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- God Is Not a Trinity (3 parts)
All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next God Is Not a Trinity (3 parts) God is not a trinity (1) What Does the Bible Say? Revelation 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Who is this God? Bible evidence- THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD Mark 12:29, 32, 34 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: … And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he … And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.” 1 Corinthians 8:4 “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.” WHO IS THIS GOD? 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.” John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Revelation 21:22 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” 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.” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 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.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; whenhe shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God maybe all in all.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.” WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS AND GOD? 1 John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 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. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 4:9, 10 “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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 1 John 5:5 “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” John 8:42 “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.” John 5:18 “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”- 1 John 5:1 “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 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?” 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?” Mark 5:7 “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” Hebrews 1:4, 5 “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?” Proverbs 8:22-25 “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 broughtforth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.” Proverbs 8:30 “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.”What does the Bible say about God and Jesus? Ephesians 1:17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” 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 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”2 Corinthians 11:31 “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.” Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Hebrews 1:9 “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” MANY SCRIPTURES SPEAK OF GOD THE FATHER NONE SPEAK OF THE TERMINOLOGY GOD THE SON OR GOD THE SPIRIT. Titus 1:4 “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:3 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father,and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 6:23 “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”Philippians 2:11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the fore knowledge of God the Father,through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”-John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”Jude 1:1 “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.”WHO SITS ON THE THRONE OF THE UNIVERSE? Matthew 5:34 “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne.” Matthew 23:22 “And he that shall swear by heaven,sweareth by the throne of God,and by him that sitteth thereon.” Revelation 4:2 “And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” Revelation 7:10 “And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” JESUS’ THRONE IS THE THRONE OF DAVIDHebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Luke 1:32, 33 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Acts 2:30 “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.” DID CHRIST RAISE HIMSELF FROM THE DEAD? Acts 4:10 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” Acts 5:30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace,that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”JESUS HAS ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY BUT BY WHAT RIGHT DOES HE POSSESS THIS? Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”1 Corinthians 15:27, 28 “For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”THOUGHT QUESTION:IF JESUS IS GOD THE FATHER: HOW CAN THE APOSTLE SAY JESUS SAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Luke 22:69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Act 2:33 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. Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. God is not a trinity (2) JESUS NEVER TAUGHT A THIRD GOD OR A TRINITY. Who is the "Another Comforter in John 14-> When Jesus was almost ready to leave His disciples, He said to them, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me, and as I said unto the Jews,whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say unto you”. John 13:33. Peter asked, “Lord, whither goest thou?” Jesus answered him, “Whither I go thou canst not go; thou canst not follow now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.” “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?” John 13:36-37 The disciples could not rejoice when they heard this. Their Master and Lord, their beloved Teacher and Friend, He was dearer to them than life. To Him they had looked for help in all their difficulties, for comfort in their sorrow and disappointments. Now He was to leave them, a lonely dependent company. Dark fore-bodings filled their hearts. Jesus saw their fears and said, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you… and whither I go, ye know and the way ye know.” John 14:1-4. Thomas questioned, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?” v5. Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” v6. After further explanation, Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever.” John 14:16. Another Comforter? Would the Father send someone else to comfort them? Jesus continued telling the disciples that the ‘other’ Comforter would abide with them forever, “even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16.17. The disciples were even more confused. They knew this comforter?He dwelt with them? Who was He? Jesus answered their unspoken thoughts. “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” v18 They were still confused. If Jesus was coming back to them, why did He say another comforter? At first glance, ‘another comforter’ may seem to imply that a completely different person would comfort the disciples, but Jesus clearly stated that He would come to them. We may also be confused, but knowing Jesus does not lie or contradict Himself, we realise there must be something different about Him when He comes. In the Scriptures there is an example where the word ‘another’ does not mean another person in the fullest sense of the word, but a change in the original person. “And the spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man”. 1 Samuel 10:6. In this experience, Saul became a different person in that he was filled with the Spirit and began to prophesy; he was not another person in the common understanding of the word. This illustration gives us a principle we can apply to Jesus’ words -- when He comes to the disciples, there will be something different about Him. Instead of being in the flesh, as another Comforter, He will be in the “the Spirit”. John 14:16.17. It is by the divine Spirit that Jesus and the Father are closely united, and by that same Spirit, the Father and Son are intimately connected with those who love and obey Him. Jesus said, “At that day [when the Spirit is sent] ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:20.21. [John 14:10.11. 17:21-23] Judas (not Iscariot) asked, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” John 14:22 Jesus replied, “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. 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.” John 14:23.24. Clearly the world will not see Christ because it does not desire Him. Those who refuse the love of God can not have the close relationship promised to those who love and obey Him. The disciples still failed to understand Christ’s words in their spiritual sense, and again He explained their meaning. By the Spirit, He said, He would manifest Himself to them. Remember, Jesus has said He will manifest (or reveal) Himself to His faithful ones, but not to the world, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God… because spiritual things are spiritually discerned”. 1 Corinthians 2:14. In his conversation with the disciples about the coming of the Comforter [and subsequent lessons], Jesus did not speak openly, for He stated, “These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs [margin parables]; but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.” John 16:25. The disciples had been educated to accept the teaching of the rabbis as the voice of God, and it still held a power over their minds, and moulded their sentiments. Many of His lessons seemed almost lost upon them. Jesus saw that they did not lay hold of the real meaning of His words. He compassionately promised that the Holy Spirit should recall these sayings to their minds. And He had left unsaid many things that could not be comprehended by the disciples. These also would be opened to them by the Spirit. In His discourse about the Comforter, Jesus at times used the personal pronoun ‘I’, which is grammatically the ‘first person’. But in the main, He spoke in the ‘third person’, as if speaking about another person. On His walk to Emmaus after the resurrection, Jesus listened to the two travellers speak of events that had taken place in Jerusalem three days earlier. Then He said to them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” Luke 24:25.26. Jesus did not identify Himself as the Christ, but spoke in the ‘third person’, expounding unto them “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”. v27. On many occasions during His ministry Jesus spoke of “the Son of man”. Matthew 25:31. Mark 8:31. Luke 9:22. John 3:14. This is speaking in the ‘third person’, although in this instance, everyone knew He was referring to Himself. Many Bible passages are written in this manner. A well known one is Isaiah 53. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed….” Isaiah 53:3.5. The Jewish nation, in their rejection of Christ, have no idea of the identity of this ‘suffering servant’, as they call him. Some Jews believe it refers to Israel, but not all verses are appropriate. Many know it identifies Jesus Christ, and precious souls are surrendering to Him as their Saviour. Therefore, when we see Jesus speaking in the ‘third person’, we should not be surprised. It may be more difficult to understand, but obviously Jesus wanted it that way. Parables need interpreting. Prophecy needs de-coding. Some prophecies have more than one fulfilment, others have two blended together. Sometimes symbols are not readily identified, and we must search and pray. The promise is that the Holy Spirit will instruct and teach us – if we are willing to learn the truth. #Let us consider what Jesus said to His disciples point by point: 1. Jesus is going away. 2. He will ask the Father to send the Comforter. 3. It will be another Comforter. 4. The Comforter is the Spirit of truth. 5. The world can not receive this Comforter. 6. The world can not see Him or know Him. 7. The disciples know the Comforter. 8. The Comforter is dwelling with them. 9. The Comforter will be in them later. 10. The disciples will not be left alone. 11. Jesus will come to them. 12. Jesus will manifest Himself to His disciples. 13. The Father and the Son will make their abode in those who love and obey Jesus. 2 Corinthians 6:16. #Our only conclusion can be that Jesus will return from heaven in Spirit to teach each individual disciple the things they could not understand while He was present with them in the flesh. Jesus said to His disciples, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” John 14:28 Why should the disciples rejoice that Jesus was leaving them? One christian's writer writes-> “Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit, the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high.” The Desire of Ages p669. Jesus knew His disciples needed His reassuring presence. They were still weak in faith. He alone understood that the promise could be realised only if He returned to His Father, for then He could return in Spirit to be with each one of them personally. Let us praise God that Jesus Christ, bearing a glorified humanity, is interceding for us before the throne of God, and presenting the merits of His sacrifice on our behalf. At the same time, He is working upon the earth in Spirit, but as the Spirit, He does not plead His blood, instead He works on our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. "While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church." The Desire of Ages 166.2 “And when He is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment… I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” John 16:8.12.13. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26.27. Of course we do not understand the nature of the Spirit, nor do we understand how Christ can work in two places at the same time, one in the flesh and one in the Spirit. But we do not need to understand, we only need to believe. According to the Bible, Jesus did not send another co-equal Being to represent Him on earth, instead He came Himself. Christ is His own representative. God is not a trinity (3) So who is GOD? When GOD is mentioned in the Bible, does this refer to three persons or is it referring to one specific person? Let’s us look at what Scripture says. Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: When the scribe asked JESUS “Which is the first commandment of all?”, what was JESUS’ answer. Mark 12:29-30 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. JESUS just quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4,5. This quote from JESUS also goes together with the first commandment. Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In Acts 17:24, who is the LORD of heaven and earth? Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 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. The LORD of heaven and earth is the Father. Did JESUS mention in any other Scripture about GOD? 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: Here JESUS is praying to the Father. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. In this verse JESUS says that the Father is the “only true God”. JESUS must know what He is talking about as this is what He says about Himself. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. JESUS says here that He is “the truth”, so why do we not believe what He says about the “only true God”? Why do we believe that there is another god other than the “only true God” which is the Father? JESUS also says John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? say the truth, why do ye not believe me? And if we should rather believe what JESUS tells us than to believe a theologian, pastor or somebody preaching that is not Biblically accurate. If they do not have a “Thus saith the LORD”, then they have not the truth! This is what JESUS said about the truth. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. When GOD reveals truth to you, does it not “make you free” as you don’t have to believe the error that you were in anymore! What other Scriptures tell us that GOD is the Father? 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Paul says that there is “one God”, and who does he say that this “one God” is? It is “the Father”. Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. What has James to say about “one God”? James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. If the devils believe in “one God”, and JESUS and Paul says that this “one God” is “the Father” then it makes logical sense that the devils believed that the “one God” is the Father and the Father is the “only true God” as JESUS said in John 17:3. Did JESUS ever call His Father GOD? 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? And JESUS called GOD “GOD the Father”. John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. In John 6:45 JESUS says that we “shall be all taught of God” and that He also says “learned of the Father” in the same verse. Learned is a synonyms for taught. So it is the Father that teaches us, which is GOD - “the true GOD”. Who revealed to Simon Peter who JESUS is? Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:17 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. It was the Father that revealed who JESUS is to Simon Peter. Who delivered every thing into the hands of JESUS? Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. JESUS keeps calling GOD His Father. 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. Did JESUS really mean that GOD is His Father and His GOD? We must believe JESUS’ words otherwise what else do we have to believe in? Why did JESUS not mention more than one GOD, the Father? Man’s words and theories which JESUS warned us to be careful of otherwise we will be deceived! Remember Matthew 16:6-12. Also Hebrews 1:9 has the Father saying that He is JESUS’ GOD. Did JESUS not say that the Samaritan women did not know who they worshipped? John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:23 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. Are we not in the same position today? We worship a trinity and are told not to question this doctrine, even though there are numerous quotes from good sources telling us that the trinity doctrine is only assumed. We are also told that if we do not believe in the trinity, then we will not be saved. Where in the Bible do we find such a statement? Absolutely no where is this found in Scripture! Also we are told that GOD is a mystery and that you can’t know Him. This is strange as GOD has revealed Himself to us through His Son. The question is, how can you worship something that you don’t know? John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Who created everything? In Genesis the Bible says: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. The “us” here in the Trinity doctrine is referred to as the three in one God (or one in three). Is this true? What does the Bible say the “us” is? John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Why did JESUS not mention “God the Holy Spirit”? How come the pastors, evangelists and people preaching use this verse to prove three, as in the Trinity doctrine, when there are only two mentioned in this verse? What JESUS says ties up with the “us” in Genesis 1:26. 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? In Proverbs 30:4 the question asked is “what is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell?”. Only two are mentioned here! Why is “God the Holy Spirit” not mentioned in creation by Solomon (the wisest man)? Are the theologians and scholars of today wiser than Solomon was? Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Hebrews 1:1-2 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 1:2 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; John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Here in Colossians we are told that by JESUS were all things created. So God the Father and His Son, JESUS, created all things. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- Sabbath Day Truth
Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next Sabbath Day Truth What day is the Sabbath Day? One very controversial subject among Christians today is God’s Seventh Day Sabbath. Some Christians are not even aware that the Sabbath is Saturday. The Bible tells us in Daniel that a persecuting power would change God’s laws which it did – the Seventh Day Sabbath became the first day sabbath without God’s approval. The book of Daniel also refers to this change of God’s law by the antichrist power as reaching to the host of heaven and trampling the heavenly sanctuary under foot. We find the same expression used in Hebrews chapter ten in reference to wilful sin. Hebrews 10:26-29 “For if we sin WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, … He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” This passage warns us that there remains no sacrifice to cover wilful sin and to continue in wilful sin is to trample the Son of God under foot and to treat Christ's work on the cross as an unholy thing despite being under grace. This is a warning we should take very seriously. The change to the Sabbath day came about over hundreds of years and by the death of millions of Christians. This is another fact that most Christians are unaware of. Select the following to watch a typical true story of the death of a Sabbath keeper by burning. Why is the Sabbath truth rarely taught? If these points are true, why don’t we hear more pastors teaching them? If the Sabbath is Saturday, then why don’t the majority keep the true Sabbath day? How could the majority be wrong and even more to the point, do we still have to keep the Seventh day Sabbath at all? Revelation 13 tells us that Satan would give position and authority to the persecuting power described in Daniel that changed God’s law. Why do you think Satan did this? This power that persecuted the saints for 1260 dark years murdered anyone found keeping the Seventh day Sabbath according to the Commandment of God. Anyone that had a different view to this persecuting power was considered a heretic and heretics were to be burned. As a result, the Sabbath truth was nearly murdered out of existence and since most Churches originated from this persecuting power, most Churches now ignorantly keep the wrong day they instituted. The final change to the Sabbath day was in the fourth century but note that the change originated from Satanic and pagan sun worship as early as 2000 B.C. Remember that Satan was responsible for all of this and did not go to all this effort for no reason. Since the majority grow up with Sunday worship as their custom, it becomes very much a mind set and people are also very reluctant to accept change or alter their lifestyle. Saturday is also a day that is not convenient for most Christians and so sadly, most would rather not know truth and go into denial. Because of these factors, even when a pastor is presented with the Sabbath truth, it becomes difficult to both accept and see. This instantly gives the enemy the upper hand as he now just whispers in your mind, “the day does not matter. If it mattered everyone would know about it and would be keeping Saturday.” Sadly, all too many listen and never investigate and Satan continues to be victorious in keeping Christians ignorantly breaking one of the Commandments of God. Billy Graham was said to have acknowledged the Sabbath truth but stated, “If I were to teach this truth, I would lose most of my listeners.” Jesus said we are to both obey and teach the law and one cannot sacrifice truth at any cost. The enemy has gone to extreme lengths to make sure the Sabbath truth is not taught or believed and continues to go to extreme lengths and deceptions to keep us ignorant of this truth. Knowing he has done this, Christians should realise that it is very relevant and extremely important we know why. For example, how important is sin to God? Many say the Sabbath was changed to Sunday in honour of the resurrection and others say it was nailed to the cross. Others will tell you any day can be kept as the Sabbath day as long as you keep one. And still others say as long as you do everything to the glory of God the Sabbath is as good as kept. And yet still others will say it is legalism. Worst of all, and this is becoming more popular by the decade, some say the Ten Commandments are gone. Never underestimate the enemy’s ability to slowly and subtly bring heresy into the Church and make those with the most Biblical truth to get labelled falsely as cults or legalists. It should be obvious that Satan will always attack truth the hardest and sadly he has no trouble finding those he can deceive to accomplish his task very convincingly. The fact of the matter is that what is popular is not always truth and what is truth is not always popular. Since the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments that defines what sin is, why wouldn't Satan attack this one Commandment that is the easiest one to attack and do everything in his power to ensure that it does not get recognized or taught so he can get many to live in lawlessness? If one truly studies this and checks it with unbiased history, you will in fact find that Satan has achieved this goal and because most Christians do not study the Word and tend to rely on what their friends or pastor tells them, the lie continues to be perpetuated. What is the Sabbath Day about? Our Creator God starts off the fourth Commandment with the word “Remember.” This is because He knew it would be lost and forgotten. God asks that we keep the Sabbath set apart for Holy purposes so we can draw nearer to Him. The Fourth Commandment to remember the Sabbath concludes the section of the Ten Commandments that specifically helps define a proper relationship with God, how we are to love, worship and relate to Him. It explains why and when we need to take special time to draw closer to our Creator. It is also a special sign between us and God forever, that it is Him that sanctifies us; Him alone who we belong to and worship. The Sabbath, the Seventh day of the week was set apart by God as a time of rest and spiritual rejuvenation. So why is this Commandment so frequently ignored, attacked and explained away by so many Christians? Could it be because the challenges to the Sabbath Commandment are views generated by the ruler of this present evil world? After all, this being wants us to accept these views because he hates God’s law. He does all he can to influence us to ignore, avoid and reason our way around it. On our calendar the Sabbath begins at sunset Friday evening and ends at sunset Saturday evening. Those that keep the true Sabbath day say that it is a blessing and their favourite day of the week. The Sabbath is quality time with family and relaxing and fellowshipping with God and other Christians. Jesus said we are to not only obey the Ten Commandments but teach them also yet some people are doing the opposite. Why are these people so determined to take this blessing from those who keep the Sabbath properly, and in the way Jesus intended and not like the Pharisees who turned it into a legalistic burden? What spirit is behind this? Why do so many professed Christians try so desperately hard to avoid this special time with their Creator God on His Holy day? The Sabbath should be our favourite day of the week and it is for those who have searched for the truth on the Sabbath and found it. God says we are to find this day a delight and a blessing. God did not say we should call it legalism or a burden! Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a DELIGHT, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shall honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shall you delight thyself in the LORD...” Like all the other nine Commandments, IT IS a Commandment of love and thus loving God with all your heart includes all the first four Commandments. We know this for a fact because right after the second reading of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy chapter 5, we are shown in Deuteronomy 6:5 that LOVING God with all our heart, might and soul is to keep ALL the Ten Commandments that had just been read in the previous chapter only 17 verses earlier. That of course makes ALL Ten Commandments eternal. Our God is not a God of confusion that mixes a law that defines what love and sin is with something that is not love or not sin. Whether we understand it or not, to try and find reasons as to why the Sabbath is changed or ended is no different from trying to find excuses as to why it is now acceptable to worship idols or commit murder etc. There is another law found in the Old Testament that was only for the Jews and had ceremonial sabbaths but God did not place His Sabbath in this law. He placed it in the Ten Commandments because that is where it belongs. The Ten Commandments were written in stone while the ceremonial law was written in a book and hence it was also called the “Book of the Covenant.” Have you ever heard the expression “it is not written in stone?” Written in stone means forever. On paper and in a book is temporary. So basically God had two specific laws. One was temporary, written in a book, was not love, only for the Jews, practised because of sin before Christ and why it was nailed to the cross. The other was eternal, written in stone, was love, for everyone, was sin to break and hence was NOT nailed to the cross. Now consider this question very carefully. If the Sabbath of the Lord was temporary and only for the Jews, which law would you place it in? In the temporary law or the eternal law? And is that where God placed His Sabbath? No! God placed His Sabbath exactly where it belonged. He placed it in the law that was love and eternal and for everyone along with the other Nine Commandments that obviously will never and can never end. Since God is not a fool or the author of confusion, then this alone reveals the truth. God makes a distinction between the ceremonial sabbaths and His Sabbath found in the Ten Commandments by exhorting, “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God:” (Exodus 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:14). It is the Lord’s Sabbath! It did not belong to Israel. God further clarifies this by calling His Sabbath, “My Sabbaths,” as in His weekly Sabbaths, (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:20) while calling the ceremonial sabbaths that were only for Israel, “Her Sabbaths.” Her as in Israel. (Hosea 2:11, Lamentations 1:7) If God sent an Angel to tell you that He loves you and sent His only Son to die for you and that He wants you to spend quality time with Him on a specific day that He blessed and sanctified, would you send the Angel back to God with the message, “sorry God, that day is not convenient for me” or “no God, I can't spend that time with you on your Holy day, that's legalism” or even, “tell God that it does not have to be on His Holy day and I will spend time with Him on that day that was used for sun worship that He detested instead.” Is that what we would really say? Why is it so hard for us to rest and worship Him on His Holy day? Many believe that there are only one or two denominations or groups that keep the true Sabbath day when there are in fact over five hundred different denominations of Sabbath keeping Churches that that keep the true 7th day Sabbath and the count is growing. Whole chains of Churches are changing back after attending Prophecy seminars run by people that have not been deceived by Satan's attempt to keep Christians in the dark on the Sabbath truth or Bible prophecy believing it cannot be understood. Do these hundreds of different Church denominations with millions and millions of members know something that we don’t? Why is the Sabbath important to God? We have already noted that God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing to us and has asked us to call His Sabbath a DELIGHT, but what else makes the Sabbath so important to God? Most people understand that it is morally wrong to lie, steal, murder and to worship idols or take the Lord's name in vain etc, but the reason Satan is so successful in keeping so many from the Sabbath truth is because it is easy for him to convince the multitudes it is not important. Sadly, most do not see the Sabbath as important as on the surface breaking the Sabbath does not appear to be morally wrong. The question is; does God see the Sabbath day as being important? If it is important to God then it has to be important to us. Since God made His Sabbath part of the Ten Commandments, it becomes sin to break the Sabbath as sin is breaking any of the Ten Commandments. Sin is the reason Jesus died on the cross for us and it does not get more serious than that. We should know how much God detests sin but what are some other reasons that make the Sabbath so significant? Exodus 31:13-17 “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a SIGN between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does SANCTIFY you. … 15 Six days may work be done; but in the Seventh is the Sabbath of rest, Holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a PERPETUAL covenant. 17 It is a SIGN between me and the children of Israel FOR EVER: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the Seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Ezekiel 20:20 “And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between me and you, that you may know that I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.” The Sabbath is a special SIGN that defines that we are God’s children and He is our God that sanctifies us and makes us Holy. It also defines therefore that it is God who we worship and love and give our allegiance to. It is not a SIGN when we keep a secular day and profane God’s Sabbath. There is a lot more that could be cited but this should be enough to help you understand why this day is important to God and why it is a sin against God for us to not keep His Sabbath day Holy. Is there anyone who does not want to be part of this SIGN? Some will say that this perpetual covenant that is a SIGN forever, (Exodus 31:13-17) applies only to the Israel of God and this is correct. The question is; who is the Israel of God? Today there is an Israel of the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:18) and an Israel of God, Galatians 6:16. The Israel of the flesh consists of those who are Jews by birth. The Israel of God is anyone who belongs to Christ and is under the New Covenant. Many do not understand that if we are Christ’s then we are spiritual Jews and the Israel of God. If we reject this truth then we cannot be under the New Covenant. Observe who the New Covenant was ONLY made with. This came into effect when the Jews rejected God’s message from Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60) and stoned him. See also Romans 2:28-29, Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:28-29. See also Daniel's 70 weeks and 2300 days. Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” Since the Sabbath is a SIGN that we are God's children, if we reject His Sabbath, then aren’t we rejecting God as our Father? And since the Sabbath is a SIGN that it is God that sanctifies us, if we reject His Sabbath, then aren’t we also rejecting His sanctification? All God asks from us is one single solitary day in seven. We still have the other six secular days to do as we please. Is one day an unreasonable request from our Creator God? Christians claim to love God with all their heart, might and soul, yet how do most respond? The number seven represents completion and perfection to God and this is the only reason we do have a seven day week. If not for this very special Sabbath day God has given us, we would only have a six day week. If we do not use this Seventh day Sabbath which God blessed and sanctified for this one and only use, what point is there in having this Seventh day of the week? God added this one and only day with this one and only purpose, so we could spend Holy time with our Holy God that is a most beautiful SIGN that He is our God and we are His children. Again, despite this blessing, how do most respond? Believe it or not, I have had enough excuses now to fill an entire book. An appropriate name for this book would be, “The book of excuses for not having to spend time with your Creator God on His Holy day.” How God must grieve every time someone chooses one of these 1001 excuses. Does God know our heart? If we use one of these excuses will God know? Does God know if we don’t want the truth about His day because it would be an inconvenience to us? If we use one of these 1001 excuses, can we truly say we love God with all our heart, might and soul? If we do not love God with all our heart, will God accept us into His kingdom? What are the consequences for not keeping the Sabbath? The book of James tells us if we break one Commandment we have broken them all. So if the Sabbath is Saturday and if we are supposed to be keeping the true Sabbath day then most Christians are guilty of breaking God’s law. The Bible tells us that only a few will find the straight and narrow gate. Was this referring to Christians specifically? Noah preached for 120 years that a great flood was coming and only 8 were saved. Jesus said that at the time of His second coming it is going to be like in the days of Noah. Why do we only acknowledge what we want to see? God pleads with us as to why we would perish. Hosea prophesied that God’s people would perish for a lack of knowledge which does not sound fair but then he explains it is because they would reject knowledge in regards to the Commandments of God, so He in return would reject them. Considering how many people have rejected knowledge on the Sabbath Commandment, this sadly makes perfect sense. Hebrews 10:26-29 says there is no sacrifice to cover wilful sin and it is to trample the Son of God underfoot and count the blood of the New Covenant as an unholy thing despite being under God’s grace. Jesus says to those who practice lawlessness, He will deny access to the kingdom. So if we are supposed to keep the Sabbath day and are ignorant of this fact, how will we be judged? Would God burn someone in Hell for being ignorant? What about denial? It appears that everyone has different ideas about the Seventh day Sabbath. When there is so much confusion and conflicting information you know that deception reigns and one seriously needs to investigate to find what the truth really is and especially when the consequences for deliberate sin is to be left out of the kingdom. Are the Ten Commandments still relevant today? If something as important as the Ten Commandments were to change by even the smallest amount we would be told with crystal clear scriptures. Most Christians will not debate that nine of the Ten Commandments need to be obeyed but so many freely sweep one under the carpet that becomes too much of an effort for them. Denial of truth of any of the Ten Commandments has only one outcome as far as God is concerned and we do not want that path. Unless black and white scriptures can be produced that says the day has changed or been abolished, then the Sabbath is just as valid as the other nine Commandments and the consequences are the same for deliberately breaking any one of them. Does anyone believe they can freely murder as they please and still enter the kingdom of God? So do all the Ten Commandments still stand or does the Bible indicate that we can live in wilful deliberate sin? We certainly are saved by God’s Grace through faith in Christ, but is this a license to continue in sin? Did Jesus die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin or so we could go on living in sin? What does the only source of truth that we can trust have to say on this very important topic that nailed our loving Saviour to the cross? Here are the answers put simply by scripture alone while covering the main areas of confusion. What is the Bible definition of sin? 1 John 3:4. So where there is sin, there has to be a law. Romans 4:15. If there is no law then there can be no sin and if there is no sin then there is no need for a Saviour. Did Paul say we can sin now that we are under Grace which would therefore show the law had ended? Romans 6:1-2, Romans 6:14-15. Paul taught on the law and Galatians in chapters 2, 3 and 4 and Romans 3 that no flesh is justified by the works of the law and that righteousness comes by FAITH. Does this therefore mean that the Ten Commandments are made null and void through FAITH? Romans 3:31. So who is justified before God? Romans 2:13. Did Jesus say He came to do away with the law? Matthew 5:17. Did Jesus say He was going to change the law by even so much as one single letter? Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17. Did Jesus say we have to teach the law as well as obey it? Matthew 5:19. Does Jesus say that those who practise lawlessness, which is the breaking of the Ten Commandments, will enter the kingdom? Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 2:4. So what does Jesus say that one has to do to inherit eternal life? Matthew 19:16-19. Can we keep just nine of the Ten Commandments and are we judged by obedience to the law? James 2:10-12, Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17. So what are the consequences for wilful sin, which is wilfully disobeying even ONE of the Ten Commandments? Hebrews 10:26-29, Ephesians 5:3, 5. What are the blessings for not living in wilful sin, which is obeying the Ten Commandments in loving obedience? Revelation 22:14. The passage in Matthew chapter 5 alone proves that not one letter of the law has changed which means that all scriptures used as arguments for ending or changing the Sabbath are being abused or misunderstood. The answers are indisputable and any other arguments would be in total contradiction to the words of Jesus, Paul and James just to name a few. I think Solomon summed it up well with his final conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Did Jesus and the early Church keep the Sabbath? If the Sabbath is an unchanged Commandment, then we should find Paul and the early Church keeping the Seventh day Sabbath. If this can be demonstrated, this would also prove that the Sabbath was not changed or abolished. So can we demonstrate this? We can of course and do in fact find Paul keeping the Sabbath as his CUSTOM was since childhood in a Jewish Synagogue. A custom is something you do religiously and without failure. What was Paul’s CUSTOM and EXAMPLE while establishing the early Christian Church? Notice in the following verse that this is a Jewish synagogue and that Jews have all through history, without change, worshipped on Saturday as they still do today. Acts 17:1-2. The Jews and Pharisees which Paul was since CHILDHOOD have ALWAYS kept Saturday as the Sabbath. Acts 26:4-5. This is proof conclusive of Saturday Sabbath keeping AFTER the cross and undoubtedly applies to both Jews and Gentiles if wondering. Acts 13:42-44; Acts 18:4. It was not only Paul’s custom and example but that of Jesus also and He is our perfect example. Luke 4:16. And unless Jesus is into making meaningless and nonsensical statements, He also clarified beyond all doubt that the Sabbath would definitely NOT end at the cross by His reference to the future destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when he said, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” Matthew 24:20. See also Sabbath in the New Testament. What day is the Sabbath Day according to the Bible? Below are statements from the Roman Catholic Church which give the simple answer as to why most Churches now keep Sunday as the Sabbath. Most Christians have no idea that this even happened or how it happened. Revelation 13 tells us that Satan gave his power and authority to the Catholic Church. Why? It was Satan's plan to have this Church change the Sabbath to Sunday. Why did Satan do this? The Sabbath is about who we give our allegiance to. If we obey God and keep His Sabbath day Holy, we give our allegiance to God. If we obey the Commandment of the Catholic Church and keep their day Holy, who do we give our allegiance to then? The Catholic Church answers this question below with two of their quotes. But looking deeper, who gave this Church power so God’s true day of worship could be changed? Read Catholic Church Statements about the Sabbath or Roman Catholic Church Seventh Day Sabbath Quotes for more. Does the Bible support the change to Sunday? “Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants to base its teachings only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday.” Rome’s Challenge www.immaculateheart.com/maryonline Dec 2003 “For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible.” Catholic Virginian, October 3, 1947, p. 9, article “To Tell You the Truth.” Who Made Sunday Holy? “Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. ‘The day of the Lord’ was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but from the (Catholic) Church’s sense of its own power...People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.” St. Catherine Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995. “Question - Which is the Sabbath day? “Answer - Saturday is the Sabbath day. “Question - Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? “Answer - We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 364), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, 3rd edition, 1957. Whose Day of Worship is Sunday? “They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason...The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the divine law of Sabbath observance...The author of the Sunday law...is the Catholic Church.” Ecclesiastical Review, February 1914. “It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church.” Priest Brady, in an address reported in The News, Elizabeth, New Jersey, March 18, 1903. Who Do We Reverence by Keeping Sunday Holy? “It was the Catholic church which...has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) church.” Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213. “I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says: ‘No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week.’ And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in a reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church.” father T. Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redemptoral College, Kansas City, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas, February 18, 1884, printed in History of the Sabbath, p. 802. Hover here for a document clip< or select for full original image. Who really changed the Sabbath? We know the final change to the Sabbath was by the Roman Catholic Church, but who was really responsible and why? Many of you have probably already worked this out but let’s go through it anyway. Beginning with the early Church, Satan failed in his attempt at stopping the Son of God so he turned his attention to the Church. He initially tried to destroy the Church by having all Christians killed, but martyrdom just made the Church grow faster and stronger. Satan soon realised that he could do more damage from within the Church, so he gave the Papacy its power, seat and position. Even though most Christians do not know the importance of the Sabbath day, Satan knows the Sabbath truth all too well and he also knew that it was the easiest of the Ten Commandments to attack, and so put his long term plan into effect. How successful was his plan and who is responsible for his success? Satan fell from his position because of pride and because he wanted to be worshipped as God. Since no one in their right mind would worship Satan, he knew he could only obtain this worship from within the Church. The Seventh day Sabbath is about whom we worship and it is not a sign that we worship God or belong to Him when we keep the wrong day. Satan’s goal was therefore to have his own day of worship instituted in place of God’s and while achieving the primary goal of getting Christians away from a very significant Commandment and living in lawlessness. Using the Papacy as his agent, Satan changed God’s Seventh day Sabbath to a day in honour of pagan sun worship, hence the pagan name Sunday. Satan also knew that sun worship was something that God detested and was one of the reasons why God allowed His people to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Satan no doubt had great pleasure in this accomplishment as he would have Christians breaking God’s law and not fulfilling the sign of the Sabbath, as well as further upsetting God by taking away His day of worship in place of Satan’s and in favour of sun worship which is idolatry. How Satan must clap his hands in glee over this victory that so many have given him. Christians now assume that Sunday is the correct day and it becomes a mind set as this is what their custom was growing up, and anything different does not feel right and seems foreign. This was Satan’s plan from the beginning and sadly, he has been very successful. Today the ruler of this world works very hard at feeding our minds with thoughts that this Commandment is insignificant and Christians who are not wanting to be inconvenienced by change are all too happy to listen. It’s time for Christians to stop being deceived and wake up to the fact that Satan was responsible and return to all Ten Commandments of God and this precious SIGN that we are His children and it is our Creator God that we worship. Jesus laid down His life for you, how much of a sacrifice is it for you to change your day of worship? For a very detailed account of the Sabbath to Sunday change, and how it actually begun 2000 years B.C. with the worship of Satan and the sun, and involves the origin of that mysterious number 666, see who changed the Sabbath to Sunday. The Sabbath kept from creation to eternity The Sabbath has existed since creation when God added the Seventh day to the week with the one and only purpose of a Sabbath rest. This is the only reason we have a seven day week today. God also blessed and sanctified this day for Holy use. This was done before sin had entered the World and was part of God’s perfect plan. Most Christians do not know that the word translated “rested” in our English Bibles in Genesis 2:3 is actually “shabath” in the Hebrew and means Sabbath. Here is the word Sabbath right at creation. In reference to the future destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jesus states in Matthew 24:20, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” This ONE statement alone PROVES that Jesus expected the Sabbath to be kept subsequent to His death. The gospel of Luke states in Luke 23:56 that when the body of Christ was being prepared, “they rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment.” Luke’s gospel was written 30 to 50 years after the cross and Luke still shows that the Commandment is unchanged. If it were changed, Luke would have undoubtedly told us since it is one of the Commandments. Isaiah also prophesied in Isaiah 66:22-23 that, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make … and from one Sabbath to another, shall ALL flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” In Genesis 4:3-7, Cain brought an offering from the ground which represents righteousness by works and so God was angry with him but Abel brought the firstborn of his flock as a sin offering which represents righteousness by faith. You cannot have a sin offering unless there is a law. (1 John 3:4) In verse 7, we also see God speak to Cain about sin lying at the door. The Bible also says where there is no law there is no transgression (Romans 4:15) so the Commandments although not yet codified had to exist from the very beginning or Cain could also not have been guilty of murder. See also Genesis 26:5. Besides the Seventh day being called the Sabbath in the Hebrew in Genesis 2:3, God also said the Sabbath “is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever” because “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:17. Here God further confirms that the Sabbath existed from the beginning when it was added as the Seventh day of the week at creation. For even more proof, we also know that the Sabbath existed back in Genesis chapter 11. In over 105 languages in the world where the Sabbath has not taken on the Pagan name Saturday, it is still called the Sabbath in each of these languages as it was named at creation. This proves that when these 105 languages originated at Babel in Genesis 11, Saturday was recognized as the Sabbath day and was incorporated into the very name of the day. Since the Sabbath was sanctified and made Holy before sin at creation and the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments which is also seen being kept before the giving of the Commandments, it had to be kept by Adam and Eve. It was also kept by Abraham, it was kept in the exodus from Egypt before the Ten Commandments were given when God tested His children to see if they would keep THE Seventh day as per the Commandment. It was kept by the Jews, it was kept by Jesus, it was kept by Paul, it was kept by the Apostles, it was kept by the early Church by both Jews and Gentiles, and this is also verified by Jesus who showed it would be kept in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed. History also further proves this by the fact that reliable unbiased history sources show that it was still being kept until around 90-120 AD where some Christians first changed to Sunday to avoid persecution for Judaism. History shows that the final part of the day change began with Constantine in 321 AD in favour of sun worship, and was made law by the Catholic Church around 363-364 AD. The Sabbath was almost murdered out of existence through the dark ages when the Roman Catholic Church ruled as Church and state for those terrible 1260 dark years, and Revelation 12:17 speaks of a remnant of God’s original Church that would arise after these dark ages that Satan would hate and make war with because it would start keeping all of the Ten Commandments of God once again. To finish this all off, God showed Isaiah that we will still be keeping the Sabbath in the new Heaven and the New Earth. Here is the Sabbath being kept from creation beginning and throughout all eternity. The Sabbath is eternal as the other nine. We should desire the Sabbath truth Would it surprise you to know that Jesus never once even mentioned the first day of the week? As Christians, we should always be seeking after the truth, as Jesus is the truth. If we really love Jesus with all our heart, soul and might, we will always strive to find what the truth is at absolutely any cost. However, with so many people saying so many different things, how can we possibly know what the truth really is? There is only one guaranteed way, and that is the inspired Word of God – The Holy Bible. The Bible is and should always be our final authority and not the advice of our Pastor or our most trusted friend. If we can find unbiased information on man’s knowledge of History on the Seventh day Sabbath, that can also be used to help us determine the truth but ultimately, we need to go by the Word of God. The intention of this web site was not to cover all the excuses and truth about the Sabbath but to point you to a choice of sites that will help you find more on what the truth really is. In the top left column and at the bottom of this page, you will find links to many good web sites, not only on the Sabbath, but also on other topics that relate to the Sabbath day such as the ceremonial law and the Ten Commandments. For all the facts on the Sabbath, please read Sabbath and Antichrist truth and who is the real Antichrist for the Biblical and historical truth on Antichrist. For real eye-opening information that reveals that sun worship started with Satan worship, see the history of Sun-Day worship and how it entered the Church. Previous Back to Contents Next Top
- Revelation Warning 1-10
All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Revelation Warning 1-10 REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 1 of 10) WHO IS THE GOD IN REVELATION 14? In Revelation 14:6-7 we find an important end time message and it reads, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to HIM; for the hour of HIS judgment is come; and worship HIM that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” So who is this God that the angel is lovingly warning the world to turn to and worship? Notice that this message references God as Him. So who is He? In John 4, we have an interesting conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well. The Samaritan woman asked Jesus concerning the place where God is to be worshiped. And listen to how Jesus replies: “Ye worship ye KNOW not what; we KNOW what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) Let me just pause there for a moment. Jesus tells the woman that she doesn’t know what or who she worships. But He says, we, speaking of the Jewish nation, know what we worship. And look at how Jesus responds to one of the scribes in Mark 12. Jesus was asked the question, Which is the first commandment? Look at how Jesus responds: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is ONE LORD. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29-30) And the scribe says, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, for there is ONE GOD, and there is NONE OTHER BUT HE.” (Mark 12:32) That’s interesting. Let us go back to the woman at the well. Jesus continues to reveal the truth to the woman. He says, “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 4:23,24) So who is the God which we are called to give glory to and to worship in Revelation 14? Who is the God that created heaven and earth? Let’s look at some more Bible verses. In John 17, while praying to the Father, Jesus 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 17:1-3) John said in 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 [speaking of the Father], and eternal life.” Now notice what the apostle Paul confirms in 1 Cor 8:4-6. And do not miss this. He said, “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.” Can you see who the NONE OTHER GOD BUT ONE is? It’s the Father according to Paul. Paul says again in Phil 2:11, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of GOD THE FATHER.” So who is He that is to receive our worship and to receive glory that the angel in Revelation 14 calls for? It is God the Father, the one true God according to Jesus and the apostles. Just look through the writings of the apostles and you will see them refer time and time again to the one true God as being the Father. Paul says, “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.” (Rom 1:7-8) James says, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1:1) Peter says, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) John says, “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.” (2 John 1:3) REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 2 of 10) DOES GENESIS 1 SHOW A PLURAL GOD? Now many Trinitarians will be saying, “Ah! That’s all very well. But in Genesis 1:26, it refers to God as 'us', showing a plural God. And Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, showing a plural God. And 1 John 5:7 says, ‘There are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one’--again showing a plural God made up of three beings.” This is the common stance of Trinitarians. So let us deal with each of these points. In Genesis 1:26, we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” Now this is a lot more simple than many take it to read. The question is, Who is God and who is the “us”? Well, we have already established who God is, and we will further cement this truth later on. God is the Father. But did the Father create this world on His own? No, clearly not. So who did He create this world with? Let’s use Scripture to answer this. In Ephesians 3:9 we read, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD, WHO CREATED ALL THINGS BY JESUS CHRIST.” And for those who accept Ellen White’s writings as inspired, take a look at what she said: “After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the FATHER and SON carried out THEIR purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in THEIR own image. They had wrought TOGETHER in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now GOD SAYS TO HIS SON, ‘Let US make man in our image.’ “ (Lift Him Up, 47) So who is the God that is speaking? It is God the Father. And who is He speaking to? His Son Jesus. This is the “us” in Genesis 1:26. It is the Father and the Son, and through the Father’s own divine Spirit, which He shares with His Son, which I will show you from Scripture later, they created this world together. “Ah!” I hear some Trinitarians say, “But the Hebrew word for God in Genesis 1 is Elohim, and that means a plural of persons.” Well, let’s look at another verse in the Bible, that uses the word Elohim. In Exodus 7:1 when God is speaking to Moses, He tells Moses that he will be a god unto Pharaoh. And the Hebrew word for god in this verse is exactly the same as the one used in Genesis 1, Elohim. So was God telling Moses that he was going to appear as three persons before Pharaoh? No, of course not. So what was God telling Moses when He said Moses was going to be an Elohim to Pharaoh? God was simply saying that Moses would appear great before Pharaoh. And this is what Elohim means. It is not a plurality of persons, but a plurality of majesty, a position of greatness. This is how Moses was to appear to Pharaoh. And this is also why Elohim is used for God the Father in Genesis 1. It is telling us of the Father’s greatness and majesty. Just look how David spoke of this in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13. “Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God [Elohim] of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” Can you see the plural of majesty proclaimed of God the Father here? This is why He is called Elohim in Genesis 1. It is not saying God is made up of three beings. It is saying He has a position of great majesty. And the fact that Moses was also to appear as an Elohim to Pharaoh proves this. REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 3 of 10) DOES MATTHEW 28:19 AND 1 JOHN 5:7 SHOW A PLURAL GOD? Now let us deal with Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7. In Matt 28:19, we read, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” And in 1 John 5:7, we read, “For there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.” Now I’m not going to make any case here about the validity of those verses, even though there is strong evidence that they are added verses, as the majority of people just will not accept this. But if you would like to look into this, then please visit www.trinitytruth.org/matthew28_19addedtext.html and www.trinitytruth.org/was1john5_7addedtext.html for more information. So here let us deal with these verses as if they are inspired. Now the first important point to note is, that neither of these verses mentions the word God. So what does that mean? It means that neither of these verses are telling us who God is. Now something else you can do is go and look up the phrases God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in the Bible and see if you can find them. And I will tell you now that you won’t find those phrases once in the Bible. Why? Because the Bible tells us that the one true God is the Father. An important point to note regarding Matt 28:19 is the fact that if it is inspired, then none of the disciples did what Jesus supposedly commanded here, because not one baptism mentioned in the New Testament was performed in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were all done in the name of Jesus alone, as you can see in Acts 2:38; 8:12,16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27. And the important point regarding 1 John 5:7 is that according to Jesus in John 8:16-18, there are not three that bear witness but only two, Himself and God the Father. "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me." (John 8:18) So the question remains, Who are these “three” mentioned in Matt 28:19 and 1 John 5:7? What should a good Bible student do? Go to the Bible, and let the scriptures interpret themselves. So let us do just that. REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 4 of 10) WHO IS THE FATHER? In Matt 11:25, we read, “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.” So Jesus confirms that the Father is Lord of heaven and earth, the One to whom the angel of Rev 14 is pointing us to. In John 17:1-3, we read Jesus saying, “Father… this is life eternal, that they might know THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” So Jesus confirms that the Father is the only one true God. In John 20:17, we read, “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.” So Jesus confirms here that God is both His Father and God, and our Father and God. In 1 Cor 8:6, we read, “But to us there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in Him; AND one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” So Paul confirms that the Father is the one God of all. These and many other Bible verses confirm that the Father is the one and only true God, Lord of heaven and earth. (See Eph 1:17, Rom 1:7-8, 1 Thess 1:9-10, 2 John 1:3, Acts 4:24-30, John 4:22-24, Phil 2:11) REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 5 of 10) WHO IS THE SON [WORD]? John 1:14 says, “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.” In 1 John 1:3, we read, “And truly our fellowship is with the FATHER, and with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.” In Matt 16:15-17, we read, “He [Jesus] 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.” Rom 8:3 says, “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.” Now look at what God the Father says Himself on the Mount of Transfiguration as Peter was speaking. “While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them, and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON: hear him.” (Luke 9:34-35) These and many other Bible verses (such as John 3:16; 1 Thess 1:9-10; John 20:17; 1 John 5:20; 2 John 1:3) that show that the Son or Word is Jesus Christ, the Son of the one true God the Father. Now many Trinitarians will say, Yes, that’s what I believe. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, but many fail to realize that the Trinity god teaching says Jesus is God Himself, and not the literal Son of God. And yes, we will deal with John 1 a little later. “...the father-son image cannot be literally applied to the divine Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. The Son is NOT the natural, literal Son of the Father. The term ‘Son’ is used metaphorically when applied to the Godhead.” (Angel Manuel Rodriguez [Seventh-day Adventist theologian and “director” of the Adventist BRI -Biblical Research Institute], Adventist World November 2015, p. 42) As you can see from this quote, the Trinity doctrine teaches that Jesus is only the Son in a symbolic way, not the real Son of God. It teaches that Jesus never had a beginning, and has always existed alongside the Father. If this is true, then Jesus cannot be the true Son of God. And yet the Bible revealed Him as just that, the real, true, literal Son of God the Father. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So let us look at the Biblical evidence for Jesus being the literal begotten Son of God the Father before He came to this earth. Now to begin with, let us establish an important Biblical principle that we should all heed. Apart from some prophetic writings, God’s word is to be taken literally as it reads. For instance, in John 3:16 and Rom 8:3, which says that “God GAVE His only begotten Son” and that “God [was] SENDING His own Son.” Now for God to give His Son and to be able to send His own Son, what does God the Father need to have to be able to give and send? He needs to have a Son in the first place. This is basic logic and this is how we are to take God’s word literally as it reads. So let us look at some Bible verses concerning this. In Micah 5:2, we are given a prophecy of Jesus coming to this earth. Look at what it says, “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.” Now if you look at the original Hebrew word for “goings forth”, you will see it means literally “go out from or proceed from.” So this prophecy is confirming that Jesus came out of or proceeded from something some time in eternity past. Now look at what it says in Prov 8, speaking of wisdom, which it is well-accepted that this is speaking of Jesus Christ. But just to confirm, the apostle Paul also confirms in 1 Cor 1:24 that Christ is the wisdom of God. "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." Prov 8:23-25 says, “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.” And for those who accept Ellen White’s writings as inspired, look at what she said regarding Proverbs 8. “Through Solomon, CHRIST DECLARED… 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.” (ST Aug 29, 1900.14) So Christ revealed through Solomon and Micah that before anything was made by God the Father some time in eternity past, Christ came forth from the Father as a true Son. Now did Jesus confirm this at all in the New Testament? Yes He did. In John 16:27-28, we read, “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.” And in John 17:7-8, we read, “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 Jesus confirms Himself that He came out of God. But some say that Jesus here is just confirming that He came from God to this earth. But no. Look at the clear order these verses are confirming. He says He came forth from the Father AND then came into this world, speaking of two separate events. In Prov 30:4, we also read, “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?” So the Bible does confirm clearly that Jesus came forth from the Father some time in eternity past as the true Son, and that people knew God had a Son even before Jesus came to earth. Just look at what King Nebuchadnezzar said regarding the fourth person in the fiery furnace. Dan 3:25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.” Again, for those who believe Ellen White’s writings are inspired, look at what she said in Desire of Ages,p. 51. She said, “The dedication of the FIRST-BORN had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the FIRST-BORN OF HEAVEN to save the sinner.” Now did you know that God the Father spoke audibly twice to the people in the New Testament? And what did He choose to say on both occasions? In Matt 3:17, He said, “This is MY BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased.” And in Luke 9:35, He said, “This is MY BELOVED SON, hear Him.” Now God could have said anything, yet He chose to confirm both times that Jesus is in fact His beloved Son. And if we say that Jesus isn’t really God’s literal son like the Trinity god doctrine teaches, then we are saying that God the Father is a liar. REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 6 of 10) DOES JOHN 1:1 SHOW THAT JESUS IS GOD? Ah! I hear Trinitarians say, “But Jesus is called God in John 1 and Hebrews 1, so He must be God Himself and not the literal Son of God.” Well, let’s take a look at those verses. In John 1:1-2 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. The same was in the beginning with God.” Now a couple things to note concerning this. We have already shown that Jesus is the literal Son of God, begotten of God the Father some time in eternity past. So with Jesus being God’s own Son, what does that make Jesus by nature? God. Because He shares the same nature as His Father which is the God nature. Just like I have a son, and being human myself, my son must also be human. This is why John says Jesus is God in John 1, because He is the literal Son of God and shares the same nature as His Father. Now note that John says “In the beginning.” So the question is, the beginning of what? Eternity does not have a beginning, does it? So why would John say Christ was with God in the beginning? Well, where else in the Bible do we find the words “In the beginning” but the creation of this world in Genesis 1. So John here is simply confirming that Jesus was with God at the beginning of this world, showing that Jesus is truly the Son of God from eternity past. Also in the original Greek for John 1, we find the word that has been missed out which transformed these verses. This word has been missed out of the English translations. In the Greek, the verse reads as follows: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [THE] God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” So the Greek says, in the beginning, Christ was with THE God. And we know from John 17:3, 1 Cor 8:6, and other verses, that God the Father is THE one true God. And it is He whom Jesus was with, His Father, THE one true God. REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 7 of 10) A video study by end-times-prophecy.org . Transcribed by Felix Liew. DOES HEBREWS 1:8 SHOW THAT JESUS IS GOD? Now let’s look at Hebrews 1. This one is interesting, because what Trinitarians do, is pick out one little verse and separate it from the context. So let’s look at the verse that is used, and look at the proper context. In Heb 1:8, we read, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” So Trinitarians look at this single verse, and say, “See, Jesus is God.” But now let’s look at the proper context. Heb 1:1-9 “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… 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? And again, when He bringeth in the FIRSTBEGOTTEN INTO THE WORLD, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto THE SON He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, EVEN THY GOD, hath ANOINTED THEE with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Wow! What a difference it makes to read something in context! Hebrews 1 clearly confirms Jesus to be the literal Son of God, not the one true God Himself. There are so many confirmations in these verses. It says, “God has spoken to us BY HIS SON” whom He has “APPOINTED Heir of all things,” “BY WHOM also God made the worlds.” Jesus has “BY INHERITANCE obtained a better name.” It says, “To which of the angels did God say, THOU ART MY SON, this day have I BEGOTTEN THEE? …I will be to Him a Father, and He … MY SON.” And it says, “God bringeth the FIRST BEGOTTEN into the world.” So why is Jesus called God? The same as why He is called God in John 1. Being the Son of the one true God the Father, Jesus shares the same divine “God nature” as the Father. But Jesus is not the one true God Himself, because as it says in Heb 1:9, “therefore God, even THY GOD, hath anointed thee.” So Jesus has a God Himself, and that is His Father. Look at what Paul confirms in 1 Cor 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.” God the Father is the head of Christ, which is why Jesus said to Mary at the tomb, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to MY GOD, and YOUR GOD.” (John 20:17) And this is confirmed also in Eph 1:17. We read, “That the GOD OF our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge OF HIM.” The knowledge of who? God the Father. Now look at what 1 Tim 2:5 says, “For there is ONE GOD, AND one mediator BETWEEN GOD and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Again, this is basic logic. If Jesus is the mediator between the one God and men, then Jesus cannot be the one God Himself, as we have confirmed, the Father is the one true God. (John 17:3; 1 Cor 8:6) So when we compare scripture with scripture using context, rather than picking the odd verse here and there, we can see that Jesus is not the one true God Himself. He is the literal Son of the one true God, the Father. REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 8 of 10) A video study by end-times-prophecy.org . Transcribed by Felix Liew. DOES ISAIAH 9:6 SHOW THAT JESUS IS THE FATHER? But Jesus is called the “Everlasting Father” in Isaiah 9:6, isn’t He? Well, let’s look at the verse. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name SHALL BE called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6) Now what people do again is take one verse on its own and disconnect it from the rest of scripture and build a doctrine on one or two verses. Now does this verse say Jesus IS the Everlasting Father? No, it doesn’t. It says He SHALL BE CALLED the Everlasting Father, pointing to a future event. And what event would that be? Let us look at another Bible verse to help us. In Heb 5:8-10, we read, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Now when did Christ become the Author of salvation? At the cross. So what event is Isaiah 9:6 pointing to, saying Jesus SHALL BE called the Everlasting Father? The cross. And this is right. Jesus has become our Father of everlasting life. And He became that at the cross. But this in no way makes Him God the Father. The rest of the Bible is very clear on that. (In Rev 21:7, Jesus promises that "he that overcometh shall inherit all things...he SHALL BE my son." So Jesus shall be a father to those who overcome by His Spirit, as He Himself overcame by His Father's Spirit.) REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 9 of 10) WHO (OR WHAT) IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? Something that I have already mentioned is that you won’t find a single verse in the Bible that says “God the Holy Spirit.” What you will find time and time again is the phrase “the Spirit OF God” or “God’s Spirit” or even “the Spirit OF Christ.” Now Hebrew and Greek meaning for “spirit” in the Bible is “breath” or “mind.” So let’s quickly look at Genesis 1 with this meaning in mind. We read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit OF God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen 1:1-2) So the translation from the original Hebrew is “the breath, mind, [or even] power OF GOD” moved upon the face of the waters. We have already found out that the God here is speaking of the Father. So does this Spirit OF God sound like a third separate being as the Trinity teaches? No, not at all. Now I’m not saying at all that the Holy Spirit is just a mere “force” or “wind,” because no one can understand the exact nature of the Holy Spirit. But we have to accept that the original meaning of the word “Spirit” does not reveal it as a third separate equal being like the Father and Son, as the Trinity doctrine teaches. So let us look at the rest of the Bible and see if we can further confirm this. In Revelation chapter 5, John is given a vision of the full Godhead. And look what he sees. Rev 5:1-7 “And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. …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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” So John sees the complete Godhead here. And does he see three separate beings? No, he only sees TWO beings, God the Father on the throne, and Jesus as the Lamb in the midst of the throne. And what does Jesus have Himself? He has the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. John sees the Holy Spirit as being a part of Jesus Himself. Let’s look at a picture representation of this. Here, you can see Christ as represented by a lamb. And look at what Christ has. He has these horns and eyes, which are the Spirit of God. This is the Holy Spirit, which is part of Christ’s own being. Can you see this? This is what God revealed to John in vision, and we can see this earlier in Revelation 2. In Revelation chapter 1:12-16, we read, “And I turned to see the voice THAT SPAKE with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto THE SON OF MAN… And he had in his right hand seven stars.” So the One who is speaking to John is Christ. Then in Revelation 2:1-7, we read, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things SAITH HE that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks… He that hath an ear, let him hear what THE SPIRIT saith unto the churches.” So who is the One walking amongst and speaking to the churches? It is Christ. And He is confirming here that He is the Holy Spirit speaking to the churches. In Revelation 3:1, we read, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things SAITH HE that HATH THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD, and the seven stars.” So let us look at other Bible verses to confirm this. What did Jesus say in Matthew 18:20? We read, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” So Jesus is confirming that He will be the One among us. (Exodus 33:14 “My presence will be with you.”) Now look at what Jesus says in John 14 regarding the Comforter. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: BUT YE KNOW HIM; FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I IN YOU.” (John 14:16-20) Is Jesus talking of three God beings here? No, He is confirming that it is God the Father in Him, through God’s own Spirit, and Christ in us Himself. Ah! I hear Trinitarians say, “Jesus referred to the Comforter as He, as a third person, and that it is ANOTHER Comforter.” Well, let’s look at this. Did you know that Jesus referred to HIMSELF in the “third person”? Look at what He said while praying to the Father in John 17:1-2. He said, “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.” So does Jesus speaking of the Comforter as “He” prove anything regarding a so-called “third being”? No, not at all. Jesus is showing here in John 17 that He was in fact speaking of HIMSELF. Look, in John 14:21, we read, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest MYSELF to him.” Now the Greek word for Comforter is Parakletos. Now if we look at another Bible verse which uses Parakletos, we can see who this Parakletos is. In 1 John 2:1, we read, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [Parakletos] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” So Jesus is our Parakletos, our Comforter. Look at what Peter reveals in Acts 2:32-33. We read, “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.” So Jesus received the Holy Spirit from God the Father. Now look at what we read in John 20. After Jesus had ascended to God the Father just as He told Mary at the tomb He was going to do, He comes back and appears to the disciples. John 20:19-22, we read, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you… And when he had said this, HE BREATHED ON THEM, and saith unto them, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST.” Wow, this is so clear! Jesus is the One with the Holy Spirit, which He has received from God the Father, because it is the Spirit of God. And so the Holy Spirit is the presence and power of Christ which He received from God the Father. And Paul also confirmed that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ in three separate Bible verses. Let’s take a look. In Gal 4:6, he said, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the SPIRIT OF HIS SON into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” In 2 Cor 3:17, he said, “Now THE LORD IS THAT SPIRIT: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” And in Phil 1:19, he said, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the SUPPLY OF THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST.” This is such a beautiful truth, friends. The Holy Spirit is not some third being who we do not know. The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ. It is the presence and power of God the Father manifested through His Son. It is Christ who dwells in our hearts. (Eph 3:17 “That CHRIST may dwell in your hearts by faith.”) It is Christ who lives in us. (Gal 2:20 “I live, yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME.”) And it is Christ in us, that Spirit which gives us life. (Rom 8:10-11 “And if CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead… but THE SPIRIT is life.”) “We want the Holy Spirit, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.” (E.G. White, Letter 66, April 10, 1894) And yes, the Holy Spirit can be lied to, which is lying to God, as Peter confirms in Acts 5:3,4. "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, ... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." And yes, the Holy Spirit speaks and comforts and instructs us. (Acts 8:29 “The Spirit SAID unto Philip.”) That’s because it is God the Father’s own divine Spirit, which He shares with His Son Jesus as we have clearly shown from Scripture. (Eze 36:27 “I will put MY SPIRIT within you.”) So if we lie to the Spirit, we are of course lying to God Himself, because it is His own Spirit. And as we have shown through Scripture, the Spirit who speaks to us, and comforts us, and lives in us, is Christ Himself. (Rev 3:1,6 “These things saith HE [Jesus] that hath the seven Spirits of God… hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”) Again, for those who accept Ellen White’s writings as inspired, take a look at the following quote. She said, “Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come FROM THE FATHER TO THE SON AND FROM THE SON TO THE PRAYING COMPANY. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come FROM THE FATHER TO THE SON, AND FROM THE SON IT WAVED OVER THE PEOPLE BEFORE THE THRONE… Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, ‘My Father, GIVE US THY SPIRIT.’ Then Jesus would BREATHE UPON THEM THE HOLY GHOST. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.” (E.G White, Early Writings, p.54-55) She also said, “It is not safe to catch the spirit of another. We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.” (EG White, Letter 66, April 10, 1894) “The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be.” (EG White, 8MR, p.49) “Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The HOLY SPIRIT IS HIMSELF divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by HIS HOLY SPIRIT, as the Omnipresent.” (E.G. White, 14MR, p.23) These are just a handful of the many quotes which reveal that the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, not some other third god being that we do not know. And for those who hold on to the couple of “third person” quotes from sister White, please have a read in this web-page explaining this. http://www.end-times-prophecy.org/third-person-godhead.html . REVELATION WARNING: TURN TO THE ONE TRUE GOD (Part 10 of 10) CONCLUSION So, who are the three from Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7? We have proved from the Bible that the Father is God the Father, the one true God. The Son or Word is Jesus Christ, the literal Son of God the Father. And the Holy Spirit is the Father’s own divine Spirit which He has given to His Son, and is the presence and power of God the Father manifested through His Son Jesus Christ. These three is not the Trinity. It is God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and God’s own divine Spirit which He shares with His Son. WHO ARE THE “THREE”? 1.GOD the Father 2.Jesus Christ the Son of GOD 3.The Spirit of GOD, through His Son Jesus. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? “So why is this important? Does it really matter?” Many Trinitarians say. Well, to start with, any tradition that is in error must be discarded, and truth must be embraced. As the Bible says, it isn’t tradition that makes us free, but rather “the TRUTH shall make you free.” (John 8:32) But Jesus said, “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt 15:9) We really don’t want to be worshiping Jesus in vain, due to following the traditions of men. And this Trinity god tradition is based more on mythology than Bible truth, and has come into the churches through the mother of harlots, Roman Catholicism. This mysterious three in one God does not come from the Bible. It comes from pagan traditions which is why you see three in one gods throughout many pagan religions. Even educated Roman Catholics have admitted that the Trinity is not in the Bible. “Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in scripture. But the Protestant Churches have themselves accepted such dogmas, AS THE TRINITY, for which there is no such precise authority in the Gospels.” (Graham Greene*, Life Magazine, 30 Oct. 1950, p.51) *Greene is a celebrated Catholic author. And this Trinity god teaching is the central doctrine of false religions, just as this quote shows: “The mystery of the most holy Trinity is the CENTRAL mystery of Christian faith and life… It is therefore the SOURCE of all the other mysteries of faith.” (Catholic Catechism, no. 234) “No doctrine is more fundamental or more emphasized in Freemasonry than that of the Trinity.” ( www.masonicworld.com ) The Trinity god is a strange god. We were warned about serving strange gods in the Bible. In Joshua 24:20, we read, “If ye forsake the LORD [singular], and serve STRANGE GODS [plural], then HE will turn and do you hurt, and consume you.” It is a very serious matter friends, which is why the angel in Revelation 14:6-7 is warning the world to turn to the Lord of heaven and earth. The one true God who Jesus revealed is His Father. Do you really think we serve a God who play acts, because that is what the Trinity god is, a god that plays the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And what is role playing? It is acting. And what is acting? It is lying. So the Trinity god is a god that doesn’t even keep its own law. How ridiculous is that? Not only that, the Trinity doctrine rejects the real Father and Son relationship between God the Father and His literal Son. And what does the Bible say this is? 1 John 2:22-23 says “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is ANTICHRIST, THAT DENIETH THE FATHER AND THE SON. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” And Jude warned about certain men who would creep into our churches. Look at Jude 1:4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and DENYING THE ONLY LORD GOD, AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” The Trinity is an antichrist teaching from Babylon, which denies the only Lord God, our heavenly Father, and His Son, a false god that the Bible never speaks of. Revelation, however, reveals there will only be TWO divine beings who will be worshiped for all eternity. We read in Rev 5:13, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER.” Revelation also reveals there will only be TWO divine beings on the throne for all eternity. We read in Rev 21:1 and 22:1,3, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…” “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… And there shall be no more curse: but THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB shall be in it.” But look at what Satan wanted to do. We read in Isaiah 14:13-14, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH.” So the Bible reveals that there are only TWO on the throne, the Father and Son. And Satan said he would ascend to God’s throne and be like the Most High, which would then make THREE beings. Wow! Friends, it’s time to heed the warning of the angel in Revelation 14 and worship the one true God of heaven and earth, the Father. It’s time to “turn and serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.” (1 Thess 1:9-10) It’s time to stop depending on your church leader for truth and start studying for yourself, as great deception has come and is still to come through the churches. May God help us all. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- Who is the Most High God
All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Who is the Most High God Who is the Most High God ? Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Gen 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, Num 24:16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open: Deut 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 2Sam 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. Ps 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. Ps 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. Ps 21:7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. Ps 47:2 For the LORD most high [is] terrible; [he is] a great King over all the earth. Ps 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: Ps 56:2 Mine enemies would daily swallow [me] up: for [they be] many that fight against me, O thou most High. Ps 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth [all things] for me. Ps 73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Ps 77:10 And I said, This [is] my infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High. Ps 78:17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. Ps 78:56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: Ps 82:6 I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High. Ps 83:18 That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth. Ps 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Ps 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; Ps 92:1 A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day. [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: Ps 92:8 But thou, LORD, [art most] high for evermore. Ps 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Ps 113:5 Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Lam 3:35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? Dan 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. Dan 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. Dan 4:24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: Dan 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Dan 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation: Dan 5:18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: Dan 5:21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. Dan 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Dan 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hos 7:16 They return, [but] not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this [shall be] their derision in the land of Egypt. Hos 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him]. Mark 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil. Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed [be] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Acts 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; Answer: The Father Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- Is Jesus Christ GOD (Short version)
All trinity studies Previous Download Next Is Jesus Christ GOD (Short version) Is Jesus God? The word God is used in two different ways in Scripture. Firstly, the word “God” is used to refer to the Supreme Being of the universe who is the ultimate source of all things. Every time the Bible refers to the one true God, it is referring to this supreme being who is the one that was before all else and from whom all life ultimately came. In this sense no one else is God. But the word God is also used to refer to someone who possesses the attributes of divinity, or the characteristics of God. Many times the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the begotten Son of the one true God the Father, and being the Son, He possesses the same attributes and characteristics as His Father. It is an obvious fact that every son inherits the nature of his father. And since Christ came out of the Father, He is of the very substance of His Father and hence has the same God nature of His Father as He possesses by birth all the attributes and characteristics of His Father. In fact, Hebrews 1:3 says He is the “express image of His person.” A son also and always rightfully takes the name of the father and so Christ as the only begotten Son of God has rightfully the same name. Note that Hebrews 1:1-9 says that Jesus is an heir who has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than the angels and that name is God! So Jesus inherited His Father's name, character and divine nature in the same way a human son inherits the human nature and name of his parents. So Jesus is God because He is the Son of God. But He is not and cannot be “God the Father.” He is the “Son of God” just as the Bible so plainly states more than one hundred times. He is God's literal Son. To say that Jesus is God the Father is to say that the “Son is the Father” which means the Son is not really a Son and the Father is not really a Father. Or to put it another way, to say that Jesus is the Father because He has the same God nature as His Father is no different to saying that since my Father is Human and I am Human, therefore I must be my father! This is not good logic or theology and suddenly hundreds of Scriptures supposedly would no longer mean what they say at all. The truth is that Scripture means what it says and says what it means. God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. The Bible never calls Jesus “God the Son” as Trinitarians do and with very good reason. It is always the “Son of God” because that is who He is. Satan's plan is for us to deny the Father and Son as this is what John called antichrist. 1 John 2:22-23. He does not care if our belief is Trinitarian, Unitarian or other. As long as it denies Jesus is the literal Son of God which also denies God is a Father. Confessing Jesus is the Son of God is our only means to the Father and to deny this has eternal consequences. In conclusion, Jesus is not “a” God or “the” God but God only by nature through inheritance being the Son. Jesus is a divine being but He is not the supreme being. The Father is the supreme being and the source of all things and the life of the Father flows through the Son and out to all. Jesus is the channel through which all things come and why the Father has given all things into His hands. Only the Father is described as the one “of whom are all things.” He is the great Source of all. Jesus is not another source “of whom are all things.” That would make Him another God. Rather Jesus is described as the one “by whom are all things.” The Father has given Christ authority to rule over all things but this does not include the Father Himself. The Father is greater in authority and always will be. God the Father is the source of all things including His Son. Thus all things proceed from the Father; including Christ Himself, but it has pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:19). So when we say “Jesus is God,” we have to be careful to state exactly what we mean. Christ is a divine being, but not the supreme being. When we speak of the Supreme Being there is only one such person and it is not Jesus. So there is but “one” God. Jesus is “not” God, He is the Son of God. He carries the “name” of God by virtue of His “inheritance.” And because He is the Son of God, He is “equal” with God. “But to us there is but one God, the Father, OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, BY WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and we by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:6 “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) “HE [CHRIST] WAS NOT THE FATHER but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — (E.G. White, Lt8a, July 7, 1890) “The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty,” — (E.G. White, Ms140, Sept, 1903) “Only one being in the universe besides the Father bears the name of God, and that is His Son, Jesus Christ.” — (J.E. White, Coming King, p. 33) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- 我们列祖的上帝
返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 我们列祖的上帝 “我们列祖的上帝” (使徒行传3:13,5:30) 这个页面被创建为一个快速浏览页面,供寻找提到独一真神和祂儿子的圣经章节之人。本页面也列出了经文表明圣灵是基督自己的灵,是从父上帝那里得到的。所以请免费使用此页面。复制,分享并帮助传播独一真神和祂儿子的真理。 父上帝是独一的真神 马太福音 4:10 耶稣说:“撒但退去吧!因为经上记着说:‘当拜主你的上帝,单要侍奉他。’” 马太福音 11:25 “那时,耶稣说:“父啊,天地的主,我感谢你!因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来,向婴孩就显出来。” (路加福音 10:21 也同样记载,请参考启示录14:7,使徒行传4:24-27,约翰福音17:1-3) 马太福音12:28-34 28 我若靠着上帝的灵赶鬼,这就是上帝的国临到你们了。 29 人怎能进壮士家里,抢夺他的家具呢?除非先捆住那壮士,才可以抢夺他的家财。 30 不与我相合的,就是敌我的;不同我收聚的,就是分散的。 31 所以我告诉你们:人一切的罪和亵渎的话,都可得赦免;惟独亵渎圣灵,总不得赦免。 32 凡说话干犯人子的,还可得赦免;惟独说话干犯圣灵的,今世、来世总不得赦免。” 33 “你们或以为树好,果子也好;树坏,果子也坏。因为看果子,就可以知道树。 34 毒蛇的种类!你们既是恶人,怎能说出好话来呢?因为心里所充满的,口里就说出来。 约翰福音4:22-24 22 你们所拜的,你们不知道;我们所拜的,我们知道,因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。 23 时候将到,如今就是了,那真正拜父的,要用心灵和诚实拜他,因为父要这样的人拜他。” 24 上帝是个灵(或无“个”字),所以拜他的,必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 约翰福音 8:54 “耶稣回答说:“我若荣耀自己,我的荣耀就算不得什么;荣耀我的乃是我的父,就是你们所说是你们的上帝。” 约翰福音14:1-6 1 “你们心里不要忧愁,你们信上帝,也当信我。 2 在我父的家里有许多住处;若是没有,我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。 3 我若去为你们预备了地方,就必再来接你们到我那里去;我在那里,叫你们也在那里。 4 我往哪里去,你们知道;那条路,你们也知道(有古卷作“我往哪里去,你们知道那条路”)。” 5 多马对他说:“主啊,我们不知道你往哪里去,怎么知道那条路呢?” 6 耶稣说:“我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉着我,没有人能到父那里去。 约翰福音17:1-3 1 耶稣说了这话,就举目望天说:“父啊,时候到了,愿你荣耀你的儿子,使儿子也荣耀你; 2 正如你曾赐给他权柄管理凡有血气的,叫他将永生赐给你所赐给他的人。 3 认识你独一的真神,并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督,这就是永生。 约翰福音 20:17 耶稣说:“不要摸我,因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去,告诉他们说:我要升上去见我的父,也是你们的父;见我的上帝,也是你们的上帝。” 使徒行传 3:13 亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝,就是我们列祖的上帝,已经荣耀了他的儿子耶稣,你们却把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要释放他,你们竟在彼拉多面前弃绝了他。 使徒行传4:24-27 24 他们听见了,就同心合意地高声向上帝说:“主啊,你是造天、地、海和其中万物的, 25 你曾藉着圣灵托你仆人、我们祖宗大卫的口说:‘外邦为什么争闹?万民为什么谋算虚妄的事? 26 世上的君王一齐起来,臣宰也聚集,要敌挡主,并主的受膏者(或作“基督”)。’ 27 希律和本丢彼拉多、外邦人和以色列民果然在这城里聚集,要攻打你所膏的圣仆耶稣(“仆”或作“子”), 使徒行传 5:30 你们挂在木头上杀害的耶稣,我们祖宗的上帝已经叫他复活。 哥林多前书8:4-6 4 论到吃祭偶像之物,我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么;也知道上帝只有一位,再没有别的神。 5 虽有称为神的,或在天、或在地,就如那许多的神,许多的主。 6 然而我们只有一位上帝,就是父,万物都本于他,我们也归于他;并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着他有的,我们也是藉着他有的。 哥林多前书11:3 我愿意你们知道,基督是各人的头,男人是女人的头,上帝是基督的头。 哥林多后书 1:3 愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝,就是发慈悲的父,赐各样安慰的上帝。 哥林多后书 11:31 那永远可称颂之主耶稣的父上帝知道我不说谎。 罗马书1:7-9 7 我写信给你们在罗马为上帝所爱、奉召作圣徒的众人。愿恩惠、平安从我们的父上帝并主耶稣基督,归与你们! 8 第一,我靠着耶稣基督,为你们众人感谢我的上帝,因你们的信德传遍了天下。 9 我在他儿子福音上,用心灵所侍奉的上帝,可以见证我怎样不住的提到你们; 以弗所书 1:2-3 2 愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们! 3 愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝,他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。 以弗所书1:17 求我们主耶稣基督的上帝,荣耀的父,将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们,使你们真知道他。 以弗所书4:4-6 “4 身体只有一个,圣灵只有一个,正如你们蒙召,同有一个指望; 5 一主,一信,一洗, 6 一上帝,就是众人的父,超乎众人之上,贯乎众人之中,也住在众人之内。”(请参考哥林多前书8:6) 希伯来书 9:24 因为基督并不是进了人手所造的圣所(这不过是真圣所的影像),乃是进了天堂,如今为我们显在上帝面前; 提摩太前书2:3-5 “3 这是好的,在上帝我们救主面前可蒙悦讷。 4 他愿意万人得救,明白真道。 5 因为只有一位上帝,在上帝和人中间,只有一位中保,乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。” 希伯来书12:22-24 22 你们乃是来到锡安山、永生上帝的城邑,就是天上的耶路撒冷。那里有千万的天使, 23 有名录在天上诸长子之会所共聚的总会,有审判众人的上帝和被成全之义人的灵魂, 24 并新约的中保耶稣,以及所洒的血。这血所说的比亚伯的血所说的更美。 帖撒罗尼迦前书1:9-10 9 因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里,你们是怎样离弃偶像,归向上帝,要服侍那又真又活的上帝, 10 等候他儿子从天降临,就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。 帖撒罗尼迦前书3:11-13 “11 愿上帝我们的父和我们的主耶稣,一直引领我们到你们那里去; 12 又愿主叫你们彼此相爱的心,并爱众人的心,都能增长、充足,如同我们爱你们一样, 13 好使你们当我们主耶稣同他众圣徒来的时候,在我们父上帝面前心里坚固,成为圣洁,无可责备。” 帖撒罗尼迦后书 2:16 “但愿我们主耶稣基督和那爱我们、开恩将永远的安慰并美好的盼望赐给我们的父上帝,” 腓立比书 2:11 无不口称耶稣基督为主,使荣耀归与父上帝。 约翰一书 5:20 我们也知道上帝的儿子已经来到,且将智慧赐给我们,使我们认识那位真实的,我们也在那位真实的里面,就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是上帝,也是永生。 犹大书 1:4 “因为有些人偷着进来,就是自古被定受刑罚的,是不虔诚的,将我们上帝的恩变作放纵情欲的机会,并且不认独一的主宰、我们(“我们”或作“和我们”)主耶稣基督。” 启示录 3:12 “得胜的,我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子,他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名(这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷),并我的新名,都写在他上面。” 启示录 7:10 “大声喊着说:“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝,也归与羔羊。” 启示录 21:22 “我未见城内有殿,因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。” 启示录 22:1 “天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河,明亮如水晶,从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。” 耶稣基督是上帝真实的唯一亲生儿子 诗篇 2:7 受膏者说:“我要传圣旨。耶和华曾对我说:‘你是我的儿子,我今日生你。 箴言8:22-30 “22 “在耶和华造化的起头,在太初创造万物之先,就有了我。 23 从亘古,从太初,未有世界以前,我已被立。 24 没有深渊,没有大水的泉源,我已生出。 25 大山未曾奠定,小山未有之先,我已生出。 26 耶和华还没有创造大地和田野,并世上的土质,我已生出。 27 他立高天,我在那里;他在渊面的周围划出圆圈, 28 上使穹苍坚硬,下使渊源稳固, 29 为沧海定出界限,使水不越过他的命令,立定大地的根基。 30 那时,我在他那里为工师,日日为他所喜爱,常常在他面前踊跃, 箴言 30:4 “谁升天又降下来?谁聚风在掌中?谁包水在衣服里?谁立定地的四极?他名叫什么?他儿子叫名叫什么?你知道吗?” 弥迦书 5:2 “伯利恒以法他啊,你在犹大诸城中为小。将来必有一位从你那里出来,在以色列中为我作掌权的;他的根源从亘古、从太初就有。” 约翰福音16:27-29 “27 父自己爱你们,因为你们已经爱我,又信我是从父出来的。 28 我从父出来,到了世界;我又离开世界,往父那里去。” 29 门徒说:“如今你是明说,并不用比喻了。” 约翰福音17:7-8 “7 如今他们知道,凡你所赐给我的,都是从你那里来的; 8 因为你所赐给我的道,我已经赐给他们。他们也领受了,又确实知道,我是从你出来的,并且信你差了我来。” 约翰福音 8:42 “耶稣说:“倘若上帝是你们的父,你们就必爱我;因为我本是出于上帝,也是从上帝而来,并不是由着自己来,乃是他差我来。” 马太福音 3:17 “从天上有声音说:“这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。” 马太福音 14:33 “在船上的人都拜他,说:“你真是上帝的儿子了。” 马太福音 16:15-17 “15 耶稣说:“你们说我是谁?” 16 西门彼得回答说:“你是基督,是永生上帝的儿子。” 17 耶稣对他说:“西门巴约拿,你是有福的!因为这不是属血肉的指示你的,乃是我在天上的父指示的。” 马太福音 17:5 “说话之间,忽然有一朵光明的云彩遮盖他们,且有声音从云彩里出来说:“这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的,你们要听他。” 马可福音 1:1 “上帝的儿子,耶稣基督福音的起头。” 马可福音3:11 “污鬼无论何时看见他,就俯伏在他面前,喊着说:“你是上帝的儿子!” 约翰福音 1:14 “道成了肉身,住在我们中间,充充满满地有恩典,有真理。我们也见过他的荣光,正是父独生子的荣光。” 约翰福音 1:18 “从来没有人看见上帝,只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。” 约翰福音3:16-18 16 “上帝爱世人,甚至将他的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信他的,不至灭亡,反得永生。 17 因为上帝差他的儿子降世,不是要定世人的罪(或作“审判世人”。下同),乃是要叫世人因他得救。 18 信他的人,不被定罪;不信的人,罪已经定了,因为他不信上帝独生子的名。” 约翰福音3:34-36 “34 上帝所差来的,就说上帝的话;因为上帝赐圣灵给他,是没有限量的。 35 父爱子,已将万有交在他手里。 36 信子的人有永生;不信子的人得不着永生(原文作“不得见永生”),上帝的震怒常在他身上。” 约翰福音 5:26 “因为父怎样在自己有生命,就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命;” 约翰福音5:43 “我奉我父的名来,你们并不接待我;若有别人奉自己的名来,你们倒要接待他。” 约翰福音6:68-69 68 西门彼得回答说:“主啊,你有永生之道,我们还归从谁呢? 69 我们已经信了,又知道你是上帝的圣者。” 约翰福音10:36 “父所分别为圣,又差到世间来的,他自称是上帝的儿子,你们还向他说‘你说僭妄的话’吗?” 约翰福音11:4 “耶稣听见就说:“这病不至于死,乃是为上帝的荣耀,叫上帝的儿子因此得荣耀。” 约翰福音11:27 “马大说:“主啊,是的,我信你是基督,是上帝的儿子,就是那要临到世界的。” 约翰福音 17:1 “耶稣说了这话,就举目望天说:“父啊,时候到了,愿你荣耀你的儿子,使儿子也荣耀你。” 约翰福音20:17 “ 耶稣说:“不要摸我,因我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去,告诉他们说:我要升上去见我的父,也是你们的父;见我的上帝,也是你们的上帝。” 约翰福音20:31 “但记这些事,要叫你们信耶稣是基督,是上帝的儿子,并且叫你们信了他,就可以因他的名得生命。” 使徒行传3:13 “ 亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝,就是我们列祖的上帝,已经荣耀了他的儿子耶稣,你们却把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要释放他,你们竟在彼拉多面前弃绝了他。 使徒行传9:19-20 19 “吃过饭就健壮了。扫罗和大马士革的门徒同住了些日子, 20 就在各会堂里宣传耶稣,说他是上帝的儿子。 罗马书 1:9 “我在他儿子福音上,用心灵所侍奉的上帝,可以见证我怎样不住地提到你们” 罗马书8:3 “律法既因肉体软弱,有所不能行的,上帝就差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的形状,作了赎罪祭,在肉体中定了罪案,” 以弗所书1:3 “ 愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝,他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。” 以弗所书3:14 “因此,我在父面前屈膝,” 加拉太书2:20 “我已经与基督同钉十字架,现在活着的不再是我,乃是基督在我里面活着;并且我如今在肉身活着,是因信上帝的儿子而活,他是爱我,为我舍己。” 加拉太书4:4 “及至时候满足,上帝就差遣他的儿子,为女子所生,且生在律法以下,” 加拉太书4:6 “你们既为儿子,上帝就差他儿子的灵进入你们(原文作“我们”)的心,呼叫:“阿爸,父!” 歌罗西书1:13-15 13他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,把我们迁到他爱子的国里, 14我们在爱子里得蒙救赎,罪过得以赦免。 15爱子是那不能看见之上帝的像,是首生的,在一切被造的以先。 帖撒罗尼迦前书1:9-10 9 “因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里,你们是怎样离弃偶像,归向上帝,要服侍那又真又活的上帝, 10等候他儿子从天降临,就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。 希伯来书1:1-5 1上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方的晓谕列祖; 2就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们,又早已立他为承受万有的;也曾藉着他创造诸世界。 3他是上帝荣耀所发的光辉,是上帝本体的真像,常用他权能的命令托住万有。他洗净了人的罪,就坐在高天至大者的右边。 4他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵,就远超过天使。 5所有的天使,上帝从来对哪一个说,“你是我的儿子,我今日生你”?又指着哪一个说,“我要作他的父,他要作我的子”? 希伯来书4:14 “我们既然有一位已经升入高天尊荣的大祭司,就是上帝的儿子耶稣,便当持定所承认的道。” 希伯来书5:5 “如此,基督也不是自取荣耀作大祭司,乃是在乎向他说“你是我的儿子,我今日生你”的那一位。” 彼得前书1:3 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝,他曾照自己的大怜悯,藉耶稣基督从死里复活,重生了我们,叫我们有活泼的盼望,” 约翰一书1:3 “我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们,使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 约翰一书1:5-7 5 上帝就是光,在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见,又报给你们的信息。 6我们若说是与上帝相交,却仍在黑暗里行,就是说谎话,不行真理了。 7我们若在光明中行,如同上帝在光明中,就彼此相交,他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。 约翰一书2:22-24 22谁是说谎话的呢?不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗?不认父与子的,这就是敌基督的。 23凡不认子的,就没有父;认子的,连父也有了。 24论到你们,务要将那从起初所听见的常存在心里;若将从起初所听见的存在心里,你们就必住在子里面,也必住在父里面。 约翰一书3:8 “犯罪的是属魔鬼,因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪。上帝的儿子显现出来,为要除灭魔鬼的作为。” 约翰一书4:9 “上帝差他独生子到世间来,使我们藉着他得生,上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。” 约翰一书4:15 “凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的,上帝就住在他里面,他也住在上帝里面。” 约翰一书5:5-13 5胜过世界的是谁呢?不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗? 6这藉着水和血而来的,就是耶稣基督;不是单用水,乃是用水又用血, 7并且有圣灵作见证,因为圣灵就是真理。 8作见证的原来有三:就是圣灵、水与血,这三样也都归于一。 9我们既领受人的见证,上帝的见证更该领受了(“该领受”原文作“大”),因上帝的见证是为他儿子作的。 10信上帝儿子的,就有这见证在他心里;不信上帝的,就是将上帝当作说谎的,因不信上帝为他儿子作的见证。 11这见证就是上帝赐给我们永生,这永生也是在他儿子里面。 12人有了上帝的儿子就有生命,没有上帝的儿子就没有生命。 13我将这些话写给你们信奉上帝儿子之名的人,要叫你们知道自己有永生。 约翰一书5:20 “我们也知道上帝的儿子已经来到,且将智慧赐给我们,使我们认识那位真实的,我们也在那位真实的里面,就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神,也是永生。 约翰二书1:3 “恩惠、怜悯、平安从父上帝和他儿子耶稣基督,在真理和爱心上必常与我们同在!” 启示录1:5-6 并那诚实作见证的,从死里首先复活,为世上君王元首的耶稣基督,有恩惠、平安归与你们!他爱我们,用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶(“脱离”有古卷“洗去”), 6又使我们成为国民,作他父上帝的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他,直到永永远远。阿们! 启示录2:18 “你要写信给推雅推喇教会的使者说,那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的上帝之子说:” 启示录3:21 “得胜的,我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐,就如我得了胜,在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。” 启示录14:1 “我又观看,见羔羊站在锡安山,同他又有十四万四千人,都有他的名和他父的名写在额上。” 圣灵是父上帝和祂儿子的灵 圣灵是父上帝的灵,赐给了祂儿子耶稣。这些经文都显示圣灵不是“第三位生物”,而是基督的灵,也是祂从父那里得到的,所以是父和子所共有的灵。 约伯记33:4 “上帝的灵造我,全能者的气使我得生。” 诗篇51:10-11 10上帝啊,求你为我造清洁的心,使我里面重新有正直的灵(“正直”或作“坚定”)。 11不要丢弃我,使我离开你的面;不要从我收回你的圣灵。 诗篇139:7 “我往哪里去,躲避你的灵?我往哪里逃,躲避你的面?” 约珥书2:28 “以后,我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的。你们的儿女要说预言,你们的老年人要作异梦,少年人要见异象。” 马太福音12:15-18 15耶稣知道了,就离开那里,有许多人跟着他。他把其中有病的人都治好了。 16又嘱咐他们,不要给他传名。 17这是要应验先知以赛亚的话,说: 18“看哪,我的仆人,我所拣选、所亲爱、心里所喜悦的,我要将我的灵赐给他,他必将公理传给外邦。 马太福音 18:20 因为无论在哪里,有两三个人奉我的名聚会,那里有我在他们中间。” 马可福音 1:8 我是用水给你们施洗,他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。” 路加福音 21:14-15 14 所以,你们当立定心意,不要预先思想怎样分诉, 15 因为我必赐你们口才智慧,是你们一切敌人所敌不住、驳不倒的。” 路加福音24:49 我要将我父所应许的降在你们身上,你们要在城里等候,直到你们领受从上头来的能力。” 约翰福音3:34-35 34 上帝所差来的,就说上帝的话;因为上帝赐圣灵给他,是没有限量的。 35 父爱子,已将万有交在他手里。 约翰福音 4:10 “耶稣回答说:“你若知道上帝的恩赐,和对你说‘给我水喝’的是谁,你必早求他,他也必早给了你活水。” 约翰福音 7:37-39 37 节期的末日,就是最大之日,耶稣站着高声说:“人若渴了,可以到我这里来喝。 38 信我的人,就如经上所说,‘从他腹中要流出活水的江河来’。” 39 耶稣这话是指着信他之人要受圣灵说的,那时还没有赐下圣灵来,因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀。 约翰福音 14:17-21 17 就是真理的圣灵,乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他,也不认识他;你们却认识他,因他常与你们同在,也要在你们里面。 18 我不撇下你们为孤儿,我必到你们这里来。 19 还有不多的时候,世人不再看见我,你们却看见我,因为我活着,你们也要活着。 20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面,你们在我里面,我也在你们里面。 21 有了我的命令又遵守的,这人就是爱我的;爱我的必蒙我父爱他,我也要爱他,并且要向他显现。” 约翰福音17:22-26 22 你赐给我的荣耀,我已经赐给他们,使他们合而为一,像我们合而为一。 23 我在他们里面,你在我里面,使他们完完全全地合而为一,叫世人知道你差了我来,也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。 24 父啊,我在哪里,愿你所赐给我的人也同我在那里,叫他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀;因为创立世界以前,你已经爱我了。 25 公义的父啊,世人未曾认识你,我却认识你,这些人也知道你差了我来。 26 我已将你的名指示他们,还要指示他们,使你所爱我的爱在他们里面,我也在他们里面。” 约翰福音20:21-22 21 耶稣又对他们说:“愿你们平安!父怎样差遣了我,我也照样差遣你们。” 22 说了这话,就向他们吹一口气,说:“你们受圣灵。 使徒行传1:1-2 1 提阿非罗啊,我已经作了前书,论到耶稣开头一切所行所教训的, 2 直到他藉着圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒,以后被接上升的日子为止。 使徒行传2:32-33 32 这耶稣,上帝已经叫他复活了,我们都为这事作见证。 33 他既被上帝的右手高举(或作“他既高举在上帝的右边”),又从父受了所应许的圣灵,就把你们所看见、所听见的浇灌下来。 罗马书8:9-10 9 如果上帝的灵住在你们心里,你们就不属肉体,乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵,就不是属基督的。 10 基督若在你们心里,身体就因罪而死,心灵却因义而活。 哥林多前书2:9-16 9 如经上所记:“ 上帝为爱他的人所预备的,是眼睛未曾看见,耳朵未曾听见,人心也未曾想到的。” 10 只有上帝藉着圣灵向我们显明了,因为圣灵渗透万事,就是上帝深奥的事也渗透了。 11 除了在人里头的灵,谁知道人的事?像这样,除了上帝的灵,也没有人知道上帝的事。 12 我们所领受的,并不是世上的灵,乃是从上帝来的灵,叫我们能知道上帝开恩赐给我们的事。 13 并且我们讲说这些事,不是用人智慧所指教的言语,乃是用圣灵所指教的言语,将属灵的话解释属灵的事(或作“将属灵的事讲与属灵的人”)。 14 然而,属血气的人不领会上帝圣灵的事,反倒以为愚拙,并且不能知道,因为这些事惟有属灵的人才能看透。 15 属灵的人能看透万事,却没有一人能看透了他。 16 谁曾知道主的心去教导他呢?但我们是有基督的心了。 哥林多前书10:1-4 1 弟兄们,我不愿意你们不晓得,我们的祖宗从前都在云下,都从海中经过, 2 都在云里、海里受洗归了摩西, 3 并且都吃了一样的灵食, 4 也都喝了一样的灵水;所喝的,是出于随着他们的灵磐石,那磐石就是基督。 哥林多后书 3:17 主就是那灵;主的灵在哪里,那里就得以自由。 哥林多后书13:3-5 3 你们既然寻求基督在我里面说话的凭据,我必不宽容。因为基督在你们身上不是软弱的,在你们里面是有大能的。 4 他因软弱被钉在十字架上,却因上帝的大能仍然活着。我们也是这样同他软弱,但因上帝向你们所显的大能,也必与他同活。 5 你们总要自己省察有信心没有,也要自己试验。岂不知你们若不是可弃绝的,就有耶稣基督在你们心里吗? 以弗所书3:14-17 14 因此,我在父面前屈膝, 15 (天上地上的各(或作“全”)家都是从他得名), 16 求他按着他丰盛的荣耀,藉着他的灵,叫你们心里的力量刚强起来。 17 使基督因你们的信,住在你们心里,叫你们的爱心有根有基, 以弗所书 4:7-11 7 我们各人蒙恩,都是照基督所量给各人的恩赐。 8 所以经上说:“他升上高天的时候,掳掠了仇敌,将各样的恩赐赏给人。” 9 (既说升上,岂不是先降在地下吗? 10 那降下的,就是远升诸天之上要充满万有的。) 11 他所赐的有使徒,有先知,有传福音的,有牧师和教师。 加拉太书 2:20 我已经与基督同钉十字架,现在活着的不再是我,乃是基督在我里面活着;并且我如今在肉身活着,是因信上帝的儿子而活,他是爱我,为我舍己。 加拉太书 4:6 你们既为儿子,上帝就差他儿子的灵进入你们(原文作“我们”)的心,呼叫:“阿爸,父!” 腓立比书 1:19 因为我知道,这事藉着你们的祈祷和耶稣基督之灵的帮助,终必叫我得救。 歌罗西书 1:27 上帝愿意叫他们知道,这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀,就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。 希伯来书1:8-9 8 论到子却说:“ 上帝啊,你的宝座是永永远远的,你的国权是正直的。 9 你喜爱公义,恨恶罪恶,所以上帝,就是你的上帝,用喜乐油膏你,胜过膏你的同伴。” 提多书3:4-6 4 但到了上帝我们救主的恩慈和他向人所施的慈爱显明的时候, 5 他便救了我们,并不是因我们自己所行的义,乃是照他的怜悯,藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。 6 圣灵就是上帝藉着耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的。 彼得前书1:10-11 10 论到这救恩,那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细地寻求考察, 11 就是考察在他们心里基督的灵,预先证明基督受苦难,后来得荣耀,是指着什么时候,并怎样的时候。 约翰一书2:27-28 27 你们从主所受的恩膏常存在你们心里,并不用人教训你们,自有主的恩膏在凡事上教训你们。这恩膏是真的,不是假的,你们要按这恩膏的教训住在主里面。 28 小子们哪,你们要住在主里面。这样,他若显现,我们就可以坦然无惧;当他来的时候,在他面前也不至于惭愧。 启示录1:12,13,20;启示录2:1 12 我转过身来,要看是谁发声与我说话;既转过来,就看见七个金灯台。 13 灯台中间有一位好像人子,身穿长衣,直垂到脚,胸间束着金带。 20 论到你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘,那七星就是七个教会的使者,七个灯台就是七个教会。” 2:1 “你要写信给以弗所教会的使者说,那右手拿着七星,在七个金灯台中间行走的说: 启示录2:18,29 18“你要写信给推雅推喇教会的使者说,那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的上帝之子说: 29 圣灵向众教会所说的话,凡有耳的,就应当听。” 启示录3:20 “看哪,我站在门外叩门,若有听见我声音就开门的,我要进到他那里去,我与他,他与我,一同坐席。” 启示录5:6 “我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中,有羔羊站立,像是被杀过的,有七角七眼,就是上帝的七灵,奉差遣往普天下去的。” 启示录22:1 “天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河,明亮如水晶,从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。” 只有两位神性生物 当圣经说到神性时(使徒行传17:29,罗马书1:20),它事实上是在指着父上帝而言。祂是所有一切的本源(歌林多前书:6),包括祂自己的神性。但是耶稣也是有神性的,因为耶稣基督是上帝的亲生儿子,因此祂承受了付所有的神性。歌罗西书2:9为我们确认了这一点,“因为上帝本性一切的丰盛,都有形有体的居住在基督里面”,耶稣本身在约翰福音14:10也确认了这事实。但是文章这一部分的主要目的是要揭穿这教导“三位神性生物”的三位一体谬论。 创世纪1:26 “上帝说:“我们要照着我们的形像,按着我们的样式造人,使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地,并地上所爬的一切昆虫。” 约翰福音1:1-3 1太初有道,道与上帝同在,道就是神。 2这道太初与上帝同在。 3万物是藉着他造的;凡被造的,没有一样不是藉着他造的。 以弗所书3:9 “又使众人都明白,这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之上帝里的奥秘,是如何安排的。” 撒迦利亚书6:13 “他要建造耶和华的殿,并担负尊荣,坐在位上掌王权。又必在位上作祭司,使两职之间筹定和平。” 约翰二书1:9 “凡越过基督的教训不常守着的,就没有上帝;常守这教训的,就有父又有子。” 路加福音10:22 “一切所有的都是我父交付我的。除了父,没有人知道子是谁;除了子和子所愿意指示的,没有人知道父是谁。” 约翰福音16:3 “他们这样行,是因未曾认识父,也未曾认识我。” 哥林多前书8:5-6 5 虽有称为神的,或在天、或在地,就如那许多的神,许多的主。 6然而我们只有一位上帝,就是父,万物都本于他,我们也归于他;并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着他有的,我们也是藉着他有的。 约翰一书1:3 “我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们,使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 约翰福音17:1-3 1 耶稣说了这话,就举目望天说:“父啊,时候到了,愿你荣耀你的儿子,使儿子也荣耀你; 2正如你曾赐给他权柄管理凡有血气的,叫他将永生赐给你所赐给他的人。 3认识你独一的真神,并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督,这就是永生。 哥林多前书1:3 “愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父并主耶稣基督归与你们!” 以弗所书1:2 “愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们!” 约翰二书1:3 “恩惠、怜悯、平安从父上帝和他儿子耶稣基督,在真理和爱心上必常与我们同在!” 雅各书1:1 “作上帝和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各,请散住十二个支派之人的安。” 彼得后书1:2 “愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣,多多地加给你们。” 约翰一书2:22 “谁是说谎话的呢?不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗?不认父与子的,这就是敌基督的。” 约翰福音15:23 。。。“恨我的,也恨我的父。” 提摩太前书2:5 “因为只有一位上帝;在上帝和人中间,只有一位中保,乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。” 约翰福音5:23 “叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的,就是不尊敬差子来的父。” 约翰福音8:18 “我是为自己作见证,还有差我来的父也是为我作见证。” 启示录21:22-23 22 我未见城内有殿,因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。 23那城内又不用日月光照,因有上帝的荣耀光照,又有羔羊为城的灯。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂
- Jesus has a God
All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Jesus has a God JESUS HAS A GOD Jesus HAS a God, hence He is NOT the Supreme God. HIS FATHER IS. God the Father HAS NO GOD, He answers to NO ONE. He does as it pleases Him. Jesus has a God & answers to the Father. It pleases Him to do what pleases His God, the Father. [Bible texts below]. 1 Corinthians 3:23 (KJV) 23 And ye are Christ's; and CHRIST IS GOD'S. 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Ephesians 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:17 (KJV) 17 That THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Romans 15:6 (KJV) 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) 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 (KJV) 31 THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. Colossians 1:3 (KJV) 3 We give thanks to GOD AND THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, praying always for you, Matthew 27:46 (KJV) 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? John 20:17 (KJV) 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. Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV) 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, EVEN THY GOD, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Revelation 1:6 (KJV) 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto GOD AND HIS FATHER; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 3:12 (KJV) 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of MY GOD and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of MY GOD, and the name of the city of MY GOD, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from MY GOD: and I will write upon him my new name. [Caps added for emphasis, however no content has been changed] Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- 让我的子民思考
返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 让我的子民思考 让我的子民思考 (第一部分) 让我的子民思考。让他们清楚地阅读这道,以便他们可以相信。我们身处末时,因此应当赎回光阴,不再闲懒散漫。 我们的救恩是在于我们所认识的神,而不是我们所做的事。将来会有一个审判。我们的行为现今正被称在天平里,以显明我们是否要遵行上帝的话,即是我们所自称相信的。 这是生死攸关的 。我们应该是与“父并祂儿子耶稣基督”相交的。 只有一位上帝。祂和祂的独生子一起生活。 申命记 6:4“以色列啊,你要听!耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。 申命记 4:35,39 35 这是显给你看,要使你知道,惟有耶和华他是上帝,除他以外,再无别神。39 所以今日你要知道,也要记在心上,天上地下惟有耶和华他是上帝,除他以外,再无别神。 惟有一位是上帝。祂不是由多位所组成的。这里所用的所有代词都是单数代词“他”。 申命记 6:5-7 5 你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。6 我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上,7 也要殷勤教训你的儿女,无论你坐在家里,行在路上,躺下,起来,都要谈论; 申命记 10:20你要敬畏耶和华你的 上帝,侍奉他,专靠他,也要指着他的名起誓。 我们要爱祂。我们要敬畏祂。祂叫什么名字? 出埃及记 15:3耶和华是战士,他的名是耶和华。 出埃及记 6:3我从前向亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各显现为全能的上帝,至于我名耶和华,他们未曾知道。 诗篇 68:4你们当向上帝唱诗,歌颂他的名,为那坐车行过旷野的修平大路。他的名是耶和华,要在他面前欢乐。 诗篇 83:18使他们知道,惟独你名为耶和华的,是全地以上的至高者。 上帝说祂不是三位一体。惟独祂是上帝。祂有一个真实的名字。祂的儿子不是三位一体的一部分,也不是三位一体信徒。耶稣显明祂的父为独一的真神。 马可福音12:32-34 32 那文士对耶稣说:“夫子说,上帝是一位,实在不错。除了他以外,再没有别的 神。33 并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他,又爱人如己,就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好得多。”34 耶稣见他回答的有智慧,就对他说:“你离上帝的国不远了。”从此以后,没有人敢再问他什么。 让我的子民思考 (第二部分) 约翰福音 17:3认识你独一的真神,并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督,这就是永生。 约翰福音 3:16“上帝爱世人,甚至将他的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信他的,不至灭亡,反得永生。 上帝没有差派祂自己。祂差派祂独生儿子。上帝的儿子是祂亲生的,并被上帝所差到世间来。祂肯定是在被差派以先为上帝所生。祂不是被差派了之后才变成亲生儿子的。这是经上记着说的。耶稣说祂是”从上帝出来的。” 祂是“从父出来的。” 门徒们都相信耶稣的见证,即祂是从上帝出来的。门徒们都不是三位一体信徒。 约翰福音16:27-30 27 父自己爱你们,因为你们已经爱我,又信我是从父出来的。28 我从父出来,到了世界;我又离开世界,往父那里去。”29 门徒说:“如今你是明说,并不用比喻了。30 现在我们晓得你凡事都知道,也不用人问你,因此我们信你是从上帝出来的。” 约翰福音 8:42耶稣说:“倘若上帝是你们的父,你们就必爱我;因为我本是出于上帝,也是从上帝而来,并不是由着自己来,乃是他差我来。 箴言 8:22-25 22 “在耶和华造化的起头,在太初创造万物之先,就有了我。23 从亘古,从太初,未有世界以前,我已被立。24 没有深渊,没有大水的泉源,我已生出。25 大山未曾奠定,小山未有之先,我已生出。 箴言8:27-31 27 他立高天,我在那里;他在渊面的周围划出圆圈,28 上使穹苍坚硬,下使渊源稳固,29 为沧海定出界限,使水不越过他的命令,立定大地的根基。30 那时,我在他那里为工师,日日为他所喜爱,常常在他面前踊跃,31 踊跃在他为人预备可住之地,也喜悦住在世人之间。 耶稣有一位父亲。耶和华是祂的上帝和祂的父亲。祂们在本质上是同等的。他们有共同的目标。惟独父是比儿子大的。 约翰福音 5:18所以犹太人越发想要杀他,因他不但犯了安息日,并且称上帝为他的父,将自己和上帝当作平等。 让我的子民思考 (第三部分) 约翰福音 10:30我与父原为一。 约翰福音 14:28你们听见我对你们说了,我去还要到你们这里来。你们若爱我,因我到父那里去,就必喜乐,因为父是比我大的。 约翰福音 20:17耶稣说:“不要摸我,因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去,告诉他们说:我要升上去见我的父,也是你们的父;见我的上帝,也是你们的上帝。” 哥林多前书15:24,27-28 24 再后,末期到了,那时基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了,就把国交与父 神。27 因为经上说:“上帝叫万物都服在他的脚下。”既说万物都服了他,明显那叫万物服他的,不在其内了。28 万物既服了他,那时,子也要自己服那叫万物服他的,叫上帝在万物之上,为万物之主。 哥林多前书 8:4,6 4 论到吃祭偶像之物,我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么;也知道上帝只有一位,再没有别的上帝。6 然而我们只有一位上帝,就是父,万物都本于他,我们也归于他;并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着他有的,我们也是藉着他有的。 以弗所书 4:4-6 4 身体只有一个,圣灵只有一个,正如你们蒙召,同有一个指望;5 一主,一信,一洗,6 一上帝,就是众人的父,超乎众人之上,贯乎众人之中,也住在众人之内。 哥林多前书 1:9上帝是信实的,你们原是被他所召,好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督一同得份。 约翰一书 1:3我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们,使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。 约翰一书 3:23上帝的命令就是叫我们信他儿子耶稣基督的名,且照他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。 约翰一书 4:8-10 8没有爱心的,就不认识上帝,因为上帝就是爱。9 上帝差他独生子到世间来,使我们藉着他得生,上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。10 不是我们爱上帝,乃是上帝爱我们,差他的儿子,为我们的罪作了挽回祭,这就是爱了。 约翰一书 4:14父差子作世人的救主,这是我们所看见且作见证的。 约翰一书 4:15凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的, 上帝就住在他里面, 约翰一书 5:5胜过世界的是谁呢?不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗? 约翰一书 5:13我将这些话写给你们信奉上帝儿子之名的人,要叫你们知道自己有永生。 约翰一书 2:21-23 我写信给你们,不是因你们不知道真理,正是因你们知道,并且知道没有虚谎是从真理出来的。22 谁是说谎话的呢?不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗?不认父与子的,这就是敌基督的。23 凡不认子的,就没有父;认子的,连父也有了。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂
- That We Might Know Him
All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next That We Might Know Him That We Might Know Him (1) Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever…” Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the LORD, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me”. Has anyone ever told you that God is a mystery? This idea has kept many genuine Christians from experiencing the fullness of peace, love, and transforming power that can only be found in close fellowship with their Creator. The truth is that only through the veil of human speculation and theory do we distort God into a being who cannot be understood. This study was created to simply explore what God has revealed about Himself in His Word – adding nothing to what is said, and taking nothing away. My prayer is that it will bring you into a closer and deeper relationship with your God - a God who wants to be known! Hosea 6:3 “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD, His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Proverbs 2:3-5 “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” (1) God the Father What is the Father’s character like? 1 John 4:8-10 “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 ‘“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the LORD (Yahweh) Almighty.” James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” Where is the Father? Matthew 6:9 “…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” Revelation 4:2 “…behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne...” Isaiah 37:16 “O LORD (Yahweh) of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” How has He been revealed to us? Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Exodus 33:20 “But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live.” Hebrews 1:1-2 “God … has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds,” John 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” What has Christ revealed to us about His Father? Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” Mark 14:36 “And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 5:19-23 “Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will…” John 5:26-27 “For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. John 14:28 “…If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father’, for My Father is greater than I.” John 17:7 “Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.” John 17:1-3 “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Jesus declared that His Father is the only true God. Did His disciples understand His teaching? 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.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Philippians 2:11 “and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Titus 1:4 “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (See also 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Philemon 1:3, and 2 John 1:3) James 3:8-9 “But no man can tame the tongue… With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have be made in the similitude of God.” Acts 17:23-25 “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” Jude 1:1 “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called,sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (2) (2) Jesus Christ If the Father, by Christ’s own declaration, is the “only true God”, then who is Jesus? Matthew 16:15-17 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Simon Peter’s answer was inspired by the Father Himself – that Jesus is His Son! His answer was so powerful that Christ shortened His name to Peter, which means “a rock”, and declared that “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Was Christ identifying Himself as God’s literal Son? We find that in the Old Testament, through King Solomon, Christ gave amazing insight into His relationship with the Father. The Spirit of Prophecy confirms that Christ is speaking of Himself in Proverbs 8:22-30, which agrees with 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 and Luke 11:49 in declaring Christ as the “wisdom of God”. “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 water 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” This beautiful description of the companionship between the Father and Son in the days of eternity tells us that Christ indeed had a beginning to His existence. Our finite minds cannot fathom the time period when this occurred, because in reality it was before the measurement of time was established, and we may not fully understand how Christ was brought forth from His Father, but we accept our Saviour’s words by faith. It’s important to understand that Christ was not created, as angels and humans were. We know this because John 1:3 tells us that, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” He was truly begotten – brought forth from the very substance of His Father’s being. John 8:42 “Jesus said unto them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” John 16:27-28 “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.” 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.” In every instance, the event of proceeding/coming forth from the Father is separated from the event of being sent into this world (conjunction noted with italics). This clarifies that Jesus was speaking of two separate events – i.e. being begotten in heaven, and being sent to earth. Through faith in Christ’s word, we understand that there was a point in the great expanse of eternity when the Father chose to bring forth a divine Son. Therefore, Christ had a beginning, while the Father did not. Does this lessen Christ’s divinity in any way? Absolutely not! John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself” Colossians 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (deity/divinity) bodily.” ** Note that “Godhead” is the Greek word theotes (G2320), which simply means deity – the state of being God. Christ was brought forth from the very substance of the Father, the great Source of all. It pleased the Father to bring Christ into existence, giving Him the same full, divine, eternal life that He had in Himself. Just as a human father begets a human son, our divine Father begot a divine Son! John 1:1 presents this beautifully in the original Greek, with the first use of “God” actually being a definite article. If thus properly translated it would read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God.” In the beginning Christ was with His Father (the only true God), but Christ Himself was also God in nature. He was fully divine. Hebrews 1:4-5 “…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?” Christ is divine because He inherited His Father’s divinity! But the Father is the Source of all, without beginning, making Him the only true God. 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.” The Father is the source, and Christ is the executing agent, or the channel, by whom the Father made all things, and by whom we are reconciled to the Father. 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Not surprisingly, Christ’s identity as God’s Son was the exact truth that Satan attacked: Matthew 4:3 “…If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:6 “…If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…” Satan’s angels knew who He was as well: Mark 5:7 “And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” Luke 4:41 “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak: for they knew that He was the Christ.” Christ’s own declaration of His identity was the reason He was persecuted: John 10:36 “Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming’, because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 19:7 “The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Matthew 26:63 “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Luke 22:70 “Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” Matthew 27:40 “And saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matthew 27:54 “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” And this is, in fact, the only belief by which we are saved! John 3:16,18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life… He who believes on Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 20:31 “But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through His name.” John 5:25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God: and those who hear will live.” Looking back to Hebrews 1, verse 4 also explains why the Father’s name, Yahweh, can be applied to Christ in the prophecy of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days are coming” says the LORD (Yahweh), “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD (Yahweh) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Hebrews 1:4 “… as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Just as a human son inherits his father’s name, so Christ inherited His Father’s name! In verses 8 and 9 we again see that while Jesus is divine in nature, His Father is still the Head over all. Hebrews 1:8-9 “But unto the Son He saith: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Though Christ is divine, and has been exalted by His Father to receive worship, He also has a God – His own Father. Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, … My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” John 20:17 “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” Romans 15:6 “That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (See also 2 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Colossians 1:3, and 1 Peter 1:3) Ephesians 1:17 “..that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” Revelation 1:5-6 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him by glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 3:12 (Christ speaking) “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” In receiving the seal of God, Christ will write His Father’s name – Yahweh, upon our foreheads. Our forehead represents our knowledge of who God is. John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” In contrast, the mark of the beast will be a counterfeit seal with the same layout as God’s seal (Rev. 3:12): name of their God, name of their city, name of their Christ (i.e. the Antichrist). Revelation 17:4-5 “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication: And on her forehead a name was written, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” Christ came to this earth for the express purpose of revealing His Father to us, so that our God would not be a mystery! Amen! Christ never received glory unto Himself, but did all to the glory of His God and Father. His teachings consistently express that He came to this earth to reveal His Father’s love, character, and purpose to mankind, and to reconcile us to the Father through Himself. Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” To undoubtedly confirm the identity of Christ, we need only to look to the Father’s affirmation of who He is. The Father, the highest authority in the universe, gave a specific message at Christ’s baptism, and again on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 3:17, 17:5, Mark 1:11, 9:7, Luke 3:22, 9:35, 2 Peter 1:17). His message was this: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And on the mount He adds “Hear Him!” All authority that Jesus has to be the Father’s representative, and to be a sufficient sacrifice for fallen humanity, rests in this single, most important truth – that He is the beloved, divine,begotten Son of God. (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (3) (3) The Holy Spirit As we’ve discovered that the Father is the Source of all, we can also confirm with scripture that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father Himself. John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me” Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Just as the “Son OF God” implies possession (i.e. The Son belongs to the Father, He is His Son), the “Spirit OF God” does also. The Holy Spirit is exactly as the Bible describes – the Spirit OF God. It is God’s own spirit, the spirit of the Father! Matthew 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” As a quick aside, let’s look at some other “spirits” in the Bible... Genesis 41:7-8 “…And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt…” Genesis 45:27 “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” Deuteronomy 2:30 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate…” Ezra 1:1 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” There are many more examples, but I think the point is clear. In no other instance would we think of someone’s spirit as being anything other than that – their own spirit, i.e. their mind, thoughts, and character. So why would we picture a separate, third being when the Bible says “the Spirit of God”? The Father is an all-powerful, omnipresent spirit-being, and therefore can be sitting on the throne of heaven in body, and yet be present on earth by His own Spirit. John 4:23-24 “…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.” Christ was brought forth, however, to be the mediator between God and mankind. Thus, just as the Father wrought all of creation through His Son, He likewise sends His Spirit through His Son, to minister on our behalf, and even dwell within us! Ephesians 2:13,18 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (…) For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” In this way the Father and Son share the same Spirit, being one in character, purpose, and love for mankind. The book of John comes alive so beautifully when we understand this powerful truth. John 14:20-23 ‘“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home with him.”’ The Holy Spirit is none other than the Spirit of Christ and His Father, and we can have Their Spirit living in us! We see that the terms, “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Christ” can be used interchangeably, because they operate as one Spirit. Romans 8:9-10 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Goddwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” However, while Christ dwelt on earth He had clothed His divinity in humanity. Having taken on human form, His Father’s Spirit was still within Him, but He could not act as the channel to bestow it upon mankind. Isaiah 42:1 “Behold, My servant whom I uphold. My elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” Philippians 2:6-7 “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.” John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” This is why the Holy Spirit, known after Christ’s ascension as “the Comforter”, could not be given to His disciples until Pentecost. John 7:39 “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” Only once Christ returned to heaven to be glorified, and commence His work in the sanctuary as our High Priest, could He then petition His Father to send His disciples the Spirit. Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. John 14:16-20 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.” The Comforter could not be sent until Jesus was glorified, yet Jesus said “He dwelleth with you” in present tense, but “shall be in you” in future tense. By saying “ye know Him” and “He dwelleth with you”, Christ is identifying Himself, filled with His Father’s Spirit, as the very same Comforter. Though He was currently dwelling with them in person, in the future He would be in them by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:32-33 “This Jesus has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” The Greek word for “Comforter” is “parakletos”. John is the only author who used this term -four times in his gospel, and once in 1 John. Despite the widely held belief that the Comforter describes a third being, separate from the Father and Christ, John had actually purposed in his writings that there would be no question as to who he was referring. Unfortunately, his effort for clarity was hidden in the translation. In 1 John 2:1 he identifies exactly who he was speaking about, but this term, parakletos, was here translated as “Advocate” instead of “Comforter”. 1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” OR “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have a Comforter with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Our “parakletos”, our “Comforter”, is none other than Jesus Christ! But why, then, in John 14:16 does Christ say that the Father will send another Comforter? Doesn’t this mean that it must be a separate person?” There are two Greek words which are translated as “another” – allos and heteros. While hetero means “another of a different sort” (ex. “May I try another type of apple?”), allos means “another of an identical sort” (ex. “Those green apples are delicious! May I have another?”) The word Christ used in this passage was allos. Therefore, He was not telling them that the Father would send a different Comforter, but that He would send a Comforter identical to the One who was currently with them! The Father had sent Christ as their Comforter the first time in human form, and would send Him again, in spirit form. Hebrews 2:18 “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Christ alone can help us overcome worldly temptation, because He is the only divine being who has taken on our fallen human nature and triumphed over sin! We also shouldn’t take issue with the fact that while describing “the Comforter” Christ speaks of Himself in the third person, as He did this all throughout His ministry. (Matthew 13:41, 24:27,30, Mark 10:33-34, 45, Luke 17:24, 18:8, John 10:2-4, 17:1-3, etc.) Remember that 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” There is only one mediator – one intercessor. Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” When we let scripture interpret scripture, who is said to make intercession for us? Romans 8:34 “Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore [Christ] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Christ Himself is that one mediator, that one intercessor between God and men. John 17:23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.” Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 1 Peter 1:10-11 “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 “For “who has known the mind of the LORD that He may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” May we all pray to receive the only life-giving Spirit – the Spirit of our Saviour Himself. Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Christ wants to fill us with His Spirit, so that He can give us His power to overcome the temptations of this world, and live a victorious Christian life! Only through Him can we be transformed, day by day, to reflect God’s image as He does. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” John 16:13 “…when He, the Spirit, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Father and Son are longing to come abide with you through the Spirit, to give you strength, guide you into all truth, and give you peace which surpasses all understanding. Will you let Them? Colossians 1:26-29 “Even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (4) (4) Father & Son Here are a few more verses revealing the two divine beings: God and His Son. Proverbs 30:4 “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?” Zechariah 6:12-13 “Then speak to him, saying, Thus says the LORD (Yahweh) of hosts, saying, “Behold, the Man whose name is The BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Both = two!) Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)” Ephesians 5:5 “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” 1 Timothy 5:21 “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” 1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 2:22-23 “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” Revelation 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 6:16 “And said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Revelation 14:4 “… These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 21:22 “And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Revelation 22:1,3 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. … And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it” Mystery Solved! 2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” I truly hope you’ve been blessed by this study. In conclusion, I’d like to quote a passage from one of my favourite books, Ministry of Healing – Chapter 35, p. 409. “A True Knowledge of God” “Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come. … “This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” In the words of Paul to the church in Ephesus, “…Love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” {End} Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
- 破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由(下)(10-15)
返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由(下) 10. 安息日已被废除了吗? 第十,安息日是不是已经被废除了?其实,之前我们已经研究过了十条诫命的律法并没有被废除,也不可能被废除。今天我们就要更详细地来探讨安息日是否被废除这一点,特别是搞清楚几段经常被人误解和误用来支持这个假道理的经文。 有许多基督徒相信歌罗西书 2:16,加拉太书 4:10 和 罗马书 14:5 所指的是第七日安息日,也有很多人相信歌罗西书 2:16所指的是十诫,而不是仪文律法。 这些人滥用了这些经文来证明安息日已经被废除。其实,事实是完全相反的。在进入这些经文之前,我们先来简单地谈一谈十条诫命的道德律法和摩西的仪文律法之间的关系。 在上一期我们已经分析过了这两者之间的区别,所以今天我们只稍微谈一谈。当有人犯罪,表示他违背了十诫的道德律法,因为违背律法就是罪。 因此,他必须根据仪文律法来献祭,使他的罪得赦。所以仪文律法提供了献祭的制度,即赎罪的方法。 当以色列人民犯罪时,他们即违背了道德律法。为了获得宽恕,他们必须遵守仪文律法。所以这两套律法是截然不同的。最大的区别就是,仪文律法在耶稣基督被钉的时候就宣告结束了,因为上帝的羔羊耶稣就是古代献祭制度的羔羊所代表的。 但是十条诫命的道德律法是永恒的,是不会改变或结束的。而且仪文律法只给以色列人或犹太人遵守,但上帝的十条诫命是给全人类的,是适用于所有人的。那好,现在我们来看歌罗西书 2:16。 歌罗西书 2:16 所以不拘在饮食上,或节期、月朔、安息日,都不可让人论断你们。 这些反对安息日的人,他们的论点是第四条诫命在十字架上已经从十诫中删除,因为他们误解了第14节所说的话。让我们来看看这一节。 歌罗西书 2:14 14又涂抹了在律例上所写攻击我们有碍于我们的字据,把它撤去,钉在十字架上。 事实上,第14节所说在十字架上被除去的律例并非十条诫命的道德律法,而是摩西的仪文律法。这就是为什么保罗在两节之后说了这段话。 歌罗西书 2:16 所以不拘在饮食上,或节期、月朔、安息日,都不可让人论断你们。 这里他所提到的都是与摩西的仪文律法有关的,而并非十条诫命。我们只要对照英文圣经就一目了然了。第14节的律例在钦定本是读 ordinances。 歌罗西书 2:14 14又涂抹了在律例上所写攻击我们有碍于我们的字据,把它撤去,钉在十字架上。 Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 再看路加福音如何明显地区分commandments,即诫命和ordinances,即礼仪。 路加福音 1:6 他们二人在上帝面前都是义人,遵行主的一切诫命礼仪,没有可指摘的。 Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 希伯来书 9:1也解释说,仪文律法中的礼仪ordinances现在已经消失成为过去了,只剩下十诫永远坚定不移。 希伯来书 9:1 原来前约有礼拜的条例和属世界的圣幕。 Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 各位弟兄姐妹,我们必须搞清楚,钉在十架上的是仪文律法的礼仪,但十条诫命律法的一点一画都不能废去。 十条诫命与仪文律法之间的主要区别在于,诫命是由上帝的指头所写的,它刻在石版上,然后放在约柜里面。它是爱的标志,是永恒的,是赐给每一个人的,违背它就是犯罪。 仪文律法是摩西的手写的,写在书卷上,是放在约柜旁边而不是里面的。它不是爱的标志,也不是永恒的,单单为犹太人而设立的,它是因为罪才设立的。 在那个星期五下午,当真正的逾越节羔羊垂头断气时,基督就为我们献上了伟大而完美的祭物。当他呼喊“成了”时,那给人类指向祂的牺牲的古老仪文律法就此被钉在了十字架上。 所以歌罗西书所论到的安息日明显不是指每周第七日的安息日,而是指犹太人年度节期的安息日。比如说逾越节、五旬节、赎罪日、住棚节等等。看到第17节时,这就变得更加明显了。 歌罗西书 2:17 这些原是后事的影儿,那形体却是基督。 这些年度安息日和整个献祭制度都是后事的影儿,给世人指出基督和祂的牺牲来。所以这明显不是论到第四条诫命的安息日,因为那不是任何后事的影儿,而是永不改变的律法,和上帝与人立约的标记。 我们还有一个更强的证据来支持这个道理,就是圣经的另一节与歌罗西书 2:16相似的经文,证明当中的内容是否如我刚才所说的那样,那就是以西结书 45:17 。 你肯定发现以西结书的这段经文论到的是赎罪祭,为以色列家赎罪,因为他们违背了上帝的十诫律法。这就是他们犯了罪之后所要做的。 那好,现在我们来看这两段几乎同样的经文来作个对照。 歌罗西书 2:16 所以不拘在饮食上,或节期、月朔、安息日,都不可让人论断你们。 以西结书 45:17 王的本分,是在节期、月朔、安息日,就是以色列家一切的节期,奉上燔祭、素祭、奠祭。他要预备赎罪祭、素祭、燔祭和平安祭,为以色列家赎罪。” 我把一些重点放进下面的列表中,方便我们对照。 歌罗西书 2:16 以西结书 45:17 饮食 素祭、奠祭 节期 节期 月朔 月朔 安息日 安息日 真相非常清楚了吧,所以大家不要再误解和滥用歌罗西书 2:16来证明第四条诫命的安息日已被废除或不需要遵守了。现在上帝的子民不需要守的是仪文律法包括犹太人的节期。 这就是为什么保罗说了以下这段话。 加拉太书 4:9-10 9 现在你们既然认识上帝,更可说是被上帝所认识的,怎么还要归回那懦弱无用的小学,情愿再给他作奴仆呢?10 你们谨守日子、月份、节期、年份。 保罗的意思不是让我们无视圣经所有相关的日子、月份、节期和年份,而是特别指着一件事而言,那就是包含所有节期的仪文律法。 现在我们来简单地概括一下另一段具争议性的经文,就是罗马书 14:5。 罗马书 14:5 有人看这日比那日强,有人看日日都是一样;只是各人心里要确信不疑。 有人就拿这节经文来狡辩说,我们个人守自己认为正确的日子就行了,何必争论哪一日才是安息日呢?在我们探讨这种论调之前,我们先看完其上下文,以便更了解经文的语境和背景。 罗马书 14:1-5 1 信心软弱的,你们要接纳,但不要辩论所疑惑的事。2 有人信凡物都可吃;但那软弱的,只吃蔬菜。3 吃的人不可轻看不吃的人;不吃的人不可论断吃的人,因为神已经接纳他了。4 你是谁,竟论断别人的仆人呢?他或站住,或跌倒,自有他的主人在;而且他也必要站住,因为上帝能使他站住。5 有人看这日比那日强,有人看日日都是一样;只是各人心里要确信不疑。 首先,我想提出一个明显的事实,就是说,这段经文不曾出现过安息日一词,就连整章都找不到。所以我们可以假定说保罗必定是指着安息日而言吗?绝对不可以。 这是带着偏见来解读圣经。有心人就是故意寻找这些模棱两可,含糊不清的经文来支持他们的假道理,却拿不出任何确凿的证据来推翻安息日的真理。 看看这段经文的开头就有提到: 罗马书 14:1 信心软弱的,你们要接纳,但不要辩论所疑惑的事。 这里他所讨论的是疑惑的事,而不是上帝的十条诫命。上帝神圣的十诫是极其珍贵的,是无比清楚的,是上帝亲手写下的。 事实上,从罗马书14和15章就可以清楚地看出,犹太人和外邦人之间存在着许多与某些习俗相关的误解。这些习俗被一些人看作神圣,却被另一些人所忽视。所以当时备受争议的话题都是围绕着吃肉和守特定日子转的。 他所提到的日子不是十诫的安息日,而是仪文律法的特定节期。犹太人非常注重摩西的律法,所以他们特别谨慎避免吃某些肉,即祭拜过偶像的肉,并且严格遵守节期,但刚归入基督的外邦人就没有重视这些礼仪或规条。 而且不难看出,他们之间充满着无情的指责和论断,并且没有爱弟兄的心和宽容的心。于是保罗鼓励他们,劝他们不要因这些分歧而影响爱上帝的心,也不要叫信心软弱的人跌倒。 虽然保罗没有详细地指出他在这里所论到的肉和守的日子是指什么,但是根据当时的文化背景和保罗其他的著作,我们不难看出他所指的是吃祭偶像之肉和犹太人的禁食日和节期圣日等。 比如说,保罗在哥林多前书 8:4谈到吃祭偶像之肉,并且同样提醒他们不要叫信心软弱的人跌倒。 哥林多前书 8:4 论到吃祭偶像之物,我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么;也知道上帝只有一位,再没有别的上帝。 再看第9-13节。 哥林多前书 8:9-13 9 只是你们要谨慎,恐怕你们这自由竟成了那软弱人的绊脚石。10 若有人见你这有知识的在偶像的庙里坐席,这人的良心若是软弱,岂不放胆去吃那祭偶像之物吗?11 因此,基督为他死的那软弱弟兄,也就因你的知识沉沦了。12 你们这样得罪弟兄们,伤了他们软弱的良心,就是得罪基督。13 所以,食物若叫我弟兄跌倒,我就永远不吃肉,免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。 这里的内容与罗马书的经文非常吻合,显然所提到的肉就是祭偶像的肉。 话说回来,完全没有证据指明罗马书或哥林多前书所论到的信心强大或软弱的人之课题与第七日安息日有任何关联,也不可能扯上十条诫命的道德律法。 上帝不曾说过:“你们有一些人也许看安息日比其他日子强,有些人则看星期日比其他日子强,,或看另一日比较强,甚至是看每一日都一样强,只是各人心里要确信不疑,自己选定自己所看好的日子就够了。” 朋友,上帝并没有交代我们可以随意挑选任何一日作为安息日。祂吩咐我们的是:“当纪念安息日,守为圣日。第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。” 如果我们对耶和华上帝的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日之间还存有什么疑惑不解的话,下面的列表应该可以清楚地为我们除去这些误解。 耶和华的安息日 节期安息日 1 为上帝亲口所说。出埃及记 20:1-22 为摩西所说。出埃及记 24:3 2 为上帝指头所写。出埃及记 31:18 为摩西所写。出埃及记 24:4 3 刻在石版上。出埃及记 31:18 写在书上。出埃及记 24:4 4 存放在约柜中。申命记 10:5 存放在约柜旁。申命记 31:26 5 违犯安息日就是罪。约翰一书 3:4 因为有罪而需要遵守。(见利未记) 6 是爱的诫命。马太福音 22:35-40;以赛亚书 58:13-14 不是爱。歌罗西书 2:14;加拉太书 4:9-10 7 使人自由之律法。雅各书 1:25 (参阅雅各书 2:12) 奴仆的轭。加拉太书 5:1;4:3, 9(看使徒行传 15:10) 8 在人类犯罪之前就设立了。创世纪 2:1-3 犯罪之后才设立。出埃及记 20:24 9 在创世时设立的。创世纪 2:1-3 西奈山之后设立的。出埃及记 20:24 10 给全人类的。马可福音 2:27 单单给以色列民。(旧约圣经) 11 上帝称之为“我的安息日”。出埃及记 31:13;以西结书 20:20 上帝称之为“她[耶路撒冷]的安息日”。何西阿书 2:11;耶利米哀歌 1:7[钦定本] 12 是永恒的。出埃及记 31:16-17;以赛亚书 66:22-23 在十字架上废除了。歌罗西书 2:14;以弗所书 2:15 希望大家已经清楚明白了这两类安息日的区别。他们是完全不同的,所以我们不能把他们混为一谈,而且我们也必须搞清楚圣经中一些经常被人误解的经文到底是指着哪一类安息日而言。 我们也必须知道以下几个事项。 事项 -我们的耶和华父上帝是全知的上帝。 -祂是满有智慧的上帝。 -上帝就是爱。 -祂的十条诫命或道德律法是爱的律法。 -反之,节期安息日是因人犯了罪才必须遵守的,它并不是爱的标志。 -耶和华的安息日是给我们与创造主上帝共度美好时光之爱的诫命。 那么我们就必须问问自己以下这些问题。 问题 -如果安息日不是永恒的,那为什么我们全知的上帝将祂的安息日放在祂永恒的律法之中呢? -如果安息日不是爱的律法,那为什么无穷智慧的上帝把祂的安息日放在爱的律法之中? -如果安息日在十字架上也跟着废除了,那为什么上帝不把祂的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日放在一起呢? -如果上帝的安息日是单为犹太人设立的,那为什么上帝不把祂的安息日和犹太人的节期安息日放在一起呢? 事实上,上帝并没有把祂的安息日与节期安息日放在一起,原因就是因为两者是完全不同的两码事,因为祂永恒的安息日和在十字架上结束的节期安息日简直是天差地别。 节期安息日是单给犹太人守的,而上帝的安息日则是给全人类守的。我们的上帝不是混乱的上帝,祂的所作所为就已经显明了一切,在祂里头并没有矛盾和不一致的元素。 所以我们不能再颠倒是非黑白,把上帝的真理变成谬论,却把撒但的谬论变成真理。 11. 我们不是在律法之下,而是在恩典之下,因此就不必守律法了吗? 来到了第11点,我们不是在律法之下,而是在恩典之下,因此就不必守律法了吗? 我相信大家对这种说法不会感到陌生。我也听过不少这样的说法。有些人试图贬低上帝的律法,为了寻找借口以便可以不用守安息日,就说:“我们既然不是在律法之下,而是活在恩典之下,那么我们自然就不必再遵守十条诫命了。 这是一个合理的说法吗?圣经确实说过,我们不是在律法之下,但这是否表示我们就不需要遵守律法了呢?不在律法之下意味着什么呢?我们先来看一段相关的经文。 罗马书 6:14 罪必不能作你们的主,因你们不在律法之下,乃在恩典之下。 没错,我们是在恩典之下,而不是在律法之下。所以呢?然后怎么样?人们普遍的观念就是,我们不是在律法之下,而是在恩典之下,所以我们就可以不遵守律法了。 说直白一点,我们可以随意违背律法犯罪了。这真的是保罗的教导吗?我们让他自己来回答,为他自己所说的话做进一步的解释,免得有人误解。 罗马书 6:15 这却怎么样呢?我们在恩典之下,不在律法之下,就可以犯罪吗?断乎不可! 这也太清楚了,他用最强烈的言词说道,活在恩典之下并没有给我们随意违背律法的犯罪许可证。然而这正是今天数百万人所相信的,他们完全无视保罗的具体警告。 他们只取了保罗的上半段话语,再加上自己扭曲经文的解释,然后避开下一节不看。他们并不是诚心想了解上帝藉着保罗所说的话,而是想断章取义来支持自己的教导。 大多数人都没有意识到和真正明白上帝的恩典。上帝的恩典是我们不配得的恩惠,是在我们犯了罪而还没有真正悔改之前所赐下给我们的宽容。如果没有律法的话,实际上就没有罪人可言了,而我们也就不需要上帝的恩典了。 打个比方,有个罪犯因违背了国家法律而被判死刑。这个等待被处决的罪犯可以说在任何意义上都是处于律法之下的,即处在罪恶感中,在法律之下被定罪,被绑在死刑之下等等。 然而,就在他被处决之前的前一刻,州长审查了被处死的人之案件,并决定赦免他的罪。在特殊的情况之下,州长行使他的特权,对死囚进行全面宽赦。现在他不再是处于律法之下,而是处于恩典之下了。 法律不再定他过去所犯的罪。现今在法律的面前,他被视为完全无辜的自由人。他可以大摇大摆地走出监狱,也没有警察可以对他下手。 但现在他已经是在恩典之下,而不再处于法律之下了,因此,今后他可以自由地违犯律法了吗?当然不可以!这是非常简单的道理。 事实上,他有双重义务去遵守法律,因为他从州长得到了恩典,使得他过去所犯的罪得以赦免。在感激之下,他会非常小心地遵守给予他恩典的国家法律。 这不就是圣经所说关于被宽赦的罪人吗?这不就是我们活在恩典之下的意义吗?我们再来看一段保罗所写的话,以清晰地解决我们眼前的问题。 罗马书 3:31 这样,我们因信废了律法吗?断乎不是!更是坚固律法。 感谢天父,这节经文已经给了我们十分清楚的答案。保罗自问自答地说:“我们是否因信基督的救赎恩典而使律法无效了呢?” 他接着回答说:“不但没有,反而律法在一个蒙恩得救的基督徒生活中更得到确立和加强。” 事实如此简单明了,根本不需要重复,但是那些试图避免顺从律法之人的狡猾推理使得我们有必要进一步地强调这一点。 我再分享一个例子,好让大家看清事实。你有没有曾经因为超速而被交警拦截?这是一种令人尴尬的局面,尤其是当你知道自己已经违规的时候。 假设这位警员大发慈悲,把原来要给你开的罚单撕掉,再给你一次改过的机会。他就会说:“好吧,这次我放过你,但是。。。” 朋友,你认为他所说的“但是”一词是什么意思呢?他的意思肯定是说:“但是你以后就不要再超速了。” 这次的宽恕或恩典是否给了我们不必守律法的许可证呢? 肯定不是这样。相反的,它还加强了您的决心,叫自己以后不再干犯律法。为什么基督徒硬要不断试图合理化自己不遵守上帝律法的行为呢? 为什么那么多人完全曲解了活在恩典之下的意义呢?可见仇敌所进行的工作非常成功。然而,最后得胜的一方将会是属于上帝的一方。 我强调,活在恩典之下的人因接受了耶稣救赎的恩典而不受律法的定罪和制裁,但接受了耶稣不代表他从此就可以随意违背律法了,而是更应当遵守律法,行上帝眼中看为正的事。 撒但的谬论虽然荒谬无理,但却极具迷惑性,大家务必要小心谨慎,免得掉进他的陷阱中去。 12. 耶稣是否违犯了安息日? 我们要探讨的下一个论点就是,耶稣是否违犯了安息日,因此我们也不需要遵守安息日了呢? 大家不晓得有没有听过这样的说法,就是说耶稣本身都干犯安息日,所以这证明守安息日不是十条诫命的一条,而是属于摩西的仪文律法。 但是这种说法太过牵强了。首先,安息日不是因为人类犯罪才变得有必要遵守的,它在人类犯罪之前就已经被设立了的。 我们在上一期已经谈过十诫的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日,两者是完全不同的两码事,所以大家不要把它们混淆。 再说,反安息日的人宣称耶稣违犯安息日的事是在祂被钉十字架而结束仪文律法之前发生的。这种说法根本就是无中生有。大家必须记住,约翰一书 3:4说: 约翰一书 3:4 凡犯罪的,就是违背律法;违背律法,就是罪。 既然安息日是律法中的第四条诫命,那么如果耶稣真的违犯安息日的话,那祂就是违犯律法而犯罪了,这样的话,祂就不能成为无罪圣洁的羔羊了。我们也就没有救赎主了。 因此这些宣称耶稣违犯安息日的人显然不知道他们所指控的是什么含义。他们没有仔细思考自己所发表的声明有何意义,就仅仅是为了找个借口来让自己不必遵守安息日罢了。 所以他们就找到了这个非常方便的借口,说耶稣自己也没有守安息日,所以我们身为耶稣的跟从者也自然不需要遵守了。 感恩的是,耶稣并没有违犯安息日,祂只是违犯了法利赛人自定的规则。十诫的两块石版是耶稣亲自颁布给摩西的,但这不代表祂自己就得豁免可以随意杀人或违背十诫中的任何一条。 正如我刚才所说的,若作为一个罪人,耶稣就不能成为完美的赎罪祭了。这项争议的事主要是记载在约翰福音,我们待会儿就会查考一下。 请大家注意,约翰在这节经文中所引用的是法利赛人的话,而不是他个人的观点。我们很快就会看到这方面的证据。 我先说一说,这就是为什么耶稣在马太福音 5:20说了以下这段话。 马太福音 5:20 我告诉你们:你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人的义,断不能进天国。” 这些文士和法利赛人也同样将耶稣钉死在十字架上。你认为我们应该听谁的话呢?耶稣的话还是法利赛人的话?现在我们来看一则相关的圣经故事。 约翰福音 5:5-18 5 在那里有一个人,病了三十八年。6 耶稣看见他躺着,知道他病了许久,就问他说:“你要痊愈吗?”7 病人回答说:“先生,水动的时候,没有人把我放在池子里;我正去的时候,就有别人比我先下去。”8 耶稣对他说:“起来,拿你的褥子走吧!”9 那人立刻痊愈,就拿起褥子来走了。 10 那天是安息日,所以犹太人对那医好的人说:“今天是安息日,你拿褥子是不可的。”11 他却回答说:“那使我痊愈的对我说,‘拿你的褥子走吧!’”12 他们问他说:“对你说‘拿褥子走’的是什么人?”13 那医好的人不知道是谁,因为那里的人多,耶稣已经躲开了。14 后来耶稣在殿里遇见他,对他说:“你已经痊愈了,不要再犯罪,恐怕你遭遇的更加厉害。”15 那人就去告诉犹太人,使他痊愈的是耶稣。16 所以犹太人逼迫耶稣,因为他在安息日作了这事。17 耶稣就对他们说:“我父作事直到如今,我也作事。”18 所以犹太人越发想要杀他,因他不但犯了安息日,并且称上帝为他的父,将自己和上帝当作平等。 其实耶稣并没有违犯安息日,在安息日治病和行善是没有错的。只是法利赛人想根据自己的规条来寻找耶稣的错处。另外我们还注意到,法利赛人指责耶稣亵渎上帝,因为祂称自己与天父平等。 那么法利赛人的指控是否正确呢?肯定不正确。他们这项指控不比他们对耶稣违犯安息日的指控来得更正确。 在马太福音中,我们有另一则关于耶稣医治病人的记载,法利赛人再次指控他违犯了安息日。然而,这一次我们有耶稣的话来确定在安息日做善事或绝对必要的事情是否符合上帝的律法。 马太福音 12:10-12 10 那里有一个人枯干了一只手。有人问耶稣说:“安息日治病,可以不可以?”意思是要控告他。11 耶稣说:“你们中间谁有一只羊,当安息日掉在坑里,不把它抓住拉上来呢?12 人比羊何等贵重呢!所以,在安息日作善事是可以的。” 反安息日的人为什么引用法利赛人的话,却忽略了他们自己救主的话呢?他们为什么会相信法利赛人而不相信耶稣基督呢?他们为什么引用约翰福音 5:5-18 却从未提及马太福音 12:10-12的话,说在安息日医治和行善是不违法的呢? 感恩的是,耶稣并没有犯罪,祂没有违犯任何一条诫命,包括第四条诫命的安息日,正如祂在经文中所阐明的那样,例如治病和救自己的牲畜等等。那些伪基督徒的指控是虚无的,他们的论点也没有任何证据予以支持。 耶稣说了很多遍,祂已经遵守了祂父的诫命。所以请不要扭曲祂的言行。 13. 安息日在新约之下吗? 我们要讨论的下一个问题就是,安息日是不是在新约之下呢?很多人说,我们现在是活在新约之下,但是安息日和整套律法都是属于旧约的,已经过时了。当我们谈到安息日时,他们甚至激动地说:“你们为什么要把我们带回到旧约之下去呢?我们现在是在新约之下了,已经不必守律法了。” 有些人甚至说,安息日在新约时代下已经从第七日变成了第一日。但是耶稣曾说过,祂来不是要修改律法。上帝的十条律法是永不改变的。我们在上几期视频中已经多次清楚地奠定了这些真理了。 上帝是永不改变的。上帝的律法既是祂旨意的启示,又是祂品德的写真,也就必定存到永远。只要上帝还活着,祂的律法就不会更改或废掉。 上帝与祂的子民所立的新约并不是除去律法,而是将律法写在我们的心上,使我们更加遵守祂的诫命。 希伯来书 8:8-10 8 所以主指责他的百姓说(或作“所以主指前约的缺欠说”): “日子将到,我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约,9 不像我拉着他们祖宗的手领他们出埃及的时候,与他们所立的约,因为他们不恒心守我的约,我也不理他们。这是主说的。”10 主又说:“那些日子以后,我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样:我要将我的律法放在他们里面,写在他们心上;我要作他们的上帝,他们要作我的子民。 当你得知在新约圣经的写作期间,整个基督教界都在遵守第七日安息日时,你会感到惊讶吗?然而,有些基督徒错误地声称新约中不存在安息日的诫命,因此不需要再遵守了。 这种逻辑是有致命缺陷的,因为它没有任何明确经文予以支持。任何在旧约和新约之间发生变化的重大事件都清楚地记载在圣经中。如果它是关于上帝的诫命,那么我们需要的就是一个明确无误且极为清楚的指示,告诉我们安息日已被废除或转移到星期日了。 这么重大的事件必须要有确凿的证据予以证明才是,不能任凭你一张嘴说了算,否则的话就不是出于上帝而是从撒但而来的谬论。 我还发现许多基督徒都有这样的心态,即一切都在新约中重新开始。但是同样的,这与事实也相去甚远。是最初的圣经译者而不是上帝将圣经分成两部约,因此除了我们被特别告知的事之外,一切都绝对是从旧约开始一直延续到新约,就如一本未被分割的书一样。 因此,人们不能藉着在新约里寻找,看这诫命是否有被重复宣告,来决定它是否依然有效,而是应该寻找一条明确无误的指示,说明它已经被修改或废除了。 我们的上帝不会以假设来做事的,尤其是像祂的道德律法这样重要的事上,比如祂的安息日。如果上帝的诫命有所变更,那么圣经就会向我们大声疾呼这项消息。 他们假设说,虽然新约没有提到律法已被废除,但是也没有像旧约那样清楚地宣告十条诫命,那么它可能或也许已经被废除了吧。这是无中生有,极其幼稚的想法。这等人没有把信仰建立在经上记着说或耶和华如此说,而是建立在自己的思想上。 有些人还声称,摩西在出埃及记 20 章中首次领受十诫之后,安息日的诫命才开始存在的,因为在此之前没有论到诫命被赐给人的书面记录。这很肯定是一种非常错误的观念。 在出埃及记 16 章中,我们发现上帝在测试以色列,看他们是否会按照祂的诫命在第七天遵守他的安息日。当他们没有这样做时,上帝便指责他们不顺从祂的诫命和律法。 但是,如果在出埃及记 20 章之前从未揭晓诫命的话,他们又怎么会违犯安息日和所有其他诫命呢?圣经也许没有书面记录,但有不可否认的证据表明,他们已经认识并遵守了这些诫命。 该隐和亚伯呢?我们发现上帝在创世记 4:3-7 中对该隐生气,因为他从地里带来了象征因行为称义的祭物,但亚伯带来了头生的羔羊作为赎罪祭,象征因信称义。 要有赎罪祭,就必须有律法。上帝也在第 7 节对该隐说,罪就伏fu2在门口。 约翰一书 3:4告诉我们: 约翰一书 3:4 凡犯罪的,就是违背律法;违背律法,就是罪。 违背了律法就是犯罪,因此才需要献祭。罗马书也叙述了同一个道理。 罗马书 4:15 因为律法是惹动忿怒的(或作“叫人受刑的”),哪里没有律法,那里就没有过犯。 没有律法的话,就没有犯罪,也就不需要赎罪祭了。所以摩西领十诫之前没有十诫的说法是错误的。 尽管十条诫命尚未被写下来,但它们是一直都存在的,而且自从创世以来上帝就已晓瑜了人类的始祖,否则该隐就不会犯谋杀罪了。 那么亚伯拉罕呢?如果在创世记或出埃及记 20 章之前没有给出诫命或律法,那么当上帝在创世记 26:5中说,亚伯拉罕遵守祂的诫命、律例和法度时,究竟是什么诫命呢? 因此,即使没有任何诫命或律法的书面记录,我们也知道它们是早已存在的,因为有人认识和遵守诫命的证据。同样的情况也存在于新约关于安息日的议题上,一会我们就来看看几个证据。 其实新约充满了信徒们遵守诫命,包括遵守安息日的证据,也一再教导人必须遵守,只是很多人视而不见,不愿意放下偏见来接受事实。 大家必须明白,新约没有以完全相同的字句来记载第四条诫命,这项事实不代表这教导或概念不存在。比如说,新约圣经也没有记载:“除了我以外,你不可有别的神”这句话,即第一条诫命。但是这项事实不代表这条诫命已经被废掉了。 只是作者用了不同的方式和字眼来表达同一个概念,例如:“当拜主你的上帝,单要侍奉他。” 相信大家都明白这一点。安息日的诫命也是一样。事实上,新约圣经里仅仅提到信徒在安息日聚会或敬拜,却从不曾提过有任何信徒在星期日敬拜,因为那是异教拜太阳神的日子,所以不可能为上帝的子民所接受。 我们今天就来探讨几个守安息日的新约证据。 守安息日的新约证据(一) 第一个证据,耶稣在地上与门徒同在的最后一段时间里,祂给他们发出了一道警告,说耶路撒冷城和殿都要遭受毁灭,并嘱咐他们必须在看到预兆时就往山上逃跑,免得一同遭殃。大家可参阅马太福音24章。 我想专注的重点就是耶稣在论到逃难时所说的其中一段话。 马太福音 24:20 你们应当祈求,叫你们逃走的时候,不遇见冬天或是安息日。 明显地,信徒们在耶稣被钉十字架之后还是必须遵守安息日的,没有人能说安息日不存在于新约之下。 有些人却狡辩说,耶稣上述的一番话是对犹太人说的,与其他人无关。这实在是离谱。首先,这里根本就没有这么说,耶稣也没有这样的意思。再说了,这段预言除了在当时已经应验了之外,主要是应用在末时基督第二次降临之前的事上。 那么难道说耶稣只为犹太人回来吗?其他人都不能作耶稣的子民而将会被抛弃吗? 守安息日的新约证据(二) 第二个显明安息日在新约时代耶稣被钉死之后依然坚定的证据,就是路加的著作。你知不知道路加福音是在耶稣死而复活以后过了几十年才写下来的?注意路加在这么多年以后都写了什么相关的信息。 路加福音 23:56 她们就回去,预备了香料香膏。她们在安息日,便遵着诫命安息了。 路加在此提到了第四条诫命的安息日。在耶稣死而复活之后过了数十年以后,路加依然提及上帝的诫命,并且见证说,信徒们在耶稣死后的安息日那天按照诫命安息了。 除了信徒们守安息日之外,耶稣本身也在坟墓里守了安息日,等到过了安息日,上帝才叫耶稣从死里复活,然后升天。 请注意,路加没有说他们在曾经是第四条诫命的安息日安息了,因为第七日已经不再是安息日了。他也没有说他们在安息日,也就是一周的第一日安息了,因为安息日已经更改了,不再是第七日而是第一日了。 如果安息日已经被废除或更改的话,这绝对是个黄金机会来让路加揭晓这一点。但是这都没有发生,原因可想而知。 所以十条诫命在耶稣死后依然有效,并没有被修改或废除。从亘古直到永远都不会改变。 守安息日的新约证据(三) 第三个证明安息日存在于新约的证据,就是希伯来书 4:9-10。在旧约中我们有出埃及记20:8-11和申命记 5:12-15清楚地叙述安息日的诫命。然而我们在新约中也有一节非常相似的经文,论到安息日诫命的相关内容。 【钦定本】希伯来书 4:9-10 9 因此,必有一个安息为上帝的子民存留。10 因为那进入安息的,乃是歇了自己的工,正如上帝歇了他的工一样。 这里说得非常清楚,安息日必为上帝的子民存留。下一节还说我们进入安息,乃是歇下一切的工,正如上帝用了六日创造后在第七日歇了祂的工一样。这简直就是完全呼应了第四条诫命并创世记有关安息日的记载。 守安息日的新约证据(四) 我们来看第四个铁证,即新约有守安息日的证据。此证据来自这样的一个事实,就是遵守安息日已经融入了整个新约圣经的结构中。因此,我们不断看到经文论到,耶稣遵守了安息日,而且祂是我们完美的榜样。 还有使徒们、保罗、跟整个早期教会都在遵守安息日。新约中所记载的每一位信徒都遵守了第四条诫命的安息日。我们没有任何证据显明任何人遵守了第七日以外的任何一日,就连一节经文都没有。 保罗是法利赛人,他从小就信从犹太人的信仰,并且从来没有改变过。 使徒行传 26:4-5 4 我从起初在本国的民中,并在耶路撒冷,自幼为人如何,犹太人都知道。5 他们若肯作见证就晓得,我从起初是按着我们宗教最严紧的教门作了法利赛人。 现在请注意,在下面的经文中,我们发现这是一个犹太会堂,并记住犹太人在历史上一直都没有改变过,一直在我们所谓的星期六也就是第七日聚集敬拜,就像他们今天仍然做的那样。圣经显示保罗只在安息日这一天在会堂里传道,这是他的习惯,其他日子他都没有这么做。这里以三个连续的安息日为例。 使徒行传 17:1-2 1 他们经过暗妃波里、亚波罗尼亚,来到帖撒罗尼迦,在那里有犹太人的会堂。2 保罗照他的规矩进到他们那里,一连三个安息日,本着经文与他们辩论。 下面的经文揭示了如果安息日真的有更改的话,那么保罗当时有绝佳的机会在一周的第一日即星期天作讲道。但是圣经说保罗做了什么呢? 使徒行传 13:42 犹太人出会堂的时候,外邦人恳求他们到下安息日再传讲这话给他们听。 保罗刚刚在第七日安息日即星期六讲完道,我们发现外邦人就恳求保罗在下一个安息日也向他们讲道。如果安息日已经改为星期日的话,那保罗大可以在第二天就与他们一同聚集和传道,并且传讲安息日已经改为第一日的课题。 但是他并没有这么做,信耶稣的外邦人也都清楚地知道这一事实,所以直接恳求他在下个安息日继续讲真理给他们听。而且我们看到安息日不仅仅是给犹太人的。凡接受救恩的外邦信徒也都必须遵守。过两节之后,圣经说: 使徒行传 13:44 到下个安息日,全城的人几乎都来聚集,要听上帝的道。 事实上,没有一节经文显示任何信徒在一周的第一日聚集敬拜。若有的话也是其他的聚会或因其它的原因聚集,与安息日和敬拜的日子无关,但却被有心人滥用来支持他们的谬论。 新约圣经实在有太多太多的证据显明新约的安息日,我们今天暂且不看更多。我呼吁大家自行研究,查考所有关于安息日的经文。不要被假道理给迷惑。 14. 大多数人怎么可能对安息日有所误解? 接下来是第14点,问,大多数人怎么可能对安息日有所误解呢?这是一种非常普遍的论调,宣称大多数人相信的必定是真理。 那么这种说法正确吗?守安息日的人占全球人口的极少数而已,这就表示安息日肯定不是真理吗?今天我们就来探讨一下这个问题。 先说一说为什么大多数人对安息日都有误解。简单的答案是,借着数百万人的死亡,仇敌几乎消灭了第四条诫命。当改革运动开始时,所有改革教派都继续无知地守着星期日。 恢复失去的真理总是一件很艰难的事。当人们不想知道真理时,情况更是如此。他们若接受真理,就会破坏他们教会的信仰或个人的生活习惯。 在基督教界中,大多数人所相信的道理从来都不是真理。启示录警告我们说,上帝会因一个教会堕落成可憎之物而将她摧毁,但大多数人都属于某个教会,他们却未看清事实,还未觉醒以致离开巴比伦。 没错,事实就是,大多数人都错了,因为撒但竭尽所能并且成功地向基督徒隐瞒这个真理。这就是他在基督教界中最大的成就之一。 这些人忙着找借口以维护自己的教导,编造谎言来迷惑他人,却忽略花时间探讨圣经在这课题上的真理。他们就算查考圣经也只是为了寻找证据来支持自己的理论。所找到的,也是自己想要看的,而不是圣经所教导的。 提摩太后书 4:3-4 3 因为时候要到,人必厌烦纯正的道理,耳朵发痒,就随从自己的情欲,增添好些师傅,4 并且掩耳不听真道,偏向荒渺的言语。 很多时候,我们在与他人分享安息日的真理时,绝大多数人都会拒绝考虑这种可能性,坚决宣称大多数人所相信的不可能会错。有的还讽刺说:“少数人怎么可能比多数人更聪明呢?” 很多人简直闭耳不听,完全不想讨论相关课题。这是非常可悲的事实。特别是当你想到上帝创造了我们,然后差遣祂儿子来为我们罪人而死,但是我们却不肯以爱来顺服祂,不肯为祂做出一点点的牺牲。为什么大多数人都属于错误的一方,对我而言,这些都不是什么奥秘了。这些都是圣经早已预言会发生的事,也是这罪恶世界的现实状况。 仇敌促使基督徒继续持守和宣扬他们先前被告知的相同借口。再加上他们不想改变,或者他们不知道历史事实,不晓得撒但如何企图毁掉上帝的律法,也不晓得圣经的真理。 马太福音 7:13-14 13 “你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡,那门是宽的,路是大的,进去的人也多;14 引到永生,那门是窄的,路是小的,找着的人也少。” 接受真理的人从来都是少数的,最后得救的人也会是占少数的,因为大多数人都会选择容易走的灭亡之路。所以不要以为大多数人相信的道理就肯定是对的。 相反的,大多数人所相信的有很大可能是错的。我要引用著名作家马克吐温所说的一段话,是我非常喜爱的。他说:“当你发现自己站在大多数人的一方时,就必须停下来思考和进行改革了。” 大家可以思考一下,有什么普遍的教义或信仰是大多数教会所相信的?那就是非源自圣经的谬论,而我们就必须拒绝。比方说星期日崇拜、三位一体论、圣诞节、灵魂不死之道、秘密被提、永火的地狱等等。这几个较为常见的谬论,都是从鬼魔而来但却被大多数人所接受的。 另外,启示录也预言了末时作为兽印记的星期日法令大逼迫来到时,会出现什么情况。 启示录 13:3-4 3 我看见兽的七头中,有一个似乎受了死伤,那死伤却医好了。全地的人都希奇跟从那兽,4又拜那龙,因为它将自己的权柄给了兽,也拜兽,说:“谁能比这兽,谁能与它交战呢?” 这里说,全地的人都会跟从那兽,顺从她所制定与敬拜有关的法令,这样做就等于敬拜那龙,就是撒但。 所以肯定的是,全球大多数人都会掉入撒但的网罗,去跟从虚假的道理。朋友们,我们必须纠正这种错谬的概念,不要再误以为多人信的东西就必定是真理。事实往往是倒反过来的。 我们若听见有传道人或任何教会领袖宣称一个道理是大多数人所同意和信奉的,因此肯定是真的,那么我们就可以断定他所说的肯定不是来自圣经的。 圣经里也有好几个例子让我们参考并明白这个概念。比如说,洪水与诺亚方舟的故事、罗得与所多玛城的故事、但以理和他三个伙伴的故事等等,都带出了这个概念。 简单来说,真理从来就不在大多数人中间,而是在少数人中间。 15. 圣经是否记录了安息日改成了星期日的历史事件? 接下来是我们要回答的最后一个论点,就是,圣经是否记录了安息日改成了星期日的历史事件?其实经过了那么多课的研究,这个问题的答案已经显而易见了。 但是我们还是要探讨一下,並彻底揭穿撒但在这方面的骗局。 启示录 11:19 当时,上帝天上的殿开了,在他殿中现出他的约柜,随后有闪电、声音、雷轰、地震、大雹。 那么上帝有没有更改约翰所看见藏在天上约柜里刻着十条诫命的石版呢?上帝有没有改口说:“当纪念第一日,忘掉先前的第七日吧。” 当然没有。 一个纪念创造的日子是不可能更改的。上帝的律法也是永远长存的。保罗在哥林多前书 7:19 有一段非常重要的话,表明了诫命的重要性。 哥林多前书 7:19 受割礼算不得什么,不受割礼也算不得什么,只要守上帝的诫命就是了。 保罗在这里清楚地表明了十条诫命的道德律法和仪文律法之间的区别以及两者分别的重要性。仪文律法已经废除,不需要再守了。相反的,诫命依然是必须遵守的,它并没有废除或更改。 这些真理在圣经中重复又重复地被提及,然而圣经从未说过安息日改成了星期日。所以我们不能做出任何假设,而是必须拿出真凭实据来支持我们的论点。 我们一再看见使徒们,信徒们,甚至是耶稣自己,也遵守了安息日,从未改变过,即使是在耶稣死后也是如此。别忘记,耶稣还说过以下这段话。 马太福音 5:18 我实在告诉你们,就是到天地都废去了,律法的一点一画也不能废去,都要成全。 律法上的字句,哪怕是一个字,或一个标点符号,都不会改变。当涉及上帝话语的重要性时,我们永远不需要做出假设。如果有任何重大的改变,我们肯定会被告知的。 倘若上帝在诫命中改变了哪怕是最小或最不起眼的内容,祂都必定在祂的话语中明确地阐明,而且还会把重要的话重复好几遍,免得任何人有借口说他不知道这回事。 可惜根本就没有这样的事情,因为律法不像那些人所期望的那样已经改变了,而是永远坚定不移的。现在我们就来看一节经文的假设,看看那些有心人如何用这节经文来争辩说安息日已经改成了星期日。 使徒行传 20:7 七日的第一日,我们聚会擘饼的时候,保罗因为要次日起行,就与他们讲论,直讲到半夜。 这里说七日的第一日,也就是星期日,门徒聚会擘饼。因此,他们宣称这就证明安息日已经转移到了星期日。但是事实真的是如此吗? 明显不是,他们看到了一点点迹象就急忙断章取义,却没有调查清楚时代的背景和作者的用意。保罗根本不是想表达安息日已经从第七日改变成了第一日。 这里只简单地提到一次的聚会,没有说明是安息日的聚会或崇拜。同一节却有说明,保罗在第二天要启程离开该地方了,所以那是他离别前的一次聚会,可以说是一场送别会。 这与第四条诫命安息日完全扯不上关系。更有意思的是,下面的经文还证明,其实擘饼不仅是在安息日进行的团契聚餐,而是在一周中的每一日都可以进行的。所以当圣经提到人们在某一日聚会擘饼时,这事实上根本证明不了什么,因为这是信徒每一天都做的事,就像我们每天吃饭一样。 使徒行传 2:42 都恒心遵守使徒的教训,彼此交接、擘饼、祈祷。 使徒行传 2:46 他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里,且在家中擘饼,存着欢喜诚实的心用饭, 再说,使徒行传 20:7 所提到的七日的第一日,其实是指星期六晚间,因为按照圣经的日子定义,一日是从日落到日落的。如果他是指星期日晚上的话,那就不是七日的第一日了,而是七日的第二日了。许多现代圣经版本甚至还把这节中七日的第一日直接翻译成星期六晚间。 所以简单来说,这场聚会其实是结束安息日的黄昏聚会,但由于保罗到天亮就要启程离开了,所以聚会时间便延长了,甚至到了深夜大伙依然难舍难分,意犹未尽,大家都兴致勃勃地坐着听保罗讲圣经的道理。 第9节甚至告诉我们说,有个年轻人因为听道听得太久太累而打盹睡着了,意外从窗台上跌下来。 因此,使徒行传 20:7 不能证明安息日已从第七日转移到了第一日。人们是因为误解了经文并忽视了门徒当代的文化背景而曲解了经文。事实上,圣经并没有明文可用以支持他们的教导。 只要我们找不到一节经文明确地指出:“安息日已经被废除或改成了星期日,” 那么我们就必须接受事实,就是说安息日从未改变,也永远不会改变。 安息日的更改是撒但企图想藉着他的爪牙去完成,但却一直无法成就的事。他企图把上帝的安息日改成崇拜日头或太阳神的日子,即星期日。 我们必须知道,星期日不可能成为安息日。若我们参考圣经中每一日的名称就晓得了。在圣经时代,一周的日子基本上被称为第一日、第二日、第三日、第四日、第五日、预备日和安息日。 如上所述,日子的名称实际上都是围绕着安息日以命名的。一周的第一日,换句话说就是安息日之后的第一日。单单这一点就可以证明安息日不可能是第七日以外的任何一日。 星期日是安息日之后的第一日,所以它永远都不可能成为安息日,这是怎么改都改不了的事实。相信这是一个非常简单明了的道理,连小朋友都能轻易明白。 撒但在面对这个挑战时可能又会给出另一个借口,说:“是的没错,安息日依然是第七日/星期六,但是我们现在改在星期日敬拜!” 这简直是强词夺理。如果把第七日被称为安息日的原因归给另一日的话,那么第七日还能被称为安息日吗? 很明显那是不可能的。用以敬拜上帝,纪念创造和安息的日子都是同一日,都是分不开的。很多人也许接受了这种荒谬的推理,但是上帝和祂的真子民绝对不会接纳这样的鬼话。 我们开门见山地说,守星期日的教导是非常缺乏证据的,因为他们在圣经里根本找不到一节经文来支持这项非源自圣经的谬论,所以他们才会那么迫切地企图寻找一些能被扭曲以支持他们的经文。 他们所谓的证据来来去去都是那几个,没有什么新鲜的。只要我们熟悉圣经,撒但的谎言就自然不攻自破。 回顾历史,星期日敬拜是什么时候渗入基督教的呢?这就是君士坦丁大帝所干的好事。简单来说,作为一个精明的政治天才,他的计划是将基督教和异教联合起来,以巩固他那正在瓦解的帝国。 君士坦丁知道整个帝国的异教徒在“一周的第一日” 崇拜太阳神。他还发现有基督徒,特别是罗马和亚历山大港的基督徒也因基督在星期日从死里复活而纪念那一日。 所以君士坦丁大帝就制定了一个计划,在守星期日的共同平台上联合两大宗教信仰。在公元 321 年 3 月 7 日,他通过了著名的首个全国星期日法令。我们来看一段论到该历史的引言。 “……在可敬的太阳日,让县长和居住在城市的人们休息,让所有的工作坊关闭。 然而,在乡下,从事农业活动的乡民可以自由合法地继续他们的事业; 因为经常发生这样的情况:另一天不太适合播种或种植葡萄; 以免疏忽了进行此类工作的适当时机而失去上天的恩惠。 (于 3 月 7 号颁布,克里斯普斯和康斯坦丁各人第二次担任领事 [公元 321 年]。)” 来源:查士丁尼法典。译于:菲利普沙夫著,《基督教会历史》,第 3 卷(第 5 版,1902 年),第 380 页,注 1。 虽然君士坦丁在当时接纳了基督教信仰,并自称为基督徒,但他骨子里仍然是个虔诚的太阳神崇拜者。历史学家宣称,太阳被普遍认为是君士坦丁的无敌向导和保护神。 他甚至还印制了一面印有基督名字,另一面则印有太阳神形象的硬币。从那时起,星期日就被引入了基督教,而所有人都是被强迫遵守那一日的。现今有许多人仍然无知地持守着星期日,却不晓得其背后的历史由来。 顺便一提,星期日被采纳四年之后,星期日的神,那三位一体太阳神也同样被纳入了基督教。这不是巧合,而是撒但的爪牙为方便将来执行兽印记时的全球大逼迫而铺平道路。 在不久的将来,全世界将在星期日敬拜和三位一体敬拜的共同基础上联合起来。他们还要特别逼迫凡遵守安息日和敬拜独一真神的真基督徒。这将会是善恶之争的最后高潮,也是世界末日之前最激烈的一战。 现今整个基督教界中各个基督教派都是在他们敬拜的共同日子上,更是在他们所敬拜的三一神的共同基础上团结一致,携手合作称兄道弟了。我相信星期日法令的推出也会在不久的将来落实。 所有接受星期日法令的人都是拜兽的,兽即罗马天主教,他们彻底拒绝了上帝和祂的权柄。我们必须及时明白这些真理并且选择站在正确的一方,免得陷入万劫不复之地。 在结束前,我们再来看几段引言,以提醒大家一个确凿的事实,那就是星期日崇拜从来都不是圣经所认可的,而是罗马天主教仗着自己的权柄规定的。 “例如,我们在圣经中没有任何一处发现基督或使徒下令将安息日从星期六改为星期日。 我们有上帝颁布给摩西的诫命,吩咐我们遵守安息日,也就是一周的第 7 日,星期六,守为圣日。 今天,大多数基督徒都遵守星期日,因为它是由 [罗马天主教]教会在圣经之外向我们启示的。” ——《天主教维吉尼亚报》,1947 年 10 月 3 日,第 9 页,“告诉你真相”。 “问:安息日是哪一天? “答:星期六是安息日。 “问:为什么我们遵守星期日而不是星期六? “答:我们遵守星期日而不是星期六,因为天主教会在老底嘉会议(公元 364 年)中将安息日的神圣庄严从星期六转移到了星期日。” ——彼得葛依尔曼(Peter Geiermann),《皈依者的天主教要理问答》,第 50 页,第 3 版,1957 年。 “我要好好提醒长老会、浸信会、卫理公会和所有其他基督徒,圣经在任何地方都不能支持他们遵守星期日。 星期日是罗马天主教的制度,遵守这一日的人是在遵守天主教的一条诫命。” ——布雷迪神父,1903 年 3 月 18 日在新泽西州伊丽莎白的新闻报道中发表的讲话。 别忘记,如果我们选择接受虚假的安息日而故意违犯上帝真安息日的诫命的话,那我们就是选择灭亡了。这样我们就不能进入上帝永恒美好的国度了,因为完美的天国容不下任何违背律法的叛逆者。 更何况,我们若爱上帝和祂儿子,就必须遵守祂们的诫命。正如耶稣所说: 约翰福音 14:15 你们若爱我,就必遵守我的命令。 我们不是靠着守律法的行为来得救的,而是因为爱上帝而乐意遵守祂一切的诫命和话语。世界虽然恶人当道,而谬论一方为大众所接受,但是我们必须忠于上帝,不效法世界,不向恶势力低头,不向撒但妥协。务要记住使徒讲过的一句话: 使徒行传 5:29 “顺从上帝,不顺从人,是应当的。” 朋友,我们今天已经完成了全部破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由之圣经研究系列。我们想必已经意识到,十条诫命,包括安息日是永不改变的,它没有被基督的十架所废除,而是立定到永永远远的。 它也没有因着任何理由而变成另一日。它不仅仅是赐给犹太人的安息日,而是赐给全人类的安息日。我们没有任何借口逃避或拒绝安息日。圣经在这个课题上也提供了非常充足的证据,让我们无从抵赖。 仇敌想方设法想利用一些人的推理和逻辑来拒绝安息日,但这些理由一律都没有获得任何经文的支持和认证,因此它们都是鬼魔的谬道,我们必须坚决撇弃之。 这就结束了这一系列的研究,希望这几讲能给大家在安息日的课题上带来一个完整清晰的画面,以奠定安息日真理的每一个要点和基础,并且将撒但拒绝安息日的借口一一识破,让仇敌不再有任何理由说服人们去拒绝遵守安息日。 星期日法令即将到来之际,我们必须以安息日的真理装备好自己,以便能抵抗来势汹汹的魔军。愿每一位上帝的子民都能站稳脚跟,对真神上帝和祂的真儿子并他们的安息圣日至死忠心。愿平安喜乐充满每一位,阿们。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂
- 上帝不是三位一体 (三部分)
返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 上帝不是三位一体 (三部分) 上帝不是三位一体 (1) 圣经怎么说? 启示录14章6节 我又看见另一位天使飞在空中,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节 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。” 这位上帝是谁? 圣经的证据- 上帝只有一位 马可福音 12章29节, 32节, 34节 12:29 耶稣回答说:“第一要紧的,就是说:‘以色列啊,你要听,主我们上帝,是独一的主。 12:32 那文士对耶稣说:“夫子说, 上帝是一位,实在不错。除了他以外,再没有别的上帝。 12:34 耶稣见他回答的有智慧,就对他说:“你离上帝的国不远了。”从此以后,没有人敢再问他什么。 哥林多前书 8章4节 “论到吃祭偶像之物,我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么;也知道上帝只有一位,再没有别的上帝。” 这位上帝是谁? 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。” 约翰福音17章3节 “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。” 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。” 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。” 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。” 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。” 哥林多前书 15章24-28节 “ 24 再后,末期到了,那时基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了,就把国交与父上帝。25 因为基督必要作王,等上帝把一切仇敌都放在他的脚下。26 尽末了所毁灭的仇敌就是死。 27 因为经上说:“上帝叫万物都服在他的脚下。”既说万物都服了他,明显那叫万物服他的,不在其内了。28 万物既服了他,那时,子也要自己服那叫万物服他的,叫上帝在万物之上,为万物之主。” 帖撒罗尼迦后书 2章16节 “但愿我们主耶稣基督和那爱我们、开恩将永远的安慰并美好的盼望赐给我们的父上帝。” 耶稣和上帝之间有什么关系? 约翰一书 4章15节 “凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的,上帝就住在他里面。” 约翰一书 2章22节, 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。” 约翰一书4章9,10节 “ 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。” 约翰一书 5章5节 “胜过世界的是谁呢?不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗?” 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5章18节 “所以犹太人越发想要杀他,因他不但犯了安息日,并且称上帝为他的父,将自己和上帝当作平等。” 约翰一书5章1节 “凡信耶稣是基督的,都是从上帝而生,凡爱生他之上帝的,也必爱从上帝生的。” 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?” 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?” 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!” 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”? 箴言8章22-25节 22 “在耶和华造化的起头,在太初创造万物之先,就有了我。23 从亘古,从太初,未有世界以前,我已被立。24 没有深渊,没有大水的泉源,我已生出。25 大山未曾奠定,小山未有之先,我已生出。 箴言8章30节 “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。” 圣经如何说到关于上帝和耶稣? 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。” 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。” 彼得前书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝,他曾照自己的大怜悯,藉耶稣基督从死里复活,重生了我们,叫我们有活泼的盼望。” 以弗所书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝,他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。” 哥林多后书11章31节 “那永远可称颂之主耶稣的父上帝知道我不说谎。” 罗马书15章6节 “一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。” 希伯来书1章9节 “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。” 许许多多的圣经章节提到‘父上帝’ 但没有一节经文用到‘子上帝’或‘圣灵上帝’这些词汇。 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!” 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!” 加拉太书1章3节 “愿恩惠、平安从父上帝与我们的主耶稣基督归与你们。” 以弗所书6章23节 “愿平安、仁爱、信心从父上帝和主耶稣基督归与弟兄们。” 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。” 提摩太后书1章2节 “写信给那因信主作我真儿子的提摩太。愿恩惠、怜悯、平安从父上帝和我们主基督耶稣归与你!” 彼得前书1章2节 “就是照父上帝的先见被拣选,藉着圣灵得成圣洁,以致顺服耶稣基督,又蒙他血所洒的人。愿恩惠、平安多多地加给你们!” 约翰福音6章27节 “不要为那必坏的食物劳力,要为那存到永生的食物劳力,就是人子要赐给你们的,因为人子是父上帝所印证的。” 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。” 是谁坐在宇宙的宝座上? 马太福音5章34节 “只是我告诉你们,什么誓都不可起。不可指着天起誓,因为天是上帝的座位。” 马太福音23章22节 “人指着天起誓,就是指着上帝的宝座和那坐在上面的起誓。” 启示录4章2节 “我立刻被圣灵感动,见有一个宝座安置在天上,又有一位坐在宝座上。” 启示录7章10节 “大声喊着说:“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝,也归与羔羊。” 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, 希伯来书12章2节 “仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣(或作“仰望那将真道创始成终的耶稣”)。他因那摆在前头的喜乐,就轻看羞辱,忍受了十字架的苦难,便坐在上帝宝座的右边。” 启示录3章21节 “得胜的,我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐,就如我得了胜,在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。” 希伯来书1章8节 “论到子却说:“神啊,你的宝座是永永远远的,你的国权是正直的。” 路加福音1章32,33节 “32 他要为大,称为至高者的儿子,主上帝要把他祖大卫的位给他。33 他要作雅各家的王,直到永远,他的国也没有穷尽。” 使徒行传2章30节 “大卫既是先知,又晓得上帝曾向他起誓,要从他的后裔中立一位坐在他宝座上。” 基督是否从死里使自己复活呢? 使徒行传4章10节 “你们众人和以色列百姓都当知道,站在你们面前的这人得痊愈,是因你们所钉十字架、上帝叫他从死里复活的拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名。” 使徒行传5章30节 “你们挂在木头上杀害的耶稣,我们祖宗的上帝已经叫他复活。” 罗马书10章9节 “你若口里认耶稣为主,心里信上帝叫他从死里复活,就必得救。” 希伯来书13章20节 “但愿赐平安的上帝,就是那凭永约之血使群羊的大牧人、我主耶稣从死里复活的上帝。” 耶稣凭什么或怎么样可以拥有一切的权力和权柄呢? 马太福音28章18节 “耶稣进前来,对他们说:“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。” 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2章9节 “ 因为上帝本性一切的丰盛,都有形有体地居住在基督里面。” 歌罗西书1章9节 “因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛在他里面居住。” 哥林多前书15章27,28节 “27 因为经上说:“ 上帝叫万物都服在他的脚下。”既说万物都服了他,明显那叫万物服他的,不在其内了。28 万物既服了他,那时,子也要自己服那叫万物服他的,叫上帝在万物之上,为万物之主。” 值得思考的问题: 如果耶稣是父上帝本身,门徒为什么说耶稣坐在上帝的右边呢? 马可福音16章19节 “主耶稣和他们说完了话,后来被接到天上,坐在上帝的右边。” 路加福音22章69节 “从今以后,人子要坐在上帝权能的右边。” 使徒行传2章33节 “他既被上帝的右手高举(或作“他既高举在上帝的右边”),又从父受了所应许的圣灵,就把你们所看见、所听见的浇灌下来。” 使徒行传2章34节 “大卫并没有升到天上,但自己说,‘主对我说:你坐在我的右边。” 使徒行传5章31节 “上帝且用右手将他高举(或作“他就是上帝高举在自己的右边”),叫他作君王、作救主,将悔改的心和赦罪的恩赐给以色列人。” 使徒行传7章55节 “但司提反被圣灵充满,定睛望天,看见上帝的荣耀,又看见耶稣站在上帝的右边, 使徒行传7章56节 “就说:“我看见天开了,人子站在上帝的右边。” 上帝不是三位一体 (2 ) 耶稣从不曾教导三位一体论或三神论 约翰福音第14章里 “另外赐下的一位保惠师” 指的是谁? 当耶稣正准备离开门徒们, 他对他们说: “小子们,我还有不多的时候与你们同在;后来你们要找我,但我所去的地方你们不能到。这话我曾对犹太人说过,如今也照样对你们说。” 约翰福音13:33 36 西门彼得问耶稣说:“主往哪里去?”耶稣回答说:“我所去的地方,你现在不能跟我去,后来却要跟我去。” 37彼得说:“主啊,我为什么现在不能跟你去?我愿意为你舍命。” 约翰福音13:36-37 当听到这些时,门徒们都不高兴。他们敬爱的主,拉比和朋友对他们来说比生命更为重要。祂是门徒患难中的帮助,更是他们悲伤和绝望中的安慰。现在祂要离开他们,把他们撇在黑暗中,这使他们心里感到无比孤独和无助。 耶稣看到了他们的恐惧并说: 1 “你们心里不要忧愁,你们信上帝,也当信我。 2 在我父的家里有许多住处;若是没有,我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。 3 我若去为你们预备了地方,就必再来接你们到我那里去;我在那里,叫你们也在那里。 4 我往哪里去,你们知道;那条路,你们也知道(有古卷作“我往哪里去,你们知道那条路”)。” 约翰福音14:1-4 多马对他说:“主啊,我们不知道你往哪里去,怎么知道那条路呢?” 5章 耶稣说:“我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉着我,没有人能到父那里去。6章 在更进一步解释之后, 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。” 约翰福音14:16 另一位保惠师? 天父是否会赐下另外一位来安慰门徒呢? 耶稣继续告诉门徒这位保惠师会永远与你们同在,“就是真理的圣灵,乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他,也不认识他;你们却认识他,因他常与你们同在,也要在你们里面。” 约翰福音14:16-17 门徒变得更加困惑。他们认识这位保惠师?他常与门徒同在? 他是谁? 耶稣对于他们没有说出来的想法给予了回应。”我不撇下你们为孤儿,我必到你们这里来。” 18节 他们仍然感到困惑。如果耶稣要回到他们这里来,那为什么他说另外赐下一位保惠师呢? 乍看之下,“另外一位”保惠师似乎暗示一位完全不同的生物会来安慰门徒,但是耶稣清楚地说了祂会到门徒那里去。也许我们也会感到困惑,但是我们知道耶稣不可能自相矛盾,那么我们可以意识到祂以保惠师的身份回来是一定有一些不同之处。 圣经里有一个例子证明了“另一位”的含义不是它字面上的意思-另外完全不同的一位,而是指原本的一位发生了一些改变。 撒母耳记上10:6 “ 耶和华的灵必大大感动你,你就与他们一同受感说话,你要变为新人。(“新人”原文作“另一位人”) 在这经历中,扫罗变成了另一位人的意思是他被圣灵充满而改变成了新造的人,而不是它字面上的意思。 这个例子给了我们一个可以应用于耶稣话语上的原理 - 当祂来到门徒那里时,他会和之前有不同之处。祂不是以肉体的形式回来而是藉着祂的灵作为另一位保惠师。约翰福音14:16,17 耶稣和父上帝藉着祂们神圣的灵合而为一,父和子也必藉着同样的灵与那些爱祂并遵守祂诫命的人合而为一。 耶稣说:“ 到那日(当圣灵被赐下时)你们就知道我在父里面,你们在我里面,我也在你们里面。有了我的命令又遵守的,这人就是爱我的;爱我的必蒙我父爱他,我也要爱他,并且要向他显现。” 约翰福音14:20,21。[约翰福音14:10-11, 17:21-23] 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?” 约翰福音14:22 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。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14:23,24 很明显世人不再看见基督,因为他们不渴望祂。那些拒绝上帝大爱的人不能如爱他和遵守祂诫命之人那样被应许能和祂建立一个美好的关系。 门徒仍然不能在属灵的意义上理解基督的话语,因此祂再次解释了它们的意思。祂说,藉着圣灵,基督要向他们显现。记得,耶稣曾经说过,祂会向忠心的人显现祂自己,而不是向世人显现,因为: “属血气的人不领会上帝圣灵的事,反倒以为愚拙,并且不能知道,因为这些事惟有属灵的人才能看透。” 歌林多前书2:14 在与门徒谈论关于要来的保惠师(以及接下来的教导)时,耶稣没有明说,因为他说: “这些事,我是用比喻对你们说的;时候将到,我不再用比喻对你们说,乃要将父明明地告诉你们。约翰福音16:25 门徒们被教育要接受拉比们的教导为上帝的声音,这些话仍然充满着他们的思想,并影响着他们的情绪。门徒似乎不能理解基督许多的教导。耶稣看出他们并没有参透祂话语的真正意义。祂慈悲地应许真理的圣灵会叫他们想起祂对他们所说的一切话。许多祂认为门徒无法理解的事情,祂都保留不向他们说。这些事也将由圣灵向他们显明。 在谈论关于保惠师的课题中,耶稣有时使用人称代词'我',这在语法上是'第一人称'。但是在主体中,祂以“第三人称”来指保惠师,仿佛在指另外一位。 耶稣在复活后走向以马忤斯,听了其中两位门徒谈到三天前在耶路撒冷发生的事件。耶稣对他们说:“无知的人哪,先知所说的一切话,你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害,又进入他的荣耀,岂不是应当的吗?” 路加福音24:25,26 耶稣并没有表明祂自己为基督,而祂是在“第三人称”的角度来说话,并“凡经上所指着自己的话,都给他们讲解明白了”。27节 耶稣在传道期间多次谈到“人子”。(马太福音 25:31,马可福音 8:31, 路加福音 922, 约翰福音 3:14) 这是在“第三人称”中讲话,尽管在这种情况下,每个人都知道祂指的是祂自己。 许多圣经经文都是以这种方式写的。一个很普遍的是以赛亚书第53章。“他被藐视,被人厌弃,多受痛苦,常经忧患。他被藐视,好像被人掩面不看的一样,我们也不尊重他。哪知他为我们的过犯受害,为我们的罪孽压伤。因他受的刑罚,我们得平安;因他受的鞭伤,我们得医治。” 以赛亚书53:3,5 犹太民族不知道这个所谓“受苦的仆人”的身份,并拒绝了基督。有些犹太人认为它指的是以色列,但并非所有经文都贴切。许多人知道它指着耶稣基督而言,这些宝贵的生灵都归向祂并接受祂为他们的救主。 因此,当我们看到耶稣在“第三人称”中说话时,我们不应该感到惊讶。这可能使人更难明白,但显然耶稣是想要那样的。比喻需要解释。预言需要解码。有些预言有不止一次的应验,有些预言则有两种合在一起。有时候不容易识别符号,我们必须查考和祈祷。 我么所得的应许是真理的圣灵会指示和教导我们 - 如果我们愿意学习真理的话。 #让我们逐一探讨耶稣对他的门徒所说的话: 1。耶稣要离开了。 2。祂会要求父赐下保惠师。 3。另外赐下一位保惠师。 4。保惠师是真理的圣灵。 5。世人不能接受这保惠师。 6。世人不能看见他,也不认识他。 7。门徒认识这保惠师。 8。保惠师常与门徒同在。 9。保惠师将要在门徒里面。 10。门徒必不被撇下为孤儿。 11。耶稣必到他们这里来。 12。耶稣会向门徒显现。 13。那些爱耶稣又遵守祂命令的人,父和子必到他那里去,与他同住。(参哥林多后书 6:16) #我们唯一的结论就是耶稣以祂灵的形式从天上回来,教导每个门徒在他们与祂肉体的形式同在时无法理解的事。 耶稣对祂的门徒说,“你们听见我对你们说了,我去还要到你们这里来。你们若爱我,因我到父那里去,就必喜乐,因为父是比我大的。 ” 约翰福音14:28 门徒为什么要因耶稣离开他们而喜乐呢? 一位基督教的作者写到-> “由于人性的拖累,基督不能亲自临格在每一个地方;因此,祂若离开门徒,对他们是完全有好处的。祂要离开他们,往祂父那里去,并差遣圣灵来地上作祂的继任者。圣灵是祂自己脱去了人性的位格,并且不必依赖人性位格而独立。祂要代表祂自己,藉着祂的圣灵作为无所不在者,以临格在每一个地方。”(怀爱伦著,《文稿汇编》第14卷,原文第23页) 耶稣知道他的门徒需要祂的安慰与同在。他们的信心仍然很弱。唯有祂明白要实现这个应许的话,就必须回到祂的父那里,因为只有这样祂才能以祂灵的形式回到门徒那里去并亲自与他们每个人同在。 让我们赞美上帝,因耶稣基督作为得了荣耀的人子,在上帝的宝座前为我们代求,并代表我们献上祂救赎的功劳。 与此同时,祂以灵的形式在地上工作,但是作为圣灵,祂不是以祂的宝血为我们祈求,而是在我们的心中工作,把我们的祈祷,忏悔,赞美和感恩牵引出来。 耶稣虽然在天上的圣所供职,同时却藉着他的灵,仍为他在地上的教会服务。肉眼虽然看不见他,可是他与门徒分离时的应许却应验了:“我就常与你们同在,直到世界的末了。” 马太福音28:20。 他虽将权柄托付给比他弱小的仆人,但他那激励人身心的圣颜,依然与他的教会同在。(怀爱伦著,《历代愿望》166页,第2段) “他既来了,就要叫世人为罪、为义、为审判,自己责备自己。“我还有好些事要告诉你们,但你们现在担当不了(或作“不能领会”)。只等真理的圣灵来了,他要引导你们明白(原文作“进入”)一切的真理;因为他不是凭自己说的,乃是把他所听见的都说出来,并要把将来的事告诉你们。” 约翰福音16:8,12,13。 “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。鉴察人心的,晓得圣灵的意思,因为圣灵照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈求。” 罗马书8:26,27 当然,我们不能明白圣灵的本性,也不了解基督如何同时在两个地方工作,一个以肉体,一个以圣灵。但我们不需要了解,我们只需要相信。 根据圣经,耶稣没有差派另一位平等的神性生物来在地上代表祂,而是祂自己来了。基督是祂自己的代表。 上帝不是三位一体 (3) 所以上帝是谁呢? 当圣经里提到“上帝”时,它是指着三个位格而言还是单单一个位格呢?让我们看看圣经怎么说。 申命记6:4 “以色列啊,你要听!耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。当文士问耶稣说:“诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢?”,耶稣的回复是什么? 马可福音12:29-30 耶稣回答说:“第一要紧的,就是说:‘以色列啊,你要听,主我们上帝,是独一的主。30 你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的上帝。’ 耶稣引用了申命记6:4,5。耶稣所用的这引言与第一条诫命是一致的。 出埃及记20:2 我是耶和华你的上帝,曾将你从埃及地为奴之家领出来。 出埃及记20:3 “除了我以外,你不可有别的神。 在使徒行传17:24,天地的主是谁? 使徒行传17:24 创造宇宙和其中万物的上帝,既是天地的主,就不住人手所造的殿, 马太福音11:25 那时,耶稣说:“父啊,天地的主,我感谢你!因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来,向婴孩就显出来。 天地的主指的就是父。那耶稣有没有在其它章节里论到上帝呢? 约翰福音17:1 耶稣说了这话,就举目望天说:“父啊,时候到了,愿你荣耀你的儿子,使儿子也荣耀你; 这里耶稣正在向祂的父祷告。 约翰福音17:3 认识你独一的真神,并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督,这就是永生。 耶稣在这章节里说天父是 “独一的真神”。耶稣一定是清楚知道自己所说的,因为以下是祂所论到关于自己的。 约翰14:6 耶稣说:“我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉着我,没有人能到父那里去。 在这里,耶稣说祂就是 “真理”,所以为什么我们不能相信祂所说关于 “独一的真神”的呢?为什么我们要相信除了父那“独一的真神”以外还有其它的神呢?耶稣还说: 约翰福音8:45 我将真理告诉你们,你们就因此不信我。 约翰福音8:46 你们中间谁能指证我有罪呢?我既然将真理告诉你们,为什么不信我呢? 若我们愿意相信耶稣过于相信神学家,牧师,或其他所教导的不符合圣经的人。如果他们没有“耶和华如此说”的话,那真理就不在他们里面。这就是耶稣所说关于真理的。 约翰福音8:32 你们必晓得真理,真理必叫你们得以自由。” 当上帝向你显明真相时,那是会“让你自由”的,因为你不必再相信你曾经所相信的谬误!此外,还有哪些经文告诉我们上帝是父呢? 哥林多前书8:6 然而我们只有一位上帝,就是父,万物都本于他,我们也归于他;并有一位主,就是耶稣基督,万物都是藉着他有的,我们也是藉着他有的。 保罗说只有 “一位上帝”,而且他所指的这 “一位上帝”是谁呢?就是 “父”。 加拉太书1:1 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4:6 一上帝,就是众人的父,超乎众人之上,贯乎众人之中,也住在众人之内。 雅各怎么说到关于这“一位”上帝呢? 雅各书2:19 你信上帝只有一位,你信的不错;鬼魔也信,却是战兢。 如果魔鬼也相信有“一位上帝”,而耶稣和保罗说这“一位上帝”就是“父”,那么从逻辑上来说,魔鬼相信的那“一位上帝”也是父,而父是如耶稣在约翰福音17:3所说的那“独一的真神”。 耶稣是否曾经称呼祂的父为祂的上帝呢? 马太福音27:46 约在申初,耶稣大声喊着说:“以利,以利!拉马撒巴各大尼?”就是说:“我的上帝,我的上帝!为什么离弃我?” 另外,耶稣也称上帝为“父上帝”。 约翰福音6:27 不要为那必坏的食物劳力,要为那存到永生的食物劳力,就是人子要赐给你们的,因为人子是父上帝所印证的。” 约翰福音6:45 在先知书上写着说:‘他们都要蒙上帝的教训。’凡听见父之教训又学习的,就到我这里来。 在约翰福音6:45中,耶稣说我们“他们都要蒙上帝的教训”,并且祂也在同一节经文中说“听见父之教训又学习的”。所以教导我们,教训我们的是父,也就是上帝 - “那真神”。 指示西门彼得关于耶稣身份的是谁? 马太福音16:15 耶稣说:“你们说我是谁?” 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。” 马太福音16:17 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。 是天上的父指示西门彼得关于耶稣的身份。那将一切交付于耶稣手里的是谁呢? 马太福音11:27 一切所有的,都是我父交付我的。除了父,没有人知道子;除了子和子所愿意指示的,没有人知道父。 耶稣不断地称呼上帝为祂的父。 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。” 耶稣是否真的表示上帝是祂的父,也是祂的上帝呢? 我们一定要相信耶稣的话语,不然的话还有什么是我们可以相信的呢?耶稣为什么从来没有说过除了父以外还有其他的上帝呢? 耶稣警告过我们要小心的人的教导和理论,否则我们就会被迷惑! 记得马太福音 16:6-12。 此外,在希伯来书 1:9里,父也说祂是耶稣的上帝。 耶稣不是告诉过撒玛利亚妇女他们不知道他们所拜的是谁吗? 约翰福音4:21 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。 约翰福音4:22 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。 约翰福音4:23 时候将到,如今就是了,那真正拜父的,要用心灵和诚实拜他,因为父要这样的人拜他。” 我们今天不是处在同一个情况当中吗?我们崇拜三位一体并且被告知不要质疑这个教义,尽管有很多来自可靠来源的引言告诉我们三位一体只是一个假定的教义。我们也被告知,如果我们不相信三位一体,那么我们就不会得救。我们在圣经中的哪一处能找到这样的说法呢?这绝对不可能是从圣经中得来的!我们也被告知上帝是一个奥秘,而我们是无法认识祂的。这是极为奇怪的说法,因为上帝藉着祂的儿子向我们显现了祂自己,好让我们能认识祂。而且问题是,你怎么能崇拜一个你不知道的东西呢? 约翰福音14:9 耶稣对他说:“腓力,我与你们同在这样长久,你还不认识我吗?人看见了我,就是看见了父,你怎么说‘将父显给我们看’呢? 是谁创造了一切呢? 圣经在创世纪里这么说: 创世纪 1:1 起初上帝创造天地。 创世纪1:2 地是空虚混沌,渊面黑暗;上帝的灵运行在水面上。 创世纪1:26 上帝说:“我们要照着我们的形像,按着我们的样式造人,使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地,并地上所爬的一切昆虫。” 三位一体教义说这里的“我们”是指这三位一体神。这是真的吗?圣经说这“我们”是指谁呢? 约翰福音17:21 使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面,我在你里面,使他们也在我们里面,叫世人可以信你差了我来。 为什么耶稣没有提到“圣灵上帝”呢? 为什么相信三位一体教义的人,包括牧师,传道士等都用这节经文来证明有三位生物,但是这节只提到两位生物。 可见耶稣所说的与创世纪1:26里的“我们”是一致的。 箴言30:4 谁升天又降下来?谁聚风在掌握中?谁包水在衣服里?谁立定地的四极?他名叫什么?他儿子名叫什么?你知道吗? 在箴言30:4里问到的问题是:“他名叫什么?他儿子名叫什么?你知道吗?” 这里只提到两位生物!为什么所罗门(最聪明的人)在创造中没有提到“圣灵上帝”呢? 现今的神学家和学者们是否比所罗门王更聪明呢? 以弗所书3:9 又使众人都明白,这历代以来隐藏在【那藉着耶稣基督】创造万物之上帝里的奥秘,是如何安排的, 希伯来书 1:1-2 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 1:3 万物是藉着他造的;凡被造的,没有一样不是藉着他造的。 歌罗西书1:13 他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,把我们迁到他爱子的国里, 歌罗西书1:15 爱子是那不能看见之上帝的像,是首生的,在一切被造的以先。 歌罗西书1:16 因为万有都是靠他造的,无论是天上的、地上的、能看见的、不能看见的,或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的,一概都是藉着他造的,又是为他造的。 在歌罗西书中,我们被告知万有都是藉着耶稣造的。所以父上帝和祂的儿子耶稣创造了一切。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂
- What Did Moses Tell the Hebrews about the God They Worshipped
All trinity studies Previous Download Next What Did Moses Tell the Hebrews about the God They Worshipped What did Moses tell the Hebrews about the God they worshipped? Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deut. 6:4,5) Our former Trinitarian brethren claim that this "one Lord" is the Trinity God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost). If this true then the Hebrews should have understood this truth about the God they worshipped. Let's see if the Trinitarians are correct. "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Mark 12:28-30) Jesus quoted Deut. 6:4,5. Notice how the scribe replied to Jesus: "And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said THE TRUTH: for there is ONE GOD; and there is NONE OTHER BUT HE: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:32,33) Now notice how Jesus replied to the scribe: "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, THOU ART NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him any question." (v. 34) And who was the "one God" that the Hebrews acknowledged and worshipped? "...we have one Father, even God." (John 8:41) What did the disciples of Christ believe about God? "But to us there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor. 8:6) "ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:6) And in the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi said this too: "Have we not all ONE FATHER? hath not ONE GOD created us?..." (Mal. 2:10) So what is the correct understanding of Deut. 6:4 according to this exchange between Christ and the scribe? That the "one God" is God the Father, not a Trinity. The Hebrews did not have a Trinity God. They had the knowledge of the true God! Ellen G. White wrote this: "The Hebrews were the only nation favored with a knowledge of the true God..." (5T 196) And what did Moses know about Christ? "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." (John 5:46) Jesus here basically said that He and Moses believed the same thing. So what did Jesus say in this chapter? Let me share with you something that startles a trinitarian... "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26) "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 5:43) What? Jesus said the Father gave Him life and He came in His Father's name! Now what kind of life did the Father give to His Son? Trinitarians claim that this was referring to His human life, but WAIT! Let's read the context, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." (John 5:22-27) Does this sound like the human life? It's nowhere even in the context. It is eternal life that the Father gave to His Son. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11) The truth is what the Bible declares about God the Father and Jesus is His Son. This knowledge is LIFE ETERNAL. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) "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 4:9) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top
