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All trinity studies Previous Download Next E. J. Waggoner on the Trinity E. J. Waggoner on the Trinity Once again, these are the words of one of the founding members of the Seventh day Adventist Church and the truth the Adventist Church was founded on. “In arguing the perfect equality of the Father and the Son, and the fact that Christ is in very nature God, we do not design to be understood as teaching that the Father was not before the Son. It should not be necessary to guard this point, lest some should think that the Son existed as soon as the Father; yet some go to that extreme, which adds nothing to the dignity of Christ, but rather detracts from the honor due him, since many throw the whole thing away rather than accept a theory so obviously out of harmony with the language of Scripture, that 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, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1889) “In Ps. 45:6 we read these words, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter.” The casual reader might take this to be simply the Psalmist's ascription of praise to God, but when we turn to the New Testament, we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker and that He is addressing the Son, calling Him God. See Heb. 1:1-8.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. He says that Moses was faithful in all the house of God, as a servant, “but Christ as a Son over His own house.” Heb. 3:6.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ Our Righteousness, pp. 11, 12) “The Word was “in the beginning.” The mind of man cannot grasp the ages that are spanned in this phrase. It is not given to men to know when or how the Son was begotten; but we know that he was the Divine Word, not simply before He came to this earth to die, but even before the world was created. Just before His crucifixion He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:5. And more than seven hundred years before His first advent, His coming was thus foretold by the word of inspiration: “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 the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. We know that Christ “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the ages of eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 9, 1890) “The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only begotten son of God.” He is begotten, not created. As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. The prophet Micah tells us all that we can know about it in these words, “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 the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. 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. But the point is that Christ is a begotten Son and not a created subject. He has by inheritance a more excellent name than the angels; He is “a Son over His own house.” Heb. 1:4; 3:6. And since He is the only-begotten son of God, He is of the very substance and nature of God and possesses by birth all the attributes of God, for the Father was pleased that His Son should be the express image of His Person, the brightness of His glory, and filled with all the fullness of the Godhead.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ Our Righteousness, pp. 21, 22) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 下一篇 基督是不是上帝 (四部份) 基督是不是上帝？（一） 1. 基督是不是父上帝？ 耶稣说过80多次祂不是父上帝。耶稣与父虽然保持着意志上的合一，但祂们明显是两个分开不同的生物，我们之前也看过了这一点。父在超过一次的场合上从天上对耶稣说话。（马太福音3:17）“从天上有声音说：这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。” 要么耶稣与父是两个不同的生物，要么耶稣是一个专业的腹语术表演者。 给复临信徒参考： “基督本体的神性没有变为人性，而人子的人性也没有变成神性，而两者是在人类的救主身上神秘地混合在一起的。祂不是父，但神本性一切的丰盛都有形有体的居住在祂里面。” （怀爱伦著，《信函8a》1890年7月7日） “人子耶稣基督不是主神全能者，然而基督与父原为一。” （怀爱伦著，《文稿140号》1903年） “基督与祂门徒之间所存在的合一没有毁灭他们双方的位格。他们在意志、思想、品格上合而为一，但在本体位格上他们是分开的。上帝与基督也是这样合而为一的。” （怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷八》原文第269页第4段，1904年） 2. 耶稣是不是永在的父？ “因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上，他名称为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君。”（以赛亚书 9:6） 答案在于希伯来文本的正确翻译。巴恩斯（Albert Barnes）的《圣经注释》（Notes on the Bible ）解释说：“《迦勒底文本圣经》（The Chaldee）把这词翻译成‘永存者’。《通俗拉丁文本圣经》（The Vulgate）译成‘未来岁月之父’。《洛斯版本圣经》（Lowth）则译成‘永恒岁月之父’。在其字面意义上，就是指永恒之父。” 所以在希伯来文本当中，这词句按照字面解读就是“永恒之父”，而不是“永在的父”。故此，以赛亚书9:6并不是表达基督是父上帝，而是表达祂是将来永恒岁月之父。《杨氏直译本》（Young's Literal Translation）和《达秘译本》（Darby Bible）是少数把这词翻译得正确无误的两本译本。 “因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，君权必担在他的肩头上，祂称他名为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永恒之父，和平之君。”（以赛亚书 9:6 《杨氏直译本》） “因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上，他名称为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永恒之父，和平之君。”（以赛亚书 9:6 《达秘译本》） 耶稣创造了万物，而同样的，祂也是受造物之父（来1:2；约1: 3 ；西1:16, 17）。还有意思的是，耶稣和使徒们所引用的希腊文《七十士译本》（Septuagint）并不含这个词语。那么这个大多数译本都错误翻译的词语到底是怎样进入希伯来文圣经的呢？ 《七十士译本》的以赛亚书9:6是这样翻译的：“因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上，他名称为伟大策士的使者，因我必给众君王带来和平，并给他健康。” 耶稣所引用的旧约希腊文《七十士译本》透露了以赛亚书9:6原本最有可能的说法。它是由70至72位犹太学者于公元前300至200年间翻译的，所以它是取自最古老及最可靠的手抄本。然而，希伯来文的旧约圣经是由一批马所拉学士于公元第6世纪编制的。公认的事实是，在第六和第七世纪间，很多文本变体和添加悄悄然地进入了希伯来文本之中。那么以赛亚9:6这句添加的文本是从哪里来的，而且还被大多现代学者错误翻译呢？ 有一件事无人能否认的是，只有其中一个翻译本是正确的。但是哪一个呢？是从最古老的手抄本翻译的《七十士译本》呢，还是那些于第六和第七世纪之间出现变体的后期版本呢？ 3. 我与父原为一？ 在约翰福音10:30中，基督宣告说：“我与父原为一。” 这一节经文应该是当今最被三位一体论信徒误用误解的经文了。许多人结论说，这意味着耶稣和父是同一位生物，正如三位一体论的解说。然而这一节不应该被误解，因为耶稣在约翰福音中稍后解释了祂这句话的具体意思。所以这是一个典型的例子，显示这么多三位一体论信徒如何已经被满脑子灌入了先入为主的观念。 对于神性生物的数目所产生的混淆，一部分是来自人们对“一”字的误解。简单来说，《圣经》所说的“一”不一定代表数量。《圣经》经常用“一”字来代表团结合一。 我们看到这个原则在《圣经》中很早就已经立定了。创世记2:24 “因此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。” 这里的“一体”不代表两个人结婚后就融化成为一个人的意思，而是说两人结合成为一家人。罗马书12:5 “我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，也是如此。” 那么这是否把我们大家都变成单一的基督徒呢？如果你按照三位一体论的方程式的话，答案就必须是肯定的！ 犹太领袖听了耶稣在约翰福音10:30这一番话，就勃然大怒，于是想办法处死祂，因为他们认为耶稣自称自己与上帝同等。约翰福音10:33： “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，反将自己当作神。” 再过三节我们看到耶稣澄清祂这话的意思，自称是上帝的儿子。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？” 所以耶稣没有说祂与圣父是同一位，因为圣父跟圣子是不同的一位，圣子跟圣父也是不同的一位。根据《约翰•吉尔圣经注释》对约翰福音10:30的解释，另一个显示耶稣与圣父不是同一位的证据是，这一节中的动词是复数的，因此应该翻译成“我与父，我们原为一。” 无论如何，我们不需要猜测耶稣所说祂与祂父原为一的意思，因为稍后在约翰福音里基督自己的话显示了祂话中的确切含意。基督的意思是合一，因为祂祷告祈求，叫祂门徒也能合一，如同祂与祂父合一一样。这个祷告不是叫12个门徒变成一个12头的门徒，而是叫12个门徒在合一中同心协力的合作同工。 约翰福音17:22 “你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。” 约翰福音17:11 “圣父阿，求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而为一像我们一样。” 约翰福音14:11也是经常被错误引用来指圣父和圣子是同一位上帝。在这里，耶稣说：“我在父里面，父在我里面。” 按照这种误解的逻辑，不知道这些人要怎样解释我们也在祂里面，而祂也在我们里面这句话。约翰福音14:20 “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。” 约翰福音17:21 “使他们都合而为一，正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面...。” 既然三位一体论教导说有三位全方位同等的生物，那么按照这个说法，约翰福音10:30应该是这样写的：“我与父与圣灵原为一。” 但事实并不是这样的。的确有三个实体，但只有两个生物。 给复临信徒参考： “基督本体里的神性没有变为人性，而人子的人性也没有变成神性，而两者是在人类的救主身上神秘地混合在一起的。祂不是圣父，但神本性一切的丰盛都有形有体的居住在祂里面。” （怀爱伦著，《信函8a》1890年7月7日） “人子耶稣基督不是主神全能者，不过基督与圣父原为一。” （怀爱伦著，《文稿140号》1903年） “基督与祂门徒之间所存在的合一并不毁灭他们双方的位格。他们在意志、思想、品格上合而为一，但在本体位格上他们是分开的。上帝与基督也是这样合而为一的。” （怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷八》原文第269页第4段，1904年版） “基督祷告叫祂的门徒都能合而为一，像祂与父合而为一一样。” （怀爱伦著，《评阅宣报》，1888年5月29日） 4. 人看见了我就是看见了父 在约翰福音14:9中，耶稣说：“人看见了我，就是看见了父。” 基督是不是说祂自己就是父，或者说祂是祂父“本体的真像”，从而有同样的本性、特性和荣耀呢？换句话说，人看见了一个，就等于看见了另一个。下面我们来看两位学者的评论。 《约翰•吉尔圣经全释》对约翰福音14:9的解释是： “人看见了我，不是用肉眼来看，而是用慧眼来看，人看见了我里面的神性完美，就是看见了父，在祂里面的完美。因为在我里面的，也同样在祂里面，而在祂里面的，也同样在我里面。我是祂的真形像，我有和祂同样的本性、特性和荣耀，以至人看见了一个，就是看见了另一个。” 基督是祂父的真像。哥林多后书4:4 “此等不信之人，被这世界的神弄瞎了心眼，不叫基督荣耀福音的光照着他们，基督本是上帝的像。” 《巴恩斯圣经注释》对哥林多后书4:4的解释是：“谁是上帝的像？基督被称为上帝的像： （1）是基于祂的神性，祂在祂的神性特性和完美上与上帝一模一样。参阅西1:15和来1:3。 （2）是在祂身为中保的道德特性上，祂向人展现出圣父的荣耀。祂像上帝。在祂里面，我们看见了祂所体现和发出的神性荣耀和完美。 由于祂在各方面都像上帝，所以祂被称为上帝的像。通过祂，神性一切的完美得以向人彰显。撒但最讨厌最憎恨的，就是基督作为上帝的像，祂的荣耀照在人身上，并充满他们的心。撒但恨这个像，他恨人们变得像上帝，他恨一切与伟大荣耀的耶和华相似的人物。” 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1:3 “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。” 儿子或多或少是他父亲的复制品。他在某种程度上有他父亲的特征和个人品质，当然不是完全一模一样，因为在人类当中是没有十全十美的复制的。但在上帝或祂的任何创造当中是没有不完全的，所以基督是父本体的“真像”。 由此可见，耶稣的意思是，祂是祂父的真像，并有同样的本性、特性和荣耀。基督的话不可能意味着祂就是父，因为《圣经》告诉我们，约翰一书4:12说： “从来没有人见过上帝，我们若彼此相爱，上帝就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了。” 只有基督才看见过独一真神父上帝。约翰福音6:46 “这不是说：有人看见过父，惟独从上帝来的［耶稣］，他看见过父。” 给复临信徒参考： “基督明显地烙印在门徒的脑海中这个事实，他们只能凭信心看见父上帝。没有人能看见上帝的外形。唯独基督能向人类彰显父上帝。［引用约14:9］” （怀爱伦著，《评阅宣报》，1897年10月19日） 根据三位一体论的教导，这一节应该是这样写的：“人看见了我，就是看见了父和圣灵。” 但是事实并非如此。神里面虽然有三个实体，但只有两个是生物。第三个是他们的灵。 5. 多马是否相信耶稣是圣父 约翰福音:20:28 “多马说：我的主，我的上帝。” 我们只能推测多马为什么会这么说，但既然他被称为“怀疑”的多马，我们可以理解，他这句话或是在惊奇和难以置信的顷刻间脱口而出的。多马是犹太人，所以有可能是用了旧约时代一种普遍的表达方式，就是把上帝所认可的代表都称为“上帝”。希伯来语用elohim来指上帝，但同时也可以指下列的任何例子。 （1）统治者、审判官，在神圣地点供职的神圣代表人，或反映出神圣威严与大能者。 （2）神物，超乎人类的生物，包括上帝和天使。 因此，多马不是称呼耶稣为上帝，至少在三位一体论的意义上，而可能是称呼祂为一位反映神性大能与威严的人，或是一位统治者。如果不是这样的话，那下面是为何多马这么说的最大可能性原因。 按着正当的文法范畴来说，我们发现“我的主，我的上帝”这句话称呼了两个不同的个体。不过，按原文的文法来看，多马是对耶稣一个人说的。 所以我们必须找出一个不违背文法的诠释。这是可行的，只要我们明白，多马在说这句话的时候，虽然他是对着耶稣说的，但他同时也称呼在耶稣里面的父上帝。它的上下文也支持这个论点。我们来看耶稣之前与怀疑的多马和腓力所谈的一段话。 约翰福音:14:5-10 “多马对他说：主阿，我们不知道你往那里去，怎么知道那条路呢？耶稣说我就是道路、真理、生命；若不借着我，没有人能到父那里去。你们若认识我，也就认识我的父，从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他。腓力对他说：求主将父显给我们看，我们就知足了。耶稣对他说：腓力，我与你们同在这么长久，你还不认识我吗？人看见了我，就是看见了父，你怎么说：将父显给我们看呢？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。” 腓力当着多马的面告诉耶稣说，他能看见父也就知足了。耶稣回答多马和腓力说，看见了祂（耶稣）就等于看见了父，因为父在祂里面。但是多马还是不明白。 多马下一次与耶稣对话是在约翰福音20:28。现在多马已经明白父在耶稣里面做工，甚至叫耶稣从死里复活，所以看见了耶稣，也就是看见了父。因此多马才会发出这样的惊叹：“我的主（耶稣），我的上帝（父）！” 多马并没有称呼耶稣为他的“主和上帝”。 我们也知道，怀疑的多马不可能宣告耶稣是那独一真神上帝。原因是在上面几节，在约翰福音20:17，约翰记载了复活的耶稣向末大拉的玛利亚显现，并告诉她说，“不要摸我，因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。” 耶稣说祂的上帝是祂父亲，而祂的上帝也是玛利亚的上帝。耶稣有没有告诉玛利亚说祂是她的上帝呢？没有，相反的，耶稣非常具体地说祂的上帝也是玛利亚的上帝。 既然复活的基督称呼圣父为“我的上帝”，那耶稣怎么可能是上帝，如果连祂自己都有上帝呢？约翰确实不可能说多马用三位一体论的意义来称耶稣为“我的上帝”，因为约翰刚才记载了耶稣称呼父为“我的上帝”。多马不可能称耶稣为上帝，因为约翰写道，耶稣升上去见玛利亚和多马两人的同一位上帝。 再说，在多马承认了耶稣之后的仅仅一节里，约翰福音20:30-31，约翰就结论说： “耶稣在门徒面前，另外行了许多神迹，没有记在这书上。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。” 约翰没有说“要叫你们信耶稣是上帝”。如果是这样的话，那么约翰宣告耶稣为上帝就远远大于宣告祂为上帝的儿子了。 由此可见，耶稣不是父上帝，也不是上帝，而是上帝的儿子。我们若相信祂是真的上帝的儿子，我们就能因祂作为圣子的名分而得永生。阿们。 基督是不是上帝？（二） 1. 只有上帝才能赦罪吗？ 三位一体论老是聚焦于一个法利赛人所说的话，却对耶稣亲口所说的话视而不见。从这一点就能看出其迷惑人之处。有些人称耶稣就是上帝，因为这些法利赛人说只有上帝才能赦罪。 马可福音2:7“这个人为什么这样说呢？他说僭妄的话了，除了上帝以外，谁能赦罪呢？” 但是这些耶稣说进不了天国的法利赛人（马太5:20；23:13）不知道或不接受耶稣是上帝的儿子，他们也不相信父上帝已经把做这些事的权柄都交给了耶稣。三节之后，耶稣说祂已经被赋予赦罪的权柄了。 马可福音2:10“但要叫你们知道人子在地上有赦罪的权柄... ” 不单只是赦罪的权柄，耶稣也说：（马太福音28:18）“天上地下所有的权柄，都赐给我了。” 约翰也说：（约翰福音3:35）“父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。” 注意，上帝已经将“所有的权柄”、“万有”都“赐给”祂儿子了。如果圣子是上帝如同圣父是上帝一样，又如果圣子是全能者如同圣父是全能者一样，那么圣子怎能被赐予任何事物，假如祂本身是上帝呢？上帝本身自然就有这些东西，怎么可能还需要任何生物把这些东西“赐给”祂呢？上帝不依靠任何人或物来获取这些东西。但是我们清楚看到，耶稣必须依靠祂父亲来将万有交在祂手里。耶稣也照样获得了祂父亲所赐给祂的赦罪的权柄。 2. 我们应当只敬拜上帝吗？ 有人说马太福音吩咐我们应当只敬拜上帝。那么既然耶稣也受人敬拜，他们就结论说耶稣必定是上帝。 马太福音4:10“耶稣说：撒但退去吧。因为经上记着说：『当拜主你的上帝，单要事奉他。』 当耶稣说“因为经上记着说”这句话的时候，祂是在引用申命记6:13，祂所用的是希腊文旧约的《七十士译本》，它上面是这样说的：“你要敬畏耶和华你的上帝，并且要单单事奉他。” 我们注意到的第一点是，这两个章节在技术上并没有说“要单单敬拜上帝”。它只说“要单单事奉上帝”。然而，在这一节中，“事奉”这两个字带有敬拜的色彩。无论如何，耶稣曾教导说，我们应当事奉别人，不过这一节的“事奉”明显不是这个意思。再说，上帝也曾命令众天使敬拜祂儿子，所以这里的事奉也不是敬拜的意思。（希伯来书1:6）“再者，上帝使长子到世上来的时候，就说：『上帝的使者都要拜他。』” 不要忘记腓立比书2:6 “他本有上帝的形像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的。” 这告诉我们耶稣在本性上与上帝同等，所以祂是全然神性的，祂因此当然配得敬拜。耶稣也说：（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。” 那么耶稣对撒但所说的是什么意思呢？那么多人误会了祂的意思。其实答案并不难找。在马太福音4:10，耶稣说“因为经上记着说”。那么这意味着耶稣是指着旧约圣经中某个相关的例子。要找到答案，我们只需看耶稣所指的是什么，再应用到祂对撒但所说的话。我们来看看耶稣所引用的章节。 申命记6:13-15“你要敬畏耶和华你的上帝，事奉他，指着他的名起誓。不可随从别神，就是你们四围国民的神。因为在你们中间的耶和华─你上帝是忌邪的神，惟恐耶和华─你上帝的怒气向你发作，就把你从地上除灭。” 这段经文凸显了所争议的课题，就是关于拜偶像，或拜假神。敬拜基督并事奉祂不等于拜偶像。以赛亚书14:12-14告诉我们说，撒但要像至高者上帝一样受敬拜。耶稣在旷野受试探时，撒但要耶稣俯伏在地向他下拜，拜他为神，因此耶稣就引用旧约圣经应对他，说，你不可敬拜或“随从别神”。所以基督的话必须从他所引用的经文语境中去了解。很多基督徒经常都无视经文的上下文语境，结果错误的应用了特定的词句而偏离了经文原来的意思。 所以我们要敬拜真神上帝，不要拜假神。因此这不排除我们对祂儿子的敬拜，因为祂儿子与父亲是同等的。而我们也当事奉上帝，不事奉假神，所以这也不排除事奉基督。 3. 耶稣叫自己从死里复活吗？ 那些声称耶稣必定是上帝的人，是根据约翰福音10:18里耶稣的一句话。他们声称基督叫自己从死里复活。但是他们却忽略了《圣经》至少22次明白地说，是祂父亲叫祂从死里复活的。 翻译成“权柄”的希腊原文“exousia”，它的意思还包括“权威”、“管辖权”、“自由”、“能力”、“权利”和“力量”。在这里适当的翻译成“权柄”。 约翰福音10:18 “没有人夺我的命去，是我自己舍的。我有权柄舍了，也有权柄取回来，这是我从我父所受的命令。” 英王钦定本把它翻译成“能力”，于是让一些人误以为耶稣有能力叫自己复活。如果翻译对了，这一节就会呈现全新的意义，从而消除一切看似自相矛盾的问题。下面是所有说明是上帝叫祂儿子从死里复活的经文。 使徒行传2:24 “上帝却将死的痛苦解释［解除］了，叫他复活... 。” 使徒行传2:32 “这耶稣，上帝已经叫他复活了... ” 使徒行传3:15 “你们杀了那生命的主，上帝却叫他从死里复活了... ” 使徒行传4:10 “... 这人得痊愈，是因你们所钉十字架，上帝叫他从死里复活的，拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名。” 使徒行传5:30 “你们挂在木头上杀害的耶稣，我们祖宗的上帝已经叫他复活。” 使徒行传10:40 “第三日上帝叫他复活，显现出来... ” 使徒行传13:30 “上帝却叫他从死里复活。” 使徒行传13:33 “上帝已经向我们这作儿女的应验，叫耶稣复活了... ” 使徒行传13:34 “论到上帝叫他从死里复活，不再归于朽坏... ” 使徒行传13:37 “惟独上帝所复活的，他并未见朽坏。” 使徒行传17:31 “... 并且叫他从死里复活，给万人作可信的凭据。” 罗马书4:24 “也是为我们将来得算为义之人写的，就是我们这信上帝使我们的主耶稣从死里复活的人。” 罗马书6:4 “... 像基督借着父的荣耀，从死里复活一样。” 罗马书10:9 “你若口里认耶稣为主，心里信上帝叫他从死里复活，就必得救。” 哥林多前书6:14 “并且上帝已经叫主复活，也要用自己的能力叫我们复活。” 哥林多前书15:15 “... 因我们见证上帝是叫基督复活了，若死人真不复活，上帝也就没有叫基督复活了。” 哥林多后书4:14 “自己知道，那叫主耶稣复活的，也必叫我们与耶稣一同复活，并且叫我们与你们一同站在他面前。” 加拉太书:1:1 “作使徒的保罗，（不是由于人，也不是借着人，乃是借着耶稣基督，与叫他从死里复活的父上帝）” 以弗所书:1:20 “就是照他在基督身上，所运行的大能大力，使他从死里复活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右边，” 歌罗西书2:12 “你们既受洗与他一同埋葬，也就在此与他一同复活，都因信那叫他从死里复活上帝的功用。” 帖撒罗尼迦前书1:10 “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。” 彼得前书1:21 “你们也因着他，信那叫他从死里复活，又给他荣耀的上帝... 。” 基督是不是上帝？（三） 1. 以赛亚书43:11或何西阿书13:4证明耶稣是上帝吗？ 既然这两节说，除了耶和华上帝以外，再没有救主了，而其他经文例如约翰壹书4:14 则说耶稣是我们的救主，那么很多人就争论说，耶稣必定是那个耶和华上帝了。但这个论点是站不住脚的。 以赛亚书:43:11 “惟有我是耶和华，除我以外没有救主。” 何西阿书:13:4 “自从你出埃及地以来，我就是耶和华你的上帝，在我以外，你不可认识别神，除我以外并没有救主。” 在这两节里翻译成“救主”的希伯来词最普遍的翻译是“拯救”或“得救”，也有被翻译成“拯救者”的。在摩西的时代，上帝拯救了祂的子民脱离埃及的势力，而在以赛亚的时代，上帝拯救了他们脱离亚述国的势力。再没有其他人可以拯救他们脱离这些势力，所以经文清楚地显示，除了上帝以外，他们并没有其他的救主。 《巴恩斯圣经注释》对以赛亚书第43章做了这样的解释：“这一章... 主要是针对上帝给祂被掳到巴比伦的子民所应许的拯救。上帝的子民依然被先知看为在长时间痛苦的掳掠中受苦受罪，而先知的目的是以拯救的保证来安慰他们。” 何西阿书13:4当然是指上帝拯救祂的子民脱离埃及人那个时候。 当然耶稣是我们的救主。但是在这些经文中，上帝是祂子民以色列的救主这个背景，是关乎拯救他们脱离巴比伦和埃及的奴役，而不是拯救他们脱离他们的罪。那是基督为全人类所做的事。人类最大的拯救是脱离罪恶的权势，而这就是上帝交给祂儿子的任务了。 2. 还没有亚伯拉罕，就有了我 另一个备受争议的经文是约翰福音8:58。“还没有亚伯拉罕，就有了我。” 但所争议的主要是英文版圣经。英皇钦定本圣经KJV翻译成“还没有亚伯拉罕之前，我是。” “我是”这两个词也意味着“我存在”。有人称耶稣在约翰福音8:58里宣告自己为上帝，因为他用了“我是”这两个字。他们错误地把“我是”这两个字与出埃及记3:14联系在一起。从这节经文，他们便引出一个结论说，耶稣在隐喻一个神性的名字并以此来告诉犹太人祂是上帝。三位一体论信徒进一步尝试支持他们的论点，说这就是为什么犹太人拿起石头要打死祂的原因。但这其实是因为耶稣在约翰福音第8章的整篇中对他们说了许多事情，而逐步的激怒了他们。最后因为耶稣说祂比他们的国父亚伯拉罕还要大，而彻底让他们忍无可忍了。所以耶稣称祂的权柄比先祖亚伯拉罕还要大，这也意味着祂也比他们大。 约翰福音8:58的“我是”这两个字，是来源于两个希腊词“ego”跟“eimi”。《斯特朗圣经词典》的定义是：ego是指“我”（只作强调性用词）。eimi则是指“我存在”（只用于强调性），我是... 你想耶稣应该如何回应犹太人这句话：（约翰福音8:57） “犹太人说：你还没有五十岁，岂见过亚伯拉罕呢？” 法利赛人不知道耶稣早在亚伯拉罕之前就已存在，于是他们说，你怎么可能见过亚伯拉罕呢，你都还没有50岁呀！既然希腊文中的“我是”也意味着“我存在”或“我已存在”，那么还没有亚伯拉罕就已存在的基督，来自祂的回应明显应该怎么翻译呢？ “耶稣对他们说，我实实在在地对你们说，还没有亚伯拉罕之前，我是。” 或者是 “耶稣说：我实实在在的告诉你们，还没有亚伯拉罕，就有了我。” 两个版本都是合法的译本，但是大部分的圣经译本实际上跟第二个版本相吻合。这是有充分理由的。这两个词也可翻译成“我存在”、“我是（过去式或现在完成式）”。除了在约翰福音8:58，还有其他章节也出现这两个词的。比如说，在路加福音19:22，ego eimi 被翻译成“我是（过去式）”。 这两个词是犹太人和基督徒以及第一世纪在新约圣经中普遍常用的词语。它不是任何神明的名字，圣经的上帝也好，其他神明也好，都不用这个名字的。它从来都没有被犹太人或基督徒理解作宣告自身为上帝的词语。如果他们认为是这样的话，那犹太人肯定不会把这两个字用在他们自己身上，不过事实却相反，他们经常都用这两个字。彼得、保罗、加百列和撒迦利亚都说过“我是...某某 ”。但是他们没有一个宣称自己为上帝的。 路加福音1:18 “撒迦利亚对天使说：我凭着什么可知道这事呢？我已经老了［原文作：我是（ego eimi）一个老人］，我的妻子也年纪老迈了。” 路加福音1:19 “天使回答说：我是（ego eimi）站在神面前的加百列...” 约翰福音1:27 “就是那在我以后来的，给他解鞋带，我是（ego eimi）不配的。” 使徒行传10:21 “于是彼得下去见那些人，说：我就是（ego eimi）你们所找的人... ” 使徒行传21:39 “保罗说：我本是（ego eimi）犹太人，生在基利家的大数... 。” 连那生来瞎眼的人也说“我是”或“是我”来介绍自己。 约翰福音9:9 “有人说：是他，又有人说：不是，却是像他，他自己说：是我（ego eimi）。” 也没有一个犹太人认为这个瞎子在宣告自己为上帝。 下面是耶稣在四福音中说ego eimi的所有其它章节。没有一句可以被理解为耶稣自称为上帝。马太福音24:5、马可福音13:6、路加福音21:8、约翰福音8:24, 28；13:19 “我是基督”。约翰福音18:5, 6, 8 “我就是”。马太福音20:15 “我作［我是］好人”。马太福音28:20 “我就常与你们同在... ” 马可福音14:62 “耶稣说，我是（上帝的儿子）...” 路加福音22:27 “... 我在你们中间，如同服事人的。” 路加福音22:70 “他们都说：这样，你是上帝的儿子吗？耶稣说：你们所说的是。” 约翰福音6:35, 48, 51“耶稣说：我就是生命的粮...” 约翰福音7:34 “我所在的地方... ” 约翰福音12:26；17:24；14:3 “我在哪里... ” 约翰福音8:12 “我是世界的光... ” 约翰福音8:18 “我是为自己作见证... ” 约翰福音8:23 “... 我是从上头来的，... 我不是属这世界的。” 约翰福音10:7, 9 “我就是（羊的）门...” 约翰福音10:11, 14 “我是好牧人... ” 约翰福音11:25 “复活在我，生命也在我［原文作：我是复活和生命］” 约翰福音14:6 “我是道路... ” 约翰福音15:1, 5 “我是真葡萄树... ” 约翰福音:17:14, 16 “我不属世界... ” 约翰福音18:37 “你说我是王... ” 到了基督行将结束祂的布道工作时，有关祂的消息已经传遍远近四方。这时，犹太人理解基督自称祂是谁？他们又告祂什么控状呢？ 马太福音26:63 “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。” 马太福音27:40 “...你如果是上帝的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧。”马太福音27:43 “他倚靠上帝，上帝若喜悦他，现在可以救他，因为他曾说：我是上帝的儿子。” 马可福音14:61 “... 大祭司又问他说：你是那当称颂者的儿子基督不是。” 马可福音14:62 耶稣说：我是（ego eimi）... ” 马可福音15:39 “对面站着的百夫长，看见耶稣这样喊叫断气，就说：这人真是上帝的儿子。” 路加福音22:67 “你若是基督，就告诉我们。” 路加福音22:70 “他们都说：这样，你是上帝的儿子吗？耶稣说：你们所说的［我］是（ego eimi）。” 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。” 在以上的几节经文中，有两次耶稣回答说，“我是”（ego eimi）。他不是在说他是上帝，而是在证实他是上帝的儿子。犹太人明显从来不以为耶稣宣告自己为上帝。假如耶稣宣告自己为上帝的话，那么这骇人听闻的事就必传遍远近四方。整本新约圣经都没有记载到有任何人问他是不是上帝。所以在约翰福音8:58节中犹太人怎么可能会以为他在宣告自己为上帝呢？ 另外我们也当注意，出埃及记3:14的这个词组“我是自有永有的” （英皇钦定本翻译成“我是那我是”）它的具体意思也有各种说法。《通俗拉丁文本圣经》翻译成“我是那我是”。《七十士译本》翻译成“我是那存活的”。《约拿单的塔古姆》希伯来圣经意译本和《耶路撒冷塔古姆》将这词组意译为“祂那一说，世界就有了，祂那一说，万物就存在了。” 原文的字面意义是“我会是那我会是的。” 如果用希腊文旧约《七十士译本》来对照一下出埃及记3:14和约翰福音8:58，我们会发现上帝说：“我是那生物（ego eimi ho ohn， OHN翻译成英文的BEING，也是“是”字的进行式，中文和合本翻译成“自有的”），而耶稣则说：“还没有亚伯拉罕，我是（ego eimi）。” 由此可见，上帝的名其实是Ho Ohn (The Being 那生物/那自有的）而不是ego eimi（我是）。出埃及记3:14的最后一句也进一步证明这一点。“那自有的（Ho Ohn）打发我到你们这里来。” 经文不是说“我是（ego eimi）打发我到你们这里来。” 无论这词组翻译成什么，ho ohn跟ego eimi 是不同的。所以出埃及记的“我是”和约翰福音的“我是”两者之间并没有必然的关系。约翰福音8:58不可能将耶稣等同于上帝，除非是用不正确的译本和错误的文法持着自己的偏见去推断出来的。 总结来说，约翰福音8:58的正确含义，中文和合本圣经还是翻译得正确的。“还没有亚伯拉罕（的存在），就有了我（的存在）。” 今天的研究再次证明耶稣是上帝的儿子，而不是上帝本身。好了，本期的节目就到这里，愿上帝继续保守我们各人，更深的认识祂并爱祂，使我们的生命重新得力。我们下次再会。 基督是不是上帝？（四） 1. 阿拉法与俄梅戛，初与终 启示录1:8 昔在今在以后永在的全能者，主上帝说我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛。 （【以上乃此经文的正确翻译。整段话是耶稣说的，祂说祂的父（那昔在今在以后永在的全能者主上帝）说祂（耶稣）是阿拉法、俄梅嘎。】 启示录21:6 他又对我说：都成了。我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，我是初，我是终。我要将生命泉的水白白赐给那口渴的人喝。 启示录22:13 我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，我是首先的，我是末后的，我是初，我是终。 初，就是起初/开始（the beginning） 终，就是终结/结束（the end） 有些人相信“阿拉法”与“俄梅戛”这两个概念是指基督没有开始，也没有结束。但是圣经没有这样讲。启示录说，基督是某一件事的首先或初始，和末后或终结。不止这个，一个开始是指某一事物的根源，而一个终结是指某一事物的终止/结束。永恒就是没有开始的，也是没有结束的。许多基督徒对圣经中的开始/起初有着错误的观念。我们知道上帝是没有开始的，祂是常存的。“阿拉法”是希腊字母中的第一个字母，所以它是希腊字母的“初/开始”，而“俄梅戛”是希腊字母中的最后一个字母，所以它是希腊字母的“终/结束”。所以这些词只不过是指某一件事的开始和结束。那是什么事呢？我们不要作任何假设，只要看圣经怎么说，还有这些话对犹太人有着什么样的意义。 我们注意到，凡是提到阿拉法和俄梅戛的章节每一次都是随着基督复临和世界末日的景象而来的。这并不是什么巧合。基督创造了这个世界，给世界带来了一个全新的开始，而到了世界末日，基督要从天降临，给世界带来毁灭的结局。所以说，基督是阿拉法与俄梅戛，是开始也是结束，是第一个也是最后一个。这三种说法都是同一个意思的。在启示录1:17, 18，耶稣说：“我是首先的，我是末后的。又是那存活的；我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远。” 谁是阿拉法与俄梅嘎（最先和最后的），那曾死过而现在又活到永远的呢？就是基督。 我们也注意到，启示录21:1-8和22:12-14虽然谈到了末时，但也直接地透露，那些遵守上帝诫命的人必能吃生命树的果子，而那些行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的、并一切喜好说谎言编造虚谎的（启21:8和22:15），都必永远灭亡。注意启示录21:7（启21:7 得胜的，必承受这些为业，我要作他的上帝，他要作我的儿子。） 如何连系到启示录2:7（启2:7 圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。得胜的，我必将神乐园中生命树的果子赐给他吃。），而2:7又连系到启示录22:14，这里说那些能吃生命果的人，就是那些遵守上帝诫命的人。（启示录22:14［和合本］ 那些洗净自己衣服的有福了，可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。［英皇钦定本］那些遵行他诫命的有福了，可得权利能到生命树那里，也能从门进这城。） 那么我们发现，阿拉法和俄梅嘠这句话的上文是关于世界末日和基督再来的。而这句话的直接下文是关于两件末日之后所要马上发生的事。有太多证据显明这不是什么巧合。既然启示录是圣经的结局篇，同时也是关于末后的事，那么这就说明为什么这几个章节只提到“终”。那如果“终”是指这世界的结局的话，那么“初”明显是指世界的起初了。这起初就在圣经的开头，比如创世记1:1，和其它提到创世记第一章的经文。我们至今所看过的一切告诉我们，阿拉法俄梅嘎这几个章节是指基督复临和世界末日，到那时，那些忠心遵守上帝诫命的人必然吃到生命树的果子，而其他人则必灭亡。 《克拉克圣经注释》对启示录1:8所作的分析，说明了这句话如何被犹太人所用和理解。犹太人有没有把这句话诠释成基督永远存在而且祂又是上帝呢？这当然又与箴言第8章产生矛盾，那里说基督是生出的。所以这怎么说也是说不过去的。 如犹太人对这句话的意思之理解，从起初和圣经的第一本书，直到末后和圣经的最后一本书，耶稣都包含了一切。犹太人实际上明白这句话的含义，这样，他们必不同意三位一体论的说法。这几节经文所提到的初与终，初是指这世界被基督创造的开始，而终则是指基督复临和世界末日还有新天新地的产生。基督造成这世界的开始，祂也把世界带到她的结局。 启示录所说的起初与终结既然是指这世界的创造和开始，那我们就来看看下面这几个章节。 创世记1:1 “起初，上帝创造天地。‘ 箴言8:23 “从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。” 约翰福音1:1-3 “太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是神。这道太初与上帝同在。 万物是借着他造的，凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。” 以弗所书3:9 “又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。” 希伯来书1:10 又说：『主阿，你起初立了地的根基，天也是你手所造的。』 这样，在这个背景下，所有提到起初的经文，贯彻始终都是一致的。这也进一步支持阿拉法和俄梅嘎这两个词的意思。 给复临信徒参考： “基督说，我是真实的见证。我是阿拉法与俄梅戛，初与终，首先的和末后的。” （怀爱伦著，《证道与短讲》第一集，原文第231页） “... 甚至从创世记至启示录，基督是阿拉法，福音链的第一环，也是俄梅戛，福音链的最后一环。这条链是在启示录里鋳成的。”（怀爱伦著，《文稿汇编》第10集，原文第171页） “祂是我们信心的创始成终者，是阿拉法与俄梅戛，初与终，首先的与末后的。” （怀爱伦著，《1888年资料集》，原文第783页） “所以说，祂是上帝创造的开始或首领这句话的意思是，受造之物的开始都在祂里面，如祂自己所说，祂是阿拉法与俄梅戛，初与终，首先的与末后的。启21:6; 22:13。祂是万物的起源。”（瓦格纳著，《基督与祂的义》原文第20页，1890年） 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

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All trinity studies Previous Download Next The Bible was Written by Non-Trinitarians The Bible was Written by Non-Trinitarians and so is a Non-Trinitarian Book! Have you ever heard it said that the word TRINITY is NOT in the Bible? The deceived often respond by saying, “The word is NOT in the Bible but the doctrine is.” Not only is the word Trinity NOT in the Bible, but neither is the doctrine. And it is in fact IMPOSSIBLE for it to be in the Bible! Here are the facts… 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 in fact 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 a 3 in 1 god from the Bible when it is a non-Trinitarian book? The apostle John for instance could never have been teaching that 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 in fact. 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.” We also know the Bible is a non-Trinitarian book as the word Trinity did not exist until about 200 AD 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 AD. 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 came from the Platonic term “trias” which is philosophical in origin, and the Bible does not teach Greek philosophy! “The term trinity is not itself found in the Bible. It was first used by Tertullian at the close of the 2nd century, but received wide currency and formal elucidation only in the 4th and 5th centuries.” — (“Trinity,” New Bible Dictionary, 1996) 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 as Tertullian who introduced the word TRINITY did NOT teach it! So we know that the Trinity doctrine did NOT exist 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 who taught a 3 in 1 god. 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. 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. So it is impossible for any of the Bible authors to have written about something that did not exist in their lifetime, and not forgetting that the Bible authors were non-Trinitarian! 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. It is time to wake up and look at what the real truth is which makes much more sense than the lie. 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 让我的子民思考 让我的子民思考 （第一部分) 让我的子民思考。让他们清楚地阅读这道，以便他们可以相信。我们身处末时，因此应当赎回光阴，不再闲懒散漫。 我们的救恩是在于我们所认识的神，而不是我们所做的事。将来会有一个审判。我们的行为现今正被称在天平里，以显明我们是否要遵行上帝的话，即是我们所自称相信的。 这是生死攸关的 。我们应该是与“父并祂儿子耶稣基督”相交的。 只有一位上帝。祂和祂的独生子一起生活。 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 4:35，39 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。39 所以今日你要知道，也要记在心上，天上地下惟有耶和华他是上帝，除他以外，再无别神。 惟有一位是上帝。祂不是由多位所组成的。这里所用的所有代词都是单数代词“他”。 申命记 6:5-7 5 你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。6 我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，7 也要殷勤教训你的儿女，无论你坐在家里，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论； 申命记 10:20你要敬畏耶和华你的 上帝，侍奉他，专靠他，也要指着他的名起誓。 我们要爱祂。我们要敬畏祂。祂叫什么名字？ 出埃及记 15:3耶和华是战士，他的名是耶和华。 出埃及记 6:3我从前向亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各显现为全能的上帝，至于我名耶和华，他们未曾知道。 诗篇 68:4你们当向上帝唱诗，歌颂他的名，为那坐车行过旷野的修平大路。他的名是耶和华，要在他面前欢乐。 诗篇 83:18使他们知道，惟独你名为耶和华的，是全地以上的至高者。 上帝说祂不是三位一体。惟独祂是上帝。祂有一个真实的名字。祂的儿子不是三位一体的一部分，也不是三位一体信徒。耶稣显明祂的父为独一的真神。 马可福音12:32-34 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 神。33 并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他，又爱人如己，就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好得多。”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。 让我的子民思考 （第二部分） 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。 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。 上帝没有差派祂自己。祂差派祂独生儿子。上帝的儿子是祂亲生的，并被上帝所差到世间来。祂肯定是在被差派以先为上帝所生。祂不是被差派了之后才变成亲生儿子的。这是经上记着说的。耶稣说祂是”从上帝出来的。” 祂是“从父出来的。” 门徒们都相信耶稣的见证，即祂是从上帝出来的。门徒们都不是三位一体信徒。 约翰福音16:27-30 27 父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。28 我从父出来，到了世界；我又离开世界，往父那里去。”29 门徒说：“如今你是明说，并不用比喻了。30 现在我们晓得你凡事都知道，也不用人问你，因此我们信你是从上帝出来的。” 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。 箴言 8:22-25 22 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。23 从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。24 没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。25 大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。 箴言8:27-31 27 他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈，28 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固，29 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。30 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，31 踊跃在他为人预备可住之地，也喜悦住在世人之间。 耶稣有一位父亲。耶和华是祂的上帝和祂的父亲。祂们在本质上是同等的。他们有共同的目标。惟独父是比儿子大的。 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。 让我的子民思考 （第三部分） 约翰福音 10:30我与父原为一。 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。 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。” 哥林多前书15:24，27-28 24 再后，末期到了，那时基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了，就把国交与父 神。27 因为经上说：“上帝叫万物都服在他的脚下。”既说万物都服了他，明显那叫万物服他的，不在其内了。28 万物既服了他，那时，子也要自己服那叫万物服他的，叫上帝在万物之上，为万物之主。 哥林多前书 8:4，6 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。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。 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。 哥林多前书 1:9上帝是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督一同得份。 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 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 4:8-10 8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 5:5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 5:13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。 约翰一书 2:21-23 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。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。 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 我们列祖的上帝 “我们列祖的上帝” （使徒行传3：13，5：30） 这个页面被创建为一个快速浏览页面，供寻找提到独一真神和祂儿子的圣经章节之人。本页面也列出了经文表明圣灵是基督自己的灵，是从父上帝那里得到的。所以请免费使用此页面。复制，分享并帮助传播独一真神和祂儿子的真理。 父上帝是独一的真神 马太福音 4：10 耶稣说：“撒但退去吧！因为经上记着说：‘当拜主你的上帝，单要侍奉他。’” 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。” (路加福音 10：21 也同样记载，请参考启示录14：7，使徒行传4：24-27，约翰福音17：1-3) 马太福音12：28-34 28 我若靠着上帝的灵赶鬼，这就是上帝的国临到你们了。 29 人怎能进壮士家里，抢夺他的家具呢？除非先捆住那壮士，才可以抢夺他的家财。 30 不与我相合的，就是敌我的；不同我收聚的，就是分散的。 31 所以我告诉你们：人一切的罪和亵渎的话，都可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵，总不得赦免。 32 凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独说话干犯圣灵的，今世、来世总不得赦免。” 33 “你们或以为树好，果子也好；树坏，果子也坏。因为看果子，就可以知道树。 34 毒蛇的种类！你们既是恶人，怎能说出好话来呢？因为心里所充满的，口里就说出来。 约翰福音4：22-24 22 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。 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。” 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。” 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。” 约翰福音14：1-6 1 “你们心里不要忧愁，你们信上帝，也当信我。 2 在我父的家里有许多住处；若是没有，我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。 3 我若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去；我在那里，叫你们也在那里。 4 我往哪里去，你们知道；那条路，你们也知道（有古卷作“我往哪里去，你们知道那条路”）。” 5 多马对他说：“主啊，我们不知道你往哪里去，怎么知道那条路呢？” 6 耶稣说：“我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。 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； 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。 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。” 使徒行传 3：13 亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝，就是我们列祖的上帝，已经荣耀了他的儿子耶稣，你们却把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要释放他，你们竟在彼拉多面前弃绝了他。 使徒行传4：24-27 24 他们听见了，就同心合意地高声向上帝说：“主啊，你是造天、地、海和其中万物的， 25 你曾藉着圣灵托你仆人、我们祖宗大卫的口说：‘外邦为什么争闹？万民为什么谋算虚妄的事？ 26 世上的君王一齐起来，臣宰也聚集，要敌挡主，并主的受膏者（或作“基督”）。’ 27 希律和本丢彼拉多、外邦人和以色列民果然在这城里聚集，要攻打你所膏的圣仆耶稣（“仆”或作“子”）， 使徒行传 5：30 你们挂在木头上杀害的耶稣，我们祖宗的上帝已经叫他复活。 哥林多前书8：4-6 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，再没有别的神。 5 虽有称为神的，或在天、或在地，就如那许多的神，许多的主。 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。 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。 哥林多后书 11：31 那永远可称颂之主耶稣的父上帝知道我不说谎。 罗马书1：7-9 7 我写信给你们在罗马为上帝所爱、奉召作圣徒的众人。愿恩惠、平安从我们的父上帝并主耶稣基督，归与你们！ 8 第一，我靠着耶稣基督，为你们众人感谢我的上帝，因你们的信德传遍了天下。 9 我在他儿子福音上，用心灵所侍奉的上帝，可以见证我怎样不住的提到你们； 以弗所书 1：2-3 2 愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们！ 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。 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。 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。”（请参考哥林多前书8：6） 希伯来书 9：24 因为基督并不是进了人手所造的圣所（这不过是真圣所的影像），乃是进了天堂，如今为我们显在上帝面前； 提摩太前书2：3-5 “3 这是好的，在上帝我们救主面前可蒙悦讷。 4 他愿意万人得救，明白真道。 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。” 希伯来书12：22-24 22 你们乃是来到锡安山、永生上帝的城邑，就是天上的耶路撒冷。那里有千万的天使， 23 有名录在天上诸长子之会所共聚的总会，有审判众人的上帝和被成全之义人的灵魂， 24 并新约的中保耶稣，以及所洒的血。这血所说的比亚伯的血所说的更美。 帖撒罗尼迦前书1：9-10 9 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， 10 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。 帖撒罗尼迦前书3：11-13 “11 愿上帝我们的父和我们的主耶稣，一直引领我们到你们那里去； 12 又愿主叫你们彼此相爱的心，并爱众人的心，都能增长、充足，如同我们爱你们一样， 13 好使你们当我们主耶稣同他众圣徒来的时候，在我们父上帝面前心里坚固，成为圣洁，无可责备。” 帖撒罗尼迦后书 2：16 “但愿我们主耶稣基督和那爱我们、开恩将永远的安慰并美好的盼望赐给我们的父上帝，” 腓立比书 2：11 无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。 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。这是上帝，也是永生。 犹大书 1：4 “因为有些人偷着进来，就是自古被定受刑罚的，是不虔诚的，将我们上帝的恩变作放纵情欲的机会，并且不认独一的主宰、我们（“我们”或作“和我们”）主耶稣基督。” 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。” 启示录 7：10 “大声喊着说：“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝，也归与羔羊。” 启示录 21：22 “我未见城内有殿，因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。” 启示录 22：1 “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。” 耶稣基督是上帝真实的唯一亲生儿子 诗篇 2：7 受膏者说：“我要传圣旨。耶和华曾对我说：‘你是我的儿子，我今日生你。 箴言8：22-30 “22 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。 23 从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。 24 没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。 25 大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。 26 耶和华还没有创造大地和田野，并世上的土质，我已生出。 27 他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈， 28 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固， 29 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。 30 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， 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？” 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。” 约翰福音16：27-29 “27 父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。 28 我从父出来，到了世界；我又离开世界，往父那里去。” 29 门徒说：“如今你是明说，并不用比喻了。” 约翰福音17：7-8 “7 如今他们知道，凡你所赐给我的，都是从你那里来的； 8 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。” 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。” 马太福音 3：17 “从天上有声音说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。” 马太福音 14：33 “在船上的人都拜他，说：“你真是上帝的儿子了。” 马太福音 16：15-17 “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。” 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。” 马可福音 1：1 “上帝的儿子，耶稣基督福音的起头。” 马可福音3：11 “污鬼无论何时看见他，就俯伏在他面前，喊着说：“你是上帝的儿子！” 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3：16-18 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。 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。 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3：34-36 “34 上帝所差来的，就说上帝的话；因为上帝赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。 35 父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。 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 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；” 约翰福音5：43 “我奉我父的名来，你们并不接待我；若有别人奉自己的名来，你们倒要接待他。” 约翰福音6：68-69 68 西门彼得回答说：“主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？ 69 我们已经信了，又知道你是上帝的圣者。” 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？” 约翰福音11：4 “耶稣听见就说：“这病不至于死，乃是为上帝的荣耀，叫上帝的儿子因此得荣耀。” 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。” 约翰福音 17：1 “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。” 约翰福音20：17 “ 耶稣说：“不要摸我，因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。” 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。” 使徒行传3：13 “ 亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝，就是我们列祖的上帝，已经荣耀了他的儿子耶稣，你们却把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要释放他，你们竟在彼拉多面前弃绝了他。 使徒行传9：19-20 19 “吃过饭就健壮了。扫罗和大马士革的门徒同住了些日子， 20 就在各会堂里宣传耶稣，说他是上帝的儿子。 罗马书 1：9 “我在他儿子福音上，用心灵所侍奉的上帝，可以见证我怎样不住地提到你们” 罗马书8：3 “律法既因肉体软弱，有所不能行的，上帝就差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的形状，作了赎罪祭，在肉体中定了罪案，” 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。” 以弗所书3：14 “因此，我在父面前屈膝，” 加拉太书2：20 “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。” 加拉太书4：4 “及至时候满足，上帝就差遣他的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下，” 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！” 歌罗西书1：13-15 13他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里， 14我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。 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。 帖撒罗尼迦前书1：9-10 9 “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， 10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。 希伯来书1：1-5 1上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方的晓谕列祖； 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。 3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。 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”？ 希伯来书4：14 “我们既然有一位已经升入高天尊荣的大祭司，就是上帝的儿子耶稣，便当持定所承认的道。” 希伯来书5：5 “如此，基督也不是自取荣耀作大祭司，乃是在乎向他说“你是我的儿子，我今日生你”的那一位。” 彼得前书1：3 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝，他曾照自己的大怜悯，藉耶稣基督从死里复活，重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望，” 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1：5-7 5 上帝就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见，又报给你们的信息。 6我们若说是与上帝相交，却仍在黑暗里行，就是说谎话，不行真理了。 7我们若在光明中行，如同上帝在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。 约翰一书2：22-24 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。 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3：8 “犯罪的是属魔鬼，因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪。上帝的儿子显现出来，为要除灭魔鬼的作为。” 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4：15 “凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的，上帝就住在他里面，他也住在上帝里面。” 约翰一书5：5-13 5胜过世界的是谁呢？不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗？ 6这藉着水和血而来的，就是耶稣基督；不是单用水，乃是用水又用血， 7并且有圣灵作见证，因为圣灵就是真理。 8作见证的原来有三：就是圣灵、水与血，这三样也都归于一。 9我们既领受人的见证，上帝的见证更该领受了（“该领受”原文作“大”），因上帝的见证是为他儿子作的。 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。 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。 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。 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。 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！” 启示录1：5-6 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“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2：18 “你要写信给推雅推喇教会的使者说，那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的上帝之子说：” 启示录3：21 “得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐，就如我得了胜，在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。” 启示录14：1 “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。” 圣灵是父上帝和祂儿子的灵 圣灵是父上帝的灵，赐给了祂儿子耶稣。这些经文都显示圣灵不是“第三位生物”，而是基督的灵，也是祂从父那里得到的，所以是父和子所共有的灵。 约伯记33：4 “上帝的灵造我，全能者的气使我得生。” 诗篇51：10-11 10上帝啊，求你为我造清洁的心，使我里面重新有正直的灵（“正直”或作“坚定”）。 11不要丢弃我，使我离开你的面；不要从我收回你的圣灵。 诗篇139：7 “我往哪里去，躲避你的灵？我往哪里逃，躲避你的面？” 约珥书2：28 “以后，我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的。你们的儿女要说预言，你们的老年人要作异梦，少年人要见异象。” 马太福音12：15-18 15耶稣知道了，就离开那里，有许多人跟着他。他把其中有病的人都治好了。 16又嘱咐他们，不要给他传名。 17这是要应验先知以赛亚的话，说： 18“看哪，我的仆人，我所拣选、所亲爱、心里所喜悦的，我要将我的灵赐给他，他必将公理传给外邦。 马太福音 18：20 因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里有我在他们中间。” 马可福音 1：8 我是用水给你们施洗，他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。” 路加福音 21：14-15 14 所以，你们当立定心意，不要预先思想怎样分诉， 15 因为我必赐你们口才智慧，是你们一切敌人所敌不住、驳不倒的。” 路加福音24：49 我要将我父所应许的降在你们身上，你们要在城里等候，直到你们领受从上头来的能力。” 约翰福音3：34-35 34 上帝所差来的，就说上帝的话；因为上帝赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。 35 父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。 约翰福音 4：10 “耶稣回答说：“你若知道上帝的恩赐，和对你说‘给我水喝’的是谁，你必早求他，他也必早给了你活水。” 约翰福音 7：37-39 37 节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站着高声说：“人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。 38 信我的人，就如经上所说，‘从他腹中要流出活水的江河来’。” 39 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 14：17-21 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。 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。” 约翰福音17：22-26 22 你赐给我的荣耀，我已经赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。 23 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。 24 父啊，我在哪里，愿你所赐给我的人也同我在那里，叫他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀；因为创立世界以前，你已经爱我了。 25 公义的父啊，世人未曾认识你，我却认识你，这些人也知道你差了我来。 26 我已将你的名指示他们，还要指示他们，使你所爱我的爱在他们里面，我也在他们里面。” 约翰福音20：21-22 21 耶稣又对他们说：“愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。” 22 说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：“你们受圣灵。 使徒行传1：1-2 1 提阿非罗啊，我已经作了前书，论到耶稣开头一切所行所教训的， 2 直到他藉着圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒，以后被接上升的日子为止。 使徒行传2：32-33 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“他既高举在上帝的右边”），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。 罗马书8：9-10 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。 哥林多前书2：9-16 9 如经上所记：“ 上帝为爱他的人所预备的，是眼睛未曾看见，耳朵未曾听见，人心也未曾想到的。” 10 只有上帝藉着圣灵向我们显明了，因为圣灵渗透万事，就是上帝深奥的事也渗透了。 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。 12 我们所领受的，并不是世上的灵，乃是从上帝来的灵，叫我们能知道上帝开恩赐给我们的事。 13 并且我们讲说这些事，不是用人智慧所指教的言语，乃是用圣灵所指教的言语，将属灵的话解释属灵的事（或作“将属灵的事讲与属灵的人”）。 14 然而，属血气的人不领会上帝圣灵的事，反倒以为愚拙，并且不能知道，因为这些事惟有属灵的人才能看透。 15 属灵的人能看透万事，却没有一人能看透了他。 16 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10：1-4 1 弟兄们，我不愿意你们不晓得，我们的祖宗从前都在云下，都从海中经过， 2 都在云里、海里受洗归了摩西， 3 并且都吃了一样的灵食， 4 也都喝了一样的灵水；所喝的，是出于随着他们的灵磐石，那磐石就是基督。 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。 哥林多后书13：3-5 3 你们既然寻求基督在我里面说话的凭据，我必不宽容。因为基督在你们身上不是软弱的，在你们里面是有大能的。 4 他因软弱被钉在十字架上，却因上帝的大能仍然活着。我们也是这样同他软弱，但因上帝向你们所显的大能，也必与他同活。 5 你们总要自己省察有信心没有，也要自己试验。岂不知你们若不是可弃绝的，就有耶稣基督在你们心里吗？ 以弗所书3：14-17 14 因此，我在父面前屈膝， 15 （天上地上的各（或作“全”）家都是从他得名）， 16 求他按着他丰盛的荣耀，藉着他的灵，叫你们心里的力量刚强起来。 17 使基督因你们的信，住在你们心里，叫你们的爱心有根有基， 以弗所书 4：7-11 7 我们各人蒙恩，都是照基督所量给各人的恩赐。 8 所以经上说：“他升上高天的时候，掳掠了仇敌，将各样的恩赐赏给人。” 9 （既说升上，岂不是先降在地下吗？ 10 那降下的，就是远升诸天之上要充满万有的。） 11 他所赐的有使徒，有先知，有传福音的，有牧师和教师。 加拉太书 2：20 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。 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！” 腓立比书 1：19 因为我知道，这事藉着你们的祈祷和耶稣基督之灵的帮助，终必叫我得救。 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。 希伯来书1：8-9 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。” 提多书3：4-6 4 但到了上帝我们救主的恩慈和他向人所施的慈爱显明的时候， 5 他便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。 6 圣灵就是上帝藉着耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的。 彼得前书1：10-11 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。 约翰一书2：27-28 27 你们从主所受的恩膏常存在你们心里，并不用人教训你们，自有主的恩膏在凡事上教训你们。这恩膏是真的，不是假的，你们要按这恩膏的教训住在主里面。 28 小子们哪，你们要住在主里面。这样，他若显现，我们就可以坦然无惧；当他来的时候，在他面前也不至于惭愧。 启示录1：12，13，20；启示录2：1 12 我转过身来，要看是谁发声与我说话；既转过来，就看见七个金灯台。 13 灯台中间有一位好像人子，身穿长衣，直垂到脚，胸间束着金带。 20 论到你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘，那七星就是七个教会的使者，七个灯台就是七个教会。” 2：1 “你要写信给以弗所教会的使者说，那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的说： 启示录2：18,29 18“你要写信给推雅推喇教会的使者说，那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的上帝之子说： 29 圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。” 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。” 启示录5：6 “我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是上帝的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。” 启示录22：1 “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。” 只有两位神性生物 当圣经说到神性时（使徒行传17：29，罗马书1：20），它事实上是在指着父上帝而言。祂是所有一切的本源（歌林多前书：6），包括祂自己的神性。但是耶稣也是有神性的，因为耶稣基督是上帝的亲生儿子，因此祂承受了付所有的神性。歌罗西书2：9为我们确认了这一点，“因为上帝本性一切的丰盛，都有形有体的居住在基督里面”，耶稣本身在约翰福音14：10也确认了这事实。但是文章这一部分的主要目的是要揭穿这教导“三位神性生物”的三位一体谬论。 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，使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地，并地上所爬的一切昆虫。” 约翰福音1：1-3 1太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是神。 2这道太初与上帝同在。 3万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。 以弗所书3：9 “又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之上帝里的奥秘，是如何安排的。” 撒迦利亚书6：13 “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。” 约翰二书1：9 “凡越过基督的教训不常守着的，就没有上帝；常守这教训的，就有父又有子。” 路加福音10：22 “一切所有的都是我父交付我的。除了父，没有人知道子是谁；除了子和子所愿意指示的，没有人知道父是谁。” 约翰福音16：3 “他们这样行，是因未曾认识父，也未曾认识我。” 哥林多前书8：5-6 5 虽有称为神的，或在天、或在地，就如那许多的神，许多的主。 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。 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； 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。 哥林多前书1：3 “愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父并主耶稣基督归与你们！” 以弗所书1：2 “愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们！” 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！” 雅各书1：1 “作上帝和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各，请散住十二个支派之人的安。” 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。” 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。” 约翰福音15：23 。。。“恨我的，也恨我的父。” 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。” 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。” 约翰福音8：18 “我是为自己作见证，还有差我来的父也是为我作见证。” 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。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Is God's Spirit Another Being Is God's Spirit Another Being Because it has Mind, Will and Emotions? 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 just like God. Therefore, a person's spirit must be another literal being, right? You are probably thinking I have lost the plot, and yet this is exactly the SAME LOGIC that is used to imply that the Holy Spirit is another literal being! And Paul said it is no different with God's Spirit in that respect. But note Paul states man's spirit is within him while God can send His Spirit anywhere. “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 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 concordance says, breath, figuratively life, spirit, (including its expression and functions), mind. 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. “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 How can the mind of the Lord be another being? Clearly it cannot! 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. “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, 1891) If I could give you my spirit, whose personality would you have? Mine! Thus God's Spirit has God's personality. God and His Son have a Spirit and that is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. This is the nature of the Holy Spirit that we cannot understand. So the Holy Spirit is not some force or another being, but the presence and power of God Himself. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

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

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 对上帝的认识 认识上帝 箴言2:5 -- “你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。” 彼得后书1:2-3 -- “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。” 以弗所书1:17-18 -- “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。” 18 并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的恩召有何等指望，他在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。” 哥林多前书12:8-- “这人蒙圣灵赐他智慧的言语，那人也蒙这位圣灵赐他知识的言语。” 上帝不是奥秘。对你敬拜的对象有清楚和全面的认识是相当重要的。 何西阿书4:1-2 -- “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。”2 但起假誓、不践前言、杀害、偷盗、奸淫、行强暴、杀人流血，接连不断。” 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。你既忘了你上帝的律法，我也必忘记你的儿女。” 谁是我们敬拜的对象呢? 我们会在新天新地敬拜三位一体神吗? 不是的。我们会敬拜那天上的父就是耶和华, 和 “那羔羊” 就是耶稣基督。” 启示录7:9-10 -- “此后，我观看，见有许多的人，没有人能数过来，是从各国、各族、各民、各方来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕树枝，10 大声喊着说：“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝，也归与羔羊。” 启示录 20:6 -- “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21:1-- “我又看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天地已经过去了，海也不再有了。” 2 我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由上帝那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇装饰整齐，等候丈夫。” 3 我听见有大声音从宝座出来说：“看哪，上帝的帐幕在人间。他要与人同住，他们要作他的子民； 上帝要亲自与他们同在，作他们的上帝。4 上帝要擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。”5 坐宝座的说：“看哪，我将一切都更新了。”又说：“你要写上，因这些话是可信的，是真实的。” 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22:1, 3 -- “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。” 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 安息日的真理 今天的基督教界有一个极具争议性的话题，那就是上帝的安息日在哪一天。无数基督徒甚至不知道圣经中的第七日安息日是星期六（准确来说是从星期五日落至星期六日落为止，但为了简便论述，我将用星期六来概括之）。 许多教会教导说，安息日已经修改了。还有一些教会则教导说，每一天都可以是安息日。其余的则教导说，耶稣已经废除律法十诫，所以我们不需要守安息日了。 那位最憎恨上帝、祂儿子并祂们所设立的安息日的撒但，在这个课题上捏造了各式各样的谎言，来迷惑人以撇弃上帝的安息日。 末时所要临到的最大、最严峻的兽印记逼迫，也与安息日的议题相关，这是美国教会联合政府所要推出的星期日法令。所以作为上帝的子民，我们若想对上帝忠心到底，并且胜过兽的制度，最后在天国里有份的话，就必须清楚明白这项真理，并听从上帝的话语而行。 除此之外，我们还必须把安息日的真理传开，向无知的世人发出警告。因此我們必须以圣经的话语和教导来装备自己。我们今天也要揭穿撒但在这个课题上启发人们去炮制的谬论，并要解开基督教界对安息日所持有的种种误解和迷思。 圣经在但以理书中告诉我们，一个逼迫信徒的势力将企图改变上帝的律法： 但以理书 7：25 他必向至高者说夸大的话，必折磨至高者的圣民，必想改变节期和律法。圣民必交付他手一载、二载、半载。 圣经所提到的敌基督势力、那大淫妇、或巴比伦、或小角，就是罗马天主教。她确实擅自改变了上帝的律法，把原来的第七日安息日改为第一日。这种做法当然是未经上帝批准的，而且是上帝所厌恶的。 她践踏了上帝的律法，破坏了祂的圣日，违背了祂的旨意。她在过去曾经杀害了成千上万选择服从上帝的基督徒。历史上曾经有多少人因为守安息日而被杀？待会儿我们会深入探讨这一点。 为什么很少有人教导安息日的真理？ 我们先来谈一谈，为什么那么少人教导安息日的真理呢？如果上面所说的是正确的话，那么为什么我们鲜少会听到讲道人谈论或教导这些事呢？ 如果安息日落在星期六，那么为什么大多数人不遵守真正的安息日呢？正如一些基督徒所说的，大多数人怎么可能会错呢？更重要的是，我们现在还有必要遵守安息日吗？ 启示录第13章告诉我们，撒但必将地位，能力和权柄赋予但以理书所描述的改变律法之小角势力。你认为撒但为什么要这样做呢？ 在黑暗时期迫害基督徒长达 1260 年的小角势力杀害了多少按照上帝的诫命遵守第七日安息日的人。 任何对撒但的小角势力有不同看法的人都被视为异端份子。他们深信异端份子必须被活活烧死。结果，安息日的真理几乎被扼杀得不复存在，但是上帝保守了祂的真理，使它不至被消灭。 遗憾的是，由于大多数教会起源于那迫害基督徒的小角势力，而且改革运动并没有完全改革和摒弃所有的谬论，特别是星期日主日论和三位一体论。于是大多数教会至今仍然无知地保留住小角势力所设立的伪安息日。 安息日的最后一次修改是在第四世纪，星期日的敬拜被君士坦丁一世引入了基督教界。请注意，这项谬道早在公元前 2000 年就风行于异教之中，这就是太阳神的崇拜。太阳神即三位一体神，太阳神的日子即星期日。 请大家记住，撒但对这一切都负有责任，而且他不可能无缘无故地付出这些努力。他肯定有邪恶的目的和阴谋。 大多数人在成长过程中习惯于星期日做礼拜，这在很大程度上造就了一种思维定势，导致人们非常不愿意改变他们的生活习惯。即使他们听到了真理，也不会做出任何改变，或离开自己的舒适圈子。 在星期六聚会对大多数基督徒来说也很不方便，因为许多人在星期六还要上学、上班。因此可悲的是，大多数人宁可活在无知当中，也不愿意学习真理。由于这些因素，即使有人向星期日教会牧师或信徒介绍安息日的真理，他们也很难明白和接受真光。 这就让仇敌占了上风，因为他现在就在你的思想里低声说，“日子并不重要，每一日都是一样的。如果日子真的那么重要的话，每一位基督徒都会知道这件事，都会坚守第七日的安息日。” 可悲的是，太多的人听了却从来不查考真理，而撒但继续成功使基督徒无知地违反上帝的诫命。据说美国著名布道家比利·格雷厄姆承认了安息日的真理，但他却说，“如果我传授这个真理，恐怕会失去我大多数的听众和追随者。” 耶稣说，我们既当遵守又当教导上帝的律法，一个人不管得付出什么代价都绝对不能牺牲真理。仇敌竭尽全力地去阻止人们教导或相信安息日的真理，并继续竭尽所能地去迷惑人，使人们对这项重要的真理一无所知。 基督徒既知道撒但这样做了，就应该意识到这是与他们息息相关和极其重要的真理。否则的话，魔鬼就不会费尽心思地特意攻击安息日的真理了。 许多人说，安息日修改为星期日是为了纪念耶稣复活。也有人说，包括安息日在内的十条诫命已被耶稣钉在了十字架上，都废除了。有人则会告诉你说，只要你坚守一天，任何一天都可以作为安息日。 还有人说，只要你尽力去荣耀上帝，就等于你已经遵守了安息日一样。然而还有些人会说，提倡人遵守安息日是律法主义，是靠行为得救的。 最糟糕的是，有人说，十诫已经消失或变得无效了。这可是最大的谎言之一，而且近几十年来居然变得越来越流行。我们永远不能低估仇敌缓慢而巧妙地将异端带入教会的能力，并使那些最符合圣经的教导被错误地贴上邪教或律法主义的标签。 很明显，撒但总是以最具迷惑性的谎言来攻击真理。可悲的是，他毫不费力就能找到可以欺骗的对象了，他能轻而易举地完成他的任务。实际上，流行的理论肯定不是真理。反之，真理从来都不是流行于世人中间的。 十条诫命给我们定义了何为罪，而遵守安息日是十诫之一条。难道撒但不想全力攻击这一条最容易攻击的诫命，并尽其所能地去阻止人们承认或教导它吗？他一旦得逞，就可以让许多人生活在无法无天，无道德准绳约束的状态之中了。 如果一个人真心研究这项真理，并用公正的历史记载来查证的话，实际上他会发现撒但已经达到了这个目标，而且他的谎言还在继续扩张。由于大多数基督徒鲜少研究圣经，而倾向于依赖他们牧师来告诉他们什么是真理，因此谎言只会继续蔓延开来。 安息日的意义何在？ 安息日有其重大的意义。创造主以“当纪念”这三个词来开始第四条诫命。这是因为上帝知道它会被人遗忘。上帝把第七日安息日分别为圣，并且赐福于这一日，这样我们就可以在这一天亲近祂，领受祂满满的福分。 出埃及记 20： 8-11 8 “当记念安息日，守为圣日。9 六日要劳碌作你一切的工，10 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，11 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。 记住，第四条诫命是十诫中最重要的一部分，它给我们阐明了人与上帝之间的关系，以及我们应当如何去爱、纪念和敬拜我们的创造主，并与祂建立个人关系。 它也解释了为什么和在什么时候我们需要花费特殊的时间来亲近我们的造物主。这也是我们与上帝之间的一个永远的、特殊的标志或印记，证明祂是我们的上帝，是祂创造了我们，也是祂使我们成圣；我们是属于祂的子民，祂是我们崇拜的对象。 安息日，一周的第七日，即现今世界的星期六，曾被上帝分别为肉体休息和灵性精神复苏的日子。那这条诫命为什么如此频繁地被人忽视，还被这么多基督徒攻击和曲解呢？ 可见撒但多么仇恨上帝和祂神圣的律法。他揭尽所能地去影响我们对安息日的重视，导致我们轻视、逃避安息日，并给自己找借口来忘记安息日。圣经的安息日是从星期五日落开始，直到星期六日落为止。 对那些心甘情愿遵守上帝安息日的信徒而言，这一日是一个祝福的日子，也是他们一周中最喜爱、最期待的日子。我们在这一日可与家人、教友并天父和祂儿子相交和团契，享受美好时光。 耶稣说，我们不仅要遵守安息日，还要教导人遵守安息日的真理。可惜有些人却在做相反的事。他们从真心顺从上帝的人手中夺取耶稣要给他们的祝福，阻止他们蒙恩，还把安息日说成律法主义和靠行为得救之说。 这种做法与上帝的旨意完全相反。上帝说，这是充满福气和喜乐的一天，而不是律法主义或负担。 以赛亚书 58：13-14 13 “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，14 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。 守安息日的诫命与其他九条诫命一样，都是建立在爱的基础上的。它和前面三条诫命相似，都是指示人如何爱上帝的，其余六条则是指示我们如何爱我们的同胞。 我们知道，遵守十条诫命相等于爱上帝，因为圣经在申命记第5章讲完了十诫之后，接下来的第6章就提醒我们说： 申命记 6：5 你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。 我们当如何爱上帝呢？就是顺服祂，遵守刚刚在上一章所提到的十条诫命。因此，全部十条诫命都是永恒不变的。我们的上帝不是混乱的上帝，也不是随意改变主意的上帝。 不管我们给出什么理由都好，只要我们企图证明上帝的安息日已经更改或废除，我们就是与上帝敌对的，就好像我们为了干犯其他的诫命而找借口一样，比如拜偶像、杀人等。 讽刺的是，那些宣称上帝的律法已经废除或不必再遵守的人，当你问他说，我们是否不可杀人，是否应当孝敬父母，是否不能拜偶像等等，他们就都完全同意。 但是当我们问到第四条守安息日的诫命的时候，他们就会搬出所有的借口，千方百计地否认安息日的有效性。这岂不是自相矛盾的最高境界吗？安息日也是十条诫命的其中一条啊。 雅各书说，若犯了一条，就等于犯了众条。所以我们不能只取自己喜欢守的而撇弃我们不喜欢遵守的。 他们就说，安息日和摩西律法一并在十字架上终止了，所以我们现在可以不守。这是极其错谬的想法。摩西的仪文律法和上帝的道德律法根本就是两回事。 仪文律法是暂时性的，指向那将来的救主；道德律法则是刻在石版上的，代表的是永恒不变的法则。安息日是在道德律法的十条诫命之中，而不是在摩西的仪文律法中。所以我们千万不要把它们俩混为一谈。 再说，摩西的仪文律法是给犹太人的，而十条诫命则是给天下所有信徒的。所以明显的是，十诫里的安息日不仅仅是给犹太人遵守的，而是给所有愿意相信上帝的人遵守的。 其实安息日就是上帝的日子，是耶和华的圣日，所以没有人能说安息日只是为犹太人设立的。正如出埃及记 20：10和申命记 5：14所说的一样： 出埃及记 20：10 “但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。” 申命记 5：14 “但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。” 如果你看英皇钦定本的话，这一节直接说：“但第七日是耶和华你上帝的安息日。” 上帝更在出埃及记 31：13和以西结书 20：20 特别提到，安息日是“我的安息日”。 出埃及记 31：13 “你要吩咐以色列人说：‘你们务要守我的安息日...’ ” 以西结书 20：20 且以我的安息日为圣。 对比之下，当提到摩西律法中的年度安息日时，上帝采用一个不同的字眼，说这是她（女字旁的她）的“安息日”，即以色列民的安息日。 何西阿书 2：11 我也必使她的...安息日，并她的一切大会，都止息了。 试想想，如果上帝差派天使来告诉你说，祂爱你，祂甚至差遣了自己的独生儿子来为你而死，祂想在祂所特别赐福和分别为圣的日子与你共度好时光，那么你会不会打发天使回去告诉上帝说：“对不起，上帝。那一日对我来说实在很不方便”，或说， “不，上帝，我不能在你的圣日与你共度好时光，因为那是律法主义”，抑或说，“你回去告诉上帝，我不要祂所选的那日子作为圣安息日，我自己选择的是星期日，外邦人用以敬拜太阳神的日子，就是上帝最憎恶的日子。” 希望大家认真思考一下，我们要顺服上帝，还是要方便自己。我们要随从上帝完美的旨意，还是随从自己自私的意念？换句话说，我们敬拜的是创造主真神上帝，抑或是我们自己？ 安息日对上帝为什么如此重要？ 现在我们来谈一谈，安息日对上帝为什么如此重要？我们已经晓得，上帝要叫安息日成为一个祝福的日子，叫我们在这一日得到休息、恢复、和喜乐。那么安息日对上帝而言还有什么其他关键的重要性呢？ 我刚才提到，很多人明白作假见证、偷盗、杀人、奸淫，拜偶像等在道德上都是错误的。但撒但之所以如此成功地叫这么多人远离安息日的真理，是因为他很容易说服群众，使他们认为安息日并不是那么重要的。他们违犯安息日时不会觉得在道德上有什么不对。 他们完全受迷惑了，以至没有意识到其实第四条诫命的安息日与其他九条同样重要，都有同样的分量，甚至更高。 所以我们不能根据自己的想法和感觉而行，而必须随从上帝的话语，看看祂是否认为安息日重要。如果对上帝重要的话，那么对我们来说就肯定是重要的。 圣经说，违背律法就是罪。不管你所违背的是哪一条诫命都好，都是犯罪。说白一点，拜假神、杀人、和干犯安息日都是一样严重的。而且人类犯罪是耶稣为我们死在十字架上的原因，相信没有比这个更严重的了。 下面我们来看几段经文，以明白安息日对上帝的重要性。 出埃及记 31：13-17 13 “你要吩咐以色列人说：‘你们务要守我的安息日，因为这是你我之间世世代代的证据，使你们知道我耶和华是叫你们成为圣的。... 15 六日要作工，但第七日是安息圣日，是向耶和华守为圣的；凡在安息日作工的，必要把他治死。’16 故此，以色列人要世世代代守安息日为永远的约。17 这是我和以色列人永远的证据，因为六日之内耶和华造天地，第七日便安息舒畅。” 以西结书 20：12 又将我的安息日赐给他们，好在我与他们中间为证据，使他们知道我耶和华是叫他们成为圣的。 以西结书 20：20 且以我的安息日为圣。这日在我与你们中间为证据，使你们知道我是耶和华你们的上帝。 安息日是一个证据，一个特别的记号，显明我们是上帝的子民，而祂是我们的上帝，并且祂也是使我们成圣的上帝。安息日特别指出我们所爱的，所敬拜的和所效忠的，就是那位赐安息日的真神上帝。 所以随意选择另一日来代替安息日的人就没有这个印记在他们身上。更糟糕的是，当星期日法令来到时，所有服从和接受美国教会联合政府所推出的星期日敬拜的人，都会领受启示录所警告的兽印记，因为星期日是效忠兽制度和他们的三位一体神的证据，就如安息日是效忠独一真神上帝的证据一样。 这就是为什么不守安息日的人总会掉进撒但一个又一个的圈套之中，而走在背道和灭亡之路上。问题是，有谁会选择拒绝上帝的印记而接受撒但的印记呢？这是我们每个人都必须做出的重大决择。 有些人就狡辩说，没错，安息日是个证据，但是这是给以色列民族的证据，与我们毫无相干。这种说法在某种意义上是正确的，安息日的确是给上帝的以色列民的记号。但是我们必须搞清楚，谁才是上帝的以色列民？ 我们必须分清楚圣经所论到的两组以色列民，第一组是属肉体的以色列民。 哥林多前书 10：18 你们看属肉体的以色列人，那吃祭物的岂不是在祭坛上有份吗？ 第二组是属灵的以色列民。 加拉太书 6：16 凡照此理而行的，愿平安、怜悯加给他们和上帝的以色列民。 属肉体的以色列民就是那些天生有犹太血统的人。属灵的以色列民则是任何接受基督，属于基督并活在新约之下的人。绝大多数的基督徒不明白这个道理。他们一口咬定以色列民只能是犹太人，这样他们就错过了这美好的福分，也就不能活在新约之下了。 上帝给犹太人定了490年的宽容时期，让他们悔改归回上帝，但他们一再拒绝祂，从公元前457年一直到公元34年，当年司提反被犹太人拿石头打死而成为第一位福音的殉道者，而犹太人从此就不再是上帝的选民了。他们失去了成为上帝子民的福分，于是福音便开始传给外邦人。论到现今属灵的以色列民，我们再来看几段相关的经文。 罗马书 2：28-29 28 因为外面作犹太人的，不是真犹太人；外面肉身的割礼，也不是真割礼。29 惟有里面作的，才是真犹太人；真割礼也是心里的，在乎灵，不在乎仪文。这人的称赞不是从人来的，乃是从上帝来的。 罗马书 9：6-8 这不是说上帝的话落了空，因为从以色列生的，不都是以色列人；7 也不因为是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就都作他的儿女；惟独“从以撒生的，才要称为你的后裔。”8 这就是说，肉身所生的儿女不是上帝的儿女；惟独那应许的儿女才算是后裔。 加拉太书 3：28-29 28并不分犹太人、希腊人、自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了。29 你们既属乎基督，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔，是照着应许承受产业的了。 希伯来书 8:10 主又说：“那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；我要作他们的上帝，他们要作我的子民。 既然安息日标志着我们是上帝的儿女，那如果我们拒绝祂的安息日，不就等于拒绝上帝为我们的父吗？既然安息日是上帝使我们成圣的标志，那如果我们拒绝他的安息日，不也就等于拒绝让祂使我们成圣吗？ 其实上帝对我们的要求一点都不过分，仅仅是一个星期的七分之一，单单一日而已。我们还有其他六个世俗的日子可以从事我们属世的事务。 造物主要求我们献上一周之中的一日难道不合理吗？许多基督徒声称自己全心全意地爱上帝，但大多数人如何表现出爱来呢？他们嘴上说着只要爱上帝就够了，不需要守安息日，但是上帝吩咐我们当如何爱祂呢？就是服从祂的命令，遵守祂的诫命。 七字代表完美，这是我们一周有七天的原因。上帝的旨意和计划都是完美的，都是对我们最有益的。问题是，我们愿不愿意服从祂，还是选择随从人类的传统，给出许多借口来拒绝上帝的安息日呢？ 每当有人选择找出 1001 个借口中的一个时，可想上帝会是多么伤心呢！难道上帝不知道我们的心吗？如果我们找这些借口之一，上帝会不会知道？上帝知不知道我们因为不想给自己造成不便而不想学习祂圣日的真理呢？ 如果我们找出 1001 个借口之其中一个来违背上帝的话语，那么我们还可以说我们全心全意地爱上帝吗？如果我们不全心爱上帝，那么上帝会接纳我们进入祂的国度吗？ 不守安息日有哪些后果？ 下面我们来说说一个非常严肃的课题，就是不守安息日将给我们带来什么后果？ 雅各书 2：10 因为凡遵守全律法的，只在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条。 雅各书说得很清楚，我们若犯了安息日就等于犯了全部诫命，因为第四条诫命和其余九条是一整套的，我们不能把他们逐一分开来，另当别论。 如果我们必须遵守第七日安息日才算守全律法的话，那么绝大多数的基督徒岂不是都违背了上帝的律法吗？ 没错，事实就是如此。这也许让人难以接受，但是他们确实公然拒绝了上帝的诫命。难怪圣经告诉我们说： 马太福音 7：13-14 13 “你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡，那门是宽的，路是大的，进去的人也多；14 引到永生，那门是窄的，路是小的，找着的人也少。” 大家回顾一下挪亚方舟的故事。挪亚传了120年，警告人说，毁灭世界的洪水即将到来，人类必须进入上帝所预备的方舟里去才能逃过浩劫。 结果最后得救的只有挪亚一家八口。耶稣说，人子降临的日子也是如此。每一个时代都是这样，愿意悔改接受真理而得救的人，总是少之又少。 先知何西阿也预言了上帝的子民会因无知而灭亡，他接着解释说，他们摒弃了与上帝律法相关的知识。 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。你既忘了你上帝的律法，我也必忘记你的儿女。 这些人既然离弃上帝，拒绝祂的律法，那么他们的后果会是如何呢？上帝也必拒绝他们。大家想想看，今时今日世上有多少人拒绝了上帝的律法，特别是第四条安息日诫命呢？ 希伯来书 10：26-29 26 因为我们得知真道以后，若故意犯罪，赎罪的祭就再没有了，27 惟有战惧等候审判和那烧灭众敌人的烈火。28 人干犯摩西的律法，凭两三个见证人尚且不得怜恤而死；29 何况人践踏上帝的儿子，将那使他成圣之约的血当作平常，又亵慢施恩的圣灵，你们想，他要受的刑罚该怎样加重呢？ 希伯来书告诉我们说，没有任何牲祭能掩盖有意的犯罪，故意犯罪的人就好比把上帝的儿子踩在脚下似的。他们践踏了上帝的恩典和耶稣的牺牲。将来耶稣会对这等人说，“你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧，我不认识你们。” 因此，拒绝遵守安息日和公然违背上帝的律法而又不肯悔改的后果是相当严重的。我们可能会失去天国和永生的盼望。再说，美好和谐的天国也容不下一个叛逆的人，否则新天新地又会出现另一个撒但了。 【钦定本】启示录 22：14-15 14 那些遵行他诫命的有福了，他们有权去到生命树那里，也能从门进城。15 外面有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎、编造谎言的。 相信这里说得够清楚了，唯有遵行上帝诫命的人才能进入圣城。反之，杀人的、淫乱的、拜偶像的、作假见证的，都是违背上帝十条诫命的人。这些人将在城外等候火刑把他们烧灭。 十诫今天仍然适用吗？ 其实上帝的律法是否适用于今天这个问题，只要稍微运用一丁点逻辑就可想而知了。我们只要问自己，现在杀人是否无罪，我们是不是可以敬拜其他神了？如果依然是犯法的话，那么为什么每当论到安息日时，我们就会说上帝的律法已经失效了呢？只要我们一天还必须敬拜上帝，孝敬父母等等，我们也依然必须遵守安息日。 如果像十诫这么重要的律法发生了哪怕是最微小的修改的话，上帝就会以清晰的经文来告诉我们。所以我说，大多数基督徒不会争论十诫中的九诫需不需要遵守，但很多人特别将其中一条扫到地毯下，这种精神是从何而来的呢？答案可想而知。 就上帝而言，否认十诫中任何一条真理只能带来一种结果，而这种结果相信我们没有人会想承受的。 除非有人能找出清晰的经文说明第七日安息日已经修改或废除，否则第四条诫命的安息日与其他九条诫命一样有效。故意违反其中任何一条的后果都是一样的。有没有人相信他们可以随心所欲地杀人，而仍然可以进入上帝的国度呢？大家必须认真思考。 十诫的全部是否仍然有效？难道圣经表明我们可以继续违犯律法、故意犯罪吗？另一点是，我们虽然是因信基督而蒙上帝的恩典得救，但这是继续犯罪的许可证吗？ 耶稣死在十字架上，是为我们的罪付出代价，还是让我们继续活在罪中？同样的，我们必须从圣经中找出答案。圣经如何定义罪？ 约翰一书 3：4 凡犯罪的，就是违背律法；违背律法，就是罪。 罗马书 4：15 因为律法是惹动忿怒的（或作“叫人受刑的”），哪里没有律法，那里就没有过犯。 律法给我们指出罪来，而罪把我们指向救主。如果没有律法，我们就不需要救主了。使徒保罗是不是说我们现在可以随意犯罪了，因为我们活在恩典之下，所以律法已经结束了呢？ 罗马书 6：1-2 1 这样，怎么说呢？我们可以仍在罪中，叫恩典显多吗？2 断乎不可！我们在罪上死了的人岂可仍在罪中活着呢？ 罗马书 6：14-15 14 罪必不能作你们的主，因你们不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下。 15 这却怎么样呢？我们在恩典之下，不在律法之下，就可以犯罪吗？断乎不可！ 活在恩典之下并不代表可以活在罪恶之中。耶稣的牺牲并没有给我们犯罪的自由，这些说法都是为了合理化犯罪而曲解圣经所得出的结论。我们再来看保罗所写的几节经文。 罗马书 3：31 这样，我们因信废了律法吗？断乎不是！更是坚固律法。 罗马书 2：13 原来在上帝面前，不是听律法的为义，乃是行律法的称义。 那么耶稣自己又怎么想呢？祂是不是为了废除律法而来的？ 马太福音 5：17 “莫想我来要废掉律法和先知；我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全。 马太福音 5：18 我实在告诉你们，就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。 路加福音 16：17 天地废去较比律法的一点一画落空还容易。 圣经说得非常清楚，律法的一点一画都不能废去。所以不要再说耶稣来废除律法，因为这与圣经的教导是完全对立的。 有人可能会说，既然耶稣已成全了律法，我们就不需要再遵守律法了。这是极其错误的解经法。请注意，耶稣在这里把成全一词与废掉一词做个对比。 废掉表示不需要再遵守了，那么成全的意思肯定是相反的。成全的意思实际上是落实或实践，使律法成为完全，让耶稣成为我们遵守律法的榜样。所以这些拒绝律法的理论都是不符合圣经的，都是撒但所启发的。 我们来看看，耶稣是不是说那些违犯十诫的人能进入天国。 马太福音 7：21-23 21 “凡称呼我‘主啊，主啊’的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。22 当那日，必有许多人对我说：‘主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道，奉你的名赶鬼，奉你的名行许多异能吗？’23 我就明明地告诉他们说：‘我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！’” 耶稣在这段经文中严厉地声明，那些故意违背律法之人的结局，是失去天国的福分。他们自称爱耶稣，奉祂的名行许多伟大的神迹。但是他们没有遵行耶稣吩咐他们遵行的最基本的事，就是遵行祂父的旨意。 结果耶稣向他们说：‘我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！’。相信没有人愿意落到这样悲惨的下场吧。虽然我们不是因遵守律法而得救，但是不遵守律法的人肯定是不能得救的。天国容不下这些作恶和假冒伪善的人。 约翰一书 2：4 人若说“我认识他”，却不遵守他的诫命，便是说谎话的，真理也不在他心里了。 我们再来看一小段故事，说明遵守律法是通往天国的道路。 马太福音 19：16-19 有一个人来见耶稣说：“夫子（有古卷作“良善的夫子”），我该作什么善事，才能得永生？”17耶稣对他说：“你为什么以善事问我呢？只有一位是善的（有古卷作“你为什么称我是良善的？除了上帝以外，没有一个良善的”）。你若要进入永生，就当遵守诫命。”18 他说：“什么诫命？”耶稣说：“就是不可杀人，不可奸淫，不可偷盗，不可作假见证，19 当孝敬父母，又当爱人如己。” 我们再来看保罗怎么说，违背律法的人怎么在上帝和基督的国里无份。 以弗所书 5：3、5 至于淫乱并一切污秽，或是贪婪，在你们中间连提都不可，方合圣徒的体统。5 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。 可悲的是，作恶犯罪的人是在天国里无份的，这就是残酷的真相。反之，上帝应许我们遵行祂诫命的人就必获得特别的福分，就是有权利进入上帝的国。 【钦定本】启示录 22：14 那些遵行他诫命的有福了，他们有权去到生命树那里，也能从门进城。 那么我们今日是否还需要遵守诫命呢？上面看过了那么多位见证人，答案已经非常清楚地揭晓了，特别是耶稣在马太福音第5章中的谈话。这些真理都是无可争辩的，其他任何的论点都是与基督敌对的。我认为所罗门在传道书 12:13-14中所作出的最后结论很好地总结了这一点。 传道书 12：13-14 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”）。14 因为人所作的事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，上帝都必审问。 敬畏上帝和遵守诫命就是人所当尽的本分。我们还有什么借口说我们不需要遵守安息日呢？ 耶稣和早期教会是否遵守安息日？ 我们需要探讨和厘清的下一个论点，就是耶稣和早期教会是否遵守了安息日？如果安息日是一条永不变更的诫命，那么我们就应该可以找到保罗和早期教会遵守第七日安息日的证据了。 如果可以证明这一点，这将证明安息日从来没有改变或废除。那么我们可以证明这一点吗？当然可以，而且我们确实发现了保罗从小就在犹太会堂里遵守了安息日。 素常的规矩就是一个人素来或一直以来所做的事，而且是没有中断，没有停止的。保罗在建立早期基督教会时有什么素常的规矩或习俗呢？请注意下面的经文，这是论到一个犹太会堂里所发生的事。我们晓得犹太人在整个历史中都没有改变，都在星期六的安息日敬拜，就像他们今天仍然在星期六敬拜一样。 使徒行传 17：1-2 1 保罗和西拉经过暗妃波里、亚波罗尼亚，来到帖撒罗尼迦，在那里有犹太人的会堂。2 保罗照他素常的规矩进去，一连三个安息日，本着圣经与他们辩论， 保罗从小就和犹太人和法利赛人一起长大，他们一直都遵守第七日的安息日，从未改变过。 使徒行传 26：4-5 4 我从起初在本国的民中，并在耶路撒冷，自幼为人如何，犹太人都知道。5 他们若肯作见证，就晓得我从起初是按着我们教中最严紧的教门作了法利赛人。 使徒行传 13：42-44 42 他们出会堂的时候，众人请他们到下安息日再讲这话给他们听。43 散会以后，犹太人和敬虔进犹太教的人多有跟从保罗、巴拿巴的。二人对他们讲道，劝他们务要恒久在上帝的恩中。44 到下安息日，合城的人几乎都来聚集，要听上帝的道。 这是在耶稣被钉死、复活、升天以后，信徒依然遵守第七日安息日的铁证。我们还有一节经文为证。 使徒行传 18：4 每逢安息日，保罗在会堂里辩论，劝化犹太人和希腊人。 其实这不仅是使徒保罗的习俗和榜样，更是耶稣基督的习俗和素常的规矩。而耶稣就是我们完美的榜样。 路加福音 4：16 耶稣来到拿撒勒，就是他长大的地方。在安息日，照他平常的规矩进了会堂，站起来要念圣经。 耶稣不仅亲自为我们树立了榜样，在世时遵守了安息日，祂还说祂遵守了祂父的诫命说了很多遍，而且祂从未发表过任何声明，宣称安息日已经在十字架上废除了，祂甚至强调了律法永远不会被废除的永恒事实。 另外，耶稣在提到公元 70 年耶路撒冷遭毁灭时，说了以下这段话。 马太福音 24：20 你们应当祈求，叫你们逃走的时候，不遇见冬天或是安息日。 显然，耶稣的死并不能把安息日毁掉，祂依然非常注重和强调安息日的有效性和重要性。 根据圣经记载，安息日是哪一天？ 我们之前稍微谈到，圣经里的安息日无疑就是每周的第七日，即从星期五日落至星期六日落为止。相信大家都同意这一点。 先前我发过了一辑视频，列出了好几个证明安息日是哪一天的有力证据，题名为《圣经里的安息日是哪一天？》。要看清楚这课题的朋友们必须认真看看。 现在我们就从敌基督制度，罗马天主教的角度来探讨一下，看看他们怎么论到真正的安息日是哪一天。 以下这些天主教的声明回答了为什么大多数教会现今仍然将星期日定为安息日。大多数基督徒不知道这项事实，更不知道安息日的改变是如何发生的。 启示录 13 章告诉我们，撒但将他的地位和权柄交给了天主教。为什么呢？为了让这个堕落的巴比伦教会将安息日改为星期日，这是撒但最大的阴谋诡计。 撒但为什么要这么做呢？安息日是关乎我们效忠谁的问题。如果我们顺服上帝并遵守祂的安息日为圣，那就表示我们效忠上帝。 如果我们遵守天主教的诫命或遵守他们所制定的日子为圣，那么我们效忠的会是谁呢？下面我引述了天主教的两段言论来回答这个问题。 圣经是否支持安息日改为星期日的说法？ “大多数基督徒认为星期日是圣经认可的敬拜日。 天主教抗议说，是她将基督教崇拜从圣经中的安息日（星期六）转移到了星期日，而且若试图争辩说圣经记录了这种改变，这是不诚实的，也是对天主教权威的否定。 如果改革教想把它的教义建立在唯独圣经上，它就应该在星期六敬拜。” ——《罗马的挑战》2003年12月 “例如，我们在圣经中没有任何地方发现基督或使徒下令将安息日从星期六改为星期日。 我们有上帝给摩西的诫命，要守安息日为圣，也就是一周的第七日，星期六。 今天，大多数基督徒都遵守星期日，因为它是由［罗马天主］教会在圣经之外向我们揭示的。” ——《天主教弗吉尼亚人》，1947 年 10 月 3 日，第 9 页，文章“告诉你真相”。 他们非常大胆地承认说，把上帝的安息日从第七日改为第一日不是圣经所指示的，而是天主教因自己的权威而擅自做出的改变。她还给基督教发出挑战说，他们要是想遵照圣经的话语而行，那他们就应该遵守星期六的安息日为圣，而不是天主教的星期日了。 所以这很清楚，上帝从未认可安息日的更改。那是敌基督者所干的好事。这是无可争辩的事实。问题是，我们效忠的是哪一方？再来看几段引言，看看他们还有什么话想说的。 谁叫星期日成为圣日？ “也许教会所做过的最大胆的事情，最具革命性的改变，发生在第一世纪。 安息圣日从星期六改为星期日。 “主日”被拣选，不是因为圣经中的任何指示，而是因（天主）教会对其自身权威的感觉...... 认为圣经应该是唯一权威的人，在逻辑上应该成为基督复临安息日会信徒，并遵守星期六为圣。” ——《圣凯瑟琳教会哨兵报》，密歇根州阿尔戈纳克，1995 年 5 月 21 日。 再来看看这一段摘自天主教要理问答书中的引言。 “问：安息日是哪一天？ “答：星期六是安息日。 “问：为什么我们遵守星期日而不是星期六？ “答：我们遵守星期日而不是星期六，因为天主教会在老底嘉会议（公元 364 年）中将安息日的神圣庄严从星期六转移到了星期日。” ——彼得葛依尔曼（Peter Geiermann），《皈依者的天主教要理问答》，第 50 页，第 3 版，1957 年。 星期日是谁的礼拜日？ 所以我们越看越明，星期日不是敬拜上帝的日子，而是谁的礼拜日呢？天主教的，你守星期日就表示你承认天主教高于圣经的权威，并且效忠她的权威。这是个非常严重的罪状。难怪圣经说，在末时全地的人都要跟从那兽，并且要敬拜龙。再看一些引言。 “他们（新改革教徒）认为他们有责任遵守星期日为圣。 为什么？ 因为天主教吩咐他们这样做。 他们没有其他理由…… 因此，遵守星期日成为一项与遵守安息日的神圣律法完全不同的教会法规…… 星期日法规的制定者……是天主教。” ——《教会评论》，1914 年 2 月。 “我要好好提醒长老会、浸信会、卫理公会和所有其他基督徒，圣经在任何地方都不能支持他们遵守星期日。 星期日是罗马天主教的制度，遵守这一日的人是在遵守天主教的一条诫命。” ——布雷迪di2神父，1903 年 3 月 18 日在新泽西州伊丽莎白的新闻报道中发表的讲话。 我们通过遵守星期日为圣来崇敬谁？ 因此，我们通过遵守星期日为圣来崇敬谁？下面几段引言再次为我们确认了这一事实。 “是天主教……为了纪念我们主的复活，把这安息日的时间转移到了星期日。 因此，改革教徒遵守星期日是他们不由自主地向（天主）教会的权威所致的一种敬意。” ——路易·塞古尔主教，《关于今日改革教会的实话》，第 213 页。 “我曾多次向任何人悬赏 1,000 美元，只要他们能从圣经中向我证明我一定要守星期日为圣。 圣经中没有这样的律法。 这是圣天主教会独有的法规。 圣经说：‘当记念安息日，守为圣日。’ 天主教说：‘不。 以我的神圣权力，我废除了安息日，并命令你守一周的第一日为圣日。’ 结果你看！ 整个文明世界都虔诚地服从圣天主教的命令。” ——恩莱特神父（T. Enright）, 堪萨斯城救赎学院院长，1884 年 2 月 18 日在堪萨斯州哈特福德的一次演讲中，发表于《安息日历史》，第 802 页。 我们已经再三确认，遵守星期日实际上是对天主教表示至高的敬意和绝对的顺从。我们若要效忠上帝的话，就必须遵守祂的安息日。 谁真正修改了安息日？ 现在我们来谈一谈，真正修改安息日的是谁。我们都知道，从表面上看似是天主教修改了安息日，并且迷惑世人去遵守这个虚假的安息日。但是其幕后真正的势力或主谋其实是谁呢？ 可想而知，就是路锡甫，魔鬼本身。耶稣在世时，魔鬼阻止上帝儿子的企图以失败告终，于是他把注意力转向了教会。他最初试图通过逼迫杀害所有的基督徒来摧毁教会，但殉道只会让教会成长得更快，变得更强大。 撒但意识到自己可以从教会内部发起渗透攻击，因为由内攻击比由外攻击来得更有效。 因此，撒但赋予教皇他的权力和地位，也渗透了所有的基督教派，使他们重新接受天主教所有的谬论。这样他就能从每一个基督教派中获得敬拜了。 安息日标志着我们对真神的崇拜和效忠，是我们与上帝之间的印记。因此，撒但也想搞一个能证明世人效忠他自己的标志，于是就以他自己的敬拜之日来取代上帝的圣日。 撒但利用教皇作为他的代理人，将上帝的第七日安息日转移到纪念异教太阳神崇拜的一天，因此异教徒称之为星期日。撒但也知道太阳神崇拜是上帝所憎恶的，也是上帝让祂的子民落入巴比伦人手中的原因之一。 毫无疑问，撒但对这项成就感到兴奋不已，因为他成功让基督徒违犯上帝的律法、不履行安息日的遵守、并通过拒绝上帝的崇拜日来接受撒但的崇拜日并支持太阳神崇拜，而进一步激怒了上帝。 我们必须晓得古巴别塔最早的假敬拜，就是藉着在星期日敬拜三位一体太阳神来敬拜藏在幕后的撒但。所以三位一体太阳神和拜太阳神的日子星期日是分不开的。 我们不管是在星期日敬拜，或敬拜三位一体神，都等于参与了撒但的崇拜，而违犯了上帝的首四条诫命，也破坏了安息日的神圣意义。 话说回来，大多数人缺乏深入查考安息日的真理，就以为星期日是正确的圣日，这种概念造成了一种思维定势，由于他们从小到大的成长习惯，遇到任何不同的道理就会感觉不对，感觉很陌生。 这就是撒但从一开始施行的诡计。可悲的是，他非常成功，因为谬论总是流行世间的，是容易为世人所接受的，所以看似大多数人都明白真理，但事实却恰恰相反。 现在就是我们基督徒该睡醒，停止受迷惑催眠的时候了，我们必须意识到撒但的作为，并且从他的谬论中逃出来，从巴比伦和堕落的教会中间出来，回归独一真神上帝和祂的真安息日，承认上帝的创造和祂的权威，并遵行祂的律法。 安息日从创世到永恒 我们现在来谈一谈安息日的根源。安息日实际上自创世以来就存在了。上帝设立了一周七日循环的制度，并且命定了第七日为安息圣日。这就是为什么我们今天一周有七日的原因。 上帝除了在第七日安息之外，还赐福于这一日，并把它定为圣日，以作圣洁的用途使用。 创世纪 2：3 上帝赐福给第七日，定为圣日，因为在这日上帝歇了他一切创造的工，就安息了。 这是在罪还没进入世界之前就已经完善的制度，而且是上帝完美计划的一部分。可见安息日从世界的起头就存在了，并且到了新天新地也依然继续存在。先知以赛亚在以赛亚书 66:22-23 中预言说： 以赛亚书 66：22-23 22 耶和华说：“我所要造的新天新地，怎样在我面前长存，你们的后裔和你们的名字也必照样长存。 23 每逢月朔、安息日，凡有血气的必来在我面前下拜。这是耶和华说的。 经文讲得非常清楚，安息日从创世到万象更新都依然存在，并且一样是作为创造主与受造的人类之间立约的证据。以赛亚书的经文也证明了耶稣没有废掉安息日。我们在新天地里依然会遵守安息日。 说白了，不想遵守安息日的人就是不想进入新天新地。我们若想享受新天地的荣美生活，就必须在今生就开始守安息日了。朋友，你想在新天新地里有份吗？ 我再次强调，安息日与其他九条诫命一样都是永不变更的，从创世之初一直到永恒，皆是如此。 在进入新天新地之前，我们依然要经历最后兽印记的大逼迫，唯有靠着耶稣的力量忍耐到底，并且得胜，才能获得摆在我们前头的赏赐。请注意圣经怎么论到这些得胜的圣徒。 启示录 14：12 圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的。 圣徒是守上帝诫命，包括安息日的。试问不守安息日的人能成为圣徒吗？明显不能，他们都会在星期日法令的逼迫和考验中妥协，而归向敌基督的势力，成为逼迫上帝子民的一群人。 撒但将利用不守律法的人去除灭坚守上帝律法的人。正如历史上所发生过的一样，历史必定重演。 启示录 12：17 龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守上帝诫命，为耶稣作见证的。那时龙就站在海边的沙上。 撒但在可怕的1260年的黑暗时期中逼迫上帝的子民，并且追杀那原始教会的余民，企图把他们赶尽杀绝。撒但为什么对他们恨之入骨，势必消灭他们呢？ 因为他们是上帝忠心的子民，他们谨守上帝的诫命。这里说得很清楚，撒但只与守上帝诫命的人争战，那些不守诫命的人都是属于撒但的，他自然不必去针对他们。大家难道还无法看清事实吗？我们难道还相信上帝的诫命不重要吗？ 我们应该渴望安息日的真理 如果您知道了耶稣从来没有提过一周的第一日，您会感到惊讶吗？祂没有说过安息日改变了，也没有说过祂复活的日子要变成新的安息日，或任何类似的话语。 作为基督徒，我们应该永远谦卑地追求真理，因为耶稣本身就是真理。如果我们全心全意地爱耶稣，我们自然会不惜一切代价地努力寻求真理。 然而，这么多人说着这么多不同的话，每一位传道人和教会领导各说纷纭，各自推广各自的真理。那么我们怎么能确切地辨认出真理呢？我们只有一个保障，一个可寻见真理的管道，那就是上帝所默示的话语——圣经。 以赛亚书 8：20 人当以训诲和法度为标准，他们所说的若不与此相符，必不得见晨光。 圣经永远是我们的最终权威，而不是任何牧师、长老、传道人或朋友。记住，我们要单单遵循上帝的话语，而不是人的传统和教导。 这篇文章不是要涵盖所有关于安息日的真理，因为可以研究和挖掘出来的真理实在太多了。我只想提出一些重要的论点和相关的经文，并且希望大家能看明安息日的重要性，然后有兴趣自行查考圣经，寻求真理。 愿上帝常与每一位同在，赐福大家。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂