TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

What’s wrong Mike? Can’t quote scripture that states what you believe without you adding to it what the apostles never said?

TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

So you can’t quote scripture that says what you believe, so you resort to making up stuff about people because you don’t believe what the Bible says.

Maybe you don’t believe this, but I do:

"16Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered. 18Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.” Romans 6:16-18

"Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the flesh” Gal. 5:16 & 25

“Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity” Matthew 7:23

“34Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant {s***e} of sin. 35A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

“20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:20

“One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the t***h isn't in him.” 1 John 2:4

“3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure. 4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:3-6

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Put a lid on the condemnations and judgements, Tommy, I am not here to convert you or convince you. Your theories about the nature and character of God are your business. I have attempted to find Biblical evidence that supports your theories, but I haven't found a thing.

The Bible, as the inspired Word of God, reveals a multi-dimensional God of many aspects, most of which transcend the limits of human intellect and reason. God knows all there is to know about us and His creation, we know so little about Him. It is for us to acknowledge that there is much about Almighty God that we cannot comprehend, God is infinite, we are not. Our search for knowledge about our God is eternal, and only through dedication and devotion to seeking answers and nourishing our relationship with Him can we hope to understand His true nature. It is not for us to define who or what God is, rather it is for us, with a loving heart and open mind, to let God reveal Himself to us, to tell us who He is. That is the sole purpose of the Word of God.

Tell me, Tommy, what is the one thing, above all others, that we can do that most pleases Yahweh?

Rose42

They have been quoted multiple times and you know it. You are intentionally deceptive.

I made nothing up.

Romans 6:18 does NOT mean we will sin no more. It is not a reference to our daily struggle with sin. It is a reference to our being free from the damning power of sin because we have a new nature in Christ. But that new nature still fights the flesh and will continue to until we are perfected. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” Phil 1:6

No Christian can stop sinning altogether. That isn't biblical and you're taking all those out of context. The only people who can stop sinning are those who don't recognize their sin because their conscience has become hardened. Peter sinned by denying Christ 3 times. He already loved Christ yet he sure wasn't sinless. He repented and was forgiven. Repenting is part of that new nature. Those who don't have a new nature and aren't guided by the spirit won't recognize their sin and won't repent.

You may believe you have stopped sinning but you have not.

rumitoid

I agree but for a minor point: infinity is time without end, eternity is always, time excluded.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

OK. God is infinite, God is eternal, God is forever. God transcends time, matter, and space. God always was, always is, and always will be, God is the Alpha and Omega.

Rose42

No, eternity is infinite or unending time.

Infinity involves more than time.

Look them up.

TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

My theories? How is quoting the Bible "my theories"? You do realize I didn’t write the Bible, right? Just because you don't believe what the Bible actually says, that I merely quoted, doesn't make what it says "my theories."

Condemning people of their sins is a biblical tactic. Human nature hasn’t changed over the millenia, only PC culture has become more, well, PC.

"8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. 9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, 10and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" Acts 13:8-10

"51"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They k**led those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers." Acts 7:51-52

People can't repent who think they are hunky-dory with God when they are not. You do not get to make up man-made laws to impose on me. Nobody is making you read my posts.




It is written again:

"You are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me." Isaiah 43:10

"18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the t***h by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been madeso that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

By tasting salt water at one beach, I don’t have to travel all the oceans in the world to know they taste salty, or that there will be waves and tsunamis. If God tells us emphatically that He is one, and you claim to the contrary that He is three, that is not allowing God to reveal Himself, that is you redefining Him in terms that you are more comfortable with or make more sense to you, which is idolatry.

The apostles never said that we couldn’t know His general nature, which is completely different than knowing what all He is capable of doing. But they did say this:

"12But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 13Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.14Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

"16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: 20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 2:19-21

When you claim that God is something other than He has revealed Himself to be, you are calling Jesus a liar:

"We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews" John 4:24

The devil's tactic is to cast doubt on the word of God by posing questions that make God's word to appear ambiguous, when in fact they are very clear and very exact. Once he casts doubt, he then negates what God did say. and postulates there is an "alternate" way of interpreting God's word. That tactic is used to ultimately negate what God actually did say. God never actually said He was a Trinity of Persons. He did reiterate, over and over, and that by commandment, that He is one He.

Therefore, it is not surprising that someone who doesn't hear the word of God, attempts to use human reasoning rather than scripture to negate the fact that the Bible says we can understand even His eternal power and divine nature in order to negate what God Himself says and testifies of His own nature in His own holy Scriptures which He inspired, as testified by His own people the Jews.

But someone who loves God and loves His word would not attempt to negate God's words, but hungrily live by them.

The difference between you and I, then, is simply that I hold the first commandment sacrosanct above all other thoughts, concepts and even scriptures. You feel you are at liberty to interpret God's first commandment to mean other than God has described and witnessed based on how you think certain passages could or should be interpreted, or that someone told you that is how they should be interpreted.

You say, "the inspired Word of God, reveals a multi-dimensional God of many aspects". I don't disagree, I just don't agree with where you go from there, which is straight to pagan words and concepts by which to interpret what the word of God says.

Don't you realize that the Jews also knew about God's "multidimensions"? But they would not sacrifice the sanctity of the first commandment in order to postulate possible, extra-biblical concepts... except for those who were idolaters.

“In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title. It represents the Jewish conception of the divine nature and of the relation of God to the Jewish people. The various Jewish names of God represent God as He is known, and represents divine attributes…
“The most important name of God in Judaism is the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter name of God…Modern scholars conjecture that it was pronounced ‘Yahweh.’ The Hebrew letters are named Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh… In English it is written as YHVH.
“In appearance, YHVH is the third person singular imperfect of the verb ‘to be,’ meaning, therefore, ‘God is,’ or ‘God will be,’ or, perhaps, ‘God lives,’ the root idea of the word being, probably, ‘to blow,’ ‘to breathe,’ and hence, ‘to live.’ With this explanation agrees the meaning of the name given in Exodus 3:14, where God is represented as speaking, and hence as using the first person — ‘I am.’ The meaning would, therefore, be ‘He who is self-existing, self-sufficient,’ or, more concretely, ‘He who lives,’ the abstract conception of pure existence being foreign to Hebrew thought…
“Other Jewish [or rabbinic] names of God include:
... “YHVH-Jireh: The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:13, 14).
“YHVH-Rapha: The Lord that healeth (Exodus 15:26).
“YHVH-Nissi: The Lord our Banner (Exodus 17:8–15).
“YHVH-Shalom: The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24).
“YHVH-Ra-ah: The Lord my Shepherd (Psalms 23:1).
“YHVH-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).
“YHVH-Shammah: The Lord is present (Ezekiel 48:35).” https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/n/Names_of_God_in_Judaism.htm

These names (and many others that have been left out) represent, describe, and reveal God's multidimensionality, but they do not extend to God being "multi-personal" just because He is "multidimensional."

In fact, the NT also refers to this t***h:

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame [Gr. autos] Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he (3rd Person Singular) will." 1 Corinthians 12:11

This is a very Jewish view, which Paul was contrasting with pagan thought that ascribed separate personalities to each several (multidimensional) activity.

Another highly respected Jewish author wrote:

“God’s names bear testimony to His attributes and deeds and His relationship to man. A summary, as it were, of the connotations ascribed by the Sages to the Divine Names is found in the following statement of R. Abba bar Memel, who belonged to the first generation of the Palestinian Amoram: ‘The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: ‘What dost thou seek to know? I am called according to my acts. Sometimes I am called El Shadday [‘Almighty God’], or Seva’ ôt [‘Hosts’], or Elohim [‘God’], or YHWH [‘Lord’]. When I judge mankind I am called Elohim; when I make war against the wicked I am called Seva’ ôt; when I suspend man’s sins I am called El Shadday,, and when I have compassion on My world I am called YHWH,’ for the Tetragrammaton signifies none other than the quality of mercy, as it is said: ‘O YHWH, YHWH, God, merciful and gracious.’ This is the meaning of the verse…[‘I am that I am’]—I am named according to my acts.” Ephraism E. Urbach, The Sages: Their Concepts and Beliefs, t***s. Israel Abrahams (Jerusalem, Israel: Magnes Press, 1975; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987), 37.

These names of God all help to describe the knowable traits and characteristics of God.

But most importantly, God’s names reveal God’s nature:

"In Jewish thought, a name is not merely an arbitrary designation, a random combination of sounds. The name conveys the nature and essence of the thing named. It represents the history and reputation of the being named." http://www.jewfaq.org/name.htm

This means, that God revealed His "nature and essence" through His names. And all of His names have to do with what He is which is known by what He does.



This is yet another reason that the name “Trinity” is so contra-biblical. If God was, by nature, a Trinity, it would have been incumbent upon Him to have provided that name. But he didn’t. It came from antichristian Gnostics who believed that the son was a separate divine person and not truly man.

TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

Well it certainly isn't to believe in the Gnostic invention of the trinity that was never, ever articulated in God's word to mankind.

I would say it would be about having a biblical relationship with God and His son. So how does the Bible explain our relationship with them?

Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15

Do you Love Him? That is a relationship- one of love.

Do you want to be friends with Jesus Christ? It is written again- “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” -John 15:14

Do you want to know Him? “we… know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” -1 John 2:3

Do you want a Father and Son relationship with Him? “…be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” -2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1

Separation from the world, the scripture teaches, is part of God's Father/son relationship with us!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the p***e of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” -1 John 2:15-17

Would you like to have an Elder/Firstborn brother in Jesus Christ? Here's what Jesus says about that- “…My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” -Luke 8:21

Now let's look at it this way- What about a relationship with Jesus Christ without obedience?

Do you want to know Him but not keep His commandments? Apostle John wrote- “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the t***h is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” -1 John 2:4-5

Do you want to claim Jesus as Lord, but not "have to" do the will of the Father? Jesus said- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father... Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied.. cast out devils.. and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…” -Matthew 7:21.


So keeping Jesus’ commandments are paramount for having a relationship with Jesus. It is interesting to note that Jesus reiterated the first commandment in Greek words and grammar.

"The Lord our God (masculine, singular, accusative) is one (masculine, singular, accusative)" Mark 12:29

One: Greek "heîs, hice; a primary numeral; one" -Strong's

Ironically, Trinitarians understand that the NT explains the OT. But they must forget that rule when it comes to the first commandment. Although the OT name for god, “elohim”, is a plural word, like our “sheep” for example, that is not true of the Greek word for God, that Jesus himself used to t***slate Deuteronomy 6:4, which is emphatically singular, both in meaning and in grammatical number. The Greek is very specific.

Singular: “Singular Number in substantives and verbs refers to only one Person or Thing, e.g. “I”, “you” (one person), he, she, it.” -Wheeler’s Greek Syntax.

So Jesus himself t***slated the first and most important commandment with words that emphatically excluded the idea of a Trinity of persons in the godhead. Question is, is that the Jesus you want a relationship of love with, which requires keeping his commandments?

In addition to the first and second commandment, if we want to please God, there is this:

"Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God (masculine, singular, dative) must believe that he(3rd person, singular) exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Again, the Greek grammar is very specific: God is a singular person.

And even faith is defined:

“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Which means, for one thing, you don’t get to just make stuff up that you think should be in the Bible but isn’t, like Trinitarians do because they can’t grasp how such a multidimensional God can still be personally one.

So, since God has revealed Himself in His word, it shouldn't be that hard to actually quote the scriptures that say what you believe, as I can, but you can't... I can because what the Bible says is what I believe. You can’t because such definitions of God that you want to be in there simply don't exist in the Bible. But that isn’t to say those concepts didn’t come from worldly philosophy, which is idolatry.

So when I ask you to provide scripture that explains God without having to add man-made definitions, words and concepts, basically I am providing you an opportunity for you to show that you are not an idolater. Since you can’t provide where God Himself has defined Himself as a Trinity, when in fact He has definitely defined Himself as One, it is a very legitimate test of your sincerity, let alone, spiritual comprehension.

“For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.” Hebrews 5:12

I can’t think of how anything could be more rudimental than establishing that one really does mean one and not three.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

You are wasting your time posting lengthy sermons. They mean nothing to me. Go your own way with this, believe as you wish. Nothing you say can cause me to question my faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

And all you had to do to make it about what you believe, instead of what I believe, and to prove me wrong, was to quote where the Bible actual said what you believe.

As Stevie Wonder said, "when you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way..."

Rose42

No matter how many times you repeat your misuse of scripture and your gnostic claim it won’t be true. Ever.

You have been proven wrong but are too p***eful to see it. Your god is not the God of the bible. But its not too late for you to repent.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

You have spent an unreasonable amount of time and bandwidth trying to convince us that you are right and we are wrong, even demanding that we accept your beliefs, and when we refuse, you belittle us, you attempt to besmirch us, call us liars, phonies and frauds. And you think that is a winning approach?

What I am telling you is that I do not under any circumstances embrace the doctrines of Unitarianism. In spite of your many attempts to prove otherwise, I have found no evidence for such a belief in the Bible. The fact that you don't like that is your problem, not mine.

So, have a nice day and may God bless you.

tbutkovich

The Trinity revealed in the New Testament

The New Testament has even clearer references to the Trinity. At Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice spoke from Heaven—so all three of the members of the Trinity were clearly present (Matthew 3; Mark 1). Jesus commands believers to be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Paul’s letters are full of Trinitarian formulas. For instance, Romans 8:3–4 (emphases added)

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This makes sense in light of the background in which it is given. Paul is not advocating three separate gods, but one God in three persons. God the Father sent God the son to take away sin, and God the Spirit helps us to live according to the forgiveness granted to us by God the Father, but only after the work of the Son was accepted. Thus, contrary to certain “Oneness” groups, the three Persons are distinct, not merely different modes or manifestations of one Person.

And verse 16:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

These Trinitarian formulas are even more apparent when we realize that the Father is often designated with the Greek theos (God), and the Son with kyrios (Lord), as in 1 Corinthians 12:4–6:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

Note the use of the word “Lord” (kyrios) instead of “Son” (huios) or Christ, as in the passages above.

These formulas often appear in the benedictions to the letters. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And this isn’t unique to Paul. The author of Hebrews states (2:3–4):

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord (kyrios, an obvious reference to Jesus), and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

And (9:13–14):

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Peter uses this formula (1 Peter 1:2)

According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.

John says (1 John 4:13–14)

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Jude exhorts (1:20):

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Even though the word ‘Trinity’ is never used in the New Testament, the teaching is clearly there,3 so much so that a non-Trinitarian doctrine would substantially alter the message of the Bible itself.

So “God is one” and “God is a Trinity”. But some people are confused about how the Persons of the Godhead relate to each other. The Bible teaches that each Person is fully God and shares all the attributes of deity.

The Father is God

This is perhaps the least contested point—all the historical heresies affirmed that the Father is God, but err in how they saw the relationship between the Persons of the Godhead, or in the identity of the other Persons. The Father is the one who speaks things into being in Genesis 1. He sent the Son in the Incarnation (John 8:42). And the Father sends the Spirit (John 14:26). The Father is clearly an appropriate object of worship (John 4:21–23).

The Son is God

Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Humans are created in the ‘image and likeness’ of God, meaning that we are like God in some ways, but far more than that is attributed to the Son. The Greek t***slated “exact imprint of his nature” is χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ, (charactēr tēs hypostaseōs autou), and means basically that Jesus is exactly identical to the Father—there is no attribute of the Father that the Son does not have in equal measure. There is no way in which Jesus does not resemble the Father. Jesus teaches the same thing when He said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), and Paul says, “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). The writer of Hebrews reinforces this a few verses later when he quotes God himself, “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” (Hebrews 1:8), showing that God addresses the Son also as God.

Jesus, unlike mere human beings, existed before His birth. Speaking of Jesus the Son, the Gospel of John starts out with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). He is called “the one and only (μονογενῆς, monogenēs) God who is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18).

Paul says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or d******ns or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:15–16). Anti-Trinitarians point to this verse to claim that Jesus was only a created being, even if He was exalted. But this same verse says “by him all things were created,” meaning that Jesus Himself could not have been created, or else He would come under ‘all things’.4 ‘Firstborn’ in this instance simply means that Jesus has the privilege of the firstborn, something that was very meaningful in a time when the firstborn expected to receive a double portion of the inheritance. So in this case ‘firstborn’ (Greek prototokos) does not mean ‘first created’ (Greek protoktisis), but simply denotes His superior position.

In many places, characteristics that only God can have are attributed to Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” In John 5:26, Jesus claims, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” But only God is self-existent.

Jesus is also viewed as a proper recipient of worship in the New Testament. After the Resurrection, Thomas calls Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). A righteous person who received praise due only to God would deflect it immediately (see how Paul and Barnabas reacted in Acts 14:8 ff.)—but Jesus didn’t, indicating that he thought it was proper. He even says, in effect, “You finally believe in me!” Titus 2:13 calls Jesus “our great God and Savior”, as does 1 Peter 1:1. Paul refers to “Christ, who is God over all” (Romans 9:5). Every time Jesus is worshipped in Scripture, it is cited with approval. Indeed, He demands equal honour with the Father:

… that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:23).

The Holy Spirit is God

Some think of the Holy Spirit as a sort of impersonal, nebulous ‘force’—and many people think of spirits as ghostly ethereal beings. But the Holy Spirit is clearly a Person in Scripture (so a ‘Him’, not an ‘it’).

When Ananias and Sapphira lied about the price of the field they sold, Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? … You have not lied to man but to God” (Acts 5:4). So the Holy Spirit is equated with God. Later in the book, it’s even clearer, because the Holy Spirit uses two first person pronouns—thus there can be no doubt that He is a Person:

… the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)

David attributes omnipresence to God’s Spirit when he says, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” (Psalm 139:7–8). Paul attributes omniscience to Him: “For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

The Bible is clear that only God can give spiritual life (1 John 3:9), but Jesus said, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5–6). If only God can give spiritual life, and the Spirit gives spiritual life, then the Spirit must be God.

Furthermore, when we understand the Father and the Son to be fully God, that the Spirit is equally divine follows from the Trinitarian verses cited below. As Wayne Grudem explains:

Once we understand God the Father and God the Son to be fully God, then the Trinitarian expressions in verses like Matthew 28:19 (“baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”) assume significance for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, because they show that the Holy Spirit is classified on an equal level

TommyRadd Loc: Midwest USA

"6He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
8"For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."
9He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Wh**ever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"' 12then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this." Mark 7:6-13

"For you set aside the commandment of God..." (Mark 7:8)

"Go and sin no more..." John 8:11

"...and hold tightly to the tradition of men":

"No Christian can stop sinning altogether. That isn't biblical and you're taking all those out of context." -Rose

"Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition."

Making the word of God":

"Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh" Galatians 5:16

"...void... by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this." Mark 7:13

It is written again:

"2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous." John 5:2-3

"14Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. 15For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15

"13Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death." James 1:13-15

"He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne." Revelation 3:21

"For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near." Hebrews 10:1

"1Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary... 8The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing...
11But Christ having come... 12... through his own blood, entered in once for all... having obtained eternal redemption[/b]. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:1-14

8Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death; 11if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.” Phillipians 3:8-15