Is God A Trinity?

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Not One Doctrine of Orthodox Christianity Is True To God’s Word

Posted July 11, 2005

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 1 Corinthians 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 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 Psalm 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:

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:

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?”

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:

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” (Eze 14:1-9), you twist and distort the plain words of scripture in this manner:

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 is 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;

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 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:

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

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.
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. 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;

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 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”].

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:

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.

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.”

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 let’s 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:

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

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 Spirit is:

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 “the Comforter 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.

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

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