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

All trinity studies Previous Download Next We Should Be Baptized Only in the Name of Jesus We should be baptized ONLY in the name of Jesus ! Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 8:12 “ But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:16 “For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 10:48 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest you ? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Romans 6:3 “Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ?” 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” [Implied] Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” “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.” — (Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1, 1992, p. 585) Catholic Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now pope Benedict XVI) makes this confession as to the origin of the chief Trinity text of Matthew 28:19 saying: "The basic form of our (Matthew 28:19 Trinitarian) profession of faith took shape during the course of the second and third centuries in connection with the ceremony of baptism. So far as its place of origin is concerned, the text (Matthew 28:19) came from the city of Rome. The Trinity baptism and text of Matthew 28:19 therefore did not originate from the original Church that started in Jerusalem around 33 A.D. It was rather, as the evidence proves, a later invention of Roman Catholicism completely fabricated. Very few know about these historical facts.” ( http://www.askacatholic.com/_WebPostings/Answers/2012_01JAN/2012JanWhyWereAdjustmentsMade.cfm ) The Catholic Encyclopedia, II, page 263: “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.” Does Matthew 28:19 prove a Trinity ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRklea85ZsQ&t=1s  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 三位一体信徒能否受上帝的印记 三位一体信徒能否受上帝的印记？ 敬拜三位一体神的人是否有可能受我们在启示录7章和14章中所提到上帝的印记呢？ 这是一个非常重要的问题，因为在末世时只有受上帝印记的人才会得救。 “认识上帝是一切真教育真服务的根本，是抵抗世上诱惑唯一的真保障，是能使我们在品格上与上帝相象的唯一途径。 凡从事于超拔人群之工的人，非得认识上帝不可。人品格的展变，生活的纯洁，工作的效率，遵守正义的毅力，都从真正认识上帝而来的。这种认识，乃是人生今世和来世双方所不可少的准备。 “认识至圣者，便是聪明。” 箴言9:10 我们所得“一切关乎生命和虔敬的事，”（彼得后书1:3）都是从认识他而来的。 耶稣说：“认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 约翰福音17:3 （怀爱伦，服务真诠，409.1-6 页） 现在许多三位一体论者说，理解我们敬拜的上帝并不重要，并声称上帝是一个“奥秘”。这是那些敬拜三位一体的人常用的借口，因为他们无法理解他们崇拜的是什么。 但如果是这种情况，我们就无法认识我们敬拜的神，这自然就意味着敬拜罗马天主教的神或回教的神是可以接受的。 因为倘若我们仅仅认为有限的头脑无法理解我们所敬拜的上帝，并且认为知道上帝是否是独一真神还是三位一体并不重要，那么就不会拒绝任何关于“上帝”的概念，并且所有“有可能对”的道理都可以被接受。 一旦你理解了这一点，你就会开始意识到三位一体神的普世宗教合一的性质。 这就是为什么我们看到至今大多数的教会都有份参与普世教会合一运动。 他们无法分开，因为他们都对上帝的身份有一个混淆的概念。 他们不再使用上帝的话语作为神圣的启示和信仰上的至高权威。 相反的，他们被人类的想法牵引着。 但那些凭着“耶和华如此说”的人能够脱离这种普世教会合一运动，因为他们透过上帝的圣言认出了普世教会合一运动的神不是圣经里的神。 因此，那些敬拜三位一体的人能受上帝的印记吗？ 让我们来看启示录第14章关于这一点。。。 启示录 7：2-3 2 我又看见另有一位天使，从日出之地上来，拿着永生上帝的印。他就向那得着权柄能伤害地和海的四位天使，大声喊着说： 3 “地与海并树木，你们不可伤害，等我们印了我们上帝众仆人的额。” 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。 我们可以从这些经文中注意到两件明确的事情。 印记被称为“永生上帝的印”。 什么是“印记”？ 印记是'羔羊和他父'的名字。 羔羊是耶稣基督，所以谁是耶稣的父？ 那就是父上帝。 看看以下的经文。 马太福音 16:16 西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生上帝的儿子。” 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！ 所以耶稣基督，弥赛亚，是父上帝的儿子。而启示录第14章为我们确认了上帝的印记是“耶稣的名和上帝的名”。如果我们看希腊原文的话它只是记载着“父的名字”。不是父，子，圣灵的名字，更不是父上帝，子上帝，圣灵上帝的名字。而是有“父”的名字。圣经也为我们确认了父上帝是独一的真神，如以下经文所说的，而不是众教会所敬拜的三位一体神。 约翰福音17：1-3 。。。“父啊。。。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 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。” 你不认为我们应该听那诚实的见证人，弥赛亚耶稣基督的见证吗？而耶稣向我们确认了祂父为那独一的真神。不但如此，耶稣还说父上帝也是祂的上帝！希伯来书1：9也同样证明这一点。 有趣的是，犹太人不曾敬拜三位一体神，而清楚知道父上帝是他们的神（约翰福音8：41）。耶稣也不曾敬拜三位一体神，或所谓的其他两位神，而是晓得祂父是独一的真神 （约翰福音17：3）。使徒们也不曾敬拜三位一体神，而是敬拜和宣告父上帝为独一的真神（哥林多前书8：6）。事实上，他们也同样高举和敬拜耶稣，为永生上帝的儿子。这也是为什么我们有上帝的名和祂儿子的名在我们额上。 这些都是不重要的！真的吗？ 很多三位一体信徒都宣称这是不重要的，而且上帝是一个“奥秘”，我们不能认识我们所敬拜的神。他们否认了这神圣的启示。是上帝给予人类的启示！耶稣清楚地说明了永生是建立在对父上帝和祂自己的认识。耶稣说我们能够认识上帝，但是三位一体信徒说我们不能认识上帝。你愿意相信谁呢？那“诚实见证人”的智慧，还是人的智慧？现在我们来看看耶稣在约翰福音第4章中对井边的妇人所说的话。 约翰福音 4:21-24 21 耶稣说：“妇人，你当信我。时候将到，你们拜父也不在这山上，也不在耶路撒冷。 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。” “你们所拜的，你们不知道”。。。这句话在今时今日是对谁说的呢？三位一体信徒！ 在整个新约圣经中，耶稣和使徒们都表明父是独一的真神，而且我们的忠诚和敬拜最终是归与祂的。耶稣确认了真正的敬拜者是敬拜父上帝为独一真神的。这意味着那些崇拜这三位一体神的人不是真正的敬拜者。如果我们不是敬拜那独一真神的话，我们有可能受那永生上帝的印记吗？不，根本不可能！仍然在天主教内的罗马天主教徒能受上帝的印记吗？不能。为什么呢？因为他们不是敬拜那独一的真神。那些敬拜三位一体的人也是如此。他们没有敬拜独一的真神，所以不能受祂的印记。注意启示录第14章怎么说到那些受上帝印记的人。 启示录 14:4 这些人未曾沾染妇女，他们原是童身。羔羊无论往哪里去，他们都跟随他。他们是从人间买来的，作初熟的果子归与上帝和羔羊。 “妇女”在圣经里意表着教会。由此，“沾染妇女”意思说沾染堕落的教会。那沾染堕落的教会又是什么意思呢？这 意思说被他们的假道理和假神的敬拜所迷惑。三位一体神论是源于巴比伦的谬论。因此，崇拜三位一体神意味着你 沾染妇女 ，并无法受父上帝的印记。 末世的善恶之争是关乎敬拜。而启示录第14章显明了我们应当敬拜的是谁。 敬拜我们创造主上帝的呼召 启示录 14：6-7 6 我又看见另有一位天使飞在空中，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各国、各族、各方、各民。 7 他大声说：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了，应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。” 在创世纪第1章里，我们可以看到以下的陈述 “上帝说：“我们要照着我们的形像，按着我们的样式造人，” 那三位一体信徒相信这是 “三位一体神” 在说话。但是，如我们上述所见，圣经所显明的上帝是天父。所以谁才是在这里说话的呢？是天父上帝在说话。那上帝在对谁说话呢？歌罗西书1：16，约翰福音1：3 和哥林多前书8：6 都证实了天父上帝藉着祂的儿子耶稣基督创造了万物。所以天父上帝在对谁说话呢？祂在对祂的儿子说话。让我们看看大伟王在历代志上第29章怎么说。 历代志上29:10-11 10 所以，大卫在会众面前称颂耶和华说：“耶和华我们的父，以色列的上帝，是应当称颂，直到永永远远的。 11 耶和华啊，尊大、能力、荣耀、强胜、威严都是你的；凡天上地下的都是你的；国度也是你的；并且你为至高，为万有之首。 那万有之首是谁呢？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。” 因此那万有之首就是天父上帝。耶稣也在马太福音11：25证实了这一点， “那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！” 。 所以启示录第14章大声说应当敬拜的，那独一的真神，天地的主和我们的创造主是谁呢？是父上帝，那独一的真神，一切生命的本源 （歌林多前书 8：6）。上帝末世的子民将领受谁的名字和印记呢？他们受父上帝，那独一的真神，永生上帝的印记。是的，我们也应当敬拜和归荣耀给弥赛亚耶稣，因为他是独一真神的儿子，而启示录5：13也确认了我们要敬拜父上帝和羔羊（基督），直到永永远远。但是基督所得的一切荣耀是使荣耀归与父上帝。 腓立比书 2:11 “无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。” 由此，我们的敬拜最终去到父上帝，因祂是万有之首，万有之神，也是万有的生命之根源。但是那些敬拜巴比伦三位一体假神的人不是敬拜那圣经里独一的真神。因此，他们不可能受上帝的印记。朋友们，这是非常重要的。这是关乎我们永生的。如果你相信和敬拜三位一体神的话，我真心邀请你研究这课题并寻求真理。你是否想受上帝的印记呢？那就敬拜那独一的真神，父上帝。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next What is the difference between Godhead and Trinity What is the difference between Godhead and Trinity? So what does the word Godhead mean and can it be used in place of the word Trinity? The fact is there is no relationship with the Trinity and the word Godhead at all as you are about to find out. Godhead refers to God the Father. And making this issue a little more confusing, Godhead is often a word used by those with the non-Trinitarian truth for lack of a better word to use in opposition to the word Trinity. More and more Trinitarians are using the word Godhead in place of Trinity thinking that changes what it is. But calling the Trinity by another name will never change what it is. You can call a cat a dog but it will still be a cat. And you can call the Trinity the Godhead but it will still be the Trinity! The word Godhead is found in 3 verses in the King James Bible which are translated from three different Greek words that have slightly different meanings but all basically mean the same thing. In Acts 17:29 the Greek word translated Godhead is “theios” (G2304) and means to be godlike and hence divine. Acts 17:29 KJV “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.” The same Greek word is used in the verse below but has been translated to the word “divine.” 2 Peter 1:3 KJV “According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:” In Romans 1:20 the Greek word translated Godhead is “theiotēs” (G2305) and refers to the divine nature. Romans 1:20 KJV “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” And in Colossians 2:9 the Greek word translated Godhead is “theotēs” (G2320) and means deity as in the state of being God. Colossians 2:9 KJV “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” So the word Godhead speaks of the “Divine nature” of the Father which has been given to the Son and hence is in the Son as we find in Colossians 2:9 above. Thus Jesus being the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15), and being brought forth from the Father, He has the same “Divine nature” as His Father. Thus Paul states that the fullness of the “divine nature” of God dwells in His Son. Colossians 1:19 KJV “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” John 5:26 also tells us that the Father gave life to His Son. “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. And so neither does the word Godhead explain the non-Trinitarian position in opposition to the word Trinity. It has been the only real option in lack of a better word to use for the non-Trinitarian view. The Trinity doctrine 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.” In other words. 1+1+1=1 ! So a 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 god which means the Father cannot really be a Father and the Son cannot really be a Son, which denies the Father and Son which the apostle John called antichrist. And hence the Holy Spirit is supposedly a third god that makes up the one god rather than being the actual Spirit of the Father and Son just as we have a spirit. So the Divine nature of the Father referring to the ONE true God does not and cannot equal 3 gods yet alone a 3 in 1 god. Thus Godhead does NOT equal Trinity in any way whatsoever! Godhead refers to God the Father and His Divine nature which dwells in His Son because Jesus Christ is His Son. See “Does Godhead mean Trinity? - Prove All Things” below for more information. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9HxDgBZl-U Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next 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 圣经说保惠师是谁 圣经说保惠师是谁？ 约翰福音14:16-28多次告诉我们，保惠师是基督借着祂的灵。耶稣说: "我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，〔或作训慰师下同〕 叫他永远与你们同在。" （约14:16）可是当耶稣一提到 "另外赐给你们一位保惠师" 的时候，很多人就看不到祂指的就是祂自己借着祂的灵，尽管耶稣的话说得很清楚，如以下的论述。 "另外" 在希腊原文中的字是 ἄλλον （译音allos），意思是另外一个同类的，因此指的是另一个与基督同类的。基督当时是以肉体的形式与门徒同在，但祂升天以后，祂以另一种形式回来，就是借着祂的灵（属灵的形式）。所以，那个 "另外一位" 是指祂的灵。由于基督的灵能够与基督分开而独立行事，所以祂的灵就像是 "另外一位"。因为是祂的灵，所以它是 "另外一位" 同类。 如果保惠师是另一个不同类的生物，那么约翰就会用 heteros这个字，意思是另外一位不同类的。知道了就很容易明白。很多人也没注意到耶稣经常用第三人称 [他] 来指自己，这一段经文就是用了第三人称。另一个例子可参阅约翰福音17:1-3。 在第16节，耶稣说，父要 "另外" 差遣一位保惠师，但在第18节祂说明祂指的是谁，让门徒没有疑惑。耶稣斩钉截铁地说: "我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。" 这 "另外一位保惠师" 不是其他人，而是基督自己以另一种形式（属灵的形式）回来。与之前祂在世时的情况不同，如今肉眼看不见祂。祂远离了人的视觉，但祂仍然在灵里与我们同在。 第17节称保惠师为真理的灵，就是基督。 10节之前，耶稣刚刚说 "我是...真理...。" （第6节）借着祂的灵，祂就是 "真理的灵" 了。在第17节，我们也看到保惠师是世人不能接受的，因为世人不认识祂。可是基督告诉门徒说，"你们却认识祂，因祂与你们同在。" 与门徒同在的只有耶稣! 在第19节基督说，"还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我"，这是指着祂的死和复活而言。那么在第18和19节，基督的意思是，虽然祂即将离开，但祂不会撇下他们没有安慰，祂会回到他们中间。所以门徒知道基督要回到他们身边，作他们的保惠师安慰他们。但他们不明白耶稣要怎样回来。所以犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣祂要怎样向他们显现，而不向世人显现呢？ （第22节） 门徒怎样明白 "另外一位保惠师" 呢？他们是否明白耶稣所指的是另一位生物呢？不是的! 犹大完全了解是基督要回到他们身边，而不是其他人。注意他所问的不是 "谁" 而是 "为什么" 或 "怎么样"。所以他不是不明白是谁要来，而是不明白基督要怎样向他们显现为保惠师。答案是: 借着祂的灵，这是门徒当时仍然不明白的。 在约翰福音16:7，耶稣说: "然而我将真情告诉你们，我去是与你们有益的，我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来，我若去，就差他来。" 保惠师都还没有奉差遣来到他们中间，那么在约翰第14章中怎么说保惠师已经与他们同在呢？在约翰福音7:39，我们看到: "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。" 如果圣灵是另一位生物，如三位一体论所说的，那他就不需要依靠基督回去见天父并得着荣耀之后他才奉差下来。父还不能赐下圣灵来，直到基督得着荣耀，因为这是基督另外回来的方式，就是借着祂的圣灵。 （说得更白，基督要等到升天之后祂的身体变化成为荣耀的神性身体时，祂才能差遣祂的灵离开祂的身体下来住在门徒心间。但升天得荣耀之前祂受到了人性血肉之躯所限制，所以祂的灵是不能离开祂身体的。要等到升天得荣耀之后祂才可能赐下祂的灵。所以祂若是不升天去得着荣耀的身体，祂就不能赐下祂的灵来与我们同住。） 约翰福音14:23说: "耶稣回答说：人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。" 父和子借着圣灵要与我们同住。这个奉差遣的圣灵不是另外一位生物，而是上帝本身的生命借着祂的儿子耶稣基督来到我们心中。除了一位曾经体验过人类生活的苦楚，并且尝过受试探的滋味的人之外，还有谁更有资格安慰我们呢？有了父和子是多么的宝贵呢! 耶稣在约翰福音第14章中说了多少次祂要作我们的保惠师呢？ （括弧是加上去的） （1）约翰福音14:17 "就是真理的圣灵 [耶稣是真理，而借着祂的灵祂就是真理的灵]，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 [基督是唯一与他们同在的]，也要在你们里面 [借着祂的灵祂要住在他们心里作他们的保惠师]。" （2）约翰福音14:18 "我 [耶稣] 不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。" （3）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 [借着祂的灵作他们的保惠师]。" （4）约翰福音14:21 "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 [借着祂的灵作他的保惠师]。" （5）约翰福音14:22 "犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：主阿，为什么 [耶稣你] 要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？" （6）约翰福音14:23 "耶稣回答说：人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们 [耶稣和祂父亲] 要到他那里去，与他同住。" （7）约翰福音14:28 "你们听见我对你们说了，我 [耶稣] 去还要到你们这里来 [借着祂的灵作保惠师]。" 注意，翻译成 "保惠师" 的希腊原文παράκλητος（译音paraklētos）在圣经中共出现了五次，所指的都是基督。有四次出现在约翰福音中（14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7），这四节都翻译成 "保惠师" 或 "训慰师"。有一次出现在约翰一书2:1，这里则译成 "中保"。 （五次的作者都是同一人----耶稣的门徒约翰。约翰在书信中写παράκλητος的时候，肯定是有意联系到约翰福音第14章的παράκλητος去。他所指的必定是同一位。） 约翰一书2:1 "我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位παράκλητος（译音paraklētos; 译作"中保"），就是那义者耶稣基督。" 由此可见，耶稣基督是我们的παράκλητος，既是我们的 "保惠师" 又是我们的 "中保"。保惠师不是另一位生物，而是基督本身借着祂的灵。除了道成肉身与我们一样受尽试探和痛苦的基督之外，还有谁更有资格来安慰我们呢？有救主耶稣基督亲自作我们的保惠师是一件多么有福的事啊！ 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Before Abraham Was, I AM “I AM or I existed?” Why do so Many Get This Wrong? The phrase “I am” in John 8:58 comes from two Greek words “egō” and “eimi.” The Strong's Definitions are:“egō : “I” (only expressed when emphatic): - I, me.”“eimi: I exist (used only when emphatic): - am, have been, X it is I, was.” How would you expect Jesus to respond to this comment? “Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” John 8:57 Not knowing Jesus existed before Abraham, the Pharisees are saying how could you have seen Abraham because you are not yet 50 years old. Since the Greek words for “I am” also mean I exist or existed, what is the obvious translation and response from Christ who existed before Abraham? “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58Or“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I existed.” John 8:58 Both are valid translations and the majority of Bible translations agree with the last one in fact with good reason! *** Here Are Many Translations That Had No Trouble Getting This Right! *** The Living Bible:“The absolute truth is that I was in existence before Abraham was ever born!” The New Testament in the Language of Today, 1964 ed., William F. Beck:“I was in existence before Abraham was ever born” New Believers Bible, New Living Translation, (1996):“Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!” The Concise Gospel and The Acts, C.J. Christianson, (1973):“I existed even before Abraham was born.” New Simplified Bible:“Jesus said, I tell you the truth, I existed before Abraham was born.” An American Translation, Smith and Goodspeed, (1939):“Jesus said to them, “I tell you, I existed before Abraham was born!” The New Testament in the Language of the People, Charles B. Williams, (1937):“Then Jesus said to them, “I most solemnly say to you, I existed before Abraham was born.” Cotton Patch Version, (1970):“To this Jesus replied, I existed before Abraham was born.” New Testament, Noli, M.F.S., (1961):“Jesus answered them: Well, well, I tell you, I existed before Abraham was born.” The Original New Testament, H.J. Schonfield, (1956):“I tell you for a positive fact, I existed before Abraham was born.” The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, George Swann, (1947):“Jesus said to them, verily, verily I say unto you, I existed before Abraham was born.” The Clarified New Testament, P.G. Parker:“Jesus answered, before Abraham existed, I existed.” A Translators Handbook to the Gospel of John, Nida:“Before Abraham existed, I existed, or I have existed.” The Documents of the New Testament, G.W. Wade, (1934):“Jesus said to them, in very truth I tell you, before Abraham came into being, I have existed.” The Complete Gospels Annotated Scholars Version, Miller, (1992):“I existed before there was an Abraham.” The Bible, A New Translation, Dr. James Moffatt, (1935):“Truly, truly I tell you,” said Jesus, “I have existed before Abraham was born.” The New Testament Or Rather the New Covenant, Sharpe, (1881):“I was before Abraham was born.” The Worldwide English New Testament Bible:“Jesus answered, I tell you the truth. I already was before Abraham was born.” Good News for the World, (1969):“Jesus answered, I tell you the truth. I already was before Abraham was born.” International English Version, (2001):“I was alive before Abraham was born.” International Bible Translators, (1981):“Jesus said to them, I am telling the truth: I was alive before Abraham was born!” The Simple English Bible, (1978):“Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth: I was alive before Abraham was born.” The Four Gospels and Revelation, Richmond Lattimore, (1979):“Truly, truly I tell you, I am from before Abraham was born.” New Covenant, J.W. Hanson, (1884):“Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, I am before Abraham was born.” A Literal Translation from the Syriac Peshito Version, James Murdock, D.D., from 5th century manuscripts, (1896):“Jesus said to them: Verily, verily I say to you, That before Abraham existed, I was.” Twentieth Century New Testament:“In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “before Abraham existed I was.” The New Testament According To The Eastern Text, George Lamsa Translation, (1940):“Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was born, I was.” The Curetonian Version of the Four Gospels, Burkitt, from 5th century manuscripts, (1904):“Before Abraham came to be, I was.” The Old Georgian Version of the Gospel of John, P. Blake, M. Briere, in Patrologia Orientallis, Vol. XXVI, faxcicle 4, Paris, from 5th century manuscripts, (1950):“Before Abraham came to be, I was.” Ethiopic-Edition: Nouvum Testamentum Æthiopice, T.P. Platt, revised by F. Praetorius, Lepzig, (1899:“Before Abraham was born, I was” The New Testament, Curt Stage, (1907):“Before Abraham came to be, I was.” The New Testament, Kleist & Lilly, (1956):“I tell you the plain truth. replied Jesus, I am here - and I was before Abraham.” New American Standard Bible, 1963 and 1971 editions alternative rendering:“I have been” The New Testament, George Rh. Noyes, D.D., “Professor Of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages and Dexter Lecturer on Biblical Literature in Harvard University”, (1869):“Jesus said, truly I tell you, from before Abraham was, I have been.” “The Four Gospels” According to the Sinaitic Palimpsest, Agnes Smith Lewis, from a 4th-5th century manuscript, (1886):“He said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I have been.” The New Testament in Hebrew, Franz Delitzsch, 1937 edition:“Before Abraham was, I have been.” The Unvarnished New Testament, Andy Gaus:“Truly, truly I tell you, Before Abraham was born, I have already been.” The New Testament: a New Translation and Explanation Based on the Oldest Manuscripts, Johannes Greber, (1937):“I am speaking the truth, Jesus answered, I am older than Abraham.” The New Testament (in German), Friedreich Pfaefflin, (1949):“Jesus: Before there was an Abraham, I was already there.” The New Testament in Hebrew, Isaac Salkinson and David Ginsberg, 1941 edition:“I have been when there had as yet been no Abraham.” Translation of New Testament, Wakefield, G., (1795):“Jesus said unto them: Verily verily I say unto you, before Abraham was born, I am He.” Ledyard, G.H. New Life Testament, (1969):“Jesus said to them, for sure I tell you, before Abraham was born, I was and sum and always will be.” The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Southern Dialect, George William Horner, (1911):“Before Abraham became, I, I, am being.” The New Testament, James A. Klist, S.J., and Joseph L. Lilly, C.M., (1954):“I am here - and I was before Abraham.” Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Two Beings and Not Three According to the Bible TWO BEINGS not three according to the BIBLE Proverbs 30:4 "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" ONLY TWO BEINGS 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." ONLY TWO BEINGS 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? ONLY TWO BEINGS Mark 13:32 / Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."ONLY TWO BEINGS 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." ONLY TWO BEINGS 2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 1:14, 18 "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. ... v18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 3:16, 18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. v18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" ONLY TWO BEINGS John 8:16, 28, 42 "And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. v28 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. v42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 12:44-45, 49 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. v45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. v49 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.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 14:10, 20, 23, 24 "The words that I speak unto you I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: but the FATHER that dwelleth in me v20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. v23 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. v24 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." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:8 "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." ONLY TWO BEINGS 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." ONLY TWO BEINGS Romans 8:3 "……God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." ONLY TWO BEINGS 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. v23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 5:10, 11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. v11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." ONLY TWO BEINGS Ephesians 3:9 “God….created all things by Jesus Christ.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Hebrews 1:1-2 "God....spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" ONLY TWO BEINGS This is why John 1:3 says: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Other translations say, “Through him (Jesus) all things were made” (NIV) because “God created everything through him” (NLT). ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" ONLY TWO BEINGS 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; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Father, Son and Holy Spirit "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" There are many churches and Christians today who worship the trinity god, because they believe Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7 are speaking of three co-equal and co-eternal beings. But what they all fail to do is actually use the Bible to interpret these two verses. We are told in Isaiah 28 that we are to use the "line upon line" precept when studying the Bible. Which means we are to interpret scripture with scripture, and not with what we "think" something means. So this is what we are going to do on this page regarding Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7. Instead of just "thinking" ourselves what those verses mean, we are going to use scripture to properly interpret them. Let us start with those two Bible verses in question: Matthew 28:19 ...'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' 1 John 5:7 ...'For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.' So let us find out who these 'three' are. I am merely going to provide many scripture verses and then make a small comment at the end of each section. The Father John 17:1-3 ...'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' John 20:17 ...'Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.' 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ...'As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.' Matthew 11:25 ...'At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.' John 4:22-24 ...'Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' John 8:54 ...'Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God.' John 14:1 ...'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions.' Acts 3:13 ...'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.' Acts 4:24-27 ...'And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed.' 2 Corinthians 1:3 ...'Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.' 2 Corinthians 11:31 ...'The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.' Romans 1:7-9 ...'To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with? my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.' Ephesians 1:2-3 ...'Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' Ephesians 4:4-6 ...'There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.' 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ...'For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.' 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 ...'Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.' Philippians 2:11 ...'And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' 1 John 5:20 ...'And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' So as we can see, when using the rest of scripture, that "THE FATHER" is none other than the 'one and only true God' Himself. And He is not just our God and Father, He is also the God and Father of Jesus Christ. So who is the Father? He is the one true God. The Son/Word John 20:31 ...'But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.' Matthew 16:15-17 ...'He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.' John 1:14 ...'And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.' Matthew 17:5 ...'While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.' Mark 1:1 ...'The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.' Mark 3:11 ...'And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, thou art the Son of God.' John 1:18 ...'No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' John 3:16-18 ...'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.' John 5:26 ...'For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.' John 5:43 ...'I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.' John 6:68-69 ...'Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.' John 10:36 ...'Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?' John 11:27 ...'She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.' John 17:1 ...'These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.' John 20:17 ...'Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.' Acts 3:13 ...'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.' Acts 9:19-20 ...'Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.' Romans 1:9 ...'For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.' Romans 8:3 ...'For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.' Galatians 4:4 ...'But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' Colossians 1:13-15 ...'Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.' 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ...'For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.' Hebrews 1:1-5 ...'God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?' Hebrews 4:14 ...'Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.' Hebrews 5:5 ...'So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.' 1 John 1:3 ...'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.' 1 John 3:8 ...'He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' 1 John 4:9 ...'In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.' 1 John 4:15 ...'Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.' 1 John 5:20 ...'And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' 2 John 1:3 ...'Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.' Psalm 2:7 ...'I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.' Proverbs 8:22-30 ...'The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.' (NOTE: 1 Corinthians 1:24 confirms that Christ is 'the wisdom of God') Proverbs 30:4 ...'Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' Micah 5:2 ...'But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.' John 16:27-29 ...'For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, AND am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.' John 17:7-8 ...'Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.' So it is clear that "THE SON" is Jesus Christ, and He is the literal, only begotten Son of God the Father, who is the one true God. Jesus is not the one true God Himself, or the so called 'second person of the trinity'. He is the literal Son of God the Father, who was begotten of the Father in eternity past, as a true Son. This is why the Bible says that God 'SENT' His Son. The Holy Spirit Acts 2:32-33 ...'This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.' Luke 24:49 ...'And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.' John 3:34-35 ...'For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.' John 7:37-39 ...'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)' John 20:21-22 ...'Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' Romans 8:9-10 ...'But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.' 2 Corinthians 3:17 ...'Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' Philippians 1:19 ...'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.' Titus 3:4-6 ...'But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.' Revelation 5:6 ...'And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, HAVING seven horns and seven eyes, WHICH ARE the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.' So the Bible tells us that "THE HOLY SPIRIT" is the Father's own divine Spirit, which He has given to His Son Jesus, and comes to us through Christ, NOT some other 'third being'. Jesus is the one with the Holy Spirit to give us. So who are the 'three' in Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7? They are God the Father, who is the 'only true God'. Jesus Christ, who is the literal, only begotten Son of God the Father. And the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, which He has received from His Father. Jesus Christ comes to us HIMSELF as the Holy Spirit (John 14:18, Revelation 3:20, Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20), not some other unknown 'third being'. This is the truth concerning Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Transforming Knowledge of God Transforming Knowledge of God Proverbs 2:5 – “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” 2 Peter 1:2-3 – “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, v3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” Ephesians 1:17-18 – “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: v18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” 1 Corinthians 12:8 – “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.” God is not a mystery. It is important to have full knowledge of who you are truly worshipping. For those people who follow their clergy that says God is a mystery. What are they missing? What knowledge are they missing? Hosea 4:1-2 – “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Who will we be worshipping? Will we be worshipping a trinity god in heaven and on the new earth? No. We will worship Jehovah who is our heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, “the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10 – “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; v10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 21 – “v1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. v2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. v3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. v4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.v5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. v22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. v23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 22:1, 3 – “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.v3 - And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next The Truth of the Trinity [ trinitytruth.org ] 27-42 (total 42 parts) Is the Father greater than Jesus? What did Jesus mean when He said “my Father is greater than I” considering Paul also said that Jesus is equal with God? There is no contradiction in Scripture, so how do we reconcile these verses below? John 14:28 “You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” 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.” Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” The Greek word (theotes) for Godhead in Colossians 2:9 means the divine nature. Thus the fullness of the divine nature of God dwells in His Son Jesus Christ. And the word “form” in Philippians 2:6 means “shape/nature,” and so Paul is saying that the way Christ is equal with His Father is in “nature” which He inherited being His Son. The word “greater” in John 14:28 refers to position in the same way it does with a human father and son as well as a husband and wife. 1 Corinthians 11:3 states that the head of the woman is man. But does this mean the husband is a superior being to his wife? The answer is an obvious no. She is a human being just as the man is and so they are equal in nature. The husband is greater than his wife only by position. The same applies to a father and son. The father is greater because he was first being the father, and the same applies to our Heavenly Father and His Son. The Father is greater in position in that He was first, but not greater in nature or form as Philippians 2:6 states. For Adventists: “The Father was greater than the Son in that he was first.” — (James White, RH, Jan 4, 1881). “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) So we observe the same concept of being equal in nature, but Christ submitted Himself to the Father as He was greater in that He was first being His Father. We find in these verses the principle of headship and submission established by God as displayed in both marriage and the Godhead. These principles also reveal that God and Christ are a real Father and Son. As Waggoner, James White and Scripture reveals, Christ came after the Father being the Son. However, we also find that the Father has “given” His Son all power and placed everything into His hands. Thus Christ has been given an “exalted position” and has been “made equal” by His Father in power and authority also. But while the Father has made His Son equal, His Father is still greater than Him, and He still submits to His Father. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. And John wrote “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.” John 3:35 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.” — (E.G. White, 8T 268.3). The Trinity doctrine claims the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are 3 co-equal, co-eternal God's. But Ellen White says Christ was MADE EQUAL with His Father and by His Father as Scripture also reveals, again proving this doctrine from Satan a lie. Adam and Eve (man and woman) in fact is a small scale example of the Father and Son. Consider 1 Corinthians 11:3 and the following on Biblical headship. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Ephesians 5:22-24 The divine pattern of Biblical headship defined by the Father and Son reveals important principles. For example, in the same way God is the head of Christ, the husband is the head of his wife, and in like manner, Christ is the head of the Church. And while Adam was made from the dust of the earth, Eve came out of Adam from a rib. There is no logical reason for God to do it this way other than to show us that one being can come out of another and still have the same nature. Thus the example is given of how Christ came out of the Father and has His same divine nature. This also reveals why women's ordination is wrong. For example, the trinity doctrine claims there are three co-equal beings and that any one of the three could have played the role of the Son and died for us. So the trinity doctrine allows for the changing of roles, and by its principle, any in the above table could change roles. Hence man and woman switching roles in the leadership of the Church is no less error than Christ being subject to the Church, or husbands submitting to their wives, or even for the Son of God being head of His Father. They all break the divine pattern laid down by God. Switching any of the above roles changes the order established by God in the example of the Father and His Son. So the Trinitarian view does not follow the divine pattern and heavenly example and has many problems. For example, if the Holy Spirit was a third being, then where does it fit into God's divine pattern? 2 does not = 3 and neither does 3 = 1. Was Jesus Omniscient and Omnipotent on Earth? We find in John 21:17 Peter saying to Christ, “you know all things.” So how are we to understand Jesus saying, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32 . Compare with Matthew 24:36 . So here we have a problem because Jesus is confessing to not knowing something. And Scripture also says, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52 . How do you increase in wisdom when you know all things? And “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8. Was Jesus limited by the human body prepared for Him and had to learn things just as we do? So what did Peter mean? Was He right? Because Jesus did not contradict Him. Or is there some way that Jesus could effectively know anything He needed? We find the answer in many Scriptures such as John 14:26 “the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,” Does this mean we could literally know all things? Can the human mind even contain all the infinite knowledge of God? The point to be made here is there is nothing that the Spirit of God could not teach or reveal to us or His Son. The Father knows all things and so Christ could know whatever was required through the power of the Holy Spirit whether it be the thoughts of others or any knowledge that is required according to the will of God. And it does not stop with the omniscience of the Spirit of God but also His power. In Matthew 12:22-32 we find Jesus casting out a demon. The Pharisees claimed He did it by the power of the devil. But Jesus being fully man said He did it by the Spirit of God. He then informs them that they can speak against the Son of man and be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Why? Because verse 28 says He did this by the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember that Jesus was the Word made flesh and was fully man. The Pharisees were not insulting the Son of man but the Spirit of God by whose power the demon was cast out and hence were blaspheming the Holy Spirit by attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. In any case, Jesus would not be casting out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit unless He had given up His omnipotence for a time now would He? Jesus said “I can of mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30 Note that Matthew 12:22-32 reveals that the unpardonable sin and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Some Trinitarians who do not understand this conclude that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit could be sharing truth on this topic which is clearly not so. But what about Trinitarians? Could they in fact be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? What if the “Spirit of God” is the “Spirit OF God” just as the Bible states, and not something called “god the holy spirit” which the Bible never says? 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 it is a creation of Satan, who would Trinitarians be attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to? They would inadvertently be attributing the work of the Spirit of God to Satan which is in fact the unpardonable sin! You cannot afford to get this wrong. For Adventists: “What constitutes the sin against the Holy Ghost? It is willfully attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit.” — (E.G. White, 5T 634.1, 1889) The Bible reveals a handful of times that the miracles Christ performed while here on earth were done by His Father in heaven. John 11:40-41 indicates it was through His Father that Lazarus was raised. Every great miracle that Jesus did was done in a similar manner by His disciples or Old Testament prophets including walking on water and raising the dead. ( Matthew 14:29 ; John 14:12 ; Acts 20:9-10 ; 1 Kings 17:22 ). This is not a sign they had all power but a sign that God was with them as He was with His Son. After He healed the paralytic man, the crowd, “marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” Matthew 9:8. Peter explains, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38. Jesus also explains, “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14:10 For Adventists: “All the miracles of Christ performed for the afflicted and suffering were, by the power of God, through the ministration of angels.” — (E.G. White, RH, Jan 21, 1873) So Scripture reveals that Christ only knew what He had learned as a man and what His Father revealed to Him through His Spirit. Since our Father in Heaven knows all things, then Christ could also effectively know all things “if” the Spirit of God revealed it to Him. Thus if Jesus did not know the hour of His return it could only be because His Father had not revealed this to Him, and we are not told the reason why this was the case. Scripture shows that Jesus knew the thoughts of others but to be consistent with other Scripture, it had to be through the Holy Spirit. Peter, Elisha and Daniel all had the thoughts of others revealed to them by God also. ( Acts 5:1-4 ; 2 Kings 5:25-27 ; Daniel 2:28-30 ) Some will respond that Jesus did not know in His human nature but knew in His divine nature as the trinity teaches that there is one person subsisting in two natures. Jesus cannot have two minds, one that knew something and another that did not. Unless of course you want to make the absurd claim that mind and body are not correlated. Why is it so hard to accept and understand that the disciples and many others have done all the same miracles that Jesus did by the power of the Holy Spirit ( Romans 15:9 ), and so when Jesus came as a man that He did them the same way? It seems most refuse to accept that their Lord and Saviour gave up a lot when he came as a man, and cannot stand the thought that for a while He was not omnipresent, omniscience and omnipotent. Though most accept Christ gave up His omnipresence, but only because they have no choice as there is no avoiding this fact. However, how many have stopped to consider the incredible love of their Saviour here in that temporarily laying aside these things made an even far greater sacrifice that could have been disastrous in cosmic proportions. Jesus even had to give up His dignity and have dirty diapers changed! By accepting the facts of Scripture, one does not have to go looking for ways of explaining away other Scriptures that show one is in error. We need to be able to harmonize all Scripture and realize that when we have to start trying to jam a square peg into a round hole then we have something wrong. Paul in Philippians 2:5-9 speaks of the sacrifice and humility of Christ in regards to what He gave up coming as a man, even to the point of death, and that we should have the same mind and attitude as Him. The Greek text says He had the form or nature of God but emptied Himself, meaning He laid aside those divine attributes that prevented Him from living and dying as one of us. In having the same form and nature of God, He would never have been tired or suffered pain and other things that go with being in human form. Jesus had everything including immortality, and yet He willingly gave it up sacrificing all for us. But then He made an even greater sacrifice, giving up immortality, He died as a man by one of the most agonizing and drawn out deaths you could possibly imagine. When people refuse to acknowledge what Christ did give up, they also fail to acknowledge the magnitude and the depth of the sacrifice He really did make for us and how it demonstrates the immeasurable love that He and His Father have for us. So what did Jesus get back when He returned to the Father? The fact is we are not specifically told. But we know He got back His omnipresence through the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. For example, Jesus said “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. We also know that Jesus retained the scars in His hands, feet and side ( John 20:25-27 ). We assume He got back everything but we will have to wait until we see Him to find out just how great a sacrifice He and His Father really made in their incredible love for us. Here is one more example to consider that many have overlooked. Revelation 1:1 states, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” This revelation was given to Jesus Christ by God. Why would Christ need His Father to reveal these things to Him if He knew all things? See also Gill's Commentary on John 10:30 in relation to Mark 13:32. This also reveals that Jesus cannot be the one true God the Father as the trinity doctrine claims. Was Jesus always Immortal? The Trinity doctrine teaches that Jesus Christ is co-equal with His Father in every way. Thus it is claimed that since the Father cannot die, then His Son cannot die either. But the Bible says there is only One person who cannot die and He is God the Father. The Bible says when Jesus appears that He will show, “who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.” 1 Timothy 6:15-16. This can only be our Heavenly Father for He is the One whom “No man hath seen... at any time.” John 1:18. The Father is the one “who alone has immortality.” Yet we know that one day we will “put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 So when the Bible says the Father “alone has immortality” it must mean immortality in an absolute and unlimited sense. The Bible reveals that the Father is the only One who cannot die under any circumstances. Jesus was made subject to death and “died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3. Man can die, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20. Angels can die, “everlasting fire,” is “prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41. God said to Satan, “I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee... and never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:18-19. So it is true that the Father is the only person who cannot die under any circumstances, which excludes His Son who tasted “death for every man” Hebrews 2:9. So Christ was not immortal when He was here and the primary reason for Him becoming a human was so that He could die for our sins. The Son of God suffered a real death for our sins. ( Isaiah 53:6 and 1 John 2:2 ). Others claim that Christ came down from heaven and inhabited a human body and only the human body died while the divine being from heaven remained alive. By this we would have to conclude that there was only a human sacrifice made for our redemption. It is unbiblical to say that a human sacrifice is sufficient to redeem mankind or that only half of Christ died. If Christ only pretended to die it takes away the necessity of Him becoming a man and He could have done that without becoming one. The author of Hebrews says He “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.” Hebrews 2:9. Christ Himself made it clear to John that He was dead. Jesus said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:18. Jesus Christ really “died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 For Adventists: “He humbled himself, and took mortality upon him. As a member of the human family, he was mortal.” — (E.G. White, RH, Sept 4, 1900) Early church error Probably the most widely held Christian view of God is the Trinity doctrine which has its origins in the Church of Rome and the council of Nicea. This belief teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God and yet there are not three gods but one God. But the question remains: Is this view found in Scripture? The most commonly accessed Encyclopedia on the Internet is Wikipedia . So a “consensus of Modern exegetes” tell us that both the Old and New Testaments do not explicitly contain the doctrine of the trinity. It came into Christendom from another source outside of Scripture. The Encyclopedia Britannica basically says the same thing as the Wikipedia. Both tell us that the idea of the trinity came after Scripture and from sources outside of Scripture. The Oxford Companion to the Bible says it “cannot be clearly detected within the confines of the canon”? Is that a nice way of saying that the Bible does not teach the doctrine of trinity? The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia and the Encarta Encyclopedia says the doctrine of the trinity is not explicitly taught in the New Testament. Can we base our faith purely on inference alone? If it is a fundamental doctrine in Christianity, it should surely have enough evidence to have become a doctrine! Another two from Encyclopedia of Religion and the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology . If the Bible does not teach this doctrine then where did it come from? And last the International Standard Bible Dictionary . I will leave the reader to define the word “allusion.” Getting to the source of the trinity doctrine. Let's go to the authority which states that it is the source of the idea being the Roman Catholic Church and see if their definition has any Biblical basis. This Roman Catholic source is clear as to the origin of the trinity doctrine. Scripture does not present the idea of the trinity doctrine. It came after the canon of Scripture was closed and was developed in the 4th and 5th centuries. The New Catholic Encyclopedia puts it this way. So do we have one God in three parts, or three gods in one? Is Jesus God the Father? Jesus said that He was not the Father more than 80 times. While remaining one in purpose, Jesus and the Father are clearly two separate and distinct beings as previously seen. 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 persons, or Jesus was an expert ventriloquist. 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) From the title below to the conclusion on this page contains the many arguments that are used to try and prove Jesus is God the Father. Seventh day Adventists should keep the above two quotes in mind while reading the remainder of this page as they apply to every remaining title. Ellen White states many times in many ways that Jesus is not God the Father. Is Jesus the Everlasting Father? The answer lies in the correct Hebrew translation. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible explains, “The Chaldee renders this expression, 'The man abiding forever.' The Vulgate, 'The Father of the future age.' Lowth, 'The Father of the everlasting age.' Literally, it is the Father of eternity.” Thus in the Hebrew text, the phrase is literally “the Father of eternity,” not “the everlasting Father.” And so Isaiah 9:6 is not saying Christ is the Father but He is the Father of all time to come. Young's Literal Translation and the Darby Bible are two of very few that translated it correctly. “For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 YLT “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Darby Jesus created all things and so in like manner He is also the Father of creation ( Hebrews 1:2 ; John 1:3 ; Colossians 1:16-17 ). It is also interesting to note that the Greek Septuagint that Jesus and the apostles quoted from does not contain this phrase. So how did this phrase that was wrongly translated by most find its way into the Hebrew Bible? “For a Child is born to us, and a Son is given to us, whose government is upon His shoulder; and His name is called the Messenger of great counsel; for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to Him.” Isaiah 9:6 Septuagint The Greek Old Testament the Septuagint that Christ quoted from reveals what Isaiah 9:6 most likely originally said. It was translated by 70-72 Jewish scholars around 300-200 BC and hence came from the most ancient and reliable manuscripts available. The Hebrew Old Testament however was established by the Massoretes in the 6th century AD. It is known that many textual corruptions and additions crept into the Hebrew text between the 6th and 7th centuries. So where did this additional text in Isaiah 9:6 come from that was not even translated correctly by most modern translators? The one thing that no one can deny is that only one of these translations can be correct. But which one? The Septuagint that came from the oldest manuscripts. Or the later that has known corruptions that crept in between the 6th and 7th centuries. I and My Father are One? In John 10:30, Christ proclaimed, “I and my Father are one.” This would have to be the most misquoted and misunderstood verse used by Trinitarians today. Many conclude that this means Jesus and the Father are the same being as per the Trinity doctrine. And yet this verse should never be misunderstood as Jesus explained exactly what he meant later on in John. So this is a perfect example of how so many Trinitarians have been indoctrinated with preconceived ideas. Some of the confusion regarding the number of beings in the Godhead comes from a misunderstanding of the word “one.” Simply put, “one” in the Bible does not always mean numerical quantity. Depending on the Scripture, “one” often means unity. We see this principle established very early in Scripture. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. “One flesh” here does not mean that a married couple melt into one human after their wedding, but rather they are to be united into one family. Romans 12:5 says, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” So does that make us all one single Christian? You would have to say yes if you follow the Trinitarian formula! The Jewish leaders were outraged by this statement from Jesus in John 10:30 and sought to execute Him because they thought Jesus was claiming equality with God. “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” John 10:33. Three verses on we find Jesus clarifies and said that His claim was to be the Son of God. “Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 10:36 Thus Jesus did not mean He was the same person as He clarified and because the Father is a distinct person from the Son, and the Son a distinct person from the Father. As Gill's Commentary on John 10:30 states, this is further shown from the use of the verb plural, “I and my Father” εσμεν, “we are one.” In any case, we do not have to speculate what Jesus meant when He said He and His Father are one, because the words of Christ later in the book of John reveal exactly what He meant. Christ meant one in unity as He prayed that His disciples might be one in the same way He and His Father are one. This prayer did not contemplate one disciple with twelve heads, but twelve disciples working together in unity. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:” John 17:22 “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:11 John 14:11 is also often misquoted to imply that the Father and Son are the same one God, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me;” Based on that faulty understanding, I am not sure how one would explain that we are also in Him and He in us. “At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” John 14:20. “That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us:” John 17:21 And since the Trinity doctrine teaches 3 co-equal beings, then according to this doctrine, John 10:30 should have said, “I and my Father and the Holy Spirit are one.” But not so. There are three entities in the Godhead but only two literal beings. 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) “Christ prayed that his followers might be one as he and the Father were one.” — (E.G. White, RH, May 29, 1888) He that has seen Me has seen the Father In John 14:9 Jesus said “He that has seen me has seen the Father.” Did Christ mean He was the Father or that He was “the express image of His Father,” and so has the same nature, attributes and glory? In other words, he that sees one, sees the other: Below are comments from two theologians. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on John 14:9 says: “ He that hath seen me; not with the eyes of his body, but with the eyes of his understanding; he that has beheld the perfections of the Godhead in me: Hath seen the Father; the perfections which are in him also; for the same that are in me are in him, and the same that are in him are in me: I am the very IMAGE of him, and am possessed of the same nature, attributes, and glory, that he is; so that he that sees the one, sees the other:” Christ is the express image of His Father. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible on 2 Corinthians 4:4 says: “ Who is the image of God - Christ is called the image of God: (1) In respect to his divine nature, his exact resemblance to God in his divine attributes and perfections; see Col_1:15; and Heb_1:3; and, (2) In his moral attributes as Mediator, as showing forth the glory of the Father to people. He “resembles” God, and in him we see the divine glory and perfections embodied, and shine forth. It is from his “resemblance” to God in all respects that he is called his image; and it is through him that the divine perfections are made known to people. It is an object of special dislike and hatred to Satan that the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on people, and fill their hearts. Satan hates that image; he hates that people should become like God; and he hates all that has a resemblance to the great and glorious Yahweh.” Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Hebrews 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” A son is to a greater or less degree a reproduction of his father. He has to some extent the features and personal characteristics of his father. Not perfectly of course 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. Thus Jesus was saying He is the express image of His Father and has the same nature, attributes and glory. Christ could not have meant literally of course as Scripture informs us that, “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 For Adventists: “Christ emphatically impressed on the disciples the fact that they could see the Father by faith only. God cannot be seen in external form by any human being. Christ alone can represent the Father to humanity; [John 14:9 quoted]” — (E.G. White, RH, Oct 19, 1897) According to the trinity teaching, this verse should have said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father and the Holy Spirit.” But again, not so. While there are three entities in the Godhead, there are only two literal beings. The third is their Spirit. Did Thomas believe that Jesus was the Father? John 20:28 says, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” One can really only speculate as to why Thomas said what he did, but being dubbed “doubting” Thomas, it would be understandable if his statement was one made in a moment of shock and disbelief. Thomas was a Jew and may have been using a mode of expression common to the Old Testament in which accredited representatives of God are referred to as “God.” The Hebrew word for God is “elohim” and can refer to any of the following for example: Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions a) rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power: b) divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels. So Thomas was not calling Jesus God in the Trinitarian sense but was probably addressing Him as one who reflected divine power and majesty or a ruler. If this was not the case, then the following is the most probable reason for what Thomas said. Staying within the bounds of proper grammar we find that two different individuals are being addressed in the expression “ο κυριος μου και ο θεος μου - My Lord and my God.” However, the expression “ειπεν αυτω - said unto him” means only one person is being spoken to. So while trusting the grammar, we need to find an interpretation which does not violate it. This can be done if we understand that while Thomas spoke these words to Jesus, he was addressing both Jesus and the Father who is in Jesus. The actual context supports this understanding which is found by looking at the last known conversation Jesus had with doubting Thomas and Phillip. John 14:5-10 “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither you goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth you know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 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? Believest you 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.” In the presence of Thomas, Phillip tells Jesus that seeing the Father is enough for him. Jesus responds to Thomas and Phillip saying that to see Him (Jesus) is to see the Father because the Father is in Him. But Thomas still did not understand. The next known conversation Thomas had with Jesus is the passage of John 20:28. Thomas now understands that the Father works through Jesus, even raising Jesus from the dead, and thus to see Jesus is to see the Father, hence the exclamation cry from Thomas, “my lord (i.e. Jesus) and my God (i.e. the Father).” Thomas did not address Jesus as his “Lord and God.” We also know that it is not possible for doubting Thomas to be declaring Jesus is the one God from the following. A few verses earlier John records that the risen Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and told her, “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.” John 20:17 Jesus said His God is His Father and that His God is also Mary's God. Did Jesus tell Mary that He was her God? To the contrary, Jesus was very specific in stating that His God was also her God. And since the risen Jesus called the Father “My God,” how can Jesus be God if He has a God? Indeed John could not have meant that Thomas was calling Jesus “my God” in the Trinitarian sense when John had just recorded that Jesus called the Father “My God.” Thomas could not be calling Jesus God because John just wrote that Jesus ascended to the same God Mary and Thomas both have. And further, only one verse after the confession of Thomas, John concludes by writing, “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed … but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” John 20:30-31 John did not write “that you may believe that Jesus was God.” If that were so, it would have been far greater for John to proclaim that Jesus is God rather than that He is the Son of God. Can God only forgive sins? The deception of some Trinitarians is easily seen when their focus is on the words of a Pharisee while being blind to the words of Christ Himself. Some claim that Jesus is the Father because these Pharisees said that God only can forgive sins. Mark 2:7 “Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” But these Pharisees whom Christ said will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20; Matthew 23:13) did not know or accept that Jesus was the Son of God who had been given authority by His Father to do so. Three verses later Jesus tells us that He has been given authority to forgive sins. Mark 2:10 “But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins.” And not just power to forgive sins. Jesus also said “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. And John wrote “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.” John 3:35 Note that “all authority” and “all power” is “given” to the Son! If the Son is God as the Father is God, and the Son is almighty as the Father is, then how can the Son be “given” anything if He is God? How can God be “given” that which He has always possessed? God does not depend on anyone or anything so that it has to be “given” to Him. But we do see that Jesus had to be “given” all things into His hand just as Jesus was given authority to forgive sins by His Father. Should we worship God alone? Some claim that Matthew 4:10 says that God alone should be worshipped, and since Jesus is worshipped, they say the Son must be the Father. Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, andhim only shall you serve.” When Jesus said, “for it is written,” He was quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 from the Septuagint (LXX) which says, “You shall fear the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve;” Deuteronomy 6:13 LXX The first thing to note is that technically, these verses do not say to “worship God alone.” These verses say that God only should you serve. However, there is an element of worship to the word serve in this verse. In any case, since Jesus taught that we should serve others, this is obviously not what He was saying. And since the Father commanded worship of His Son, that cannot be what He was saying either. “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Hebrews 1:6 And not forgetting that Philippians 2:5-6 states that Jesus is “equal” with His Father in nature and hence is fully divine, and so of course He is worthy of worship! Jesus also said, “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 So what then was Jesus saying to Satan that so many have misunderstood? It is not hard to work out. In Matthew 4:10 Jesus said, “for it is written.” So Jesus is referring to an example of something in the Old Testament Scriptures. To find the answer, all we have to do is look at what Jesus was referring to which will apply to what He was telling Satan. Note the reference. Deuteronomy 6:13-15 “You shall fear the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve; and you shall cleave to Him, and by His name you shall swear. Go not after other gods, of the gods of the nations round about you, for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God, lest the Lord your God be very angry with you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth.” The issue could not be more obvious. It was about “idolatry” which is false worship as in worshipping false gods. To worship Christ and serve Him is not idolatry. Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us that Satan wanted to be worshipped like the most high God. Satan wanted Jesus to fall down and worship him as a god and so Jesus quoted Old Testament Scripture to him that says you should not worship or “go after other gods.” So the words of Christ have to be taken in the context of what He was quoting. So often Christians neglect the context of a passage and apply specific words in a way that was never intended. Thus we are to worship God, not false gods, and so this does not exclude the worship of His Son who is equal with His Father. And we are to serve God, not false gods, and so this does not exclude serving Christ. Did Jesus raise Himself from the Dead? Those who say Jesus must be God based on John 10:18 where they claim Christ raised Himself from the dead have failed to notice that Scripture at least 22 times states that His Father raised Him from the dead. The Greek word “exousia” translated “power” in the KJV means “authority,” “jurisdiction,” liberty,” power,” “right,” and “strength” and should have been translated as “authority” as has the NIV and more than 20 other translations. “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:18 KJV “No-one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:18 NIV Correctly translated this verse takes on a whole new meaning with no apparent contradiction as all the following state it was God who raised His Son from the dead. Note that most verses are truncated. Acts 2:24 “Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death:”Acts 2:32 “This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” Acts 3:15 “And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead;”Acts 4:10 “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,”Acts 5:30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.”Acts 10:40 “Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;”Acts 13:30 “But God raised him from the dead:”Acts 13:33 “God has fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus again;”Acts 13:34 “And as concerning that He raised him up from the dead,”Acts 13:37 “But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”Acts 17:31 “He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised him from the dead.”Romans 4:24 “if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;”Romans 6:4 “Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,”Romans 10:9 “believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.”1 Corinthians 6:14 “And God has both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us”1 Corinthians 15:15 “we have testified of God that He raised up Christ:”2 Corinthians 4:14 “He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus,”Galatians 1:1 “by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;”Ephesians 1:20 “Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead,”Colossians 2:12 “through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.”1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,”1 Peter 1:21 “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead,” Does Isaiah 43:11 or Hosea 13: 4 prove Jesus is God? Since these two verses say that there is no saviour but God and verses like 1 John 4:14 say that Jesus is our Saviour, then the argument is that Jesus must be the one God. But this argument does not hold water and is clutching at straws. Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour.” Hosea 13:4 “But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Saviour except me.” The Hebrew word translated “saviour” in these verses is most commonly translated as “save,” “saved” and is also translated as “deliverer” and “delivered.” In Moses' day God saved His people from the power of Egypt, and in Isaiah's day He saved them from the power of Assyria. There was no one else who could save and deliverer them from these powers and so they had no other saviour but God as the context clearly reveals. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible explains Isaiah 43, “This chapter ... refers mainly to the promised deliverance from Babylon. The people of God are still contemplated by the prophet as suffering the evils of their long and painful captivity, and his object is to comfort them with the assurances of deliverance.” And of course Hosea 13:4 refers to when God “saved” and “delivered” His people from the Egyptians. So Jesus is our Saviour of course. But the context of God being the saviour of His people in these verses is about saving them from captivity from Babylon and Egypt. Not saving them from their sin as Christ has done for us. Before Abraham was I am Another verse brought into question is John 8:58 . Note that the words “I am” also mean “I exist.” Some claim that Christ was declaring Himself to be God in John 8:58 because He used the words “I am.” This is erroneously based on the words “I am” being a reference to Exodus 3:14 . From this they draw the conclusion that Christ was alluding to a divine name and thereby telling the Jews that He was God. Trinitarians further try and support their claim by saying this is why the Jews picked up stones to kill Him. But this was due to many things Jesus said to them throughout John chapter 8 that slowly brought them to anger. The final straw being Jesus claiming seniority over Abraham who they said was their father. So Jesus claimed greater authority than the patriarch and hence was also claiming to be greater than them. The phrase “I am” in John 8:58 comes from two Greek words “egō” and “eimi.” The Strong's Definitions are:“ egō : “I” (only expressed when emphatic): - I, me.”“ eimi: I exist (used only when emphatic): - am, have been, X it is I, was.” How would you expect Jesus to respond to this comment? “Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” John 8:57 Not knowing Jesus existed before Abraham, the Pharisees are saying how could you have seen Abraham because you are not yet 50 years old. Since the Greek words for “I am” also mean I exist or existed, what is the obvious translation and response from Christ who existed before Abraham? “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58Or “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I existed.” John 8:58 Both are valid translations and the majority of Bible translations agree with the last one in fact with good reason! So “I exist”, “I have been” and “I was” are other possible translations which have all been used by various Bible translators for John 8:58 as well as elsewhere in the KJV. For example: ego eimi has been translated to “I was” in Luke 19:22 “You knewest that I was (ego eimi) an austere man,” These words formed a phrase that was in very common use by Jews and Christians and in New Testament Scriptures in the first century. It was not the name of any deity, be it the God of the Bible or any other god. It was never understood by Jews or Christians as declaring one to be God. If it were understood that way, you can be certain that the Jews would have never applied it to themselves as they did so frequently! In the following examples Peter, Paul, Gabriel and Zacharias all said, “I am” (ego eimi). But none of them were claiming to be God. Luke 1:18 “And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am (ego eimi) an old man,” Luke 1:19 “And the angel answering said unto him, I am (ego eimi) Gabriel,” John 1:27 “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am (ego eimi) not worthy to unloose.” Acts 10:21 “Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am (ego eimi) he whom you seek:” Acts 21:39 “Paul said, I am (ego eimi) a man which am a Jew of Tarsus,” And the blind man also identifies himself by saying, I am. John 9:9 “Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am (ego eimi) he.” None of the Jews saw this man as declaring himself to be God either. Here are all the other verses where Jesus said ego eimi in the Gospels. Not one can be understood as Jesus claiming to be God. Matthew 24:5, Mark 13:6, Luke 21:8 “I am Christ”, John 8:24, 28, 13:19, 18:5, 6, 8, “I am he (Jesus),” Matthew 20:15 “I am good,” Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always,” Mark 14:62 “Jesus said I am (the Son of God),” Luke 22:27 “I am among you as one who serveth,” Luke 22:70 “You say that I am (the Son of God),” John 6:35, 48, 51 “I am the bread of life,” John 7:34, 12:26, 17:24, 14:3 “Where I am,” John 8:12 “I am the light of the world,” John 8:18 “I am the one that bear witness,” John 8:23 “I am from above,” and “I am not of this world,” John 10:7, 9 “I am the door,” John 10:11, 14 “I am the good shepherd,” John 11:25 “I am the resurrection,” John 14:6 “I am the way,” John 15:1, 5 “I am the true vine,” John 17:14, 16 “I am not of the world,” John 18:37 “Thou sayest that I am a king.” At the end of Christ's ministry when news of Him had spread far and wide, who did the Jews understand Christ to be saying He was and what was the charge they brought against Him? Matthew 26:63 “the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 27:40, 43 “If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Mark 14:61 “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am [ego eimi]:” Mark 15:39 “when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.” Luke 22:67, 70 “Are you the Christ? tell us. ... 70 Then said they all, Are you then the Son of God? And he said unto them, You say that I am [ego eimi].” John 19:7 “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Twice in the verses above Jesus responded, “I am” (ego eimi) and yet He was not saying He was God but confirming that He was the Son of God. The Jews clearly never understood Jesus to be declaring Himself God. The outrage would have been heard far and wide if He had. There is no record anywhere in the entire New Testament of anyone even asking Him if He was God. So how could the Jews have seen Him to be saying He was God in John 8:58? It is also notable that the words “I AM THAT I AM” in Exodus 3:14 have been variously understood for centuries. The Vulgate translates it as “I am who am.” The Septuagint to “I am he who exists.” The Targum of Jonathan and the Jerusalem Targum paraphrase the words as “He who spake, and the world was; who spake, and all things existed.” The original words literally signify, “I will be what I will be.” A comparison of Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58 using the Greek Old Testament the Septuagint, reveals that God said, “I am the being (ego eimi ho ohn),” and Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am (prin abraam genesthai ego eimi).” So the divine name is actually “The being (ho ohn)”, not “I am (ego eimi).” This is further proven by the end of Exodus 3:14 which says “The being (ho ohn) has sent me to you.” It does not say “I am (ego eimi) has sent me to you.” No matter how it is translated into English, “ho ohn” is not the same as “ego eimi.” So there is no connection between “I AM” in Exodus and “I am” in John. In no way does John 8:58 equate Jesus to God except by biased inference based on weak translation and bad grammar. Below are a few examples of how John 8:58 should have been translated. There are in fact over forty translations that translated this correctly. See the meaning of I am in John 8:58 for detailed information and more translations. “The absolute truth is that I was in existence before Abraham was ever born!” — (The Living Bible)“Jesus answered, before Abraham existed, I existed.” — (The Clarified New Testament)“In truth I tell you,” replied Jesus, “before Abraham existed I was.” — (Twentieth Century New Testament)“Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!” — (New Living Translation)“Jesus said to them, I am telling the truth: I was alive before Abraham was born!” — (International Bible Translators) The Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End Some believe that the words Alpha and Omega found in Revelation 1:8 , 11 ; 21:6 and 22:13 means that Christ is without beginning or end but it does not say that. It says that Christ is the beginning and end of something. Not only that, but a beginning is the origin of something and an end is the termination of something. Since when does “always” have a beginning and what good is eternal life if it has an end? Many Christians have the wrong concept of the word beginning in Scripture. Remember that God had no beginning and has always existed. The “Alpha” is the “first” letter of the Greek Alphabet and hence is the “beginning” of the Alphabet, and “Omega” is the “last” letter of the Greek Alphabet and hence is the “end” of the Alphabet. So these terms are simply referring to the beginning and to the end of something, but what? Let's not make any assumptions and look at what Scripture does say and what these words meant to the Jews. Note that every single verse with a reference to the Alpha and Omega without fail follows a reference to the second coming of Christ and the “end” of the world. This is not a coincidence. Christ created this world and brought about its beginning, and He will be there in its end at His second coming and will bring about its destruction. Thus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last as He states in Revelation 22:13 . All three phrases mean the same thing. In Revelation 1:17-18 we find, “I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” Who is the Alpha and Omega (the first and the last) that was dead and is alive for evermore? It is Christ. Note also that Revelation 21:1-8 and 22:12-14 while speaking of the end immediately reveal that those who keep the Commandments get to eat of the tree of life, and that the sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters and liars perish. Note how Revelation 21:7 references Revelation 2:7, which in turn references Revelation 22:14 in regards to those who get to eat from the tree of life, which are those who keep the Commandments of God. So we find a reference to the end of this world and the second coming of Christ before the words in question while directly after these words are two more things that happen directly after the end. That is too much evidence to be coincidental. And since we are at the end of the Bible and dealing with the end, then that is why these verses only refer to the “end.” So if the “end” is referring to the end of this world than the “beginning” obviously refers to the beginning of this world, which we find in the beginning of the Bible such as Genesis 1:1 and references to the first chapter of Genesis. So everything we have seen so far reveals that these verses are referring to the second coming of Christ and the end of this world where the faithful who kept the Commandments of God get to eat from the tree of life while others perish. Note Clarke's Commentary on Revelation 1:8 and how these words were used and understood by the Jews. Did they see these words to mean that Christ has always existed and is God? This of course would also contradict Proverbs 8 that says Christ was brought forth and so would not be possible anyway. So as the Jews understood on the meaning of these words, from the beginning and first book of the Bible to the end and lastbook of the Bible, Jesus encompasses all things. Thus the Jews who actually knew the meaning of these words disagree with the claim made by Trinitarians. The beginning and the end referred to in these passages is the beginning of this created world by Christ, while the end is the second coming of Christ and the end of this world when a New Heaven and Earth are created. Christ brought about the beginning of this world and He also brings about its end. Barnes Commentary on Revelation 22:13 also confirms what Scripture reveals in this respect. Considering these verses in Revelation that state the beginning and the end are referring to the creating and beginning of this world, consider now Genesis 1:1 , Proverbs 8:23 , John 1:1-3 , Ephesians 3:9 and Hebrews 1:10 . Thus all references to the beginning in this context is consistent throughout Scripture and further supports the meaning of the words Alpha and Omega. For Adventists: “Christ says, “I am the true witness. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” — (E.G. White, 1SAT, 231.3) “even from Genesis to Revelation. Christ is the Alpha, the first link, and the Omega, the last link, of the gospel chain, which is welded in Revelation.” — (E.G. White, 10MR 171.1) “He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” — (E.G. White, 1888, 783.2) “And so the statement that He is the beginning or head of the creation of God means that in Him creation had its beginning; that, as He Himself says, He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Rev. 21:6; 22:13. He is the source whence all things have their origin.” — (E.J. Waggoner, CAHR, p. 20, 1890) Conclusion Many are confused and do not know who they are worshipping or who abides in them. Is it a three in one god or a real Father and Son? And is the Holy Spirit God the Spirit or the Spirit of God through whom the Son comes to us? Jesus included Himself when He said, “we know what we worship” John 4:22. He then explained who He worships. He said, “the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Jesus worships His Father along with all “true worshipers” John 4:23. Jesus worships His Father because His Father is His God. Jesus said to Mary after His resurrection, “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.” John 20:17. Jesus told His disciples that His God is the same God as their God. He also explained who this God is being the Father. He told the disciples that His Father is also our Father, and His God is also our God. Many are clearly confused. You often hear, “We thank you O Father for coming down and dying for our sins.” And then you hear people closing the prayer “in Jesus name.” Does it make sense to pray to Jesus in His own name? He is our mediator, and He told us to pray to the Father in Jesus' name ( Luke 11:2 ; John 16:23 ; Ephesians 5:20 ). You hear people pray to the Father and end with, “in your name.” The Bible says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. We are to pray to God, the Father, in the name of our mediator Christ Jesus. It would appear that people who confuse the Biblical distinctions and positions of the Father and Son do not know who they are worshiping and hence are not worshiping in spirit and in truth. The Bible states many times that Jesus is the literal Son of God. But the trinity doctrine says no, they are just role playing. And so the personality of the Father and Son is destroyed. God is no longer a real Father and Christ is no longer a real Son. This is Satan's plan to have Christians deny the Father and Son and to obtain the worship he has always desired. It is Christ who Comforts us and both He and His Father make their abode in us through His Spirit. John 14:16-23 . So is the trinity doctrine true or false? The testimony of Scripture is that there is but one God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ and their Holy Spirit being the presence and power of God. The Father and Son not only created us, but loved us and devised an amazing plan to save a lost world from sin to restore us to His presence in paradise. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

独一真神中文事工（One True God Chinese Ministry)旨在传扬独一真神和祂独生儿子耶稣基督的现代真理。这是启示录三天使所传的永远福音之基础与核心。作为基督复临安息日会信徒，我们站在圣经和预言之灵的平台上，坚决反对基本信仰第二条所提倡的三位一体或三合一神论的谬道。 *2024 Camp Meeting 免费 参加 帳棚大會專頁 *Camp Meeting Page 线上聚会 安息日 早上聚会开始时间 9:00 AM CST (UTC+8) 下午研究开始时间 14:00 PM CST (UTC +8) 安息日流程表及介绍 星期二祷告会 晚上聚会开始时间 19:00 PM CST (UTC +8) 事工公告栏 网站重要更新公告栏 22/3 将举行线上谦卑礼和圣餐礼 https://onetruegodchimin.com/service#communion 张贴日期: 22/11 /2024 大家好，在22月3日的安息日，我们将在线上崇拜时举行谦卑礼圣餐礼。欲参加的弟兄姐妹请自行烘烤无酵饼和预备葡萄汁。请大家预备身心来领受主的圣餐，认罪悔改，并纪念上帝儿子伟大的牺牲。愿上帝赐福每一位。 30/11 将举行线上圣餐礼 https://onetruegodchimin.com/service#communion 张贴日期: 22/11 /2024 大家好，在11月30日的安息日，我们将在线上崇拜时举行圣餐礼。欲参加的弟兄姐妹请自行烘烤无酵饼和预备葡萄汁。请大家预备身心来领受主的圣餐，认罪悔改，并纪念上帝儿子伟大的牺牲。愿上帝赐福每一位。 5/10 安息日将进行联合崇拜 Zoom 链接 张贴日期: 30/9 /2024 在5/10 的安息日将与世界各地的独一真神弟兄姐妹进行联合崇拜。当天，我们全体人员都会在完成安息日学课后参加Restitution Ministries Philippines的Zoom线上会议，当天的崇拜将由我们的事工主持。 5/10 安息日学课安排: 原本在9:30AM开始的学课将会提早在9:00AM进行。大家最早可在8:45AM加入我们的Google Meet 会议。 5/10 联合崇拜安排: 大家可透过以下或标题的 Zoom 链接参加 Restitution Ministries Philippines 的线上会议，开始时间为10:30AM。 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6637128260?pwd=LytWblFhQnloVFM5SkVvd0dTblplUT09 Meeting ID: 663 712 8260 Passcode: 000000 *请注意，整个联合崇拜都会以英语进行。 10/8/2024 新增[2024 帐棚大会]专页 新增[English Sites]专页 7/4/2024 [聚会与活动]页面已新增祷告会部份 27/1/2024 [安息日学课]页面已新增[第三位天使的信息]部分 27/12/2023 -新增 [安息日真理] 专题研究页面 16/8/2023 -[基本原则] 页面已新增中文翻译版本 4/8/2023 -[聚会与活动]页面已新增安息日学课部份 -[学习资源]选单已新增[安息日学课]页面 14/7/2023 [三位一体相关研究] 所有旧网站的三位一体相关文章已整理好并上传到页面。 6/7/2023 [证道]的影片播放器已新增标签和搜寻功能 20/6/2023 -首页已新增公告栏 -[聚会与活动]页面已新增圣餐礼部份 26/5/2023 新网站推出，各页面将持续更新更多内容 介绍 Google Meet链接