Review of: The Godhead by Greg Riggen

Introduction

1. Jesus Asked His Disciples About the Opinion of Others

2. Jesus Asked for the Opinion of His Followers

Matthew 16:16 — And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

"Thou art the Christ" meaning the "anointed one". Peter was making a proclaimation, You are the Messiah. You are the one that Jews have been looking for for thousands of years. Before he was Israel's Messiah, He was the Lord's Anointed. Peter's revelation is truly foundational.

a. v.17 Blessed because Flesh and Blood have not Revealed It

Matthew 16:17 — And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Simon was blessed because of the fact that he had a revelation.

Matthew 16:18 — And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter's name means rock, but the greek word Peter is different from the rock upon which the church is built. Peter is "petra" or little rock.

The Church that Jesus built is built on the revelation of who Jesus is. And any church that is not on that revelation of who He is, if it is not on that rock it is somebody elses. That is the foundation of the true church. [Part 1 @20:00]

I do not want any of our guests to think when I say "true church" I am not talking about a denomination. There is only one church. You are either a part of His church or you are a part of something else.

The only way I may know that I am in His church is if I examine the foundation. The foundation has got to be the revelation of Who Jesus.

b. There is no debate about this. [Part 1 @21:45]

1 Timothy 3:16 — And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

"Without controversy" that is one Greek word in the original. I do not believe that you have to have a working knowledge to understand the Bible. But it does help sometimes to bring out the original. "Without Controversy" is one greek word "homologoumenos" and that word simply means "by the consent of everyone" that is "there is not one true believer that disputes this fact." There is no debate. There is no argument. This is not a controversy to the real church. [Argument from Original Language?]

"Great is the mystery of godliness". It does not say "godhead" or even mean "righteousness" this is not the same greek word. Godliness here simply means "all of the Christian religion". It does mean how we act or dress, but it is the entire message of Christianity. PARAPHASE: "Without controversy great is the mystery of how this church came to be." Why He did it is THE mystery. Why would He love us? Who is man? ( quotes Psalm 8:4) "Godliness is the entire scheme of the Christian message." [Argument from Original Language?]

After godliness is a "colon". A colon means I'm about to explain this to you. Let me explain it to you like this. This is everything we believe. This is the most important doctrine in the Bible. It is more important than salvation because without it we cannot have salvation. [Part 1@26:15] Everything we believe is wrapped up in that statement "God is manifest in the flesh." [Argument from English?]

[Part 1 @31:56] "Let's talk about the Godhead."

c. Whom Do Men Say that I am?

Who does men describe God to be?

There is a lot of wrong thinking out there about what others believe. I have never met anybody that said they believed in three Gods. We want to be fair when we discuss what others believe. We don't like people assuming things about what we believe.

They say "it's a cult down there". I ahve a hard time getting people to pay their tithes, this is not a cult. This is far from a cult. Anyway, We want to be fair as we discuss what others believe.

Most Theological scholars would identify God as the "Holy Trinity". They then describe the trinity as three separate and distinct persons who are co-equal and coeternal and co-existent but who together make one God. [Part 1 @34:30] They are going to agree with you that there is only one God, but this one God is three distinct persons.

"One well-known website": 1. There is in the Divine Being but one indivisible essence. 2. In this one Divine being are 3 individual subsistences 3. ... (perhaps Pastor Riggens is referencing Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1941) pgs. 87-89.)

A) There is in the Divine Being but one indivisible essence (ousia, essentia). B) In this one Divine Being there are three Persons or individual subsistences, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. C) The whole undivided essence of God belongs equally to each of the three persons. D) The subsistence and operation of the three persons in the divine Being is marked by a certain definite order. E) There are certain personal attributes by which the three persons are distinguished. F) The Church confesses the Trinity to be a mystery beyond the comprehension of man. https://www.aomin.org/aoblog/oneness-pentecostalism/the-trinity-the-definition-of-chalcedon-and-oneness-theology/

"F) The Church confesses the Trinity to be a mystery beyond the comprehension of man." Don't waste your time, you can't understand it. This is what they believe. This is what they are taught.

This came from one of their websites. Christian theologians have said, Deny the Trinity and you will lose your soul. Try to explain it and you will lose your mind. They say it is impossible for man to understand the Godhead. It is a mystery. it is too difficult. Here is my big problem is that when they come to conclusion that the Godhead is a mystery beyond comprehension they are in direct violation of the Scripture. [Part 1 @39:20] Romans 1 and verse 20 says this:

Romans 1:20 — For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

ILLUSTRATION: Come here Jerome. There is one man here right and there is one right here. So, one plus one equals ... That's clearly seen. You don't have to be brilliant; its clearly seen. This is what Paul is saying in Romans 1. There are invisible things, things that our eyes cannot be focused on, but I want you to know that they can be clearly seen and they are understood. [Part 1 @41:00]

The Apostle Paul said the Godhead is something that should be clearly seen and understood. He did not say it is beyond comprehension. He did not say it was too heard for your little mind to figure out. He didn't say you have to understand 5 languages before you can grasp this.

"so that they are without excuse:" This is so simple, you have no excuse for this. You better understand it. There is no excuse for you not understanding it.

There are 4 Bible verses that if you grasp these four verses then the Godhead becomes clearly seen. It is as easy as that. Then why does it take me 8 weeks to teach it? Because there is so much false doctrine out there.

The reason the Trinity is a mystery beyond comprehension is that it is not a Biblical doctrine. The Bible does not use the word Trinity, in fact, the doctrine of the Trinity was not fully developed before 325 AD in Nicea. [Part 1 @45:40] Who is it that is so ignorant to think you can explain something that Jesus couldn't explain? Problem is Jesus did explain it and it didin't take him 325 years to explain it. Jesus defined God for us in one conversation.

[Part 1 @48:20]

I. Principle of the Godhead #1: There is Only One God

Deuteronomy 6:4,5 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

At the end of verse, the translators put a colon to help us understand that the sentence is not finished. If the sentence was finished, there would be a period. Verses 4 and 5 are all one sentence. This is important.

I am going to show you why it is principle number one. There is not a more important verse in all of Scripture than Deuteronomy 6:4,5. That is not my opinion; it is the most important passage in the Scripture.

This passage was written to Israel. it is called the Shma. The Shma was written on small scrolls and nailed to the doorposts of their home, wore on wrists and between their eyes. They spoke it daily. They quoted this morning and night. The Jews alone were a one God people. This was their uniqueness. Many Jews want this to be the last thing they say when they die.

When I hold my grandbabies, the first words they hear their grampy say are "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.". [Part 1 @56:00]

I'm gonna prove it to you that this is the most important passage of Scripture.

Mark 12:28-30 — And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Matthew only gives us verse 5, but verses 4 and 5 are all one sentence. Matthew wrote his gospel mostly to the Jews. That is why Matthew often says "as the Scripture says", "according to the prophets" ...

It is not enough to love just any God with all your heart. You have to love the right God. Just in case you didn't know, Allah is not the same God as Jehovah. Allah is a different God than Jehovah. [Part 1 @1:01:01] You have to love the "one lord God with all of your heart".

Mark wrote his gospel mostly to a Roman audience. He uses Roman coins and Roman lengths. The Romans worshipped many gods, so it was not enough to quote just verse 5.

Deuteronomy 6:4,5 supercedes Acts 2:38 and John 3:16. The most imporant verse in all of the Bible is "Hear o Israel the Lord our God is one Lord." It is not my opinion, it is what Jesus said. Whatever else you believe about God, it cannot contradict the fact that He is one. You have to believe there is only one God.

Can everybody count to one? That is not three. That is not three in one. That is not two in one. It is one. That is not hard, it is clearly seen. I could go through many many Scriptures.

Romans 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Ephesians 4:6 — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:6 is not "one God and one Father". You do have to know more about the Greek language than what I am about to tell you. The Greek word kai many times can be translated "even". It is like saying "I am pastor and Bishop." that does not make me two. Don't try it in every place it appears, but there are times it can be rightly translated "One God even the Father of all".

Who's inside of me? God is.

There is only one God, don't let anyone place any doubts in your mind otherwise. He is the only God and he is the only Lord.

[Part 2 @00:00:00]

Jesus clearly stated what was the most important passage in Scripture.

Matthew 16:13-17 — When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We are going to talk about Who he is today. It is because of Who He is that we have salvation.

[Part 2 @3:10] Pray for the message.

[Part 2 @4:25] I want to begin in John 17 in our introductory remarks. In John 17, Jesus is praying for his disciples on the night of His betrayel.

John 17:17 — Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Thy Word is Truth. It is not a matter of popular opinion that determines truth. What matters is "What does the Word of God say?" What God says is what is right.

[Part 2 @8:05] Peter said no Scripture is of private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20)

REVIEW:

  1. We looked at the question jesus asked. Who do men say I am?
  2. Then welooked at the question Jesus asked of his discipoles, Who do you say that I am?
  3. Peter was blessed as he received the revelation. (We need an understanding. We can't comprehend the things of God wiht our carnal mind. We need God to grant to us a spiritual revelation. I need to qualify what I mean by revelation. [Part 2 @11:00] God has given us an anchor. Revelation = The spirit revealing to you the mysteries of his word.

"I am the way and the truth. Jesdus is the truth. In fact Jesus is the living word of God. In the begining was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And in verse 14 ... the Spirit of God will never contradict the Word of God."

Luke 24:45 — Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Jesus made sure that His discipoles got a revelation. They got a clear understanding of what the disciples taught. They needed Jesus to open their understanding.

  1. Majority Opinion is the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost is stated as "beyond comprehension". There is though, a much simpler definition based soley on the Scripture. The conclusion of the scholarly discussion of the Godhead is that the Trinity is a mystery beyond man's comprehension. It is impossible for us to understand. I don't think you have to be a great scholar to understand the Scripture.

Isaiah 35:8 — And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Romans 1:20 — For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Man makes the Godhead complicated, but it is simple. It is ought to be easily understood, clearly understood. If it takes 300 years to put together a definition of God, there is someting wrong with that definition.

  1. There are 4 Principles to understanding the whole of the Godhead. #1 There is Only One God. (Deuteronomy 6:4,5)

Mark 12:28-29. Jesus himself said this (Deuteronomy 6:4,5) is the most important passage/commmandment of the Bible. Out of the 600+ O.T. commandments what is the most important? Verse 29: "Hear O Israel..." There is only one God.

[Part 2 ~25:00]

II. Principle of the Godhead #2: God the Father is a Spirit

John 4:23-24 — But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The topic at hand in John 4:23, is "The Father". When he says God, He is making reference to the Father. [Part 2 @26:15] Jesus referred to the Father as God. When He says "God" in verse 24, he is referring to "the Father". PARAPHASE: "God or the Father is Spirit" In the Greek there is no article ("a") so it literally says "God is spirit". God the Father is a Spirit. He is not the first person, he is not a person, he is a Spirit.

God is not a person, He is a Spirit. [Part 2 @28:15] No where is God called a person. false dichotamy

When we think of God, we need to stop thinking of Him as a person and think of Him as a Spirit. "You are splitting hairs." No, I am not splitting hairs, it is important that God is not a person. When you have to create your own defintion to support your doctrine, there is something wrong with your doctrine. ????

[Part 2 @31:30] Creating a definition of a word that fits a doctrine. I know what a person is and you know what a person is and it does not describe God. Jesus did not say the Father is the first person or even a person. He did say, God the Father is a Spirit.

Hebrews 1:3 — 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;

When you read the word person in this verse, ... In almost every other translation it says "essence", or "nature", or "being". He does have substance but He is not a person. He is the express image of the Father's being. There is no place in the Bible where God the Father is called a person.

A. God as a Spirit is Omnipresent (There is nowhere that God the Father is not)

[Part 2 @38:00] No person can be everywhere.

B. God as a Spirit is Immortal (He is everlasting; No beginning and no end; God the Father the Spirit cannot die.)

God is not bound by time. That is not a person, that is a spirit. The Bible puts God the Father into a category that no person can achieve. Immortality is part of God's nature.

C. God as a Spirit is Invisible

No man has seen the Father at any time because the Father is a Spirit. If God is everywhere, how could you possibly see Him? Christ is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)

[Part 2 @45:50] No man has ever laid eyes on God the Father.

[Part 2 @52:00]

None of this is hard. This is simple. This is easy.

God the Father is the One and Only Holy Spirit

III. Principle of the Godhead #3: The Son is the Flesh

Luke 1:35 — And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18 — Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Either a)Jesus had two Fathers, or b)he was confused which person of the godhead was His father or c) the Holy Ghost is His Father. Both husband and pastor are terms of relationship, but pastor and husband are not two different people. This is so easy. It is contradictory to say that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. Is He a spirit or a person?

Ephesians 4:4 — There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

[Part 3 @0:00:00]

We have been talking about the subject of the God for last couple of weeks.

[Part 3 @0:03:00]

Matthew 16:13-18 — When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

[Part 3 @0:04:00] Who do we say that He is? Or do have a misconception about who Jesus is? It is essential that we know who He is.

[Part 3 @0:04:56] Prayer before the message.

[Part 3 @0:05:52] Prayer ends

Review:

Romans 1:20 — For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Colossians 2:2 — That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

  • "musterion" (27 verses): Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 18:10; Romans 11:25; Romans 16:25; Ephesisans 3:9 ...

[Part 3 @0:25:27]

Luke 1:35 — And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

John 3:6 — That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Which one was Mary? Was she flesh or was she spirit? If mary was flesh, what did she give birth to? Mary gave birth to flesh. Luke 1:35 The Son of God is not an eternal Spirit. The Son of God was made of a women. If the Son of God has always been then his mother has always been because he was made of a women. [Part 3 @35:40] When we read "Son of God" we should think humanity; we should think flesh.

The following line of logic feels out of place.

Luke 2:52 — And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Matthew 4:2 — And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

John 4:6 — Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Matthew 8:24 — And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

John 11:35 — Jesus wept.

Matthew 16:13 — Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is?

John 8:40 — But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.

John 19:33 — but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Hebrews 1:5 — For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 — Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Proverbs 30:4 — Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

[Part 3 @49:18]

Daniel 3:25 — He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

[American Standard Bible] Daniel 3:25 — He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.

Revelation 1:8 — I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

REVIEW:

The Father is one. The Spirit sent some flesh down here to die. The Spirit could not redeem us as a Spirit. It took human flesh and blood to bring redemption. [part 3 @1:01:00]

A lesson for another day, why you have to have the Holy Ghost. In the Old Testament God allowed the Jews to live by the letter of the law for centuries. But it can't be done. I'm gonna take these laws and write them on the tables of your heart. When God writes it on your heart it so much more powerful than when someone says don't do this and don't do that. That is what the Holy Ghost is all about. That is not law, that is love. Love seeks to please the one you love.

John 14:15 — If ye love me, keep my commandments.

There are also things that God hates. God is love, so there are things that "love hates". Do a Bible Study on the word abomination.

This is not legalism, this is love.

- starts Part 4 [Part 4 @0:00:00]

I don't want us to ever lose appreaciation for this truth. The reason why it is so important that we believe Deuteronomy 6:4 because that is the thing that separates God's people fromt he rest of the world.

[Part 4 @0:3:00] The message that there is truly only one and not three in one is still the message that distinguishes usy. Why do we baptize in Jesus name? We baptize in the only saving name.

Acts 4:12 — Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If there are three persons what happened to the names of the other two. There is only one saving name because there is only one God.

[Part 4 @0:4:00] Even in the apostolic realms people are deviating from this message. Even right now a major organization that calls themselves apostolic is teaching things that are contrary to the message that there is only one God. It is going on and we have got to get ahold of this. I want it settled in your mind and in your spirit, that this is what the Word of God declares. it has got to be settled. You have got to have revelation. it is not enough to have an understanding. It has got to be a touch form on high. If you ever get a revelation no body will ever convince you of something else. And if you have ever had moments of reading scripture or talking with someone that caused you to question what you believe is a sure sign you don't have a revelation. [Part 4 @0:6:00]

Matthew 16:13-17 — When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

REVIEW:

[Part 4 @0:37:45] An apostolic organization is teaching that the Son existed before Bethlehem. We went through the Scripture "this day have I begotten thee". There was a day in which the son of God was begotten, began, was made flesh.

[Part 4 @0:39:45]

IV. Principle of the Godhead #4: God was in Christ / Jesus was God and Man

2 Corinthians 5:19 — To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Matthew 1:23 — Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Begins reading [Part 5 @0:00:00]

Matthew 16:13-17 — When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Review

V. Scriptural Proofs how God was in Christ, There is only one God and His name is Jesus

1. The Plan of Redemption #5 @16m27s

God was not suprised by the fall of mankind. Before God ever created Adam and Eve, He already had a plan to redeem them, He knew what they would do.

Revelation 13:8 — And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

#5 @18m10s God knew that there had to be a perfect lamb that could be sacrificed and that lamb was not an afterthought of God. Before he ever scooped up the sands of earth and made man, already in the mind of God he had a plan. He already intended for the lamb to be slain. This was from the beginning. From the foundation of the world.

John 1:1 — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. #5 @19m3s

[Argument from Original Language] Generally when we read about "the Word" in the Scripture we are talking about the Bible. The Bible is the written word. But here "word" comes to from a different Greek source. It is not rhema which is something you speak; it is logos. The logos is something deeper, it is a concept. It is a blueprint. "Logos" is God's blue print.

[Argument from Analogy] For this building to be built, somebody had a draw a plan. In the very beginning God had a plan; He had a blueprint. In the very beginning God had a plan and that plan was with God. Here Trinitarians want to say the word is the second person in the Godhead and he's with God the Father which is the first person and so since they are together there are two. No, you have missed the whole point.

#5 @21m36s God is the one who had the plan. "The plan was God." The plan was not "I'm gonna find someone else." "Just suppose God searched through heaven, and couldn't find one who was willing to be ...(Had it Not been, Song)." No God did not search through heaven. God was not looking for a redeemer. In the beginning was the plan and the plan was with God and the plan was God. He was the plan. That plan is me. I'm the one that is going to redeem them. I don't need a second person. I don't need a committe.

#5 @23m5s That is the logos, it means reason, it means a concept, thought, doctrine, purpose, idea, expression and completion of one's will. Before God first created man, his plan was already with him. "I'm not gonna look around and send my little boy to do my dirty work. I don't need to find a second person to do this job."

#5 @23m55s Because of this plan, the plan said in order for men to be redeemed there had to be shedding of blood.

Hebrews 9:22 — And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

This is the way God set up his plan. It is like a builder that comes along says the building is going to be built out of metal studs. In God's blueprint, here's what he said the only thing that can take away sin is blood. God said, it is going to take blood to redeem mankind and I am going to do it. God, the Father, is a spirit and a spirit does not have blood, but He didn't have to look for someone else who didn't have blood.

#5 @25m39s [PARAPHRASE] In the beginning was the word, the blueprint, was with God and that plan, that blueprint, was God.

John 1:14 — And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

That blueprint, that plan, that will was made flesh. God says, "Here is how I am going to fix it. Right now I am nothing but spirit but in order to redeem mankind, my plan is to become flesh. Im gonna take on what I never had before. I'm gonna assume a robe, a coat that makes me like my creation. I myself who is sinless is gonna take on a robe of flesh and I am going to shed blood for them.

#5 @27m1s "And the word was made flesh". The literal greek here is that "the word became flesh".

#5 @28m33s [Argument from Analogy] I don't care how detailed the blueprints are, you cannot have church in a set of blueprints. At some point that plan has to be fleshed out. It has got to be put into action. Somebody has got to do some work so that the plan can become reality. God had a plan and the plan was God. Here is what is going to happen, I am going to take on flesh so that I can have blood to shed for them.

2 Timothy 3:16 — And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Jews tried for centuries to get to know this God. They learned bits and pieces about him, but one day he arrived on this earth as one of them and He became known. He was manifest in the flesh. Who was? God was. When we read God, we are talking about the Father. The Spirit was manifest in the flesh. While he walked in the flesh, He was justified in the Spirit. He was seen of angels, he was preached unto the Gentiles, He was believed on in the world God in flesh and He was received up into Glory. Who was? God in flesh. Not the second person in the Godhead, but God in flesh.

#5 @31m17s STRONG CRITICISM MADE HERE. To me the doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most insulting doctrines that people could come up with to apply to God. First of all, the very idea that it takes three persons to make this one God is insulting. You don't need any persons to make God, God made persons. Secondly, it's insulting because here's what that doctrine teaches. That the Father looked down on us and saw that we needed redemption. That we needed someone to shed blood for us and the father turned to the Son and sent the son to die. Now this is the doctrine of the Trinity, the Father sent the Son to die. And the Trinity teaches that while the son was dieing, the father turned his head away and would not watch his own son die.

Now, I'm going to ask you something. If this building caught on fire today and I was standing outside with my son. I can't come into those flames the way I am, but if I'll put on an asbestos suit. I I'll put on another garment on the outside, I can get in there and get you out. That doesn't change who or what I am. I just took on a new dimension. And that is what the Father did. He said, I can't save you as a spirit because of the plan, but I'm going to put on a robe of flesh and come down there myself.

#5 @35m29s The Trinity teaches that Jesus is the eternal son of God, but John 3:16 does not teach that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He's called the begotten son of God. There is a big difference between that which is begotten and that which is eternal. That which is begotten has a beginning.

[PARAPHRASE] God so loved the world that He gave the son which had a beginning.

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is what the trinitarians want to tell me; that the Father loved the world so much that He sent the son and the son died for us and the father didn't watch it happen. You cannot properly interpret John 3:16 until you read 1 John 3:16. 1 John 3:16 puts John 3:16 in its proper perspective. Becuse John 3:16 is not about one person sending another person. He explains it in his first epistle in 1 John 3:16.

#5 @37m49s

1 John 3:16 — Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

[Paraphrase] This is how we know God loves us, not because he sent somebody else, but because HE, God, laid down his life for us. That's how we know He loves, not because he sent somebody else, but because he came and did it himself. That's real love.

#5 @39m20s Revelation called him the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. How was he slain before the foundation of the world? Not a literal calvary. Calvary didn't happend before the foundation of the world. How was he slain, where was he slain before the foundation of the world? In the mind of God. He was not slain literally, but he was slain in the mind of God. That is why, In the beginning was the plan, the plan was with God and the plan was God. In His mind, this deed is done, settled. …Parallels God's call of Abraham as a father of many nations being a fact in God's mind every before it was realized in Abraham. Arguing that once God has established something in his mind, it is already done.…

Ephesians 1:11 — In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

#5 @43m05s The Bible says that he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. He doesn't need two other people in the Godhead to work things out. He can counsel with his own will. So once it is determined in the mind, in the plan of the will of the God, He can talk about it as though it is current.

#5 @43m55s The bible says that He inhabits eternity. Eternity is God's home.

Isaiah 57:15 — For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

[Analogy] Many of you came to our house and ate. There were many times that I walked from my living room into the kitchen and no one applauded me. "That's tremendous he can go from one room to the other." No, that's just two rooms in my house. I can step from to the other with ease. God has a house called eternity and one of the rooms in the house is yesterday. That is why when we come to an alter and we repent of our sins and we are baptized in Jesus name the Lod just steps in to yesterday and says all ofthis sin on the record it doesn't exist anymore. I'm getting rid of all of that. I'm cleaning out this room of yesterday and getting rid of everything that is on the record as of this moment. he can step into yesterday. It is not a problem for God. He can also walk from today into tomorrow and get rid of those problems. So Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. How is that? It is because way back here, before yesterday was, God had already stepped into that tomorrow and He saw the lamb hanging there. he saw the sacrifice was going to be made and it was done.

#5 @47m52s In John 17:5, Jesus is praying.

When we read Father, we think God. So jesus is speaking as the son. It is his flesh that is speaking, not one person speaking to another. But the flesh is talking to the Spirit.

John 17:5 — And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

What glory did he have with the father before the world was? It was the glory of the cross. He had that in the mind of God. He was the lamb slain before the foundaiton of the world. This was not a pre-existent son of God who had glory with the father in eternity past. This is the man Christ Jesus who is about to head to calvary and prays. "And now oh Spirit glorify me with thin own self, withthe glory that I had with thee before the world was, I was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I'm ready to face that glory now. The suffering, the agony, the tears, the death, as terrible was it was, it was a terrible wonderful cross. It was an ugly glorious cross becuase of the glroy thaht was purchased for us through thath act of redemption on calvary. It is not two separate persons carrying on a conversation here, but when he speaks of the glory he had with the father before the world began he's talking about the glory that existed in the mind of God.

Details more on the "glory" of the cross and the "glory" of the story of redemption and how God accomplished it. That plan was God. God created the things that were used to abuse Him as well as to bring Him into the world.

#5 @54m20s

Galatians 4:4 — But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

1 John 3:16 — Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

- Prayer begins [Part 6 @0:00:00] and prayer ends [Part 5 @0:00:35]

Review: #6 @0m37s

??. Acts 2:15 #6 @10m50s

Acts 2:14-18 — But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Joel 2:28 — And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joel 2:27 — And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Jehovah was the name by which the Jews knew their God. Jehovh is the God of the Old Testament. he said I am the LORD your God. That word God there is elohim. Genesis 1:1 says in the beginning, elohim created the heaven and the earth. So here's waht Joel 2:27. You shall know that I am in the midst of israel. Who is in the midst of Israel? I am Jehovah your elohim. I am The God of the Old Testament. "I am going to be in the midst of Israel," not a second person, not somebody else, but the God of the Old Testament is gonna walk in the midst of Israel and after that I'm going to pour my Spirit out upon all flesh. When did the God of Israel walk in the midst of his people? He did it in the body of Jesus Christ. That was not Jehovah Junior that was Jehovah Elohim. Jehovah Elohim had to walk in the midst of Israel before he could pour his spirit out according to the prophecy of Joel.

??. Zechariah 12:10 #6 @18m16s

Joel is not the only old testament prophet that let's us know that the one who came is Jehovah elohim.

Zechariah 12:10 — And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

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??. Jehovah of the Old Testament Exodus 15:2 [Part 6 @0:22:28]

Exodus 15:2 — Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.

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??. Psalm 118:14,21 #6 @23m22s

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??. Another problem with the doctrine of the Trinity: The Throne in Heaven

Revelation 4:2 — And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

FAQ [Part 6 @0:34:40]

1. Genesis 1:26 - Does the plural pronouns prove the plurality of persons? Is this the Father speaking to the Son and Spirit?

For hundreds of years, the Jews have been reading Genesis 1:26 and never once has it made them question that there might be more than one person in the Godhead.

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[Part 6 @0:39:50] Why do you stop reading with verse 26?

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2. The word ELOHIM is a plural word [Part 6 @0:43:12]

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EXTRA NOTES

Claims Made

Requests/Challenges

Phrases

Scriptures List

General Timelines

About

My Thoughts

1. The Person of God - God's Nature

Isaiah 48:16 — Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

Colossians 2:9 — For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2. WHO died on the cross?

3. I John 3

1 John 3:23 — And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 4:2 — Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

4. God Sent His Son

1Jo 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.

1 John 4:13 — Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:14 — And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

1 John 4:15 — Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1 John 5:1 — Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Is "Personal Revelation" necessary to know of the nature of God what he wills for us to know in this life?

Doctrinal Statements

  1. God is Creator, Our Father and the Father of Jesus Christ.

1 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.

Romans 1:7 — To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:6 — That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:17 — That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  1. The Son was Active in Creation, Uniquely Begotten of and Sent by the Father.

Ephesians 3:9 — And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

John 3:18 — He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Acts 13:33 — God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. [Psalm 2:7]

1 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.

1Jo 4:14 — And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Revelation 1:5 — And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  1. The Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and is sent by the Father and the Son in the name of the Son.

John 14:26 — But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

2 Thessalonians 1:2 — Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [The Holy Ghost does not come in His own name.]

John 15:26 — But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Revision #33
Created 15 October 2024 01:10:25 by Stephen Reynolds Jr
Updated 5 November 2024 04:21:14 by Stephen Reynolds Jr