280 likes | 496 Views
God is One and not Three. To put the matter another way…. Is God a Unity or a Trinity?. Trinitarians tell us that God is somehow a Unity and a Trinity at the same time. Is this possible?. From the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. This is part of a typical Definition of The Trinity.
E N D
To put the matter another way… Is God a Unity or a Trinity?
Trinitarians tell us that God is somehow a Unity and a Trinity at the same time. Is this possible?
This is part of a typical Definition of The Trinity With respect we comment: there is a contradiction in terms between the idea of God as a unity (ie. One God) and the idea that there are somehow three persons within the One God. Trinitarians admit that this is a “mystery.” We would say that it is illogical, or, to quote Sir Isaac Newton, “inaccessible to reason.”!
The Alternative Doctrine God-manifestation Means God showing Himself to us through someone else Often through the angels Above all - in the Lord Jesus Christ
Here is an Illustration Exod 23:20-22 20 "Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 "Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. (NKJ)
God’s Name In Scripture, there is only one true Name of God, that is, Yahweh, in the hebrew - usually translated LORD (in capitals) in our english versions. The pronouns (words used for God) in the Bible, for eg. Lord, God, El, etc. are only titles, not the Name of God.
What does “My Name is in Him” mean? The angel: spoke with the authority of God spoke the words of God performed the actions of God. Look up Exodus 3: 1-8, 19-20
God was Manifested (shown to us) by the Angels Look up Exodus 24: 1-4, 7-11
God was Manifested in His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ Christ also spoke the words of God and did the works of God: Philip, one of the 12 apostles, once asked: 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? John 14:8-9 (NKJ)
What did Christ mean? • "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells In Me does the works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:10-11 (NKJ)
The Lord Jesus Christ Spoke the words of God Did the works of God Just like the angels, in the Old Testament
The Lord Jesus Christ Was “the Son of God Never ‘God the Son’ Born of Mary by a miracle, the virgin birth - Christ was a very special man.
Christ was a Very Special Man Christ had a very special work to do: Look up Hebrew 1:13 through to 2:1-10, 16-18
To Summarise the Work of Christ He had to have our (human) nature So that he might (really) be tempted So that he could overcome sin So that he could bring about salvation
God was Manifest in Christ By mighty works By words of great wisdom In a perfect (sinless) character In immortality – after his resurrection
Did this ever make Christ = His Father? Jesus said: “my Father is greater than I,” in John 14:28 Look up 1 Corinthians 15:22-28
Christ’s Victory Christ fought against temptation and won the battle against SIN. A battle everyone else has fought – AND LOST! He was really tempted (God couldn’t have been!) He had to pray to God for help -
Heb 5:7-8 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (NKJ)
What of the Holy Spirit? Said to be the other part of The Trinity We spoke earlier of the virgin birth of Christ, of Mary. Look up Luke 1:30-31, 34-35
The Holy Spirit Is the power of God, set apart (made holy) for performing a miracle. It is not a person The word “spirit” carries a neutral pronoun, both in hebrew (OT) and in greek (NT)
Where did Trinity Doctrine Come From? From the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
The Encyclopaedia Britannica says… “The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and over many controveries..the Council of Nicaea in 325 stated the crucial formula for that doctrine…”
We prefer… The simple truths of the Bible!!