All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Who does Salvation Belong to WHO DOES SALVATION BELONG TO ? Revelation 7:9-10 ... “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB.” To anyone who can count, this verse is very clear, and it tells us that salvation belongs to TWO beings. The One who “sits upon the throne” ... AND ... the “Lamb”, of which Zechariah confirmed regarding the “council of peace” (plan of salvation): Zechariah 6:12-13 ... “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and THE COUNSEL OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH.” When Stephen was in vision, speaking to the council in Acts 7, he saw the following: Acts 7:55-56 ... “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and THE SON OF MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.” So we know that Jesus is the “Lamb”, the one at the right hand of God. But who is the God “on the throne” ? Ephesians 1:17-20 ... “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: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, WHICH HE WROUGHT IN CHRIST, WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, AND SET HIM AT HIS OWN RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” Jesus said ... Revelation 3:21 ... “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with MY FATHER in his throne.” So the God on the throne is GOD THE FATHER and Jesus Christ is “at the right hand” of God the Father. So who does salvation belong to ? THE FATHER AND THE SON ! Salvation does not belong to any “trinity god”. We will not be saved by a “trinity”. We will be saved by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And that is why worship will be given to these TWO alone for ALL ETERNITY: Revelation 5:13 ... “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER.” Therefore our fellowship right now should NOT be with a “trinity god”, it should be with God the Father and His Son: 1 John 1:3 ... “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: AND TRULY OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER, AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.” And because salvation is of God the Father and His Son, this is why Jesus confirmed that ETERNAL LIFE is based on KNOWING THEM BOTH: John 17:1-3 ... “FATHER ... this is life eternal, that they might know THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent.” Are you being saved by the Father and His Son ? Or are you being deceived into worshipping a false god (the trinity) ? The world needs to turn from its “idols” and “serve the LIVING AND TRUE GOD [the Father] and “wait for HIS SON from heaven” (1 Thess.1:9-10). Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Father, Son and Holy Spirit "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" There are many churches and Christians today who worship the trinity god, because they believe Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7 are speaking of three co-equal and co-eternal beings. But what they all fail to do is actually use the Bible to interpret these two verses. We are told in Isaiah 28 that we are to use the "line upon line" precept when studying the Bible. Which means we are to interpret scripture with scripture, and not with what we "think" something means. So this is what we are going to do on this page regarding Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7. Instead of just "thinking" ourselves what those verses mean, we are going to use scripture to properly interpret them. Let us start with those two Bible verses in question: Matthew 28:19 ...'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' 1 John 5:7 ...'For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.' So let us find out who these 'three' are. I am merely going to provide many scripture verses and then make a small comment at the end of each section. The Father John 17:1-3 ...'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' John 20:17 ...'Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.' 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ...'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. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 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.' Matthew 11:25 ...'At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.' John 4:22-24 ...'Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' John 8:54 ...'Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God.' John 14:1 ...'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions.' Acts 3:13 ...'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.' Acts 4:24-27 ...'And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed.' 2 Corinthians 1:3 ...'Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.' 2 Corinthians 11:31 ...'The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.' Romans 1:7-9 ...'To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with? my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.' Ephesians 1:2-3 ...'Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' Ephesians 4:4-6 ...'There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.' 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ...'For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.' 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 ...'Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.' Philippians 2:11 ...'And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' 1 John 5:20 ...'And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' So as we can see, when using the rest of scripture, that "THE FATHER" is none other than the 'one and only true God' Himself. And He is not just our God and Father, He is also the God and Father of Jesus Christ. So who is the Father? He is the one true God. The Son/Word John 20:31 ...'But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.' Matthew 16:15-17 ...'He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.' John 1:14 ...'And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.' Matthew 17:5 ...'While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.' Mark 1:1 ...'The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.' Mark 3:11 ...'And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, thou art the Son of God.' John 1:18 ...'No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' John 3:16-18 ...'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.' John 5:26 ...'For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.' John 5:43 ...'I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.' John 6:68-69 ...'Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.' John 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?' John 11:27 ...'She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.' John 17:1 ...'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.' John 20:17 ...'Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.' Acts 3:13 ...'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.' Acts 9:19-20 ...'Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.' Romans 1:9 ...'For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.' Romans 8:3 ...'For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.' Galatians 4:4 ...'But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' Colossians 1:13-15 ...'Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.' 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ...'For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.' Hebrews 1:1-5 ...'God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?' Hebrews 4:14 ...'Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.' Hebrews 5:5 ...'So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.' 1 John 1:3 ...'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.' 1 John 3:8 ...'He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' 1 John 4:9 ...'In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.' 1 John 4:15 ...'Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.' 1 John 5:20 ...'And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' 2 John 1:3 ...'Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.' Psalm 2:7 ...'I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.' Proverbs 8:22-30 ...'The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.' (NOTE: 1 Corinthians 1:24 confirms that Christ is 'the wisdom of God') Proverbs 30:4 ...'Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' Micah 5:2 ...'But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.' John 16:27-29 ...'For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, AND am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.' John 17:7-8 ...'Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.' So it is clear that "THE SON" is Jesus Christ, and He is the literal, only begotten Son of God the Father, who is the one true God. Jesus is not the one true God Himself, or the so called 'second person of the trinity'. He is the literal Son of God the Father, who was begotten of the Father in eternity past, as a true Son. This is why the Bible says that God 'SENT' His Son. The Holy Spirit Acts 2:32-33 ...'This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.' Luke 24:49 ...'And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.' John 3:34-35 ...'For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.' John 7:37-39 ...'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)' John 20:21-22 ...'Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' Romans 8:9-10 ...'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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.' 2 Corinthians 3:17 ...'Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' Philippians 1:19 ...'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.' Titus 3:4-6 ...'But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.' Revelation 5:6 ...'And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, HAVING seven horns and seven eyes, WHICH ARE the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.' So the Bible tells us that "THE HOLY SPIRIT" is the Father's own divine Spirit, which He has given to His Son Jesus, and comes to us through Christ, NOT some other 'third being'. Jesus is the one with the Holy Spirit to give us. So who are the 'three' in Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7? They are God the Father, who is the 'only true God'. Jesus Christ, who is the literal, only begotten Son of God the Father. And the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, which He has received from His Father. Jesus Christ comes to us HIMSELF as the Holy Spirit (John 14:18, Revelation 3:20, Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20), not some other unknown 'third being'. This is the truth concerning Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 使我们认识祂 使我们认识祂 (1) 序言 申命记29章29节 “隐秘的事是属耶和华我们上帝的；惟有明显的事是永远属我们和我们子孙的。。。” 耶利米书9章23-24节 “23 耶和华如此说：“智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主部要因他的财物夸口。24 夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱公平和公义，以此夸口。这是耶和华说的。” 是否有人曾经告诉过你上帝是个谜或是奥秘呢? 这一个概念阻挡了许多真诚的基督徒来领受与创造主相交所能得到的平安，丰盛的爱和改变人生的力量。事实上，通过人类的猜测和所制造的假道理，我们把上帝便成了一位不能被理解的生物。此研究的主要目的乃是在经文上不添加或减少任何话语的情况下探讨上帝所显现关于祂自己的真理。我真心祈求这研究能够使你与这位想让你认识祂的上帝有一个更密切和稳固的关系。 何西阿书 6章3节 “我们务要认识耶和华，竭力追求认识他；他出现确如晨光，他必临到我们像甘雨，像滋润田地的春雨。” 箴言 2章3-5节 “3 呼求明哲，扬声求聪明，4 寻找它，如寻找银子，搜求它，如搜求隐藏的珍宝，5 你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。 （1）父上帝 上帝有怎么样的品格呢? 约翰一书4章8节- “没有爱心的，就不认识上帝，因为上帝就是爱。9上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。10 不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子，为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。” 约翰福音3章16-17节- “ 上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。17 因为上帝差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪（或作“审判世人”。下同），乃是要叫世人因他得救。” 哥林多后书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的上帝。” 马太福音6章14节 “你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯。” 哥林多后书6章18节 “我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。”这是全能的主说的。” 雅各书1章17节 “各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐，都是从上头来的，从众光之父那里降下来的。在他并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿。” 约翰一书3章1节 “你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为上帝的儿女；我们也真是他的儿女。世人所以不认识我们，是因未曾认识他。” 父上帝在哪里? 马太福音6章9节 “。。我们在天上的父，愿人都尊你的名为圣。” 启示录4章2节 “。。见有一个宝座安置在天上，又有一位坐在宝座上。” 以赛亚书37章16节 “坐在二基路伯上万军之耶和华以色列的上帝啊，你，惟有你，是天下万国的 上帝；你曾创造天地。” 上帝如何向我们显示祂自己呢? 诗篇19章1节 “诸天述说上帝的荣耀，穹苍传扬他的手段。” 出埃及记 33章20节 “ 又说：“你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。” 希伯来书1章1-2节 1 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖； 2 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。 约翰福音1章18节 “从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。” 基督如何向我们显示祂的父? 马太福音11章25节 “那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。” 马可福音14章36节 “他说：“阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去。然而不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。” 约翰福音3章35节 “父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。” 约翰福音4章24节 “上帝是个灵（或无“个”字），所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 约翰福音5章19-23节 19 耶稣对他们说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：子凭着自己不能作什么，惟有看见父所作的，子才能作；父所作的事，子也照样作。 20 父爱子，将自己所作的一切事指给他看，还要将比这更大的事指给他看，叫你们希奇。 21 父怎样叫死人起来，使他们活着，子也照样随自己的意思使人活着。 22 父不审判什么人，乃将审判的事全交与子， 23 叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。 约翰福音5章26-27节 26 因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命； 27 并且因为他是人子，就赐给他行审判的权柄。 约翰福音5章30节 “我凭着自己不能作什么，我怎么听见，就怎么审判。我的审判也是公平的，因为我不求自己的意思，只求那差我来者的意思。” 约翰福音10章29节 “我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他夺去。” 约翰福音14章10节 “ 我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” 约翰福音14章24节 “不爱我的人就不遵守我的道；你们所听见的道不是我的，乃是差我来之父的道。” 约翰福音14章28节 “。。你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。” 约翰福音17章7节 “如今他们知道，凡你所赐给我的，都是从你那里来的。” 约翰福音17章1-3节 “1耶稣说了这话，就举目望天说：“父啊，时候到了，愿你荣耀你的儿子，使儿子也荣耀你；2 正如你曾赐给他权柄管理凡有血气的，叫他将永生赐给你所赐给他的人。3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 耶稣宣告祂的父为独一的真神。祂的门徒明白祂的教导吗? 哥林多前书8章6节 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 哥林多前书11章3节 “我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头， 上帝是基督的头。” 以弗所书4章6节 “一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。” 腓立比书 2章11节 “无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。” 帖撒罗尼迦前书1章1节 “ 保罗、西拉、提摩太写信给帖撒罗尼迦在父上帝和主耶稣基督里的教会。愿恩惠、平安归与你们！” 提多书1章4节 “现在写信给提多，就是照着我们共信之道作我真儿子的。愿恩惠、平安，从父上帝和我们的救主基督耶稣归与你！” (请参阅哥林多前书1章3节,哥林多后书1章2节, 加拉太书1章3节, 以弗所书1章2节, 腓立比书1章2节, 歌罗西书1章2节, 帖撒罗尼迦后书1章1-2节, 提摩太前书1章2节,提摩太后书1章2节, 腓利门书1章3节, 约翰二书1章3节) 雅各书3章8-9节 “ 8 惟独舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。9 我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着上帝形像被造的人。” 使徒行传17章23-25节 “23我游行的时候，观看你们所敬拜的，遇见一座坛，上面写着‘未识之神’。你们所不认识而敬拜的，我现在告诉你们：24 创造宇宙和其中万物的上帝，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿，25 也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。” 犹大书1章1节 “耶稣基督的仆人、雅各的弟兄犹大，写信给那被召、在父上帝里蒙爱、为耶稣基督保守的人。” {待续} 使我们认识祂 (2) （2）耶稣基督 如果基督本身表明了天父是那位 “独一的真神” , 那么耶稣是谁呢? 马太福音16章15-17节 15 耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？ 16 西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生 上帝的儿子。” 17 耶稣对他说：“西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。 西门彼得的回答是天父启示的- 就是耶稣是上帝的儿子这项事实! 耶稣因他这么有力的答案把他的名字缩短成彼得, 意思是 “磐石” , 宣告我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的门不能胜过他。” (马太福音16章18节) 基督是否确认自己是上帝的亲生儿子呢？我们发现在旧约中, 基督藉着所罗门王在祂和父上帝之间的关系上给了我们许多美妙的见解。预言之灵证实了基督在箴言8章22-30节是藉着”上帝的智慧”之称号来说祂自己, 同样的在哥林多前书1章24, 30节以及路加福音11章49节也宣告基督是 “上帝的智慧”。 在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。 从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。 没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。 大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。 耶和华还没有创造大地和田野，并世上的土质，我已生出。 他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈， 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固， 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。 那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃， 这美妙的描述形容了父与子从亘古的关系并告诉了我们耶稣的存在是有开始的。我们有限的思想无法理解基督是何时被生，因为这是在时间还没有被设立之前发生的。我们也无法完全理解基督是如何为父所生，但是我们凭着信心相信救主的话语。 我们必须知道基督不是如天使和人类一样被创造。因为在约翰福音1章3节告诉我们, “万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。”事实上耶稣是父亲生的，是上帝本体的真像，并从父的本质和怀里出来。 约翰福音8章42节 “耶稣说，倘若上帝是你们的父，你们就必爱我。因为我本是出于上帝，也是从上帝而来，并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。“ 约翰福音16章27-28节 “父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。我从父出来，到了世界。我又离开世界，往父那里去。 约翰福音17章8节 “因为你所赐给我的道，我已经赐给他们。他们也领受了，又确实知道，我是从你出来的，并且信你差了我来。” 在每一个例子中，耶稣为父所生的事件和被差来世上的事件是被分开来说的。这说明耶稣是在说两件不同的事情。在天上被生和被差来世上。 凭着对基督话语的信心，我们明白到从亘古的某个时间点，天父选择了生下一位神圣并有神性的儿子。因此，耶稣是有开始的，而非像父一样没有开始。这会在任何的方式下减少基督的神性吗？当然不会！ 约翰福音5章26节 “因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命。” 歌罗西书1章19节 “因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛，在他里面居住。” 歌罗西书2章9节 “因为上帝本性一切的丰盛，都有形有体的居住在基督里面。” 基督是被祂父亲，也就是宇宙万物的本源所生并从祂本质和怀里出来。父将独生子耶稣生出并喜悦将一切祂所拥有的神性，永恒的生命和在祂里头一切的丰盛赐给祂儿子。 约翰福音1章1节 的第一个‘神’字其实是名词，指明父上帝的身份；第二个‘神’ 是形容词，指的是耶稣的神性，形容祂有神的本质。因此，这章节可以读成：“太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是神。” 简单来说基督从太初与父上帝（独一的真神）同在，基督本身在本性上也完全是神，祂满有神性。 希伯来书1章4-5节 4 他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。 5 所有的天使，上帝从来对哪一个说，“你是我的儿子，我今日生你”？又指着哪一个说，“我要作他的父，他要作我的子”？ 基督本性上是神因为祂承受了祂父的神性。但是天父是一切的本源，也没有起源，因此是独一的真神。 哥林多前书8章6节 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 圣父是本源，而基督是管道，万物都是藉着祂被造的，我们也藉着祂到父那里去。 提摩太前书2章5节 “因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。 ” 事实上，基督为上帝儿子的身份曾受过撒旦的攻击。 马太福音4章3节 “。。。你若是上帝儿子，可以吩咐这些石头变成食物。 马太福音4章6节 “ 。。。你若上的儿子，可以跳下去。” 撒旦的恶天使也清楚知道耶稣真实的身份： 马可福音5章7节 “大声呼叫说，至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干。我指着上帝恳求你，不要叫我受苦。 ” 路加福音4章41节 “又有鬼从好些人身上出来，喊着说：“你是上帝的儿子！”耶稣斥责他们，不许他们说话，因为他们知道他是基督。” 基督宣告祂真实的身份导致祂被人逼迫和控告： 约翰福音10章36节 “父所分别为圣，又差到世间来的，他自称是上帝的儿子，你们还向他说‘你说僭妄的话’吗？ 约翰福音19章7节 “犹太人回答说：“我们有律法，按那律法，他是该死的，因他以自己为上帝的儿子。” 马太福音26章63节 “耶稣却不言语。大祭司对他说：“我指着永生上帝叫你起誓告诉我们，你是上帝的儿子基督不是？” 路加福音22章70节 “他们都说：“这样，你是上帝的儿子吗？”耶稣说：“你们所说的是。” 马太福音27章40节 “你这拆毁圣殿，三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是上帝的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！” 马太福音27章54节 “百夫长和一同看守耶稣的人看见地震并所经历的事，就极其害怕，说：“这真是上帝的儿子了！” 最重要的是，这是唯一一个能让我们得到永生的信仰： 约翰福音3章16,18节 “上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。18 信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信上帝独生子的名。” 约翰福音 20章31节 “但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是上帝的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。” 约翰福音5章25节 “我实实在在地告诉你们：时候将到，现在就是了，死人要听见上帝儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了。” 看回希伯来书第一章，第四节解释了为什么耶利米书的预言中说到天父的名，耶和华，可以用在基督的身上。 耶利米书23章5-6节 “5 耶和华说：“日子将到，我要给大卫兴起一个公义的苗裔，他必掌王权，行事有智慧，在地上施行公平和公义。6 在他的日子，犹大必得救，以色列也安然居住。他的名必称为耶和华我们的义。” 希伯来书1章4节 “他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。” 就好像人类也承受他父的名, 同样的基督也承受祂父的名! 在第八和第九节中我们可以看到虽然耶稣是神，但是祂父还是在一切之上的至高者。 希伯来书 1章8-9节 8 论到子却说：“上帝啊，你的宝座是永永远远的，你的国权是正直的。 9 你喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶，所以上帝，就是你的上帝，用喜乐油膏你，胜过膏你的同伴。 虽然基督有神性，而且圣父将祂高举，使祂得到万物的敬拜，但是祂依然有一位上帝，就是祂的父亲。 马太福音27章46节 “约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” 约翰福音20章17节 “耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 罗马书15章6节 “一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。” 哥林多前书11章3节 “我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，上帝是基督的头。” 以弗所书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝。。。” (查阅哥林多后书1章3节,哥林多后书11章31节, 歌罗西书1章3节和彼得前书1章3节) 以弗所书1章17节 “求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。” 启示录1章5-6节 “5 并那诚实作见证的，从死里首先复活，为世上君王元首的耶稣基督，有恩惠、平安归与你们！他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶（“脱离”有古卷作“洗去”），6 又使我们成为国民，作他父上帝的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！” 启示录3章12节(基督说) “得胜的，我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名（这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。” 基督将把祂父的名，耶和华，写在我们的额头上作为上帝的印记。额头代表我们对上帝的认识。 约翰福音4章23节 “时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。” 相反的，兽的印记将会是上帝印记的伪造，并与上帝的印记 （启示录3：12）有着相同的特征：他们神的名，他们城的名，他们基督的名（即敌基督者）。 启示录17章4-5 “4 那女人穿着紫色和朱红色的衣服，用金子、宝石、珍珠为妆饰；手拿金杯，杯中盛满了可憎之物，就是他淫乱的污秽。5 在她额上有名写着说：“奥秘哉！大巴比伦，作世上的淫妇和一切可憎之物的母。” 基督来到世上的目的是为了向世人显明祂的父亲，好让上帝对我们不再是个奥秘！阿门！基督从不将荣耀归于自己，乃是将一切荣耀归给祂的父亲，祂的上帝。基督的教导一贯地揭晓祂到世上来的目的为显明祂父亲的大爱，品格和对人类设定的伟大计划，并藉着祂自己把我们归向天父上帝。 启示录14章1节 “我又观看，见羔羊站在锡安山，同他又有十四万四千人，都有他的名和他父的名写在额上。” 要无疑和肯定地证实基督的身份，我们就必须看看祂父亲对祂的宣告。天父上帝，那宇宙至高的权威，在耶稣的洗礼给了一个无比重要的信息，之后在耶稣登山变相时也做了同样一个宣告。(马太福音3章17节,17章5节, 马可福音1章11节, 9章7节, 路加福音3章22节, 9章35节, 彼得后书1章17节) “这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。” 在山上祂还加了一句话-“你们要听他。” 作为圣父的代表，耶稣有着一切的权柄并有资格做罪人的牺牲，都凭着一个重要的真理和条件-就是祂是上帝至亲至爱，神圣，真实的亲生儿子。 {待续} 使我们认识祂 (3) （3）圣灵 我们即晓得天父是一切的本源，也可以从圣经证实圣灵是上帝自己的灵，是出于父的。 约翰福音15章26节 “但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵，他来了，就要为我作见证。” 创世记1章2节 “地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；上帝的灵运行在水面上。” 正如“上帝的儿子”意味着祂是上帝所拥有的，那么上帝的灵也一样意味着圣灵是上帝所拥有的灵。它是天父上帝自己的灵，不是另一位生物或个体。 马太福音10章20节 “因为不是你们自己说的，乃是你们父的灵在你们里头说的。” 让我们先看圣经里其它关于‘灵’的例子。以下章节的‘心’在原文都是用 ‘灵’， 中文圣经也把人的灵译成人的心。因为一个人的灵就是他的心。 创世记41章7-8节 “。。法老醒了，不料是个梦。到了早晨，法老心里不安，就差人召了埃及所有的术士和博士来。。。” 创世记45章27节 “他们便将约瑟对他们说的一切话都告诉了他。他们父亲雅各，又看见约瑟打发来接他的车辆，心就苏醒了。” 申命记2章30节 “但希实本王西宏不容我们从他那里经过，因为耶和华你的上帝使他心中刚硬，性情顽梗。。。” 以斯拉记1章1节 “波斯王居鲁士元年，耶和华为要应验藉耶利米口所说的话，就激动波斯王塞鲁士的心，使他下诏通告全国。。” 圣经里还有无数的例子，但是我认为重点已经够清楚了。我们在任何情况下都不可能认为一个人的灵是他以外的另一位。因为我们的灵就是我们的心思意念，想法和性格而并非另一个生物。那为什么我们会把“上帝的灵”想象成与上帝分开独立的另一位生物呢？上帝是一位全能，全在的灵体，可以以祂的实体坐在宝座上，同时藉着祂的灵在世上无所不在。 约翰福音4章23-24节 “。。因为父要这样的人拜他。”上帝是个灵，所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 基督为父所生，而且是上帝和人类之间的中保。正如上帝藉着祂儿子创造了万物，祂也一样赐下祂的圣灵藉着祂儿子赐给我们并住在我们里面。 以弗所书2章13,18节 “你们从前远离上帝的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了。18 因为我们两下藉着他被一个圣灵所感，得以进到父面前。 父和子就是这样享有同一个灵，也因这样有着相同的品格，目标和对人类的爱。当我们明白这个奇妙的真理时，约翰福音就变得更加地美好了！ 约翰福音14章20-23节 “20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。21 有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。”22 犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：“主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？” 23 耶稣回答说：“人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。 圣灵就是父和子的灵，而我们可以有祂们的灵住在我们里面！我们可以看到‘上帝的灵’ 和 ‘耶稣的灵’以互换的方式被用在圣经里，因为祂们共有一个灵。 罗马书8章9-10节 “9 如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。10 基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。” 然而，基督在世为人时以人性把祂的神性隐藏了起来。取了人的样式，祂父的灵依然在祂里头，但是祂不能随意地运用来赐给人类。 以赛亚书42章1节 “看哪，我的仆人，我所扶持、所拣选、心里所喜悦的，我已将我的灵赐给他，他必将公理传给外邦。” 腓立比书2章6-7 “6 他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的，7 反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。” 约翰福音14章10节 “我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” 这就是为什么圣灵，也就是耶稣升天后所谓的保惠师在五旬节才能被赐给门徒。 约翰福音7章39节 “耶稣这话是指着信他之人要受圣灵说的，那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀。” 约翰福音16章7节 “然而我将真情告诉你们，我去是与你们有益的。我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。” 只有在基督回到天上得荣耀并开始在天上圣所做我们大祭司，方能求祂父把圣灵赐下给门徒。 希伯来书2章17节 “所以，他凡事该与他的弟兄相同，为要在上帝的事上成为慈悲忠信的大祭司，为百姓的罪献上挽回祭。 希伯来书4章15节 “因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。” 约翰福音14章16-20 “16 我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师（或作“训慰师”。下同），叫他永远与你们同在，17 就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他，因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。 18 我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。19 还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我，你们却看见我，因为我活着，你们也要活着。20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。 保惠师在耶稣得荣耀之前不能被赐下，然而耶稣说“他与你们同在”（现在式），也要在你们里面（未来式）。在告诉门徒“你们认识他”和“他常与你们同在”，耶稣其实是在向他们揭晓祂为保惠师的身份。虽然当时祂依然肉体上与门徒同在，但是在不久的未来祂将藉着祂的灵住在门徒里面。 使徒行传2章32-33 “32 这耶稣，上帝已经叫他复活了，我们都为这事作见证。33 他既被上帝的右手高举（或作“他既高举在 神的右边”），又从父受了所应许的圣灵，就把你们所看见、所听见的浇灌下来。” “保惠师”的希腊文是 “parakletos”。约翰是唯一一位使用了这个词的圣经作者，而他在他福音书里用了这个词四次， 还有一次则用在约翰一书里。 虽然很多人相信保惠师是第三位生物，一位父和子以外的个体。但事实上约翰已经在他的书信里清楚地为我们揭开了保惠师的身份。 可惜的是，他说明真相的一番苦心在这翻译中被隐藏起来了。他在约翰一书2：1指出了保惠师的身份，但是parakletos这个词在这经文里不是被翻译成“保惠师”而是译成了“中保”。 约翰一书2章1节 “我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位中保，就是那义者耶稣基督。” 或 “我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位保惠师，就是那义者耶稣基督。” 我们的“parakletos”，我们的“保惠师”，就是耶稣基督！ 那为什么基督在约翰福音14章16节说天父会差另外一位保惠师呢? 这是否代表保惠师是耶稣以外的另一位生物呢？ 在希腊文里有两个可以被译成“另一位”的词，那就是 “allos” and “heteros”。 Heteros——另一位（不同类的，或不同质的，或不同等级或群体的） Allos——另一位同种类的 意指“另外”的希腊词是allos，意思是另一个同类的。那么这一节的意思是，另一个与基督同类的。耶稣当时以肉体的形式与门徒同在，但在祂升天以后，祂要以另一种形式回来，就是藉着祂的灵。所以说，那“另外”一位就是祂的灵。由于基督的灵可以不倚靠基督的本体而独立行事，那么祂的灵就像是“另外”一位。也因为是祂的灵，所以是“另外”一位同类的。如果保惠师是另外一位不同类的，那么约翰就会用heteros这个希腊词来代表，其意思是“另外一位不同类的”。你一旦知道了这个区别，就很容易明白了。很多人也没有注意到，耶稣经常使用第三人称来称呼祂自己，这一节就是一个很好的例子了。简单来说，天父第一次赐下基督为保惠师是以人类的样式，而祂再次赐下的保惠师基督将会以灵的形式回来。 希伯来书2章18节 “他自己既然被试探而受苦，就能搭救被试探的人。” 基督是唯一一位能够帮助我们胜过世上的试探，因为祂是那唯一取了我们堕落的人性并胜过罪恶的神性生物。我们不应该怀疑这项事实，就是当耶稣说到保惠师时，祂是在用第三人称来说祂自己，就好比祂向人传福音时也经常如此行。 (马太福音13章41节,24章27,30节, 马可福音10章33-34节, 45节, 路加福音17章24节, 18章8节, 约翰福音10章2-4节, 17章1-3节, ) 记得提摩太前书2章5节告诉我们, “因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。 罗马书8章26节 “况且，我们的软弱有圣灵帮助，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。” 当我们以经解经时，圣经说替我们祷告或祈求的是谁呢？ 罗马书8章34节 “谁能定他们的罪呢？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，现今在上帝的右边，也替我们祈求。” 希伯来书7章25节 “凡靠着他进到上帝面前的人，他都能拯救到底，因为他是长远活着，替他们祈求。” 基督本身是那唯一一位中保，也就是上帝和人中间的中保。 约翰福音17章23节 “我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全地合而为一，叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。” 加拉太书4章6节 “你们既为儿子，上帝就差他儿子的灵进入你们（原文作“我们”）的心，呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 彼得前书1章10-11 “10 论到这救恩，那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细地寻求考察，11 就是考察在他们心里基督的灵，预先证明基督受苦难，后来得荣耀，是指着什么时候，并怎样的时候。” 哥林多前书2章16节 “谁曾知道主的心去教导他呢？但我们是有基督的心了。” 哥林多前书15章45节 “经上也是这样记着说，“首先的人亚当成了有灵的活人（“灵”或作“血气”）”，末后的亚当成了叫人活的灵。” 愿我们都祷告祈求并领受那唯一叫人活的灵，就是救主耶稣的灵。 启示录3章19-20 “19 凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他，所以你要发热心，也要悔改。20 看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席。” 基督要以祂的灵充满我们，使我们得到力量来战胜这世上的诱惑，并活出一个得胜的基督徒生活！唯有藉着祂，我们才能一天接着一天慢慢地改变，并如基督一样地反映出上帝的形象和品格。 哥林多后书3章16-18节 “16 但他们的心几时归向主，帕子就几时除去了。17 主就是那灵；主的灵在哪里，那里就得以自由。18 我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。 腓立比书4章7节 “上帝所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。” 约翰福音16章13节 “。。只等真理的圣灵来了，他要引导你们进入一切的真理。” 腓立比书4章13节 “我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。” 父和子渴望藉着祂们的灵与你同在，赐给你力量，引导你进入一切的真理，并赐你超乎人类理解的平安。 你愿意让祂们这样做吗？ 歌罗西书1章26-29节 “26 这道理就是历世历代所隐藏的奥秘，但如今向他的圣徒显明了。27上帝愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。28 我们传扬他，是用诸般的智慧劝戒各人、教导各人，要把各人在基督里完完全全地引到上帝面前。29 我也为此劳苦，照着他在我里面运用的大能尽心竭力。” 加拉太书2章20节 “我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着；并且我如今在肉身活着，是因信上帝的儿子而活，他是爱我，为我舍己。” {待续} 使我们认识祂 (4) （4）父和子 这里有更多的经文揭示了只有两位神性生物：上帝和祂儿子。 箴言30章4节 “谁升天又降下来？谁聚风在掌中？谁包水在衣服里？谁立定地的四极？他名叫什么？他儿子叫名叫什么？你知道吗？” 撒迦利亚书6章12-13节 “12 对他说，万军之耶和华如此说：看哪，那名称为大卫苗裔的，他要在本处长起来，并要建造耶和华的殿。13 他要建造耶和华的殿，并担负尊荣，坐在位上掌王权。又必在位上作祭司，使两职之间筹定和平。” 加拉太书1章1节 “作使徒的保罗（不是由于人，也不是藉着人，乃是藉着耶稣基督，与叫他从死里复活的父上帝)” 以弗所书 5章5节 “因为你们确实地知道，无论是淫乱的，是污秽的，是有贪心的，在基督和上帝的国里，都是无份的。有贪心的，就与拜偶像的一样。” 提摩太前书5章21节 “我在上帝和基督耶稣并蒙拣选的天使面前嘱咐你：要遵守这些话，不可存成见，行事也不可有偏心。” 希伯来书8章1节 “我们所讲的事，其中第一要紧的，就是我们有这样的大祭司，已经坐在天上至大者宝座的右边。” 约翰一书1章3节 “我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 约翰一书2章22-23节 “22 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。” 启示录5章13节 “我又听见在天上、地上、地底下、沧海里和天地间一切所有被造之物都说：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远。” 启示录6章16节 “天就挪移，好像书卷被卷起来；山岭海岛都被挪移，离开本位。” 启示录14章4节 “这些人未曾沾染妇女，他们原是童身。羔羊无论往哪里去，他们都跟随他。他们是从人间买来的，作初熟的果子归与上帝和羔羊。 启示录14章12节 “圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的。” 启示录20章6节 “在头一次复活有份的有福了、圣洁了，第二次的死在他们身上没有权柄。他们必作上帝和基督的祭司，并要与基督一同作王一千年。” 启示录21章22节 “我未见城内有殿，因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。” 启示录22章1,3节 “1 天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。3 以后再没有咒诅。在城里有上帝和羔羊的宝座，他的仆人都要侍奉他。” 谜底终于解开了! 彼得后书1章2-4节 “2 愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣，多多地加给你们。3上帝的神能已经将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。4 因此，他已将又宝贵、又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与上帝的性情有份。” 我真心地希望这项研究可以为您带来很大的帮助和祝福。最后,我想要和大家分享我最喜爱的书里的一篇文章，《服务真诠》三十五章，409页。 “对于上帝的真认识” “上帝的神能已将一切关乎生命和敬虔的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识…主。” 象我们的救主，我们在世上是要为上帝服务的。我们活着，在品格上是要象上帝一样，又要用我们服务的人生，来向世界显示上帝。但若要做上帝的同工者，若要象他，若要显示他的品格，我们必须真正地明白他，必须照着他所彰显的本来面目认识他。 认识上帝是一切真教育真服务的根本，是抵抗世上诱惑唯一的真保障，是能使我们在品格上与上帝相象的唯一途径。 凡从事于超拔人群之工的人，非得认识上帝不可。人品格的展变，生活的纯洁，工作的效率，遵守正义的毅力，都从真正认识上帝而来的。这种认识，乃是人生今世和来世双方所不可少的准备。 “认识至圣者，便是聪明。” 箴言9:10 我们所得“一切关乎生命和虔敬的事，”（彼得后书1:3）都是从认识他而来的。 耶稣说：“认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 约翰福音17:3 “耶和华如此说：‘智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主不要因他的财物夸口；夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱公平和公义，以此夸口；这是耶和华说的。’” 耶利米书9:23-24 我们应当去研究上帝所赐给我们关于他本身的启示。 “你要认识上帝，就是平安；福气也必临到你。你当领受他口中的教训，将他的言语存在心里，……全能者就必为你的珍宝。……“你就要以全能者为喜乐，向上帝仰起脸来。你要祷告他，他就听你；你也要还你的愿。你定意要作何事，必然给你成就；亮光也必照耀你的路。人使你降卑，你仍可说，必得高升；谦卑的人，上帝必然拯救。” 约伯记22:21-22, 25-29 {完} 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 使徒约翰是不是三位一体信徒 使徒约翰是不是三位一体信徒？ 三位一体神论是今天基督教界最核心的基本信仰之一。它声称有三位同等，同永恒的神性生物，它们各自都是三位一体神的一部分，并组成一位上帝。 三位一体论说，耶稣和父一样大，也没有一个开始。因此，圣经里“父亲”和“儿子”的术语被认为纯粹是比喻。对三位一体论者而言，耶稣不是上帝真实的儿子。 “其中一位神性生物接受并承担了父的角色，另一位则承担了儿子的角色。” （三位一体论者，安息日会牧师哥登剑森著，《复临信徒评论》，1996年10月31日刊，第12页） “神圣父子的关系应该是从隐喻的意义而非字面的意义来解读的。” （三位一体论者，安息日会牧师麦斯哈敦著，《了解三位一体》，原文第97页） “父子的一般形象不能以字面的理解来应用在三位一体中的神性父子关系上。子不是父的自然亲生儿子。自然的孩子是有开始的，但三位一体中的子是永恒的。‘子’这个术语当应用在三位一体上时，是一个隐喻性的术语。它表达了三位一体中有不同位格的概念，以及在永恒相爱的关系之语境中本性之间同等的概念。” （罗德里格斯著，“圣经说耶稣是上帝的儿子，这是什么意思？” 《复临信徒世界》2015年11月刊） 有一位作者亲自认识耶稣。他的名字叫约翰。这是他的见证。 约翰二书1:3 恩惠、怜悯、平安从父上帝和他儿子耶稣基督，在真理和爱心上必常与我们同在！ 约翰福音 1:14 道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。 约翰一书 1:1 论到从起初原有的生命之道，就是我们所听见，所看见的，亲眼看过，亲手摸过的。 约翰一书 1:2 这生命已经显现出来，我们也看见过，现在又作见证，将原与父同在，且显现与我们那永远的生命传给你们。 约翰一书1:3 我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。 约翰一书2:21 我写信给你们，不是因你们不知道真理，正是因你们知道，并且知道没有虚谎是从真理出来的。 约翰一书 2:22 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。 约翰一书 2:23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。 约翰一书2:24 论到你们，务要将那从起初所听见的常存在心里；若将从起初所听见的存在心里，你们就必住在子里面，也必住在父里面。 约翰一书 3:23 上帝的命令就是叫我们信他儿子耶稣基督的名，且照他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。 约翰一书 4:9 上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。 约翰一书4:10 不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子，为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。 约翰一书4:14 父差子作世人的救主，这是我们所看见且作见证的。 约翰一书4:15 凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的，上帝就住在他里面， 约翰一书5:4 因为凡从上帝生的，就胜过世界；使我们胜了世界的，就是我们的信心。 约翰一书5:5 胜过世界的是谁呢？不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗？ 约翰一书5:9 我们既领受人的见证，上帝的见证更大了，因上帝的见证是为他儿子作的。 约翰福音 3:16 上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 约翰福音3:17 因为上帝差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。 约翰福音3:18 信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信上帝独生子的名。 约翰一书 5:10 信上帝儿子的，就有这见证在他心里；不信上帝的，就是将上帝当作说谎的，因不信上帝为他儿子作的见证。 约翰一书 5:11 这见证就是上帝赐给我们永生，这永生也是在他儿子里面。 约翰一书5:12 人有了上帝的儿子就有生命，没有上帝的儿子就没有生命。 约翰一书 5:13 我将这些话写给你们信奉上帝儿子之名的人，要叫你们知道自己有永生。 约翰福音20:31 但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是上帝的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。 为这些事作见证，并且记载这些事的，就是这门徒，我们也知道他的见证是真的。约翰福音21：24 上帝的儿子不是一个比喻或隐喻。 使徒约翰不是三位一体信徒。 你是否也愿意承认耶稣为上帝真实的独生子？ 欲了解更多关于父和子之间真实关系的真理，请浏览本事工以下网站，独一真神中文事工： onetruegodchimin.com 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 圣经里的上帝是谁 圣经里的上帝是谁？以下这一些是否符合我们对圣经里上帝的了解？如果是的话，就证明我们与圣经的真理和谐一致，若不是的话那我们就要重新研究谁是圣经里这位独一的真神了！ 别忘记末世最大的考验将会是关乎敬拜。你选择敬拜的是谁？圣经里的上帝，那独一的真神；还是巴比伦奥秘的三位一体神？ 让我们来看看圣经里的上帝是谁！ 1。圣经对于上帝提出了什么重要的问题？ 约伯记 11：7 你考察，就能测透上帝吗？你岂能尽情测透全能者吗？ *我们不能靠自己的聪明来认识上帝。上帝会启示祂自己让我们认识祂。 2。 上帝如何诉说祂自己呢？ 以赛亚书40：26 你们向上举目，看谁创造这万象，按数目领出，他一一称其名，因他的权能，又因他的大能大力，连一个都不缺。” 以赛亚书40：9-10 9 你们要追念上古的事，因为我是上帝，并无别神；我是上帝，再没有能比我的。10 我从起初指明末后的事，从古时言明未成的事，说：‘我的筹算必立定，凡我所喜悦的，我必成就。’ *上帝是全能的，也是全知的，并且祂是独一的上帝，在祂以外并无别神。 3。 圣经向我们显明了几位真神？ 申命记6：4 “以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。 申命记4：35 这是显给你看，要使你知道，惟有耶和华他是上帝，除他以外，再无别 神。 耶利米书10：10 惟耶和华是真 神，是活 神，是永远的王。他一发怒，大地震动；他一恼恨，列国都担当不起。 4。谁最有资格对我们说明那独一的真神？ 约翰福音1：18 从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。 *上帝的儿子耶稣是在此课题上最有威严的。 约翰福音3：11 我实实在在地告诉你：我们所说的，是我们知道的；我们所见证的，是我们见过的；你们却不领受我们的见证。 *耶稣说只有他见过父上帝并认识祂。事实上，耶稣来到世上的其中一个任务就是向我们显明他的父，让我们认识祂。 5。根据耶稣，谁是那位“独一的真神”？ 约翰福音17：1，3 1 耶稣说了这话，就举目望天说：“父啊，时候到了，愿你荣耀你的儿子，使儿子也荣耀你；3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。 *耶稣亲口说到那位独一的真神就是父上帝。 6。 根据耶稣，谁是天地的主？ 马太福音11：25 那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。 *上帝是天地的主 （另外请参考路加福音10：21）。 7。真正的敬拜者会敬拜谁？ 约翰福音4：23 时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。 8。耶稣说我们应该向谁祷告呢？ 马太福音6：9-13 “所以，你们祷告，要这样说：‘我们在天上的父，愿人都尊你的名为圣。愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上 。。。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们。” 9。 诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？ 马可福音12：28-32 有一个文士来，听见他们辩论，晓得耶稣回答的好，就问他说：“诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？”29 耶稣回答说：“第一要紧的，就是说：‘以色列啊，你要听，主我们上帝，是独一的主。30 你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的上帝。’31 其次就是说：‘要爱人如己。’再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。”32 那文士对耶稣说：“夫子说，上帝是一位，实在不错。除了他以外，再没有别的上帝。 *我们必须先认识上帝才能够爱祂。要和上帝建立一个美好的关系就要对祂有正确的认识。文士同意耶稣所说的，上帝只有一位，除他以外再没有别的上帝。 10。 耶稣有没有纠正文士所说的话？ 马可福音 12:34 耶稣见他回答的有智慧，就对他说：“你离上帝的国不远了。”从此以后，没有人敢再问他什么。 *耶稣不但没有纠正他，而且还说他离上帝的国不远了。文士所相信的代表了全犹太民族。犹太人都相信独一一位上帝。 约翰福音8：41 你们是行你们父所行的事。”他们说：“我们不是从淫乱生的，我们只有一位父，就是上帝。” 11。耶稣是否表明犹太民族独一的上帝是谁？ 约翰福音8：54 耶稣回答说：“我若荣耀自己，我的荣耀就算不得什么；荣耀我的乃是我的父，就是你们所说是你们的上帝。 12。 上帝只作犹太人的神吗？ 罗马书 3:29 难道上帝只作犹太人的上帝吗？不也是作外邦人的上帝吗？是的，也作外邦人的上帝。 13。耶稣的使徒们是否把同样关于上帝的真理教导于外邦人呢？ 雅各书2：19 你信上帝只有一位，你信的不错；鬼魔也信，却是战兢。* 雅各* 提摩太前书2：5 因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。*保罗* 14。谁是这位独一的真神？ 哥林多前书8：4-6 论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么；也知道上帝只有一位，再没有别的神。虽有称为神的，或在天、或在地，就如那许多的神，许多的主。 然而我们只有一位神，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 *那独一的上帝是父。 雅各书3：9 我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着上帝形像被造的人。 罗马书15：6 一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。 以弗所书4：6 一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。 哥林多后书1：3 愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的上帝。 15。谁是那位又真又活的上帝？ 帖撒罗尼迦前书1：9，10 因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向上帝，要服侍那又真又活的上帝， 等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。 *那又真又活的上帝是天父，耶稣基督的父亲。 16。早期基督教是否持有与使徒们相同的信仰？ 使徒行传 2:42 都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接、擘饼、祈祷。 17。谁是宇宙万物的创造主？ 启示录4：9-11 9 每逢四活物将荣耀、尊贵、感谢归给那坐在宝座上、活到永永远远者的时候，10 那二十四位长老就俯伏在坐宝座的面前敬拜那活到永永远远的，又把他们的冠冕放在宝座前，说：11 “我们的主，我们的上帝，你是配得荣耀、尊贵、权柄的，因为你创造了万物，并且万物是因你的旨意被创造而有的。” 使徒行传17:24 创造宇宙和其中万物的上帝，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿， *刚才我们已经知道了这天地的主就是父上帝，祂是万物的本源并且创造了万有。 18。父上帝如何创造一切？ 在以弗所书3:9中我们读到：“又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在【编按：英王钦定本圣经有：藉着耶稣基督】创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。” 歌罗西书 1:16 因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的、地上的、能看见的、不能看见的，或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是藉着他造的，又是为他造的。 希伯来书 1:2 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。 约翰福音 1:3 万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。 19。谁是万有之首？ 哥林多前书11:3 我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，上帝是基督的头。 20。基督是否有一位上帝？ 马太福音 27:46 约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” 约翰福音 20:17 耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 以弗所书 1:17 求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。 启示录 3:12 得胜的，我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名（这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。 希伯来书 1:9 你喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶，所以上帝，就是你的上帝，用喜乐油膏你，胜过膏你的同伴。” *注：此教导不止出现在新约而旧约也有同样的真理（看诗篇45：7）。父上帝一直都是，也一直将会是主耶稣基督的上帝。 21。基督是属于谁的？ 哥林多前书 3:23 并且你们是属基督的；基督又是属上帝的。 22。谁是我们在天国敬拜和侍奉的对象？ 启示录21：22-23 22 我未见城内有殿，因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。23 那城内又不用日月光照，因有上帝的荣耀光照，又有羔羊为城的灯。 启示录 22:3 以后再没有咒诅。在城里有上帝和羔羊的宝座，他的仆人都要侍奉他， *我们将敬拜和侍奉上帝和羔羊，因为这就是永生。我们主要的目标将会是在永恒里继续认识父和子。 23。我们要等到进天国才能与父上帝并祂儿子耶稣相交还是现在就可以开始？ 约翰一书1:3 我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。 *我们此时此刻就可以开始与天父并祂儿子相交，因为我们已经知道关于祂们的真理并认识祂们。基本上，我们看到上帝的话语如此清楚地表明上帝只有一位。这独一的上帝无疑就是天父。祂是宇宙万物和一切生命的本源。所以我们可以肯定地说上帝是独一的真神，不是什么三位一体神。那是圣经从不曾教导的谬论。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

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All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Father and Son Created Man and Woman in Their Divine Image FATHER AND SON CREATED MAN AND WOMAN IN THEIR DIVINE IMAGE (PP chapter 2) CHRIST ALONE IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF GOD [Quote] Man was to bear God's image, both in outward resemblance and in character. CHRIST ALONE is “the express image” (Hebrews 1:3) of the Father; but man was formed in the likeness of God. His nature was in harmony with the will of God. His mind was capable of comprehending divine things. His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under the control of reason. He was holy and happy in bearing the image of God and in perfect obedience to His will. PP 45.2 [Analysis] This quote necessitates that only two divine beings are in the exact same image. If God was a trinity and all three persons created man in their own image, then how is it that ONLY the Son of God is the express image of the Father's person? Where is the other person who is supposed to be the other express image of the Father? [Analysis] Only Christ is the express image of the Father because He is the only begotten Son who inherited His Father's features, nature and attributes. If the Holy Spirit was another divine being that is also the express image of the Father, then the Father would have had two begotten Sons! Does God have two begotten Sons? No! Christ is the ONLY begotten Son (John 1:14; 3:16) of God. Or as some suggest, does Christ have two Fathers? Never! There is only one Father in heaven, who is both Christ's Father and our Father (Matt 23:9; John 20:17; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6)! ONLY ONE EQUAL TO GOD [Quote] Among all the creatures that God had made on the earth, there was not one equal to man. And God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved. PP 46.1 [Analysis] Before Eve was taken out of Adam, there was not one creature equal to man. Then God created a woman who had the same nature and was one equal to man. Now man and woman were made in the image of God and Christ (the express image of God). Just as Christ was begotten of the Father and was (and still is) equal to Him, so likewise Eve was begotten of Adam (or the express image of Adam) and was equal to him, because they were made in the image of God and His Son. [Analysis] If God was a trinity and the first human beings were made in the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then God should have made two more human beings to make a threesome of equal beings in order to reflect the image of the Trinity. CHRIST IS GOD'S SECOND SELF [Quote] God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided “an help meet for him” - a helper corresponding to him - one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it.” Ephesians 5:29. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one.” PP 46.2 [Analysis] The close union between Adam and Eve was a reflection of the close union between the Father and Son. The two divine beings are one in character and purpose. As the Son of God, Christ is not inferior to God, but He stands by God's side as an equal. Having come out of God, Christ is a part of God, He is God's second self, just as Eve was a part of Adam and was Adam's second self. That leaves no room for a third being. [Analysis] If God was a trinity and the first human beings were made in the image of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then marriage should have been between three persons instead of two. Instead of "the two shall become one," it should have been "the three shall become one." The fact that God and Christ created two human beings that reflect their image and made the two humans one in love and sympathy, tells us that two divine beings did the creating, not three as per the Trinity doctrine. PRAISE TO THE CREATOR FATHER AND SON [Quote] While they remained true to God, Adam and his companion were to bear rule over the earth. Unlimited control was given them over every living thing. The lion and the lamb sported peacefully around them or lay down together at their feet. The happy birds flitted about them without fear; and as their glad songs ascended to the praise of their Creator, Adam and Eve united with them in thanksgiving to the FATHER and the SON. PP 50.2 Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 下一篇 守安息日为圣 今天我们要简单地探讨安息日这个课题当中的一些要点。相信这教导对许多人来说是了如指掌的，也是多年以来最备受关注的课题，特别是安息日会复临信徒。 大多数人是因为安息日而认识了基督复临安息日会这个教派。事实上，上帝在过去兴起基督复临安息日会的主要目的之一，就是要恢复安息日的遵守。上帝已指定我们必须在这一天敬拜祂，这也是十条诫命当中的第四条。 在怀爱伦先知的著作里有一个预言清楚说到：“时候将到，安息日将会被世人轻视”。首先，让我们回到上帝的诫命，是记载在出埃及记，并详细地读完第四条诫命，然后再看看可以从中汲取什么教训。 出埃及记 20:8-11 “当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可作，因为六日之内，耶和华造天、地、海和其中的万物，第七日便安息，所以耶和华赐福与安息日，定为圣日。 这里说当记念安息日，并要做什么呢？守为圣日。这是第四条诫命中的核心点。我们不仅要纪念安息日，还要守这日为圣。那我们知道安息日的设立是为了纪念创世大工，纪念上帝在六日之内创造天地万物并在第七日安息了。 因此，安息日的设立是为了让我们纪念创造跟我们的创造主。但是它并没有停在那里，上帝不仅单单要我们纪念祂。这段经文接着说： 守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可作，因为六日之内，耶和华造天、地、海和其中的万物，第七日便安息，所以耶和华赐福与安息日，定为圣日。 我想花一点时间来探讨这个圣洁,或神圣的概念。因为这是第四条诫命的中心点。我们不光要纪念安息日，还要守它为圣日。现在就让我们翻开圣经的最后一本书，启示录 15:3-4。 启示录 15:3-4 唱上帝仆人摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，说：“主上帝，全能者啊，你的作为大哉，奇哉！万世之王啊（“世”或作“国”），你的道途义哉，诚哉！主啊，谁敢不敬畏你，不将荣耀归与你的名呢？因为独有你是圣的，万民都要来在你面前敬拜，因你公义的作为已经显出来了。” 在这里，我们读到唯独上帝是圣洁的。问题是，诫命要我们守安息日为圣。但是这里却说独有上帝才是圣的。换句话说，上帝是唯一圣洁的一位，那祂如何命令我们守这日为圣或使我们成圣呢？ 我们必须明白的是，上帝有一位独生子，从祂怀里出来的亲生儿子，希伯来书称耶稣为上帝本体的真像。那作为上帝真实的儿子并祂本体的真像，耶稣与父一样，同是圣洁的。不然的话，祂就不是真神的真像了。 这就是圣洁的泉源结束的地方，就是唯独上帝，那万有的本源，和祂儿子耶稣在本质上是圣洁的。因此，除了他们俩以外没有人是圣洁的。除非我们与圣洁的源头结合，或领受祂们的圣洁。 让我们来探讨圣经中几个有关圣洁的情景，几个与上帝和祂的圣洁有关联的例子。我们从启示录 4：8-11 开始。 启示录 4:8-11 四活物各有六个翅膀，遍体内外都满了眼睛。他们昼夜不住地说：“圣哉，圣哉，圣哉，主上帝是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者！”每逢四活物将荣耀、尊贵、感谢归给那坐在宝座上、活到永永远远者的时候，那二十四位长老就俯伏在坐宝座的面前敬拜那活到永永远远的，又把他们的冠冕放在宝座前，说：“我们的主，我们的上帝，你是配得荣耀、尊贵、权柄的，因为你创造了万物，并且万物是因你的旨意被创造而有的。” 我们能够想象这幕场景吗？围绕着上帝宝座的所有生物都清楚理解圣洁是什么。我们都必须查考圣经以学习有关圣洁的课题，因为遵守第四条诫命是极为重要的。 在安息日休息不工作是不足够的，加上我们不但要纪念这一日，还要做到守安息日为圣。由此，今天我们每一个人都必须知道如何守安息日为圣。 我们必须明白的是，我个人对圣的定义和你对圣的定义也许会不一样，每个人或许有自己的看法和理解，所以我们必须从圣经中找出它最正确的定义。 我们先来看圣经里的一个故事，它特别为我们启示，一个人若没有跟从与圣洁攸关的指示，其所带来的后果会是怎样的，而且这后果必是非常严重的。我们来看 撒母耳记下 6:6-11 到了拿艮的禾场，因为牛失前蹄（或作“惊跳”），乌撒就伸手扶住上帝的约柜。上帝耶和华向乌撒发怒，因这错误击杀他，他就死在上帝的约柜旁。大卫因耶和华击杀（原文作“闯杀”）乌撒，心里愁烦，就称那地方为毗列斯乌撒，直到今日。那日，大卫惧怕耶和华，说：“耶和华的约柜怎可运到我这里来？”于是大卫不肯将耶和华的约柜运进大卫的城，却运到迦特人俄别以东的家中。耶和华的约柜在迦特人俄别以东家中三个月，耶和华赐福给俄别以东和他的全家。 当我们读到这个故事时，我们可能会想，等等，这是怎么回事呢，为什么会这样。这个人单纯地只想做一件好事。眼看牛失蹄了，这位男人就因为害怕约柜会倒在地上，而伸出援手去扶住它。 他是怀着善意的，他的出发点单单是想避免约柜倒在地上。到底他何错之有呢？如果我们只读完这段经文，我们可能心想我们所侍奉的上帝或许不太公平，甚至有些残忍。 为什么上帝要击杀这位好心人呢？让我们翻开民数记以找出答案。民数记 4:15 民数记 4:15 将要起营的时候，亚伦和他儿子把圣所和圣所的一切器具遮盖完了，哥辖的子孙就要来抬，只是不可摸圣物，免得他们死亡。会幕里这些物件是哥辖子孙所当抬的。 “将要起营的时候，亚伦和他儿子把圣所和圣所的一切器具遮盖完了，哥辖的子孙就要来抬”， 让我们在这里停顿一下。我们知道以色列人在旷野搭建了一个圣幕。我们也晓得这些以色列人不会长久呆在一处，他们在旷野中不断迁移。所以上帝在如何设立圣所并谁能在圣所里供职这些方面上给了他们清楚的指示，而且祂这样做是有原因的。让我们继续读完这节经文。 “只是不可摸圣物，免得他们死亡。会幕里这些物件是哥辖子孙所当抬的。” 上帝无比清楚地给了他们明确的指示，让他们知道要如何处理圣物。另外，我们从这里学到的教训就是，圣洁是比我们想象中还要大的，且更为要紧的。 话说回来，大卫在这件事情发生后心里非常矛盾和困惑。他无法理解上帝为什么要这么做。怀爱伦先知在先祖与先知这本书里 有稍微谈到大卫当时的反应。让我们来读一读，看看事情为什么会如此发生。 大卫与他的百姓会合，他们安排了这项神圣的任务，是以欢欣乐意的心情来从事的； 但由于他们没有遵照耶和华的指示而行，因此祂就不能悦纳他们的服务。非利士人不知道上帝的律例，所以当他们把约柜送回以色列之地时，虽然把它放在牛车上运走，但耶和华却认可他们如此行。可是以色列人的手中有上帝的圣旨，有关于搬运约柜之事的明确指示，所以当他们忽略了这些指示，就是侮辱了上帝。乌撒则犯了更大的擅专之罪。他曾违犯了上帝的律法，故对约柜的神圣性感觉麻木了，他身上还有未曾承认的罪，竟敢冒犯上帝的禁令，而擅自触摸那代表上帝临格的象征。上帝不能接受一部分的顺从，不容许人在遵守他诫命的事上疏忽大意。他要借着那降在乌撒身上的刑罚使全以色列人得到深刻的印象，知道严格注意上帝命令的重要性。这样，一个人的死亡可以令百姓悔改，免得上帝的刑罚降在千万人身上。（怀爱伦著，《先祖与先知》原文第705页，第3段） “大卫与他的百姓会合，他们安排了这项神圣的任务，是以欢欣乐意的心情来从事的； 但由于他们没有遵照耶和华的指示而行，因此祂就不能悦纳他们的服务。非利士人不知道上帝的律例，所以当他们把约柜送回以色列之地时，虽然把它放在牛车上运走，但耶和华却认可他们如此行。” 上帝对他们的无知睁一只眼闭一只眼。上帝根据每个人所得到的亮光来审判各人。 “可是以色列人的手中有上帝的圣旨，有关于搬运约柜之事的明确指示，所以当他们忽略了这些指示，就是侮辱了上帝。乌撒则犯了更大的擅专之罪。他曾违犯了上帝的律法，故对约柜的神圣性感觉麻木了，他身上还有未曾承认的罪，竟敢冒犯上帝的禁令，而擅自触摸那代表上帝临格的象征。上帝不能接受一部分的顺从，不容许人在遵守他诫命的事上疏忽大意。” 朋友们，是什么造成死亡呢？什么事必定会导致死亡呢？就是罪，因为经上记着说，罪的工价乃是死。 “他要借着那降在乌撒身上的刑罚使全以色列人得到深刻的印象，知道严格注意上帝命令的重要性。这样，一个人的死亡可以令百姓悔改，免得上帝的刑罚降在千万人身上。” 所以即使在这一个大卫认为不公平的举动之中，我们也看见了上帝大爱的彰显，因为这件事救了千万人免受刑罚。不过上帝并没有任意选了乌撒来罚他或牺牲他的，而是乌撒本身有罪，因此承受了罪的代价。接下来，在怀爱伦著作中的下一面，她提到了大卫，我们来看。 上帝的谴责在大卫身上已经生效。他因此空前地体会到上帝律法的神圣，以及严格顺从的必要。上帝施恩给俄别以东全家，使大卫再希望约柜会使他和他的百姓蒙福。（怀爱伦著，《先祖与先知》原文第706页，第2段） 当然这里的律法是概括性的，这包括祂所有的律法和话语。但是当我们回到第四条诫命时，显而易见的就是这与我们所谈到的都有相同的道理。这是关乎一个神圣的课题，是一个宇宙的上帝要求或指示我们守之为圣的日子。 圣经里有一个很好的故事，虽然它与安息日没有直接的关系，但是它对我们今天所要学习和理解的道理很有帮助。这故事记载在路加福音 10:38-42，在我们读的当儿，我要你们好好思考以下这个问题，安息日其实是为了什么而被设立的呢？是什么让这一日成为圣洁的呢，而我们在那日又如何成为圣洁呢？ 路加福音 10:38-42 他们走路的时候，耶稣进了一个村庄。有一个女人名叫马大，接他到自己家里。她有一个妹子名叫马利亚，在耶稣脚前坐着听他的道。马大伺候的事多，心里忙乱，就进前来说：“主啊，我的妹子留下我一个人伺候，你不在意吗？请吩咐她来帮助我。”耶稣回答说：“马大，马大！你为许多的事思虑烦扰，但是不可少的只有一件，马利亚已经选择那上好的福分，是不能夺去的。” 圣经在这儿为我们呈现了两种人。 马利亚清楚明白耶稣的身份并耶稣对她的重要性。只要有机会与耶稣同在，她就愿意把所有的一切都放下，不让其他事物来占据她的思想。她想要做的唯一事情就是花时间与耶稣共处并与祂交谈，向祂学习并享受祂的同在。 反之，我们看到她的姐姐马大依然在劳碌奔波，忙东忙西，继续忙着做她一贯所做的事情。她忙着打扫，忙着预备食物等等，希望能为她的主预备一切，使他得到最好的待遇。 尽管如此，主以为我们预备了一个特别的日子，使我们能得到所谓的充电，一个我们都应该把焦点完全放在祂身上的日子。为什么呢？因为祂赐给了我们六天的时间来忙碌，来完成自己的私事。 这就是我们每一天的生活，我们必须做工，读书，做饭，打扫家居，照顾家人等等。但是到了第七日，耶稣以一种特别的方式来到我们的生命中。我们都晓得上帝给安息日赐下了特别的祝福。而玛利亚也清楚明白了与主同在并与主联系意味着什么。我们来看历代愿望一书中的一段引言。 马大不应该缺少“一件事”，就是安详虔诚的精神，一种对关乎将来不朽之生命的知识，和灵程长进所必需的恩典更为深邃的思虑。她应该少为暂时的事操心，而多为永恒的事焦急。耶稣教导他的儿女们，务必抓紧每一个机会来获得真知识，使他们能有得救的智慧。基督的圣工固然需要审慎积极的工人；广大的工作园地，正需要像马大这样热心从事宗教活动的人；但是，他们务要先同马利亚一起坐在耶稣脚前；务要藉基督的恩典使他们的殷勤、敏捷和魄力成圣；然后他们的人生才能成为一股不可征服的向善的力量。（怀爱伦著，《历代愿望》原文第525页，第2段） 弟兄姐妹们，若要遵守一个日子为圣，我们就必须与圣洁的来源合而为一。 我们都像马利亚一样，需要坐在耶稣的脚前向他学习，选择那永远不能被夺去的上好福分。我们像马大一样也需要常常竭力多作主工。那较高超的基督徒成就，惟在乎多用双膝跪下作诚恳的祈祷。……若有一丝自私的根保留在心灵之内，当不防备之时或要发芽生长，因而有多人沾染污秽。（怀爱伦著，《使我们认识祂》原文第351页，第4段） 在以赛亚书第58章最后两节，上帝在安息日的课题上给了我们一些明确的指示和教导，并让我们晓得上帝在这一天对我们的要求是什么。 以赛亚书 58:13-14 “你若在安息日掉转（或作“谨慎”）你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的，而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话，你就以耶和华为乐。耶和华要使你乘驾地的高处，又以你祖雅各的产业养育你。”这是耶和华亲口说的。 “你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的，而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话。” 那我们要是不说自己的私话，那我们应该说谁的话和听谁的话呢？ 自己的话吗？我们一周内的成就吗？我们生意上的成绩吗？不是的，是基督的话语才对。玛利亚就是知道基督的话语有多么的可贵。她明白这些话语是公义和圣洁的来源。让我们继续读下去。 “你就以耶和华为乐。耶和华要使你乘驾地的高处，又以你祖雅各的产业养育你。这是耶和华亲口说的。”上帝藉着安息日赐下特别的福气给那些愿意领受的人。 论到安息日，有一件我们必须注意的事，是不要论断别人，因为我们不能看透人心，也不理解别人的处境。也许他人还未得到亮光，未明白安息日的真理，或者缺乏知识，不晓得要如何守安息日。这就是为什么上帝根据个人所得的亮光来审判世人。 尽管如此，上帝给我们祂的话语，即圣经和预言之灵，是有其原因的。我们得到了这些亮光，就应该好好地去研究，明白真理并与他人分享。现在让我们翻开教会证言卷六，来看看上帝赐给怀爱伦先知的一些知识，使我们有一些概念，在安息日来临前该做什么准备，并在安息日当天有什么要特别注意的。 安息日开始 在星期五这一天，为安息日所作的一切准备都应当完成。所有的衣服都要预备妥当，一切的饭食也当作好。此外如擦鞋，沐浴等事，均应一一办妥。这是可能做到的，只要你肯定规把它做成，则自然不难办到。安息日这天并不是给人缝补衣裳，烹调食物，寻求欢乐，或从事其它俗务的。在日落之前当将一切世俗的工作放在一边，一切世俗的报章杂志，也当收藏起来。做父母的当向儿女说明其所以如此行的原因和目的，并让他们也在这准备遵照诫命守安息日的事上有份。（怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷六》原文第355页，第3段） 根据上帝的话语，要遵守一个日子为圣是有一些条件的。我们再来看一段引言，也是同一页的上一段。 许多人须受教知道如何整肃仪表，以参赴安息日崇拜聚会。他们来到上帝面前，不应还穿着平素的衣服。各人都当有一身特为安息日而制备的服装，作为到上帝殿中参赴聚会时穿着之用。我们固然不应效法世界的风尚，但也决不可不关心自己的仪表。我们虽应避免盛妆艳服，但仍须讲求清洁整齐，因为上帝的子民在外表和内心都当纯洁。（怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷六》原文第355页，第2段） 接下来，我们来翻开第360页的第1段。 当我们迫不得已而需要在安息日旅行之时，也当设法避免与那些会吸引我们去注意俗事的人同行。当保守我们的心意，专心思念上帝，与衪谈心。遇有机会，就当向人传讲真理。要时常准备，以便救济受难的人，帮助缺乏者，在这一类的事情上，上帝要我们将衪所给的智慧和知识，付诸实用。但我们却不应商谈业务，或作任何普通的、世俗的谈话。因为随时随在，上帝都要我们藉着尊敬安息日，证实我们对衪的忠诚。（怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷六》原文第360页，第1段） “当我们迫不得已而需要在安息日旅行之时，也当设法避免与那些会吸引我们去注意俗事的人同行。当保守我们的心意，专心思念上帝，与衪谈心。遇有机会，就当向人传讲真理。要时常准备，以便救济受难的人，帮助缺乏者，在这一类的事情上，上帝要我们将衪所给的智慧和知识，付诸实用。但我们却不应商谈业务，或作任何普通的、世俗的谈话。” 我们不应该做任何世俗的谈话。为什么呢？记得我们在以赛亚书上所读的吗？在上帝的安息日不可说自己的私话。 “因为随时随在，上帝都要我们藉着尊敬安息日，证实我们对衪的忠诚。” 这段话是特别写给上帝的传道人的，就是那些到各个地方去传福音的弟兄姐妹们，当然我们尽可能要避免在圣安息日旅行到别的地方去。 但是如果无可避免的话，那我们应该注意我们的心思意念和言行举止。因为上帝所看的，是我们的出发点和我们行为的动机。 很多时候，我们没有遵守安息日的行为只是一些症状，而我们没有守安息日为圣的原因，或问题的根源，是因为我们个人没有与基督建立美好的关系。 也许我们还不明白玛利亚所明白的道理。我们没有玛利亚所拥有的欲望，就是当基督在她身边的时候她所要得到的。因此，很多时候，我们不断地想把这些症状治好，但却不断失败，也许每一次都失败。 因为我们没有对症下药，或更准确地说，我们不知道这问题的根本所在。好，现在让我们再读一段引言。 “我们要命令所有人，如果可以避免的话，尽可能不要在安息日洗他们的碗碟。在上帝的圣日做任何不必要的工作会让上帝蒙羞。如果可以的话，碗碟应该留到安息日结束之后才洗，这样做不会显得不一致，反而更加妥当。” （怀爱伦著，《信函》第104号，1901年，原文第9段） 我们尽可能避免在安息日洗碗碟，除非逼不得已。我们是在家里进行家庭崇拜的，那比如说用餐时我们不够碗碟供大家使用的情况，那么先用完餐的弟兄姐妹可以先把碗碟洗干净，再把餐具传给其他人。因此，正如我刚才所说的，很多时候最重要的是我们的出发点。接下来我们看这一段： 关于上帝就祂的圣日对你的要求，你必须有更高的见解。凡在上帝已赐给你的那六天能做成的事，你都应在那六天完成。但是圣日的时间，你不应抢夺上帝一时一刻。（怀爱伦著，《教会证言—卷二》原文第701页，第3段） 安息日结束 当太阳西沉之时，要有祈祷之声和赞美的歌声表示神圣的时间的终止，邀请上帝在劳作周的种种忧虑中与我们同在。（怀爱伦著，《教会证言—卷六》原文359页，第1段） 朋友们，我们刚刚在旧约圣经中所看到的，就是上帝对于守安息日为圣这件事上所作的一些要求，而这些要求被详细地记载在这些证言中，是有它的目的的。除此之外，我们越发亲近上帝时，就会越发明白这些真理。 因为你与上帝越要好，你就会越不想在上帝的圣日中抢夺祂的一分一秒。因为我们会以耶和华为乐，我们会在这特别的日子与我们这位特别的神，并祂儿子享受在一起的美好时光。 难得我们可以在这一天完全撇下一切的工作，一切的劳苦重担，忧愁挂虑并世俗的任何事情而来到上帝的面前，全心全意地与父和子相交，享受从天而来的福份。 说到这里呢，我想分享一个对我们很重要但许多人却都忽略的道理，记载在雅各书2:8-10。 雅各书 2:8-10 经上记着说：“要爱人如己。”你们若全守这至尊的律法，才是好的；但你们若按外貌待人，便是犯罪，被律法定为犯法的。因为凡遵守全律法的，只在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条。 我们必须遵守全十条律法。那让我来问你，你能够守安息日为圣却不孝敬父母吗？根据这段经文，答案很明显是不能。我们不能在守安息日或任何一条诫命的当儿又同时干犯另一条诫命。我们若是拜其他神或拜偶像的话，试问能守得安息日为圣吗？当然不能。为什么呢？因为圣经说，凡遵守全律法的，只要在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条。 这就是为什么上帝末时的子民，也被称为余民或圣徒, 不仅是守安息日的，而且也是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的，你可以在启示录14：12看到这一点。我们不可能只守一条，但在其他诫命上跌倒，却误以为自己遵守了诫命。 我们必须有基督住在我们里头，靠着祂的力量来遵守全十条诫命，并结出圣灵的果子。只有这样，我们才能有基督的品格并有能力去面对那要来临的兽印记的大艰难时期。 单单知道关于安息日是不足够的，只知道星期日和三位一体敬拜是兽的印记也是不足够的。因为当那时候来到时，我们很有可能会跌倒。唯有基督藉着祂的灵住在我们里面，为我们塑造祂的品格，我们才能遵守得住所有的诫命并忍耐到底，直等到基督复临。 朋友们，让我们继续寻求上帝的公义，并祈求祂藉着祂儿子赐给我们祂的义，也让我们能遵守祂的安息日为圣，作为一个能使我们分别为圣的印记并藉着这一日与父并祂儿子更亲近。愿我们每一位都能认识上帝，经历祂，并有坚定的信心来奔走天国的道路。愿上帝赐福每一位，阿门。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 Unmasked圣经研究 圣经研究 第一课 是否重要呢？我们可以知道吗？ 1。当上帝的子民不认识祂时，祂是否高兴呢？ 何西阿书 4:1 “以色列人哪，你们当听耶和华的话。耶和华与这地的居民争辩，因这地上无诚实、无良善、无人认识上帝。 （争辩：争论，纷争，争执，争吵，反对) 2。人所当尽的本分是什么？ 传道书 12:13 这些事都已听见了，总意就是敬畏上帝，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分（或作“这是众人的本分”）。 3。敬畏上帝是什么意思呢？ 圣经作者经常使用一种称为排比的写作风格，他们会写一个思想，然后用不同的词重复它，但暗示相同的含义。 箴言1：7 “敬畏耶和华是知识的开端，愚妄人藐视智慧和训诲。” 箴言9：10 敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端，认识至圣者便是聪明。 箴言2：5 “你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝”。 “敬畏耶和华” = “认识上帝” 4。在末世的日子里，我们要传扬的第一个信息是什么？ 启示录14：7 他大声说：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了，应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。” （第一位天使信息的一部分是把对上帝的认识带回给人们。） 5。认识上帝是否重要呢？ 何西阿书4：6 “我的民因无知识而灭亡。你弃掉知识，我也必弃掉你，使你不再给我作祭司。你既忘了你 神的律法，我也必忘记你的儿女。” 何西阿书6:6 “我喜爱良善（或作“怜恤”），不喜爱祭祀；喜爱认识上帝，胜于燔祭。” 6。为什么认识上帝这么重要？ 约翰福音17：3 “ 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 彼得后书1:2 “愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣，多多地加给你们。” 7。对上帝的认识包括了什么呢？ a。知道上帝是谁 提摩太后书1：12 “为这缘故，我也受这些苦难，然而我不以为耻。因为我知道我所信的是谁，也深信他能保全我所交付他的（或作“他所交托我的”），直到那日。” （保罗知道上帝是谁，这就是为什么他能够向那些无知并不认识他们所崇拜的神之人宣告他的上帝：使徒行传17：23） b。知道祂的道路/荣耀/品格 出埃及记33:13 “我如今若在你眼前蒙恩，求你将你的道指示我，使我可以认识你，好在你眼前蒙恩，求你想到这民是你的民。” 出埃及记 33：18 摩西说：“求你显出你的荣耀给我看。” （道=荣耀） 出埃及记34:6,7 “耶和华在他面前宣告说：“耶和华，耶和华，是有怜悯、有恩典的上帝，不轻易发怒，并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。为千万人存留慈爱，赦免罪孽、过犯和罪恶，万不以有罪的为无罪，必追讨他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代。” （上帝的品格在这里显示为祂的荣耀。） 约翰一书4:7-9 “ 7亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从上帝来的。凡有爱心的，都是由上帝而生，并且认识上帝。没有爱心的，就不认识上帝，因为上帝就是爱。上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。” （认识上帝 = 爱上帝和爱人，因为上帝就是爱） c。遵守祂的诫命 提多书1:16 “ 他们说是认识上帝，行事却和他相背；本是可憎恶的，是悖逆的，在各样善事上是可废弃的。” (认识上帝会使人顺服祂。教义不是终点；它是一个能使人更加认识上帝并更接近祂的管道。） 8。我必须做些什么来亲密地认识上帝？ 箴言2:3-5 “呼求明哲，扬声求聪明。寻找它，如寻找银子，搜求它，如搜求隐藏的珍宝，你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。” 9。我们能知道上帝是谁吗？上帝是否在祂话语中向我们揭示他自己呢？ 罗马书1：20 “自从造天地以来，上帝的永能和神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但藉着所造之物就可以晓得，叫人无可推诿。” 约翰一书5:20 “我们也知道上帝的儿子已经来到，且将智慧赐给我们，使我们认识那位真实的，我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永生。” 10。我们只单单因什么而夸口呢？ 耶利米书9：23，24 “耶和华如此说：“智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主部要因他的财物夸口。夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱公平和公义，以此夸口。这是耶和华说的。” 圣经研究 第二课 圣经里的上帝是谁？ 1。根据旧约圣经，我们有几位神呢？ 申命记 6：4 “以色列阿 ， 你要听。耶和华我们上帝是独一的主 。 申命记4：35 “这是显给你看，要使你知道，惟有耶和华他是上帝，除他以外，再无别神。” 耶利米书 10：10 “惟耶和华是真上帝，是活上帝，是永远的王。他一发怒，大地震动；他一恼恨，列国都担当不起。”(查阅第6题） 2。根据新约圣经，我们有几位神呢？ 哥林多前书8：4 “论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么；也知道上帝只有一位，再没有别的上帝。” 以弗所书4:6 “一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。” 提摩太前书 2：5 “ 因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。” 雅各书2：19 “你信上帝只有一位，你信的不错；鬼魔也信，却是战兢。” 3。 谁是最有资格告诉我们关于独一真神的？ 约翰福音1：18 “ 从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。 约翰福音3：11 “ 我实实在在地告诉你：我们所说的，是我们知道的；我们所见证的，是我们见过的；你们却不领受我们的见证。” 4。 根据耶稣 —— a。“独一的真神 ”是谁？ 约翰福音17：3 “ 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。 b。耶稣说我们应该向谁祷告？ 马太福音6：9-13 “所以，你们祷告要这样说：‘我们在天上的父，愿人都尊你的名为圣。愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。不叫我们遇见试探，救我们脱离凶恶（或作“脱离恶者”）。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们。’” c。诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？ 马可福音12：28-32 “有一个文士来，听见他们辩论，晓得耶稣回答的好，就问他说：“诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？” 耶稣回答说：“第一要紧的，就是说：‘以色列啊，你要听，主我们上帝，是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的上帝。’ 其次就是说：‘要爱人如己。’再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。” 那文士对耶稣说：“夫子说，上帝是一位，实在不错。除了他以外，再没有别的上帝。 在我们能够爱上帝之前，我们必须认识祂。对上帝正确的认识对我们与祂的关系至关重要。文士同意只有一个上帝，除了祂以外，再没有别的上帝 。 d。耶稣有没有纠正那文士呢？ 马可福音12：34 “ 耶稣见他回答得有智慧，就对他说：“你离上帝的国不远了。”从此以后，没有人敢再问他什么。(那文士的信心反映了整个犹太名族的信心。犹太人相信只有一位上帝。） 约翰福音8：41“你们是行你们父所行的事。”他们说：“我们不是从淫乱生的，我们只有一位父，就是上帝。” e。犹太人的上帝是谁？ 约翰福音8：54“ 耶稣回答说：“我若荣耀自己，我的荣耀就算不得什么；荣耀我的乃是我的父，就是你们所说是你们的上帝。” (注罗马书3：29） f。真正敬拜者敬拜的对象是谁？ 约翰福音4：21-23 “耶稣说：“妇人，你当信我。时候将到，你们拜父也不在这山上，也不在耶路撒冷。你们所拜的，你们不知道；我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。” 5。根据使徒们， 那位独一的一位上帝是谁？ 哥林多前书8：6 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 雅各书3：9 “我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着上帝形像被造的人。” 罗马书15：6 一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。 以弗所书4：6 一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。 哥林多后书 1:3 愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父并主耶稣基督归与你们！ 6。那又真又活的上帝是谁？ 帖撒罗尼迦前书1：9，10 “因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向上帝，要服侍那又真又活的上帝，等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。” 圣经研究 第三课父上帝的主权 圣经怎么说到关于父的主权呢？ 以下是关于父上帝的一些事实，希望能在这个课题上给我们一些启示。 1。 父是万物的本源。 哥林多前书8：6 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 哥林多后书 5：18 “一切都是出于上帝，他藉着基督使我们与他和好，又将劝人与他和好的职分赐给我们。” 罗马书11：36 “因为万有都是本于他，倚靠他，归于他。愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们！” 以弗所书3：14，15 “ 因此，我在父面前屈膝，（天上地上的各（或作“全”）家都是从他得名）” 2。父是基督的上帝 a。道成肉身之后 马太福音27：46 “约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” b。在祂复活之后 约翰福音20：17 “耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 以弗所书1：3 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝，他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。” 启示录 3:12 “得胜的，我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名（这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。” （看希伯来书1：9，彼得前书1：3） 3。只有父被称为至高者 比较以下两个章节: 诗篇78：17 “他们却仍旧得罪他，在干燥之地悖逆至高者。” 以赛亚书63：8-10 他说：“他们诚然是我的百姓，不行虚假的子民。”这样，他就作了他们的救主。他们在一切苦难中，他也同受苦难，并且他面前的使者拯救他们。他以慈爱和怜悯救赎他们，在古时的日子常保抱他们、怀揣他们。他们竟悖逆，使主的圣灵担忧；他就转作他们的仇敌，亲自攻击他们。 父上帝是这些经文的主题。这里提到两个生物，父上帝（被称为“他们的救主”）和基督（被称为“ 他面前的使者 ”）。 ......耶稣也被称为“至高上帝的儿子”。 马可福音5：7 大声呼叫说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？我指着上帝恳求你，不要叫我受苦！” 路加福音8:28 他见了耶稣，就俯伏在他面前，大声喊叫，说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？求你不要叫我受苦。” 上述的章节清楚地区别了父和子。父被称为 “至高上帝”，而耶稣被称为“至高上帝的儿子”。 4。父的岁数比耶稣大 约翰福音14：28 “你们听见我对你们说了，我去还要到你们这里来。你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。” 上述经文中的“大”这个词来自（G3187“μείζων” meizon），意思是年龄比较大/比较年长，这与罗马书9：12翻译的“大”是相同的，“上帝就对利百加说：“将来大的要服侍小的。” 5。父比万有都大 约翰福音10:29 “我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他夺去。” 6。父是基督的头 哥林多前书11：3 “我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，上帝是基督的头。” 7。父是超乎众人之上的 以弗所书 4：4-6 4 身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个，正如你们蒙召，同有一个指望；5 一主，一信，一洗，6 一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。 8。父是天地的主 马太福音 11:25 “那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。” （看路加福音10：21） 9。耶稣从祂父领受了什么？ a。祂的生命 约翰福音 5:26 “因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命；” b。祂的权柄 马太福音28:18 “耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。” （看马太福音11：27；约翰福音5：22-27；17：2） c。祂的国 但以理 7:14 “得了权柄、荣耀、国度，使各方、各国、各族的人都侍奉他。他的权柄是永远的，不能废去，他的国必不败坏。” 路加福音1：32 “他要为大，称为至高者的儿子，主上帝要把他祖大卫的位给他。” （也看哥林多前书15：24-28；以弗所书1：22） d。祂受人敬拜的权利 约翰福音5:22 “父不审判什么人，乃将审判的事全交与子，23 叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。” （看使徒行传2：36；腓立比书2：9-10；希伯来书1：6） e。祂的名 腓立比书 2:9 “所以上帝将他升为至高，又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名，10 叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶稣的名无不屈膝，” 希伯来书1：4 “他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。” f。万有 约翰福音 3:35 “父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。” 约翰福音 13:3 耶稣知道父已将万有交在他手里，且知道自己是从上帝出来的，又要归到上帝那里去，。。。”（看希伯来书1：2） 上述经文为我们充分证明了父上帝至高的主权。但是，这么做，我们并没有贬低上帝儿子耶稣的地位，价值或神性。 （更多有关父和子同等的信息，请参阅第5课。) 圣经研究 第四课 耶稣是谁？ 1。耶稣说祂自己是谁？ 约翰福音10：36 “父所分别为圣，又差到世间来的，他自称是上帝的儿子，你们还向他说‘你说僭妄的话’吗？” 2。父上帝怎么说关于耶稣的身份？ 马太福音3：16，17 “耶稣受了洗，随既从水里上来。天忽然为他开了，就看见上帝的灵，彷佛鸽子降下，落在他身上。从天上有声音说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。” 马太福音17：5 “说话之间，忽然有一朵光明的云彩遮盖他们，且有声音从云彩里出来说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的，你们要听他。” 3。门徒们对耶稣的身份有什么样的理解？ 马太福音16：15，16 “耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？” 西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生上帝的儿子。” 约翰福音11：27 “马大说：“主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是上帝的儿子，就是那要临到世界的。” 马太福音14：33 “在船上的人都拜他，说：“你真是上帝的儿子了。” 使徒行传9：20 “就在各会堂里宣传耶稣，说他是上帝的儿子。” 4。堕落的天使知道耶稣是上帝的儿子吗？ 路加福音4：3 “魔鬼对他说：“你若是上帝的儿子，可以吩咐这块石头变成食物。” 路加福音8：28 “他见了耶稣，就俯伏在他面前，大声喊叫，说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？求你不要叫我受苦。” 马可福音5：7 “大声呼叫说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？我指着上帝恳求你，不要叫我受苦！” 5。在圣经里还有谁被称为“上帝的儿子”？ 路加福音3：38 “以挪士是塞特的儿子，塞特是亚当的儿子，亚当是上帝的儿子。” 亚当是被造的儿子（创世纪5是1），天使也是如此（约伯记38：7）。 约翰一书3：1 “你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为上帝的儿女；我们也真是他的儿女。世人所以不认识我们，是因未曾认识他。” 我们是被赎回来/领养的儿子（罗马书8：15）。 6。基督如何是上帝的儿子？ 约翰一书4：9 “上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。” 耶稣不是像亚当一样是被造的儿子，也不是和我们一样是被领养的儿子，耶稣是独生子；祂是儿子因为祂是为父所生的。 约翰福音3：16 “上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。” 7。耶稣何时成为人子？ 加拉太书4：4 “及至时候满足， 上帝就差遣他的儿子，为女人所生，且生在律法以下，” 路加福音1：31 “你要怀孕生子，可以给他起名叫耶稣。” 在道成肉身时，耶稣为马利亚所生而成为人子。 8。基督是何时为父所生的？ 弥迦书5：2 “伯利恒以法他啊，你在犹大诸城中为小。将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我作掌权的；他的根源从亘古、从太初就有。” “根源”也表示“起源”。耶稣是从亘古、从太初的日子里（永恒的日子）被生出的。 9。在永恒的日子里发生了什么事呢？ 箴言 8:22-30 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。耶和华还没有创造大地和田野，并世上的土质，我已生出。他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈，上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固，为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃，” 在以上的这段经文里，耶稣在智慧的称号之下（哥林多前书1：24,30;歌罗西书2：3）向读者指出在太初创造万物之先的某个时侯，祂“从父出来”或“为父所生”。 10。耶稣是否在伯利恒诞生之前被称为上帝的儿子？ 箴言30：4 “谁升天又降下来？谁聚风在掌中？谁包水在衣服里？谁立定地的四极？他名叫什么？他儿子叫名叫什么？你知道吗？” 但以理3：25 “王说：“看哪，我见有四个人，并没有捆绑，在火中游行，也没有受伤。那第四个的相貌好像神子。” 诗篇2：12 “当以嘴亲子，恐怕他发怒，你们便在道中灭亡，因为他的怒气快要发作。凡投靠他的，都是有福的。” 11。在道成肉身之后，耶稣是否教导人祂是从父出来的？ 约翰福音8：42 “耶稣说：“倘若上帝是你们的父，你们就必爱我；因为我本是出于上帝，也是从上帝而来，并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。” 约翰福音16：27 “父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。” 12。相信耶稣是上帝真实的亲生儿子对我们来说是否重要呢？ 约翰一书2：22，23 “谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。” 约翰一书5：10，11 “信上帝儿子的，就有这见证在他心里；不信上帝的，就是将上帝当作说谎的，因不信上帝为他儿子作的见证。11 这见证就是上帝赐给我们永生，这永生也是在他儿子里面。” 约翰福音3：36 “信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不着永生（原文作“不得见永生”），上帝的震怒常在他身上。” 约翰福音20：31 “但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是上帝的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。” 13。为什么犹太人要杀基督？ 马太福音26：63-65 “耶稣却不言语。大祭司对他说：“我指着永生上帝叫你起誓告诉我们，你是上帝的儿子基督不是？” 耶稣对他说：“你说的是。然而我告诉你们，后来你们要看见人子坐在那权能者的右边，驾着天上的云降临。” 大祭司就撕开衣服，说：“他说了僭妄的话，我们何必再用见证人呢？这僭妄的话，现在你们都听见了。” 约翰福音19：7 “犹太人回答说：“我们有律法，按那律法，他是该死的，因他以自己为上帝的儿子。” 耶稣宁可死也不愿意否认祂为上帝儿子的真实身份！身为凡人的我们是否更应该承认耶稣为上帝儿子的真实身份呢？ 14。那些相信和接受耶稣为上帝儿子的会得到什么应许呢？ 约翰福音1：12 “凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女。 圣经研究 第五课父和子的同等 我们已经确定了耶稣是上帝的儿子，因为祂是在永恒的日子里为父所生/从父出来。 1。父与子是不是同等的？ 腓立比书2：6 “他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的：” 在这一课里，我们会查考圣经来看看上帝是否向我们显明祂们同等的基础。父和子为什么同等呢？ 2。耶稣从祂神圣的出生承受了什么？ 希伯来书1:4 “ 他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。" 出埃及记 23:20,21 “看哪，我差遣使者在你前面，在路上保护你，领你到我所预备的地方去。他是奉我名来的（或作我的名在他里面），你们要在他面前谨慎，听从他的话，不可惹（”惹“或作”违背“）他，因为他必不赦免你们的过犯。 耶稣身为上帝的儿子承受了祂父的名。我们也知道耶稣是当时以色列人面前的使者，并有着天父的名。因此，我们得出结论，耶稣在伯利恒之前承受了祂父亲的名，这表示耶稣在道成肉身之前早就是上帝的儿子了。 3。“名”代表什么？ 本质/本性：“并且造男造女。在他们被造的日子，上帝赐福给他们，称他们为人。” 创世记5：2 权柄： “我奉我父的名来。”约翰福音5：43 （看约翰福音10：25；马太福音21：23） 品格： “美名胜过大财；恩宠强如金银。” 箴言22：1 （看传道书7：1；箴言15：30） 藉着承受父的名，耶稣也承受了父的神性。 4。这证明了基督是什么呢？ 希伯来书1:1-3 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖； 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。他是上帝荣耀所发的光辉，是上帝本体的真像，常用他权能的命令托住万有。他洗净了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右边。” 基督是上帝本体的真像。祂与父上帝有着同样神圣的本性和生命。耶稣为儿子的身份和祂所承受的一切使祂成为： a。万有的主—“承受万有的” b。创造主—“藉着他创造诸世界” c。上帝的真像并与祂同等—“上帝荣耀所发的光辉，是上帝本体的真像” d。万有的维持者—“托住万有” e。救主—“他洗净了人的罪” f。中保—“坐在高天至大者的右边” 5。在道成肉身之前，圣经是否向我们显明基督是上帝的真像？ 启示录12：7 “在天上就有了争战。米迦勒同他的使者与龙争战，龙也同它的使者去争战，” “米迦勒”的意思是“像上帝的一位。”这再一次证实了耶稣在永恒的日子里承受了这个名字。 6。基督还承受了什么？ 约翰福音5:26 因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命。” 父赐给祂儿子祂所拥有的生命，因此耶稣承受了这生命。这是耶稣能赐给凡相信祂的人之不朽并原有的生命。 7。这是否使耶稣成为一位配得我们赞美和敬拜的神性生物呢？ 希伯来书 1:8，6 论到子却说：“上帝啊，你的宝座是永永远远的，你的国权是正直的。再者，上帝使长子到世上来的时候（或作“上帝再使长子到世上来的时候”），就说：“上帝的使者都要拜他。” 歌罗西书2：9；1：19 “因为上帝本性一切的丰盛，都有形有体地居住在基督里面，因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛在他里面居住。” 上帝本性一切的丰盛，或祂的神性，都居住在上帝的儿子里。祂是完全有神性的，因为祂父亲是神。 8. 我们是否应该尊敬子如同尊敬父一样？ 约翰福音 5:23 “叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。” 我们尊敬和敬拜子如同父一样。祂们两都有着相同的本性。当我们尊敬并敬拜祂的儿子时，我们向上帝归与最高的荣耀 （腓立比书 2：11）。 9。犹太人是否明白耶稣声称与父平等？ 约翰福音 5:18 “所以犹太人越发想要杀他，因他不但犯了安息日，并且称上帝为他的父，将自己和上帝当作平等。” 10。犹太人为什么要拿石头打耶稣？ 约翰福音10:33-36 “犹太人回答说：“我们不是为善事拿石头打你，是为你说僭妄的话；又为你是个人，反将自己当作上帝。” 耶稣说：“你们的律法上岂不是写着‘我曾说你们是上帝’吗？经上的话是不能废的。若那些承受上帝道的人，尚且称为上帝；父所分别为圣，又差到世间来的，他自称是上帝的儿子，你们还向他说‘你说僭妄的话’吗？” 犹太人明白，耶稣自称是上帝的儿子，意思说祂将自己和上帝当作平等。耶稣本身也明白这一点。耶稣与上帝的同等是基于祂为上帝儿子的身份。 圣经研究 第六课 圣灵— 第一部分：上帝的灵/人的灵 1。人是按着什么形像造的？ 创世纪 1:26 “上帝说：“我们要照着我们的形像，按着我们的样式造人。。。” 2。上帝在对谁说话呢？是否有令一位有着上帝形像的神性生物呢？ 圣经形容基督为唯一一位有着上帝形像的神性生物。 哥林多后书 4:4 “此等不信之人被这世界的上帝弄瞎了心眼，不叫基督荣耀福音的光照着他们。基督本是上帝的像。” 腓立比书 2:6 “他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的，” 歌罗西书 1:15 “爱子是那不能看见之上帝的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。 希伯来书1：4 “他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。” 除非圣经有为我们揭示另一位有着上帝的形像或上帝样式的神性生物，否者最合理的结论就是在创世纪 1：26 里，父上帝是在对祂儿子说话。 3。“形像”和“样式”这两个词包括了什么？ 创世纪 5:3 “亚当活到一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形像样式和自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。” 我们在这里看到塞特有着亚当的形像和样式。这包括肉体和属灵两方面。 4。人（有灵的活人）是由什么构成的？ 创世纪 2:7 “耶和华上帝用地上的尘土造人，将生气吹在他鼻孔里，他就成了有灵的活人，名叫亚当。” 5。如果人是按照上帝的形像造的，那人包含了两个方面，一个灵和一个身体，这是否意味着上帝和基督也同样有一个灵和一个实体呢？ a。上帝有没有一个实体？ •先知们看见上帝: —耶利米 列王记上 22:19 “米该雅说：“你要听耶和华的话。我看见耶和华坐在宝座上，天上的万军侍立在他左右。” —以赛亚 以赛亚书 6:1 “当乌西雅王崩的那年，我见主坐在高高的宝座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮满圣殿。” （还有但以理[但以理7：9，13] 和约翰[启示录4：2，3] 看见上帝） •基督在道成肉身之前本有上帝的形像: 腓立比书 2:6 “他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的，” •耶稣说父有一个实体但是没人见过: 约翰福音6:46 “这不是说有人看见过父，惟独从上帝来的，他看见过父。”（参阅约翰福音 5：37） •我们必得看见上帝: 马太福音 5:8 “清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见上帝。” b。上帝是否有灵？ 上帝： 约翰福音4:24 “上帝是个灵（或无“个”字），所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 耶稣： 哥林多前书15:45 “经上也是这样记着说，“首先的人亚当成了有灵的活人（“灵”或作“血气”）”，末后的亚当成了叫人活的灵。” 神性实体 + 神圣的灵 = 神性生物 6。“人与他的灵”和“上帝与祂的灵”之间是否有任何相似之处？ 哥林多前书2:11 “除了在人里头的灵，谁知道人的事？像这样，除了上帝的灵，也没有人知道上帝的事。” （“像这样”也表示“同样的”） 以上的经文告诉我们“人的灵对人来说是什么”和“上帝的灵对上帝来说是什么”是一样的。然而，这经文指出了一个非常重要的区别。虽然人的灵是“在他里头”，但上帝的灵并不仅限制于上帝的实体里头。 7。人的灵指的是什么? 心/ 思想——但以理2:1 “尼布甲尼撒在位第二年，他作了梦，心里烦乱，不能睡觉。” （“心”原文作“灵”） 诗篇34：18 “耶和华靠近伤心的人，拯救灵性痛悔的人。” (请看诗篇51：10，17；77：6；78：8，以西结书36：26） 生命/气息—约伯记27：3 “我的生命尚在我里面，上帝所赐呼吸之气仍在我的鼻孔内。” (以赛亚书38：16；也看约伯记27：3；启示录11：11） 人的灵是他自己的性格，思想和生命。是他自己的位格。 8。圣经如何解释上帝的灵呢？ -心/思想—比较以赛亚书40：13和罗马书11：34。 以赛亚书40:13 “谁曾指示耶和华的灵，或作他的谋士指教他呢？” 罗马书 11：34 “谁知道主的心？谁作过他的谋士呢？”（也看哥林多前书2：16） -生命—约翰福音6:63 “叫人活着的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。” 罗马书8：10 “基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。” （也看创世纪2：7；约伯记27：3；33：4；启示录11：11） 9。如果人的灵正是他自己的存在/位格，那么我们可以说上帝的灵是祂自己的同在/临格吗？ 诗篇139：7 “我往哪里去，躲避你的灵？我往哪里逃，躲避你的面？” 诗篇51：11 “不要丢弃我，使我离开你的面；不要从我收回你的圣灵。” （圣灵 = 面 = 同在） 总结：上帝有一个实体的形式，也有一种属灵的同在。祂的灵不仅限于祂的身体里头。我们的灵是我们自己的位格，思想和存在，同样的，上帝的灵也是祂自己的位格，思想和同在。 圣经研究 第七课 圣灵— 第二部分：圣灵的身份 在上一课中，我们确认了上帝的灵是祂自己的思想，生命，同在和位格。在本课中，我们希望明白到到圣灵的起源和身份。 1。耶稣离开之前答应了什么？ 约翰福音14:16,17,26 “我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师（或作“训慰师”。下同），叫他永远与你们同在，就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他，因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。。。但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。” 2。根据圣经，圣灵是谁的灵呢？请比较以下两节经文： 马可福音13：11 “人把你们拉去交官的时候，不要预先思虑说什么；到那时候，赐给你们什么话，你们就说什么，因为说话的不是你们，乃是圣灵。” 马太福音10：19，20 “你们被交的时候，不要思虑怎样说话，或说什么话。到那时候，必赐给你们当说的话，因为不是你们自己说的，乃是你们父的灵在你们里头说的。” 圣灵=父的灵 再比较以下两节经文： 彼得后书1：21 “因为预言从来没有出于人意的，乃是人被圣灵感动，说出上帝的话来。” 彼得在他第一封书信里说到同样的事情，他说： 彼得前书1：10，11 “论到这救恩，那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细地寻求考察，就是考察在他们心里基督的灵，预先证明基督受苦难，后来得荣耀，是指着什么时候，并怎样的时候。” 圣灵=基督的灵 根据以上四节经文，我们可以很肯定地得出以下结论： 基督的灵=圣灵=父的灵 3。 一共有几个圣灵呢？ 以弗所书4：4 “身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个，正如你们蒙召，同有一个指望；” （参阅哥林多前书6：17；12：13；以弗所书2：18） 4。当我们领受圣灵时，我们会领受谁呢？ 约翰福音14:23 “耶稣回答说：“人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。” 根据耶稣，当我们领受圣灵时，我们是领受父和子。 5。父和子是否拥有同一个灵呢？ 罗马书8：9，10 “如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。” 在这节经文里，保罗说到同一个灵时用了以下的词：上帝的灵，圣灵，基督的灵，基督。这告诉我们保罗相信圣灵是父和子所共同享有的灵。 6。圣灵是从哪里来的呢？ 约翰福音15：26 “但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵，他来了，就要为我作见证。” 7。为什么圣灵是从父出来的呢？ 哥林多前书8:6 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 罗马书11:36 “因为万有都是本于他，倚靠他，归于他。愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们！” 圣灵是从父出来的，因为一切都本于祂，祂是一切的本源。（ 更多相关信息，请参阅第3课。） 8。圣灵藉着谁来到我们这里呢？ 以弗所书2:18 “因为我们两下藉着他【耶稣】被一个圣灵所感，得以进到父面前。” 约翰福音20:22 “说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：“你们受圣灵。” 父的灵藉着耶稣来到我们这里，也藉着祂回到父那里去。 9。到我们这里来成为我们保惠师的是谁？ 约翰福音14:18，19 “我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我，你们却看见我，因为我活着，你们也要活着。” 10。父要怎么把耶稣差到我们这里来呢？是耶稣的肉体还是祂的灵？ 加拉太书4:6 “你们既为儿子，上帝就差他儿子的灵进入你们（原文作“我们”）的心，呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 注：保罗在加拉太书里告诉我们，当我们领受耶稣的灵时，我们将呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 他同样在罗马书 8：15说到，当我们领受儿子的心时，我们将呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 这再一次证明了圣灵是耶稣的灵。也比较加拉太书4：6和使徒行传3：26. 11。当我们领受耶稣的灵时，我们是否领受耶稣以外的另一位呢？ 哥林多后书 3:17 “主就是那灵；主的灵在哪里，那里就得以自由。” 保罗在歌林多前书8：6告诉我们，有一位主，就是耶稣基督，接着在以弗所书告诉我们圣灵只有一个。然而，保罗在以上的经文里告诉我们“主就是那灵”。如果主就是耶稣而圣灵只有一位的话。那相信圣灵是主耶稣灵的形式是非常合理并符合圣经的。耶稣本身来到我们这里带当我们个人的保惠师。圣灵就是耶稣的位格。 12。圣经是否告诉我们耶稣成了灵呢？ 哥林多前书15:45 “经上也是这样记着说，“首先的人亚当成了有灵的活人（“灵”或作“血气”）”，末后的亚当成了叫人活的灵。” 13。为什么圣经偶尔说到当保惠师要来时，是父和子要来，但是其它经文却说耶稣是那灵呢？ 哥林多后书 5:19 “这就是上帝在基督里叫世人与自己和好，不将他们的过犯归到他们身上，并且将这和好的道理托付了我们。” 约翰福音14:10，20 “ 我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。” 14。在我们心门外叩门的是谁呢？ 启示录3：20 “看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席。” 15。什么是有荣耀的盼望呢？ 歌罗西书1：27 “上帝愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。” 圣经研究 第八课 圣所中的父子 1。我们在哪里可以学习更多关于上帝的事呢？ 圣经告诉我们说，上帝的道在圣所里。我们可以透过圣所来认识上帝。 诗篇 77:13 “神阿，你的作为是洁净的 [原文作: 你的道在圣所中]，有何神大如神呢？” 诗篇 63:2 “我在圣所中曾如此瞻仰你，为要见你的能力，和你的荣耀。” 关于上帝的事，圣所有什么要说的呢？圣所及其职务给我们启示了几位神性生物呢？ 2。圣所的职务包含了几个阶段呢？ 圣所的职务包含了三个阶段: 院子，圣所，和至圣所。我们会各别探讨这三个阶段，看看我们可以从中学到什么。 一，至圣所 a。我们可以从至圣所中学到什么关于神性生物的教训呢？ 上帝给了严格的指示，除祂以外，只有一个生灵获准进入至圣所。 1. 耶稣，我们的大祭司: 只有大祭司获准进入至圣所（希伯来书 9:6,7）。耶稣是我们天上的大祭司（希伯来书 4:14; 5:10; 6:20） 2. 父上帝坐在宝座上: 上帝的临格住在施恩宝座上--（出埃及记 25:21,22: 诗篇 80:1）。父上帝就是那坐在天上圣所中的宝座上的一位（启示录 4:2; 5:1-6） 3. 耶稣把我们的祷告带到父面前: 只有一位生物，即大祭司，能在赎罪日当天把香炉带入幔子内到上帝面前（利未记 16:11-13）。香炉代表众圣徒的祷告，掺杂了基督的公义（诗篇 141:2; 启示录 5:8; 8:3）基督接纳我们的祷告，再把它带到祂父亲面前，混杂着祂的功劳和公义。 b。至圣所给我们呈现了几位神性生物？祂们是谁呢？ 只要我们简单研究地上圣所中的至圣所，就会发现两位神性生物而已，即父与子，祂们是由地上的大祭司和坐在宝座上的上帝来代表的。 二，圣所 a。我们可以从地上圣所中学到什么关于神性生物的教训呢？ 1。耶稣是我们在天上的祭司/大祭司: 在圣所头一格供职的祭司或大祭司预表基督我们的大祭司。 2。上帝在圣所中的临格: 圣经也告诉我们说，在地上的圣所中，上帝曾在圣所和至圣所彰显祂的荣耀。 出埃及记 33:9-11 "摩西进会幕的时候，云柱降下来，立在会幕的门前，耶和华便与摩西说话。众百姓看见云柱立在会幕门前，就都起来各人在自己帐棚的门口下拜。耶和华与摩西面对面说话，好像人与朋友说话一般，摩西转到营里去，惟有他的帮手一个少年人嫩的儿子约书亚，不离开会幕。" （亦参阅出埃及记 29:42-44; 30:36; 40:34,35; 列王纪上 8:10,11; 历代志下 5:13,14; 7:1,2） 在出埃及记 33:9-11中，我们看到了圣所中有两位生物的例子---中保人摩西和上帝。当然我们知道摩西代表耶稣，即上帝与人类之间的唯一中保（提前 2:5）。所以，这个例子预表了在天上圣所中头一格的两位---就是我们的中保和大祭司耶稣基督，和父上帝两位。 3。陈设饼的桌子: 陈设饼的桌子上摆列了两行陈设饼，每行六个（利未记 24:5,6）。这两行代表父子俩，原因在于此: • 两个冠冕: 陈设饼的桌子上摆着两个冠冕或一个双冠冕（出埃及记 25:23-25译成”金牙边”）。为什么两个呢？ • 耶稣是饼/粮: 饼/粮代表耶稣（约翰福音 6:51）。但耶稣说: “我与父原为一” （约翰福音 10:30）。所以，饼也可以代表父。这就是为什么上帝指示祭司将陈设饼在桌子上摆列成两行（不是一行或三行），代表父子俩。而桌子上也设有两个金冠冕/金牙边（不是一个，也不是三个）。 • 耶稣同坐在父的宝座上: 启示录3:21告诉我们说，耶稣同坐在父的宝座上。所以，宝座上有两位神性生物。 • 陈设饼的桌子和上面所摆列的两叠饼恰当地代表了父和子在天上圣所的头一格内，就是耶稣履行祂职份的圣所内。 b。地上圣所给我们呈现了几位神性生物呢？ 他们是谁呢？ 地上圣所的研究证明只有两位神性生物，就是中保/大祭司耶稣，和父上帝。这再次印证了两位神性生物而已，不是三位。 c。圣灵又如何呢？祂在圣所中吗？ 在圣所中有些不具位格的和无生命的元素，代表圣灵，例如用来点燃灯台的油。但重点是，我们没有看见代表圣灵的第三位生物。圣灵的确有在，但没有形体，不像父子有形体那样。油是圣灵的一种象征，然而油也用在圣所中来产生光，而光则是耶稣的象征（约翰福音8:12; 9:5） 三，圣所的院子 a。我们可以从圣所的院子中学到什么关于神性生物的教训呢？ 院子中的职务涉及三位生物: 1。耶稣为祭牲: 祭牲不论是羊羔或牛犊（利未记 4:3）代表上帝的儿子耶稣（约翰福音 1:26,39） 2。我们是罪人: 那亲手杀祭牲的罪人（利未记 4:4）代表认罪并献上属灵祭物的罪人（彼得前书 2:5）。 3。耶稣是那受膏的祭司: 受膏的祭司将血带入圣所（利未记 4:5）。这也代表耶稣，我们的大祭司。（希伯来书 4:14; 5:10; 6:20） b。院子的职务给我们呈现了几位神性生物? 这些是院子职务所涉及的唯一生物。我们只看见一位神性生物。 c。其他的祭司代表什么? 当然不止一位祭司在院子里供职，在圣所也是如此。这些祭司可以代表这两个选项的其中一个: 1。基督的表号 2。所有圣徒（圣经称跟随基督的人为“有君尊的祭司”（彼得前书 2:9）。他们代表那些与神合作同工之人。 不论你相信哪一个是对的，其论点仍然成立，没有任何生物来代表圣灵。 d。圣灵又如何呢？它在院子里是否有代表？ 我们在院子中再次看见一些代表圣灵的东西，但这些东西都是不具位格和无生命的，不像代表耶稣的人物一般。例如: 1。燔祭坛上的火---在使徒行传2:3中，我们看见圣灵像火焰一般沛降下来。 2。洗濯盆的水---在新约圣经中，水曾被用来代表圣灵（参阅约翰福音 4:14; 7:38,39; 启示录 22:1） 但论点仍然成立，我们看不见任何地方有代表圣灵为一个生物的，就如同父与子一样。 e。大祭司在院子里有哪一个角色是与耶稣在地上的工作有关的呢？ 有一点很重要，我们必须注意的，大祭司的其中一个角色或任务是教导百姓（以西结书 44:23）。这当然是在圣幕的外面发生，因为除了祭司，没有人获准进去里边。换句话说，祭司不光要在圣所里上帝面前供职，他也要出去教导百姓。 有趣的是，祭司在出去教导百姓之前，必须先换衣服。他们必须穿上另一件衣服，而留下在上帝面前供职的圣衣。 以西结书 44:19 "他们出到外院的民那里，当脱下供职的衣服，放在圣屋内，穿上别的衣服，免得因圣衣使民成圣。" 就在这里，我相信这表号给了我们一个很有趣和富有启发的领悟。我们的大祭司基督的任务之一，就是在圣所外教导百姓。不光如此，但按着这个表号，祂必须换上别的衣服，或说祂必须以”另一种形式” 来显现自己，不同于祂在上帝面前时的形式。 而这恰好就是基督现今所作的事。耶稣以祂肉身形式在天上圣所中供职的同时，祂也依然藉着祂的灵在地上服侍教会（加拉太书 4:6）。耶稣已经应许要常与我们同在，永不离开或抛弃我们（马太福音 28:20; 希伯来书 13:5）。圣经告诉我们说，耶稣与祂门徒在一起，”和他们同工”（马可福音 16:20）。 由此可见，地上的圣所只给我们呈现了两位神性生物而已: 父与子。圣所中没有空间留给第三位生物。再者，圣所的职务教导我们说，耶稣若要应验表号，祂就必须行祭司所行的，即出去教导百姓。祂藉着他自己的灵，也就是圣灵，做到了这一点。使徒们也都明白这一点，所以保罗宣告说耶稣是圣灵（哥林多后书 3:17; 哥林多前书 8:6; 亦参考第七课以获得更多相关资讯）。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next The Truth of the Trinity [ trinitytruth.org ] 14-26 (total 42 parts) Was Jesus Christ created? It is claimed that Arius who was a fourth century Alexandrian priest taught that prior to making anything else, God had a son who was begotten, or created or established. Some claim that back in the dawn of time, God the Father had some form of cosmic intimate relations with the Holy Spirit and Jesus was the product. They reason, “How else can you call Him the Son.” But these concepts are contrary to Scripture in which Jesus is revealed as the Creator and not a created being and has existed long before He created all things. (John 1:1-4) The Bible states that Christ was not created but created all things. John 1:3 states, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” This verse has two direct statements being that Jesus pre-existed and created all things and that all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Did you notice that John said that not only were all things made through Him but also that without Him nothing was made. Paul also confirms what John wrote, “For by Him all things were created.” He continues with even greater clarity to make sure that we understand what he means by all things. “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:” Colossians 1:16 If Jesus created all things then, He could not have been one of the created things. Paul adds the following just so there can be no mistake about this fact. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17. If Christ created everything that was ever created, and existed before all created things, it is evident that Christ Himself is not among the created things. He is above all creation, not part of it. The idea that Christ is a created being denies His Divinity. No one who holds this view can possibly have any just conception of the exalted position which Christ truly occupies. For Adventists: Note that the Spirit of Prophecy does not equate being born with being created as some imply. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”-- not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person,” — (E.G. White, ST, May 30, 1895) “The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 51) Who is God? Is God a person? Is He a thing or perhaps some invisible cosmic force? These are important questions to answer and should be easily answered by anyone who understands and knows God. Surprisingly, many Christians are stumped by these questions because they have been taught that God is some ghostly, mysterious vapour that pervades all nature. Daniel was given a vision that helps us understand God. He wrote, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” Daniel 7:9. Someone called “the Ancient of days,” who wears a white garment and has white hair takes a seat on a throne. Shortly thereafter the “Son of man,” (verse 13) comes before Him. The Ancient of days must be God, the Father. So according to the Bible our heavenly Father is a real person. John was given a vision of this same event and states, “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” Revelation 5:1. Shortly after John saw this, Jesus Christ approaches the throne and takes the book out of His Father's hand. So again we find that God is a real person who sits on a throne and has a book in His right hand. God must be a real person for Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. And Jesus warned, “Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10. We should expect that God is a real person for we were created in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). When we get to heaven we will find that we resemble God. We will not find a three headed monster with six arms or any other strange thing like that. God's outward form is very much like our own. And in Hebrews 1:3 we learn that Jesus Christ is the express image of God's person. Therefore God must be a person and Jesus Christ is a real person also. Paul confirmed this when He wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Philippians 2:5-6. The Greek word that was translated “form” means, “the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision, external appearance.” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). God has an external appearance and His Son Jesus Christ has the same type of appearance. Revelation 2:7 and 22:1-2 say that the throne of God is in paradise where the tree of life is and that is where we find God and His Son. God the person is not omnipresent but He is through His Spirit. Beware of Pantheism which is the belief that the universe and nature is identical with divinity, which basically would make God everything around us. Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus “asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17 NKJV This passage says that the Father who is in Heaven, revealed to Peter, that Jesus who was on Earth, is none other than His Son. Jesus Christ being the Son of God is so important that John wrote at the close of his gospel, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.” John 20:30-31 The very first sermon Paul ever preached after learning the gospel from Christ Himself, “straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20. The apostle Peter, who lived with Jesus and heard His messages firsthand said, “And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69. Christ's disciples also exclaimed, “we believe that you came forth from God.” John 16:30. Martha who was a close friend of Jesus and heard many of His teachings said to Him, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:27. Right after Phillip preached the gospel to the eunuch, “said, If you believe with all thine heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:37. Mark said who Jesus was in the first verse of his Gospel. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1. Even the demons knew, “they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?” Matthew 8:29. So how did the demons know that Jesus was the Son of God? Because they had met Him before! These demons had once lived in Heaven. When Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, he took a third of the angels with him. (Revelation 12:9) So they knew Jesus was the only Son of God! Christ said, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:” Luke 7:28. John the Baptist testified, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34 Of all the witnesses, the greatest is God the Father Himself. Twice He spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son,” Matthew 3:17; 17:5. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Son of God.” John 10:36. He said that He is “the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was begotten which literally means born, and before anything was created and long before God sent Him into the world. (John 3:16-17; 18:37; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:1-9 and 1 John 4:9) The Bible does not tell us how Jesus was begotten but God wants us to know that He is His Son whom He loves very much. Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26. If Jesus had always existed alongside the Father as the Trinity doctrine claims, then God could not have given life to His Son as He would have always had life. But Scripture reveals this is impossible. According to His own testimony, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and literally received life from His Father. He did not say that He was one of the three members of a trinity who took on the role of the Son of God. He said He was the Son of God! Was Jesus the Son of God before His incarnation? Trinitarians often claim that Jesus is only called the Son of God because of His birth in Bethlehem. But being born in human flesh, Christ became the “Son of man” at His incarnation, not the “Son of God” which He already was. Scripture reveals many times and in many ways that Jesus was God's Son “before” God sent Him into the world, not after. The following two verses for instance say that God sent His Son into the world. Hence He was already God's Son before He sent Him. “because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17 And God's Son was in the fiery furnace with the faithful three over 500 years before His incarnation. “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25 Scripture also informs us that Jesus was the Son of God before all things were created. Paul wrote in regards to Christ that, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15 NKJV. Note that the latter part of this verse is poorly translated in the KJV which says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Colossians 1:15 KJV. As a result there are some who use the King James Bible to imply that Christ Himself was a created being. But such an interpretation is contradicted elsewhere in Scripture such as John 1:1-4 and Colossians 1:16-17 Thus we see that Paul is telling us that Christ was “Begotten First or Born Before all creation” because all of creation was by God through His Son Jesus Christ. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:9 For Adventists: “The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 51) “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, liable to physical infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. He was the Son of the living God. His personality did not begin with His incarnation in the flesh.” — (E.G. White, Lt77, Aug 3, 1894) Thayer's Greek Lexicon says, “Christ is called, firstborn of all creation, who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things.” Barnes New Testament Notes on Colossians 1:15 says, “the word firstborn - pro-tot-ok'-os - properly means the firstborn child of a father or mother.” Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary says, “Begotten (literally, 'born') before every creature.” Matthew Henry's Commentary states “He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made;” Scripture refers to Jesus Christ as “the image of God,” “the image of the invisible God,” and “the express image of his person.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). An image is never the original but always a likeness or duplication of the original. Christ is the Son of God and therefore the express image of His Father. It would be incorrect to say that the Father is the image of His Son because the Father is the original. In the same manner it would be incorrect to refer to Christ as the true or original God since He is the image of the true God. The Bible refers to Christ as God's Son at least 120 times. Forty seven times using the phrase “Son of God.” Regarding the genuineness of Christ's Sonship, He is called the “only begotten” six times, “the firstborn” three times, “the firstbegotten” once and God's “holy child” twice. Four verses say He was “begotten” prior to His incarnation so this cannot be applied to His birth on earth from Mary as some have chosen to believe. Four verses say that He “proceeded forth from,” “came out from” or “camest forth from” the Father. The evidence on this subject is overwhelming. Christ truly is the literal begotten Son of God who was brought forth from the Father before all creation. The example verses below with the help of the Thayer dictionary also reveal that Jesus was born of the Father before the world was, then much later, He came into the world. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon G1831 - To come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of.G2064 - To come from one place to another. John 8:42 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth [G1831] and came from God; neither came [G2064] I of myself, but he sent me.” John 16:27-28 “For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out [G1831] from God. 28 I came forth [G1831] from the Father, and am come [G2064] into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” John 17:7-8 “Now they have known that all things whatsoever you have given me are of you. 8 For I have given unto them the words which you gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out [G1831] from you, and they have believed that you did send me.” Since the Trinity doctrine teaches three co-eternal beings, then the Bible stating Jesus is the Son of God presents another serious problem for Trinitarians as it contradicts Scripture. If Jesus is born of God as the Bible states more than a hundred times, then Jesus cannot be co-eternal with the Father and so this is yet another problem that Trinitarians have to explain away. This is typically done by a play on words from the Thayer Dictionary definition of the Greek word for “begotten” which is “monogenēs.” It is claimed that “monogenēs” means Christ was one of a kind rather than the intended meaning of the only begotten Son of God. Strong's dictionary says, only born, that is, sole: - only (begotten, child). So it more accurately means only child. Whenever this Greek word is used of persons, it is exclusively used of parent-child relationships. Here is every single use of “monogenēs” found in the entire Bible. “only begotten son” 4 times referring to Jesus and 1 time referring to Abraham's only son Isaac, “only begotten of the Father” 1 time, “only son of his mother” 1 time, “only daughter” 1 time and “only child” 1 time. So there is not one single Scripture in the Bible that uses this Greek word that does not refer to an only son, daughter or child that was not begotten. And since the word “son” is prefixed by the word “begotten” more than once when referring to Christ, then it can only mean Jesus is born of God and explains why He is called the Son of God to state the obvious. We also have Paul's testimony in Colossians 1:15 which says Christ was the first born before anything was created. And the Greek word “prōtotokos” used in this verse cannot be abused as it means, first born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively): - firstbegotten (-born). There are also other Scriptures that show Jesus was born of God as you are about to see, not that there should be any doubt. For Adventists: “Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” The first chapter of Colossians will wonderfully enlighten the mind as to the truth as it is in Jesus.” — (E.G. White, ST, Nov. 15, 1899) Some also claim that Jesus cannot be divine if He was born of God. But this is just another tactic Satan uses to deter people from the truth. In any case, the problem is actually the other way around. Divinity is not based on how old you are but who you came from. Jesus inherited everything from His Father including his divinity. See Hebrews 1:4 for example. Jesus is the literal Son of God, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15), and being brought forth from the Father, He has the same “divine nature” as His Father. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” Colossians 1:19. Also, the Greek word translated “Godhead” in Colossians 2:9 means “divine nature.” Thus Paul states that the fullness of the “divine nature” of God dwells in His Son. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [divine nature] bodily.” Colossians 2:9. Hence Jesus is fully divine because He “is” begotten of the Father, and hence came forth from the Father, and so He has the same “divine nature” as His Father. Thus the “divine nature” is in the Son because He is God's Son. Everything that Christ consists of had no beginning, His divinity, His makeup, His substance had no beginning as it all came from the Father. If you trace Christ back you will have to go through the Father and you will never get to a beginning. But His personality as the Son began when He was brought forth by His Father. And if Jesus did not get His divine nature from His Father, then where did He get it from? That would mean that Jesus would have to be a God in His own right just like His Father and so we would have two gods. This would break the first Commandment where the one true God the Father says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3. It does not say before us. If Jesus does not have the same divine nature as His Father because He is His Son, then we have a very serious problem. Why do some insist on trying to make Christ conform to the image they have of Him before they will accept Him? They expect Christ to be a second god identical to His Father in every way and thus reject Him as being a real Son. And yet the truth of Christ being God's Son is so precious. Just think about it for a moment. Christ is God's very own Son whom He loves very much! Why would anyone desire to destroy this precious Father and Son relationship? Another means of trying to discredit the truth is to say that Jesus cannot be born of God because He has no mother. But this is an anthropomorphic thought. Why do Trinitarians try and put “human” limitations on God? He is God! Not human! Just because something does not seem reasonable or logical to us, or just because it does not make sense to us, it does not mean it is not truth. Our heavenly Father said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. I once heard a Pastor say that if Christ had a beginning that He must be created. Says what Scripture? That is his thought that imposes a limitation on what God can do. God can and did bring forth a Son without having to create Him. Scripture does not lie and those opposing the truth on Christ being begotten of the Father should know all things are possible with God. We must not put human limitations on how or what God can and cannot do based on our human finite knowledge over the omniscience and omnipotence of God. Why do so many Christians try to explain away literally hundreds of clear words that state Jesus is the Son of God just to uphold a pagan doctrine that does not exist in the Bible? When Satan goes to this much effort you know it has to be extremely important. For Adventists: “It is true that there are many sons of God; but Christ is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore the Son of God in a sense in which no other being ever was, or ever can be. The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7; Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption (Rom. 8:14,15); but Christ is the Son of God by birth. The writer to the Hebrews further shows that the position of the Son of God is not one to which Christ has been elevated, but that it is one which He has by right.” — (E.J. Waggoner, CAHR, p. 11-12) “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”-- not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person,” — (E.G. White, ST, May 30, 1895) “The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 51) Considering Ellen G. White endorsed what Waggoner wrote above, what is the difference between Waggoner saying Christ is “the Son of God by birth,” and the SOP saying Christ is “begotten Son of God” and the “First-born of heaven?” There is no difference of course. Jesus is the literal Son of God by birth and hence there was a time when He was brought forth from the Father. You cannot be the First-born of heaven and a Son by birth any other way. The above also proves that being the literal Son of God by birth does not mean being created as many Trinitarians erroneously claim. Did Christ have a beginning or just His personality? Consider the following. If we could travel at a septuagintacentillion (10513) times the speed of light in any one direction, would we ever find the end of the universe, like perhaps a wall with a sign saying this is the end? And if so, what would be on the other side of that wall? And what existed before God created all things through His Son? Was it nothing? And how long did nothing exist for if that was the case? It would have to be forever! And what about God, when did He begin to exist and who created Him? The answer is that there was never a time He did not exist and hence could never have been created. He is God and has always been and so is without beginning! And what about the Son of God who was born of the same substance of God? The same applies. Since Christ is the same substance of His Father, then everything He consists of had no beginning. So His divinity had no beginning, His makeup; His nature had no beginning as it all came from the Father. So in principle, everything Christ is had no beginning. If you trace Christ back you will have to go through the Father and you will never get to a beginning. But His personality as the Son of God began when He was brought forth by His Father. This principle is brought out in Scripture many times. So in effect it was only the personality of Christ that had a beginning. These are the mysteries of God and things our mind cannot possibly comprehend. For Adventists: “The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” — (E.G. White, MS116, December 19, 1905). Waggoner explains in words that are easier to understand making what Ellen White said above easier to comprehend. “Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was begotten, not created. He is of the substance of the Father, so that in his very nature he is God; and since this is so “it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Col. 1:19 ... While both are of the same nature, the Father is first in point of time. He is also greater in that he had no beginning, while Christ's personality had a beginning.” — (E.J. Waggoner, ST, April 8, 1889) When and How was Jesus born from the Father? Some say Jesus is being continually born of God in the days of eternity based on Psalms 2:7 which says, “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.” But it is prophesying of a future event and does not say that. Acts 13:33 explains, “God has fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.” In the significant passage of Acts 13:16-41, Paul tells the story of our Lord and Saviour and how he came and died for our sins, but was raised from the dead by His Father in heaven and did not see corruption. Thus this passage declares it was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. He was born from the dead, and God who raised Him demonstrating that He was His Son. This is also supported by Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,” So when does the Bible say Christ was brought forth or born from the Father? Proverbs 8:23-26 says, “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.” So Christ was brought forth from the Father before the earth was created in the days of eternity. And of course, if Christ was brought forth than this also confirms His personality has an origin. Note that the Hebrew word “Olam” used for everlasting in verse 23 in the KJV has several possible meanings and has been translated in many different ways according to context and what the translators believed to be correct. It can mean “the vanishing point”, “time out of mind - past or future”, “ancient time” and “beginning of the world” to name a few. Here are some other translations that demonstrate this point. Proverbs 8:23 CJB “I was appointed before the world, before the start, before the earth's beginnings.”Proverbs 8:23 HCSB “I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.”Proverbs 8:23 NLT “I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.”Proverbs 8:23 NLV “I was set apart long ago, from the beginning, before the earth was.”Proverbs 8:23 RSV “Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.” Who does “wisdom” refer to in Proverbs 8 since some say this does not refer to Christ? 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Wisdom in the following verse also refers to Christ. Luke 11:49 “Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles,” For Adventists: “Through Solomon Christ declared: “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.” — (E.G. White, ST, Aug 29, 1900) Some also have the wrong concept of the word beginning in Scripture. God of course has no beginning and the word beginning means the “origin” and source of something. One example from the Oxford dictionary for “beginning” is, “The background or origins of a person or organization.” If Christ was co-eternal with the Father, then like His Father, He would have no beginning. The Septuagint that Jesus quoted from says, “He established me in the beginning, before time was, before He made the earth.” So all Bible translations of Proverbs 8:23 in fact actually say Christ has an origin! Solomon has used Hebrew parallelism in verse 23 which expresses a thought one way, and then uses a complementary thought to express it another way. So the last two phrases of this verse are saying the same thing as the first phrase but in a different way. This gives tremendous clarity on when he is referring to and yet most still get it wrong. Bible writers did not understand science as we do and measured time by the spheres in the sky that did not exist until Christ created everything. So Christ was established in the beginning (Genesis 1:1) before He made the earth, which was before time was since there was nothing to measure time by yet. Thus we know that the beginning was when the earth was made where there was nothing in existence to measure time by and hence was before time was. And so the phrases “from eternity”, “from everlasting”, “before time was”, “the days of eternity”, “from the beginning” and “before the earth was” all mean the same thing. Quite simply, before the earth and all things were created. Micah 5:2 also informs us that Christ has an origin and was brought forth a long time ago. It also uses the Hebrew word “Olam” as Proverbs 8:23 and has the same translation issue. The phrase “goings forth” in the KJV implies an origin of course and why the NIV used the word “origins.” Micah 5:2 KJV “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2 NIV “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Some have mistaken the words “Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever:” in Hebrews 1:8 to mean His throne has always existed but it uses the same Greek words as Revelation 22:5 in regards to for ever and ever and both refer to forward in time unless of course we have always existed. The NIV is clearer as it says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” For Adventists: “And although we may try to reason in regard to our Creator, how long He [Christ] has had existence, where evil first entered into our world, and all these things, we may reason about them until we fall down faint and exhausted with the research when there is yet an infinity beyond.” — (E.G. White, 7BC 919.5) “There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning.” — (E.J. Waggoner, CAHR, p. 21, 1890). Thus Ellen White and Waggoner say that Christ was brought forth from God a very long time ago. Christ was the Son of God before He was sent to Earth and was tore from the bosom of His Father. “The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind.” — (E.G. White, RH, July 9, 1895) Note that the nature of God and His only begotten Son is actually illustrated on a small scale with Adam and Eve. “Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. ... Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself,” — (E.G. White, PP, 56.2) In exactly the same way Eve was part of Adam, Christ is part of God. “God's love for the world was not manifest because He sent His Son, but because He loved the world He sent His Son into the world that divinity clothed with humanity might touch humanity, while divinity lay hold of infinity. Though sin had produced a gulf between man and his God, divine benevolence provided a plan to bridge that gulf. And what material did He use? A part of Himself. The brightness of the Father's glory came to a world all seared and marred with the curse, and in His own divine character, in His own divine body, bridged the gulf and opened a channel of communication between God and man.” — (E.G. White, Lt36a, Sept 18, 1890) So we find that Christ was tore from the bosom of His Father and hence was part of Himself, which is something a Trinitarian can never say. The Son of God was brought forth from the Father and hence is the same substance of His Father. This means that everything Christ consists of has always existed as it came from the Father. But the person of Christ had a beginning even though what Christ consists of does not. Thus it would not necessarily be incorrect to say that Christ has always existed before he was born from the perspective that He existed in the bosom of His Father. Who or What is the Holy Spirit? Many think a spirit is a ghost in the form of some bodiless phantom that floats around. The American Heritage Dictionary says ghost means “The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats.” But the Holy Spirit is certainly not a ghost as just described. Note that πνευμα αγιον (pneuma hagion) should have always been translated as “Holy Spirit” but sometimes is incorrectly translated it as “Holy Ghost.” David wrote, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Psalm 139:7. Here David uses Hebrew parallelism to express himself. This expresses a thought one way, and then uses a complementary thought to express it another way. His first thought is, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?” And the second which is equivalent to the first says, “whither shall I flee from thy presence?” So David is saying that God's Spirit is equivalent to God's presence. Thus the Holy Spirit is best described as being God's presence and power. For Adventists: “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself,” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902). “The divine Spirit that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the presence and power of God.” — (E.G. White, ST, Nov 23) The Trinity doctrine however claims that the Holy Spirit is another person because the Bible shows the Holy Spirit has mind, will and emotions. But this is unbiblical and faulty logic. The Holy Spirit has a personality because God has a personality. In giving us His Spirit God gives us Himself. And so His Spirit has “His” mind, will and emotions the same as man. A persons spirit is their mind, will and emotions. It is who you are. So a spirit is not and never can be a literal person in itself. If it were, it would cease to be a spirit. For instance, in order for a spirit to be another person, it would also have to have its own spirit. In other words, for the Holy Spirit to be a person, it would have to have its own spirit in order to have its own mind, will and emotions. So you would end up with the Spirit of the Holy Spirit. Along with this false theology introduced by Satan so he could achieve worship, man seems to have lost all touch with the reality of a what a spirit is. However, while our spirit is within us, God's Spirit can do what ours can't. He can send His Spirit anywhere. The book of Job says, “there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job 32:8. A spirit is the part of a person that can be grieved. Daniel explains, “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body,” Daniel 7:15. A spirit is the part of a person that can perceive or understand things. In Mark's gospel we read, “And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason you these things in your hearts?” Mark 2:8. A spirit is the part of a person that can be troubled. The king of Babylon had a dream and he told his wise men, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” Daniel 2:3. So we find that our spirit is our mind, will and emotions. This does not make our spirit another person. What would you think if I said, “I know that we have met before, but have you met my spirit? I would like to introduce you to my spirit who is sitting over there on that chair.” You would obviously think I had a twisted concept of what my spirit is. It is not some other person that is separate and distinct from me. My spirit is who I am and hence is my mind, will and emotions. The Bible mentions several types of spirits. We find “evil spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “foul spirit,” “humble spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “good spirit,” “broken spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “faithful spirit,” and “haughty spirit” etc. All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them such as good, foul and humble etc. We know that God the Father has a spirit (Matthew 10:20) and His Spirit of course could be nothing other than Holy. The word “Holy” is also an adjective be it in English or Greek. So “Holy Spirit” is not a name but a description of God's Spirit. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ have different names and titles in the Bible because they are personal beings. If the Holy Spirit is a personal being co-equal with the Father and Son as the trinity doctrine teaches, then why doesn't it have a personal name also? The “Spirit” is not a name, it is what it is. “Holy” is just the adjective that describes God's Spirit, and other terms such as the “Spirit of God” is not a name either but what it is. It is the Spirit of God! It is also called the “Spirit of your Father” which once again is just what it is. So if the Holy Spirit was truly a personal being then why no personal name? Since your Spirit is your mind, will and emotions, the Greek and Hebrew word for “Spirit” also means “mind” as you would expect. Strong's dictionary says, breath, figuratively life, spirit, (including its expression and functions), mind. Now note below that Paul in Romans 11:34 is quoting Isaiah 40:13. So we know that Paul understood the Spirit of the Lord to also mean the mind of the Lord. And of course the mind of someone is not a different person to them any more than their spirit is and this also includes God as Paul reveals below. So again we find that your spirit is your mind, will and emotions for not only people but God also. The Greek word “pneuma” and equivalent Hebrew word “rûach” are also interchangeably translated as “spirit” or “mind” in various translations and “rûach” is translated as “mind” in the KJV Bible six times. “Who has known the mind of the Lord? And who has been His counselor, to instruct Him?” Isaiah 40:13 Septuagint “Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor has taught him?” Isaiah 40:13 KJV“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” Romans 11:34 KJV So how can the mind of the Lord be another being? It cannot in fact. It was not in fact until May 381 AD when a newly baptized emperor, with little or “no” knowledge of theology accepted the idea of three Cappadocians that the Spirit of God was a literal and separate being. Anyone who disagreed was labelled a foolish madman and heretic and dealt with accordingly! So this Catholic belief flowed on through the dark ages and straight into the Protestant Churches at the Protestant Reformation without being questioned as did the trinity doctrine. Hence it was just assumed to be correct and so one day they justified it by saying that secular dictionaries state a person has mind, will and emotions and various Scriptures show the Holy Spirit does also, and therefore it must be a literal being. But as we have already seen, this unbiblical logic would also mean my spirit within me is also a person, and separate from me. Would you believe me if I said that a person's spirit is another literal being? After all, a person's spirit can be troubled, Daniel 2:3 “...my spirit was troubled...” And a person's spirit can be grieved, Daniel 7:15 “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit...” And a person's spirit can speak and pray, 1 Corinthians 14:14 “...my spirit prayeth...” And a person's spirit can rejoice, Luke 1:47“my spirit has rejoiced...” And a person's spirit can be received by the Lord, Acts 7:59 “...Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” A person's spirit can also serve, Romans 1:9 “...I serve with my spirit...” And a person's spirit can also rest, 2 Corinthians 2:13 “I had no rest in my spirit...” So we find that a person's spirit has a mind, will and emotions. Therefore, a person's spirit must be another literal being. Right now you are probably thinking I have lost my mind, and yet this is exactly the same logic that is used to imply that the Holy Spirit is another literal being! Some will respond, “But it is different with God's Spirit.” But not so. Not only does the Bible reveal it is not different but in fact says it is exactly the same with only one exception. Our Spirit is within us but God can send His Spirit anywhere. If the Bible does not say the Holy Spirit is a literal being, then let's not assume it to say something it does not say. So let's honour God and trust what His Word does say instead of assuming or believing our adversaries lies. And as we have seen in Scripture, God and His Son and all living beings have a spirit which is what gives us all a unique personality with our own mind, will and emotions. So for the “Spirit of God” to be a “literal being” as it is erroneously believed today, then the “Spirit of God” would have to have its “own spirit” and one that is also distinct from the Father and Son. But then we are forced into the belief of the “spirit of the Spirit,” and if the Holy Spirit did not have a spirit of its own as per this belief, then it could not have a separate personality and hence its own mind, will and emotions anyway! The spirit of every living being has a personality because our spirit is in fact our personality! So the Holy Spirit has a personality because God has a personality. In giving us His Spirit God gives us Himself. It is not another being and it is not some impersonal force. It is the presence and power of God Himself. It is God's own Spirit having God's own personality. If I could give you my spirit, whose personality would you have? Mine! So God's Spirit has God's personality. The same applies to the fact that the Spirit is divine because God is a divine being. Remember that God is a spirit and yet He is a personal being. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 For Adventists: The Holy Spirit is not some force or another being but God Himself. “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world.” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902). “God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was made in His image.” — (E.G. White, 8T 263.1, 1904) Notice how Paul compares the spirit of man with the Spirit of God putting the final nail in the coffin of this lie. And of course your thoughts come from your mind and hence are the result of your mind, will and emotions. “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 Here the spirit of man is likened to the Spirit of God. Just as a man has a spirit, God also has a Spirit in the same manner, and His Spirit is the part of Him associated with His thoughts and emotions the same as a man. Ephesians 4:30 says the Holy Spirit is “the holy Spirit of God” and to grieve not His Spirit. So just as the spirit of man can be grieved so can God's. If I told you that I was grieving in my spirit, would you think my spirit was a separate person? Obviously not. And Paul stated it is no different with God and His Spirit in this respect. God's Spirit belongs to God, just as my spirit belongs to me. So as Paul said, the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God because it is His Holy Spirit and hence has His mind, will and emotions just like man. And of course Paul also revealed in Romans 11:34 given above that the mind and spirit are correlated. He further shows this relationship in Ephesians 4:23 where he said “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” This is Biblical exegesis but to say the Holy Spirit has mind, will and emotions so therefore must be a literal and separate being is an unbiblical assumption and eisegesis. Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:11 shows the difference is that man's spirit is within him but does not say this about God's Spirit as God can send His Spirit anywhere. There is also no Scripture that says the Holy Spirit is God. Notice these examples of how “Holy Spirit” is used in the Bible. Matthew 3:16 “and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” And in the parallel verse of Luke 3:22 “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him,” So these parallel verses show that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. And for an even clearer example. Luke 12:11-12 says, “take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say.” Note the same account from Matthew and what he called the Holy Spirit. “take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Matthew 10:19-20. Matthew called the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of your Father,” and so is not another being but God's Spirit, and why it is called the Spirit of God. It is not called God the Spirit. His Spirit of course is Holy and why it is also called the Holy Spirit. This is why the Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of the Father because it is His Spirit. Whose Spirit was Jesus anointed with at His baptism? “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” Matthew 3:16. By the power of whose Spirit did Jesus cast out demons? “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” Matthew 12:28. The Apostles did many miracles by the power of whose Spirit just as Jesus did? “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:19. This unmistakable verse says the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. “Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:8. Whose Spirit is it that dwells in us? Is it another person or God Himself through His Spirit? “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13. There are more than twenty five verses that reveal this simple truth. Here is one more. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 While Scripture uses the term “Spirit Of God,” it never uses the term “God the Spirit” as its meaning is incorrect. The rules of grammar tell us that the phrase “God the Spirit” means it is a Spirit that is a God, while the “Spirit Of God” means this is the Spirit that belongs to God. As you can see, they have different meanings and only one can be correct. But which one? The one that is found in the Bible of course! The other came from the Catholic Church. Phrases like “God the Spirit” or “God the Holy Spirit” are Catholic Trinitarian terms that resulted from Satan through man in 381 AD turning the Spirit of God into God the Spirit. Why? So Satan could step into his creation and receive worship as a deity just as he always desired. Hence these Catholic terms were made up to match the doctrine they created and never occur in Scripture as they are literally wrong. So why does the Bible never use the phrase “God the Spirit?” Because God's Spirit is not another God! It uses “Spirit Of God” because the Holy Spirit is God's own Spirit. It is not a difficult concept. No sincere Christian should ever be caught using unbiblical terms like “God the Spirit” as you would be following in the footsteps of antichrist. Terms such as “God's Spirit,” the “Spirit of God,” the “Spirit of Christ,” “My Spirit,” “His Spirit,” and the “Holy Spirit” are used to name just a few. Also, the Scriptures never tell us to “pray to” or “worship” the Spirit. Why would the Bible neglect that if the Holy Spirit was a co-equal God of a trinity? We are told to pray “for” the Spirit, but never “to” the Spirit. And the same applies to Christ. Does the Bible call Jesus “God the Son” as Catholics and Trinitarians do, or does the Bible call Christ the “Son of God”? Scripture in fact always calls Jesus the “Son of God” and with good reason. Because that is what He is to state the obvious. If you are using Catholic phrases like “God the Son” or “God the Spirit,” that never originated from Scripture, then you are following the Papal Church and antichrist, not the inspired words of God. Some also mention Genesis 1:2 which says “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” as if that gives support to the Holy Spirit being a literal being. But does it say a separate person called God the Spirit moved on the face of the waters or does it say God through His Spirit and hence His personal presence moved upon the face of the waters? It is also worth noting that in the Old Testament that the phrase “Holy Spirit” is used 3 times, “Spirit of God” 14 times and “Spirit of the Lord” 26 times. All these phrases are synonymous and not one of these 43 verses implies the Holy Spirit is God or an actual separate being but simply the Holy Spirit of God. Jewish scholars examining the references to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament Scriptures have never defined the Holy Spirit as anything but the presence and power of God. Are the Father and Son One in Spirit? Paul says in Ephesians 4:4 that there is “one Spirit.” But the Bible speaks about the “Spirit of God” and the “Spirit of Christ” which involves two Divine beings. If the Father has a Holy Spirit, the Son must too. So how then is there only one Spirit? The answer is something the majority miss because most have been indoctrinated with the Catholic idea of the Holy Spirit as another being rather than God's own Spirit. God and His Son have a shared Spirit and that is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. So the Holy Spirit is the mind, power, character and personal presence of the very life of God that the Father sends through His Son to us. Or to put it another way to make sure this is clear; the Holy Spirit is the presence and power of the Father manifested through Jesus Christ, His only begotten son. This is not a separate person of the Godhead who is being sent, it is the very life of God coming to us through His Son. “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24 Everything Christ received He inherited from His Father including His very own life which is self-existent as it came from the Father. “For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26 But not only His life but Christ also received of His Father's Spirit. Thus the Father and Son are one in Spirit, and that one Spirit proceeds from the Father and comes to us through His Son. This is why Paul equates the “Spirit of God” with the “Spirit of Christ” as it is the same one Spirit of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And so we find that the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit whether it is spoken of as pertaining to God or Christ. “But you 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.” Romans 8:9 Referring to the Holy Spirit, Paul says that Christ is that Spirit. “Now the Lord [Jesus] is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 And further, while Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:4 that there is only one Spirit, he again tells us in Galatians 4:6 that this Spirit is the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He received from His Father. So when you receive the Spirit of God, you receive the Spirit of His Son into your heart also. The Father did not send another individual. He sent the Spirit of His Son. “God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 Thus through their Holy Spirit both the Father and Son come and make their abode in you. “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.” John 14:23 And being one in Spirit gives us access to the Father through Christ our mediator. “For through him [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18 So it is by the Holy Spirit that Christ lives in us. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:” Galatians 2:20 The Spirit of Christ is our Comforter (parakletos) which also means “helper” and is translated as such in the NKJV, “For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Philippians 1:19 And since the Holy Spirit is the Comforter and Spirit of truth, if the Father and Son were not one in Spirit, then Christ by His Spirit could not be the Comforter and Spirit of truth. It is only by sharing the same Spirit that this is possible. Christ had also spoken through all the prophets. “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:11 Christ has always partaken of the Spirit of God since He was begotten of the Father before they created anything. When Jesus was incarnated on earth 2000 years ago, He was full of that same Holy Spirit of God from His conception, and throughout His earthy sojourn as the Son of Man. After His resurrection and ascension to Heaven, He sent “another Comforter” to earth to empower His people till the end of time, which was Himself in Spirit form. Only the Father and the Son can be present outside of their bodies throughout the Universe. Their Holy Spirit is the way in which they are omnipresent while also being physically present in the Heavenly Sanctuary as we speak. This is where the nascent Catholics made their mistakes when coming up with the incomprehensible doctrine of the trinity versus the plain word of God. In creating the trinity they philosophized when they should have left it alone as it is totally un-Scriptural. “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 Here the Apostle Paul is talking about the two Adams. The first Adam was the first created man on earth who sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. The second (last) Adam is Christ who came to redeem us. Notice that Paul says that this One was made “a quickening spirit.” This is the other important thing about Christ. Not just His earthly human life, but also what happened after. In verse 46 Paul clarifies that the natural comes first and then the spiritual. This is exactly what happened with Jesus. He came to earth first as a man, ministered, ascended to Heaven, and then at Pentecost He came back in Spirit with mighty power! Both times were to instruct and sanctify His people, and that is the same purpose today. So the Holy Spirit of God the Father is now also the Spirit of Christ which point Paul confirms in verse 47. So “the Lord from Heaven” in verse 47 is the “quickening Spirit” of verse 45. It cannot be any clearer. The Spirit of God and of Christ is the third entity of the Godhead, but it is not another being any more than our Spirit is another being. However, the Spirit of the Father and Son as divine beings can do something we cannot. They can leave their bodies in one place (the Heavenly Sanctuary), and also be omnipresent in every place throughout the universe at the same time by their Holy Spirit. In this way they can also enter the hearts of a repentant believer. The teachings of the Catholic trinity (three beings in one god) are now rampant in most Churches which destroys this wonderful truth of who the Holy Spirit really is by the introduction of a third being which does not actually exist! And as if that were not bad enough, Satan receives the unwitting worship of millions upon millions of people through this serious deception that he has inspired man to create. For Adventists: “the Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ.” — (E.J. Waggoner, CAHR, p. 23, 1890) Why both? Because, “The Father gave his Spirit without measure to his Son,” — (E.G. White, RH, Nov 5, 1908)So, “They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit,” — (E.G. White, YI, Dec 16, 1897) And since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and Son, who do we have in us by the Holy Spirit? The Father and Son! “By the Spirit the Father and the Son will come and make their abode with you.” — (E.G. White, BEcho, Jan 15, 1893) The Holy Spirit is the very life of God coming from the Father and shared by the Son. It is the personal presence of the Father and the Son given to us. Those who partake of this divine presence and power within, the life of God, and allow Him to transform their characters into the likeness of His Son will someday personally meet this wondrous God of love. How do Trinitarians claim the Holy Spirit is God? The Trinity doctrine teaches the Father is God, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God and yet there are not three gods but one God. So when the challenge first arose to prove the Holy Spirit is God, Trinitarians had to find something in Scripture to support this erroneous belief. The following is eisegesis and the best they could find. “But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why have you conceived this thing in thine heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God.” Acts 5:3-4. Since verse three says Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and verse four says he had not lied to man but to God, it is claimed that the Holy Spirit is God. But this is eisegesis and red fire engine logic. That is, fire engines are red, my car is red, therefore my car is a fire engine! Peter said to lie to the Spirit of God is to lie to God Himself because it is His Spirit. My Spirit belongs to me in the same way as Paul revealed earlier. So if you lie to my spirit you have lied to me, not someone else! God's spirit revealed to Peter that Ananias had lied and so he had not lied to man but to God as it was God Himself through His spirit that revealed the lie. As Paul said, “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 For Adventists: Ananias lied to God's Spirit which was within Peter which is the same as lying to the Almighty God Himself because it is His Spirit. “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself,” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902)So does Acts 5:3-4 say the Holy Spirit is god or that they lied to the “almighty God” as it is His Spirit? “Peter asked, “Was it not thine own?” thus showing that no undue influence had been brought to bear upon Ananias and Sapphira to compel them to sacrifice their possessions to the general good. They had acted from choice. But in pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost, and attempting to deceive the apostles, they had lied to the Almighty.” — (E.G. White, 3SP 285.1) How can this be if the Holy Spirit is another Being? Below is something to consider very carefully. And please understand that I am not mocking. If you stop and think about what I am saying, you will realize this does in fact have to be true. Trinitarians claim the phrase “Spirit of God” in Scripture refers to another being rather than God's own Spirit. But if the “Spirit of God” is not really the “Spirit OF God” but another being, then how can God Himself have His own Spirit if His Spirit is another being? And if God does have a Spirit, what would His Spirit be called? The “Spirit of God” obviously which would also be a Holy Spirit! So that would mean we have the “Spirit of God” and the “Spirit of God.” One of them is another being and one is not, and both of course are Holy Spirits. So how many Holy Spirits would that make? The only way around this problem is if God Himself does not have a Spirit and His Spirit is only another being separate from Himself. But the problem still does not end there. The Trinity doctrine teaches 3 co-equal beings, meaning equal in every single way. So if the “Spirit of God” is another being, therefore, for Christ to be a co-equal divine being as the Trinity doctrine claims, then the “Spirit of Christ” must also be another being, which would also make another Holy Spirit! How much easier it is if we accept that the Holy Spirit is not another being, and the “Spirit of God” is actually the “Spirit of God” which is shared by His Son. Then we have no problem! For Adventists: The “Spirit of God” is His “own Spirit” and when God gives us His Spirit He give us Himself! “In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself,” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902) Many believe that Jesus became the Son of God by His birth in Bethlehem. If that were true, then consider the following. Matthew 1:18 says that “Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” So if the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, and the Holy Spirit was an individual god as the trinity doctrine claims, then the Holy Spirit must be the father of Christ. And yet my Bible tells me that God the Father is the father of Christ. So how can this be? Because the Holy Spirit is not another god called “god the spirit” but is the “Spirit OF God” or the “Spirit OF the Father” as the Bible tells us. The Bible also calls the Holy Spirit an “it” which is never done in reference to God or Christ. Romans 8:16 KJV says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness.” And Romans 8:26 KJV “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.” Why is it appropriate to call the Holy Spirit it but not appropriate to call the Father or Son it? This means the three cannot be co-equal as you never, ever, refer to an individual person as “it.” Modern translations which are done by Trinitarians have changed these words from it to Him or Himself to hide this fact to try and make the Spirit appear as another being. This is not honest. Does the Bible prove the Holy Spirit cannot be a literal being? Since the trinity doctrine claims the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are literally three co-equal beings, then 1 John 1:3 should have said “truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit,” but not so. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is not a literal being but the Spirit of God. So our fellowship is only with the Father and Son who are literal beings. The same applies to 1 John 2:22-23. John says nothing about denying the Holy Spirit for the same reason. Why did Jesus say that we only need to know the Father and Son to have eternal life, and not the Holy Spirit if it is a third co-equal being as the Trinity doctrine claims? “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3. Because the Holy Spirit is not “God the Spirit,” but the “Spirit of God.” It is only the Father and Son we need to know as the Holy Spirit is their Spirit. If the Holy Spirit was a literal co-equal being then it would have also seen the Father but once again scripture says no. “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [Jesus] who is from God; He has seen the Father.” John 6:46. How can the Holy Spirit be a literal being and yet never have seen the Father? Because it is not a literal being but God's own Spirit. Luke wrote that no one knows who the Father and Son are except each other. This makes it literally impossible for the Holy Spirit to be a literal being who would have to be able to reveal the Father and Son if it was but not so. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22 Paul wrote “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. But how can Christ be our Mediator when He has returned to the Father? Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and it is also the Spirit of Christ and why Jesus could say “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. If the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ we have no problem, but if the Holy Spirit was another being we would have two mediators between God and man making Scripture a lie. For example: 1 John 2:1 states that Jesus is our “Advocate” and John 14:26 states the Holy Spirit is the “Comforter.” The Greek word for “Comforter” and “Advocate” in these verses is “Parakletos” which means Mediator, Intercessor, Comforter and Advocate. So we either have two mediators between ourselves and the Father contradicting 1 Timothy 2:5, or the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. So which is it? The Holy Spirit is another being and 1 Timothy 2:5 is a lie. Or the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and all Scripture is in harmony. If the Holy Spirit is a separate being equal to the Father and the Son as the trinity doctrine claims, then why are we “never” told the Holy Spirit loves us? And why does the Bible “never” teach we are to love or worship the Holy Spirit? It cannot be a third co-equal being with that being the case. The thrones of God and His Son are spoken of, but a throne for the Holy Spirit is “never” mentioned. If the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and Son, why is a throne for the Holy Spirit “never” mentioned? Because it is their Spirit and not another god. Ask yourself these simple questions. Why did the Father never speak to the Holy Spirit?Why did Jesus never speak to the Holy Spirit?Why did the Holy Spirit never speak to Jesus?Why did the Holy Spirit never speak to the Father? Yet the Father spoke to His Son over and over again all throughout the Bible, and Jesus spoke to His Father over and over again all throughout the Bible. So how can the Holy Spirit be a co-equal being when it never speaks to the Father and Son? And what an inexplicable oversight for Paul if the Spirit were indeed a literal being co-equal with the Father and Son because Paul excluded the Holy Spirit in every one of his greetings in every single letter he wrote! Peter and John did the same. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:7“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:3“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:2“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” Galatians 1:3“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:2“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1“Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:2“Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Timothy 1:2“Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Timothy 1:2“Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 1:4“Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philemon 1:3“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” 2 Peter 1:2“Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father,” 2 John 1:3 The Holy Spirit cannot be a literal co-equal being as it is consistently left out of every greeting. If the Spirit was an individual being co-equal with the Father and Son, then this consistent omission is incomprehensible. It would have been effrontery and insubordination by the apostles at the highest level. This would be like having a country with three presidents but only ever acknowledging two of them. In fact not once is the Holy Spirit ever uplifted or praised in the Scriptures. It is always just God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Why is that? Because “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. That's why! So the Bible reveals the following: There are only two beings, our fellowship is not with the Holy Spirit, only the Father and Son, we only need to know the Father and Son for eternal life, the Holy Spirit has not seen the Father, only the Son, the Holy Spirit cannot reveal the Father and Son, only they can. Our one mediator is the Holy Spirit of Christ and not the Holy Spirit as another being, the Holy Spirit is never spoken to by the Father and Son and they are never spoken to by the Holy Spirit, we are never told to pray to or worship the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is never included in any salutations. And yet we are expected to believe that the Holy Spirit is a third co-equal being! Clearly that is just not possible. There are many more Scriptures that reveal the same thing over and over. The idea of the Holy Spirit as an individual being was an invention of man through Satan in 381 AD long after the completion of the Bible and hence could never have come from the Bible. It is a very clever and convincing deception until you have seen the real truth. Who is the Comforter? This is another area of great confusion as some believe that the Comforter is the Holy Spirit while others say it is Christ. Both can be considered correct providing you understand the Holy Spirit is not a literal being. A lot of confusion also comes from a misunderstanding of John 14:26 from the King James Bible which says, “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.” But note the words “which is” are italicized in the KJV because they were added by the translators and do not exist in the original Greek manuscripts. The Modern King James Bible reads, “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name,” These two added words are missing in almost every translation including the NKJV Bible. These added words along with the Comforter in John 14:16 being referred to as a “he” have mislead many into believing the Holy Spirit is a literal being. But this is ignorance on what is known as grammatical gender. The word “he” is not in the original Greek text and is added by the translators to make it readable in English. The only reason the pronoun “he” is used is because the grammatical gender for the word “Comforter” is “masculine” in the Greek and would remain masculine even if the Comforter was a female. Many fail to understand that it is grammatical gender and not sexual gender. In any case, the grammatical gender for the word “Spirit” is actually “neuter” in the Greek and not masculine. Not only that, but the grammatical gender for Holy “Spirit” can be masculine, feminine or neuter depending on which language it was written in, which alone reveals the error and misunderstanding. For instance, in Hebrew the Holy “Spirit” would be feminine. Languages derived from Latin such as Greek, Spanish, French, etc. have a specific gender for every noun that does not change. So every object be it animate or inanimate is designated as masculine, feminine or neuter for each of these languages. But the gender is often unrelated to whether the item is actually masculine or feminine. See is the Holy Spirit a he or it for detail. The Greek word for Comforter is “paraklētos” which Strong's dictionary says means, “intercessor, advocate, comforter.” The Thayer dictionary used these words, “one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate.” So who is our advocate and comforter? Who is the only mediator between God and man? There can be no mistake or confusion as John says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (Comforter) [paraklētos] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1. Parentheses are added. Note that the word for advocate here is exactly the same Greek word [paraklētos] used in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 for Comforter but has been translated here as advocate. So John says our advocate and Comforter is “Jesus Christ the righteous.” And who does Timothy say our mediator and hence advocate is between God and man? “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5 John 14:16 “he shall give you another Comforter [paraklētos] , that he may abide with you for ever;”John 14:26 “the Comforter [paraklētos] , which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,”John 15:26 “when the Comforter [paraklētos] is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father.”John 16:7 “for if I go not away, the Comforter [paraklētos] will not come unto you;”1 John 2:1 “if any man sin, we have an advocate (Comforter) [paraklētos] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” John 14:16-28 tells us many times who the Comforter is, but the moment Jesus says “another Comforter,” most become blind to the fact He is referring to Himself by His Spirit despite His clear words that follow. The Greek word for another is “allos,” which means another of the exact same kind and hence means another as the same kind as Christ. Jesus was present with His disciples in physical form but after His ascension He comes back in another form, that is, by His Spirit. Hence the “another” is His Spirit. Since Christ's Spirit can function independently of Himself, it is like His Spirit is “another.” And because it is His Spirit, it is “another” of the same kind. If the Comforter was someone different, then John would have used the word “heteros” meaning another of a different kind. Easy to understand once you know. Most also fail to notice that Jesus often speaks of Himself in the third person as He has in this passage. See John 17:1-3 for one such example. Compare “heteros” with “allos” HELPS Word-studies © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc. G2087 héteros – another (of a different kind). 2087 /héteros (“another but distinct in kind”) stands in contrast to 243 /állos (“another of the same kind”). 2087 /héteros (“another of a different quality”) emphasizes it is qualitatively different from its counterpart (comparison). [2087 (héteros) sometimes refers to “another” of a different class group or type (as in Plato; Oxy. papyri).] G243 állos (a primitive word) – another of the same kind; another of a similar type. Note Vines dictionary and that the word Comforter to the Hebrew people meant Messiah. “ lit., “called to one's side,” i.e., to one's aid is primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another's cause, an intercessor, advocate, as in 1John 2:1, of the Lord Jesus. In the widest sense, it signifies a “succorer, comforter.” Christ was this to His disciples, by the implication of His word “another (allos, “another of the same sort,” not heteros, “different”) Comforter,” when speaking of the Holy Spirit, John 14:16. In John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7 He calls Him “the Comforter.” “Comforter” or “Consoler” corresponds to the name “Menahem,” given by the Hebrews to the Messiah.” — (W.E. Vine's M.A., Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 1940) Here is the entire passage. John 14:6, 16-23 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another [allos] Comforter [paraklētos], that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. 20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 He that has my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord , how is it that you will manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 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.” Parentheses are added. In v. 16 Jesus says He will send “another” Comforter but leaves no doubt as to who He meant in v. 18. In unmistakable words He says “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” This “other Comforter” is none other than Christ Himself in another form (Spirit form). He is not seen (physically) as He was when He was here on earth. He is removed from the eye of sense, but He is still with us in Spirit. The Comforter is referred to as the Spirit of truth in v. 17 which is the first time Christ reveals He is referring to Himself in this passage. Ten verses earlier Jesus says, “I am the truth” (v. 6) and by His Spirit He is the “Spirit of truth.” In v. 17 we also see that the Comforter is someone whom the world cannot receive because it does not know Him. But Christ tells His disciples that they know Him for He is dwelling with them. The only one with them is Christ. In verse 19 Christ says that in a while the world seeth me no more referring to His death and resurrection, so in v. 18 and 19 Christ is saying that though He is leaving, He will not leave them Comfortless and is going to come back to them. So the disciples knew it was Christ who was going to return to them as their Comforter but did not understand how. And so Judas, not Iscariot, asks Christ how is He going to manifest Himself to them as the Comforter and not unto the world? (v. 22). How did the disciples understand “another Comforter?” Did they understand that Christ was talking about someone else? No! This Judas understood perfectly that it was Christ who was coming back to them and not someone else. Notice that his question is not “who” but “how?” And so he was not wondering “who” but he did wonder “how” Christ was going to manifest Himself to them as their Comforter. The answer is: by His Spirit which is something they did not yet understand. For Adventists: “That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation.” — (E.G. White, SW, Sept 13, 1898) In John 16:7 Jesus says, “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.” So how is it that the Comforter who was yet to be sent to them was dwelling with them in John 14? In John 7:39 we find “But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” If the Holy Spirit was another being as per the trinity doctrine, it would not be dependent on Christ returning to the Father and being glorified before it could be given. The Holy Spirit could not be given until Christ was glorified as this is how Christ returns as another, that is, by His Holy Spirit. Did you notice the underlined section of John 14:23 above? It says “we will come unto him and make ourabode with him.” That is, both the Father and the Son through their Holy Spirit. This is not a separate person of the Godhead who is being sent, it is the very life of God coming to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Who is more qualified to comfort us other than someone who has lived and suffered as one of us and knows what it is like to be tempted? How precious is it to have both the Father and Son? Those who do not understand this are missing out on more than a blessing. If you believe the Holy Spirit is another being, which was an invention of man from Satan, then what spirit would you have? For Adventists: “By the Spirit the Father and the Son will come and make their abode with you. [John 14:23 quoted]” — (E.G. White, BEcho, Jan 15, 1893) That brings us back to John 14:26. Many believe that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter as a literal being separate from Christ because they misunderstand John 14:26 and who the Spirit truly is. The added words “which is” in the KJV tend to be misleading, and while these words can be used, this passage would be less likely misunderstood if the word “through” was used instead. This would be consistent with all other Scripture and without the seemingly apparent contradiction with the other verses that reveal that Christ is our Comforter, advocate and mediator. It would read without misunderstanding as, “But the Comforter, through 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.” John 14:26 For Adventists: “It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God,” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 388) So in John 14:16-23 Jesus explains to His disciples that He will be soon be leaving them but He will not leave them comfortless and that He will come to them. Judas asks how Jesus is going to come back to them but not to the world. They did not understand that He would come back to them by His Holy Spirit. And not only Him as Christ says but those who love Him and keep His Commandments will have both the Father and Himself make their abode in them by the Holy Spirit. Thus Jesus returns to the Father but comes back again through the Holy Spirit as another of the same kind. Christ explains this to them so that they will not be troubled or afraid, and so that when it happens they will believe. Below is the continuation of this passage and you will note that Christ once again says that He is the one coming back to them. John 14:27-29 “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' ... 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” Jesus not only said He is coming back but also said, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. What wonderful words of Comfort. Jesus said, do not be troubled or afraid as though I am going away, I am going to come back to you and I am going to be with you even unto the end of the world. But how is Christ going to be with us and Comforting us unto the end of the world when He has ascended to His Father where He is going to remain? By coming back as another of the same kind. That is, through the Holy Spirit as our Comforter! For Adventists: “Jesus was about to be removed from his disciples; but he assured them that although he should ascend to his Father, his Spirit and influence would be with them always, and with their successors even unto the end of the world.” — (E.G. White, 3SP, 238.1) “Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself , divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit , as the Omnipresent.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 23.3, 1895) “This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ , called the Comforter.” — (E.G. White, Lt119, Feb 18, 1895) Note how many times many Christians miss Jesus saying that He will be our Comforter because they misunderstand what Jesus meant when he said another Comforter. Parentheses are added. John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth [Jesus is the truth and by His Spirit He is the Spirit of truth]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwelleth with you [Christ is the only one with them], and shall be in you [by His Spirit as the Comforter].” John 14:18 “I [Jesus] will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:20 “At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you [by His Spirit as the Comforter].” John 14:21 “He that has my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him [by His Spirit as the Comforter].” John 14:22 “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you [Jesus] will manifest thyself unto us [as the Comforter], and not unto the world?” John 14:23 “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we [Jesus and His Father] will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:28 “You heard me say, I [Jesus] am going away and I am coming back to you [by His Spirit as the Comforter].” Christ could not be in all places and with everyone at the same time in human form, but through the Spirit, He could be with everyone as their Comforter. So Christ comes as our Comforter through the Holy Spirit, which He sends to us, and when we receive the Holy Spirit, we are receiving both the Spirit of the Father, and through the spirit, His Son also. Romans 8:9-11. So it should now be very clear that Christ is our Comforter who is also called the Spirit of truth. And for further clarity, here are four ways Scripture reveals Christ is the Spirit of truth. 1) John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26 reveals the Comforter is the Spirit of truth and the Comforter is Christ. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18 2) John 14:6 says Jesus is the truth and by His Spirit He is the Spirit of truth. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:” John 14:6 3) The Spirit of truth does not speak of Himself; it is the Father that tells “Him” what to speak and that “Him” is Christ. See John 8:28; 12:49; 14:10, 24 and 16:13 below. 4) The Spirit of truth is also to show us things to come which Revelation 1:1 tells us it is Jesus Christ which is once again revealed to Him by His Father. John 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 show you things to come.” Notice in John 16:13 above that the Spirit of truth (Christ) does not speak of Himself but speaks what He hears from someone else. In the verses below we find that someone else is His Father. Jesus does not speak of Himself but what the Father instructs Him to say. And that remains the same when Christ returns as our Comforter and the Spirit of truth. Even by His Spirit, He does not speak of Himself but speaks what He hears from His Father. That is what He shall speak. John 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” John 14:10 “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me,” John 14:24 “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” John 8:28 “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.” The Spirit of truth is also to show us what things are to come which we find in Revelation 1:1 is also Christ. Just as the words He speaks are from His Father, so are the things to come that He is to show us. And hence we find all Scripture lines up without any contradiction or inconsistencies as truth always does. Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;” For Adventists: Hover mouse pointer over the blue text for quotes. What is the Comma Johanneum? This is an addition to Scripture that is so famous and hence so well known that it has even been given its own name. The Comma Johanneum is a comma (short clause) in 1 John 5:7-8 which is the “only” passage in the entire Bible that says all three are one without assumptions or unbiblical human logic. The King James Version reads as follows, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” 1 John 5:7-8 The scholarly consensus is that this passage is a Latin corruption that found its way into a Greek manuscript at an early date while absent from others. The words in red are found in the KJV, NKJV but are missing from the majority of translations. It is disconcerting to find there is no shortage of evidence that reveals this text was added. Thomas Nelson and Sons Catholic Commentary, 1951, page 1186 explains, “It is now generally held that this passage, called the Gomma Johanneum, is a gloss that crept into the text of the Old Latin and Vulgate at an early date, but found its way into the Greek text only in the 15th and 16th centuries.” Here is how 1 John 5:7-8 reads from the NIV and most other Bible translations. “For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” Mouse over for a list of Bible translations for 1 John 5:7 and Adam Clarke's and other Commentaries. Erasmus did not include the infamous Comma Johanneum of 1 John 5:7-8 in either his 1516 or 1519 editions of his Greek New Testament but made its way into his third edition in 1522 because of pressure from the Catholic Church. After his first edition appeared in 1516, there arose such a furor over the absence of the Comma that Erasmus needed to defend himself. He argued that he did not put in the Comma Trinitarian formula because he found no Greek manuscripts that included it. Once one was produced called the Codex 61, that was written by one Roy or Froy at Oxford in c. 1520, he reluctantly agreed to include it in his subsequent editions. Erasmus probably altered the text because of politico-theologico-economic concerns. He did not want his reputation ruined, nor his Novum Instrumentumto go unsold. Thus it passed into the Stephanus Greek New Testament in 1551 (first New Testament in verses), which came to be called the Textus Receptus, and became the basis for the Geneva Bible New Testament in 1557 and the Authorized King James Version in 1611. To the left is an image of the Codex 61 with the added words underlined in red. There is no doubt that the latter part of 1 John 5:7 and the first part of 1 John 5:8 never existed in the original and inspired words of God. The textual Scholar Bart Ehrman described this forgery as follows, “…this represents the most obvious instance of a theologically motivated corruption in the entire manuscript tradition of the New Testament.” The English King James Bible translated in 1611 AD retains this Trinitarian forgery but none of our modern translations have it except the NKJV. And since this text was not from God, then who was it really from? See also was 1 John 5:7 Added to the Bible. For Adventists: “I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition.” — (E.G. White, EW, 220.2) What happened to Matthew 28:19? Trinitarians often say Matthew 28:19 supports their belief stating that by the shared authority of these three we are commissioned to baptize. However, this verse in no way affirms the trinity doctrine which states that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three co-equal, co-eternal beings that make one God. This verse refers to three entities but never says they are one and says nothing about their personality. Nobody denies there is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19 So this verse does not say they are three beings,it does not say they are three in one or one in three,it does not say these three are the Godhead,it does not say these three are a trinity,it does not say these three are co-equal or co-eternal beings,it does not say that these three are all God,and yet some draw the conclusion that this supports their belief in the trinity which is clearly not so. Trinitarians are concluding something from this verse that it just does not say. For Adventists: Here is the Godhead according to Ellen White. “Let them be thankful to God for His manifold mercies and be kind to one another. They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit-- the Spirit of Christ --is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909). The third person is the Spirit of Christ, not a third being. In any case, I find myself greatly perplexed by this verse, because where do we see the Apostles or anyone else for that matter following the explicit instructions of Christ here? Here are all verses where anyone was baptized into the name of anyone. Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 1:13; Galatians 3:27. But as you can see, there is not one person following what Christ supposedly instructed them to do. In every verse we find people baptized into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ only. So why the apparent disobedience of the apostles? The following dictionary explains, “The historical riddle is not solved by Matthew 28:19, since, according to a wide scholarly consensus, it is not an authentic saying of Jesus, not even an elaboration of a Jesus-saying on baptism.” — (The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1, 1992, p. 585). Further research revealed this to be the case as all Bible commentaries and dictionaries quoting on this issue claimed that it was added by the Church of Rome to support their Trinitarian formula. The quote below states the origin of this baptismal formula. See Mathew 28:19 added text for many others. “The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church in the second century.” — (The Catholic Encyclopedia, II, p. 263) So how did this happen and what did the original text say if this is true? It must be remembered that we have no known manuscripts that were written in the first, second or third centuries. There is a gap of over three hundred years between when Matthew wrote his epistle and our earliest manuscript copies. (It also took over three hundred years for the Catholic Church to evolve into what the “early church fathers” wanted it to become.) This is what my research revealed. Eusebius (c. 260—c. 340) was the Bishop of Caesarea and is known as “the Father of Church History.” He wrote prolifically and his most celebrated work is his Ecclesiastical History, a history of the Church from the Apostolic period until his own time. Eusebius quotes many verses in his writings including Matthew 28:19 several times. But he never quotes it as it appears in modern Bibles. He always finishes the verse with the words “in my name.” The following example comes from an unaltered book of Matthew that could have been the original or the first copy of the original. Thus Eusebius informs us of the actual words Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew 28:19 which were, “With one word and voice He said to His disciples: “Go, and make disciples of all nations in My Name, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” — (Proof of the Gospel by Eusebius, Book III, Ch. 6, 132 (a), p. 152) Eusebius was present at the council of Nicea and was involved in the debates over the Godhead. If the manuscripts he had in front of him read “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” he would never have quoted instead, “in my name.” So it appears that the earliest manuscripts read “in my name,” and the phrase was enlarged to reflect the orthodox position as Trinitarian influence spread. So should Matthew 28:19 read “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” or “baptizing them in My name.” And based on your conclusion, should Colossians 2:12 therefore read “Buried with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in baptism, wherein also you are risen with them through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised them from the dead.” or “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12 In conclusion, Matthew 28:19 does not prove or disprove the trinity doctrine and you will have to decide for yourself if this text belongs as it cannot be proven conclusively one way or the other. But Scripture certainly strongly indicates that baptism should be in the name of Christ as all examples reveal. The reason we are baptized in the name of Christ is because we are baptized “into” Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of His death, burial and resurrection. Even if the trinity doctrine was true, only Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again. When we are baptized in the name of Christ we become Christians. Paul argued this point in 1 Corinthians 1:13 when he said, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is, “No. You were baptized in the name of Christ because He was crucified for you.” Consider also “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;” Mark 16:16. So whose name do we call on to be saved when we are baptized? “arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16. And what is the ONLY name under heaven that we can be saved? “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 I think most will agree that the weight of evidence is overwhelming that it should have read “in My name.” Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next The Truth of the Trinity [ trinitytruth.org ] 1-13 (total 42 parts) Is the Trinity Doctrine True or False? Trinitytruth.org Introduction The word trinity is derived from the Latin word trinitas, which came from the Platonic term trias meaning three. Thus it is philosophical in origin. The word trinity was introduced by Tertullian (160-225 AD) who was a pagan turned Catholic theologian and one of the early Church fathers who wrote in the early third century to define the teaching concerning the Godhead. His conclusion was that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were one substance, but not one in person. He also did not see the Son as being co-eternal with the Father. There are many unanswered questions about the trinity doctrine and the most obvious is where in the Bible is it explained? Scholars throughout history have acknowledged that it is not found in the Bible. Many will respond that the trinity doctrine is found in 1 John 5:7. But the italicized part of this verse that says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one,” does not exist in the earliest manuscripts! The Origin of the Trinity Doctrine It was about a century after Tertullian when Arianism began causing so many disputes that Constantine convened the first ecumenical Council in Church history to settle them. Arius was an elder in the Alexandrian Church in the early fourth century that taught Christ truly is the begotten Son of God and why God is called His Father to state the obvious. A real Father and Son in other words. Opposing the teachings of Arius was Athanasius, a deacon also from Alexandria. His view was an early form of Trinitarianism where the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are said to be all the same one god but distinct from each other making it impossible for them to be a real Father and Son. His view was a further but worsening change to what Tertullian believed with the Holy Spirit not yet claimed to be a literal being. That came later. Mainstream history states Arius taught Christ was created, but the Church burnt what Arius believed and some historians claim they altered records and falsely rumoured that he taught Christ was created in order to discredit him. The Catholic Church is known for creating false historical records to their interpretation of events to hide the real truth at times. Consider the following for instance. The view of Athanasius was highly influenced by Origen who was a Greek philosopher and theologian who reinterpreted Christian doctrine through the philosophy of Neoplatonism. His work was later condemned as unorthodox. Origen taught the doctrine of Purgatory, transubstantiation, transmigration and reincarnation of the soul, the Holy Spirit was a feminine force, Jesus was only a created being, there would be no physical resurrection, the creation account in Genesis is a fictitious story and is known to have publicly castrated himself based on Matthew 19. Arius on the other hand was a pupil of Lucian of Antioch. Lucian was responsible for the work that gave us what is known as the Textus Receptus which was completed by Erasmus, and is what gave us the trusted New Testament of the KJV Bible. These and other facts reveal that Athanasius was influenced by Greek philosophy and that Arius probably taught Biblical truth despite mainstream history. Some believe Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor, but he was actually a sun worshiper who was baptized on his deathbed. During his reign he had his eldest son and his wife murdered. His belief at best was a blend of paganism and Christianity for political purposes, and so he neither cared nor really understood this dispute, but was just eager to bring the controversy to a close and keep unity in his empire. When the bishops gathered at Nicea on May 20, 325 AD to resolve the crisis, very few shared Athanasius's view of Christ as most held a position midway between Athanasius and Arius. The religious debates lasted two months before the Council rejected the minority view of Arius, but having no alternative, Constantine approved the view of Athanasius, which was also a minority view. And so the Church was left supporting a belief held by only a minority of those attending. The Encyclopedia Britannica states: “Constantine himself presided, actively guiding the discussions, and personally proposed ... the crucial formula expressing the relation of Christ to God in the creed issued by the council ... Overawed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them much against their inclination.” — (1971 edition, Vol. 6, “Constantine,” p. 386) Horrific religious persecution followed the decision made by Constantine who was essentially a pagan Emperor who imposed an invented creed never preached by Jesus. Constantine exiled those who refused to accept the creed as well as the bishops who signed the creed but refused to join in condemnation of Arius. He also ordered all copies of the Thalia to be burned, which was the book in which Arius expressed his teachings. But several years later Constantine became lenient toward those he condemned and exiled at the council and allowed them to return. In AD 335, they brought accusations against Athanasius and so now Constantine had Athanasius banished! This was not about Biblical truth. As a pagan sun worshipper , Constantine also enforced the first Sunday law just four years earlier and hence played a major role in bringing two pagan traditions into the Church. It was four hundred years after the cross when they formulated this creed that never existed beforehand, and so the Apostles and the early Church could never have taught it either. See Encyclopedia Britannica and historical quotes . Many of the Bishops who formulated the doctrine of the Trinity were steeped in Greek and Platonic philosophy, which influenced their religious views. In fact the language they used in defining the trinity is taken directly from Platonic and Greek philosophy. The Platonic term trias, meaning three, was Latinized as trinitas, which gave us the English word trinity which is neither biblical nor Christian. As Bible scholars John McClintock and James Strong (wrote the famous Strong's Concordance) explain, “Towards the end of the 1st century, and during the 2nd, many learned men came over both from Judaism and paganism to Christianity. These brought with them into the Christian schools of theology their Platonic ideas and phraseology.” — (Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, 1891, Vol. 10, “Trinity,” p. 553) So the Trinity was not derived from scripture, but was conceived in philosophy. Greek philosophers were greatly influenced by Plato (427-347 BC) who was considered the greatest of all Greek philosophers. Plato was ingrained with Trinitarian thought and knew that all the ancient religions had triad deities, and so he desired to come up with a better definition to define God above all the deities of Greek mythology. Plato's definition of God was, (1) The “first God,” who was the Supreme Being in the universe; (2) the “second God,” whom Plato described as the “soul of the universe”; and (3) the “third God,” defined as the “spirit.” The Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (15 BC-AD 50) who followed Greek philosophy was influenced by Plato's version and saw God as, (1) Father, who created all things (Philo named him “the Demiurge”), (2) Mother, who was Knowledge the Maker possessed and (3) the Beloved Son was the world. Supposedly the union of demiurge and knowledge produced man's world. This esoteric type of thinking is what led to the birth and development of the trinity. Notice how these quotes document a belief in a divine Trinity in many regions and religions of the ancient world and that the origin of the conception is entirely pagan. Egyptologist Arthur Weigall summed up the influence of ancient beliefs on the adoption of the trinity doctrine by the Catholic Church in this excerpt from his book Paganism in Our Christianity . And so the Council of Nicea did not end the controversy and the bishops went on teaching as they had before, and the Arian crisis continued for another sixty years. Athanasius was exiled no fewer than five times and it was very difficult to make his creed stick. The ongoing disputes were violent and bloody at times. Noted historian Will Durant writes, “Probably more Christians were slaughtered by Christians in these two years (342-3) than by all the persecutions of Christians by pagans in the history of Rome.” — (The Story of Civilization, Vol. 4: The Age of Faith, 1950, p. 8). So Christians fought and slaughtered one another over their differing views of God. So after Constantine's death in 337 AD, disputes continued. Constantine's son Constantius II favoured the Arians and set out to reverse the Nicene Creed. Constantius used his power to exile bishops adhering to the Nicene Creed and especially Athanasius who fled to Rome. The debates resulted in numerous councils. Among them the Council of Sardica in 343 AD, the Council of Sirmium in 358 AD and the double Council of Rimini and Seleucia in 359 AD, and no fewer than fourteen further creed formulas between 340 and 360 AD. After Constantius' death in 361 AD, his successor Julian, who was a devotee of Rome's pagan gods, declared that he would no longer favor one Church faction over another and allowed all exiled bishops to return, which resulted in further increasing dissension among Christians. Disputes eventually became over the nature of the Holy Spirit. So 44 years after Constantine's death in May 381 AD, Emperor Theodosius, baptized only a year earlier, convened the Council of Constantinople to resolve them. Theodosius favoured the Nicene Creed and so after his arrival in Constantinople he expelled the bishop Demophilus, and surrendered the Churches there to Gregory of Nazianzus who was the leader of a small Nicene community there and one of three men that became known as “the three Cappadocians.” These three men had an agenda at this council which was for the first time to push the idea of the Holy Spirit as a literal being. Gregory was recently appointed as archbishop of Constantinople, but due to illness, Nectarius, an elderly city senator had to take over the role of archbishop and presided over the council. And so Nectarius was baptized for the job and the Trinitarian view on the Holy Spirit was governed by someone with little or no knowledge of theology! What resulted became known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed where they now decided that the Holy Spirit was a literal being. Any who disagreed were in accordance with the edicts of the emperor and Church authorities branded heretics and dealt with accordingly. This final teaching on the nature of God is what became the trinity as it is generally understood today. It was not decided so much from Scripture but from Greek philosophy, much bloodshed and whoever held the most power. See the pagan origins of the trinity doctrine for detailed information. So in short, when Babylon was conquered, most of the Babylonian Priests took their pagan teachings to Alexandria which resulted in the school of Alexandria. The Alexandrines incorporated Greek Pagan philosophical beliefs from Plato's teachings into Christianity (Neoplatonism), and interpreted much of the Bible allegorically. Lucian rejected this system entirely and propounded a system of literal interpretation that dominated the Eastern Church for a long period. Thus Origen taught the allegorical method of explanation of Scripture that Athanasius and the three Cappadocians learned from, which was influenced by Plato and strong pagan theological speculations, which gave us the trinity doctrine. “The Alexandria catechetical school, which revered Clement of Alexandria and Origen, the greatest theologian of the Greek Church, as its heads, applied the allegorical method to the explanation of Scripture. Its thought was influenced by Plato: its strong point was [pagan] theological speculations. Athanasius and the three Cappadocians [the men whose Trinitarian views were adopted by the Catholic Church at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople] had been included among its members.” — (Hubert Jedin, Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: an Historical Outline, 1960, p. 28) What is the Trinity Doctrine? The doctrine of the trinity as taught by most Churches states that there are three co-equal (equal in every respect), co-eternal (the same age), omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful) gods, who are not three gods, but one god. By the words of the Athanasian Creed it is, “the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three gods but one God.” The Athanasian Creed (Roman Catholic Creed) says that the one God is three divine personalities in one indivisible substance or essence. It is the one indivisible nature part which is a problem because it is maintained that this constitutes the one God being 1+1+1=One! That is, the Father is God, Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three gods but one God, and that is the Trinity! You do not have to be very smart to realise that this makes no sense at all. Therefore, those teaching this doctrine tag it with the word mystery, stating that you will never be able to understand it so just accept it. They may also say, just because it is Catholic it does not mean it is wrong. So in one way or another Satan has tricked people into believing this falsehood without checking it out for themselves. There is in fact not one Scripture in the Bible that literally states the Holy Spirit is God, not one! And you will later discover that there is also not one valid Scripture that says all three are one. Some Churches differ on some points from orthodoxy, but regarding the basic premise being the one God is three gods in one, it is exactly the same as the Athanasian Creed. This is the creed upon which the Roman Catholic faith is built. We also find that the word “Trinity” originated from Tertullian around 200 AD who did not even state the immanent trinity as known today, the 3 in 1 god came from Athanasius in 325 AD, and the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being came from three Cappadocians in 381 AD. Hence the word “Trinity” and this doctrine cannot be found anywhere in the Scriptures. It was patched together by Catholic theologians hundreds of years after the death of the apostles and long after the completion of the Bible. Instead, Trinitarianism comes from the allegorical ideas of the Alexandrines and is a mixture of Greek and Roman philosophies that are loosely based on a handful of Bible verses snatched out of context or interpolated into the text. Thus the Trinity is a manmade doctrine that borrows heavily from paganism and Greek philosophy and was developed long after the Scriptures were completed. Therefore, this doctrine could never have come from Scripture anyway and has to be taught alongside the Bible. And so if you had never heard of it, you would never come up with it yourself from just reading the Bible alone. As a result, you will also find that eisegesis has to be used to convince others of this doctrine. It was after God confused the languages at Babel that the sun began to be worshipped in three stages as three gods. That is, the rising sun was god, the midday sun was god, the setting sun was god, and yet there were not three gods but one god! In other words, 1+1+1=One! This is the absolute origin of the three in one trinity doctrine. Knowing who we worship is the key to eternal life, so if God was truly a trinity, you can be sure there would be unmistakable Scriptures saying so, but there is none. Thus the Doctrine of the Trinity, or Tritheism is a heresy that proceeds from Romanism and tantamount to Sunday Worship. An Abomination before God. It is a doctrine that emanates straight from the dunghill of Roman decretals. It is philosophy, vain deceit and man's tradition. It denies Jesus, preaches another Jesus, another spirit and another Gospel. Colossians 2:8-10 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-14 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Peter 2:1-2 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” What does the Bible teach? There is no mystery with the Biblical view of the Godhead which reveals there is but one true God the Father who is a literal Father, one Lord Jesus Christ being His literal Son, and one Holy Spirit being the presence and power of God and not a separate being with a separate consciousness. As one Christian author wrote. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, not a son by creation as were the angels, nor a son by adoption as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person that is equal in authority and divine perfection. Thus we have “God the Father,” (who is Christ's father) the “Son of God,” (who is God's Son) and the “Spirit of God,” which is His Spirit just as Scripture keeps telling us over and over again. The Bible does not say “god the son” or “god the spirit.” Below Paul lists seven distinct things showing that they are all separate and that one is not the other. Hence the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct entities of which one is not and cannot be the other. Parentheses are added. “There is one body, and one Spirit [Holy Spirit], even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord [Jesus Christ], one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 Implications of the Trinity Ever since the death of Jesus, our adversary has tried to pervert what Christ accomplished in His incarnation (meaning in our Saviour's life and death). And since Satan can do nothing about what Christ actually did achieve, he does the next best thing which is to promote the belief that the divine Son of God did not actually die at Calvary. I have heard Pastors preach that God sent Himself to die on the cross since the trinity teaches all three are the one god. But this leads to another problem because God cannot die. So it is claimed that Jesus had two natures, a divine nature and a human nature and only the human nature died. But to say that the divine Son of God could not die is as far from the teachings of the Bible as darkness is from light. So we would ask the Trinitarian to which of the two natures are we indebted to for redemption? The answer is the divine one who died and shed His blood for us. It should be obvious that if only the human nature died, our Redeemer was only human and the divine Son of God took no part in the work of redemption for He could neither suffer nor die. Satan also aims to pervert how much it cost God in sacrificing His Son. The Father supposedly never risked anything by giving up His Son, for they claim that Christ could not have possibly sinned. Therefore nothing was at stake. If only human nature suffered and died as the trinity doctrine teaches, then the divine Christ remained unscathed. And since God cannot die, Christ would never have been able to die under any circumstance. Yet Jesus said, “I am He that liveth, and was dead.” Revelation 1:18 Almost all Christians state that, “Jesus is the Son of God,” but there are different meanings attached to these words. The sad reality is that most professed Christians do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God if they subscribe to their denominational statements of belief. Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus is the Son of God, but when asked to explain, say that Jesus was the first angel that God created and was no different from Lucifer or the other angels. Roman Catholics say that Jesus is the Son of God, but when they are asked to explain say there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and yet there are not three gods but one God. Others claim Jesus is a co-eternal companion of God whom God declared to be His Son, even though He is not really His Son, while Unitarians claim Jesus did not exist before His incarnation. And yet others will tell you that Jesus became the Son of God when He was born in Bethlehem and was not the Son of God in any other sense. Every one of these explanations has the exact same serious problem which is not by chance. They all deny that Jesus is the literal Son of God in some way which is exactly what Satan wants. The trinity doctrine says there are: 3 beings who are co-eternal 3 beings who are all immortal 3 beings who are all powerful, all knowing etc. 3 beings who are worthy of worship and praise 3 beings each acting a different role So if all three members of the Godhead are co-eternal, then there was “never” a time that they did not exist, and they all must be the same infinite age. If this is true, then the titles which they possess merely reflect the roles taken to act out the plan of redemption. They cannot then be taken in a literal sense. For example, the Son of God then is not really God's Son, He is the member of the Godhead playing the role of the Son. Yet Scripture teaches us over and over again that God gave His Son, but the trinity doctrine tells us that Jesus was not really God's Son, He was the member of the Godhead playing the role of the Son. The Trinitarian typically claims that Jesus was referred to as God's Son because of His birth in Bethlehem. But the Bible states that Jesus was brought forth before all things were created. So if Jesus has “always” existed then it is impossible for Him to be the Son of God. And if Christ is not a literal Son, then God cannot be a literal Father either. And so the trinity doctrine destroys the personality of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And since this doctrine denies the Father and Son, which it also does by teaching the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are the same one God, then this is a denial of both the Father and the Son in more ways than one which 1 John 2:22-23 states is antichrist. Notice that John says nothing about denying the Holy Spirit. Thus more than 100 verses that state Jesus is the Son of God apparently do not really mean what they say at all. Do you know of any other doctrine that has to explain away so many clear Scriptures? If you accept the Trinity doctrine, then Jesus cannot be the Son of God. And if you do not accept Jesus as being the Son of God, then you cannot have eternal life! With these facts in mind, consider the following Scriptures very carefully and ask yourself does this affect your eternal life by denying who the Father and Son truly are. And considering the trinity doctrine is from Satan, it is not hard to see what his plan is if your eyes are wide open. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23 “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 “He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36 “But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.” John 20:31 So most important of all is this doctrine can be a salvation issue which I would have never imagined until I studied this topic in depth and realized all the implications. And what about the Holy Spirit. If the trinity doctrine is wrong, then the Holy Spirit is really a creation of Satan rather than the Spirit of the Father and Son. And if this third being is a creation of Satan, who would we be giving our adoration to? Whose Spirit would we have? As the above verses state, knowing exactly who the Father and Son are is the key to eternal life. But understanding the identity of the Holy Spirit is also something you cannot afford to get wrong. One might ask why the Bible never tells us to “pray to” or “worship” the Holy Spirit if it is a third co-equal being as the trinity doctrine claims. We are told to pray “for” the Spirit, but never “to” the Spirit. Yet as the trinity doctrine takes a stronger hold on the Church, some are beginning to do just that contrary to the teachings of Scripture. And if you think that Satan is not leading Christians to pray to the Holy Spirit, then watch this 35 second YouTube video clip. Close the window to return to this page. Notice that he says “god the spirit” which is a Catholic Trinitarian phrase and hence is never found in the Bible which uses the phrase “Spirit of God” which has a totally different meaning. Who would be the four highest beings in Heaven before the fall of man (before sin) if the Holy Spirit was a third co-equal being as per the Trinity doctrine? It would be the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and Lucifer. Who is it that wants to be like the most High and be worshipped and prayed to as God? ( Isaiah 14:12-14 ) What if the Holy Spirit was not a third literal being. Who would then be the third highest being? Lucifer! So if the Holy Spirit is not a third literal being, a separate God, then who would be answering our prayers if we prayed to the “Spirit”? Who would be setting himself up as a third “God” worthy of praise and worship? Has Satan succeeded in accomplishing his goal of being included as a deity? If we now believe the Holy Spirit can be worshipped and prayed to just like the Father and the Son, who actually receives our worship? If the Holy Spirit is not a third being then whose spirit would we have according to our belief and who would we be giving our adoration to? For Adventists: Before sin — “Among the inhabitants of heaven, Satan, next to Christ, was at one time most honored of God, and highest in power and glory.” — (E.G. White, ST, July 23, 1902). The Spirit of Prophecy confirms that Satan did use to be the third highest being in Heaven. Not a third being called the Holy Spirit as the Trinity doctrine claims. Since the trinity doctrine claims Jesus is also the one God, an Adventist author from the 1800's wrote, “To believe that doctrine, when reading the scripture we must believe that God sent Himself into the world, died to reconcile the world to Himself, raised Himself from the dead, ascended to Himself in heaven, pleads before Himself in heaven to reconcile the world to Himself, and is the only mediator between man and Himself… We must believe also that in the garden God prayed to Himself, if it were possible, to let the cup pass from Himself, and a thousand other such absurdities.” — (J.N. Loughborough) Some of those other absurdities it teaches is that Jesus is the immortal God but died, is the invisible God but was seen, is the omnipotent God but was strengthened by an angel, is the omniscient God but did not know the day of his return, is as great as His Father but His Father is greater than He, is equal with the Father and yet He is the Father, is the Son but the same age as the Father, is the Son who has a Father and the God who has no Father, is the begotten Son and the unbegotten God, is very God and very man, came out from Himself, prayed to Himself, gave power to Himself, thanked Himself, bore witness of Himself, went back to Himself, sits at the right hand of Himself, is His own Father and His own Son, left Heaven and yet was there all the time. There are many things which are hard to understand in the Bible, but you can be sure that God never expects us to believe impossibilities. Over and over again you hear it said that the Gospel is so simple a child can understand it. And I agree. But how can that be the case with the teaching of the trinity? Not only do children not understand it, but our best theologians cannot even explain it. However, the thought that God sent His Son to this earth to die for you and me is easy to comprehend when we believe the simple Bible statement that Jesus is truly the Son of God! Not one of three mysterious beings making up “one God.” How can you possibly believe that Jesus is NOT the begotten Son of the eternal Father and then share John 3:16 with others in the hope of inviting them to take part in eternal salvation. Doesn't John 3:16 become a lie the moment you deny He is a Son? A metaphor did not send a metaphor to save us. A Father sent us His Son to save us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 2 John 1:3 “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” What is Satan’s Counterfeit for the Godhead? Satan is the great deceiver and his greatest tool is deception. So Satan has counterfeited all things of God to take people away from the truth and lead them into false worship thinking it is from God when it is from Satan. For example. God has true prophets while Satan has false prophets. ( 2 Peter 2:1 , Matthew 24:24 , 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ) God has true teachers while Satan has false teachers. Jesus is the light of the world and Satan appears as an angel of light. God has true apostles and Satan has false apostles. God gives the true gift of speaking in tongues which is known languages while Satan has false tongues that you do not understand and false interpretations that you have no way of verifying. God has a special day of rest and worship which is a sign that it is God we worship, and Satan instituted a counterfeit day that came from sun and Satan worship. And of course there is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. But what is Satan's counterfeit? The next page of this site reveals that the trinity doctrine also came from sun and Satan worship and the number 666! So which is the counterfeit? The view which acknowledges there is a real Father and Son just as the Bible literally tells us over a hundred times, or the three in one God they call a mystery which says they are not a real Father and Son and are just role playing which the Bible never even hints of. How many stop to think that Satan would create a doctrine that would destroy the personality of the Father and Son? And would that doctrine make sense or be nonsense coming from our adversary? God is not the author of confusion and mystery doctrines, Satan is. And not forgetting the implications of the Holy Spirit. If you get this wrong, you could inadvertently give your adoration to Satan, or even worse, your worship to Satan! This is the worst counterfeit of all that affects the true worship of God and His Son. Is the Trinity doctrine Antichrist? The four verses below are the only Scriptures in the entire Bible which use the word antichrist. Note that those who John called antichrist were part of his Church but apostatized and went out on their own (see green highlighted text) and hence were in the world in his lifetime (see blue highlighted text). Thus these people John called antichrist used to be with him as professed Christians but began teaching something that was wrong. So what error did they teach that caused John to call them antichrist? (see yellow highlighted text) The trinity doctrine claims it was the one God playing the role of the Son who died on the cross and hence denies the literal Son of God came in the flesh and died on the cross. Denying Jesus is the Son of God also means God cannot be a Father and so it denies both the Father and Son. Note carefully 1 John 2:22-23. 1 John 2:18-19 “it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:22-23 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same has not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” At the Protestant Reformation the Papacy was first identified as the first beast of Revelation 13 and is synonymous with what John called antichrist. The Catholic Church responded with the Counter Reformation where they commissioned two Jesuits to manufacture false doctrine to take the focus off them being identified as antichrist. (See who is the antichrist and Futurism Bible Prophecy for detailed information) This is where the false idea of a one man antichrist originated which Scripture never teaches. Considering what John wrote on antichrist, it becomes obvious that the way the Papacy denies the Father and Son is by their creation of the doctrine of the trinity which has corrupted almost all of Christendom. Many believe their faith is well grounded in the doctrine of the trinity, yet this teaching is the foundational teaching of antichrist which makes it impossible to build on the true rock—Christ the Son of the living God. The Handbook for Today's Catholic, page 11 says, “The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith.” The antichrist power has built on the premise that Jesus is not the literal Son of God, thus denying the Father and Son relationship. God's true Church will build on the foundation that Peter declared in Matthew 16:13-18 : “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God ... and upon this rock I will build my Church.” To believe the trinity teaching is actually to be walking in the footsteps of the antichrist power. And since the Trinity doctrine teaches 3 co-equal beings, then why did John fail to include denying the Holy Spirit if it were really a third co-equal being? The answer is simple. Because the Holy Spirit is not a third being but a third entity being their Holy Spirit. As John also said, “truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 For Adventists: What teaching is antichrist? “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. . . . He who denies the personality of God and of his Son Jesus Christ, is denying God and Christ.” — (E.G. White, RH, March 8, 1906, p. 9) And what doctrine denies the personality of God and His Son which is denying God and Christ? Her husband explains, “Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away [with] the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ,” — (James White, RH, Dec 11, 1855, p. 85) Only two beings alone as John taught, “The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” — (E.G. White, YI, July 7, 1898) Why is the Trinity a Salvation Issue? Those who have not studied the doctrine of the trinity never see it as a salvation issue because they do not understand exactly what it entails and the many implications. And so most typically have no idea that this is actually the biggest and worst deception of all that is also related to the mark of the beast and the Sabbath day . Remember that the trinity doctrine teaches a 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 god. That is, 3 gods that are co-equal, co-eternal that are not 3 gods but 1 god. 1+1+1=One. Three gods that have supposedly always existed and hence have no beginning. So how can Jesus be a literal Son if He has always existed alongside the Father? And how can the Father be a Father if Jesus is not really His Son? Hence the trinity doctrine and other similar beliefs like Unitarians deny that Jesus is the literal Son of God in one way or another. If you do not confess Jesus is the Son of God then you are separated from God. “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15. And again, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5 And if you deny Jesus is the Son of God and that God gave His literal Son then you make God a liar and you do not have eternal life. “He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believeth not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.” 1 John 5:10-12 “But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.” John 20:31 And so Scripture tells us that it is only by acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God that we can be saved and have access to the Father. And if you deny Jesus is the literal Son of God, then it is also impossible for God to be a literal Father. So it denies both the Father and the Son which is what John called antichrist as it opposes Christ being the true and literal Son of God. It denies that it was the literal Son of God that came in the flesh and died on the cross. The Bible reveals over and over again that they are a real Father and Son. But the trinity doctrine says no. Some today including Adventist Pastors when asked is Jesus the Son of God reply, No! They say He is just the one God playing the role of the Son. Yet nowhere is there even so much as a hint in Scripture that they are just role playing or are not really a Father and Son. God brought forth a Son whom He loves very much and Satan is working very hard to hide this fact. And if the Trinity doctrine is wrong, then the Holy Spirit is really a creation of Satan rather than the Spirit of the Father and Son. Does it matter if we give our adoration to a creation of Satan rather than the Spirit of the Father and Son? The answer is obvious. Scripture says Satan wants to be worshipped like the most high God. Has he succeeded in accomplishing his goal of being included as a deity? More and more today are praying and worshipping the Holy Spirit which the Bible never tells us to do. If the Holy Spirit is not a third being then whose spirit would we have according to our belief and who would we be giving our adoration to? And if we believe the Holy Spirit can be worshipped and prayed to just like the Father and the Son, who receives our worship? It goes to Satan! Do you think the Father and Son will mind? I would hope it requires no explanation. Revelation 13:17 states, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Did you notice that it is three things? It is not just the mark of the beast, but also the name and the number of his name which is 666. The pagan origins of the trinity reveals that 666 comes from the trinity doctrine and sun and Satan worship! The question was asked in the Catholic Catechism, “What is Sunday...” The answer was that Sunday “is a day dedicated by the Apostles to the honor of the most holy Trinity.” — (RH, vol. 5, no. 24, p. 86) An interesting statement considering “Sunday worship” and the “Trinity doctrine” both came from sun and Satan worship in Babylon, and they were both brought into Christendom by the Catholic Church whom God calls Babylon! They are also both about who we worship which Revelation 13 and 14 reveals is exactly what the mark of the beast issue is all about. So do we worship the one true God on His Holy day or the pagan Catholic 3 in 1 god? And what about the Seal of God. Which God do we need to be sealed by? The one true God the Father or the pagan Catholic 3 in 1 god. This would certainly explain why Revelation reveals so many will still be deceived and perish in the end. For Adventists: Considering “Sunday worship” and the “Trinity doctrine” were both brought into Christendom by the beast (Papacy), then consider the following. “The third angel's message has been sent forth to the world, warning men against receiving the mark of the beast or of his image in their foreheads or in their hands. To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the word of God.” — (E.G. White, RH, July 13, 1897) E.G. White says there is still more to be revealed. “The light that we have upon the third angel's message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll,” — (E.G. White, 6T 17.1, 1900) Christ was the Son of God before coming to earth. “Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and Lucifer, that glorious angel, got up a warfare over the matter, until he had to be thrust down to the earth.” — (E.G. White, Ms86, Aug 21, 1910) Satan hates the Son of God and wants us to deny Him and not just for his own gratification. Once you fully understand this topic you will have no trouble seeing that the trinity doctrine is the work of Satan through the Catholic Church for the purpose of stealing your salvation. Is it any wonder Satan has so many workers trying to keep Christians trapped in this satanic doctrine. It is not only the worst possible deception, but is also his greatest end time deception related to the mark of the beast. The following is primarily for Adventists but is also suitable for others with the truth on the Sabbath. Why do most churches believe in the Trinity doctrine? It is the same reason that most Churches worship on Sunday instead of the Seventh day Sabbath. Hundreds of denominations now know that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath to Sunday just before the dark ages, which was a 1260 year period where the Papal Church ruled as Church and State and persecuted Christians they called heretics. This included Sabbath keepers who would rather obey God than man. With the arrival of the printing press in the 15th century and the resulting explosion of Bibles it became very apparent that the Catholic Church was a power identified in Scripture. “John Wycliffe, William Tyndale (translated the Bible - Tyndale Bible), Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer; in the seventeenth century, Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible and the men who published the Westminster and Baptist confessions of Faith; Sir Isaac Newton, John Wesley, Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards; and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of the Papacy as the antichrist.” — (Michael de Semlyen, All Roads Lead to Rome, Dorchestor House Publications, p. 205, 1991) This knowledge resulted in the Protestant Reformation as many realized the Catholic Church was the antichrist power. The true Sabbath was almost totally persecuted out of existence by this time and so all the new Churches that resulted from the Protestant Reformation continued keeping Sunday in ignorance and why it has such a stronghold today. But it was not just Sunday keeping that came out of the Protestant Reformation but also the Trinity doctrine. Constantine played a role in both in fact. He instituted the first Sunday law in 321 AD and the Trinity in 325 AD in the council of Nicea. Just four years apart and both from the same sun worshipping Emperor and both originated from sun worship. And hence both the Trinity doctrine and Sunday worship originated from sun and Satan worship in Babylon and were brought into Christendom by the Catholic Church whom God calls Babylon. Sun-day is Satan's counterfeit for the true Sabbath and the Trinity doctrine is Satan's counterfeit for the Godhead. “As fundamental errors, we might class with this counterfeit sabbath other errors which Protestants have brought away from the Catholic church, such as sprinkling for baptism, the trinity,” — (J.S. White, RH, September 12, 1854, p. 36) We find this question in the Catholic Catechism, “What is Sunday...” There answer is that Sunday “is a day dedicated by the Apostles to the honor of the most holy Trinity.” — (RH, vol. 5, no. 24, p. 86) Thus both these doctrines are closely related with the exact same origin. So when the Protestant Reformation began, all the new Protestant Churches continued with Sunday worship and the Trinity doctrine in ignorance, and very few have questioned either. As a result, most Churches now keep Sunday and believe in the Trinity doctrine, and anyone who tries to share either of these truths is looked upon as a heretic rather than a person who has studied and found the truth. The Adventist Church was the first mainstream Church to have the truth on both the Sabbath and the Trinity doctrine. But after all the early pioneers had died, a suspected Jesuit infiltrated the Church and slowly brought the Trinity doctrine in by searching for quotes from a so called prophet called Ellen White which could be easily misinterpreted unless you looked at what else she wrote. As a result, Adventists today think she became a Trinitarian because of her use of the phrases third person, heavenly trio and calling the Holy Spirit a person. But she was in fact referring to the Holy Spirit of Christ and not a third being. There is a growing count of over 550 Sabbath keeping denominations now but most are still trapped in Trinitarianism. Note the following two quotes from the Catholic Church who state that neither is based on the Bible. “Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants to base its teachings only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday.” — (Rome's Challenge, immaculateheart.com/maryonline , Dec 2003) “Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in scripture ... But the Protestant Churches have themselves accepted such dogmas, as the Trinity, for which there is no such precise authority in the Gospels,” — (Assumption of Mary, Life magazine, Oct 30, 1950, p. 51) Did the Apostles believe in the Trinity? By now the answer to this question should be obvious but let's answer it anyway. The word “Trinity” originated from Tertullian who was a pagan turned Catholic theologian around 200 AD. This word can have no relationship with Scripture as it comes from the Platonic term “trias” which is philosophical in origin, and the Bible does not teach Greek philosophy. It is significant to note that Tertullian did not teach the Holy Spirit as a third being and he never taught the 3 in 1 god as the Trinity doctrine does today. So we know this doctrine developed in stages and could not have existed before 200 AD. It was about 225 years “after” the death of the Apostles that the Nicene Council (325 AD) under the pressure of Emperor Constantine ruled in favour of Athanasius. The proponents were Arius who believed the Father and Son were two distinct beings, and Athanasius who argued a 3 in 1 god. Most Arians dared not challenge Constantine by refusing to sign the creed but Arius did and was exiled. However, Constantine later changed his mind in favour of Arius and allowed him to return. But Arius was killed on the way which Scholars suspect Athanasius arranged. In any case, it was now Athanasius who was exiled. The chosen view changed back and forth for decades with the governing view being based on who was in power at the time and their preference. It was about 280 years “after” the death of the Apostles in 381 AD when the Holy Spirit was officially declared as a third being. The Trinity doctrine was now fully established as we know it today. The noted Trinitarian historian Adolph Harnack observed that up to 325 AD the majority of Christians insisted the Holy Spirit was not a third being. So neither the Apostles nor their associates who survived them, nor their descendants (the so called early Church Fathers) believed in the trinity. So the Trinity doctrine is a manmade doctrine from the Catholic Church which was formed in two parts. The first part was made up in 325 AD which states it is a 3 in 1 god. The second and final part was made up in 381 AD. This final part states that the Holy Spirit is a third being. Many people reject the 3 in 1 god part of this manmade doctrine but still accept the Holy Spirit part and yet both parts were made up by the Papacy. If you are going to be silly enough to believe in their manmade doctrine, then you either accept both parts or reject both parts. How can you be half Trinitarian and half non-Trinitarian? The battle over the different views went on for decades according to the politics of the Empire with more than a dozen councils held to try and solve the disputes. Whenever the Arians were dominant, they persecuted the Trinitarians, and when the Trinitarians were dominant, they persecuted the Arians. Blood literally flowed in the streets. By the 8th century, Arianism was almost eradicated. The Trinitarians proved to be more efficient in killing the Arians than the Arians in killing them. Had the Arians been more successful in killing, then the Trinity doctrine would probably not exist today. The final outcome was not the result of rational debate and pious scholarship, but power, politics and the shedding of blood. So did the Apostles believe in the Trinity? How could they have. It is impossible for the Apostles to have believed or written about this manmade doctrine that did not exist for more than three lifetimes “after” their death. So if you think that Scripture shows a 3 in 1 god and the Holy Spirit to be another being, think again. It is just a wrong idea you have been indoctrinated with as the Apostles could never have written about something that did not even exist in their time. You will soon see the real truth on the Holy Spirit and the deceptions exposed. The truth is much better than the lie. How Many Beings in the Godhead? There can be no doubt that there are three entities in the Godhead, but since Scripture reveals the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and Son, how many literal beings are there? Remember that the trinity doctrine teaches three “co-equal” beings that are supposedly three gods that are one god which does not make sense I know, but nothing from Satan does. In the following verse we find every possible being is mentioned to clarify that only the Father knows the day and the hour. If the Holy Spirit was a third being it would have also been mentioned which would be more relevant than the angels! “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32 How many beings is our fellowship with? “truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 — Answer:2 How many beings does one deny to be called antichrist? Why is the Holy Spirit excluded? “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23 — Answer:2 How many beings were being denied by ungodly men and is this consistent with what John said above? “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 — Answer:2 How many beings does John say we need to know to have eternal life? “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 — Answer:2 How many beings can see the Father including Himself? “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [Jesus] who is from God; He has seen the Father.” John 6:46 — Answer:2 How many beings can reveal the Father and Son? “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22 — Answer:2 How many beings can be hated? “He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.” John 15:23-24 — Answer:2 How many beings are involved in our mediation? The trinity doctrine makes the Holy Spirit a mediator but Scripture says no! “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 — Answer:2 How many beings are on and by the throne all throughout Revelation? “And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Revelation 7:10 — Answer:2 How many beings are in Heaven? “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56 — Answer:2 How many beings are we heirs with? “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.” Romans 8:17 — Answer:2 How many divine beings bear witness of Christ? “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” John 8:18 — Answer:2 How many divine beings do we believe in? “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1— Answer:2 How many beings are involved in creation? “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9 — Answer:2 How many divine beings are in the kingdom of heaven? “For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5:5 — Answer:2 How many beings do we honour? “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which has sent him.” John 5:23 — Answer:2 How many beings do we serve? “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1 — Answer:2 How many beings does Paul send greetings from in every letter he wrote? Peter has done the same. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, 2 Peter 1:2 — Answer:2 And finally, how many beings are in the Godhead? “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 — Answer:2 The following two verses are used by Trinitarians to try and prove that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God. But how many beings are described in both verses? Two! According to the trinity teaching, the first verse should have said, “he who has seen me has seen the Father and the Holy Spirit.” And the second should have said, “I and my Father and the Holy Spirit are one.” But no, there are always only two beings revealed all throughout Scripture. How many beings? “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest you then, Show us the Father?” John 14:9 — Answer:2 How many beings? “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30 — Answer:2 For Adventists: How many beings are to be exalted? “The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” — (E.G. White, YI, July 7, 1898) — Answer:2 How many beings know what the souls of men have cost? “God and Christ alone know what the souls of men have cost.” — (E.G. White, ST, Jan 13, 1909) — Answer:2 How many beings in the Counsels of God? “Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God.” — (E.G. White, GC, 493.1) — Answer:2 How many beings involved in the work of creation? “The Father and the Son rested after Their work of Creation.” — (E.G. White, MS 25, p. 3, 1898) — Answer:2 The answer is two every time and yet according to the trinity doctrine it should have been three “co-equal beings” and yet the Holy Spirit is excluded every time. And if the Holy Spirit was a god, then it would have been called “god the spirit,” not the “Spirit of God.” Scripture speaks only of honoring and worshiping the Father and Son. Nowhere does it even hint that we are to worship the Holy Spirit. All these verses and more reveal the Holy Spirit is not a literal being. In fact some of these Scriptures prove that it is an impossibility for the Holy Spirit to be a literal third being which is a belief that originated and was enforced by death by Emperor Theodosius 348 years after the cross. Hence the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being could never have come from Scripture as this was a manmade idea more than 250 years “after” the Bible was written. So while there are three entities, there are only two literal beings. The Holy Spirit is the mind, power and personal presence of God. Names for the Godhead compared There are many names and phrases associated with the trinity doctrine but none are Biblical and hence none of them exist in Scripture. Below are phrases found in Scripture for the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit compared to Trinitarian phrases. The Trinitarian will argue that while the word Trinity is not in the Bible, the doctrine is. But you will soon find that there is nothing but straw man arguments, and that this doctrine is just as absent as any of these manmade Trinitarian words. One God or Three? For more than 3,000 years, Jews have repeated Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” This sacred passage is called the Shema (pronounced shaw-mah and is named after the Hebrew for its first word) and has been held in high esteem and memorized by devout Jews for centuries. Trinitarians who believe there are 3 gods say, if the Bible says there is only one God then all three must be one, and yet others say if there is only one God, then how can God be composed of three beings? If Christians could only accept the simple words of Scripture instead of reading into it and trying to make Scripture say something it does not say. When Moses said, “The Lord our God is one,” Israel was surrounded by polytheistic nations that worshiped many gods. In Deuteronomy chapter 6, Moses exhorts Israel to hear God and to keep His Commandments. And what Commandment was the most broken in Old Testament times? Idolatry! Polytheism is seen rampant all through the Old Testament and hence God constantly rebuking Israel for idolatry. They worshipped many false Gods including the sun and the moon as male and female deities. As a result, every devout Jew recites the Shema twice every day, and still do to this very day to keep up the great ancient national protest against the polytheisms and pantheisms of the heathen world. It is the great utterance of the national faith in One Jehovah! What many fail to recognise is that to the Jews, there is only one God, and the Spirit of God is just that, not a separate being or god. The Jews were God's chosen people and God raised the Jewish nation as non-Trinitarian which has never changed. Trinitarians often try and use the language of the Jews to prove the Trinity doctrine and yet the people that this language belongs to were never Trinitarians! The Scriptures below reveal there is but one God. “Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?” Malachi 2:10 In the passage of Mark 12:28-34, “one of the scribes came” to Jesus and “asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?” (v. 28) “Jesus answered, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart...” (v. 29, 30) Note Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4. “The scribe said unto him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: for THERE IS ONE GOD; and there is none other but he:” (v. 32) How did Jesus respond to the Scribe? Did He tell Him that he was wrong? To the contrary, “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly (wisely), he said unto him, You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (v. 34) “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” Romans 3:30 “You believest that there is one God; you doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19. These devils are fallen angels who knew God and His Son. So they know “there is one God” and they know that Jesus is the “Son of God,” and not the one true God. “they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?” Matthew 8:29 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.” 1 Timothy 1:17 Note: The following Scriptures also state that there is one God. But does the Bible include Jesus as the one God as the trinity doctrine claims, or is there one God “and” also one Lord Jesus Christ meaning they are two separate beings? “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord [Jesus], one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 So Paul, John and Jude state that the Father is the only true God while excluding Jesus Christ revealing that He is not the Father and separate from the one true God the Father. So the only contradiction would be a belief in the trinity. Since the Trinity doctrine teaches a three in one God, then Trinitarians use the corresponding phrases “God the Father,” “God the Son” and “God the Spirit.” They call all three gods. But since the Bible says there is only one God, then Trinitarians have to say that all three are one God. If this were true, then indeed the Bible would use these phrases and call them all God. So is it true? Does the Bible say this? No! If there really were three God's then the Bible would use these phrases. But it doesn't because there isn't. The Bible means what it says and says what it means! It says there is only one God being “God the Father” and so the Father is the only one called God. The phrases “God the Son” and “God the Spirit” do not exist anywhere in Scripture, not even once! These phrases originated from the Catholic Church and were made up to match the doctrine they created. The Bible uses the phrase “Son of God” because that is who He is. And it uses “Spirit of God” or “Spirit of the Father” as that is what it is. So why are Trinitarians using made up phrases that have an entirely different meaning and hence are not found in the Bible? If you are using the Catholic phrases “God the Son” or “God the Spirit,” that never originated from Scripture, then you are following the Papal Church and antichrist, not the inspired words of God. For Adventists: “The divine nature in the person of Christ was not transformed in human nature and the human nature of the Son of man was not changed into the divine nature, but they were mysteriously blended in the Saviour of men. He was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — (E.G. White, Lt8a, July 7, 1890) “The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one.” — (E.G. White, Ms140, 1903) “The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” — (E.G. White, 8T 269.4, 1904) Since the Trinity is not found in the Bible as many scholars and theologians admit, then those teaching it have to use the following steps to try and prove that it does. Firstly, it is said that the Bible says the Father is God, (True) and that Jesus is called God by His Father, (True) and that the Bible says the Holy Spirit is God, (Not True). More on this later. Secondly, it is then said that since all three are called God, (Not True) and Deuteronomy 6:4 says there is one God, “therefore” all three must be one! You will note that this is not a “Thus saith the Lord” and is the type of assumption that allows you to make Scripture say anything you desire. This is called red fire engine logic. That is, fire engines are red, my car is red, therefore my car is a fire engine! To assume something as important as who the Father and Son are like this that Scripture does not actually say is foolishness. If God wanted us to believe He was a Trinity, He would tell us in clear plain words. There is no Scripture that specifically states the Holy Spirit is God so once again this is erroneously assumed. And thirdly, while the one true God calls His Son God, Paul, John and Jude in the Scriptures given above unmistakably exclude Christ from being the one God. So we are back to there being just the one true God the Father just as Deuteronomy 6:4 states, and just as the Jewish nation believed when they wrote these words, and as they still believe today. True Christianity originated from Judaism, not Catholic paganism. You cannot argue the doctrine of the Trinity from the words of the Jews who wrote them when they never believed in it. Most of the Bible was written by the Jews who never believed or taught the Trinity doctrine and still do not today. And Jesus of course was a Jew as were His disciples. How do you teach the Trinity doctrine from the Bible when it is a non-Trinitarian book? The apostle John for instance could never have been teaching the Comforter and Spirit of truth is another being as the Jews have never taught or believed that ever. So the Bible had non-Trinitarian authors. Christians have been indoctrinated with many nice sounding erroneous ideas to make them think the doctrine is in the Bible when in fact it cannot be. We also know the Bible is a non-Trinitarian book as the word Trinity did not exist until about 200 A.D. at which point the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being and the 3 in 1 still did not exist. The fully developed trinity doctrine did not exist until 381 A.D. So it is impossible for any of the Bible authors to have written about something that did not exist in their lifetime. In a discussion between Summerbell and Flood on Trinity, p. 38, in regards to the trinity he says, “it is certain that the Jewish church held to no such doctrine. Says Mr. Summerbell, “A friend of mine who was present in a New York synagogue, asked the Rabbi for an explanation of the word 'Elohim'. A Trinitarian clergyman who stood by, replied, 'Why, that has reference to the three persons in the Trinity,' when a Jew stepped forward and said he must not mention that word again, or they would have to compel him to leave the house; for it was not permitted to mention the name of any strange god in the synagogue.” Strange god indeed. I worship the one true God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Not some 1 in 3 god that came from sun and Satan worship! “And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 Does Elohim prove a Trinity? Some claim that because the word most often used for God in the Hebrew Bible is Elohim (plural for El), then the one true God must be a trinity. But this is just another deception or ignorance. The fact is that the word Elohim is used for the true God, false gods, supernatural spirits (angels) and even human leaders such as kings and judges. Thus the word Elohim can and is used to refer to a single person, and when it does, linguists call it a “plural intensive” or “plural of majesty” which denotes greatness. The Hebrew people pluralized nouns when they desired to express greatness or majesty as they did with God. So when Elohim is used of the one true God, it is called a “plural of majesty” which denotes the greatness of God, not number. This was “only” done by the Hebrew people so in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint, which Jesus and the apostles quoted) where Elohim refers to the true God, the word Theos is used which is not plural but singular. The same applies to the New Testament where Theos is the Greek equivalent to Elohim and once again it is not plural but singular. For example. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 in Mark 12:29 . The word Theos for God in this verse is singular, not plural. If Elohim was really a plurality of the one true God, then the New Testament writers would have used the plural of Theos also when referring to God. Instead they used the singular form every single time. And yet the plural form is used eight times in the New Testament referring to men or false gods. (John 10:34-35; Acts 7:40, 14:11, 19:26; 1 Corinthians 8:5; Galatians 4:8). I trust that no one will say that God is a trinity in the Hebrew language while being one God in the Greek language. Note the examples below. The Hebrew morphology codes [ncmpa] used with Elohim below are Noun Common, Masculine, Plural and Absolute, while the Greek morphology codes [N-NSM] used with Theos are Noun, Nominative, Singular and Masculine. Every occurrence of the word Theos for God is always singular in the Greek Old and New Testaments. Genesis 1:1 Hebrew — “In the beginning, God [ אלהים ĕlôhîym 430 [ncmpa] p=Plural] created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 Greek — “In the beginning, God [ θεος theos 2316 [N-NSM] s=Singular] made the heavens and the earth.” And what about Moses, was he a trinity to Pharaoh? Obviously not. “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made you a god [Elohim] to Pharaoh.” Exodus 7:1. Here Elohim refers to one person and so it is a “Plural of Majesty” and therefore denotes greatness. So this verse simply means that God would make Moses appear great in the eyes of Pharaoh. For example. “And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.” Exodus 11:3. The word Elohim in the KJV Bible has also been translated to the words “great” and “mighty” due to its meaning. Below are some dictionary definitions from scholars concerning the usage of Elohim as a “plural intensive,” or as many prefer, “plural of majesty” (a pluralis excellentice) or “plentitude of might.” “Elohim is a plural form which is often used in Hebrew to denote plentitude of might.” — (Hertz, The Pentateuch & Haftorahs) “The form of the word, Elohim, is plural. The Hebrews pluralized nouns to express greatness or majesty.” — (Flanders, Cresson; Introduction to the Bible) “The Hebrew noun Elohim is plural but the verb is singular, a normal usage in the OT when reference is to the one true God. This use of the plural expresses intensification rather than number and has been called the plural of majesty, or of potentiality.” — (New International Version Study Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985, p. 6) “This word [elohim], which is generally viewed as the plural of eloah [Strong's #433 ], is found far more frequently in Scripture than either el or eloah for the true God. The plural ending is usually described as a plural of majesty and not intended as a true plural when used of God. This is seen in the fact that the noun elohim is consistently used with singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular.” — (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Vol. 1, 1980, p. 44) “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God. Jehovah denotes specifically the one true God, whose people the Jews were, and who made them the guardians of his truth.” — (Smith's Bible Dictionary) So why does the fanciful idea that Elohim refers to a trinity hardly find a supporter among scholars now? Because the truth is impossible to avoid and you would only end up looking very foolish and deceived if you use this to try and prove a lie. Below is the Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions for the word Elohim. When Elohim refers to one that is great, it is called plural intensive which is the singular meaning. But when the noun is actually plural, it translates to plural such as gods. And when the noun is actually singular, it translates to plural intensive - singular meaning such as God who is one but is also great. This is called “plural intensive” which is also called a “plural of majesty.” Highlighting is added. BDB Definition: 1) (plural) 1a) rulers, judges 1b) divine ones 1c) angels 1d) gods 2) (plural intensive - singular meaning) 2a) god, goddess 2b) godlike one 2c) works or special possessions of God 2d) the (true) God 2e) God So when you hear the argument that Elohim means God must be a trinity, then understand that there is either deliberate deception or total ignorance and such a person cannot be trusted. Sadly, Adventist Pastor Doug Batchelor used this argument to try and prove the Trinity doctrine. Watch this short video for the truth on the meaning of Elohim . As for Genesis 1:26, the pronouns are plural in the Hebrew text so it is translated, “God said, let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.” Trinitarians claim that since Elohim is plural, and the pronouns are plural, God must be more than one. But Elohim refers to the one true God which only leaves the question of who is “us” in this verse. Scripture does not leave us guessing. Ephesians 3:9 says, “God, ... created all things by Jesus Christ:” God in this verse is obviously someone other than Jesus Christ, and Hebrews 1:2 and John 1:3 says God created all things by His Son. So who is speaking in Genesis 1:26 and who is He speaking to? God the Father said to His Son, “let US make man in OUR image.” Christ is “the express image” of the Father, so anyone created in the Father's image is also created in His Son's image. For Adventists: “The Father and the Son engaged in the mighty, wondrous work they had contemplated, of creating the world. ... And now God said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image. [Genesis 1:26 quoted]” — (E.G. White, 1SP, 24.1,2). Please watch this 12 second YouTube video clip and see who the President of the SDA Church says did the creating and ask yourself has the Church become deceived on the Godhead. Close the window to return to this page. Note that President Ted Wilson also confirms that the Adventist Church teaches the three in one god just as the Catholic Church does. Does John 1:1 say Jesus is God? John 1:1 says, “(a) In the beginning was the Word, (b) and the Word was with [the] God, (c) and the Word was God.” That this Divine Word is none other than Jesus Christ is shown by verse 14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1a says the Word was in the beginning, but the beginning of what? It has to be the beginning of something. Was it the beginning of this world? Was it the beginning of the creation of the angels? Whichever beginning you place it at, it has to be the beginning of something. Many Trinitarians use this to say that Christ has always been, and had no beginning. But that is not what the verse says. God had no beginning! Also the Word with has to mean something. The Word was “with” God. They cannot be the same being, or one could not be with the other. As John 1:2 NIV says, “He [Jesus] was with God in the beginning.” The proper rendering of John 1:1 into English from the original Koine Greek text continues to be a source of vigorous debate among Bible translators, and especially the phrase the Word was God (c). The first verse of John's Gospel says that God's Son Christ Jesus, being referred to as the Word here, was with God in the beginning, (a+b). John 1:1b does not say that the Messiah is God but was with “the” God. It is important to note that the word “the” exists in the Greek text and was left out by translators as they probably thought it read wrong, but it is correct and has purpose. Here is the original Greek text for (1b). και and 2532 CONJ ο the 3588 T-NSM λογος Word 3056 N-NSM ην was 2258 V-IXI-3S προς with 4314 PREP τον the 3588 T-ASM θεον God 2316 N-ASM The phrase “the God” identifies the one true God the Father in this verse and so the word “the” is important. While Jesus is called God in this verse, there is a clear distinction between Him and “the” God whom He was with. The God whom Jesus was with is “the” God the Father. Jesus was not the same God He was with but rather Jesus was God in the sense of being divine just like His Father, as being the Son, He inherits the characteristics of His Father. The Father is God and so His Son is God by nature just as any human by inheritance possesses the very nature and form of humanity. One can better understand John 1:1 by using the same grammatical structure but with different subjects such as Adam and Eve for example. “In the beginning was the woman, and the woman was with [the] human, and the woman was human.” Adam is “the human” and the woman is Eve, but Eve is also human by nature but Eve is not “the human” in identity. They are two separate persons. Look at this again with this perspective in mind. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the Deity, and the Word was Deity.” The Word, the Son was with the supreme Deity the Father, and the Word was Deity in nature. But the Son was not “the” Deity, the Son was not “the” Father, yet the Son has the Father's divine nature by inheritance. The Word has the same God quality, the same divine nature and the same God-ness as His Father. Thus Jesus was with God in the beginning, but He is not “the” God the Father but God by inheritance and nature being the Son. He is God because He is the Son of God. It is that simple. In Hebrews 1:1-9 we note that the speaker is God the Father and that He is addressing His Son and calling Him God. Verse 2 says that Christ was “appointed heir” of all things. An heir of course is someone who receives an inheritance from someone. In this case Christ the Son received an inheritance from His Father. But what did He receive? His name, His authority and His power! In other words, Jesus being the one and only begotten Son of the living God received by virtue of His birth all of the attributes that His Father possessed. Verse 4 says, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Verse 8 says that this more excellent name is the name “God,” which was given by the Father to His Son. “Unto the Son He [God] saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” And so this name “He has by inheritance.” It is not a name that was bestowed but a name that was inherited from His Father. So Christ not only inherited His name but other things as well. Name means authority ( Mark 11:9 , John 5:43 ), and it also means character and nature ( Exodus 33:18-19 , Exodus 34:5-6 ). The name Adam means human for example. When people have children, they not only inherit the name of their parents but they also inherit the nature of the parents, which of course is human nature. In like manner, Jesus inherited the same name as His Father, just as a child inherits the name of the parents, and He also inherits the nature of His Father, which is His divine nature. Christ also inherits His Father's life. “For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26 . And if Jesus had always existed alongside the Father as the Trinity doctrine claims, then God could not have given life to His Son as He would have always had life. But Scripture reveals this is impossible. So Christ inherited not only the name of His Father, and the nature of His Father but also the very life of the Father. In other words, Christ inherited the very same attributes and nature as His Father. That is why Christ has a more excellent name than the angels. He has the divine nature of the Father as He comes from the Father and so is equal and fully divine as the Father. Some seem to favour a belief in Trinitarianism because they feel Jesus should be exactly the same as His Father in every single way in order for Him to be called God. But do your offspring have to be exactly the same as you in age and authority etc. to be 100% human? I would hate to think that for my son to be fully human that he had to be like me in every way. Let's cover one more time why Jesus is called God by simple points since this is such a huge stumbling block for many. Are you human by nature? — Yes. Are your children human by nature? — Yes. Do your children inherit your human nature? — Yes. Do your children inherit their father's name? — Yes. Is the Father God by nature? — Yes. Is His Son God by nature? — Yes. Did Jesus inherit His Father's name? — Yes. Did Jesus inherit His Fathers God nature? — Yes Why would we expect anything else? Jesus inherited His Father's name and God nature because He is God's Son! The same applies to people. So basically, there is “one” God. Jesus is “not” the God, He is the Son of God. He carries the “name” of God by virtue of His “inheritance.” And because He is the Son of God, He is “equal” with God. For Adventists: Ellen G. White endorsed the following. Sentences have been placed on separate lines for easier reading. “This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement, but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the angels, because “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Heb. 1:4. A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is, to a greater or less degree, a reproduction of the father; he has, to some extent, the features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there is no perfect reproduction among mankind.But there is no imperfection in God, or in any of His works; and so Christ is the “express image” of the Father's person. Heb. 1:3. As the Son of the self-existent God, he has by nature all the attributes of Deity. It is true that there are many sons of God; but Christ is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore the Son of God in a sense in which no other being ever was, or ever can be. The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7; Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption (Rom. 8:14,15); but Christ is the Son of God by birth. The writer to the Hebrews further shows that the position of the Son of God is not one to which Christ has been elevated, but that it is one which He has by right.” — (E.J. Waggoner, CAHR, p. 11-12) Is Jesus God? The word God is used in two different ways in Scripture. Firstly, the word “God” is used to refer to the Supreme Being of the universe who is the ultimate source of all things. Every time the Bible refers to the one true God, it is referring to this supreme being who is the one that was before all else and from whom all life ultimately came. In this sense no one else is God. But the word God is also used to refer to someone who possesses the attributes of divinity, or the characteristics of God. Many times the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the begotten Son of the one true God the Father, and being the Son, He possesses the same attributes and characteristics as His Father. It is an obvious fact that every son inherits the nature of his father. And since Christ came out of the Father, He is of the very substance of His Father and hence has the same God nature of His Father as He possesses by birth all the attributes and characteristics of His Father. In fact, Hebrews 1:3 says He is the “express image of His person.” A son also and always rightfully takes the name of the father and so Christ as the only begotten Son of God has rightfully the same name. Note that Hebrews 1:1-9 says that Jesus is an heir who has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than the angels and that name is God! So Jesus inherited His Father's name, character and divine nature in the same way a human son inherits the human nature and name of his parents. So Jesus is God because He is the Son of God. But He is not and cannot be “God the Father.” He is the “Son of God” just as the Bible so plainly states more than one hundred times. He is God's literal Son. To say that Jesus is God the Father is to say that the “Son is the Father” which means the Son is not really a Son and the Father is not really a Father. Or to put it another way, to say that Jesus is the Father because He has the same God nature as His Father is no different to saying that since my Father is Human and I am Human, therefore I must be my father! This is not good logic or theology and suddenly hundreds of Scriptures supposedly would no longer mean what they say at all. The truth is that Scripture means what it says and says what it means. God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. The Bible never calls Jesus “God the Son” as Trinitarians do and with very good reason. It is always the “Son of God” because that is who He is. Satan's plan is for us to deny the Father and Son as this is what John called antichrist. 1 John 2:22-23 . He does not care if our belief is Trinitarian, Unitarian or other. As long as it denies Jesus is the literal Son of God which also denies God is a Father. Confessing Jesus is the Son of God is our only means to the Father and to deny this has eternal consequences. In conclusion, Jesus is not “a” God or “the” God but God only by nature through inheritance being the Son. Jesus is a divine being but He is not the supreme being. The Father is the supreme being and the source of all things and the life of the Father flows through the Son and out to all. Jesus is the channel through which all things come and why the Father has given all things into His hands. Only the Father is described as the one “of whom are all things.” He is the great Source of all. Jesus is not another source “of whom are all things.” That would make Him another God. Rather Jesus is described as the one “by whom are all things.” The Father has given Christ authority to rule over all things but this does not include the Father Himself. The Father is greater in authority and always will be. God the Father is the source of all things including His Son. Thus all things proceed from the Father; including Christ Himself, but it has pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:19). So when we say “Jesus is God,” we have to be careful to state exactly what we mean. Christ is a divine being, but not the supreme being. When we speak of the Supreme Being there is only one such person and it is not Jesus. So there is but “one” God. Jesus is “not” God, He is the Son of God. He carries the “name” of God by virtue of His “inheritance.” And because He is the Son of God, He is “equal” with God. “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:6 For Adventists: “God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” — (E.G. White, 8T 268.3) “Only one being in the universe besides the Father bears the name of God, and that is His Son, Jesus Christ.” — (J.E. White, Coming King, p. 33) “He [Christ] was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — (E.G. White, Lt8a, July 7, 1890) “The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one.” — (E.G. White, Ms140, 1903) “The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” — (E.G. White, 8T 269.4, 1904) The Bible physically separates the Father and the Son repeatedly. While Christ was on earth, He referred to, “My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32. He always directed His prayers heavenward to the Father and stated that the Father had His own individual will, “Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46. Then after He died and rose again, He ascended to “the right hand of God.” Romans 8:34. Only God knows the hour of His son's return. “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32. John frequently addresses the Father and Son as separate entities. “Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3. As did Paul, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5 and “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.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. And Stephen, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” Acts 7:55. These and many others prove the Father has a separate presence. Not only do we have dozens of Scriptures that reveal Jesus is not the one true God and is clearly separate, how does one say Jesus is the one God when no man has seen God? “No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12. Only Christ has seen the only true God the Father. “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [Jesus] who is from God; He has seen the Father.” John 6:46 In fact Jesus said that He was not the Father more than 80 times. While always remaining one in purpose, Jesus and the Father are clearly separate and distinct beings. And on more than one occasion, the Father spoke to Jesus from heaven. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'.” Matthew 3:17. Either Jesus and the Father are two separate individual beings or Jesus was an expert ventriloquist. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Jesus has a God- Jehovah, God the Father Jesus has a God – Jehovah, God the Father 1 Corinthians 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. Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 1 Corinthians 15:28 - And when all things shall be subdued unto him (God), then shall the Son (Jesus) also himself be subject unto him (God) that put all things under him (Jesus), that God may be all in all. Ephesians 4:6 - One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Ephesians 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: 2 Corinthians 11:31 - The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, John 17:3 - And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Ephesians 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: 1 Corinthians 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. Romans 15:6 - That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. John 12:44-45 - Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. John 20:31 - But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:21-22 - Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: John 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. John 14:24 - He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. “The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty,” — Ellen White, Manuscript 140, September 27, 1903 “He [Christ] was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — Ellen White, Letter 8a, July 7, 1890 “God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” — Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 268.3 Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top