Was reading that some people have been told that Christians believe in The Father and The Son and Mary as in Tri-Unity and have no idea why anybody would say that?
Maybe there is a cult out there that believe's in that but it's NOT Christian or Bible based. It has nothing to do with Christian beliefs at all we take our beliefs from one source and one source alone and it hasen't changed since the Apostles were around and we base this belief even before the Apostles were around.... So in hearing that people actually believe that about us... Lots of people get totally confused in where did that come from anyway???
This is what we base our faith on we don't worship Mary and she is not part of any Godhead that I know about??? This is where the three's come in. The number three in the Bible has meaning as well as the number 7 does too. Even there was three stories in Noah's Ark 3 times 3, for by whom was our redemption planned before the foundation of the world? Genesis 6:15-16
That's where our beliefs come from just want to set the record straight.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Is Our God Almighty. Who Was and Is and Yet To Come. How do we overcome that?
It's not about Mary though blessed she is among women... but it has never been about Mary. We don't worship her. Not in the who Jesus/Yeshua really was and is maybe in some other religion but not in Christianity or even in Ancient Scriptures and even in the Dead Sea Scrolls as in Isaiah 6:3, The angels around God's throne cry, " Holy, Holy, Holy, that's three times. Once for the Father, Once for the Son, and Once for the Holy Spirit.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is our God Almighty. Who was and is and is to come! Yet to come again.
This is who Christian's Worship! Straight forward straight up so what is Chrislam as well? How does that work anyway, I just don't get it?? Does anybody out there get it?
Even the sanctuary had three places: The Courtyard, The Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.
Plus, we see Moses as a forerunner of the Messiah and for us the Scriptures point not only to the Messiah, but points toward Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah" Our Redeemer.
As in Jewish writings such as the Midrash Rabbah , which describes Moses as the forerunner of the " Latter Redeemer , " or Messiah...
Moses was nursed by his Jewish mother evidently for a few years. And Acts 7:23-25 indicates that Moses viewed the Jewish slaves as " his brothers ."
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Exodus 9:1
Toward the end of his life, Moses uttered theses portentous words: " A prophet from your own midst , from your brothers, like me, is what Jehovah your God will raise up for you-- to him you people should listen." ---- Deuteronomy 18:15
From your own midst and thats where Yeshua came from.. So Christians base their faith on the Hebrew Scriptures the Tanakh--The Holy Scriptures and the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Biblical Scriptures and the Apostles and the faith of that time.
Many faithfull prophets , such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, came after Moses.. But none had the unique relationship with God that Moses enjoyed-- speaking with him 'face to face." Moses' promise of a prophet 'like him' must therefore apply to one individual - the Messiah!
And thats who we believe in and follow as Holy, Holy, Holy!
Moses and Jesus both escaped the wholesale slaughter of male infants as ordered by the ruler of their time.. And Moses and Jesus both served as mediators of covenants between God and his people.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5
The Bible and people in the Bible points to Yeshua/Jesus! YESHUA, is the embodiment of Israel!
As, All that He conveys to us is through the prism of the Hebrew Bible/Scriptures and Jesus religion in culture and He did this within the framework of the Jewish Religion and the tradition as it was in the first century.
That's what Christians believe in. The Messiah. Plus, He came to save us all because we are all God's Creation. He did it for us! He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The one to come and is to come again.
Job 34:19: “Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands.”
The truth is God is a " tri-unity". Two invisible (Father and Spirit) and one visible Jesus/Yeshua.
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though, he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" --- 2 Corinthians 8:9
The word "trinity" derived from the latin word trinitas means " threeness. Holy, Holy, Holy, is our God Almighty.
The Father even calls Jesus God. "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8)
The Old Testament was written long before the New Testament. Simply put, "one" in the Bible does not always mean numerical quantity. Depending on the scripture, "one" can often mean unity.
The truth is God is a " tri-unity. And there are three screens of light and life. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." There are three primary rays, or wavelengths, that when joined together produce light.
The Truth is: God is a "tri-unity. Nothing to do with Mary in tri-unity whoever thought that one up??
THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of the Living GOD. Who was born before all creation from the being of the Father. He is equal to the Father in nature and substance.
There are some in 'Christendom' today, who deny the divinity of Jesus Christ; Some teach that Christ pre-existed as a created angel, others teach that the ‘impersonal’ Word, or Message from God lived inside the man named Jesus.
Let’s read the first two verses of John and see what he tells us about the Word.
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Divine). The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.
John tells us that this word that was with GOD in the beginning of time is not an impersonal 'message', but it is a personal being, he is called HIM. God created all things by/through this person called the WORD. Also note that John is not saying that the "WORD" was a 'god', but he was God. He has the very nature of the one he was with. As we read further, and look at other verses concerning this issue, we will see that ALL things were created through Christ Jesus. This will place the origin of Christ before all creation. If he existed before creation, then as we will see, he had to be of the Substance of GOD, since the Substance of GOD was the only substance in existence before creation. Truly Christ is of the same nature and substance of his Father. As any human possesses the same nature of his parents, and is from their substance.
Why is this person called the WORD? The word reveals the thoughts of ones heart. JESUS reveals the heart of the Father to us. He has always done that. He is the visible image, of the invisible God.
How does Paul say everything has come into existence?
1st Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
The bible teaches the Father is the source of all things, all things are OF him, and it teaches that Jesus is the channel, through which all things were made.
WHEN WAS CHRIST BEGOTTEN?
Colossians 1:15-16 Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Here Jesus is declared the Firstborn of every creature. What does this phrase mean? Firstborn is translated from the Greek word prototokos, and it simply means: first-born --first begotten.
Thus we see in these verses that Paul is telling us that Christ was ‘Begotten First or Born Before all creation’, because all of creation was created by God through Christ (Ephesians 3:9).
This is also the explanation given to us concerning this verse in the Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: “Christ is called, firstborn of all creation, who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things”.
Wigram’s Greek Lexicon tells us the following: “Or it may be; born before all creation”.
Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Bible Commentary has this to add: “ Translate, "Begotten (literally, 'born') before every creature," as the context shows, which gives the reason why He is so designated. "For," &c. (Col_1:16-17) [TRENCH].
Matthew Henry’s Commentary states the following: “He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made;”
15 Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all living things; (BBE)
15 Now Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. He was born before creation began, (PHIL)
Was Jesus begotten before he came to the earth? 1st John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Now I want us to “THINK” a little, God tells us to come and reason with him. The bible teaches that Christ existed with the Father before all creation, and was actually the channel by which God created all things.
This means that Christ is not a “Creature”, because he pre-existed all creation! Now a “Creature” is something whose substance was brought forth from NOTHING. Humans are creatures because we are made of dirt, and dirt was created from nothing. Everything we see in this world is a part of creation.
Now Christ isn’t a creature, he wasn’t brought forth from nothing, so where did he come from? The bible clearly teaches that he was begotten before creation; so where did he come from?
There is but one place he could come from, and that is the substance of GOD. He was begotten from GOD before all creation. As Children are brought forth from the substance of their parents, Christ was brought forth from the substance of his Father.
For example when my wife gave birth to my daughter, she didn’t give birth to a ‘foreign’ substance; Stacy was made up of the same material as her Mother. They were both of the same flesh and bone. When God brought forth his Son from his bosom, he had to be of the same substance as his Father.
THE DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST
Now let’s read John 1:1 again: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Divine).
Now here John isn’t telling us that the Word was the same person as “The God” he was with; and he is not saying that the Word was ‘a god’, as in some sort of Ruler, or mighty man; but John is telling us that the WORD, the pre-existent Son, had the very nature of GOD. He is truly Divine or God by nature.
The bible teaches ever so clearly that Jesus Christ pre-existed as the Divine Son of GOD, and shared in the glory and riches of GOD, but he emptied himself of this glory, and became a man, the poorest of the poor.
Philippians 2:5-8 Let the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus. Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped. Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross. (WEYMOUTH)
Again, I will use the example of my wife and daughter. When my wife gave birth to Stacy, what other nature could she possess? She couldn’t have been a kangaroo, or a whale, but Stacy had to be a human. She had to be born with the same NATURE as her parents. Like begets like. So when GOD brought forth his Son, his Son could only have one nature, and that is the nature of GOD.
Colossians 2:9 For it is in Christ that the fulness of God’s nature dwells embodied, and in Him you are made complete, (WEYMOUTH)
When God brought forth his Son, he brought him from his Substance, and with his very nature; in fact the fullness of his nature (Colossians 1:19)!
Again I want you to look at my wife and daughter, which one of them is “more” human? They are both equally human, they have the same nature. Just because my daughter was begotten from her mother, doesn’t make her any less human than her mother.
Christ has the same nature as his Father, thus by nature he is equal to his Father.
Christ is from the very substance of GOD, and thus he is equal to his Father in substance.
BUT THE FATHER IS GREATER?
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
If the Father and Son are equal in substance and nature, then why is the Father greater than the Son?
Now again look at my wife and Stacy. Though they are equally human, who is greater? In most ways my wife is greater. For example my wife is greater in age, in stature, in strength, and in authority. Yet they are both equally human.
For another example who is greater, men or women, the man or wife? 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Though men and women share the same nature, and consist of the same substance, yet man is the stronger vessel. Man has been given authority to rule his house hold. The same example is given for Christ and GOD.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Because Christ’s life, substance, nature, power and authority are all derived from the being of the Father, Christ recognizes the Supremacy of the Father and honors the Father as his Lord and GOD. He submits happily to the will of the Father.
The Father isn’t greater in Substance or nature, but he is of greater authority and he is unbegotten and the source of all things.
CHRIST IS FROM ETERNITY
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Here Micah tells us that Jesus Christ’s origin (goings forth – see ‘Brown Driver and Brigg Hebrew Lexicon. The RSV, the GW and other translations) is from everlasting or eternity. .
The Septuagint literally reads: Whose “arche {beginning} ek {is from} hemera {the days} aion {eternity}”
As we have read Christ Jesus existed with God before all creation, and here we are told that his origin is found in eternity. Let me attempt to explain this.
When the bible speaks about ‘eternity past’, it means before temporal time. Time as we know it is temporal, it is all based upon the physical attributes of creation. We base our years on the circuit the earth takes around the sun. We base our 24 hour days on the rotation of the earth. The months are based on the moon. Temporal time began at creation.
Christ was born before temporal time, and thus his ‘origin’ is from eternity.
THE ETERNAL, BEGOTTEN SON
Why are all men subject to death? 1st Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
When Adam sinned, and became subject to death, all of his posterity, all that would spring from his loins would also be subject to death; because all of mankind was virtually in his loins.
Where was Levi before he was born?
Hebrews 7:9-10 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Levi, did not exist as a distinct visible person then, but he did exist virtually in the loins of his grand parent. Genetically all mankind existed in Adam, as Levi existed in Abraham.
What is Christ called in 1 Corinthians 1:24? But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God
Here Christ is called the Wisdom of GOD; Wisdom originates in the heart (mind). God’s wisdom originates in his heart also.
In other places Jesus is called the WORD of GOD.. A person's Word is his thoughts/wisdom revealed. The bible teaches that Christ the Word, is the revealed Wisdom of GOD.
I think this is what the John alludes to in John 1:18 and 16:27. Christ existed in the heart of GOD as Wisdom, and when GOD spoke or made Wisdom audible, Wisdom became the Word, the only begotten Son of GOD.
While studying some of the writings of the pre-nicean church "fathers" I noticed that they repeatedly quoted the following verses to prove that Christ was indeed begotten. The true meaning of these verses are almost lost today because of the sloppy modern translations.
PSALMS 45:1-6 (LXX) For the end, for alternate strains by the sons of Core; for instruction, a Song concerning the beloved. My heart has uttered an excellent word (logos):
Who is God’s beloved? He said Jesus was his “Beloved Son”. Jesus is also called the Logos (Word) in John 1:1. Isn't it an awesome thought to think that Jesus existed in the heart of GOD as his 'wisdom', and before creation he was made audible and thus begotten, as a true Son, not a sound without substance; but a true being, with his own intellect! The next few verses of this Psalm clears up any question concerning who the speaker has in mind (See Psalms 45:2-5), the beloved Logos is Jesus.
Another passage of scriptures that was used very widely by the early Christian Church to teach that Jesus is truly the Divine and only begotten Son of GOD is Proverbs chapter eight where we read:
Proverbs 8:22-31 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up (anointed/Christ) from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth (Begotten/Born); when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth (Begotten/Born): While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Here again, Christ is identified with Wisdom. As Paul said, He is the “Wisdom of GOD” (1st Corinthians 1:24,30).
L. Martin in his books “100 and more mysteries about the trinity”, explains the eternity of Christ this way:
“It is a fact that a person may exist and yet have no conscious awareness or any visible appearance. This is true of all human beings who pre-existed genetically in their immediate parents and even in Adam just as Levi pre-existed in Abraham (Heb. 7:9).... This raises the question: couldn’t it be possible that in some mysterious sense beyond the comprehension of finite human beings, Christ pre-existed as a Person immanent within the Father’s bosom and was subsequently begotten as the mono-genes? The Apostolic Fathers, who lived nearest to the New Testament writers, who knew them and heard them speak, saw no tension in the paradox of the eternity of Christ and the fact that He was the literal begotten Son of God the Father. They simply believed that Christ preexisted as the [Wisdom] of the Father who was made audible (begotten) as the Word, an independent [person] without leaving the Father empty of His mind. This was the explanation widely held by those who lived in a period when the church received a glowing commendation from the Savior (Rev. 2:9); a period when the church was not torn by unending theological controversies, divisions, wars and deceptious schemes.”
For another example with my wife and daughter. For 9 months my wife carried Stacy in her womb. Was Stacy a person while she was in her womb? Yes, she definitely was. Yet she didn’t become a distinct/visible person until she was born. In the same way Christ existed in the heart of GOD as Wisdom from all eternity; and was begotten as the Word before all creation.
Also we must confess, that if the Son existed within the heart of GOD as Wisdom as the scriptures teach and as the early church preached, then Christ is eternal because God has never been without wisdom. Christ was always in his Father, And then when God spoke, the Wisdom became the Word and the Son was born, before all Creation.
So we see why it is biblical to believe: The Son is of the Substance of the Father, and has the nature of the Father. Thus is equal in person to the Father. Though the Father is greater in power and authority. The Son though begotten from the Father has existed with the Father from eternity.
Osiris is said to be his own father, Isis' husband and son. The pagan idea of three is always perverse and absurd, and that's the origin.
Dark Matter + Dark Energy = Dark Truth
"We find that such evidence demonstrates that the ID argument is dependent upon setting a scientifically unreasonable burden of proof for the theory of evolution." - Judge Jones Kitzmiller case http://www.talkreason.org/articles/Falsify.cfm
"To Compel A Man To Furnish Funds For The Propagation Of Ideas He Disbelieves And Abhors Is Sinful And Tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson
"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?" - Thomas Jefferson
Yes, the Pagan idea of three or two is interesting indeed as been studying up on that in the past and I think Satan created that concept in other religions as Satan knows God's true being as he knew God and was with Him, before he fell. And Scripture say he is a mimic as Satan, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet are seen as the three individuals who play an important part of end-times prophecies.. the rise of the beast and the false prophet is nothing short of the ‘trinity from hell’.
I like to use the word Triunity instead as the Messianic Jews have used it as well. But of course Father and Son does not mean offspring in historical Christianity. But that does not mean that Satan does not try to mimic something but in a false way.
Another interesting thing in The Father, The Son, And Mary, Who Ever Thought Up That? And on the subject of how God is described in the Bible and their concept of Trinity yet still it's in how the Bible describes it in being of the difference from as they see it and then in reading what is written inside the Dome of the Rock on the subject is interesting indeed!
JESUS CHRIST IS NOT "ISA": The Dome of the Rock is...... Video.
Interesting indeed but was reading about daughters instead as there where two daughters in the history of got to go back and study it again to get it right. But that's a reverse thing too.
I Hope I Did This Right As It Said It Can Be Copied In Full To Any Medium... But Wanted To Post It As It Says Where That Verse Is In The Koran About Father Son And Mary Thing And The Bible Says NOT To Worship Mary And She Is Not Included in there not sure how they came up with that?
Today we increasingly hear and read that Christianity and Islam ‘share’ Jesus, that he belongs to both religions. So also with Abraham: there is talk of the West’s ‘Abrahamic civilization’ where once people spoke of ‘Judeo-Christian civilization’. This shift of thinking reflects the growing influence of Islam.
These notes offer some information and reflections on the ‘Muslim Jesus’, to help put this trend in its proper context.
References in brackets are to the Koran. Numbering systems for the Koranic verses are not standardized: be prepared to search through nearby verses for the right one.
Islam the primordial faith
Islam regards itself, not as a subsequent faith to Judaism and Christianity, but as the primordial religion, the faith from which Judaism and Christianity are subsequent developments. In the Koran we read that Abraham ‘was not a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a monotheist, a Muslim’ (3:66). So it is Muslims, and not Christians or Jews, who are the true representatives of the faith of Abraham to the world today. (2:135)
The Biblical prophets were all Muslims
Many prophets of the past received the one religion of Islam. (42:13) Who were these previous prophets? According to the Sura The Cattle (6:85-87)
they include Ibrahim (Abraham), ‘Ishaq (Issac), Yaqub (Jacob), Nuh (Noah), Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), Harun (Aaron), Zakariyya (Zachariah), Yahya (John the Baptist), ‘Isa (Jesus), Ilyas, Ishmael, Al-Yash’a (Elisha), Yunus (Jonah) and Lut (Lot).
The Muslim ‘Isa (Jesus)
There are two main sources for ‘Isa, the Muslim Jesus. The Koran gives a history of his life, whilst the Hadith collections – recollections of Muhammad’s words and deeds – establish his place in the Muslim understanding of the future.
The Koran
‘Isa, was a prophet of Islam
Jesus’ true name, according to the Koran, was ‘Isa. His message was pure Islam, surrender to Allah. (3:84) Like all the Muslim prophets before him, and like Muhammad after him, ‘Isa was a lawgiver, and Christians should submit to his law. (3:50; 5:48) ‘Isa’s original disciples were also true Muslims, for they said ‘We believe. Bear witness that we have surrendered. We are Muslims.’ (5:111)
‘The Books’
Like all the prophets of Islam before him, ‘Isa received his revelation of Islam in the form of a book. (6:90) ‘Isa’s book is called the Injil or ‘gospel’. (5:46) The Torah was Abraham’s book, and the Zabur (Psalms) were David’s book. So Jews and Christians are ‘people of the Book’. The one religion revealed in these books was Islam. (3:18)
As with previous prophets, ‘Isa’s revelation verified previous prophets’ revelations. (3:49,84; 5:46; 61:6) Muhammad himself verified all previous revelations, including the revelation to ‘Isa (4:47), and so Muslims must believe in the revelation which ‘Isa received. (2:136) However, after ‘Isa the Injil was lost in its original form. Today the Koran is the only sure guide to ‘Isa’s teaching. The biography of ‘Isa
According to the Koran, ‘Isa was the Messiah. He was supported by the ‘Holy Spirit’. (2:87; 5:110) He is also referred to as the ‘Word of Allah’. (4:171)
‘Isa’s mother Mariam was the daughter of ‘Imran, (3:34,35) – cf the Amram of Exodus 6:20 – and the sister of Aaron (and Moses). (19:28) She was fostered by Zachariah (father of John the Baptist). (3:36) While still a virgin (6:12; 19:19-21) Mariam gave birth to ‘Isa alone in a desolate place under a date palm tree. (19:22ff) (Not in Bethlehem).
‘Isa spoke whilst still a baby in his cradle. (3:46; 5:110; 19:30) He performed various other miracles, including breathing life into clay birds, healing the blind and lepers, and raising the dead. (3:49; 5:111) He also foretold the coming of Muhammad. (61:6)
‘Isa did not die on a cross
Christians and Jews have corrupted their scriptures. (3:74-77, 113) Although Christians believe ‘Isa died on a cross, and Jews claim they killed him, in reality he was not killed or crucified, and those who said he was crucified lied (4:157). ‘Isa did not die, but ascended to Allah. (4:158) On the day of Resurrection ‘Isa himself will be a witness against Jews and Christians for believing in his death. (4:159)
Christians should accept Islam, and all true Christians will
Christians (and Jews) could not be freed from their ignorance until Muhammad came bringing the Koran as clear evidence (98:1). Muhammad was Allah’s gift to Christians to correct misunderstandings. They should accept Muhammad as Allah’s Messenger, and the Koran as his final revelation. (5:15; 57:28; 4:47)
Some Christians and Jews are faithful and believe truly. (3:113,114) Any such true believers will submit to Allah by accepting Muhammad as the prophet of Islam, i.e. they will become Muslims. (3:198)
Although Jews and pagans will have the greatest enmity against Muslims, it is the Christians who will be ‘nearest in love to the believers’, i.e. to Muslims. (5:82) True Christians will not love Muhammad’s enemies. (58:22) In other words, anyone who opposes Muhammad is not a true Christian.
Christians who accept Islam or refuse it
Some Jews and Christians are true believers, accepting Islam: most are transgressors. (3:109)
Many monks and rabbis are greedy for wealth and prevent people from coming to Allah. (9:34,35)
Christians and Jews who disbelieve in Muhammad will go to hell. (98:6)
Muslims should not take Christians or Jews for friends. (5:51) They must fight against Christians and Jews who refuse Islam until they surrender, pay the poll-tax and are humiliated. (9:29) To this may be added hundreds of Koranic verses on the subject of jihad in the path of Allah, as well as the ‘Book of Jihad’ found in all Hadith collections.
Christian beliefs
Christians are commanded not to believe that ‘Isa is the son of God: ‘It is far removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son’. (4:171; 25:2) ‘Isa was simply a created human being, and a slave of Allah. (4:172; 3:59)
Christians are claimed by the Koran to believe in a family of gods – Father God, mother Mary and ‘Isa the son – but ‘Isa rejected this teaching. (5:116)
The doctrine of the Trinity is disbelief and a painful doom awaits those who believe it. (5:73)
‘Isa (Jesus) in the Hadith
‘Isa the destroyer of Christianity
The prophet ‘Isa will have an important role in the end times, establishing Islam and making war until he destroys all religions save Islam. He shall kill the Evil One (Dajjal), an apocalyptic anti-Christ figure.
In one tradition of Muhammad we read that no further prophets will come to earth until ‘Isa returns as ‘a man of medium height, or reddish complexion, wearing two light garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head although it will not be wet. He will fight for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill pigs, and abolish the poll-tax. Allah will destroy all religions except Islam. He (‘Isa) will destroy the Evil One and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die’. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37: 4310) The Sahih Muslim has a variant of this tradition: ‘The son of Mary … will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will … abolish the poll-tax, and the wealth will pour forth to such an extent that no one will accept charitable gifts.’ (Sahih Muslim 287)
What do these sayings mean? The cross is a symbol of Christianity. Breaking crosses means abolishing Christianity. Pigs are associated with Christians. Killing them is another way of speaking of the destruction of Christianity. Under Islamic law the poll-tax buys the protection of the lives and property of conquered ‘people of the Book’. (Sura 9:29) The abolition of the poll-tax means jihad is restarted against Christians (and Jews) living under Islam, who should convert to Islam, or else be killed or enslaved. The abundance of wealth refers to booty flowing to the Muslims from this conquest. This is what the Muslim ‘Isa will do when he returns in the last days.
Critical Comments on the Muslim ‘Isa (Jesus)
‘Isa not an historical figure
The Koran’s ‘Isa is not an historical figure. His identity and role as a prophet of Islam is based solely on supposed revelations to Muhammad over half a millennium after the Jesus of history lived and died.
Jesus’ name was never ‘Isa
Jesus’ mother tongue was Aramaic. In his own lifetime he was called Yeshua in Aramaic, and Jesu in Greek. This is like calling the same person John when speaking English and Jean when speaking French: Jesu, pronounced “Yesoo”, is the Greek form of Aramaic Yeshua. (The final -s in Jesu-s is a Greek grammatical ending.) Yeshua is itself a form of Hebrew Yehoshua’, which means ‘the Lord is salvation’. However Yehoshua’ is normally given in English as Joshua. So Joshua and Jesus are variants of the same name.
It is interesting that Jesus’ name Yehoshua’ contains within it the proper Hebrew name for God, the first syllable Yeh- being short for YHWH ‘the LORD’ .
Yeshua of Nazareth was never called ‘Isa, the name the Koran gives to him. Arab-speaking Christians refer to Jesus as Yasou’ (from Yeshua) not ‘Isa.
Jesus did not receive a ‘book’
According to the Koran, the ‘book’ revealed to ‘Isa was the Injil. The word Injil is a corrupted form of the Greek euanggelion ‘good news’ or gospel. What was this euanggelion? This was just how Jesus referred to his message: as good news. The expression euanggelion did not refer to a fixed revealed text, and there is absolutely no evidence that Jesus received a ‘book’ of revelation from God.
The ‘gospels’ of the Bible are biographies
The term euanggelion later came to be used as a title for the four biographies of Jesus written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the ‘gospels’. This was a secondary development of meaning. Apparently this is where Muhammad got his mistaken idea of the Injil being a ‘book’.
Most so-called prophets of Islam received no book
Virtually all of the so-called ‘prophets’ of Islam, whose names are taken from the Hebrew scriptures, received no ‘book’ or law code. For example, the Psalms are not a book revealing Islam, as the Koran claims, but a collection of songs of worship, only some of which are David’s. There is not a shred of evidence in the Biblical history of David that he received a book of laws for the Israelites. They already had the Torah of Moses to follow. So David was not a prophet in the Koran’s sense of this word. Likewise most of the prophets claimed by Islam were neither lawgivers nor rulers.
Biblical prophecy and Islamic prophecy are not the same thing
The Biblical understanding of prophecy is quite different from Muhammad’s. A Biblical prophecy is not regarded as a passage from a heavenly eternally pre-existent text like the Koran, but a message from God for a specific time and place. A biblical prophet is someone to whom God reveals hidden things, and who then acts as God’s verbal agent. When a Samaritan woman called Jesus a prophet (John 4:19) it was because he had spoken about things in her life that he could only have known supernaturally. Christianity teaches that Jesus was a prophet, but he brought no ‘book’: he himself was the living ‘Word of God’, a title used of ‘Isa in the Koran.
By no means all prophecies referred to in the Bible became part of the Biblical text. The Bible consists of a wide variety of materials originally written for many different purposes, including letters, songs, love poetry, historical narratives, legal texts, proverbial wisdom as well as prophetic passages. These are regarded as inspired by God, but not dictated from a timeless heavenly book.
As prophetic history, the Koran contains many errors and anachronisms
The claim that Jesus was not executed by crucifixion is without any historical support. One of the things that all the early sources agree on is Jesus’ crucifixion.
Mariam the mother of ‘Isa is called a sister of Aaron, and also the daughter of Aaron’s father ‘Imran (Hebr. Amram). Clearly Muhammad has confused Mary (Hebr. Miriam) with Miriam of the Exodus. The two lived more than a thousand years apart!
In the Bible Haman is the minister of Ahasuerus in Media and Persia (The Book of Esther 3:1-2). Yet the Koran places him over a thousand years earlier, as a minister of Pharoah in Egypt.
The claim that Christians believe in three Gods – Father, son Jesus and mother Mary – is mistaken. The Koran is also mistaken to claim that Jews say Ezra was a son of God. (9:30) The charge of polytheism against Christianity and Judaism is ill-informed and false. (Deuteronomy 6:4, James 2:19a)
The story of the ‘two horned one’ (18:82 cf also Daniel 8:3, 20-21) is derived from the Romance of Alexander. Certainly Alexander the Great was no Muslim.
The problem with the name ‘Isa has already been discussed. Other Biblical names are also misunderstood in the Koran, and their meanings lost. For example Elisha, which means ‘God is salvation’, is given in the Koran as al-Yash’a, turning El ‘God’ into al- ‘the’. (Islamic tradition did the same to Alexander the Great, calling him al-Iskandar ‘the Iskander’). Abraham ‘Father of many’ (cf Genesis 17:5) would be more accurately represented as Aburahim instead of Ibrahim since Abu means ‘father’.
The Koran has a Samaritan making the golden calf, which was worshipped by the Israelites in the wilderness (20:85) during the Exodus. In fact it was Aaron (Exodus 34:1-6). The Samaritans did not exist until several centuries later. They were descendants of the northern Israelites centuries after the Exodus.
Many Koranic stories can be traced to Jewish and Christian folktales and other apocryphal literature. For example a story of Abraham destroying idols (Sura 37) is found in a Jewish folktale, the Midrash Rabbah. The Koranic story of Zachariah, father of John the Baptist, is based upon a second-century Christian fable. The story of Jesus being born under a palm tree is also based on a late fable, as is the story of Jesus making clay birds come alive. Everything the Koran says about the life of Jesus which is not found in the Bible can be traced to fables composed more than a hundred years after Jesus’ death.
Jesus’ titles of Messiah and Word of God, which the Koran uses, find no explanation in the Koran. Yet in the Bible, from which they are taken, these titles are well integrated in a whole theological system.
The Koran mentions the Holy Spirit in connection with Jesus, using phrases which come from the gospels. Ibn Ishaq (Life of Muhammad) reports Muhammad as saying that this ‘Spirit’ was the angel Gabriel (cf also Sura 16:102, 2:97). However the Biblical phrase ‘Spirit of God’ (Ruach Elohim) or ‘Holy Spirit’ can only be understood in light of the Hebrew scriptures. It certainly does not refer to an angel.
Jesus’ alleged foretelling of Muhammad’s coming (61:6) appears to be based on a garbled reading of John 14:26, a passage which in fact refers to the Spirit.
The Hebrew scriptures were Jesus’ Bible. He affirmed their authority and reliability and preached from them. From these same scriptures he knew God as Adonai Elohim, the Lord God of Israel. He did not call God Allah, which appears to have been the name or title of a pagan Arabian deity worshipped in Mecca before Muhammad. Muhammad’s pagan father, who died before Muhammad was born, already bore the name ‘Abd Allah ‘slave of Allah’, and his uncle was called Obeid Allah.
We read that Sura 53:19-23 seeks to refute the pagan Arab belief that Allah had daughters named al-Uzza, al-Ilat and Manat. (See also Sura 16:57 and 6:100).
The Biblical narratives are rich with historical details, many confirmed by archaeology. They cover more than a thousand years, and reveal a long process of technological and cultural development. In contrast the Koran’s sacred history is devoid of archaeological support. Its fragmentary and disjointed stories offer no authentic reflection of historical cultures. No place name from ancient Israel is mentioned, not even Jerusalem. Many of the supposed historical events reported in the Koran have no independent verification. For example we are told that Abraham and Ishmael built the Kaaba in Mecca (2:127), but this is totally without support. The Biblical account, more than a thousand years older, does not place Abraham anywhere near Arabia.
The Koran is not a credible source for Biblical history
The Koran, written in the 7th century CE, cannot be regarded as having any authority whatsoever to inform us about Jesus of Nazareth. It offers no evidence for its claims about biblical history. Its numerous historical errors reflect a garbled understanding of the Bible.
Islam appropriates the history of Judaism and Christianity to itself
When Muhammad linked the name of Allah to the religious histories of Judaism and Christianity, this was a way to claim them for Islam. In the light of later events, the claim that Islam was the original religion, and that all preceding prophets were Muslims, can be regarded as an attempt to appropriate the histories of other religions for Islam. The effect is to rob Christianity and Judaism of their own histories.
Consider that many Biblical sites, such as the tombs of the Hebrew Patriarchs and the Temple Mount, are claimed by Islam as Muslim sites, not Jewish or Christian ones. After all, the Koran tells us that Abraham ‘was a Muslim’. Under Islamic rule all Jews and Christians were banned from such sites.
The place of the Jewish scriptures in Christianity is completely different from the place of the Bible in Islam
There is a fundamental difference between Christian attitudes to the Jewish scriptures and Islamic attitudes to the Bible. Christians accept the Hebrew scriptures. They were the scriptures of Jesus and the apostles. They were the scriptures of the early church. The whole of Christian belief and practice rests upon them. Core Christian concepts such as ‘Messiah’ (Greek ‘Christos’), ‘Spirit of God’, ‘Kingdom of God’ and ‘salvation’ are deeply rooted in the Hebrew Biblical traditions.
We note also that Christian seminaries devote considerable effort to studying the Hebrew scriptures. This is an integral part of training for Christian ministry. The Hebrew scriptures are read (in translation) every Sunday in many churches all around the world.
In contrast Islam’s treatment of the Bible is one of complete disregard. Although it purports to ‘verify’ all earlier prophetic revelation, the Koran is oblivious to the real contents of the Bible. The claim that Christians and Jews deliberately corrupted their scriptures is made without evidence, and this only serves to cover up the Koran’s historical inadequacies. Muslim scholars rarely have an informed understanding of the Bible or of biblical theology and so remain ignorant of these realities.
Some contemporary Muslim voices on Jesus
Yasser Arafat, addressing a press conference at the United Nations in 1983 called Jesus “the first Palestinian fedayeen who carried his sword” (i.e. he was a freedom fighter for Islam).
Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi, employee of the Palestinian Authority, broadcast live in April 2002 on Palestinian Authority television: “The Jews await the false Jewish messiah, while we await, with Allah’s help… Jesus, peace be upon him. Jesus’s pure hands will murder the false Jewish messiah. Where? In the city of Lod, in Palestine.”
Author Shamim A. Siddiqi of Flushing, New York put the classical position of Islam towards Christianity clearly in a recent letter to Daniel Pipes, New York Post columnist:
“Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were all prophets of Islam. Islam is the common heritage of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim community of America, and establishing the Kingdom of God is the joint responsibility of all three Abrahamic faiths. Islam was the din (faith, way of life) of both Jews and Christians, who later lost it through human innovations. Now the Muslims want to remind their Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters of their original din [religion]. These are the facts of history.”
This historical negationism – appearing to affirm Christianity and Judaism whilst in fact rejecting and supplanting them – is a lynchpin of Muslim apologetics. What is being affirmed is in fact neither Christianity nor Judaism, but Jesus as a prophet of Islam, Moses as a Muslim etc. This is intended to lead to ‘reversion’ of Christians and Jews to Islam, which is what Siddiqi refers to when he speaks of ‘the joint responsibility’ of Jews and Christians to establish ‘the Kingdom of God’. By this he means that American Christians and Jews should work to establish shari’ah law and the rule of Islam in the United States.
Conclusion
‘Isa (Jesus) of the Koran is a product of fable, imagination and ignorance. When Muslims venerate this ‘Isa, they have someone different in mind from the Yeshua or Jesus of the Bible and of history. The ‘Isa of the Koran is based on no recognized form of historical evidence, but on fables current in seventh century Arabia.
For most faithful Muslims ‘Isa is the only Jesus they know. But if one accepts this Muslim ‘Jesus’, then one also accepts the Koran: one accepts Islam. Belief in this ‘Isa is won at the cost of the libel that Jews and Christians have corrupted their scriptures, a charge that is without historical support. Belief in this ‘Isa implies that much of Christian and Jewish history is in fact Islamic history.
The Jesus of the gospels is the base upon which Christianity developed. By Islamicizing him, and making of him a Muslim prophet who preached the Koran, Islam destroys Christianity and takes over all its history. It does the same to Judaism.
In the end times as described by Muhammad, ‘Isa becomes a warrior who will return with his sword and lance. He will destroy the Christian religion and make Islam the only religion in all the world. Finally at the last judgement he will condemn Christians to hell for believing in the crucifixion and the incarnation.
This final act of the Muslim ‘Isa reflects Islam’s apologetic strategy in relation to Christianity, which is to deny the Yeshua of history, and replace him with a facsimile of Muhammad, so that nothing remains but Islam.
“The Muslim supersessionist current claims that the whole biblical history of Israel and Christianity is Islamic history, that all the Prophets, Kings of Israel and Judea, and Jesus were Muslims. That the People of the Book should dare to challenge this statement is intolerable arrogance for an Islamic theologian. Jews and Christians are thus deprived of their Holy Scriptures and of their salvific value.”
- Bat Ye’or in Islam and Dhimmitude: where civilizations collide, p.370.
APPENDIX: The historical evidence for Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth and his death by crucifixion
Non-Christian sources for Jesus
. Tacitus (CE 55-120), a renowned historical of ancient Rome, wrote in the latter half of the first century that ‘Christus … was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also.’ (Annals 15: 44).
. Suetonius writing around CE 120 tells of disturbances of the Jews at the ‘instigation of Chrestus’, during the time of the emperor Claudius. This could refer to Jesus, and appears to relate to the events of Acts 18:2, which took place in CE 49.
. Thallus, a secular historian writing perhaps around CE 52 refers to the death of Jesus in a discussion of the darkness over the land after his death. The original is lost, but Thallus’ arguments – explaining what happened as a solar eclipse – are referred to by Julius Africanus in the early 3rd century.
. Mara Bar-Serapion, a Syrian writing after the destruction of the Temple in CE 70, mentions the earlier execution of Jesus, whom he calls a ‘King’.
. The Babylonian Talmud refers to the crucifixion (calling it a hanging) of Jesus the Nazarene on the eve of the Passover. In the Talmud Jesus is also called the illegitimate son of Mary.
. The Jewish historian Josephus describes Jesus’ crucifixion under Pilate in his Antiquities, written about CE 93/94. Josephus also refers to James the brother of Jesus and his execution during the time of Ananus (or Annas) the high priest.
Paul’s Epistles
. Paul’s epistles were written in the interval 20-30 years after Jesus’ death. They are valuable historical documents, not least because they contain credal confessions which undoubtedly date to the first few decades of the Christian community.
Paul became a believer in Jesus within a few years of Jesus’ crucifixion. He writes in his first letter to the Corinthians ‘For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve.’ This makes clear that belief in the death of Jesus was there from the beginning of Christianity.
The four gospels
. The four gospels were written down in the period 20-60 years after Jesus’ death, within living memory of the events they describe.
The events which the gospels describe for the most part took place in the full light of public scrutiny. Jesus’ teaching was followed by large crowds. There were very many witnesses to the events of his life. His death was a public execution.
Manuscript evidence for the Bible and its transmission
The manuscript evidence for the Greek scriptures is overwhelming, far greater than for all other ancient texts. Over 20,000 manuscripts attest to them. Whilst there are copying errors, as might be expected from the hand of copyists, these are almost all comparatively minor and the basic integrity of the copying process is richly supported.
Futhermore, when Western Christians studies the Hebrew scriptures during the Renaissance, they found them to agree remarkably closely with their Greek and Latin translations which had been copied again and again over a thousand years. There were copying errors, and some other minor changes, but no significant fabrications of the stupendous scale which would be required to concoct the story of Jesus’ death.
Likewise when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered they included Hebrew Biblical scrolls dating from before the time of Jesus. These too agreed very closely with the oldest Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts of more than a thousand years later. Again, no fabrications, but evidence of remarkably faithful copying.
Conclusion: Jesus of Nazareth is a figure of history
Clearly there are events recorded in connection with Jesus’ life that non-Christians will not accept, such as the miracles, the virgin birth, and the resurrection. However what is beyond dispute is that Yeshua (‘Jesus’) of Nazareth was a figure of history, who lived, attracted a following in his life time amongst his fellow Jews and was executed by crucifixion by the Roman authorities, after which his followers spread rapidly. Both secular and Christian sources of the period agree on this.
The primary sources for the history of Jesus’ public life are the gospels. These were written down relatively soon after his death – within living memory – and we have every indication that these sources were accepted as reliable in the early Christian community, during a period when first and second hand witnesses to Jesus’ life were still available.
We conclude that any statements about ‘Isa (Jesus) in the Koran, made six centuries after Jesus’ death, must be judged against the historical evidence from these first century sources, and not vice versa.
Further reading: The Jesus I never knew, by Philip Yancey.
—————————————————————————- —- The author of these notes is an Anglican Minister at St Hilary’s Anglican Church Kew. He is also a senior associate of the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at the University of Melbourne, with the honorary title of Associate Professor, and was formerly head of the Department of Linguistics and Language Studies. He has written several books on the language and culture of the Acehnese, an Islamic people of Indonesia, and was elected to the Australian Academy of Humanities in 1992 for this research work. He served as a member of the Council of the Academy for a term during the 1990′s. —————————————————————————- —-
Despite what some of our Christian and Messianic brothers and sisters are teaching, the term “Trinity” is not heretical. Though the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, the triune nature of God that this term identifies has strong biblical support. In this article, I will explore some of the best Scriptures that define the concept of the Trinity. In the process, it will be shown that the term “Trinity” identifies a very enlightened biblical concept that helps us to understand the triune nature of our holy God.
As a good introduction to the subject of the Trinity, here is a detailed and lengthy excerpt from Chapter Three of my book, “The Language of God in Humanity”:
“Male and Female Both Created in the Image of God In the beginning, Yahweh decided that He wanted one part of His Creation to resemble Him in nature more than any other. That is partly why He created human beings. To clarify this, let’s look at a familiar passage from the Bible:
“Then God (Elohim) said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God (Elohim) created man in His own image, in the image of God (Elohim) He created him, male and female He created them.” - Genesis 1:26-27
When Yahweh created human beings, He created them all in His image. Both male and female human beings therefore represent who Yahweh God is, and what He is like. Despite their differences in intellects and physical appearance, both men and women contain elements of Yahweh’s personality. In the triune Godhead, there is therefore a feminine element. If human beings, as male and female, are both created in Yahweh’s likeness, then God has told us by this very fact of Creation that He is also both male and female in nature. For this reason, we would be correct in calling Yah the Father and Mother of all Creation. This does not mean that Yahweh has a physical appearance like a man or a woman, however. The Father and the Holy Spirit do not have a corporeal body. They are invisible and infinite, and therefore cannot be contained in any sort of physical body.
Yet, despite the fact that Yahweh exists in the spiritual realms that mortals cannot see, we find a paradox in Christ. Through Yahshua our Savior, the infinite is given a finite expression that human beings can more fully relate to. Through Yahshua, therefore, people have and will see every aspect of the Living God in physical form. This is why Saint Paul said: “…in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col. 2:9 NIV). Both the masculine leadership of the Father and the feminine compassion of the Holy Spirit work together in Christ. This makes Yahshua a physical representation of the infinite Triune God called Yahweh Elohim. The masculine and feminine aspects of God are fully discussed in Chapter Seven.
The biblical passages that define and explain the triune nature of the one God Yahweh reveal that He has three ways of relating to us within His one being. Yet, though there is a certain plurality about God due to His triune nature, Christians do not believe in three different Gods as some may claim. Instead they believe in one God, though He reveals Himself in three Persons. This is the doctrine of the Trinity - which declares that our one God chooses to express Himself to us in three distinct, yet totally interrelated ways (1 Corinth. 12:4-6; Rom. 8:9,10; Mat. 28:19).
Scripture reveals the truth of the Trinity, showing by numerous examples that there are three co-eternal, and co-equal Persons in the Godhead that are the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence. In other words, even though They are totally one in purpose, the three Persons in the Godhead act independently. My own understanding of the Trinity is that the three Persons in the Godhead are one in essence, but different in action. All three Persons work together toward a common purpose in distinctly unique ways.
The Christian concept of the Trinity is difficult to accept rationally. It must therefore be accepted through faith. Our faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, can grow to accommodate new knowledge, and new perceptions of Yahweh. It is this faith that first calls us to become citizens in the Kingdom of God.
Our salvation in Christ has three stages to fulfillment. The first two stages usually happen simultaneously. First, our faith in Yahshua the Anointed One saves us. Secondly, the Holy Spirit fills the empty place within us, and begins our inner transformation into reflections of Christ. God’s Spirit allows believers to understand Yahweh’s nature as revealed in the Bible, and His magnificent Creation. With this spiritual discernment, we can begin to recognize Yahweh’s master Plan of Salvation. The third stage of salvation - outer transformation - happens with our physical resurrection from the dead. When we are raised into everlasting life, we will be spiritually pure and holy, and will have perfect bodies just like our glorious Savior. As long as we stay faithful to Yahshua and His Spirit, our metamorphosis into perfect, holy people will occur when we are resurrected.
Body, Mind, and Spirit – Man as a Reflection of Yah Even now, despite our fallen condition, it is still possible to see how Yahweh created us to resemble Him in nature and attributes. From the moment He formed Adam and Eve, Yahweh wrote the unseen “Language of God” into their physical composition. When Yahweh did this, He created a perpetual word picture of the Trinity within the structure of Adam and Eve that was made to instruct them, and every succeeding generation. This means that each human being is a living parable! We were all created with a unique and intimate allegorical story to tell each other, but we need to use our spiritual “eyes” to see this. By examining ourselves with the unseen eyes that the Holy Spirit alone can give us, we can gain a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Trinity, and our connection to the three Persons within it.
Like the Trinity, the Apostle Paul stated that human beings consist of three distinct, though interrelated parts. He called these parts the spirit, the soul (or mind), and the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Like Yahweh then, we also exhibit three different states of being in one body. Though we aren’t consciously aware of these divisions, each aspect of our “triune” selves works on a somewhat independent level. For instance, our bodies can continue to function without the conscious intervention of our minds, or spirits (as in a deep sleep, or a coma). Our minds, without any help from the spirit, can process and examine information we glean from our five senses about the physical world. The mind is also the seat of the basic emotional responses we produce when affected by outside stimuli. Yet the mind cannot act intuitively without relying on the spiritual dimension within us.
Spiritual beliefs are discerned and understood by our spirits. Yet without the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit assisting us (1 Cor. 2:14), all we discern spiritually is erroneous, and part of the darkness that Satan is also enveloped in! Unless we are born again so that our spiritual centers are filled with God’s Spirit, this spiritual part of ourselves will remain in darkness (John 3:5-7; Ephesians 5:8-12). Unsaved people therefore lack spiritual discernment, and are unable to accept the truths about Yahweh recorded in the Bible, and in the Mazzaroth. They lack wisdom - not knowing what is truly good for their bodies or themselves. In their ignorance, they do evil continually, and are unable to overcome their innate wickedness (Genesis 6:5, 8:21).
Unlike Yahweh Elohim’s triune Self, the three aspects of our own individual selves are set on a course of destruction, and death. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the spirit, soul, and body of each individual are completely incapable of working together in harmony and love. For this reason, we are subject to the laws of chaos, death, and decay. This downward spiral toward chaos is in operation throughout the Universe, and has been since Eve shared the forbidden fruit with Adam in Eden (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 102:25,26).
On that sad day, Adam and Eve may have lost the Shekinah Glory, and with it, their clothing of divine light, their immortality, and the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit within them. Allusions to the Shekinah Glory in the Bible suggest that it was a physical manifestation of Yah’s Spirit, and appeared as pure, radiant white light. If Yah’s Shekinah Glory dwelled in Adam and Eve before the Fall, it likely acted as clothing, provided divine protection, and allowed the first human couple to feel no shame - even though they were technically naked beneath the light. Once the Shekinah Glory was lost, however, Adam and Eve both suddenly became aware of their nakedness, sinfulness, and mortality.
Since the Fall, every human being is born without the Shekinah Glory, tainted by the Original Sin, and therefore subject to decay and death. Furthermore, due to the nature of sin, each human being has a spirit, soul, and body that act independently and antagonistically toward one another - to the detriment of the whole being. The following Scripture illustrates this point:
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another… But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred… jealousies, outbursts of wrath… selfish ambitions… heresies, envy… and the like; of which I tell you… that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:16-21
Since we are constantly at war with our own fleshly desires, the body, mind, and spirit in each person is in a constant state of chaos. The discordance in us causes disharmony in the body that leads to emotional and physical illness. Ultimately, this physical, emotional, and spiritual decay leads to death. Yet, though our bodies are perishing because of sin, we who are born again are being renewed spiritually. Believers will therefore not perish, but already have everlasting spiritual life, and a guarantee that they will participate in the First Resurrection from the dead. At the time of the First Resurrection on the Last Day, we will be given physical bodies to facilitate our eternal citizenship in the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Unlike the three parts of a fallen human being, the three Persons within our one perfect God Yah work in complete harmony together and are one in essence (John 10:30). Yahweh Elohim is a holy God without blemish or fault, and all three Persons within Him are perfect and flawless. These three in one are therefore in absolute agreement, and have one ultimate purpose that never changes (Malachi 3:6). This is what the doctrine of the Trinity states, and accepting it is a fundamental part of being a believer in Christ. This Tri-Unity so evident in our Triune God is totally absent within spiritually unregenerated people, and that is why men and God differ so completely. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and set in a position of leadership over every aspect of our lives, our minds continually war with our bodies and spirits. As already stated, this causes great havoc, sorrow, pain, illness and ultimately, death. Our Triune God has no such weakness.
Despite our weaknesses, however, we display certain characteristics that recall the fact that we are all created in Yah’s image. Since we, like Yahweh, are triune in nature, there are some startling analogies that can be drawn from this truth that form part of the unseen Language of God. The three aspects of a human being - as found unblemished in Adam and Eve before the Fall - correspond allegorically to the three Persons of our one God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The human mind is analogous to God the Father, though human mental abilities are only a faint reflection of the mind of the Father. Yahweh God created and controls every atom in the Universe - but our minds can only control some of our body’s responses. Unlike us, Yahweh is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He has always known all things and never had to be taught anything, though we are born dumb and must be taught all things. Furthermore, Yahweh never forgets, though we often do and constantly need to be reminded.
God the Father is the Master Engineer of the Universe. He conceived, and laid down all the great Laws that govern time, space, and matter. Then the Father gave the blueprints to His Son: the pre-incarnate Messiah Yahshua. With the Father’s Master Plan in hand, Yahshua then formed all Creation to fill the void:
“He (Yahshua) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV) (See also John 1:3)
In mystical Jewish theology, our invisible heavenly Father is called Ain Sof. He is not seen as a part of this Creation, but nonetheless encompasses every aspect of it within Himself. Using this concept of Ain Sof can help explain the Trinity. We can visualize Ain Sof as the invisible energy that permeates all physical matter, and energizes every atom in the Universe. Yet Yahshua put this energy into place, and acted as Yahweh Elohim when He spoke all Creation into being. Ain Sof - the Father - called His Son to act as His voice. Yahshua, acting as Yahweh Elohim, then spoke the Universe into existence - just as Genesis records:
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” - Genesis 1:3 (NKJ)
Yahshua, as the Word of God, was the Master Architect of the material world, of every object in the celestial realms, and of all living things. In Colossians 1:17, the Apostle Paul states that Yahshua - in His preincarnate form - holds all created things together. As paart of the Trinity, Yahshua is the allegorical glue that holds the fabric of the Universe together. At the same time, however, His power to order the Universe reflects the essence and will of the Father and Holy Spirit combined. In the role of Creator of the Universe, therefore, Yahshua was not alone. The Bible tells us that Yahshua had a helper in the Holy Spirit! In Proverbs, we are told that the Holy Spirit was present when the Son of God formed the Universe. There, the Spirit of Yah is depicted as Lady Wisdom:
“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates…” - Proverbs 8:1-3 (NKJ)
Here Lady Wisdom is addressed as “She.” Thus, this Scripture suggests that Yah’s Spirit is feminine in essence. In fact, in Jewish thought, the Holy Spirit or Ruach Ha Kodesh has always been considered feminine in nature. Lady Wisdom is not only feminine in nature, but Proverbs tells us that She has always been a part of the one triune Godhead:
“The LORD (Yahweh) possessed me (Wisdom) at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.” - Prov. 8:22-23 (NKJ)
It is this Spirit of Wisdom - the same Spirit that Yahshua gives to believers - that helped Yahshua with the Father’s plans, and took delight in being a part of the creative process with Her Preincarnate Son:
“When He (Yahshua) prepared the heavens, I (Wisdom) was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above… when He assigned to the sea its limit… when He (Yahshua) marked out the foundations of the earth, then I (Wisdom) was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men. Now… listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.” – Prov. 8:27-36 (NKJ)
In the above passages, we see the tri-unity of Yahweh in the “Word of God,” or preincarnate Christ, who manifests Ain Sof - His Father’s Will - in the physical realm. As such, it is Yahshua who acts as the Creator on His Father’s behalf, and with the help of the Holy Spirit. When Yahshua became a man, His role did not change. He still acted on the Father’s behalf, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit. In addition, Yahshua acts this way every time a person believes in Him, and receives the Holy Spirit through Him. This is why Wisdom, or the Spirit of Yah, depicts Herself just as Yahshua depicts Himself: as a gate we must enter to find life:
“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life (through Yahshua’s Spirit! – see John 3:16, 36), and obtains favor from the LORD (Yahweh); But He who sins against me wrongs His own soul; all those who hate me love death.” - Prov. 8:22-36 (NKJ)
In verse 34 of the preceding Scripture, Wisdom tells us that She waits and watches for us to arrive at Her gates and doors. Later, however, Yahshua described Himself as the Gate we must pass through to find life. In the Book of Revelation, Yahshua is depicted as standing at the door of our hearts and knocking. The Bible therefore consistently depicts our salvation in terms of finding a door or gate we must enter through. These symbolic doors or gates to salvation lead to everlasting life, and we can only enter through them when we believe in Yahshua as the Messiah (See Matthew 6:6, 7:7, 7:13-14; John 10:7-9; Revelation 3:8,20). Though these passages about the gate or door to salvation refer to Yahshua, they also identify the Wisdom, or Spirit of Yahweh acting in tandem with Christ. Therefore, in the study of Bible passages about Lady Wisdom, we can see the true essence of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Our triune Godhead is a perfect blending of three natures in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yahshua revealed Himself to be a perfect melding of both masculine and feminine characteristics in His dealings with humanity, and Yahshua is the visible image of the invisible, triune Godhead. We see this tri-unity in the holy voice that spoke to Moses from the burning bush on Mount Horeb, which was also called the Mountain of God, or Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1-2, 33:6). That voice represented the Father in Heaven. But it was the actual voice of the Son, Yahweh’s Word made flesh, that Moses heard, since the Father is unheard and unseen except through his Son Yahshua. That the Holy Spirit was also present in the miracle of the burning bush is indicated by the fact that the voice issued forth from a bush on fire.
Fire is a symbol for the invisible transforming action of the Holy Spirit. The most noteworthy place in the Bible where this connection is shown was on the day of Pentecost, when the apostles received the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues. For Jews, Pentecost, or Shavuot commemorates the day when Moses received the Ten Commandments and the rest of God’s Law on Mount Sinai. On that day, the Bible tells us that Yahweh spoke to Moses through fire and smoke (Exodus 19:18-21). For fire to burn, it requires an oxygen rich atmosphere. Fire can therefore be another manifestation of the Holy Sprit. This is why, on the Shavuot following Christ’s death and resurrection, tongues of fire appeared over the apostles’ heads in a physical manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit:
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together… Suddenly a sound like… a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house… They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” - Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
On that first Pentecost after Christ’s death, the Holy Spirit’s presence was made known through tongues of fire, and the sound of a rushing wind. God’s audible voice can therefore be understood as a physical manifestation of our unseen heavenly Father, who communicates to us through His Son Yahshua and the Holy Spirit.”
END OF EXCERPT from my book: “The Language of God in Humanity.”
Simply put, what I was attempting to express in the preceding lengthy book excerpt is that we can discern the triune nature of Yahweh God that has been defined as a Trinity within ourselves. To do so, one must fully acknowledge and accept that Yahweh made mankind in His image. As it says in Scripture:
“So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.” - Genesis 1:27 (NKJ)
If this is true, and Scripture says it is, then we must be able to discern the nature of God in every male and female human being ever born. This means that they must physically be like God in some way. So, if the Trinity has validity as an expression of God’s constitution or make-up, we should find an example of it within ourselves.
Amazingly, the Apostle Paul saw three distinct parts that make up every complete human being. These are identified as the spirit, soul and body in the following verse:
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Yahshua Ha Mashiach).” - 1 Thess. 5:23 (NKJ)
Now, if mankind has a spirit, soul and body, and mankind is in the Image of God, then it stands to reason that God also has a spirit in the Ruach, a soul or mind found in the Father, and a physical and spiritual body found in the Son, who is the only part of the Godhead that we will ever be able to see with our eyes.
As with any sane human being, the Spirit or Ruach of God, the Soul or Mind of God the Father and the Body of the Christ or Messiah belong to one singular Person that functions spiritually as One, but that manifests Himself in our world as three distinct Persons within the Godhead. These three Persons are what make up the whole Person of the Godhead, just as every human being is made up of a spirit, soul, and body that cannot function fully apart from one another, yet can act somewhat independently of one another.
For example, the heart and lungs in each person work of their own accord as involuntary muscular reactions. They do not need a conscious act of will to occur, though they can be influenced by a conscious act of will. Likewise, people can see themselves doing something physical in their thoughts without actually doing so. Finally, a person can share his or her spirit or life essence with another person through the vehicle of touch. This is why Paul said:
1 Corinthians 6:16-17 - “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (NKJ)
The person sharing his or her body and spirit with another person is not losing their spirit to give it to another. They are mingling their life essence with the life essence in another person and thereby can become imprinted by the spiritual essence of that person, whether for good or evil. This is why we are admonished throughout Scripture to only draw near to those we love and trust before we become one with that person on a spiritual level. This idea of mingling spirits is the active vehicle behind the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or Ruach that makes us true believers. This is why Paul said:
1 Corinth. 12:11-13 - “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (NKJ)
There are many Scriptural statements clarifying that we can discern the existence of the Ruach or Spirit of God and the Father through the Son of God, but also that the Father, Son and Spirit of God are distinct Persons in the Godhead that can act somewhat independently of one another, but nonetheless always act in agreement. Here are just a few of these Holy-Spirit inspired passages from the Bible. Note especially the first four Scriptures - all of which mention the Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (NKJ)
1 Corinth. 12:4-6 - “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit (i.e. the Ruach). There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord (i.e. Adonai Yahshua). And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God (i.e. Elohim) who works all in all. (NKJ)
2 Corinthians 13:14 - "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. Adonai Yahshua Ha Mashiach), and the love of God (i.e. Elohim), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (i.e. the Ruach) be with you all." (NKJ)
1 Peter 1:2 - "... Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood...." (NKJ)
Matthew 11:27 - "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (NKJ)
John 10:30 - "I and My Father are one." (NKJ)
These Scriptures have not been mistranslated, and they make it clear that Yahweh God manifests Himself as Three Persons that can and do act independently at times but are completely in agreement with one another, just as the body, mind and spirit in every believer in Yahshua ought to be.
Because of the consequences of sin, we have lost the Shekinah Glory of God and our bodies, minds and spirits no longer can act in agreement with God’s Spirit. But through the re-birth given to us in the allegorical womb of the Holy Spirit, every believer will someday be one in thought and action with the triune God. This will happen when they are resurrected with indestructible spiritual bodies of perfect flesh and bone on the Last Day.
Hallelu-Yah to Yahshua our Messiah, who saves us by His perfect blood shed for us on the Cross and allows us to become His brethren in Spirit and flesh through the promise of the resurrection into everlasting life! Amen!
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NOTE: This article may be distributed without restrictions as long as it is made available without charge and the byline with author Helena Lehman’s name and her POEM web site URL: http://pillar-of-enoch.com remain in place at the beginning and end of the article.
"The Trinity --A Non-Negotiable Doctrine" Article from: Answers in Genesis
[The paragraphs with a are from the person writing in./ Possibly a Muslim]
Before addressing these particular concerns, (Trinity), I need to state that since the doctrine of the Trinity is firmly grounded in Scripture, it is absolutely non-negotiable for us. We will not change our position on this crucial biblical teaching. Although the Bible does not use the term “Trinity,” it does state that there is only one true God, and it also reveals that the Father is God, the Son (Jesus Christ) is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. These are not contradictory teachings.
There's only two right now: God the Father, and God the Son--Jesus Christ. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is a person, then the Holy Spirit would be the father of Jesus Christ. But the Holy Spirit is the power of God the Father.
We agree that the Father is God and Jesus Christ is God. But Jesus stated, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16–17). Jesus said He would give His disciples “another Helper” after He ascended to heaven, implying that the Helper (the Spirit) would be like Him. So just as Jesus was and is a personal being, the Holy Spirit is a personal being (not an impersonal force). Also, Jesus said that the Spirit will dwell in believers forever, so He must still exist today.
Jesus also called Him “the Spirit of truth,” both here and in John 16:13. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Only a person can know and proclaim truth.2
It is true that Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was told, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Matthew 1:20 similarly says that Mary conceived by “the Holy Spirit.” It does not follow logically or biblically that the Holy Spirit is therefore an impersonal force. Nor would it logically or biblically follow that the Spirit, as a person, would be the Father of Jesus Christ. You have made an erroneous assumption concerning the reason for calling Jesus “the Son.” He is not called “the Son” because He took on human flesh and was born of a woman. He has been the Son in submission to the Father from eternity past.3
Also, Paul in each of his epistles, addresses the person or persons and blesses them with peace and grace by God the Father and Jesus Christ. He leaves out the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is not a person.
This is an argument from silence. Just because the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in Paul’s greetings proves nothing. Doctrines are not built solely upon the introductory greetings in the epistles. Paul mentions the Holy Spirit many times in other places. For example, he closed his second letter to the Christians in Corinth with the following words:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14, emphasis added)
He told the Christians in Rome that he had written boldly on some points as a reminder because of the grace given to Him by God.
That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16, emphasis added).
In both verses, Paul acknowledged all three members of the Trinity—God (the Father), Jesus Christ (the Son), and the Holy Spirit. There are 14 other books in the New Testament that Paul did not write (assuming he was not the author of Hebrews) and 39 books in the Old Testament, and those that address this subject do so with complete harmony.
You claim that “the Holy Spirit is not a person,” but merely “the power of God the Father,” and you aren’t the first person to hold such ideas. Throughout church history, some unorthodox groups have denied the personhood of the Holy Spirit (Arians, Monarchians, Socinians, and more recently the Unitarians, as well as some liberal and neo-orthodox theologians). However, there are solid biblical reasons to accept the personhood of the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit is not a person, please explain the following biblical teachings:
*The Holy Spirit is described with masculine pronouns in Greek (John 16:7–15). *He searches all things and knows the thoughts of God (1 Corinthians 2:10–11).
*He teaches (1 Corinthians 2:13).
*He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
*He exhibits feelings and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).
*He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). *He guides people into the truth (John 16:13). *He performs miracles and has empowered others to perform them (Acts 8:39; Romans 15:19).5 *He intercedes for believers (Romans 8:26).
*He can be blasphemed (Matthew 12:31). *He can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29). *He can be resisted (Acts 7:51). *He can be lied to (Acts 5:3). *He is called God (Acts 5:3–5). Each of these passages reveals that the Holy Spirit is a person instead of being simply the impersonal “power of God.”
God is a Family, not a Trinity. Christ told Nicodemus that the things of heaven are much like the things on earth. (John 3:12). We don't have trinities on earth. We have marriages and families.
With all due respect, that’s not the point of the verse. John 3:12 states, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” This does not at all mean what you claim. Jesus made the point that if Nicodemus couldn’t trust Jesus about things on earth (that Nicodemus could see with his own eyes—in this case, the behavior of the wind), then how would he ever trust Jesus with spiritual things (that Nicodemus could not see, in this case the new birth and kingdom of God). In the very next verse He explained that He is the only one who has come down from heaven, so He is the only one with the knowledge to tell us what it is like. Consequently, your point about marriages and families is wide of the mark.
No wonder why God is difficult for you to comprehend.
I am thankful that there are many things about God that are difficult for me to comprehend. He’s God and I’m not! He is infinite, holy, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. I’m finite, sinful, and limited in knowledge, power, and space. If God was easy to comprehend, then He wouldn’t be God and worthy of our worship, trust, and obedience. Nevertheless, we can know what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture. Also, when Jesus walked the earth, He was a perfect representation of the Father (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3), and He even told Philip that he who had seen Christ had seen the Father (John 14:9).
And if it is difficult for you to comprehend, how do you expect the Muslims to comprehend it, as you have in the latest Answers Magazine?
First, the Holy Spirit, not Mary, is the third person of the Trinity.
Second, this description would be an example of tri-theism (three gods), whereas Christians believe in one God in three persons. This may be difficult (and perhaps impossible) for us to fully comprehend, but it is not a contradiction. If we believed in three gods in one God or three persons in one person, then that would be a contradiction.
We are not called to deny biblical truth to make the saving message of Jesus Christ more palatable to an unbelieving world. So we do not deny the Trinity or any other biblical truth, such as the Genesis account of a six-day creation about 6,000 years ago, as we seek to persuade people to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Yet we are commanded to speak the truth in love, so we must strive to be gentle and respectful in our approach. Perhaps it is fitting to close this feedback with words from Paul’s final chapter to Timothy.
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:1–4)
We will not budge from the doctrine of the Trinity because it is firmly rooted and grounded in Scripture.Sincerely, Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S. [video:youtube][/video]
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
The Hebrew word Elohim is Plural as The Elohim of Father, Son and Holy Spirit which is the Elohim God. Let Us God, is plural.
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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Genesis 1:26
Only God made anything the "Us".. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
Let us make = made. It was the Elohim God referred to Himself in the plural. Mary is not in that quotation at all. She was blessed but very human.
We can get stuck on Bible Terminology and Figures of Speech at times. Word meaning. Son of Adam Son Of Man.
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Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. Luke 3:38
In the flesh Jesus was The son of man the son of Adam. Jesus was in the flesh walking the earth. But unlike Mary who was just human.... He was Immanuel - God with Us . Isaiah 7:14. A Holy Virgin Birth among us.
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God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews 1:1-3
The express image of the everlasting God. This is not Mary though greatly blessed.
Son Of Man ben-adam to confess Jesus in the flesh is important doctrine!
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In the flesh Jesus was The son of man the son of Adam. Jesus was in the flesh walking the earth.
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For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 2 John 1:7
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Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1 John 4:2
The Father The Son And The "it's Not Mary But the Holy Spirit." What is the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit as there is no other Holy Spirit then His. The Spirit of the Father and The Son which is the same. Holy, Holy, Holy.
It's Not The Father, The Son, And Mary. Who Ever Though that Up ? People should be able to know what people actually believe because we do not believe in that at all. It's not a part of the Scriptures.
are from the person writing in./ Possibly a Muslim]
Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:1–4)