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Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Pierac, I agree with Johnny27, this is great stuff..."

Keypurr says: "Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick...[will] preach traditional doctrine even if it is wrong, like the trinity [The Final Word, Jesus is God thread 19 Sept 09, 10:03 p.m.]." Fosdick agrees with the Emerging Church Movement:

"...[B]ecause experience is valued more highly than reason, truth becomes relative. Relativism opens up all kinds of problems, as it destroys the standard that the Bible contains absolute truth, negating the belief that biblical truth can be absolute. If the Bible is not our source for absolute truth, and personal experience is allowed to define and interpret what truth actually is, a saving faith in Jesus Christ is rendered meaningless...

...While seeking new ways to witness to a changing culture is admirable, utilizing ways which compromise the Truth of the Gospel in any way is nothing more than promoting false doctrine and leading others away from Christ instead of to Him..." Full text: What is the emerging / emergent church movement?

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Any Pastor will teach what he is told to teach. The church is a business whether you believe it or not."

The Bible has much to say about what a church is. It is subject to Christ (Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24). It displays the wisdom of God (Eph 3:10). It praises God (Isa 60:6). God provides ministers for the church (Jer 3:15; Eph 4:11,12). Its membership should make a commitment to the church (e.g. making use of God-given gifts). All glory is given to God (Eph 3:21). The size of the church does not matter but the body must be edified by the word of God (1Co 14:4,13; Eph 4:15,16). Many churches call themselves a "Bible church" but they do not give out the word of God. Of course, it is not church at all that denies the deity of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1). That is a cult or 'ism.

We are to test all things by the authority of scripture (1 Thes 5:21). The apostle John said "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son
of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (emphasis added)." When a person is indwelled with the presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit takes the things of God and makes them real to him.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "So is it just the pastor that is right or maybe the church council?"

"The Lord was very clear in His Word about how He wishes His church on earth to be organized and managed. First, Christ is the head of the church and its supreme authority (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). Second, the local church is to be autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). Third, the church is to be governed by spiritual leadership consisting of two main offices—elders and deacons.

“Elders” were a leading body among the Israelites since the time of Moses. We find them making political decisions (2 Samuel 5:3; 2 Samuel 17:4, 15), advising the king in later history (1 Kings 20:7), and representing the people concerning spiritual matters (Exodus 7:17; 24:1, 9; Numbers 11:16, 24-25). The early Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, used the Greek word presbuteros for “elder.” This is the same Greek word used in the New Testament that is also translated “elder...” Full text: What does the Bible say about the form of church government (polity)?

Then you do not have a historical, biblical view of Jesus. You do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

Yes, because you deny the deity of Jesus. The Jesus you believe in never existed.

God did not give Jesus a spirit. Jesus is "I am". There was never a time that he did not exist. The Jews understood this. This is why they sought to kill him--because he made himself one with God (Ex. 3:14; Rev. 1:4, 11, 17).

"It is vitally important, if we would ever really fully understand anything in the Bible, or in the world in general, that we first understand the teaching of Genesis 1:1. Consider, therefore, each word in this all-important declaration.

“God” This first occurrence of the divine name is the Hebrew Elohim, the name of God which stresses His majesty and omnipotence. This is the name used throughout the first chapter of Genesis. The im ending is the Hebrew plural ending, so that Elohim can actually mean “gods,” and is so translated in various passages referring to the gods of the heathen (e.g., Psalm 96:5).

However, it is clearly used here in the singular, as the mighty name of God the Creator, the first of over two thousand times where it is used in this way. Thus Elohim is a plural name with a singular meaning, a “uni-plural” noun, thereby suggesting the uni-plurality of the Godhead. God is one, yet more than one."
Morris, H. M. (1976). The Genesis record : A scientific and devotional commentary on the book of beginnings. Includes indexes. (39). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Jesus was not created: "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. He [Jesus] was in the beginning with God (Jn 1:1)."

Jesus is the second member of the trinity. "God [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (Jn 4:24)." When we see God on his throne in heaven there is one figure: "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne (Re 4:2)." God is one (Deut 6:4).

Jesus took on flesh (Heb 2:4, Jn 1:14) to identify with us. We die to ourselves to identify with him (pictured in baptism). He rules and reigns in the life of a believer.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Please read my thread in full before making such a silly post again! Bandwidth is expensive, and your false understanding has long ago been exposed to the light! Start here..."

A few housekeeping items: When responding to a thread that requires too long of a biblical response, I link to own website.

You do not understand the nature of Jesus--who he is (Jn 1:1), why he came (1 Ti 1:15) and how a person is saved (Eph 2:8).

"God has no beginning, however... the logos (word) does!"

False. Jesus (the Word made flesh [Jn 1:14]) had no beginning.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "[I]f you see Jesus as God you don't know him either."

You are in error: "[Y]ou 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. (Ro 8:9)." I have been where you are and where I am. One leads to death (though the deceived don't know it) and one leads to life eternal (1 Jn 5:13).

"John [1:1] is the most misunderstood verse in scripture. It is very important to see what it is really saying."

That is correct--all cults and 'isms get Jn 1:1 wrong. But like all false teachers, you mix truth with error. (Ga 5:9). If you deny the deity of Jesus, it does not matter what you get right. You do not know the Jesus of the Bible. You do not have a saving faith. You will never get a true blue Christian to agree with you--which is another proof of your false teaching.

Jesus is uncreated creator (John 1:3, 10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 1:2, 10; Rev. 3:14).

"If you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins (Jn 8:24, NIV)."

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "You're 100% wrong my friend. Jesus is a man. If he was anything else he could not be the sacrifice for all."

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Hey serpentdove, Just pick a verse or two and explain what it says or means to you, then I will show you the true 'spiritual' meaning."

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "How many serpentdove? That's what I thought... only your pastor is allowed to speak for the body of Christ! Thus you remain a spiritual babe in Christ!"

You are a false teacher, denying the deity of Jesus. I would ask you to have a seat or leave.

There was never a time when Jesus did not exist: Gen. 1:26; Psa. 102:25–27 with Heb. 1:8–12.Prov. 8:22–36; John 1:1–3; John 3:13; John 6:62; John 8:56–58; John 17:5; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:5–7; Col. 1:15–17; Heb. 1:1, 2; Heb. 2:9, 14–16; Rev. 4:11.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "...taken from the studies of Juan Baixeras"

Try as you might, you will not change the teachings of the apostle John (Jn 1:1). Juan Baixeras is one more in a long line of false teachers. Jesus created the heavens and the earth. Jesus is the Father's preeminent son, firstborn over all creation. He is the uncreated creator.

People love to be lied to (Jer 5:31).

"The Trinity Defined

The word Trinity simply means tri-unity or three-in-oneness.

With that being said, we can define the Trinity as:

◦ “Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

While this statement embodies the definition of the Trinity, it’s the Bible that lays it out for us.

First, realize that the doctrine rests completely upon the truth of the first clause: there is only one God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 makes that perfectly clear “Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”

This prayer, the Shema, taken from the Hebrew word “to hear”, was the prayer each morning of the faithful Jew and defined his faith and provided the foundation of his religion.

Other verses also attest to the fact that there is only one God:

◦ 2 Samuel 7:22 says, “Therefore You are great, O LORD God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”
◦ 1 Kings 8:60 says, “…that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.”

◦ 1 Chronicles 17:20 says, “O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

◦ Isaiah 37:16 says, “O LORD of hosts…You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.”

◦ See also Isaiah 44:6-8; 45:14 and Jeremiah 10:6-7.

Second, the definition insists that there are three divine persons. Please note that we are not saying there are three beings that are one being, or three persons that are one person. The second clause speaks of three divine persons, not three divine Beings.

We need to realize that we’re talking about one what and three who’s. The one what is the Being or essence of God; the three who’s are the Father, Son, and Spirit.

And thirdly, we are told that the relationship among these divine persons is eternal.

When we speak of relationship, we are speaking of three individual, separate and eternally distinct persons who relate to each other personally. In other words,

◦ The Father sends the Son. (Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:14)
◦ The Father sends the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26; Galatians 4:6)
◦ The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. (John 3:35; 5:20; 14:31)
◦ The Father and Son glorify each other. (John 17:1,4,5)
◦ The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son. (John 16:14)

The Father is eternal:
◦ Romans 16:26-27 says, “but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God…”

The Son is eternal:
◦ John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

• The New English Bible puts it very appropriately, “When all things began, the Word already was.”

◦ John 17:5 says, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

The Holy Spirit is eternal:
◦ Hebrews 9:14 says, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God…”

Again, the Trinity is defined as three separate, distinct, and eternal individuals or persons and yet, one God.

The three foundations of the Trinity then now are visible:

◦ Foundation One: Monotheism: There is Only One God
◦ Foundation Two: There Are Three Divine Persons
◦ Foundation Three: The Persons Are Coequal and Coeternal

Functional Order of the Trinity

All members of the Trinity are equal in essence or nature, that is, all members are God.

The Father is 100% God, the Son is 100% God and the Holy Spirit is 100% God.

With that said, there are different functions within the Trinity:

◦ The Function of the Father:
• The Father is the “Source, Sender, and Planner of salvation.”

He is the Creator, the Source of all things (Genesis 1:1)
He sent His only-begotten, His unique Son (John 3:16)
He is the Planner of salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9; Matthew 10:32)

◦ The Function of the Son:
• The Son is the one that was sent to die and achieve salvation for those who are His.

He was sent by the Father (John 20:21)
He seeks those who are lost (Luke 19:9,10)
His purpose was to die for you and me (John 12:27)

◦ The Function of the Holy Spirit:
• The Holy Spirit is the executor of the plans of God. In other words, He is the one who carries out Gods purposes and plans.

He guides to truth (John 16:13)
He reveals Jesus to us (John 16:14)
He comforts (John 14:16)
He gives us wisdom (Ephesians 1:17)
He prays for believers (Romans 8:27)
He gives believers power (Acts 1:8)
Helps us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26)
Gives believers spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11)
Gives us spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)

It is important to remember that “difference in function does not indicate inferiority in nature.”

Because the Son has a different function than the Father or the Holy Spirit has a different function than the Son does not mean that they are any less God than the others of the Trinity.

In summary, the Father “is the planner and the source, the Son is the accomplisher and the means and the Holy Spirit is the applier and effecter of salvation to believers.”

Now, when talking to someone about the Trinity, it will undoubtedly be brought up that the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. That’s OK, the word “Bible” isn’t in the Bible either or the word “Theocracy” but what is there, are the concepts.

If you find it hard to understand the concept of the Trinity, welcome to the club. Our limited human understanding makes it a difficult concept. We can apprehend the concept of the Trinity even though we may not fully comprehend the concept of the Trinity.

Basically, human beings cannot possibly or fully understand everything there is to know about the incomprehensible God.

◦ Job 11:7 says, “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?”

◦ Psalm 139:6 says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

◦ Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

◦ Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!”

◦ 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

We must accept that the finite mind cannot fully understand the infinite. If we could wrap our minds around God, it would show either that God was no god or we have invented a god that only our minds could comprehend. The concept of the Trinity actually argues for the existence of God.
Now that we’ve defined our terms, let’s see what the Trinity is not and then move on to what the Bible has to say about the Trinity.

What the Trinity is not…

The Father is not 1/3 of God, the Son 1/3 of God and the Spirit 1/3 of God. Each is fully God, coequal and coeternal with the others.

The Trinity is not Polytheistic (many Gods) as is common in Mormonism.

The Trinity is not Modalistic (one God in different modes) also known as “Jesus Only” and “Oneness Pentecostalism”.

The Trinity is not Pantheistic (God is all and all is God) as is common in Hinduism.

The Trinity is not three Gods (1+1+1=3) but one God (1x1x1=1)..." Full text: The Case for the Trinity

You are a false teacher denying the deity of Jesus. You fail to understand the relationship that Jesus (the second person of the trinity) had with his Father (the first person of the trinity). Jesus came in full submission to the will of his Father for our benefit. Man, after the fall, was in need of a Savior. God himself provided a way for our return to him.

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:433-434). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Mt 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? [Matt. 27:46].

"We find the answer to that question in Psalm 22. It opens with these words: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Then we read the answer in verse 3: “But thou art holy …” (Ps. 22:1, 3, italics mine). When my sin is put upon Jesus, God has to withdraw. Our Savior had to be executed if He were going to take my sin and yours."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:148-149). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Jn 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 [John 20:17].

"The Lord told Mary not to touch Him. The word touch is haptomai, meaning “to hold on.” Later, He told the disciples to touch Him. Why this difference? He says to her, “for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” This is the reason she should not hold on to Him. So apparently He did ascend to His Father before the appearance to the disciples in the house. I believe that the Lord Jesus presented His blood at the throne of God and that His blood turned the judgment seat into the mercy seat which it is today. That blood was shed for your sin and for my sin. I think the blood will be there throughout all eternity as an eternal testimony of the price He paid for us.

You will notice He was specific in calling God “my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” His relationship to the Father is different from our relationship to Him. We become the sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, while Christ is a member of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God. He made this distinction here."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:497). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 3:2]

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God [Rev. 3:2].

"Let me give you my translation of this verse:

Wake up and watch out and establish the things that remain which were about to die, for I have found no works of thine fulfilled (perfected) before my God.

This is the second word of condemnation, and it is a word of warning which had particular meaning in Sardis. As I have said, Sardis was located on the top of a mountain. It had one entrance on the southern side which was the only way you could get into the city in the old days. Therefore, all that Sardis had to do was to put a detail at that one place to watch the city. But on two occasions in their history they had been invaded by their enemies because they had felt secure, believing that the hill was impregnable, and the guard went to sleep on the job. In 549 b.c. the Median soldiers of Cyrus scaled the parapet, and then again in 218 b.c. Antiochus the Great captured Sardis because a Cretan slipped over the walls while the sentries were careless. What the Lord says to this church at Sardis is this: “You wake up and watch out!” This was embarrassing because of the two occasions in their history when they had been caught napping. He says to the church, “Don’t you go to sleep!”

Protestantism, as a whole, has turned away from looking for the coming of Jesus Christ, and they have built up these systems that certain things must be fulfilled before He can come. My friend, it is tissue-thin from where we are right now to the coming of Christ for His church. He could come the next moment or tomorrow. Don’t say that I said He is coming tomorrow because I don’t know. It may be a hundred years, but, my friend, His imminent return is what we are to look for. Sardis didn’t know when the enemy was coming, and we don’t know when Christ is coming—we have no way of knowing at all.

In view of the fact that the Rapture could take place at any moment, the church is to be alert. The date is not set, nor even the period in which He will come, and the reason for that is that the church is to be constantly on the alert for His coming—“Looking for that blessed hope …” (Titus 2:13). You see, anyone can make ready for a fixed hour, but you must always be ready for an unexpected hour. The Lord Jesus is saying to Protestantism that they are constantly to be on the alert.

“For I have not found thy works perfect before God.” Protestantism did recover the authority of the Word of God, the total depravity of man, and justification by faith, but there are many other things that they did not recover. The Reformation was not a return to the apostolic church.

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:913). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 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 [Rev. 3:12].

"There are two pillars in Philadelphia today. One is that of the Byzantine church, which I do not think is the reference here. But there is also a pillar on the side of the hill, hidden among those cedar and laurel trees. That pillar is all that remains of the city of John’s day. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.” The church down here was destroyed, but the permanent pillar is up yonder.

“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.” This is the passport and visa of the believer which will enable him, as a citizen of heaven, to pass freely upon this earth or anywhere in God’s universe. He is a pillar to “go no more out,” but with God’s passport he is to go everywhere. Although this is paradoxical, it is all wonderfully and blessedly true.

“I will write upon him my new name.” This is His name. We do not have a new name; rather, He is saying that He has a new name for Himself that He will give to us. This new name is a personal relationship we will have with Him."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:920). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Deut 5:7]

Thou shalt have none other gods before me [Deut. 5:7].

Man’s first sin was not to become an atheist; his sin was to become a polytheist. He worshiped many gods. For example, at the tower of Babel, men built a ziggurat, a tower. On the top of this they offered sacrifices, apparently to the sun. The sun and the planets were some of the first objects men worshiped when they turned away from God. After the Flood, they certainly were not worshiping thunder and lightning, because they feared them. They worshiped the sun, the creation rather than the Creator. It was for the polytheist that God said, “Thou shalt have none other gods before me.” It was not until the time of David that atheism came in. Earlier than that, men were too close to the mooring mast of revelation to be atheists. The revelation of God was still in their memory, and no one was denying the existence of God. In David’s day it was the fool who “… said in his heart, There is no God” (Ps. 14:1). That word fool means “insane.” A man who says there is no God is insane or else he is not sincere. This first commandment does not even mention a disbelief in the existence of God, it prohibits the worship of many gods."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (1:ix-547). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Deut 4:39]

And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt [Deut. 4:37].

"God did it because He loved them. That is the explanation. There was no good in them, but there was good in God.

God loves us today. But He does not save us by love; He saves us by grace. He couldn’t just open the back door of heaven and slip us in. He couldn’t be righteous and do that. A sacrifice for our sins had to be made. His love sent Christ to die for us, and Christ loved us enough to die so that you and I might have a pardon. The Bible does not say, “God so loved the world, that he saved the world.” It says, “… God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son …” (John 3:16). He did this that whoever—it makes no difference who it is—“believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (1:ix-545). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Jn 17:3]

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [John 17:3].

Does election shut out certain people? No. Life eternal is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Do you have a desire to know the true God and Jesus Christ? Then you are not shut out. You must be one of the elect. He gives eternal life to those who have heard the call and have responded down in their hearts. They have come to Christ of their own free will.

“That they might know thee.” It is not the amount of knowledge you have, but the kind of knowledge that is important. It is whom you know. Do you know Jesus Christ? In the same way, it is not the amount of faith you have but the kind of faith that is important. There is a song called “Only Believe.” Only believe what? Only believe in the only One, the Lord Jesus Christ. I quote Spurgeon again: “It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee. It is Christ. It is not thy faith in Christ, though that be the instrument. It is Christ’s blood and merit.” It is Christ who saves. One can believe in the wrong thing. It is the object of faith which is so important. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” Now faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. What does the Word of God say? The gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Those are the facts. Our knowledge of the facts and our response to that knowledge is faith. Faith is trusting Christ as our own Savior.

Life eternal is to know God and to know Jesus Christ. Jesus is His name as Savior, and Christ is His title—the Messiah, the King of Israel. To know Him means to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. When we move on in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we come to the place of assurance. Anyone without the assurance of salvation is either unsaved or is just a babe in Christ. They need to move on to the place where they know that they are saved. Life eternal is to know the only genuine God and to know Jesus Christ. This is the reason that the study of the Word of God is so important. Many people stay on the fringe of things and are never sure they are saved."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:478-479). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from "Christian"]: "Please stop posting scripture with out explaining what it means to you!"

Faith is no better than its object (1 Jn 4:1-6). The Bible says prove all things (1 Thes 5:21). False prophets came in unawares (Jude 4).

^"For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!" (2 Co 11:4). Paul says, you might believe a lie--don't.

We test by:

1. The Word of God

2. The Son of God

3. The Spirit of God

You fail all three. You are a false teacher--not of God. You have the spirit of antichrist, denying the deity of Jesus (1 Jn 3). Anti means "instead of" and "against". John is exact when he speaks Jesus (his human name, his earthly name); Christ (his divine title, man and Messiah at the same time, the God-man who stepped out of heaven) [1 Jn 4:2].

"You offer no reference! There are over 30,000 Christian denominations in the world today."

Don't believe 30,000 denominations. Test everything by the Word of God. What do others believe about Jesus? Who do they say Jesus is?

"You post scripture as if some how everyone will magically understand what your implying."

You will not understand until you repent of your sins and put your trust in the Lord. The Spirit takes the things of God and makes them real to the believer (Jn 3:27, 1 Cor 12:3).

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Friend, Jesus was not God, he was a man sent from God..."

You are no friend of mine: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds(2 Jn 10-11)."

"...Peace."

"'There is no peace,' Says my God, 'for the wicked.' (Is 57:21)."

"Juan Baixeras has the truth in this given area."

Juan Baixeras is a liar and a false teacher with the spirit of antichrist--denying the deity of Jesus.

"[Y]ou only seek to confirm your truth!"

Ad hominem. As long as I preach what the Bible has to say, I preach with all authority of an apostle or prophet (Eph 2:20).

"I am not denying the son. but he is just that, the son."

The apostle Paul revealed a great mystery:

"God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory. (1 Ti 3:16).

For the first time, the angels had seen the Lord. They had never seen him before. Jesus is the God-man [Jesus (man) Christ (God)]. If you deny his humanity or if you deny his deity, you are of antichrist (1 Jn 4:3). He "is come" into the world (preexistence) [1 Jn 4:3]. Everyone else was born into the world. Jesus came into the world. God was manifest (1 Jn 4:9). He was sent. Babies come from their mother's womb. The Lord Jesus created his mother. He is as old as his Father. God, the Father sent God, the Son (Rogers).

Response to comment [from other]: "How do you not know your own 'concept' of 'God' is not an idol?"

The apostle John was an eyewitness to the risen Lord (1 Jn 1:1). I trust in the Jesus of the Bible (1 Jn 4:2) anyone who does not is of antichrist (1 Jn 4:3). Only the Holy Spirit can take the word of God and reveal the Son of God (1 Jn 4:4). This is how we know truth from error (Jn 3:27, 1 Cor 12:3).

"Then use your spiritual discernment to show me the way... or do you need to contact your pastor for advice first?"

If my pastor gave another way (Jn 14:6), I would reject him. If I offered him another way (Jn 14:6), he would reject me--and he would be right.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "So Jesus is God, yet God had to withdraw..."

Sin was put on Jesus. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imPutin g their trespasses unto them (2 Cor 5:19). For the first time, the godhead did not have perfect fellowship.

"Who died for your sins? Yep, a man!"

You have the spirit of antichrist. The God-man, Jesus. 100% God and 100% man. Jesus will forever be 100% God and 100% man.

"...God withdrew and left the 100% man just hanging?"

Jesus suffered in his humanity.

"So did God withdraw, when Jesus was tempted by evil?"

Jesus was tempted in his humanity. He will judge the world because he is the Son of Man.

[Mat 4:1]

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil [Matt. 4:1].

"He was to be tested by the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread [Matt. 4:2–3].

This is the same kind of temptation that came to Eve. The first one was physical. She saw that the tree was good for food (see Gen. 3:6). The Lord Jesus was told to turn stones to bread. First John 2:15–16 says that such temptation for the Christian is the “… lust of the flesh.”

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God [Matt. 4:4].

That is found in Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus surely knew Deuteronomy, and He believed it was the inspired Word of God. Now the second testing:

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone [Matt. 4:5–6].

The Devil is quoting Psalm 91:11–12, although he does not quote it accurately. Now, this is the spiritual temptation. For Eve it was that she saw the fruit was “… to be desired to make one wise …” (Gen. 3:6). For the Christian, it is the “… pride of life …” (1 John 2:16).

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God [Matt. 4:7].

He is quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.

The third testing is psychological.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me [Matt. 4:8–9].

Satan showed Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory. This, you see, is a psychological temptation. Man lusts for power. Eve was subjected to the same temptation: “… ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Many of us succumb to this test.

Notice the answer of the Lord Jesus—

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve [Matt. 4:10]

He is quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20. Friend, we see that our Lord answered each time with Scripture. Certainly, that ought to have a message for all of us.

Why is it that many of us are having trouble living the Christian life? May I say this very kindly: It is ignorance of the Word of God. Notice that our Lord always answered by giving the Word of God. I believe that the Word of God has an answer for your particular problem. That doesn’t mean that I know the answer for your problem. It doesn’t mean that your psychologist or psychiatrist knows the answer for your problem. But God has an answer for your problem, and it is in His Word. That is the reason we should know the Book better than we do.

Let me repeat, the Lord Jesus answered Satan every time out of the Word. He did not say, “Well, I think this” or “I believe there is a better way of doing it.” He said very definitely that the Word of God says thus and so. He used the Word of God for His answer. And for the child of God, that is enough."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:22-23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Jas 1:13]

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man [James 1:13].

"We have seen in the preceding verses that God tests His own children, but now James makes it very clear that God never tests men with evil and with sin. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God”—a more literal translation is this: “Let not one man being tempted say, I am tempted of God.” Notice that James is no longer using the noun temptation as he was previously. He is now using the verb; he is speaking of the action.

The natural propensity of mankind is to blame God for his own fumbles, all of his foibles, all of his faults and failures and filth. From the very beginning, since the time of the fall of man, this has been true. Adam said, “… The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (Gen. 3:12)—he really passed the buck! The woman did the same thing; she said, “… The serpent beguiled me …” (Gen. 3:13). Actually, all three of them were responsible.

We often hear questions like this: Why does God send floods and earthquakes and allow the killing of babies? We blame God today for the result of the greed and avarice and selfishness of mankind—that is what is really responsible for floods and earthquakes. Man builds too close to a river and, when in the natural course of events the river rises, he calls it a flood and an act of God. But man thinks it is more pleasant to build by the river, or it’s nearer transportation, or that is where the business is. It is actually the greed and avarice of man that causes him to build where it is really dangerous to build.

If you are going to live in Southern California, for example, you are going to take a chance on having an earthquake—you can be sure of that. We had a small one just the other evening as my wife and I were sitting in our den. The seismologists predict that we are in for a big earthquake here, yet people are still streaming into Southern California and putting up high-rise buildings. We ought not to blame God if a slab of concrete falls off one of those high-rise buildings and kills one of our loved ones. It would be much safer in the wide open spaces of Texas. I’m a Texan, but who wants to go back there? I know it’s nicer there than when I was just a boy growing up, but I want to stay here in California. However, I’m not going to blame God when the earthquake comes. We have already been warned that it is coming.

Men also blame God in their philosophies today. Pantheism, for instance, says that everything is God, but good is God’s right hand and evil is His left hand. Fatalism says that everything is running like blind necessity. If there is a God, they say, He has wound up this universe like an eight-day clock and has gone off and left it. Materialism’s explanation of the problem with the human race is that the loftiest aspirations and the vilest passions are the natural metabolism of a physical organism.

God has answered these philosophies in His Word. There is no evil in God. In Him all is goodness and all is light and all is right. John wrote in his first epistle, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light [that is, He is holy], and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The Lord Jesus made this very interesting statement: “… for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). That means there is no evil or sin in Him. But every time Satan gets around me, he is able to find something in me.

Let me introduce something which is theological at this point: Jesus could not sin. Someone will immediately ask, “Why, then, was He tempted?” In Matthew 4:7 our Lord said to Satan, “… It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” God wants to save from sin, and He does not tempt men to sin—He wants to deliver men. He never uses sin as a test, but He will permit it, as we shall see. The Lord Jesus had no sin in Him—“The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” The reason He was tempted was to prove that there was nothing in Him. After He had lived a life down here for thirty-three years, Satan came with this temptation, a temptation that appealed to man’s total personality—the physical side, the mental side, and the spiritual side of man. The Lord Jesus could not fall, and the testing was given to demonstrate that He could not fall. If He could have fallen, then any moment your salvation and mine is in doubt. The minute He yielded to sin, we would have no Savior. His temptation was to prove that He could not sin.

Let me illustrate this with a very homely illustration from my boyhood in west Texas. My dad built cotton gins for the Murray Gin Company, and we lived in a little town that was near a branch of the Brazos River. In the summertime there wasn’t enough water in that river to rust a shingle nail, but when it began to rain in wintertime, you could almost float a battleship on it. One year a flood washed out the wooden bridge on which the Santa Fe railroad crossed the river. They replaced it with a steel bridge, and when they completed it, they brought in two locomotives, stopped them on top of the bridge, and tied down both of the whistles. All of us who lived in that little town knew for sure that something was happening. We ran down to see what it was—all twenty-three of us! When we got there, one of the braver citizens asked the engineer, “What are you doing?” The engineer replied, “Well, we built this bridge, and we are testing it.” The man asked, “Why? Do you think it’s going to fall down?” That engineer drew himself up to his full height and said, “Of course it will not fall down! We are proving it won’t fall down.” For the same reason, Jesus was tested to prove that you and I have a Savior who could not sin. God cannot be tempted with sin, and God will not tempt you with sin.

However, God does permit us to be tempted with sin. In 2 Samuel 24:1 we read, “And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” Frankly, that was sinful. Then, did God tempt David with evil? My friend, to understand the Bible you always need to get the full story. In 2 Samuel you have man’s viewpoint of the events recorded. From man’s viewpoint it looked as if God was angry with Israel and He simply had David do this. However, in 1 Chronicles we are told God’s viewpoint of it: “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel” (1 Chr. 21:1). Who provoked David to sin? It was Satan, not God. God merely permitted Satan to do that because He was angry with Israel and their sin. God never tempts men with evil.

Who is responsible for our propensity to evil? What causes us to sin? Someone will say, “Well, you have just shown that it is Satan.” Let’s look at what James has to say in verse 14—

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed [James 1:14].

We are talking here about the sins of the flesh. Who is responsible when you are drawn away to do evil? When you yield to evil temptation? God is not responsible. The Devil is not responsible. You are responsible.

A man got lost in the hills of Arkansas back in the days of the Model T Ford. He had lost his way, and there were no highway markings. He came into a small town and saw some little boys playing there. He asked one of them, “Where am I?” The little fellow looked at him puzzled for just a moment. Finally he pointed at the man with his finger and said, “There you are!” My friend, when you ask, “Who tempted me to do this?” God says, “There you are. It’s in your own skin—that is where the problem is.”

“Every man is tempted.” Every man—this is the declaration of the individuality of the personality in the race of mankind. Just as each one of us has a different fingerprint, each one of us has a different moral nature. We have our own idiosyncrasies, our own eccentricities. All of us have something a little different.

One man was talking to another and said, “You know, everybody has some peculiarity.” “I disagree with you,” said the other. “I don’t think I have a peculiarity.” “Well, then, let me ask you a question. Do you stir your coffee with your right hand or with your left hand?” asked the first man. “I stir it with my right hand,” the other man replied. “Well, that’s your peculiarity. Most people stir their coffee with a spoon!” May I say to you, all of us have our peculiarities. One person may be tempted to drink. Another may be tempted to overeat. Another may be tempted in the realm of sex. The problem is always within the individual. No outside thing or influence can make us sin. The trouble is here, within us, with that old nature that we have.

I think of the little boy who was playing around one evening in the pantry. He had gotten down the cookie jar. His mother called to him and said, “Willie, what are you doing in the pantry?” He said, “I’m fighting temptation!” He was in the wrong place to fight temptation, but that is the same place a lot of grown-up people are today. Many things are not bad within themselves, but it is the use we make of them that is wrong. Food is good, but you can become a glutton. Alcohol is medicine, but you can become an alcoholic if you abuse it. Sex is good if it is exercised within marriage. When it is exercised outside of marriage, you are going to experience several kinds of damage. Our society has an epidemic of venereal disease because of the looseness of the “new morality” today.

Many psychologists are trying to help us get rid of our guilt complexes. A Christian psychologist who taught in one of our universities here in Southern California told me one time, “You need to emphasize in your teaching that guilt complex more than you do. A guilt complex is as much a part of you as your right arm. You just cannot get rid of it.”

However, the godless psychologist may attempt to remove the guilt complex in the wrong way. For example, a Christian lady called me one time and said, “Dr. McGee, a most frightful thing has happened to me. I’ve been having a real problem and have been on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to certain trials I’ve been going through. I went to a psychologist whom my doctor recommended. When he found out that I was a Christian, he said, ‘What you need to do is to go downstairs to the barroom and pick up the first man you find there. Then you’ll get rid of your guilt complex.”’ I agree with the woman that such counsel is frightful indeed!

Then there are other psychologists who say, “What about your background? Did your mother love you? Did anything unusual happen while you were in the womb?” If you said, “Well, my mother was caught in a rainstorm while she was carrying me,” the psychologist would say, “That’s the reason you’re a drip!” Well, he practically says that when he blames his patient’s problems on the mother.

My friend, you could solve a great deal of your problems for which you are blaming someone else if you would say to the living Lord Jesus who is right now at God’s right hand, “I’m a sinner. I’m guilty.” Then He will remove your guilt complex—He is the only One who can do that.

Proverbs says, “For as he [man] thinketh in his heart, so is he …” (Prov. 23:7). The solicitation to sin must have a corresponding response from within. James says that it is of your own lust (lust is an overweening desire and uncontrolled longing) that you are drawn away into sin. The Lord Jesus said, “I will draw all men unto Me” (see John 12:32), but the scoffer says, “He’ll not draw me!” My friend, He will not force you. Hosea tells us that He will only use bands of love to draw us to Himself. He wants to woo and win you by His grace and love. Frankly, evil is attractive today; it is winsome. We are told that Moses was caught up at first in the pleasures of sin. Man can be enticed; the hook can be baited. If he yields, before long a person will become an alcoholic or a dope addict."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:633-635). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Jesus has a God."

If a wife has a husband does that imply that she is inferior?

Jesus has perfect fellowship with the Father, the first person of the trinity. Jesus, the second person of the trinity, came in full submission to the will of the Father. As in marriage, one is not over another but there is a God-ordained order. Man is the head. He is not superior to his wife. Order does not imply supremacy. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one--three whose, one what.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]:

You make God, the Father, a liar because you do not believe Jesus is who he says he is: "He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son (1 Jn 5:10)."

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Did you even read the verses you quoted? They have nothing to do with Jesus being God, but Jesus being the Messiah!"

Did you know that the apostle John made it clear that Jesus is the Messiah? The Creator of the heavens and the earth?

As Jehovah, Isa. 40:3, with Matt. 3:3; Jehovah of glory, Psa. 24:7, 10, with 1 Cor. 2:8; Jas. 2:1; Jehovah our righteousness, Jer. 23:5, 6, with 1 Cor. 1:30; Jehovah above all, Psa. 97:9, with John 3:31; Jehovah the first and the last, Isa. 44:6, with Rev. 1:17; Isa. 48:12–16, with Rev. 22:13; Jehovah’s fellow and equal, Zech. 13:7; Phil. 2:6; Jehovah of Armies, Isa. 6:1–3, with John 12:41; Isa. 8:13, 14, with 1 Pet. 2:8; Jehovah, Psa. 110:1, with Matt. 22:42–45; Jehovah the shepherd, Isa. 40:10, 11; Heb. 13:20; Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created, Prov. 16:4, with Col. 1:16; Jehovah the messenger of the covenant, Mal. 3:1, with Luke 7:27. Invoked as Jehovah, Joel 2:32, with 1 Cor. 1:2; as the eternal God and Creator, Psa. 102:24–27, with Heb. 1:8, 10–12; the mighty God, Isa. 9:6; the great God and Savior, Hos. 1:7, with Tit. 2:13; God over al, Rom. 9:5; God the Judge, Eccl. 12:14, with 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Emmanuel, Isa. 7:14, with Matt. 1:23; King of kings and Lord of lords, Dan. 10:17, with Rev. 1:5; 17:14; the Holy One, 1 Sam. 2:2, with Acts 3:14; the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15:47; Lord of the sabbath, Gen. 2:3, with Matt. 12:8; Lord of all, Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:11–13; Son of God, Matt. 26:63–67; the only begotten Son of the Father, John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9. His blood is called the blood of God, Acts 20:28. One with the Father, John 10:30, 38; 12:45; 14:7–10; 17:10. As sending the Spirit equally with the Father, John 14:16, with John 15:26. As unsearchable equally with the Father, Prov. 30:4; Matt. 11:27. As Creator of all things, Isa. 40:28; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; supporter and preserver of all things, Neh. 9:6, with Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3. Acknowledged by Old Testament saints, Gen. 17:1, with Gen. 48:15, 16; 32:24–30, with Hos. 12:3–5; Judg. 6:22–24; 13:21, 22; Job 19:25–27. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to the Divinity of: Ex. 23:20, 21; Psa. 24:10 1 Cor. 2:8; Psa. 45:6, 7 Heb. 1:8. Isa. 6:1 John 12:41. Isa. 8:13, 14 1 Pet. 2:8. Isa. 9:6 Tit. 2:13. Isa. 40:3, 9, 10 Matt. 3:3. Mal. 3:1 Matt. 11:10. Matt. 1:23 Isa. 7:14. Matt. 8:29 Luke 8:28. Matt. 9:6; Matt. 22:43–45 Psa. 110:1. Matt. 28:17, 18; Mark 5:6, 7; Luke 4:12, 33, 34; Luke 9:43, 44; John 1:1, 2; John 5:17, 18, 21–23; John 10:30–33; John 12:45; John 20:28; Acts 7:37–39; Acts 20:28; Rom. 1:7 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Col. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim. 1:2. Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 10:9 Num. 21:6. 1 Cor. 15:47; Gal. 1:1, 3; Eph. 1:2; Eph. 6:23; Phil. 2:6 vs. 5–11.; 1 Thess. 3:11; 2 Thess. 2:16, 17; 1 Tim. 3:16; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8, 10 Psa. 102:24–27; vs. 1–14, with Gen. 1:1.1 John 5:20.

"I told you to stop sitting and soaking up your pastors tradition of men!"

I will stand with the apostles and the prophets in belief in Jesus Christ, the cornerstone (Eph 2:20).

"You better be careful or Choleric will put you on his TOL's Satan's Inc. list!"

Choleric's list is very helpful. Your being on the list is the least of your worries (Mt 10:33). You have an appointment on your calendar:

Psa. 9:17; Prov. 5:5; Prov. 9:13–17; Prov. 15:24; Prov. 23:13, 14; Isa. 30:33; Isa. 33:14; Matt. 3:12; Matt. 5:29 v. 30.; Matt. 7:13 v. 14.; Matt. 8:11, 12; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 13:30, 38–42, 49, 50; Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:8, 9, 34, 35; Matt. 22:13; Matt. 25:28–30, 41, 46; Mark 9:43, 44 vs. 45–48.; Matt. 5:29. Luke 3:17 Matt. 3:12. Luke 16:23, 24, 26 vs. 25,28;; Acts 1:25. 2 Thess. 1:9; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6, 23; Rev. 9:1, 2 Rev. 11:7. Rev. 14:10, 11; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10, 15; Rev. 21:8 Rev. 2:11).

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Wow, what a waste of energy... all you needed was John 20:31...All else is the traditions of men!"

Then you are without excuse--receive Christ as Lord (God).

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 20:30–31].

"This is the key to the gospel. The Lord did many things that are not recorded. He healed multitudes. I think John also means that He did many other things after His resurrection which are not recorded. John has been selective in his writing of this gospel. He has chosen the material which he has written because he had a definite purpose in mind.

John did not attempt to write a biography of Jesus Christ. He did not even attempt to fill in the life of Christ in areas not covered by the other gospels. He wrote so that you might “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” It is through believing that you receive life and are born again. You become a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:500). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "You seem to miss the point of your own post. Jesus has a God."

Jesus is God, the second person of the trinity, the creator of the heavens and the earth. I get your point--I reject your point. Understand (Jn 1:1). Only the Holy Spirit can make the nature of Jesus real to you.

Response to comment: "You are truly a sit and soaker."

Ad hominem. No scripture twisting will change the reality of Jn 1:1. Heaven and earth will pass but Jn 1:1 will remain true. Jesus is Lord. He, the second person of the trinity, created the heavens and the earth. He came in full submission to the Father, the first person of the trinity. He'll save you or he'll judge you (Gen. 16:5; Gen. 18:21, 25 v. 20.; Num. 16:22; Deut. 10:17 2 Sam. 14:14; Rom. 2:11. Deut. 32:4, 35; Josh. 24:19 Ex. 20:5; 34:7. Judg. 11:27; 1 Sam. 2:3, 10; 1 Sam. 24:12, 15; 2 Sam. 22:25–27 Psa. 18:25, 26. 1 Kin. 8:32 Judg. 9:56, 57; 2 Chr. 6:22, 23. 1 Chr. 16:33; 2 Chr. 19:7; Neh. 9:33; Job 4:17; Job 8:3; Job 9:15, 28; Job 21:22; Job 23:7; Job 31:13–15; Job 34:10–12, 17, 19, 23; Job 35:14; Job 36:3, 19; Job 37:23; Psa. 7:9, 11 v. 8;; Heb. 10:30. Psa. 9:4, 7, 8; Psa. 11:4, 5, 7; Psa. 19:9; Psa. 26:1, 2; Psa. 33:5; Psa. 35:24; Psa. 43:1; Psa. 50:4, 6 Psa. 75:7. Psa. 51:4; Psa. 58:11; Psa. 62:12; Psa. 67:4; Psa. 71:19; Psa. 76:8, 9; Psa. 85:10; Psa. 89:14; Psa. 90:8, 11; Psa. 92:15; Psa. 94:1, 2, 10 Psa. 82:8. Psa. 96:13 v. 10.; Psa. 97:2; Psa. 98:2 vs. 3,9.; Psa. 99:4, 8; Psa. 103:6; Psa. 111:7; Psa. 119:137; Psa. 129:4; Psa. 135:14; Psa. 143:2; Psa. 145:17; Prov. 11:31; Prov. 16:2; Prov. 17:3; Prov. 21:2, 3; Prov. 24:12; Prov. 29:13, 26; Eccl. 3:15, 17; Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14; Isa. 1:27; Isa. 3:13, 14; Isa. 10:17, 18; Isa. 26:7; Isa. 28:17, 21; Isa. 30:18, 27, 30; Isa. 31:2; Isa. 33:22; Isa. 45:21; Isa. 61:8; Jer. 9:24; Jer. 10:10; Jer. 11:20 Jer. 20:12. Jer. 12:1; Jer. 32:19; Jer. 50:7; Jer. 51:10; Lam. 1:18; Ezek. 14:23; Ezek. 18:25 [v. 29.] Ezek. 18:30; Ezek. 33:7–19; Dan. 4:37; Dan. 7:9, 10; Dan. 9:7, 14; Hos. 10:10; Amos 8:7; Nah. 1:3, 6; Zeph. 3:5; Mal. 3:5, 18; Acts 17:31; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 2:2, 5–16; Rom. 3:4–6, 26; Rom. 9:14; Rom. 11:22; Eph. 6:8, 9 Col. 3:25; Acts 10:34. 2 Thess. 1:4–6; Heb. 6:10; Heb. 10:30, 31; Heb. 12:22, 23, 29 Deut. 4:24. 1 Pet. 1:17; 2 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 1:9; Jude 6; Rev. 6:16, 17; Rev. 11:18; Rev. 15:3; Rev. 16:5–7; Rev. 18:8; Rev. 19:2).

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Jesus said he was the Son of God."

That is true. He is the preeminent Son of God, the second person of the godhead. There is no other like him (Ex 15:11). Uncreated creator. The godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) reached out to man after the fall. He needed a Savior--Jesus, (God himself saves [Jn 1:14]). That is love (Ro 5:8).

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: There you go again, adding to scripture."

Scripture speaks for itself. Will you believe God's word or man's opinion? Jesus is the preeminent Son of God, the second person of the trinity (Psa. 2:7; Psa. 89:26, 27; Matt. 3:17 Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22. Matt. 4:3, 6; Matt. 10:40; Matt. 11:27 Luke 10:22. Matt. 14:33; Matt. 15:13; Matt. 16:15–17; Matt. 17:5 Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 2 Pet. 1:17. Matt. 18:10, 19; Matt. 20:23; Matt. 21:37 Luke 20:13. Matt. 26:53, 63, 64; Matt. 27:43, 54; Mark 1:1; Mark 3:11; Mark 5:7 Luke 8:28. Mark 14:61, 62; Mark 15:39; Luke 1:32, 35; Luke 4:3, 9, 41; Luke 9:35; Luke 10:22; Luke 22:29, 70 Mark 14:61. John 1:1, 2, 14, 18, 34, 49, 50; John 3:16–18, 34–36; John 5:19–21, 23, 26, 27, 30, 32, 36, 37; John 6:27, 38, 40, 46, 57, 69; John 7:16, 28, 29; John 8:16, 19, 26–29, 38, 40, 42, 49, 54; John 9:35–37; John 10:15, 17, 18, 29, 30, 36–38; John 11:4, 27, 41; John 12:49, 50; John 13:3; John 14:7, 9–11, 13, 16, 20, 24, 28, 31; John 15:1, 8–10, 23, 24; John 16:5, 15, 27, 28, 32; John 17:1 vs. 1–26.; John 19:7; John 20:17, 21, 31; Acts 3:13; Acts 13:33; Rom. 1:3, 4, 9; Rom. 8:3, 29, 32; 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 15:24, 27, 28; 2 Cor. 1:3, 19; Gal. 1:16; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:3; Eph. 3:14; Col. 1:3, 15, 19; Col. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:10; Heb. 1:1–3, 5; Heb. 4:14; Heb. 5:5, 8, 10; Heb. 6:6; Heb. 7:3; Heb. 10:29; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:22–24; 1 John 3:8, 23; 1 John 4:9, 10, 14; 1 John 5:5, 9, 10, 13, 20; 2 John 3; Rev. 2:18).

[Jn 5:30]

Jesus came in full submission to the Father.

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me [John 5:30].

"Jesus says, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” That is His self-limitation when He came down to this earth and took upon Himself our humanity. He came down as a man, not to do His own will but the Father’s will.

This is the example for us today. You and I have a will, an old nature, that is not obedient to God. We can’t be obedient to God because we are actually in rebellion against God. That is the natural state of every man. That is the reason our Lord had to tell Nicodemus that he must be born again. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). You and I have to have the new birth because this old nature is incorrigible, my friend. It is in rebellion against God. It has been carrying a protest banner before the gates of heaven ever since man came out through the gates of paradise in the Garden of Eden.

Now our Lord is going to show that there are witnesses to the fact that His claims are true."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:398). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"Two different wills Serpentdove..."

One will (Jesus suffered in his humanity) and one purpose within the godhead (to save mankind after the fall of man). If there were another way, God would have considered it. The cross reveals what God thinks of sin. Jesus chose to redeem mankind (Ro 5:8). Men don't go to hell for their sins. They go to hell because they refuse the Son of God who suffered and died for them.

[1 Cor 15:45]

Begotten--none other like him, the God-man Jesus. Jesus (man) Christ (Messiah, God) [Jn 1:1]. If you do not see Jesus in every book of the Bible, keep looking.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit [1 Cor. 15:45].

"You see, the first man, Adam, was psychical—psuchen and zosan in the Greek. That means he was physical and psychological. The last Adam (Christ) is spiritual—pneuma or pneumatical, if you want the English equivalent."

McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:79). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "So tell me how the Lord our God is One, yet submits to Himself!"

You change the Jesus of the Bible. Your god is an idol. Our God is one (Deut 6:4). The God of the Bible is one what, three whose. You do not have the Son--you are not his (Ro 8:9).

1 “God”

"This first occurrence of the divine name is the Hebrew Elohim, the name of God which stresses His majesty and omnipotence. This is the name used throughout the first chapter of Genesis. The im ending is the Hebrew plural ending, so that Elohim can actually mean “gods,” and is so translated in various passages referring to the gods of the heathen (e.g., Psalm 96:5).

Morris, H. M. (1976). The Genesis record : A scientific and devotional commentary on the book of beginnings. Includes indexes. (39). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

The second person of the godhead (Jesus), submitted to the first person of the godhead (the Father).

"Stop following your pastor!"

Ecological fallacy. I follow Jesus (Jn 12:26). You follow an a god of your own making.

"God is one."

Jesus is God in the flesh: "(v. 2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus (human name) Christ (divine title) has come in the flesh is of God, (v.3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God (1 Jn 4:1-3)." You have the spirit of antichrist (v.2).

The apostle John was very clear. God took on human flesh. God was manifested in the flesh (1 Ti 3:16). If you do not accept this you are not of Christ--you are of antichrist. The apostle says to test whether spirits are of God. You fail the test, denying the deity of Jesus. It is heresy to deny Jesus in his humanity. It is heresy to deny Jesus in his deity.

"[W]hat things in heaven needed reconciled by the blood of Jesus serpentdove?"

You need to be reconciled to God (Lev. 8:15; Ezek. 45:15; Dan. 9:24; Rom. 5:1, 10; Rom. 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:18–21; Eph. 2:15–18; Col. 1:20–22; Heb. 2:17). Mixing truth with error about the nature of Jesus (Jn 1:1) will never get you to heaven.

Jesus came (sent by the Father; he is the second person of the trinity) to reconcile man to God (himself): 2 Sam. 23:3, 4; Isa. 42:6, 7; Isa. 61:1–3; Dan. 9:24, 27; Mic. 5:2; Zech. 13:1; Mal. 3:2, 3; Matt. 1:21; Matt. 3:11, 12; Matt. 4:23; Matt. 5:17; Matt. 9:13 Luke 5:30–32. Matt. 10:34–36 Luke 12:49–53; Mic. 7:6. Matt. 15:24; Matt. 18:11 [Luke 19:10.] Matt. 18:12–14 Luke 15:3–7. Matt. 20:28 Mark 10:45. Mark 1:38 Luke 4:43. Mark 2:15–22; Luke 1:78, 79; Luke 2:30–32, 34, 35, 38; Luke 4:18, 19, 43; Luke 8:1; Luke 9:56; Luke 12:49–53; Luke 24:26, 46, 47; John 3:13–17; John 4:34; John 6:51; John 8:12; John 9:39; John 10:10; John 11:50–52; John 12:27, 46, 47; John 18:37; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 26:23; Rom. 4:25; Rom. 5:6–8; Rom. 8:3, 4; Rom. 10:4; Rom. 14:9, 15; Rom. 15:8, 9; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Gal. 1:3, 4; Gal. 4:4, 5; Eph. 4:10; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 2:9, 14, 15, 18; Heb. 9:26; 1 John 3:5, 8; 1 John 4:10.

"I frequently have people tell me that the Trinity exist in the O.T. because of the word Elohim. They happily tell me it's a plural word, and thus contains the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all in one word. My studies however, have proven different."

Keep studying (Jn 5:39).

"We are made in God's image, not the other way around."

Scripture twist all you'd like, it does not change the fact that Jesus is the Lord--the one who spoke and created the universe (Ge 1:3), the second person of the godhead (Ex 20:2; Joh 20:28; Ac 5:3,4), the savior of men (Jn 14:6). Believers (not make believers) have a common faith (Titus 1:4). You are not of the common faith that the apostle Paul spoke of. Where ever the word of God goes out, antichrists like you are never too far away. They attempt to sow tares among the wheat.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Pierac knows that Jesus is his Lord, he also know that his Lord has a God."

Another Jesus is an idol. You do not know the real Jesus (Jn 1:1) who created the world (Ge 1:3). This is why you are not a part of the "common" faith that the apostle Paul spoke of (Titus 1:4) . This is why Christians do not accept your false teaching. You fail the tests given by the apostle John (1 Jn 4:1-6). You are of antichrist because you deny the deity of Jesus.

Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "Do you understand what is written. No where does it say that his son is God..."

Of course scripture reveals that Jesus is God's Son: Psa. 2:7; Psa. 89:26, 27; Matt. 3:17 Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22. Matt. 4:3, 6; Matt. 10:40; Matt. 11:27 Luke 10:22. Matt. 14:33; Matt. 15:13; Matt. 16:15–17; Matt. 17:5 Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 2 Pet. 1:17. Matt. 18:10, 19; Matt. 20:23; Matt. 21:37 Luke 20:13. Matt. 26:53, 63, 64; Matt. 27:43, 54; Mark 1:1; Mark 3:11; Mark 5:7 Luke 8:28. Mark 14:61, 62; Mark 15:39; Luke 1:32, 35; Luke 4:3, 9, 41; Luke 9:35; Luke 10:22; Luke 22:29, 70 Mark 14:61. John 1:1, 2, 14, 18, 34, 49, 50; John 3:16–18, 34–36; John 5:19–21, 23, 26, 27, 30, 32, 36, 37; John 6:27, 38, 40, 46, 57, 69; John 7:16, 28, 29; John 8:16, 19, 26–29, 38, 40, 42, 49, 54; John 9:35–37; John 10:15, 17, 18, 29, 30, 36–38; John 11:4, 27, 41; John 12:49, 50; John 13:3; John 14:7, 9–11, 13, 16, 20, 24, 28, 31; John 15:1, 8–10, 23, 24; John 16:5, 15, 27, 28, 32; John 17:1 vs. 1–26.; John 19:7; John 20:17, 21, 31; Acts 3:13; Acts 13:33; Rom. 1:3, 4, 9; Rom. 8:3, 29, 32; 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 15:24, 27, 28; 2 Cor. 1:3, 19; Gal. 1:16; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:3; Eph. 3:14; Col. 1:3, 15, 19; Col. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:10; Heb. 1:1–3, 5; Heb. 4:14; Heb. 5:5, 8, 10; Heb. 6:6; Heb. 7:3; Heb. 10:29; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:22–24; 1 John 3:8, 23; 1 John 4:9, 10, 14; 1 John 5:5, 9, 10, 13, 20; 2 John 3; Rev. 2:18.

"His son has come into this world as a saviour, not as a God."

False. Jesus is savior and God (Christ): Jesus: As Jehovah, Isa. 40:3, with Matt. 3:3; Jehovah of glory, Psa. 24:7, 10, with 1 Cor. 2:8; Jas. 2:1; Jehovah our righteousness, Jer. 23:5, 6, with 1 Cor. 1:30; Jehovah above all, Psa. 97:9, with John 3:31; Jehovah the first and the last, Isa. 44:6, with Rev. 1:17; Isa. 48:12–16, with Rev. 22:13; Jehovah’s fellow and equal, Zech. 13:7; Phil. 2:6; Jehovah of Armies, Isa. 6:1–3, with John 12:41; Isa. 8:13, 14, with 1 Pet. 2:8; Jehovah, Psa. 110:1, with Matt. 22:42–45; Jehovah the shepherd, Isa. 40:10, 11; Heb. 13:20; Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created, Prov. 16:4, with Col. 1:16; Jehovah the messenger of the covenant, Mal. 3:1, with Luke 7:27. Invoked as Jehovah, Joel 2:32, with 1 Cor. 1:2; as the eternal God and Creator, Psa. 102:24–27, with Heb. 1:8, 10–12; the mighty God, Isa. 9:6; the great God and Savior, Hos. 1:7, with Tit. 2:13; God over al, Rom. 9:5; God the Judge, Eccl. 12:14, with 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Emmanuel, Isa. 7:14, with Matt. 1:23; King of kings and Lord of lords, Dan. 10:17, with Rev. 1:5; 17:14; the Holy One, 1 Sam. 2:2, with Acts 3:14; the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15:47; Lord of the sabbath, Gen. 2:3, with Matt. 12:8; Lord of all, Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:11–13; Son of God, Matt. 26:63–67; the only begotten Son of the Father, John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9. His blood is called the blood of God, Acts 20:28. One with the Father, John 10:30, 38; 12:45; 14:7–10; 17:10. As sending the Spirit equally with the Father, John 14:16, with John 15:26. As unsearchable equally with the Father, Prov. 30:4; Matt. 11:27. As Creator of all things, Isa. 40:28; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; supporter and preserver of all things, Neh. 9:6, with Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3. Acknowledged by Old Testament saints, Gen. 17:1, with Gen. 48:15, 16; 32:24–30, with Hos. 12:3–5; Judg. 6:22–24; 13:21, 22; Job 19:25–27...Unclassified Scriptures Relating to the Divinity of Jesus: Ex. 23:20, 21; Psa. 24:10 1 Cor. 2:8; Psa. 45:6, 7 Heb. 1:8. Isa. 6:1 John 12:41. Isa. 8:13, 14 1 Pet. 2:8. Isa. 9:6 Tit. 2:13. Isa. 40:3, 9, 10 Matt. 3:3. Mal. 3:1 Matt. 11:10. Matt. 1:23 Isa. 7:14. Matt. 8:29 Luke 8:28. Matt. 9:6; Matt. 22:43–45 Psa. 110:1. Matt. 28:17, 18; Mark 5:6, 7; Luke 4:12, 33, 34; Luke 9:43, 44; John 1:1, 2; John 5:17, 18, 21–23; John 10:30–33; John 12:45; John 20:28; Acts 7:37–39; Acts 20:28; Rom. 1:7 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Col. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim. 1:2. Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 10:9 Num. 21:6. 1 Cor. 15:47; Gal. 1:1, 3; Eph. 1:2; Eph. 6:23; Phil. 2:6 vs. 5–11.; 1 Thess. 3:11; 2 Thess. 2:16, 17; 1 Tim. 3:16; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8, 10 Psa. 102:24–27; vs. 1–14, with Gen. 1:1.1 John 5:20.

"Open your eyes and heart to truth and see who Jesus really is..."

I understand who the Lord is (1 Kin. 3:9–12). I know you are not his.

"There is not a three piece God..."

That is true. But as usual, false teachers mix truth with error (Ga 5:9). The doctrine of the trinity is difficult to understand; Nevertheless, it is true. It is sound doctrine settled in heaven (Ps 119:89): Mt 3:16,17; 28:19; Ro 8:9; 1Co 12:3-6; 2Co 13:14; Eph 4:4-6; 1Pe 1:2; Jude 1:20,21; Re 1:4,5.

"Again more worthless verses..."

So what do you really think about scripture? (2 Sam 12:9). All scripture is valuable (2 Ti 3:16). Christians love God's word (Deut 7:9).

"[Serpentdove from]...the Vatican."

Am I being accused of being pious?

"Same O, same O....Jesus is not God"

I do not know what "Bible" you are reading. Jesus, the Lord is our hope. You will have to take up your issue with the apostle Paul: "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Tit 2:12-13)."