搜寻结果

上帝将创造周的第七日分别出来，作为休息和当记念的“圣日”，藉此让人回想祂创造大能的彰显。这一日乃是上帝主权的保障，也是祂作为独一真神统治权的标记。同时，它也将真神和不曾创造天地之假神清楚区别出来。 安息日 真理 相关证道 研究和文章 “到第七日，上帝造物的工已经完毕，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。 上帝赐福给第七日，定为圣日 ，因为在这日上帝歇了他一切创造的工，就安息了。”【创世记 2：2, 3】。因为上帝在第七日休息，所以祂指定这一天为永远值得纪念的圣日。 “ 当记念安息日，守为圣日 。” 这是耶和华在第四诫命中说的。“六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可作” 【出埃及记 20：8-10】 为什么人“ 当记念安息日"？ 创造——上帝主权的标记 上帝将创造周的第七日分别出来，作为休息和当记念的“圣日”，藉此让人回想祂创造大能的彰显。这一日乃是上帝主权的保障，也是祂作为独一真神统治权的标记。同时，它也将真神和不曾创造天地之假神清楚区别出来。 旧约圣经中不乏有关上帝创造之能的描述。大卫写道，“外邦的神都属虚无，惟独耶和华创造诸天。”（诗96:5）耶利米说，“惟耶和华是真神，是活神……不是那创造天地的神，必从地上从天上被除灭！耶和华用能力创造大地。”（耶10:10-12）。 遵守安息日的诫命是写在道德律法——十诫之中的，上帝希望每个生灵都能守安息日为圣，从而承认祂的权威。十诫中永恒的原则奠定了上帝政权的基础，也彰显了祂完美的品格。论及安息日，祂亲自写道：“当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。这一日……无论何工都不可作；因为六日之内，耶和华造天、地、海，和其中的万物，第七日便安息，所以耶和华赐福与安息日，定为圣日。”（出20:8-11）。 “那作为上帝创造大能之纪念的安息日，指明他为创造天地的真神。因此借着安息日，可以永远证明上帝的存在，并使人永远思念上帝的伟大、智慧和慈爱。如果人类一直是遵守安息日为圣的，那么，世上就不会有一个无神论者，或拜偶像的人了。”(《先祖与先知》 , 第336页, 第2段 )。 使人悔改——再造人心 根据圣经的记述，上帝不仅有能力创造物质世界，还拥有再造人心的大能。这两种创造出自同一个全能之源。使人悔改或再造人心的能力，与“说有就有”的创造力毫无二致。使徒说，“并且穿上新人；这新人是照着上帝的形象造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。”（弗4:24）。成圣是信徒今生的目标和己任，而这工作只能靠上帝的大能实现。“你们中间也有人从前是这样；但如今你们奉主耶稣基督的名，并藉着我们上帝的灵，已经洗净、成圣、称义了。”(林前6:11)。 上帝不仅创造了世界，祂还说，“又将我的安息日赐给他们，好在我与他们中间为证据，使他们知道我耶和华是叫他们成为圣的。”(结20:12)。 请注意，分别为圣的安息日是圣洁子民的标记。“定为圣日”是指为了圣洁的用途而分别出来（见证上帝创造大能的日子），它同时也提醒人们：上帝藉着重生与再造使人分别为圣。 权威之争 鉴于安息日为上帝子民的标记，我们很容易明白魔鬼为何不断疯狂地攻击第七日的安息日了。六千年来，撒但通过传统、假道、和宗教偏见来破坏安息日——上帝权威的特别标记的神圣性。 作为上帝合法统治权的印记，安息日向企图登上上帝宝座的撒但发出了挑战。仇敌说，“我要高举我的宝座在上帝众星以上……我要与至上者同等。”（赛14:13,14）撒但想受人的敬拜。为了达到目的，他要让上帝的权威归于无效。上帝宣称自己是造物主，而安息日则是这一主权的标志。所以撒但要破坏安息日，推崇伪安息日，并建立自己的伪政权。 回首历代以来善与恶的争斗，不难发现其焦点一直围绕着“权威”的问题。 为要驳倒上帝是创造主这一事实，撒但采用了双管齐下的战术。其一，是透过虚假的异教传说或伪科学来解释创造的历史，例如近现代是通过进化论及其物竞天择的人本主义学说；其二，就是历代以来竭力摧毁安息日——创造大能的标记。 撒但每一次败坏上帝的权威，都会产生令人痛彻心扉的后果。达尔文的生物进化论，使不计其数的人沦为宗教怀疑论者和不可知论者。进化论否认“堕落的人类需要一位领人离罪的救主”。这一策略真可谓一举两得，既攻击了救赎计划，又否认了创造的事实。 同样，通过攻击安息日，撒但已使千百万人违背了第四条诫命，而这一诫命恰恰是在考验人是否遵守全律法。 要成功颠覆千百万人对真神上帝的忠诚，并非是一蹴而就的。多个世纪以来，撒但挖空心思，潜心研究蒙蔽人心的伎俩。魔鬼不可能让人瞬间弃绝上帝，转而侍奉他。他的秘诀在于打着宗教的幌子，一步步博取人的投诚。早在保罗写出下面的经文之前，撒但就已深谙其道：“岂不晓得你们献上自己作奴仆，顺从谁，就作谁的奴仆吗？”（罗6:16） 忠诚与敬拜的最高体现就是顺从。若能在使人违背上帝的问题上挑起事端，撒但就有一半的胜算。胜负全在乎能否动摇上帝律法的地位，因为律法是上帝政权的根基。如果撒但能成功使人违背那条指出上帝创造大能与统治权柄的诫命，人很快就会从根本上忘记上帝。以色列人在埃及为奴的期间，他们的督工强迫他们违犯安息日，故此他们几乎完全忘记了它的神圣性质，对上帝的印象也随之而大大减弱了。 安息日作为辨识真神的标志，一直都是撒但嚼穿龈血的对象。在旧约时代，上帝便以安息日试验人对律法的忠诚，耶和华说，“我好试验他们遵不遵守我的律法。”（出16:4，KJV直译） 律法的“试金石” 上帝将安息日作为考验人是否遵行十诫的试金石，因此，撒但决定把安息日作为历代攻击的头号话题。魔鬼的阴谋乃是让人守伪敬拜日，借此破坏真安息日。他从基督教妥协的弱点入手，慢慢渗透异教的影响，建立他的“杰作”——全球性的政教联合，这一联盟将强迫人遵守伪安息日。 从信奉异教的罗马皇帝君士坦丁（Constantine）所谓的归主之后，背道的黑暗历史持续了一千多年。这位自称是基督徒的皇帝采取的第一个措施，便是立法反对守安息日，并制定其它法规，要求公民在一周的第一日，也就是在敬拜太阳神的日子休息。（君士坦丁在改信基督教之前，信奉的正是太阳教。） 罗马教皇强迫人守太阳日（星期日），否则便被处死。至于这些黑暗的历史，我们不再详述。只要不带着成见去查考历史，人人都能得知真相。在公元4-5世纪，教皇宣布以一周的第一日（星期日）取代圣经中的真安息日。 不幸的是，偏见与假道导致成千上万的基督徒对这一历史铁证视而不见。他们偏见的根源并不难查证。撒但历代的破坏工作越发巧妙，及至人很难轻易反对。数千年来，他将一系列微妙的假道“日臻完善”，让人坚信伪安息日才是真理。撒但今日仍然痛恨人指明真神上帝的安息日。 只有揭露对第七日安息日的攻击，我们才能理解为何数百万人仍遵守一周的第一日——毫无圣经根据的日子。经上说，“第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日……无论何工都不可作。”（出20:10）对于上帝亲手所写的第四诫，人尽皆知。然而，却仍有无数人不守安息日；对于星期日起源于异教的铁证，虽无人能反驳，却仍有不计其数的人在遵守，并以此取代十诫中明令吩咐的安息日。 权威之争 谁改变了安息日？谁是“大罪人"？ 那改变上帝所命定之圣日的企图，已经得逞。现今大多数人所遵守的，并非耶稣所守那一圣日。问题是：谁将第七日的圣安息日改到了一周的第一天？又是凭着什么权柄？每一个渴望“进入永生”的基督徒，都当关注此事。我们应该知道这种改变是如何产生的；并且应该明白，纵使整个基督教界的绝大多数人都在遵守星期日而非安息日，也并不能证明，他们所行的就是对的。 关于这一问题的答案，“星期日”一词的来历，将为我们提供重要的启示。在古时，人们曾在背离上帝的日子里忘记那位创造天地和其中万物的创造主。于是，在本性中固有的拜神本能的驱使下，人们开始疯狂的寻找可崇拜的对象。结果，他们选择了肉眼所能见的，最大和最明亮的物体——太阳作为崇拜对象，以太阳为神——太阳神。因着太阳的光明和温暖，地上的生命才会发芽、开花、结果。因此，无知的人们想当然地认为，它就是真正的神，人类的主宰。 因此，考古学家们发现了大量有关太阳神的记载。在古埃及、亚述、巴比伦、波斯、希腊和罗马帝国的众多神庙与纪念碑上，都有对于太阳神的清晰描述。拉（Ra）、伊西斯（Isis）、奥西里斯（Osiris）、巴力（Baal）、密特拉（Mithras）、大力士赫拉克勒斯（Hercules）、阿波罗（Apollo）和朱庇特（Jupiter）都是太阳神的名字。 即使在圣经中，也曾提到崇拜太阳神的事。在约伯记31章26-28节中，我们读到：“我若见太阳发光，…心就暗暗被引诱，口便亲手；这也是审判官当罚的罪孽，又是我背弃在上的上帝。”在以西结书8章16节我们再次读到：“他又领我到耶和华殿的内院。谁知，在耶和华的殿门口、廊子和祭坛中间，约有二十五个人，背向耶和华的殿，面向东方拜日头。” 异教徒敬拜“许多的神，许多的主。”除了太阳以外，他们也敬拜月亮、火星、水星、金星和土星，并以他们众神的名字，为一周中的每一天命名。而一周的第一日，便是以太阳命名的。因为人们认为，太阳神是所有神明中最大的，居于首位。所以他们称一周的第一日为“太阳日”或“日曜日”——星期日（英文为SUN-DAY）；月亮仅次于太阳，位居第二，也就是一周中的第二天，因此就有了“月曜日”——星期一；依次类推，土星位居第七，因此“土曜日”便是星期六，即一周的最后一天。自古以来，星期日（太阳日）就被视为敬拜太阳神的日子。 基督时代，异教徒依然在星期日敬拜太阳。当福音从犹大地传到欧洲时，他们还是在一周的第一天敬拜太阳神。当上帝那彰显在基督身上的圣灵开始在人心中做工时，许多人便离弃了对太阳神阿波罗的敬拜，皈依了基督教。 基督升天之后，当耶稣的门徒们在第七日——也就是真正的安息日敬拜上帝时，世上绝大多数人仍然是在星期日崇拜太阳神。随着上帝圣灵大能地显现，基督教得以兴起，而异教开始衰微。使徒保罗被圣灵充满，在亚细亚、马其顿和意大利传道时，赢得了成千上万的人加入基督教的行列。因着热心、认真、殷勤、以及奉献的生活，当时的教会大有能力。对真神上帝的敬拜和对祂诫命的遵守，几乎传遍了当时的世界。 尽管如此，保罗在逝世之前写给帖撒罗尼迦人的信中，却发出警告说：“弟兄们，…不要轻易动心，也不要惊慌。人不拘用什么法子，你们总不要被他诱惑。因为那日子以前，必有离道反教的事，并有那大罪人，就是沉沦之子，显露出来。他是抵挡主，高抬自己，超过一切称为神的和一切受人敬拜的，甚至坐在上帝的殿里自称是上帝。…因为那不法的隐意已经发动。”（帖后2:1-4,7） 那大罪人 这是一则对“离道反教”的警告和预言，保罗当时已经看出，有这样的事潜入教会。在那日子（即“主的日子”，主再来的日子）以前，必有“离道反教的”事。并且保罗说，那“不法的隐意”也就是无视上帝律法的精神——已经发动了。一个“沉沦之子”将要显露出来，坐在上帝的教会中“高抬自己…自称是上帝。”本节经文已经清楚表明，将会有一个改变上帝律法的势力出现。 毫无疑问，保罗对但以理书7章4-25节的预言十分熟悉。（注：在那段预言中，但以理看到有四个兽从海中上来，而后天使向他解释，这四个兽就是世上必有的四国。结合但以理书二章中的巨像之预言，天使指示但以理，让他对巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒说：“你就是那金头”，可见，但以理书第二章和第七章的预言是一致的。第七章的预言，是对第二章所预言的同一事件作出的进一步细化。故此，根据历史我们可以知道，预言中的四大帝国分别是：巴比伦、玛代-波斯、希腊、罗马。而在罗马帝国分裂为欧洲十国之后，在十国中出现了一个强大的势力，在但以理的预言中用“小角”来表述。）这里的经文提到，在罗马帝国之后，将要兴起一个用“小角”来预表的势力，它有人的眼睛和人的口，(但7:8）“向至高者说夸大的话”,“折磨至高者的圣民”，并且“想改变节期和律法”。(但7:25） 我们看到，在“改变上帝律法”这一问题上，圣经的预言是前后一致的。但以理当时曾预言，有一个罪人“想”改变上帝的律法；而保罗受同一位圣灵的启示，预言了“沉论之子”有“不法的隐意”发动。创造人类眼睛的上帝并非不能看见，通过这两位先知，上帝让祂的百姓明白这个事实：教会中将出现一个势力，它将“改变节期和律法。”这预言千真万确，因为我们发现，它已经清楚地应验了。 保罗被害不久，正当教会在繁荣兴旺之时，教会的领袖——主教们却开始彼此敌对，每个人都想争夺教会中的最高权力，这一现象席卷了整个基督教会。为要得到更大的权力，主教们便不择手段地来争取世人加入教会，以扩充信众人数，壮大自己管辖的势力范围。为此，他们肆意地降低真理的标准，以便吸引更多人来加入。就这样，大批大批的人涌入进来，教会看上去似乎是壮大了，但那“胜了又要胜”的纯洁教会，却迅速地变质堕落，进而成为世俗者为攫取权力而彼此相争的混乱之地。就这样，越来越多的内心并未悔改的异教徒阔步进入教会。大约在保罗死后的一个世纪左右，他所发出的那一“改变节期和律法”的预言就应验了。教会开始“离道反教”，且异教哲学和敬拜方式也逐渐地渗入教会。 君士坦丁的影响 第四世纪初叶，一名信奉太阳教的罗马将军君士坦丁（后来成为了罗马的皇帝），为了满足其夺取王位的雄心，便假意承认基督教，而将此举作为自己的一种政治优势。因他看到，当时的异教已经趋于衰败，很多异教徒被降低了信仰标准的基督教吸收为基督徒。君士坦丁之所以宣布自己接受基督，并使自己成为基督徒，其目的只不过是为要迎合大众，而那些奉承他的教会主教们，也宣称接纳他这位君主。 但接下来，君士坦丁皇帝却遇到了新的问题：帝国内超过半数的人是在星期日崇拜——他们是拜太阳神的异教徒；而其他人则遵守安息日——他们自称为基督徒。于是，君士坦丁想出了一个撮合两大派别和睦的办法。虽然他宣称自己信奉基督教，但他并不想因此而与那些信奉异教太阳神的国民产生冲突。于是他巧妙地在两派之间搞了一个平衡：“藉着在同一年颁布的两个法令，来缓解并减轻那些信奉太阳神之国民对其君王成为基督徒的担忧。其第一条法令是：定太阳日（日曜日）为一个隆重庄严且值得庆祝的宗教圣日。第二条法令是：指定占卜师们定期进行肠卜。（注：“肠卜”是指古罗马信奉太阳神的异教祭司和僧侣们在每次宰杀祭牲之后，都要查看其内脏和肠胃的形状，以推断吉凶祸福。）”（见《罗马帝国的衰亡史》第20章及注释，爱德华·吉本 著） 在这里我们清楚地看到，第一条法令的目的，显然是为要使星期日成为一个神圣的宗教日子，来取代圣安息日。这样，既博得了原本在这一日拜太阳神的异教徒，也令那些所谓的基督徒易于接受。但它完全是一则人为的法律，绝非上帝的启示。紧接着，在公元321年3月的第七天，君士坦丁颁布了他那“守星期日为圣”的法令： “所有的法官，城镇中的所有居民，以及做各种买卖的人，都要在可敬的太阳日(Dies Solis)停工。但那些居住在乡下的人，仍可自由地从事农业活动，…免得我们错过了最关键的耕种时辰，导致百姓失去了上天所赐的日用饮食。”在这段叙述中，我们找到了基督教遵守星期日的起源。 老底嘉大公会会议 当时的教会遵循了君士坦丁皇帝的指示。在公元364年，老底嘉大公会会议通过了一项教会法令，要求信徒“周六不可休息，以免犹太化。”尤西比乌斯（Eusebius）是当时教会中最著名的大主教，他指出：“我们所有应当在安息日尽的本分，不论是什么，现在将其全部转移到了星期日。”在这里，我们明显地看到，安息日是被人为改变的，并非上帝的旨意。尤西比乌斯还说：“我们已经转移了…” 最终，在政治力量和堕落之宗教领袖的双重作用下，安息日被破坏，而异教的节日——星期日却被建立起来。与此同时，原本人人平等的基督教中，也在君王的干预下出现了教皇——那“坐在上帝殿中自称上帝”的大罪人就此出现——罗马教皇自称其为上帝在地上的代理人。 此后，教会便一直拥护并支持这一伪安息日，正如我们今日所看到的一样。约翰·埃克博士（Doctor Johann Eck）是一位精明的天主教律师和教义捍卫者，他在与马丁路德的辩论中也不得不承认：“教会依仗自己的权威，擅自将遵守星期六更改为遵守星期日，这的确没有以圣灵启示之下所写成的圣经为依据。” （—— 约翰·埃克著《指南》[Dr. Eck's Enchiridion, 1533]） 不同宗派对安息日的论述 美国公理会（American Congregationalist） 聖公宗（Anglican） 浸信会（Baptist） 兄弟会（Brethren） 天主教（Catholic） 基督教教会（Christian Church） 基督的教会（Church of Christ） 英格兰教会（Church of England） 公理会（Congregational） 基督门徒会（Disciples of Christ） 圣公会（Episcopalian） 路德宗（Lutheran） 路德自由教会（Lutheran Free Church） 卫理公会（Methodist） 慕迪神学院（Moody Bible Institute） 长老会（Presbyterian） 改正教圣公会（Protestant Episcopal） 其它领域（Miscellaneous） 无信仰者（Infidel） “现今有关基督和祂的门徒用权柄将第七日替换为第一日的观点，在新约圣经中找不到任何根据。” —— （莱曼·爱博特 博士，于1890年6月26日在基督徒联会上发表的演讲 [Dr.Layman Abbot, in the Christian Union, June 26, 1890]） “究竟圣经在什么地方告诉我们要遵守第一日呢？上帝吩咐我们要遵守的是第七日；圣经没有任何一处命令我们守第一日……正如我们遵守其它事情一样，我们守第一日而不守第七日为圣的原因并不是出于圣经，而是因为教会的命令。” ——（以撒·威廉斯， 《教理简训》第334-336页[Isaac Williams, Plain Sermons on the Catechism, pages 334, 336]） “守安息日为圣的诫命，过去有，现在仍有，但那个安息日在过去并不是星期日。然而，不可带着得意的神情去肯定地说，安息日连同它的权力、特权和命令都已经从一周的第七日转到了第一日（星期日）。关于这个问题——这一转变的记载在哪里可以找到呢？我怀着热切的追根到底的心情研究了多年，发现它不在新约圣经之中——绝对不在新约圣经之中，它毫无圣经根据。” ——（ E·T·锡斯克思 博士《浸信会手册》 Dr. E. T. Hiscox, author of the “Baptist Manual”） “我很不解，为什么耶稣在三年的传道生涯中，经常与门徒们谈论安息日的问题，讨论有关安息日的某些不同的方面，将它从谬误的曲解（犹太传统）中解救出来。但在这些谈话中，从来没有任何暗示说，要将其转到其它的日子。并且，正如我们所知道的，在耶稣复活后的四十天当中，祂也没有表示出这样的意思。我们也知道，那叫门徒想起耶稣对他们所说的一切话的圣灵，也没有涉及到这个问题。那些受圣灵感动的门徒，在传道、建立教会、劝勉和教导中，都没有论述或提及这个问题。 当然，我十分清楚，在早期的基督教历史中，星期天就已经被视为一个宗教节日，正如基督教众教父和其它资料中所说的一样。然而，这个日子带着异教的烙印，并且以太阳神的名字为名号，然后，背道的教皇采纳并为此“祝圣”，最后又被视为神圣的遗产遗传给了改正教（新教），这一切是多么遗憾啊！” ——（1893年8月20日，在浸信会教牧人员会议上的证道论文，出版于《纽约观察者》1893年11月16日（有一位罗马天主教的领袖/发言人同意这个表述，见下文）[Dr. E. T. Hiscox, report of his sermon at the Baptist Minister's Convention, in 'New York Examiner,' November 16, 1893 (The leader / spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church agrees with this statement.See Below)]） “圣经没有任何一处称第一日为安息日……守星期日是没有圣经根据的，当然我们也没有义务去守它。” ——(《守望者》[The Watchman]) “我们相信，上帝的律法就是其道德政权永恒不变的准则。” ——（《浸信会手册》[Baptist Church Manual," Art. 12]） “从犹太人的安息日转变到基督徒所守的第一日，这是决无任何正当根据或权威的！” ——（威廉·欧文·卡弗《我们当今的主日》第49面[WILLIAM OWEN CARVER, "The Lord's Day in Our Day," page 49]） “没有任何一句经文，要求我们当守星期日为圣日，以此替代神圣的星期六。” （——哈罗德·林赛（编辑）《今日基督教》1976年 11月5日[Harold Lindsell (editor), Christianity Today, Nov. 5, 1976]） “鉴于律法和我们曾经持守的安息日……这日也许仍旧是大多数忠心基督徒所持守的日子，我们承认，我们无法回答复临信徒。再者，我以前和至今所读到和听到的，都无法最终确凿地辩驳复临信徒建立在圣经之上有关第七日是安息日（出埃及记20:10）的论点。安息日并不是某个人制定的‘七日内任何一日’，而是‘根据诫命的第七日’” ——（《真理恩典之道》第281面[Words of Truth and Grace, p. 281]） “必须好好提醒长老会教徒、浸信会教徒、卫理公会教徒和其他所有的基督徒，圣经根本没有一处支持他们守星期日。星期日是罗马天主教所设立的一个制度，凡守那日子的人，都是守天主教的命令。” ——(布雷迪神父的致辞，于1903年3月18日出版在新泽西州伊丽莎白市的《新闻》上。参阅《这磐石》[Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, NJ ‘News’ on March 18, 1903. See This Rock]) “改正教徒……接受星期日替代星期六以此作为公共礼拜的日子，他们乃是在效学天主教……但是改正教徒的思想似乎并没有意识到……藉着遵守星期日，他们乃是在接受那教会发言人——教皇——的权威。” ——(《我们的星期日来宾》1950年2月5日，参阅《这磐石》[Our Sunday Visitor, February 5th, 1950. See This Rock]) “当然，这两段久远的引证十分准确。天主教指定星期日作为公共礼拜的日子，并且因其作出这一改变而备受褒贬。” ——（《这磐石》，《天主教护教学和传道学杂志》1997年六月刊，第八面[This Rock, The Magazine of Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization, p.8, June 1997]) 问：“你有没有其它证据证明他们（改正教徒）并不是受圣经的指导呢？答：是的，此类证据太多了，以至于我们无法在这个小文章中容纳如此众多的例证。他们拒绝了许多清晰记载于圣经中的东西，并且公开承认很多圣经中从未提及的谬论。” 问：“各自举些例子好吗？” 答：“如果圣经是他们唯一的准则，那么他们应该根据约翰福音第十三章耶稣的命令彼此洗脚；他们也当根据“当记念安息日守为圣日”这条诫命，遵守星期六而不是星期日，圣经中根本没有改变或废除这条命令的证据；……” ——（斯提反·金南神父《教理论》，第101面，1857年，纽约[Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 101 Imprimatuer]） 问：“你还有其它方法证明（罗马天主教教会）有权柄设立法令节期吗？” 答：“倘若她没有此种权力，她就不会做成让当今所有宗教家都一致同意的事情——它就不会建立守一周第一日的星期日的制度，因为（圣经中教导的）当守的日子是星期六而不是第一日，这种改变是没有圣经经文根据的。” ——（斯提反·金南神父《教理论》第174面，1857年， 纽约。Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 174） 问：“我们用什么方法可以向一位改正教徒指出，他所说的那些反对禁食和禁欲的话是不合理的？” 答：“既然他不愿意禁食和禁欲，那就问他为什么要守星期日，而不守星期六作为安息日。如果他回答，圣经命令他守星期日，但没有论到禁食和禁欲，那你就告诉他圣经谈到星期六与安息日的事情，但是没有论及星期日与一周第一日的事情。如果他拒绝星期六为安息圣日，用星期日来代替它，说这只是因为古代教会是如此行，如果他愿意一直这样坚持下去，那么他就要去禁食和禁欲，因为古代教会也这样规定，难道他也要避开这命令？” ——（司提反·金南神父《教理论》第181面，1857年， 纽约[Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 181]） 问：“哪一日是安息日？” 答：“星期六是安息日。” 问：“那为什么我们遵守星期日而不是星期六呢？” 答：“我们之所以守星期日而不守星期六，是因为天主教将星期六的神圣性转移到了星期日。” ——（彼得·耶尔曼神父C.SS.R.《天主教教义教理详解》第50页[Rev. Peter Geiermann C.SS.R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50]） 问：“当一位明智的改正教徒发现自己的教会连圣经准则都不顺从的时候，岂不会产生严重的怀疑吗？” 答：“当然会的，当他看到人们给婴儿施洗，废除犹太人的安息日，而遵守没有圣经根据的星期日之时；当他看到他们忽视圣经中清晰命令的彼此洗脚的礼节，并且吃圣经中特别禁止的血和勒死的牲畜时，如果他全面思考，就必定会怀疑……” 问：“当改正教徒发现自己是以遗传为向导时，他会不会产生怀疑呢？” 答：“如果他认真思考，并晓得他守星期日为圣的行为完全是天主教的传统之时，他一定会怀疑的；……” ——（新版《最具争议的教理》作者斯提反?金南，乔治?格马克神父校订，伦敦伯恩斯&奥茨有限公司出版—纽约、辛辛那提，芝加哥：本辛格兄弟出版社，1896年，第6、7页。[Controversial Catechism by Stephen Keenan, New Edition, revised by Rev. George Cormack, published in London by Burns & Oates, Limited - New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benzinger Brothers, 1896, pages 6, 7]） “教会（罗马天主教）在把一周的休息日，从犹太教的安息日——也就是一周中的第七日，改成第一日之后；另一方面，又制定了第三条诫命（编者按：上帝十诫中的第四诫），规定星期日才是应当守为圣的主日。特伦特会议（第六部分，第十九条教法）谴责那些否认基督徒应当遵守十诫的人。” ——（《天主教百科全书》，上帝的诫命，卷四。 1908年，罗伯特·阿普尔顿 公司出品——在线版本 1999年，凯文·奈特，尼西·奥布斯塔出品——出版校对拉米·拉夫得-+约翰 M·法利，纽约大主教，第153面。The Catholic Encyclopedia, Commandments of God, Volume IV, ? 1908 by Robert Appleton Company, Online Edition ? 1999 by Kevin Knight, Nihil Obstat - Remy Lafort, Censor Imprimatur - +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, page 153） “（罗马天主教）教会创始者耶稣基督将那绝无错误而神圣的权威赐给她，因此她将遵守安息日改变成了遵守星期日。改正教徒主张圣经是信仰中的唯一指南，但是对于遵守星期日，他们却没有任何圣经中的根据。在这一问题上，只有基督复临安息日会才是唯一与圣经相符的改正教会。” ——《天主教全球公告》1945年8月14日，第4面[The Catholic Universe Bulletin, August 14, 1942, p. 4]） “我们所有人所相信的许多有关信仰的事情都无法在圣经中找到根据。例如，我们在圣经中没有找到基督或是使徒们命令安息日必须从星期六改到星期日。我们有上帝赐给摩西的诫命，吩咐我们遵守安息日为圣，这安息日就是一周中的第七日——星期六。然而，今天绝大多数基督徒都在遵守星期日，因为这个日子是圣经之外的教会启示我们的。” ——（出自《天主教弗吉尼亚人》的《告诉你真相》卷22，编号49（1947年10月3日）The Catholic Virginian, "To Tell You The Truth,” Vol. 22, No. 49 (Oct. 3, 1947)） “……倘若你通读圣经，从创世记读到启示录的话，你不会找到任何一句经文可以证明星期日是神圣的。圣经强调了对星期六的虔诚遵守，而我们从来没有尊这一日为圣。” ——（《我们教父的信仰》作者巴尔的摩大主教雅各?卡丁纳?机本，88版，第89面 ，1876年出版，唐出版社和出版公司1980年授权再版。第72-73面。The Faith of Our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, 88th edition, page 89. Originally published in 1876, republished and Copyright 1980 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., pages 72-73.） 倘若否认了教会的权威，你就再没有足够或合理的解释与理由证明上帝诫命中的第三条诫命中——也就是改正教的第四条诫命——中的星期六改成了星期日……教会超越了圣经的权威，更改安息日的遵守就是一个鲜明例证。” ——（《天主教记录》9月1日，1923年Catholic Record, September 1, 1923.） “但因为圣经所特别强调的是星期六，而不是星期日，所以对于那些声称自己的信仰是直接来自圣经而不是教会的非天主教徒，那么他们以守星期日来代替星期六的做法岂不令人感到奇怪么？是的，肯定会的，这样做乃是言行不一；然而，早在改正教出现之前十五个世纪，这个日子就已经被改变了，而且那个时候这日子曾得到普遍的遵守。迄今为止，改正教都在继续这个传统，然而它却是建立在天主教的权威之上，而非以圣经清晰的经文为根据。遵守星期日的传统存留下来就是提醒非天主教教派都是从母教会分裂出来的——就好像一个男孩逃出自己的家，但是他口袋中依然揣着母亲的相片或她的发夹。” ——（《千万人的信仰》The Faith of Millions） “在公元第一世纪，教会所做的也许是最大胆的事情，也是最革命性的改变——就是将圣日安息日从星期六转移到了星期日。‘主日’（dies Dominica）的制定并不是出自圣经中的任何指导，而是教会因着它自身的权柄擅自设立的。复活日以及在其五十天后的五旬节都是在一周的第一日。因此这就成了新的安息日。那些认为圣经是独一绝对权威的人，应该顺理成章地皈依基督复临安息日会，因为他们才是守星期六为圣的。” ——（《哨兵》，牧师手册，圣凯瑟琳天主教会，阿尔贡，密西根州，1995年 5月21日。Sentinel, Pastor's page, Saint Catherine Catholic Church, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995） “如果改正教徒真的听从圣经，他们就应该在安息日敬拜上帝。他们守星期日就是在跟随罗马天主教的法律。” ——艾伯特·史密斯Albert Smith，巴尔的摩大主教（管辖）区的区长，回红衣主教的信，日期为1920年2月10日。Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal, in a letter dated February 10, 1920.） “改正教守星期日是向（天主）教会权柄致敬的忘我行为。” ——（路易斯·瑟古阁下，《坦率谈论当今的改正教教义》Monsignor Louis Segur, ‘Plain Talk about the Protestantism of Today’, p. 213.） 当改正教再三向教皇提出疑问“你怎敢改变上帝的律法？”（主要是针对天主教为何将十诫中“不可拜偶像”这一诫命废除了。）但是，天主教向改正教提出的反问则更加尖锐。以下是（天主教发出的）正式的提问： “你会告诉我说：‘星期六是犹太人的安息日，但是基督教的安息日已经改到了星期日。它已经改变了！’那么，是谁改变的？谁有权柄改变全能之上帝亲自设立的诫命呢？倘若上帝亲自说当记念安息日，守为圣日，谁还敢——不是这样，第七日要劳碌做你一切的工，但第一日是当守的圣日呢？” “这是一个至关重要的问题，我不知道你会如何回答。你是一个改正教徒，并且你口口声声说要按圣经行事，且唯独以圣经为准绳；但是在‘守七日中哪一日为圣’的事情上，你的做法却与圣经明确的吩咐相悖，你还用其它日子代替了圣经中所吩咐的圣日，这是何等的严重啊！” “遵守第七日为圣日的命令是十诫中的一条；你认为其它九条诫命仍然有约束力；那么是谁给你权柄去践踏第四条诫命呢？如果你坚守自己的原则，如果你真的遵循圣经，并且以圣经为唯一的准则，那么，你应该从新约圣经中找出明确改变第四条诫命的经文来。” ——（《基督教教义图书：为什么你不守圣安息日》（伦敦：伯恩斯和奥茨有限公司）第3、4页[Library of Christian Doctrine: Why Don't You Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day? (London: Burns and Oates, Ltd.), pp. 3, 4]） “我再三出价1000美元，奖励给任何可以从圣经中向我证明必须守星期日为圣的人。圣经中没有这样的律法。它只来自圣天主教的律法。圣经说‘当记念安息日守为圣日。’天主教说：‘不对，藉着我的神圣权柄，我废掉了星期六，并且命令你们守一周的第一日。看那！整个文明世界都屈膝，以顺从圣天主教的命令。’” ——（托马斯·恩瑞特神父C.S.S.R.,1884年2月18日，在纽约罗马天主教1893年7月周刊《美国哨兵》出版，第173面。[Priest Thomas Enright, C.S.S.R., February 18, 1884, Printed in the American Sentinel, a New York Roman Catholic journal in June 1893, p. 173] “整个地球上只有一个教会有能力，或者说是自称有能力，制定约束道德良心的律法，这些律法是列于上帝之前，是以地狱之火为惩罚的。例如，星期日崇拜的制度。其它教会守这日子的权柄是什么？你的回答是因为第三条诫命（天主教去掉了第二条有关禁止拜偶像的诫命，所以称第四条诫命为第三条诫命），这一条诫命吩咐说‘当记念安息日守为圣日。’但是星期日并不是安息日。任何一位在校学生都知道，星期日是一周的第一日。我再三拿出1000美元，奖励给任何可以单从圣经中向我证明必须守星期日为圣的人。没有任何一个人能赢得这笔奖金。是圣天主教会将星期六，也就是第七日的安息日，改到了一周的第一日。” ——（T·恩瑞特辅理主教在1893年发表的一篇演讲。[T. Enright, C.S.S.R., in a lecture delivered in 1893]） “当然，天主教宣称这种改变是她的作为。并且这一作为，正是（天主教）教会权柄及其在宗教事务上之权威的标记。” ——（红衣主教团团长C`F`托马斯，在回答有关安息日改变的一封信中如此说，1895年11月11日。[C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895]） “耶稣基督的教会是建立在传统之上，而非圣经之上。” ——（爱吉恩·拿帮《天特会议所指定的天主教原则》第157面[Adrien Nampon, Catholic Doctrine as Defined by the Council of Trent, p. 157]） “教皇拥有如此伟大的权柄和能力，以至于他有能力修改、说明或诠释神圣的律法。”（教皇可以修改神圣的律法，因为他的权柄不是来自人，而是来自上帝，他乃是上帝在地上的代理人。” ——（卢修斯·费拉里斯《教会法典》教皇章二，卷六，第29面。[Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, art. Papa, II, Vol. VI, p. 29]） “天主教的领袖因信仰而被定义为耶稣基督的代表（并且被众信徒普遍认可）。教皇被尊为在世上‘取代’全能三一上帝之第二位格的人。” ——（教皇 约翰·保罗二世，《穿越希望的门槛》第3面，1994年[John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994 ]） “……牧养机构过去向母教会建议将那作为‘太阳日的’星期日基督化，‘太阳日’是罗马对这日的称呼，现代语言中仍然保留着此种说法。当时这样做，是为了带领忠心的信徒远离那些敬拜太阳之教派的诱惑，并且要指引他们纪念赞美基督，人类的真‘太阳’。” ——（教皇 约翰·保罗二世《受难日》。《基督——真光的日子》1998年（著名的改正教领袖都同意这个声明——请见上文《浸信会手册》的作者E.T.锡斯克思博士[John Paul II, Dies Domini, 27. The day of Christ-Light, 1998 (Prominent protestant leaders agree with this statement - See above for a statement by Dr. E. T. Hiscox, author of the ‘Baptist Manual’)]） “太阳神是异教中的主神……在波斯和其它地方都有太阳神的崇拜者……实际上，有关太阳尊贵王者的形象，适用于象征基督——公义的太阳。因此这些国家的教会可能会这样说‘过去古老异教的名字[太阳日]，应该保留下来，并视之为神圣，圣洁的’。这样，本来是献给巴德尔神的异教太阳日，变成了基督教的太阳日，归耶稣为圣了。” ——（神学博士威廉·吉尔第，《天主教世界》1894年3月，第809面。[William Gildea, Doctor of Divinity, The Catholic World, March, 1894, p. 809]） “留下星期日的异教名称太阳日，这在很大程度上是因为异教徒和基督徒在观点上基于一周第一日的联合。这是君士坦丁皇帝向他国民下的命令——异教徒和基督徒都一样——尊太阳日为‘可敬’的日子。” ——（亚瑟·P·斯坦利 《东方教会史》第184面。[Arthur P. Stanley, History of the Eastern Church, p. 184]） “当圣保罗批判律法的功效时，他当时并不是指十条诫命，十诫中与上帝自己一样，都是不会改变的，上帝无法在改变律法的同时，仍然算作是无穷神圣的上帝。” ——（《我们星期日的访客》1951年10月7日，[Our Sunday Visitor, Oct. 7, I951.]） 问：“你如何证明（罗马）教会有权柄支配节期和圣日？” 答：“凭着那将安息日改变到星期日的举动，而这又是改正教徒所接受的，所以他们的行为是自相矛盾的——一方面严格遵守星期日，一方面又去掉（罗马）教会所指定的大多数其它的节期。” ——（亨利·特伯威尔，《基督教教义节选》（1833年批准），第58面（这与但以理?法瑞斯所著的《基督教教义手册》中第67面的表述一致）[Henry Tuberville, An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine (1833 approbation), p.58 (Same statement in Manual of Christian Doctrine, ed. by Daniel Ferris [1916 ed.], p.67)]） “有一些神学家持有这样一种观点——上帝同样也直接指定星期日为‘新律法’中崇拜的日子，祂自己毫不含糊地将星期日代替了安息日。但现今这个神学观点已经彻底被抛弃了。如今，普遍的观点就是：上帝直接赐给教会权柄，于是教会可以随意撇弃任何一天，或设立教会自己所视为合适的日子为圣。教会过去选择了星期日，也就是一周的第一日，并且也随着时间的推移选择其它的日子作为圣日。” ——（文森特·J·凯利《严禁星期日和宗教节日被占用》华盛顿，哥伦比亚特区(美国联邦直辖区)，天主教美国新闻大学，对神圣神学的研究。第70卷，1943年，第二面。[Vincent J. Kelly, Forbidden Sunday and Feast-Day Occupations, Washington, DC, Catholic University of America Press, Studies in Sacred Theology, No. 70.,1943, p. 2.]） “如果我们单单参考圣经，我们应当务必与犹太人一样遵守安息日，也就是星期六为圣，而安息日绝不是星期日…”” ——（《为天主教高中和学院准备的一个宗教课程》作者文学硕士约翰?拉瑞斯神父，本辛格兄弟出版社，1936年版，第一部分。[A Course in Religion for Catholic High Schools and Academies, by Rev. John Laux M.A., Benzinger Brothers, 1936 edition, Part 1.]） “星期日是天主教的一个制度，并且…只能用天主教的教义来辩护…从圣经的开始到结束没有任何一节经文授权我们将一周的公共敬拜日从一周的最后一日转移到一周的第一日。” ——（《天主教新闻》1900年8月25日。[Catholic Press, Aug. 25, 1900]） “安息日是星期六，不是星期日。是（罗马）教会将守安息日改为遵守星期日。当上帝清晰地表明：‘当记念安息日守为圣日’时，改正教教徒必定会为自己遵守星期日的行为而感到十分困惑。星期日这个字眼并没有出现在圣经中任何地方，因此，改正教徒无视这一点的同时，也是在顺从罗马天主教的权威。” ——（《教法大全，教理诠释》第89面[Canon Cafferata, The Catechism Explained, p. 89. ]） “理性和理智要求我们只能选择以下这点：要么改正教教义结合守星期六为圣，要么天主教教义结合守星期日为圣。妥协是不可能的。” ——（约翰 吉布斯 红衣主教，《天主教镜报》，1893年12月23日。[John Cardinal Gibbons, The Catholic Mirror, December 23, 1893.]） “我认为主日并不可代替犹太人的安息日，我也不相信安息日从一周的第七日改到了一周的第一日，原因很简单——没有任何证据的事情就绝对不可信。在所有属天晓谕中都没有证据说明安息日已经改变，也没有证据说明主日代替了安息日。” ——（亚历山大·坎贝尔，《华盛顿报告》1921年10月8日[Alexander Campbell, in The Reporter, October 8, 1921]） “废除上帝圣言中的安息日，并且设立星期日为圣日，那就是推翻了上帝的第四条诫命。” ——（N·萨门博尔《基督教会历史》第三版，第415面。（[Dr. N. Summerbell, History of the Christian Church, Third Edition, p. 415] ） “并没有直接的圣经权威来支持将第一日作为主日的命令。” ——（D·H·卢卡斯博士，《基督教圣贤》1890年，1月23日。Dr. D. H. Lucas, Christian Oracle, Jan. 23, 1890） “一周的第一日通常被称为安息日，这是一个错误。圣经中的安息日其实是一周的第七日。整本圣经中从来都没有称一周的第一日为安息日。称安息日已经改变是一个错误。圣经从来没有将安息日从星期六改到星期日。圣经中也没有任何地方暗示要进行这样的改变。” ——《第一日的遵守》第17、19面。[First-Day Observance, pp. 17, 19.]） “然而，关于将一周中的第一日代替第七日安息日一事，我们并没有发现上帝直接的命令，复活之基督也没有任何此类的指示，早期使徒们也没有此类训诫。”“让我们把这一点分析清楚。虽然对于基督徒来说‘那日，也就是七日的头一日’是所有日子中最值得记念的……，但是在新约圣经中没有任何命令或根据，教导我们必须守那日为圣。”“罗马天主教选择了第一日来记念耶稣的复活……” ——（《圣经标准》1916年5月，新西兰，奥克兰。[Bible Standard, May, 1916, Auckland, New Zealand.]） “…如果第四条诫命是为了约束我们这些外邦人务必遵守这日。但是那些要求严格遵守安息日的人要记住，那是上帝所命令的独一的安息日，上帝从未废除这个诫命，如果你要记念安息日，就必须记念这一日；但星期天绝不是安息日。‘基督复临安息日会’所提出的论点是牢不可破的，诫命所提到的并不是一周的第一日，而是第七日。” ——（《圣经标准》作者G·阿尔瑞，1916年4月。[G. Alridge, Editor, The Bible Standard, April, 1916.]） “并没有直接的圣经权威来支持将第一日作为主日的命令。” ——（D·H·卢卡斯博士，《基督徒圣贤》1890年，1月23日。[DR. D. H. LUCAS, Christian Oracle, Jan. 23, 1890.]） “一周的第一日通常被称为安息日，这是一个错误。圣经中的安息日其实是一周的第七日。整本圣经中从来都没有称一周的第一日为安息日。称安息日已经改变是一个错误。圣经从来没有将安息日从星期六改到星期日。圣经中也没有任何地方暗示要进行这样的改变。” ——（《第一日的遵守》第17、19面。First-Day Observance," pages 17, 19） “改变第四条诫命，并且设立星期日为圣日，就是废除上帝圣言中的安息日。” ——（N·萨门博尔《基督教会历史》第三版，第415面。DR. N. SUMMERBELL, "History of the Christian Church," Third Edition, page 4I5.） “命令……人……遵守主日……乃是与福音相悖的。” ——（《亚历山大·坎贝尔的论文集》第528页，卷一。Memoirs of Alexander Campbell," Vol. 1, page 528.） “这里已经清楚表明，众教会的教牧人员废除了上帝十诫中的一条，而这条诫命不仅在旧约圣经，而且在所有的启示中，是被重点视为所有信仰和道德的总纲。” ——（亚历山大·坎贝尔《与珀塞尔的辩论》第214面[ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, "Debate With Purcell," page 214.]） “我认为主日并不可代替犹太人的安息日，我也不相信安息日从一周的第七日改到了一周的第一日，原因很简单——没有任何证据的事情就绝对不可信。在所有属天晓谕中都没有证据说明安息日已经改变，也没有证据说明主日代替了安息日。” ——亚历山大·坎贝尔，《华盛顿报告》1921年10月8日[ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Washington Reporter, Oct. 8, 1821. ] “许多人认为星期日就是安息日。但是不管是在新约圣经中还是在早期教会，并没有任何证据表明我们有权利将第七日的遵守转到第一日上。不管是在过去还是现在，安息日一直就是星期六，而不是星期日。如果该条诫命依然对我们有约束力，那么我们必须遵守这一日，而不是其它日子。” ——（莱昂内尔·皮尔神父《所有神徒的教会》新西兰，庞森比，《教会和百姓》1947年9月1日。[Rev. Lionel Beere, All-Saints Church, Ponsonby, N.Z. in Church and People, Sept. 1, 1947]） “圣经中没有任何一处指出应当在星期日进行崇拜。当记念安息日守为圣日……！ 那就是星期六！” ——（魁北克大主教P·卡灵顿， 1949年10月27日；引至《预言表号》第12面。[—P. Carrington, Archbishop of Quebec, Oct. 27, 1949; cited in Prophetic Signs, p 12.]) “第一日的遵守取代了第七日的安息日，这样的变更是建立在，而且仅仅是建立在教会本身的证词上。” ——（《霍巴特教会新闻》1894年7月2日；引至《预言表号》第14面。[Hobart Church News, July 2, 1894; cited in Prophetic Signs, p 14]） “究竟圣经什么地方告诉我们要遵守第一日呢？上帝吩咐我们要遵守的是第七日；圣经没有任何一处命令我们守第一日……正如我们遵守其它事情一样，我们守第一日而不守第七日为圣的原因并不是出于圣经，而是因为教会的命令。” ——（以撒·威廉斯神父《教理训言》第334面[Rev. Isaac Williams, Ser. on Catechism, p. 334.]） “诫命说第七日是向耶和华你上帝……当守的安息日。任何的计算，任何的年历都不能让七等于一，也无法让第七意味着第一，或星期六意味着星期天……事实是，我们每一位都是安息日的破坏者。” ——（乔·霍奇神父。[Rev. Geo. Hodges.] “在前三个世纪里，没有任何一位神学作家将守星期日的起源归咎于基督或是基督的使徒。” ——（威廉·顿威尔爵士《六个经文的检验》第6、7（附录）。[SIR WILLIAM DOMVILLE, "Examination of the Six Texts," pages 6, 7. (Supplement)]） “在整本新约圣经中，没有任何一个字，任何一个暗示说明要在星期日禁止一切的工。……在星期日安息根本不是神圣的律法……，对圣灰星期三（大斋首日：复活节前第七个星期三和大斋期的第一天，在这一天很多基督教都用灰在前额画一标记以作忏悔和必死的标志）或大斋节（从圣灰星期三到复活节的四十天，基督徒视之为禁食和为复活节作准备而忏悔的季节）的持守与守星期日一样，都是处于同一种立足点之上的。” ——《艾顿教法》—《十诫》第52、63、65面。[CANON EYTON, 'The Ten Commandments," pages 52, 63, 65.] “到底在新约圣经中有没有命令将一周的安息日从星期六改到星期日呢？绝对没有！” ——（《基督教教义手册》第127面。[Manual of Christian Doctrine," page 127.]） “主日根本没有取代安息日……主日只不过是教会的制度罢了。它并不是第四条诫命所吩咐人遵守的日子，因为他们遵着诫命守这日子约有三百年……早期教会的信徒可以在主日做一切的工，然而，甚至在逼迫的日子，他们都严格的遵守所有神圣的诫命；但是他们根本不知道这一点（要用主日取代安息日）。” ——（杰里米·泰勒主教《开导小信疑惑者-释疑》第一部，第二册，第二章，规则六，第51、59部分[BISHOP JEREMY TAYLOR, "Ductor Dubitantium," Part I, Book II, Chap. 2, Rule 6. Sec. 51, 59.]） “星期日（字译：太阳日）就是外邦人隆重朝拜那颗被称为太阳之行星的日子。受这日的影响，也出于是尊重这日的（依他们认为是）圣体，基督徒们认为合宜与外邦人同守这一日，并且用相同的称号，这样他们就不会显得与世俗格格不入了，因为倘若他们遵守安息日就会阻挠外邦人皈依基督教，甚至会产生更大的偏见，以至于使福音受抵制。” ——（T·M·莫尔《主日对话》第22、23面。[T. M. MORER, "Dialogues on the Lord's Day," pages 22, 23.]） “清教徒的观念历来就是令人不快的。它将星期日改成了安息日，甚至教导他们的百姓称星期日为安息日。连教牧人员都如此行。” “除非我的计算是完全错误，否则安息日就是从星期五傍晚六点后的24个小时。因此，在我们进入星期日之前它才结束。如果你向一个严守星期日为安息日的人提出他应当在正确的日子守安息日，那么你提不起他的热情。他会马上回答：这不是原则问题，日子已经更改了。然而，是谁改变了它？整个新约圣经中并没有命令基督徒将安息日改变为星期日呀！” ——（D·摩尔斯·博伊考特——《每日通讯》伦敦1931年2月26日。[D. MORSE-BOYCOTT, Daily Herald, London, Feb. 26, 1931.]） “基督教教会做得（改变安息日）不光明磊落，而是潜移默化、持渐积微、几乎不知不觉地将这一日改变到另一日子” ——（F·W·法勒D.D.《来自西奈山的声音》第167面。[F.W. FARRAR, D.D., "The Voice From Sinai," page 167.]） “不管你是研究教父作品还是研究现代作品，我们都无法找到主日是使徒所定下的制度；他们并没有将安息日变更到一周的第一日。” ——（彼得·赫伊林《安息日历史》第410面。[History of the Sabbath," page 410.]） “仅仅指责星期日世俗化是十分简单的，但也是无效的。我们所需要的就是找到某种原则，这种原则是我们这些基督徒靠得住的，并且我们能将自己的行为和劝勉建立在其之上的。当我们回到新约圣经，我们找不到任何的权威法规。基督的话中没有记载，也没有任何的使徒训言告诉我们必须守星期日，事实的确如此。这真的令人沮丧，如果我们指出那让我们没有选择，使我们要么顺从要么悖逆的确切法规，我们的任务就会变得简单轻省了……无论在圣经中还是在历史上，都没有守星期日为安息日的条例。” ——（斯蒂芬博士，纽卡斯尔主教，新南威尔士，在一篇出版于《纽卡斯尔晨讯》的报道如此说。1924年5月14日。[DR. STEPHEN, Bishop of Newcastle, N.S.W., in an address reported in the Newcastle Morn-ing Herald, May 14, 1924.]） “基督徒的安息日（星期日）并不是出至圣经，早期教会也没有称星期日为安息日。” ——（提摩太·德怀特1818年的107次传道，卷四，第49面，注：提摩太?德怀特曾任耶鲁大学校长(1795-1817年）[Timothy Dwight, Theology, sermon 107, 1818 ed., Vol. IV, p49 Note: Timothy Dwight (1752-1817) was president of Yale University from 1795-1817.]) “很显然，无论我们多么严格或虔诚地遵守星期日，我们都不是在守安息日……安息日是建立在一个明确无误的神圣诫命之上。我们无法为遵守星期日找到同样的诫命作为辩护……新约圣经中没有任何一句话暗示我们若违背那假定为圣洁的星期日就会招致惩罚。” ——（戴尔博士《十诫》第106、107面[Dr. Dale, The Ten Commandments, pp. 106, 107.]） “必须承认的是，在新约圣经中没有关于第一日的律法。” ——（《巴克神学字典》第430页，[Buck's Theological Dictionary page 403.]） “圣经中没有命令要求我们守一周的第一日作为基督徒的安息日。” ——（欧林·福勒《浸礼的模式和主题》[ORIN FOWLER, A.M., "Mode and Subjects of Baptism."]） 现今，有关基督和祂的使徒们凭借权威将第一日代替第七日的观点在新约圣经中是完全没有根据的。” ——（莱曼·爱博特 博士，于1882年1月18日于基督徒联会上发表的演讲。[DR. LYMAN ABBOTT, Christian Union, Jan. 18, 1882.]） “并没有直接的圣经权威来支持将第一日作为主日的命令。” ——（D·H·卢卡斯博士，《基督教圣贤》1890年，1月23日[Dr D.H. Lucas,Christian Oracle,January,1890]） “如果它（十诫）仍然存在，就让我们持守它吧……如果十诫已经不存在了，也让我们放弃一个为了模仿安息日而屈从于另一个日子吧。有人会说‘但是它已经从第七日转到第一日了’。何时？何地？何人？——不，安息日从未改变，它也不会改变，除非再经历创造：因为那指定安息日为圣日的理由根据（创世记2:1-3）必须在尚未持守或尊重这理由之前就先被改变，否则鉴于这个根据，安息日不会改变。所有称‘安息日已从一周的第七日改到了第一日’的说法都是无稽之谈。如果安息日被改变了，那它就是‘威严显赫’之人改变了它，这人飞扬跋扈改变了节期和律法——我想他的名字就是‘敌基督者博士’。” ——（亚历山大·坎贝尔《基督徒的洗礼》卷一，第七章，1824年2月2日。[Alexander Campbell,The Christian Baptist,February 2,1824,vol 1,no. 7]） “我们已经按照那神圣的、天主教的，使徒教会的权柄将第七日改到了第一日，从星期六改到了星期日。” ——（西莫主教《为什么我们要守星期日》[Bishop Symour,Why We keep Sunday.]） “圣经中的诫命说第七日你要安息。那一日就是星期六。圣经中没有一处称必须在星期日崇拜。” ——（飞利浦·开灵顿《多伦多每日星报》1949年10月26日[开灵顿（1892-）魁北克圣公会大主教，在一大群神职人员面前发表有关这安息日主题的信息。当时在新闻媒体上广为报道][ Phillip Carrington,quoted in Toronto Daily Star,Oct 26,1949 [Carrington (1892-),Anglican archbishop of Quebec,spoke the above in a message on this subject delivered to a packed assembly of clergymen. It was widely reported at the time in the news media].]） “也许只有很少一部分的基督徒注意到他们所称的‘基督徒的安息日’（星期日、太阳日）是源于异教。…根据历史的记载，第一次守星期日是在公元第四世纪，当时君士坦丁发布一条法令（并没有要求在宗教上给以遵守，而只是禁止在这日做工），法令这样说‘所有的法官，城镇中所有的人以及做各种买卖的人都要在可敬的太阳日停工。’在发布这法令的时期，君士坦丁是一位拜太阳者；因此无论如何这都与基督教无关。” ——（亨利·M·泰博《信仰还是实事》（罗伯特·G·英格索尔十九世纪美国著名的无神论倡导者英格索尔所写序言），第112面[HENRY M. TABER. "Faith or Fact" (preface by Robert G. Ingersoll),page 112.]） “我想挑战任何一位基督教牧师或传道人，让他们向我提出哪怕一丁点有关遵守星期日为安息圣日的根据。倘若他们无法向我证明，为什么他们还坚持教导星期日是圣日呢？……星期日取代了星期六，而且因为犹太人受命守每周的第七日为圣，因此基督徒必须守每周的第一日，此类观点是十足彻底的谬误，令人不屑一顾……通过使徒行传18:4的记载——‘每逢安息日，保罗在会堂里辩论’可以看出保罗习惯性地遵守一周的第七日，并且在那日传道。” ——（同上，第114-116面） “主日（星期日）的遵守并不是建立在任何上帝的诫命之上，而是建立在教会的权威之上。” ——（《奥斯堡信条》[Augsburg Confession of Faith.]） “他们[天主教]宣称安息日已经改到了星期天，也就是主日了，这是与十诫截然相悖的，似乎再也没有其它的例子能比安息日的改变更加夸口自吹了。他们说：大哉！教会的权柄和能力，因为它废除了十诫中的一条。” ——（《奥斯堡信条》28条款，第9段[Augsburg Confession of Faith,ArT.28,par. 9.]） “他们（罗马天主教）宣称安息日已经改到主日了，这乃是更改上帝的十诫；而且他们除了自己口头更改安息日的例证之外，再没有例证来支持自己的观点。他们将教会的权柄膨胀到极至，因为它已经废除了十诫中神圣的原则。” ——（《奥斯堡信条》公元1530年（路德教会）第二部分，第7条款，在飞利浦?沙夫所著的《基督徒信条》第四版，卷3，第64面[这是路德教会所指定并梅兰克吞亲手所写的重要声明，就是在路德将论纲钉在门上并且开始宗教改革后十三年发表][ The Augsburg Confession,1530 A.D.(Lutheran),part 2,art 7,in Philip Schaff,the Creeds of Christiandom,4th Edition,vol 3,p64 [this important statement was made by the Lutherans and written by Melanchthon,only thirteen years after Luther nailed his theses to the door and began the Reformation].]） “迄今为止，人类仍然无视神圣之上帝所制定的最原始和最特别的启示——在西奈山上写于法板之上的十诫” ——（《科郎神学库》第178面[Crown Theological Library," page I78]） “古代教会的基督徒会很快就分别出一周的第一日，星期日；尽管它并不像安息日，但是作为教会聚会的日子，一起学习上帝的圣言，并且相互庆祝习俗：毫无疑问，这发生在第二世纪的最前叶。” ——（格灵麦伦德主教《安息日历史》第60面[Bishop GRIMELUND,"History of the Sabbath," page 60]） “星期日的（为节日）习俗，与其它习俗一样，都是人类的传统。” ——（奥古斯塔斯·尼安德《基督教信仰和教会史》第一卷，第186页[History of the Christian Religion and Church," Vol. 1,page 186.]） “我万分震惊，我怎么会被灌输这么一种观点：我应当弃绝十诫律法……不管是谁想要废除上帝的律法，与此同时也不可避免的取消了罪恶。” ——（马丁·路德《属灵敌基督者》71-72面[MARTIN LUTHER,Spiritual Antichrist," pages 71,72]） “我们都看到犹太教的安息日是如何逐渐从基督教教会的心中褪去，并且看到那基于对第一日遵守的新思想如何完全占据了教会。我们也已经看到前三世纪的基督徒从未混淆安息日和星期日，而是同时庆祝。” ——（出自路德教出版的一本学习手册《星期日的问题》（1923年）第36面[The Sunday Problem,a study book by the Lutheran Church (1923) p.36]） “但他们错就错在教导星期日已经代替了旧约圣经中的安息日，因此必须像以色列人遵守第七日一样来遵守星期日。……这些教会错就错在这只是他们自己的教训，因为圣经中决没有命令用一周的第一日代替安息日。新约圣经中根本没有带有此种含义的律法。” ——（约翰·西奥多·穆勒《安息日还是星期日》第15、16面。[John Theodore Mueller,Sabbath or Sunday,pp.15,16]） “因为圣经中找不到任何确凿之处可以证明主自己或者使徒们已经规定将安息日改为星期日，所以回答以下这个问题并不简单：谁更改了安息日，谁有权柄这样行呢？” ——（乔治·斯维尔德鲁普《一个新的日子》[George Sverdrup,‘A New Day.’]） “我们的主的确涂抹了这‘在律例上所写……的字据’，把它撤去并且钉在祂的十字架上了。（歌罗西书2: 14）但是道德律法是包含在十诫之中，是众先知所强调的，主并没有撤去……道德律法与仪文律法建立在完全不同的基础上。……这道德律法的每一部分对于历代的全人类都是有效的。” ——（约翰·卫斯理《在几个场合的训道》第二版，卷一，第221，222页。[JOHN WESLEY,"Sermons on Several Occasions," 2-Vol. Edition,Vol. I,pages 221,222.]） “无论如何，没有任何一位基督徒可以免于顺从那被称为道德律法的十条诫命。” ——（《卫理公会守则》(I904),第 23面[Methodist Church Discipline," (I904),page 23.]） “安息日是为人设立的；不只是为希伯来人，而是为全人类设立的。” ——（E·O·哈冯《真理的支柱》第88面。[E.O. HAVEN,"Pillars of Truth," page 88.]） “我们守第一日来代替第七日的理由并非基于那些肯定的诫命。任何一个人都不会在圣经中找到将第七日改成第一日的权威根据。早期基督徒开始在第一日崇拜的理由是耶稣在那日复活。逐渐这敬拜的日子也就变成了休息日，也就是法定的假日。这发生在公元321年。 我们守第一日来代替第七日的理由并非基于那些肯定的诫命。任何一个人都不会在圣经中找到将第七日改成第一日的权威根据……因此，我们所谓的基督徒的安息日并不是诫命所认定的。它只不过是教会的所赐予的一份礼物罢了。……” ——（克劳维斯·G·查培尔《人生的十大准则》第61面[CLOVIS G. CHAPPELL,"Ten Rules for Living," page 61.]） “在希伯来语中，安息日表示休息，并且它是一周的第七日……必须承认的是，新约圣经中没有任何有关第一日的律法。” ——（查尔斯·巴克《神学字典》“安息日”条款。[Charles Buck,A Theological Dictionary,"Sabbath"]） “在很久以前，地上的人就开始给万物取名字，并且将嘴中的声音变成单词，因此嘴唇可以表达一个人的想法。在那些日子，人们崇拜太阳，因为人们造出许多单词讲述了有关许多事物的诸多看法。人们当时成为了基督徒，并且在一个名叫君士坦丁的皇帝统治之下。这个皇帝将星期日（太阳日）代替了基督教的安息日，这是因为光和热都是从太阳而来的福气。因此星期日就是太阳日，难道不是吗？” ——（星期日学倡导，1921年12月31日[Sunday School Advocate,Dec. 31,1921.]） “道德律法包含在十条诫命之内，是众先知所强调的，基督也并没有撤去。祂来的目的不是废除十诫中的任何一个部分。这十条诫命永远都不能废除……这律法的每一部分必须存留在全地所有的人中，且在各个时代都有效，它不是受制于时间和地点，也不是受制于那些易变的环境，而是建立在上帝的天性和人的本性，并他们相互间不可改变的关系之上。” ——（约翰·卫斯理《在几个场合的证道》卷1，第二十五讲[JOHN WESLEY,"Sermons on Several Occasions," Vol. I,Sermon XXV.]） “的确，针对婴儿施洗没有明确的命令。同样也没有任何命令要求守一周的第一日。许多人相信基督已经改变了安息日。但是从祂自己的言语中，我们看到祂来并不是为了这个目的。那些相信耶稣已经改变安息日的人都是建立在臆想之上。” ——（阿摩司·宾尼《神学纲要》第180-181面。[Amos Binney,‘Theological Compendium’,p. 180-181]） “这在太初就已设立，并且由摩西和众先知一次又一次坚固的安息日从来都没有被废除。作为道德律，有关它神圣性的一点一划都没有被废弃。” ——（《纽约先驱论坛报》1874年，卫理公会主教牧声1874年[New York Herald 1874,on the Methodist Episcopal Bishops Pastoral 1874]） “安息日是在伊甸园中制定的，自此以来一直有效。第四条诫命是以‘当纪念’这几个字开始的 ，这表明上帝在西奈山亲手将诫命写在法板之前，安息日就已经存在了。人们怎么会声明这条诫命已经废除，而同时又承认其它九条依然有效呢？” —— （D·L·慕迪“称重与亏缺”第47面。[D.L. MOODY,"Weighed and Wanting," page 47.]) “我真心相信现今这条诫命（第四条诫命）与从前一样有效。我曾与那些说安息日已经废除之人谈话，但是他们从未能向我指出在圣经中有任何地方说上帝已经将其撤除。当基督在世时，祂根本没有说安息日已经废除；而是将它从文士和法利赛人所强加与它的繁文缛节中释放出来，并且将它置于正确的位置，‘安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的’对于今天的人们来说，它和以前一样可行，一样必要。实际上，我们如今比以往任何时候更需要它，因为我们生活在如此紧张的时代。” ——（同上，第46面） “这第四条诫命不是针对某个地方或某个时代的诫命，而是针对所有地方和所有时代的。” ——（D·L·慕迪，旧金山，1881年1月1日。[D.L. Moody,at San Francisco,Jan.1st,1881.]） “基督教的安息日（星期日）并非来自圣经，也不是早期教会所称的安息日。” ——（《德怀特的神学理论》卷14，第401面[Dwight's Theology,Vol. 14,p. 401.]） “我们在马太福音24:20节‘你们应当祈求，叫你们逃走的时候，不遇见冬天或是安息日’中看到一个对安息日永恒性质的更加深入之根据。但是耶路撒冷最后的毁灭是在基督教团体完全建立之后（公元70年）。主所说的这些话明显在暗示，当时的基督徒都在严格遵守安息日的。” ——（《约拿单·爱德华之工》（长老会）卷四，第621面[Works of Jonathon Edwards,(Presby.) Vol.4,p.621.]） “我们切不可凭空想象基督的降世已经将我们从律法的约束中解脱出来；因为律法是任何一个虔诚和圣洁生命的永恒之律，律法中包含着上帝的公义，因此律法必须如同上帝的公义一样永远不变，始终如一。” ——约翰·加尔文《有关福音书间相协和的解释》第一卷，第277面。[JOHN CALVIN,"Commentary on a Harmony of the Gospels," Vol.1,page 277.] “上帝在创造人之时就已设立了安息日，祂将第七日分别出来就是为此目的，并且将安息日的遵守指定为超越种族的普世永恒之道德义务。” ——（美国长老会出版卷宗，第175册[American Presbyterian Board of Publication,Tract No.175.]） “过去对安息日的持守从未停止，直到[罗马]皇帝成为基督徒之后将其废除。” ——（美国长老会出版卷宗，第188册[American Presbyterian Board of Publication,Tract No.118.]） “道德律法（十诫）对所有人永远具有约束力，不论是义人还是不义的人，顺从之人还是悖逆之人；此外，道德律法不仅仅是针对本身所包括的内容，而且它涉及到了那位设立它的创造主上帝的权威。基督在福音中不但没有将其废除，反而大大加强了遵守道德律法的义务。” ——（《威斯敏斯特信仰宣言》第19章，第5节。[Westminster Confession of Faith," Chap. 19,ArT.5.]） “安息日是十诫的一部分。诫命本身就可以解决有关这个法律是否持续到永恒的问题……因此，除非有证据表明所有的道德律法已经被废除，否则，安息日仍然不能改变……基督的教训证明安息日是永恒不变的。” ——（D.D博士 T·C·布雷克《神学精华》第474、475面[T.C. BLAKE,D.D.,"Theology Condensed," pages 474,475.]) “星期日（SUNDAY太阳日）就是外邦人隆重朝拜那颗被称为太阳之行星的日子。受这日的影响，也出于是尊重这日的（依他们认为是）圣体，基督徒们认为合宜与外邦人同守这一日，并且用相同的称号，这样他们就不会显得与世俗格格不入了，因为倘若他们遵守安息日就会阻挠外邦人皈依基督教，甚至会产生更大的偏见，以至于使福音受抵制。” ——（T·M·莫尔《主日对话》[T.M. Morer,Dialogues on the Lord's Day]） “在新约圣经中没有一个字，也没有任何暗示教导我们不可在星期日做工。圣灰星期三，或说是大斋节的遵守与守星期日是同出一辙。星期日休息并不是出自神圣的律法。” ——（《艾顿教法》—《十诫》[Canon Eyton,in The Ten Commandments.]） “某些人试图将遵守星期日的理论建立在使徒的命令之上，然而使徒们根本就没有给出有关这问题的命令……事实是，当我们去诉诸圣经的原文手迹时，守安息日的人拥有最佳的依据。” ——（《工作中的基督徒》1883年4月19日和1884年1月。[The Christian at Work,April 19,1883,and Jan. 1884]） “那一日（安息日）根本没有从第七日改到第一日……但是对于这种改变，我们找不到任何经文根据，我们可以得出一个结论：这是教会的权威擅自改变的。” ——（《教理诠释》[‘Explanation of Catechism’]） “你会告诉我星期六是犹太人的安息日，但是基督徒的安息日已经改到了星期日。的确，改变了！然而是谁改变的？是谁有权柄改变这全能上帝亲自颁布的诫命呢？上帝亲口说当记念安息日，守为圣日，谁敢违抗说‘不是这样，第七日要劳碌做你一切的工，但第一日是当守的圣日呢？’这是一个最为重要的问题，我不知道你该如何回答。” “你是一个改正教徒，你口口声声说要按圣经行事，以圣经为唯一的权威；但是在你遵守七日中哪一日为圣的事情上，你所行的却与圣经所说的相悖，并且将其它的日子代替了圣经所命令的日子，这是何等的严重啊！守安息日为圣日的命令是十诫中的一条；你若认为其它九条诫命仍然有效；那么是谁给你权柄去践踏第四条诫命呢？如果你坚守自己的原则，如果你真的顺从圣经并以圣经为唯一的权威，你应当从新约圣经中找到某些能阐明第四条诫命已经彻底改变的证据。” ——（《基督教教义图书》第3、4页[The Library of Christian Doctrine," pages 3,4]） “圣经中的第一个命令就是定第七日为圣日：‘上帝赐福给第七日，定为圣日。’（创世记2:3）上帝在十诫中再次坚固了这个命令‘当记念安息日，守为圣日……第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。’（出埃及记20:8,10）另一方面，基督宣称祂来不是要废掉律法，乃是要成全。（马太福音5:17）耶稣本人也遵守安息日：‘在安息日，照祂平常的规矩进了会堂’。（路加福音4:16 ）耶稣去世之后，祂的门徒们也遵守安息日：‘她们……遵着诫命安息了。’(路加福音23: 56)虽然有如此众多的圣经权威的证据表明应当遵守安息日，也就是第七日为圣日，但所有宗派中的改正教徒都在亵渎这日，并且将这日的义务转到了一周的第一日，也就是星期日。他们这样行的根据是什么？根本没有证据，只不过是口头的阐述，或者说是天主教的传统，因为天主教声称使徒们将安息日改到了星期日，为得是记念基督的复活，并且圣灵也是在一周的第一日降临。” ——(约翰·米尔纳《宗教争端的终结》第71面[JOHN MILNER,"The End of Religious Controversy," page 71.]) “当然，安息日就是星期六，也就是一周的第七日，但是早期的基督徒以遵守星期日来代替安息日，为的是记念基督死里复活。” ——（富尔顿·奥斯勒《世界主义》1951年9月，第34、35面[FULTON OURSLER. Cosmopolitan,SepT.1951,pages 34,35.]） “我不愿假冒为一位业余的圣经学者。我只是以普通人为要寻求指引而研读上帝借摩西颁布的十条诫命，在这‘十诫’中，我发现了美好生活的蓝图。” ——（同上，第33面） “十分肯定的是，现今需要十诫，或许比过去更加需要。十条诫命中的神圣信息使我们在这个罪恶横行的世代面临一个深层次的道德挑战；它是一个统一的信息，无论是犹太人、穆斯林，还是基督徒，都可以接受该信息。在历史和现今事件的亮光之下读完十诫时，谁还能怀疑这永恒之律法的特性呢？” ——（同上，第124面） “上帝命令要守第七日为安息日。不可守其它任何日子作为安息日。守一周的第一日或者第四日都不能算作是守安息日……安息日是一周的最后一天，在六日劳作之后，守第七日为圣。遵守任何星期六之外的日子都不能满足律法的要求。” ——文学博士、神学博士H·J·福劳沃斯《十诫的永恒价值》第13面。[H.J.FLOWERS,B.A.,B.D.,"The Permanent Value of the Ten Commandments," page 13.]） “传统上视星期日为基督复活的日子，在公元后的几个世纪以来，对于星期日的评价已经产生了巨大的改变。有时候它已经与一周的第七日，也就是安息日混为一谈。在延续那错谬的假定，也就是第四条诫命已经过时，已经被星期日所取代的推测上，以英文为母语的人是最一致的。在大众的演讲中，经常提到星期日，并且以此来指代安息日，但这是错误的。” ——(作者F.M. 赛特泽尔，馆长，人类学部门，史密森学会，摘自一封1949年9月1日的信。[F.M.SETZLER,Head Curator,Department of Anthropology,Smithsonian Institute,from a letter dated SepT.1,1949]) “那些遵守安息日的人正确地把握着有关遵守安息日真实可靠的历史，并且因此相信人的祖先是被造的；相信在六日内那为人预备的美好家园也是被造的；相信诸天和地球最原始和最完美的被造，并且相信在所有这一切被造之先就存在的造物主——祂完成了创造之工后，于第七日歇息了。安息日因此就成为一个记号，可以将那些相信历史启示之人和那些故意遗忘这些伟大事实之人区别开来。” ——(雅各·G·摩菲《对出埃及记的讲解》出埃及记20: 8-11解释。 [JAMES G. MURPHY,"Commentary on the Book of Exodus," comments on Exodus 20: 8-11]) 研究和文章 Studies and Articles 安息日的真理 Sabbath Day Truth 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 刻在石版上- 十条诫命 Written in Stone! 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由(上)(1-9) The Top Fifteen Excuses Used to Avoid the Sabbath(Part 1)(1-9) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由(下)(10-15) The Top Fifteen Excuses Used to Avoid the Sabbath(Part 2)(10-15) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 圣经里的安息日是哪一天？ 站内看 下载中文 星期日法令 站内看 下载中文 有关安息日的二十三个真相 站内看 下载中文 守安息日为圣 站内看 下载中文 历史上诸教派对安息日的论述 Denominational Statements on the Sabbath 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 返回页面顶部 权威之争 为什么人“当记念安息日"？ 谁改变了安息日？谁是“大罪人"？ 不同宗派对安息日的论述 研究和文章

大多数教会所教导的三位一体论都有这样的阐述：有三位同等（各方面同等）、同为永恒（同年龄）、全知（知道一切）、全能（万事都能）的神；但他们不是三位神，而是一位神。 用亚他那修信经(Athanasian Creed)的话来说，“父是上帝，子是上帝，圣灵是上帝，但他们不是三位上帝，而是一位上帝。” 亚他那修信经（罗马天主教信条）说，一位上帝是三个神圣的位格在一个不可分割的实体或本质中。 这个不可分割的特性构成了一个问题，因为它构成了 1+1+1=1 的一位上帝！ 就是父是上帝，耶稣是上帝，圣灵是上帝，但不是三位上帝，而是一位上帝，这就是三位一体！ ​ 教导这项教义的人会把它添上奥秘的标签，声称你永远不会明白，所以只要接受即可。他们也可能说，只因为这是天主教的教导，不一定表示它不对。所以，撒但用尽方法来欺骗人，叫人相信这个谬道，而不自己私下进行考证。有些教会在某些教义上与众不同，但在这基本的概念上，就是上帝是三位一体，所有教会的说法都与《亚他拿修信经》一模一样。天主教的信仰就是建立在这个信经上。 ​ Trinity（三位一体）一词于公元200年左右来自特土良的著作，但他并没有论述我们今天所知道的三位一体。三位一体论于公元325年来自亚他拿修，而圣灵作为第三位灵体生物的概念是于公元381年从三位卡帕多西亚人而来的。三位一体论是个人造教义，它借用了浓厚的异教和希腊哲学概念，而且是在《圣经》著作完成很多世纪之后才发展出来的。一个从罗马教产生出来的异端，它等同于星期日的敬拜，是上帝面前的一个可憎之物。这个教义是直接从罗马皇帝污秽的命令下产生的。它不过是哲学、空谈和人造的传统。它否认耶稣，传另一个耶稣、另一个灵和另一个福音。 三位一体 相关研究 T rinity related studies 什么是三位一体？ 大多数教会所教导的三位一体论都有这样的阐述：有三位同等（各方面同等）、同为永恒（同年龄）、全知（知道一切）、全能（万事都能）的神；但他们不是三位神 ，而是一位神 。 用亚他那修信经(Athanasian Creed )的话来说，“父是上帝，子是上帝，圣灵是上帝，但他们不是三位上帝，而是一位上帝。” 亚他那修信经（罗马天主教信条）说，一位上帝是三个神圣的位格在一个不可分割的实体或本质中。 这个不可分割的特性 构成了一个问题，因为它构成了 1+1+1=1 的一位上帝！ 就是父是上帝，耶稣是上帝，圣灵是上帝，但不是三位上帝 ，而是一位上帝 ，这就是三位一体！ 教导这项教义的人会把它添上奥秘的标签，声称你永远不会明白，所以只要接受即可。他们也可能说，只因为这是天主教的教导，不一定表示它不对。所以，撒但用尽方法来欺骗人，叫人相信这个谬道，而不自己私下进行考证。有些教会在某些教义上与众不同，但在这基本的概念上，就是上帝是三位一体，所有教会的说法都与《亚他拿修信经》一模一样。天主教的信仰就是建立在这个信经上。 Trinity（三位一体）一词于公元200年左右来自特土良的著作，但他并没有论述我们今天所知道的三位一体。三位一体论于公元325年来自亚他拿修，而圣灵作为第三位灵体生物的概念是于公元381年从三位卡帕多西亚人而来的。三位一体论是个人造教义，它借用了浓厚的异教和希腊哲学概念，而且是在《圣经》著作完成很多世纪之后才发展出来的。一个从罗马教产生出来的异端，它等同于星期日的敬拜，是上帝面前的一个可憎之物。这个教义是直接从罗马皇帝污秽的命令下产生的。它不过是哲学、空谈和人造的传统。它否认耶稣，传另一个耶稣、另一个灵和另一个福音。 安息日会的先贤是信三位一体的吗？ “基督复临安息日会大部分的创办人，如果他们必须接受教会目前的基本信仰的话，那么他们今天就不能加入教会了。更具体来说，大部分将不能接受信仰第二条，关于三位一体的教导。” —乔治·奈特著，《传道者》月刊，1993年10月，第10页） “Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity.” —George Knight, Ministry, October 1993, p. 10. “复临信徒的信仰过去多年来在‘现代真理’的影响之下发生了变化。最为惊人的变化，就是关于我们救主耶稣基督身份的教导。... 我们现在所持守关于上帝是三位一体的基本信仰，不是早期复临信徒所普遍持守的。” —威廉·约翰逊著，《复临信徒评论》，1994年1月6日，第10页 “Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth’. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord…the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventsists.” —William G. Johnsson, Adventist Review, Jan 6, 1994, p. 10. “基督复临安息日会大部分的首要先锋领袖在神学上不是三位一体论的信徒，这已经成为普遍受承认的复临信徒历史了。... 如一些人所推断的一般，要么早期的先贤都错了而目前的教会没有错，要么先贤没有错而是目前的基督复临安息日会已经背离了圣经的真理。” —伍德罗·惠登、杰里·穆恩、约翰·里夫联合著作，《三位一体》第190页，2002年出版 “That most of the leading SDA pioneers were non-Trinitarian in their theology has become accepted Adventist history, surprising as it sounded to most Adventists 40 years ago when Erwin R. Gane wrote an M.A. thesis on the topic.” “More recently, a further question has arisen with increasing urgency: was the pioneers' belief about the Godhead right or wrong? “As one line of reasoning goes, either the pioneers were wrong and the present church is right, or the pioneers were right and the present Seventh-day Adventist Church has apostatized from biblical truth.” — Jerry Moon, The Trinity, Chapter, Trinity and antitrinitarianism in Seventh-day Adventist history, p. 190 “作为基本谬道，我们可以把这个伪造安息日一同归类在其他改革教徒从天主教带出来的谬道之中，例如洒水礼和三位一体论。” —怀雅各著，《评论与通讯》1854年9月12日，原文第36页。 As fundamental errors, we might class with this Counterfeit Sabbath other errors which protestants have brought away from the Catholic Church, such as sprinkling for baptism, the TRINITY. —James White, Review and Herald, September 12, 1854, page 36 “这里我们可以提出三位一体论，它毁灭了上帝的位格和祂儿子耶稣基督的位格。”——怀雅各著，《评论与通讯》1855年12月11日，原文第85页。 Here we might mention the TRINITY, which does away with the PERSONALITY OF GOD, AND OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. —James White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1855, page 85 "灵化者抛弃或否认独一主神和我们的主耶稣基督的方法，是首先用那古老的违反圣经之三位一体信经，说耶稣基督是那永恒的上帝，虽然他们没有任何经文来支持这种说法，我们则有丰富的清楚明白之圣经见证，证明祂是那永恒上帝的儿子。" —怀雅各著，«晨星»，1846年1月24日 The way spiritualizers have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old UNSCRIPTURAL TRINITARIAN CREED, that Jesus Christ is the eternal God, though they have not one passage to support it, while we have plain scripture testimony in abundance that he is the Son of the eternal God. —J. S. White, The Day Star, January 24, 1846 “在公元325年于尼西亚会议成立于教会的三位一体论，摧毁了上帝的位格，和祂儿子我们主耶稣基督的位格。” —安德烈著，«评论与通讯»1855年3月6日，原文第185页 The doctrine of the TRINITY which was established in the church by the council of Nice, AD. 325. This doctrine destroys the PERSONALITY OF GOD, AND OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. —J.N. Andrews, Review and Herald, March 6, 1855, page 185 “那些试图挪去老地标的人并没有坚守，他们不记得他们是如何领受并听到道理的。那些试图引进关于上帝或基督的位格，会摧毁我们信仰根基之理论的人，都是盲目做事的人。他们试图引进不确定的因素，并使上帝的子民失去了锚而漂浮不定。” —怀爱伦著，«文稿汇编»第62号，1905年，第14段。 Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast, they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the PERSONALITY OF GOD OR OF CHRIST, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor. —EGW, Manuscript Release 62, 1905.14 “你的观念是如此神秘，以致它们对实在的物质造成破坏。而一些人的思想在我们信仰的根基方面变得混淆。如果你容自己的思想如此转移，你会使那塑造我们成为基督复临安息日信徒的工作套上一个错误的模型。” —怀爱伦著，«信函第52封»1903年4月5日 Your ideas are so mystical that they are destructive to the real substance, and the minds of some are becoming confused in regard to the foundation of our faith. If you allow your mind to become thus diverted, you will give a wrong mold to the work that has made us what we are--Seventh-day Adventists. —EGW, Letter 52, April 5, 1903 “上帝在祂的智慧中赐给余民教会的真理原则将被丢弃。我们的宗教将被窜改。那些在过去五十年里（1853-1903）维持了圣工的基本原理，将被视为谬论。一个新的组织将被成立。一种新秩序的书籍将被撰写。” —怀爱伦著，«预言之灵»卷一，原文第204页。«信函第242封»1903年10月 The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years (1853-1903) would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. —Ellen G. White, 1SP, p. 204; Letter 242, October 1903 天主教 是怎么说的？ " 三位一体 的 奥秘 是天主教信仰的核心教义。天主教所有其他的教义，都是建立在 三位一体 的基础上的。" —《今日天主教徒手册》，第 11 页 “The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church.” — Handbook for Today’s Cathol ic, p. 11 启示录 17:5 “在他额上有名写着说、 奥秘哉、大巴比伦、作世上的淫妇和一切可憎之物的母 。 ” Revelation 17:5 “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BAB YLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH .” 三位一体 和星期日崇拜 都有异教根源 “在巴比伦人唯一的神的"合一"里，有三个位格，而且 为了象征这个三位一体的教义 ，他们如莱亚德证明的发现那样，采用了 等边三角形 ，和众所周知的罗马教会在今天所做的一样。” —两个巴比伦； 亚历山大·希斯洛普，第二章, 第16页 “In the unity of that one Only God of the Babylonians, there were three persons , and to symbolise that doctrine of the Trinity , they employed, as the discoveries of Layard prove, the equilateral triangle , just as it is well known the Romish Church does at this day. ” — The Two Babylons; Alexander Hislo p, Chapter II, p. 16 研究资料和 下载 Studies and Download Download 三位一体论的真相 [trinitytruth.org] 1-13 (共42部份) The Truth of the Trinity [trinitytruth.org] 1-13 (total 42 parts) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 三位一体论的真相 [trinitytruth.org] 14-26 (共42部份) The Truth of the Trinity [trinitytruth.org] 14-26 (total 42 parts) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 三位一体论的真相 [trinitytruth.org] 27-42 (共42部份) The Truth of the Trinity [trinitytruth.org] 27-42 (total 42 parts) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 启示录的警告 1-10 Revelation Warning 1-10 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download Unmasked圣经研究 Unmasked Bible Study 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 使我们认识祂 That We Might Know Him 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 我们列祖的上帝 The God of Our Fathers 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 上帝不是三位一体 (三部分) God Is Not a Trinity (3 parts) 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 让我的子民思考 Let My People Think 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 应当敬拜谁 Whom to Worship 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 圣经里的上帝是谁 Who is the God of the Bible 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 圣经说保惠师是谁 Who is the Comforter According to the Bible 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 三位一体信徒能否受上帝的印记 Can Trinitarians Receive God's Seal 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 父，子和圣灵 Father, Son and Holy Spirit 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 一上帝和一主 One God and One Lord 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 耶稣如何与父原为一 How is Jesus One With the Father 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 救恩归与谁 Who does Salvation Belong to 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 叫耶稣从死里复活的是谁 Who Raised Jesus from the Dead 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 至高的上帝是谁 Who is the Most High God 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 独一真神是谁 Who is the One True God 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 使徒约翰是不是三位一体信徒 Was the Apostle John a Trinitarian 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 根据圣经只有两位实体生物而不是三位 Two Beings and Not Three According to the Bible 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 对上帝的认识 Transforming Knowledge of God 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 上帝和耶稣的区别 The Differentiation between God and Jesus 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 圣父和圣子按着祂们的形象造男造女 Father and Son Created Man and Woman in Their Divine Image 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 耶稣有一位上帝-耶和华，天父上帝 Jesus has a God- Jehovah, God the Father 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 耶稣有一位上帝 Jesus has a God 站内看 下载中文 Read on site Download 第⼀条诫命还是 三位⼀体? First Commandment or Trinity? 下载中文 Download Buku Perintah Pertama ATAU Trinitas? 载入更多 Load more 返回页面顶部 跳到研究资料和下载

在这最后的日子里，我们致力向世界各地的华人传扬天国的福音，恢复上帝赐予基督复临安息日会先知和先贤们的一切亮光、将三天使信息大声传扬出去。 由于守基督复临安息日会先贤信仰的中文事工的数目比起其他语言的要少得多，我们想要为世界各地的华人弟兄姐妹提供一个崇拜、学习和亲近上帝的地方。 本事工使用线上聚会的方式与分散到世界各地的弟兄姐妹相聚。活动包括——安息日崇拜、安息日学、预言之灵研究、圣餐礼等。希望主内弟兄姐妹能聚在一起，互相帮助和鼓励，活泼地互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎真理。 如果我们忽略与弟兄在一起聚会的特权，不在侍奉上帝的事上互相帮助和鼓励，就会蒙受损失。我们的心将不再体验圣经真理的活力和重要意义，不再被成圣的影响所启迪和鼓舞，于是就在属灵上衰退了。在我们基督徒的交际中，常因缺乏彼此的同情而蒙受许多损失。独善其身的人没有尽到上帝要他尽的本分。要适当培养我们的社交天性，使我们能体谅他人，在侍奉上帝的事上能得到力量和进步。 （怀爱伦著，《喜乐的泉源》原文第101页，第2段） 基督徒如果能聚在一起，互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎的宝贵真理，他们自己的心就会得到鼓舞，并且能彼此鼓舞。我们每天可以从天父那里学到更多，并对祂的恩典有新的体验。于是我们就会乐意讲述祂的慈爱。我们这样做的时候，内心就得到温暖与振奋。我们越多默想耶稣，谈论耶稣，而少注意自己，与祂就越亲近。 （怀爱伦著，《喜乐的泉源》 原文第101页，第3 段） 欢迎参加我们的聚会 在这最后的日子里，我们致力向世界各地的华人传扬天国的福音，恢复上帝赐予基督复临安息日会先知和先贤们的一切亮光、将三天使信息大声传扬出去。 由于守基督复临安息日会先贤信仰的中文事工的数目比起其他语言的要少得多，我们想要为世界各地的华人弟兄姐妹提供一个崇拜、学习和亲近上帝的地方。 本事工使用线上聚会的方式与分散到世界各地的弟兄姐妹相聚。活动包括——安息日崇拜、安息日学、预言之灵研究、圣餐礼等。希望主内弟兄姐妹能聚在一起，互相帮助和鼓励，活泼地互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎真理。 与我们联系以获得最新资讯 电邮: onetruegodchineseministry@gmail.com 安息日聚会 我们每一个安息日都会在线上举行崇拜。早上有安息日学，领唱，祷告和证道等环节。下午则有预言之灵研究和讨论的时间。 聚会多采用Google Meet举行 ，最新链接会在Telegram Channel 发布。请与我们联系以了解更多。 安息日学课 鉴于现代全球总会旗下的基督复临安息日会组织(GCSDA)的安息日学课内容参杂了许多三位一体假神和宣传神学观念的错误信息，本事工不建议使用这些与先知和先贤们的教导背道而驰的学课资源。 我们认为先贤出版的安息日学课资源 都非常优秀，内容既忠於圣经，又有良好的节奏，提供学员良好的思考和讨论空间，实在是上帝的祝福。 故此本事工决定将先贤的英文学课内容翻译成中文，并制作成 中英对照 的版本，供我们在线上安息日学使用。 这些学课资源也会上传到事工网站上供大家使用。 下载学课资源 圣餐礼 我们大约每三个月就会在该星期的安息日举行线上圣餐礼， 为纪念耶稣的死和上帝的大爱，与众主内弟兄姐妹一起领受耶稣的同在，一同常存希望等候祂的第二次降临。 欲参加的弟兄姐妹，请留意我们的网站和社交媒体发出的通告，并在礼前自行烘烤无酵饼和预备葡萄汁。请大家预备身心来领受主的圣餐，认罪悔改，并纪念上帝儿子伟大的牺牲。愿上帝赐福每一位。 哥 林多前书 11：23-26 23主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来， 24祝谢了，就擘开，说：“这是我的身体，为你们舍的（“舍”有古卷作“擘开”）。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。” 25饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说：“这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。” 26你们每逢吃这饼，喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。 祷告晚会 除了安息日的线上聚会外，我们 每周 星期二晚上 7 : 00 也会举行线上的祷告晚会。希望能在一周的中间有机会与弟兄姐妹相聚，分享个人见证、互相勉励和代祷。时而会有简短的交流和分享，但整体聚会时间一般不会太长。 现今世界正迅速步向灭亡，灵性的堕落和败坏随处可见。仇敌时刻都在工作，在这最后的日子里，属灵的争战将越演越烈。我们需要不住地祷告，求上帝赐我们力量履行每一天的职责，应付每一天的试探。除了个人私下在密室的祷告外，几个基督徒聚在一起，同心虔诚地向上帝祈求也是非常重要的。 “ 我们相聚一堂，乃是要彼此交换思想感情而互相造就，彼此了解各人的盼望和志向而互相得到力量、光明和胆量。本着信心献上我们恳切衷心的祷告，使我们从能力之源领受奋兴和活力。这些聚会应当是最宝贵的时辰...... ” ——怀爱伦著，《教会证言》卷二，原文第578页，第2段 “我又告诉你们，若是你们中间有两个人在地上同心合意地求什么事，我在天上的父必为他们成全。因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间” 【马太福音 18:19-20】 “ 主应许说，无论在哪里，有两三个人奉衪的名聚会，就有衪在他们中间。聚集祷告的人会得到圣者的恩膏。私下的祷告是非常需要的，但也需要几个基督徒聚在一起，同心恳切地向上帝祈求。耶稣与这样的小群人同在，他们心中对生灵的爱就加深了，圣灵发出大能，使人能从事拯救迷失之人的工作。耶稣总是设法表明外表的仪式多么没有价值，努力使门徒铭记，圣灵定会使人得到光照、更新和成圣。 ” ——怀爱伦著， 《评论与通讯》1896年6月30日，原文第9段

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 耶稣如何与父原为一 耶稣如何与父原为一？ 约翰福音 5： “耶稣就对他们说：“我父作事到如今，我也作事。” （约翰福音5：17） 约翰福音10： “我若不行我父的事，你们就不必信我； 我若行了，你们纵然不信我，也当信这些事，叫你们又知道又明白父在我里面，我也在父里面。” （约翰福音10：37，38） “我与父原为一。” （30节） 通过宣称上帝是祂的父亲，耶稣清楚表明祂们是两个不同的位格。上帝是祂的父，祂是上帝的儿子，虽然彼此不同，但祂们之间存在着完全的合一。 耶稣说“父在我里面，我也在父里面”这句话时就显明了祂们之间的合一。祂们是藉着彼此在对方里面而合一的，但 这句话本身就需要澄清。祂们如何在对方里面呢？ 约翰福音12： 基督尝试做了这样的解释： “耶稣大声说：“信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我来的。人看见我，就是看见那差我来的。” （12：44，45） 约翰福音13： “我实实在在地告诉你们，有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我 [耶稣]；接待我，就是接待那[天父] 差遣我的。” （13：20） 约翰福音14： 你们若认识我，也就认识我的父。从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他。” 腓力对他说：“求主将父显给我们看，我们就知足了。” 耶稣对他说：“腓力，我与你们同在这样长久，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？ 我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” （14：7-10） 在他们惛钝的理解中，基督说： 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，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。 我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。”（16-18节） “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。” （20节） 因此，当那从父来的保惠师来住在他们里面时，他们就知道基督在父里面，他们在基督里面，基督也在他们里面。 “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。” （23节） 加上门徒那时所不明白的事，当保惠师来到时，他们将会想起并明白这一切事。 “但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。” （26节） 约翰福音15： “我爱你们，正如父爱我一样，你们要常在我的爱里。你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱里；正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的爱里。” （约翰福音15：9，10） “你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个更大的。” （12，13 节） 当保惠师来到并住在他们里面时，他们就会明白上帝的爱，以及父和祂儿子之间那紧密的合一。 “但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵，他来了，就要为我作见证。” （15：26） 约翰福音16： “人要把你们赶出会堂，并且时候将到，凡杀你们的，就以为是侍奉上帝。他们这样行，是因未曾认识父，也未曾认识我。” （16：2，3） “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。” （12，13） “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。” （25节） 约翰福音17 里的祷告： “从今以后，我不在世上，他们却在世上，我往你那里去。圣父啊，求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而为一，像我们一样。”（17：11） “我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，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。” （20，21） 在五旬节： “五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。 他们就都被圣灵充满，按着圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。” （使徒行传2：1，4） 正如基督给他们的应许，祂把保惠师赐给了他们，并清楚地向他们显明父，并为基督作见证，使他们可以更好地理解基督所说的“合一”。 接着彼得论到耶稣： “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。 “故此，以色列全家当确实地知道，你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，上帝已经立他为主、为基督了。” （33，36节） 记得耶稣对文士说… “耶稣回答说：“第一要紧的，就是说：‘以色列啊，你要听，主我们上帝，是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的上帝。’ 其次就是说：‘要爱人如己。’再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。” （马可福音12：29-31） 父上帝使祂儿子与祂自己同等，为天地的主。 “所以上帝将他升为至高，又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名， 叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶稣的名无不屈膝， 无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。” （腓立比书2：9-11） “他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的，” （腓立比书2：6） 由此，保罗写道，我们属于父和子。 “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8：6） “我为他们祈求。不为世人祈求，却为你所赐给我的人祈求，因他们本是你的。凡是我的都是你的，你的也是我的，并且我因他们得了荣耀。” （约翰福音17：9，10） “从今以后，我不在世上，他们却在世上，我往你那里去。圣父啊，求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们，叫他们合而为一，像我们一样。” （11节） 我们要如何合而为一呢？当我们彼此相爱，如基督和上帝彼此相爱一样，祂们将住在我们里面。 “圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱…” （加拉太书5：22） “身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个，正如你们蒙召，同有一个指望；一主，一信，一洗，” （以弗所书4：4，5） “如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。 基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。 然而叫耶稣从死里复活者的灵，若住在你们心里，那叫基督耶稣从死里复活的，也必藉着住在你们心里的圣灵，使你们必死的身体又活过来。” （罗马书8：9-11） 藉着一个灵，父和子住在信徒里，使我们成为一体藉着上帝的儿子得以与上帝和好。 “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。” （约翰福音14：23） “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1：3） 愿上帝赐福每一位。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 一上帝和一主 一上帝和一主 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。 这章节明显列出父上帝和祂儿子耶稣的分别。天父是那独一的一位神，也是宇宙万物的本源，一切都从祂而来。主耶稣是管道，万物都是藉着他有的，他把来自父的生命传给宇宙众生。 一切都是属于父上帝的，包括基督。 哥林多前书 3:23 并且你们是属基督的；基督又是属上帝的。 哥林多前书 1:24 。。。基督总为上帝的能力，上帝的智慧。 箴言 8:22 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。 使徒行传 17:25 也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。 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； 因此，我们只有一位上帝，就是父，也是宇宙万物生命的本源。 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。 并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的。 使徒行传 2:36 “故此，以色列全家当确实地知道，你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，上帝已经立他为主、为基督了。” 天父赐予祂儿子耶稣至高的权威，并立他为“主”，也就是希腊文的“kurios”。 这至高权威是在耶稣升天得荣耀后坐在上帝的右边而被赐予的，这荣耀是未有世界之前耶稣同他父所有的荣耀。（约翰福音17：5） 所以未有世界之前，上帝“立”祂儿子为“主”。这表示在那之前他并不是“主”。耶稣是在未有世界之前被赋予至高权威。 哥林多前书 8：6 。。。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。 这章节为我们揭晓了为什么基督被赋予至高权威，因为“万物都是藉着他有的”。 在以弗所书3:9中我们读到：“又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在【编按：英王钦定本圣经有：藉着耶稣基督】创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。 歌罗西书 1:16 因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的、地上的、能看见的、不能看见的，或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是藉着他造的，又是为他造的。 这就是为什么我们有一位上帝，就是父，因为祂是至高无上的，并且是一切的本源。 这也是为什么我们有一位主，就是耶稣基督，因为父上帝立他为一切被造物之上，并让他成为我们伟大的的创造主。 基督被赋予至高权威这个事实意味着什么呢？ 腓立比书 2:9-11 2:9 所以上帝将他升为至高，又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名， 2:10 叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶稣的名无不屈膝， 2:11 无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。 若敬拜儿子是使荣耀归于父上帝，那么这自然包括在启示录14：6-7节中第一天使信息所宣告永远的福音。 启示录 14:6-7 14:6 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。 14:7 他大声说：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了，应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。” 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next Written in Stone! As crime and violence overrun our cities and homes, doesn’t it make sense that to secure peace and safety, we all should obey the laws of the land? Well, centuries ago, God wrote His own law in stone—and the Bible says we’re still supposed to keep it today. Violating any part of God’s law always brings negative consequences. But most important, keeping all of God’s law secures our peace and safety. Since so much is at stake, isn’t it worth your time to take a few minutes to seriously consider the place God’s Ten Commandments have in your life? 1. Did God really write the Ten Commandments Himself? “He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. …Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets” (Exodus 31:18; 32:16). Answer: Yes! The God of heaven wrote the Ten Commandments on tables of stone with His own finger. 2. What is God’s definition of sin? “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Answer: Sin is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandment law. The law of God is perfect (Psalm 19:7), and its principles cover every conceivable sin. The commandments cover “man’s all [the whole duty of man]” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Nothing is left out. 3. Why did God give us the Ten Commandments? “Happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18). “Keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1, 2). Answer Answer A: As a guide for happy, abundant living. God created us to experience happiness, peace, long life, contentment, accomplishment, and all the other great blessings for which our hearts long. God’s law is a road map that points out the right paths to follow in order to find this true, supreme happiness. “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’ ” (Romans 7:7). "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20. "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7. Answer B: To show us the difference between right and wrong. God’s law is like a mirror (James 1:23–25). It points out wrongdoing in our lives much like a mirror points out dirt on our faces. The only possible way for us to know we are sinning is to carefully check our lives by the mirror of God’s law. Peace for a mixed-up world can be found in God’s Ten Commandments. It tells us where to draw the line! “The Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes [commandments] … for our good always” (Deuteronomy 6:24). “Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from Your statutes” (Psalm 119:117, 118). Answer C: To protect us from danger and tragedy. God’s law is like a strong cage at the zoo that protects us from fierce, destructive animals. It protects us from falsehood, murder, idolatry, theft, and many other evils that destroy life, peace, and happiness. All good laws protect, and God’s law is no exception. “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). Answer D: It helps us to know God. Special Note: The eternal principles within God’s law are written deep in every person’s nature by the God who created us. The writing might be dim and smudged, but it is still there. We were created to live in harmony with them. When we ignore them, the result is always tension, unrest, and tragedy—just as ignoring the rules for safe driving can lead to serious injury or death. 4. Why is God’s law exceedingly important to you personally? “Speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:12). Answer: Because the Ten Commandment law is the standard by which God examines people in the heavenly judgment. 5. Can God’s law (the Ten Commandments) ever be changed or abolished? “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17). “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34). “All His precepts [commandments] are sure. They stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8). Answer: No. The Bible is clear that the law of God cannot be changed. The commandments are revealed principles of God’s holy character and are the very foundation of His kingdom. They will be true as long as God exists. This chart shows us that God and His law have the exact same characteristics, revealing that the Ten Commandment law is actually God’s character in written form—written so that we can better comprehend God. It is no more possible to change God’s law than to pull God out of heaven and change Him. Jesus showed us what the law—that is, the pattern for holy living—looks like when expressed in human form. God’s character cannot change; therefore, neither can His law. GOD IS THE LAW IS Good Luke 18:19 1 Timothy 1:8 Holy Isaiah 5:16 Romans 7:12 Perfect Matthew 5:48 Psalms 19:7 Pure 1 John 3:2,3 Psalms 19:8 Just Deuteronomy 32:4 Romans 7:12 True John 3:33 Psalms 19:9 Spiritual 1 Corinthians 10:4 Romans 7:14 Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6 Psalms 119:172 Faithful 1 Corinthians 1:9 Psalms 119:86 Love 1 John 4:8 Romans 13:10 Unchangeable James 1:17 Matthew 5:18 Everlasting Genesis 21:33 Psalms 111:7,8 6. Did Jesus abolish God's law while He was here on earth? “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law. … I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17, 18). Answer Answer: No, indeed! Jesus specifically asserted that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill (or keep) it. Instead of doing away with the law, Jesus magnified it (Isaiah 42:21) as the perfect guide for holy living. For example, Jesus pointed out that “You shall not murder” condemns anger “without a cause” (Matthew 5:21, 22) and hatred (1 John 3:15), and that lust is a form of adultery (Matthew 5:27, 28). He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). 7. Will people who knowingly continue to break God’s commandments be saved? “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “He will destroy its sinners” (Isaiah 13:9). “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Answer: The Ten Commandment law guides us into holy living. If we ignore even one of the commandments, we neglect an essential part of the divine blueprint. If only one link of a chain is broken, its entire purpose is undone. The Bible says that when we knowingly break a command of God, we are sinning (James 4:17) because we have refused His will for us. Only those who do His will can enter the kingdom of heaven. Of course, God will forgive anyone who genuinely repents and accepts Christ’s power to change him or her. 8. Can anyone be saved by keeping the law? “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20). “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Answer: No! The answer is too plain to miss. No one can be saved by keeping the law. Salvation comes only through grace, as a free gift of Jesus Christ, and we receive this gift by faith, not by our works. The law serves as a mirror that points out the sin in our lives. Just as a mirror can show you dirt on your face but cannot clean your face, so cleansing and forgiveness from that sin come only through Christ. 9. Why, then, is the law essential for improving a Christian’s character? “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all [whole duty]” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). Answer: Because the full pattern, or “whole duty,” for Christian living is contained in God’s law. Like a six-year-old who made his own ruler, measured himself, and told his mother that he was 12 feet tall, our own standards of measure are never safe. We cannot know whether we are sinners unless we look carefully into the perfect standard—God’s law. Many think that doing good works guarantees their salvation even if they ignore keeping the law (Matthew 7:21–23). Hence, they think they are righteous and saved when, in fact, they are sinful and lost. “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). 10. What enables a truly converted Christian to follow the pattern of God’s law? “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10). “I can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13). “God did by sending His own Son … that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Romans 8:3, 4) Answer: Christ not only pardons repentant sinners, He also restores in them the image of God. He brings them into harmony with His law through the power of His indwelling presence. “Thou shalt not” becomes a positive promise that the Christian will not steal, lie, murder, etc., because Jesus lives within us and is in control. God will not change His moral law, but He made a provision through Jesus to change the sinner so we can measure up to that law. 11. But isn’t a Christian who has faith and is living under grace freed from keeping the law? “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin [break the law] because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:14, 15). “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). Answer: No! The Scriptures teach the very opposite. Grace is like a governor’s pardon to a prisoner. It forgives him, but it does not give him the freedom to break another law. The forgiven person, living under grace, will actually want to keep God’s law in his or her gratitude for salvation. A person who refuses to keep God’s law, saying that he is living under grace, is sorely mistaken. 12. Are the Ten Commandments of God also affirmed in the New Testament? Answer: Yes—and very clearly so. Look over the following very carefully. The Law of God in the Old Testament. The Law of God in the New Testament. 1. "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). 1. "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). 2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments" (Exodus 20:4–6). 2. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). "Since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising" (Acts 17:29). 3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). 3. "That the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed" (1 Timothy 6:1). 4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8–11). 4. "He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: 'And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.' There remains therefore a rest ["keeping of a sabbath," margin] for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10). 5. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). 5. "Honor your father and your mother" (Matthew 19:19). 6. "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). 6. "You shall not murder" (Romans 13:9). 7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). 7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Matthew 19:18). 8. "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). 8. "You shall not steal" (Romans 13:9). 9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). 9. "You shall not bear false witness" (Romans 13:9). 10. "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's" (Exodus 20:17). 10. "You shall not covet" (Romans 7:7). 13. Are God’s law and Moses’ law the same? Answer: No—they are not the same. Study the following contrasts: Moses’ law contained the temporary, ceremonial law of the Old Testament. It regulated the priesthood, sacrifices, rituals, meat and drink offerings, etc., all of which foreshadowed the cross. This law was added “till the Seed should come,” and that seed was Christ (Galatians 3:16, 19). The ritual and ceremony of Moses’ law pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice. When He died, this law came to an end, but the Ten Commandments (God’s law) “stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:8). That there are two laws is made clear in Daniel 9:10, 11. Note: God’s law has existed at least as long as sin has existed. The Bible says, “Where there is no law there is no transgression [sin]” (Romans 4:15). So God’s Ten Commandment law existed from the beginning. Men broke that law (sinned—1 John 3:4). Because of sin (or breaking God’s law), Moses’ law was given (or “added”—Galatians 3:16, 19) till Christ should come and die. Two separate laws are involved: God’s law and Moses’ law. MOSES' LAW GOD'S LAW Called "the law of Moses" (Luke 2:22). Called "the law of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:24). Called "law ... contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15). Called "the royal law" (James 2:8). Written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12). Written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18 32:16). Placed in the side of the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26). Placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20). Ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:15). Will stand forever (Luke 16:17). Added because of sin (Galatians 3:19). Points out sin (Romans 7:7 3:20). Contrary to us, against us (Colossians 2:14). Not burdensome (1 John 5:3). Judges no one (Colossians 2:14-16). Judges all people (James 2:10-12). Fleshly (Hebrews 7:16). Spiritual (Romans 7:14). Made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19). Perfect (Psalms 19:7). 14. How does the devil feel about people who pattern their lives after God’s Ten Commandments? “The dragon [the devil] was enraged with the woman [true church], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 12:17). “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 14:12). Answer: The devil hates those who uphold God’s law because the law is a pattern of right living, so it is not surprising that he bitterly opposes all who uphold God’s law. In his war against God’s holy standard, he goes so far as to use religious leaders to deny the Ten Commandments while at the same time upholding the traditions of men. No wonder Jesus said, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? … In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:3, 9). And David said, “It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void” (Psalm 119:126). Christians must wake up and restore God’s law to its rightful place in their hearts and lives. 15. Do you believe it is essential for a Christian to obey the Ten Commandments? Answer: Thought Questions 1. Doesn’t the Bible say the law was (or is) faulty? No. The Bible says the people were faulty. God found “fault with them” (Hebrews 8:8). And in Romans 8:3 the Bible says that the law “was weak through the flesh.” It is always the same story. The law is perfect, but the people are faulty, or weak. So God would have His Son live within His people “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Romans 8:4) through the indwelling Christ. 2. What does it mean when Galatians 3:13 says we are redeemed from the curse of the law? The curse of the law is death (Romans 6:23). Christ tasted “death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Thus He redeemed all from the curse of the law (death) and in its place provided eternal life. 3. Don’t Colossians 2:14–17 and Ephesians 2:15 teach that God’s law ended at the cross? No. These passages both refer to the law containing “ordinances,” or Moses’ law, which was a ceremonial law governing the sacrificial system and the priesthood. All of this ceremony and ritual foreshadowed the cross and ended at Christ’s death, as God had intended. Moses’ law was added till the “Seed should come,” and that “Seed … is Christ” (Galatians 3:16, 19). God’s law could not be involved here, for Paul spoke of it as holy, just, and good many years after the cross (Romans 7:7, 12). 4. The Bible says “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). Matthew 22:37–40 commands us to love God and to love our neighbors, ending with the words, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Do these commands replace the Ten Commandments? No. The Ten Commandments hang from these two commands as our 10 fingers hang from our two hands. They are inseparable. Love to God makes keeping the first four commandments (which concern God) a pleasure, and love toward our neighbor makes keeping the last six (which concern our neighbor) a joy. Love fulfills the law by taking away the drudgery of mere obedience and by making law-keeping a delight (Psalm 40:8). When we truly love a person, honoring his or her requests becomes a joy. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). It is impossible to love the Lord and not keep His commandments, because the Bible says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). 5. Doesn’t 2 Corinthians 3:7 teach that the law engraved in stone was to be done away? No. The passage says that the “glory” of Moses’ ministration of the law was to be done away, but not the law. Read the whole passage of 2 Corinthians 3:3–9 carefully. The subject is not the doing away with the law or its establishment, but rather, the change of the location of the law from tables of stone to the tables of the heart. Under Moses’ ministration the law was on stones. Under the Holy Spirit’s ministration, through Christ, the law is written upon the heart (Hebrews 8:10). A rule posted on a school bulletin board becomes effective only when it enters a student’s heart. Likewise, keeping God’s law becomes a delight and a joyful way of living because the Christian has true love for both God and man. 6. Romans 10:4 says that “Christ is the end of the law.” So it has ended, hasn’t it? “End” in this verse means purpose or object, as it does in James 5:11. The meaning is clear. To lead men to Christ—where they find righteousness—is the goal, purpose, or end of the law. 7. Why do so many people deny the binding claims of God's law? "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:7–9). 8. Were the righteous people of the Old Testament saved by the law? No one has ever been saved by the law. All who have been saved in all ages have been saved by grace. This “grace … was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9). The law only points out sin. Christ alone can save. Noah “found grace” (Genesis 6:8); Moses found grace (Exodus 33:17); the Israelites in the wilderness found grace (Jeremiah 31:2); and Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and many other Old Testament characters were saved “by faith” according to Hebrews 11. They were saved by looking forward to the cross, and we, by looking back to it. The law is necessary because, like a mirror, it reveals the “dirt” in our lives. Without it, people are sinners but are not aware of it. However, the law has no saving power. It can only point out sin. Jesus, and He alone, can save a person from sin. This has always been true, even in Old Testament times (Acts 4:10, 12; 2 Timothy 1:9). 9. Why worry about the law? Isn’t conscience a safe guide? No! The Bible speaks of an evil conscience, a defiled conscience, and a seared conscience—none of which is safe. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). God says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). Previous Back to Contents Next Top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 父，子和圣灵 “父，子和圣灵” 今时今日有许多教会和基督徒都崇拜三位一体神，因为他们相信马太福音28:19所讲的是三位同等和同永恒的生物。但事实上他们都没有做到的是用圣经来解释这节经文。以赛亚书28章告诉我们我，在研究圣经时，我们我们必须使用“命上加命、令上加令、律上加律、例上加例，这里一点、那里一点”的原则。这意味着我们要以经解经，而不是我们凭我们个人的理解来了解其意思。所以这就是我们将在这个关于马太福音28:19的课题上做的事情。我们将使用经文来正确地解释它，而不仅仅是“思考”这经文的含义。 马太福音 28:19 所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗（或作”给他们施洗，归于父、子、圣灵的名“）。 那么让我们找出这“三位“是谁。我只仅仅提供许多的经文并在每个部分的末尾做一个小评论。 父 约翰福音17：1-3 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；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。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。” 哥林多前书 8：4-6 论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么；也知道上帝只有一位，再没有别的神。虽有称为神的，或在天、或在地，就如那许多的神，许多的主。然而我们只有一位上帝，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。 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。 约翰福音 4：22-24 你们所拜的，你们不知道；我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。”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 “你们心里不要忧愁，你们信上帝，也当信我。 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 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，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？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”）。’希律和本丢彼拉多、外邦人和以色列民果然在这城里聚集，要攻打你所膏的圣子耶稣， 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 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！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。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 愿恩惠、平安从上帝我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们！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4：4-6 身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个，正如你们蒙召，同有一个指望；一主，一信，一洗，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。 帖撒罗尼迦前书1：9-10 因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向上帝，要服侍那又真又活的上帝，等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。 帖撒罗尼迦前书3：11-13 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；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，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。 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。这是真神，也是永生。 当我们比较所有的经文时就可以看到，“父”就是那“独一的真神”。祂不仅是我们的上帝和天父，祂也是耶稣基督的上帝和父亲。因此父是谁呢？祂是那独一的真神。 子/道 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。 马太福音16：15-17 耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？”西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生上帝的儿子。”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。 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。 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 1:18 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 “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。 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。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 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 西门彼得回答说：“主啊，你有永生之道，我们还归从谁呢？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 11:27 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9：19-20 吃过饭就健壮了。扫罗和大马士革的门徒同住了些日子，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的提到你们； 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， 加拉太书 4:4 及至时候满足，上帝就差遣他的儿子，为女人所生，且生在律法以下， 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 他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里，我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。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 因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向上帝，要服侍那又真又活的上帝，等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的、那位救我们脱离将来忿怒的耶稣。 希伯来书1：1-5 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖；就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。他是上帝荣耀所发的光辉，是上帝本体的真像，常用他权能的命令托住万有。他洗净了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右边。他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。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。 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 3:8 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 5:20 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！ 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 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。耶和华还没有创造大地和田野，并世上的土质，我已生出。他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈，上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固，为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃， 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？ 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 父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。我从父出来，到了世界；我又离开世界，往父那里去。” 门徒说：“如今你是明说，并不用比喻了。 约翰福音 17:7-8 如今他们知道，凡你所赐给我的，都是从你那里来的；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。 所以很明显，“子”是耶稣基督，祂是父上帝，那独一真神，唯一的亲生儿子。耶稣不是独一的真神，也不是所谓的“三位一体的第二位”。祂是父上帝的独生子，在永恒的日子里为父所生，是父真实的儿子。这就是为什么圣经说上帝'差'祂的儿子。 圣灵 使徒行传 2:32-33 这耶稣，上帝已经叫他复活了，我们都为这事作见证。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。 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 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。父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。 约翰福音 7:37-39 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。信我的人，就如经上所说‘从他腹中要流出活水的江河来’。”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 20：21-22 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。”说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：“你们受圣灵。 罗马书 8：9-10 如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。 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。 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 1：9 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。 提多书 3:4-6 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，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。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， 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。 因此，圣经告诉我们“圣灵”是父上帝自己神圣的灵，赐给了祂儿子耶稣，并藉着耶稣赐给我们，不是什么“第三位生物”。耶稣有着圣灵并要把祂的灵赐给我们，祂要藉着祂的灵住在我们里面。 所以马太福音 28：19里的那 “三位”是谁呢？他们是天父上帝，“独一的真神”。耶稣基督，天父上帝真实的唯一亲生儿子。圣灵，就是基督的灵，是耶稣从祂父那里领受的。 耶稣自己要亲自以灵的形式到我们这里来（约翰福音14：18，启示录 3：20，歌罗西书1：27，加拉太书2：20）不是什么来历不明的“第三位生物”。这就是关于马太福音 28：19的真理。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Is God's Spirit Another Being Is God's Spirit Another Being Because it has Mind, Will and Emotions? Would you believe me if I said that a person's spirit is another literal being? After all, a person's spirit can be troubled, Daniel 2:3 “...my spirit was troubled...” And a person's spirit can be grieved, Daniel 7:15 “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit...” And a person's spirit can speak and pray, 1 Corinthians 14:14 “...my spirit prayeth...” And a person's spirit can rejoice, Luke 1:47 “my spirit has rejoiced...” And a person's spirit can be received by the Lord, Acts 7:59 “...Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” A person's spirit can also serve, Romans 1:9 “...I serve with my spirit...” And a person's spirit can also rest, 2 Corinthians 2:13 “I had no rest in my spirit...” So we find that a person's spirit has a mind, will and emotions just like God. Therefore, a person's spirit must be another literal being, right? You are probably thinking I have lost the plot, and yet this is exactly the SAME LOGIC that is used to imply that the Holy Spirit is another literal being! And Paul said it is no different with God's Spirit in that respect. But note Paul states man's spirit is within him while God can send His Spirit anywhere. “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit WITHIN HIM? In the SAME WAY NO ONE knows the thoughts of God EXCEPT the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 Since your Spirit is your mind, will and emotions, the Greek and Hebrew word for “Spirit” also means “mind” as you would expect. Strong's concordance says, breath, figuratively life, spirit, (including its expression and functions), mind. Note below that Paul in Romans 11:34 is quoting Isaiah 40:13. So we know that Paul understood the Spirit of the Lord to also mean the mind of the Lord. And of course the mind of someone is not a different person to them any more than their spirit is and this also includes God as Paul reveals below. “Who has directed the SPIRIT of the LORD, or being his counsellor has taught him?” Isaiah 40:13 KJV “For who has known the MIND of the LORD? Or who has been his counsellor?” Romans 11:34 KJV How can the mind of the Lord be another being? Clearly it cannot! The spirit of every living being has a personality because our spirit is in fact our personality. So the Holy Spirit has a personality because God has a personality. In giving us His Spirit God gives us Himself. It is not another being and it is not some impersonal force. It is the presence and power of God Himself. It is God's own Spirit having God's own personality. “In giving us HIS SPIRIT, God gives us HIMSELF,” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902) “The DIVINE SPIRIT that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the PRESENCE and POWER of GOD.” — (E.G. White, ST, Nov 23, 1891) If I could give you my spirit, whose personality would you have? Mine! Thus God's Spirit has God's personality. God and His Son have a Spirit and that is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. This is the nature of the Holy Spirit that we cannot understand. So the Holy Spirit is not some force or another being, but the presence and power of God Himself. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

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

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

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Jesus has a God- Jehovah, God the Father Jesus has a God – Jehovah, God the Father 1 Corinthians 8:6 - But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 1 Corinthians 15:28 - And when all things shall be subdued unto him (God), then shall the Son (Jesus) also himself be subject unto him (God) that put all things under him (Jesus), that God may be all in all. Ephesians 4:6 - One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 2 Corinthians 11:31 - The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, John 17:3 - And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Ephesians 1:17 - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 1 Corinthians 11:3 - But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Romans 15:6 - That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. John 12:44-45 - Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. John 20:31 - But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:21-22 - Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: John 14:10 - Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:24 - He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. “The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty,” — Ellen White, Manuscript 140, September 27, 1903 “He [Christ] was not the Father but in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” — Ellen White, Letter 8a, July 7, 1890 “God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” — Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 268.3 Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 对上帝的认识 认识上帝 箴言2:5 -- “你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。” 彼得后书1:2-3 -- “愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣，多多地加给你们。3上帝的神能已经将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。” 以弗所书1:17-18 -- “求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。” 18 并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的恩召有何等指望，他在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。” 哥林多前书12:8-- “这人蒙圣灵赐他智慧的言语，那人也蒙这位圣灵赐他知识的言语。” 上帝不是奥秘。对你敬拜的对象有清楚和全面的认识是相当重要的。 何西阿书4:1-2 -- “以色列人哪，你们当听耶和华的话。耶和华与这地的居民争辩，因这地上无诚实、无良善、无人认识上帝。”2 但起假誓、不践前言、杀害、偷盗、奸淫、行强暴、杀人流血，接连不断。” 何西阿书4:6 -- “我的民因无知识而灭亡。你弃掉知识，我也必弃掉你，使你不再给我作祭司。你既忘了你上帝的律法，我也必忘记你的儿女。” 谁是我们敬拜的对象呢? 我们会在新天新地敬拜三位一体神吗? 不是的。我们会敬拜那天上的父就是耶和华, 和 “那羔羊” 就是耶稣基督。” 启示录7:9-10 -- “此后，我观看，见有许多的人，没有人能数过来，是从各国、各族、各民、各方来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕树枝，10 大声喊着说：“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝，也归与羔羊。” 启示录 20:6 -- “在头一次复活有份的有福了、圣洁了，第二次的死在他们身上没有权柄。他们必作上帝和基督的祭司，并要与基督一同作王一千年。” 启示录21:1-- “我又看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天地已经过去了，海也不再有了。” 2 我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由上帝那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇装饰整齐，等候丈夫。” 3 我听见有大声音从宝座出来说：“看哪，上帝的帐幕在人间。他要与人同住，他们要作他的子民； 上帝要亲自与他们同在，作他们的上帝。4 上帝要擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。”5 坐宝座的说：“看哪，我将一切都更新了。”又说：“你要写上，因这些话是可信的，是真实的。” 22 我未见城内有殿，因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。” 23 那城内又不用日月光照，因有上帝的荣耀光照，又有羔羊为城的灯。” 启示录22:1, 3 -- “天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。” 3 以后再没有咒诅。在城里有上帝和羔羊的宝座，他的仆人都要侍奉他。” 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂