Godhead:

2Co 1:3 Blessed [ be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

Eph 1:3 Blessed [ be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [ places] in Christ:

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Why is this verse worded simply ‘the Spirit?’ It is because ‘the Spirit’ is God’s Spirit, ‘through’ which he accomplishes all. And that Spirit was manifested in the flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. Here are His own words:

Joh 14:10 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 14:17[ Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he[ Christ] dwelleth with you, and[ Christ] shall be in you

Do you think I have misunderstood that verse by thinking that Christ is the ‘parakleetos’ the ‘comforter?’ Read the very next verse:

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

You cannot separate Christ from the spirit of God. “God is spirit,” and Christ is the expression of that spirit. He is NOT a ‘third person,’ as the phraseology of the entire New Testament demonstrates. There is absolutely no emphasis on this ‘idol of the heart’ trinity doctrine. Christ Himself gives us all the principles involved. He leaves out no one. Here are all the principles:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I [ am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

There it is. Straight from the mouth of Christ. And now, here again is your own question:

I ask you to know in Truth if this Jesus says this… If He does, it is a slap in the face to a very important ‘person,’ to be completely left out so regularly. Of course, the Truth is that we should “grieve not the holy Spirit of God” (Eph 4:30). Yes, the Holy Ghost is “of God.” It is NOT ‘a third person.’ I urge you to read Joh 14, 15 and 16. Christ makes it clear that this “another Comforter” IS CHRIST! He tells us so.

Read these six verses carefully. Then write me back and explain to me as I am doing for you, why you think I am mistaken. Forget the fact that the whole Christian world teaches this lie. It is the “many called” who are “not chosen.” The reason given is that they “do not have a love of the Truth” (2Th 2:11). Now here are the verses I want you to consider:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God [ Explain this verse for me.]

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter[ The risen Christ is not the Christ of the flesh. 2Co 5:16 “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [ him] no more.” He is now “another comforter.”] that he may abide with you for ever; [ Who does Christ tell us will abide with us ‘forever?’: ” I am with you alway, [ even] unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mat 28:20)]

Joh 14:17[ Even] the Spirit of truth;[ Who is the spirit of truth?: “I am the … Truth” (Joh 14:6 – This same chapter).] whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,[ this is Christ] and shall be in you.[ Joh 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I [ am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” And again: Joh 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you.”]

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.[ These are not my words.]

Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:[ Just as they had “seen the Father.” Joh 14:9 “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [ then], Shew us the Father?”] because I live, ye shall live also.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I [ am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.[ These are not my words. They are the words of The Truth ].

You read my paper, but let me remind you of one other pertinent verse of scripture. Christ said He would send us the parakleetos, the Comforter. It is interesting that the translators chose to hide this word from our sight by translating it as ‘advocate’ in 1Jn 2:1: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…” Who is our parakleetos, our ‘Comforter’ with the Father? It is “Jesus Christ the righteous.”

I urge you to read the paper I have posted on www. iswasandwillbe. com entitled‘Strong Delusion.’ You will also be shocked to read the paper entitled‘Rightly Dividing The Word,’ and seeing how the apostles used the Word of God. It is nothing resembling the way we comprehend scripture today.

As you say, “He … will give wisdom and understanding to those who ask.” I Am 57 years old and have been asking for just that since I was a child. That is good advice. But don’t come to God’s Word with “idols in your heart”. If we do God, “Himself will deceive us.”

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.