
Some thoughts and questions for an open and hungry heart to consider….
Who Jesus Is,
What did the church of Rome change to pervert the gospel,
What Is Truth?
"What Must I Do To Be Saved" Bible study is toward the end of this material. I pray it is a blessing to you.
This is a lot of material but worth taking the time to read and study it.
Blessings
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Who Is Jesus?
Is He just a part of a godhead OR is the the Godhead in Jesus?
What is truth and how has it been changed over time by man?
Let's start with taking a look at who Jesus is and we'll also explore God's Word about Who Jesus is and various points about what Truth really is.
Jesus is Emmanuel meaning God with us....Jesus is the image of the invisible God....the name Jesus is the only saving name (Acts 4:12), Jesus said if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father...I and my Father are ONE.
God robed Himself in flesh to be able to shed Blood for us.
There won't be three thrones in Heaven with one for a Father God and another for a little junior Son God...John saw one throne with One sitting upon the throne. Jesus will be sitting on the throne as the only image of the Invisible Spirit that we will ever see.
If the trinity doctrine is correct and not manmade by the church of Rome (Catholics) then there's a problem because Jesus would then have two fathers...the Father and also the Spirit (Holy Ghost).
Catholics coined a deceptive trinity phrase "God the Son" that's nowhere in the Bible.
When you say Jesus, you say Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Creator and the list goes on.
Jesus is the Mighty God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself!
Jesus said "except ye believe that I am He (God), ye shall die in your sins."
All daughters of Rome believe the catholic doctrine of the trinity sadly.
Even Matthew 28:19 lets you know Him....
What is the....
Name...of the Father...
Name...of the Son...
Name...of the Holy Ghost....
Only Jesus fits the Name....
For there is NO other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved....Acts 4:12
When you say Jesus...you identify Father, Son, Spirit and every other attribute of God because Jesus was "God robed in flesh dwelling among us."
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/cc0jycarm1zagtt/What%2527s_Wrong_with_the_Roman_Catholic_Church_%2528RCC%2529.pdf/file
The First church was NOT Trinitarian....
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/qn8cssr7bwh40h5/The_Early_Church_Was_Absolutely%252C_Unequivocally_NOT_Trinitarian..doc/file
With the omnipresence of God in mind we can understand the baptism of Christ very easily. It was not at all difficult for the Spirit of Jesus to speak from heaven and to send a manifestation of His Spirit in the form of a dove even while His human body was in the Jordan River. The voice and the dove do not represent separate persons just like the voice of God from Sinai indicates that the mountain was a separate intelligent person in the Godhead.
The Bible says that Jesus is the "image" of the invisible God....the flesh was just the part that walked earth and that they saw. The original Greek of the word image means "icon"....much like software on a computer today....the icon on the screen isn't separate from the program installed on the hard drive.....it's just the part you see that represents every thing about the program and makes the entire program open and work.
A scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" He replied, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord". This is the most important doctrine in the Bible. Old Testament saints called the Father, "Lord." Jesus is Lord. The Lord is "that Spirit," (2 Corinthians 3:17). These are not three Lords, but One. Jesus is the only body of the invisible God you will ever see. Mark 12:30 - "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."
Jesus is the Almighty God come in flesh to walk among us to be the final ultimate sacrificial Lamb and usher in the New Testament dispensation of grace, the dispensation we're currently living under.
John 1:1 says God was the Word and then in verse 14 It says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 10:33... the Jews wanted to stone Jesus for saying He was God.
John14:8-10.... Phillip asked to see the Father and Jesus said I've been with you so long and still you don't know (me). Contextually Jesus was very clearly calling Himself the Father.
1Tim 3:16 ...says (God) was manifested in the (flesh).
Jesus said "I and my Father are one"....another place He said "if you've seen Me you've seen the Father."
Jesus in another place said "except ye believe that I am He (God) he shall die in your sins."
They called Jesus "Emmanuel, meaning God with us."
The Scripture says that Jesus is the "....Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace."
Much like Paul's salutations where he would make reference to "God "and" Jesus Christ our Savior"....first, there is only one savior, God and secondly the word "and" in the original language, and lost in translation, actually means "even" which when taken out of the original language that had much more color and meaning says "God "even" Jesus Christ..." combining Jesus and God not dividing them.
The word trinity is not in the Bible and the man made Latin term "trinitas", our modern English word "trinity", was coined in the third century by Tertullion, which was eventually excommunicated as a mad man by even Catholicism, yet his teachings and self coined words continued to be taught because of political pressure to please everyone.
John 14:16-18..... Jesus talks about the Comforter and He calls Himself the Spirit of truth which is the Holy Ghost-verse 26.
Colossians2:9 ....In Jesus dwells ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The only time we will ever see God is in the glorified body of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians5:19.....God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the one and only true and wise God.
If any verse seems fuzzy, it's important to take very clear verses and reconcile all verses together....really all one needs is to see that Jesus was called Emmanuel being interpreted "God with us".... God was "robed in flesh and dwelt among us".... and Jesus clearly said "If you've seen Me, then you've seen the Father....I and My Father are One."
Much like the cross....either God came and died for us or He didn't.
If He sat on His throne in Heaven while He sent a second person of His being to do the dying....then all of God was not crucified on the cross and a supposed "God the Father" coped out and sent little "God the son" to do the dirty work while God the Spirit stood by and watched. No, God Himself had no flesh or blood, the Scripture says, He came and robed Himself in a fleshly body so He could die Himself for us and that's why when we get to Heaven, there will only be "ONE sitting upon THE throne" Paul said....not two or three thrones or one big throne and one or two more little thrones.
To understand it all is to understand that Jesus was the God man, both man and God, flesh and divinity all wrapped up in one package....as God with no flesh, He robed Himself in a body called Jesus and as God Jesus spoke to the winds, sickness and demons and even forgave sins which only God can do but His flesh part also became weary, he drank water and ate food but He was still the image that God had wrapped Himself in.
On the cross when Jesus cried out, His flesh was crying out to His divinity....His flesh part felt abandoned, was bleeding and hurting and wanted down but His God part looked over at the repentant thieves, and under the rules of the dispensation of the law, He spoke as only God can do and told the man "today you will be with Me (not us) in paradise."
I Timonthy 3:16....truly there is a mystery surrounding how Jesus could be both God and man, undivided, at the same time....but the verse itself answers the mystery with a profound statement that "...God was manifest in the flesh...."
God is never a divided entity....there can only be ONE Almighty and if subdivided into three equal parts, then there's no Almighty but three coegual parts all subject to one another thus requiring three thrones because each would want his own throne.
Truly God was manifest in the flesh, robed in flesh and dwelt among us, called Emmanuel God with us, was the flesh part of God created and became image of the invisible God that could die for us, is the Almighty God and Everlasting Father come in flesh among us and will the one sitting on the one thrown embodying and exemplifying God and will be the only One, the Lamb, that will be opening the Book and books to judge......Jesus will be the final Judge as only God can be.
Regarding the question about Paul describing Jesus sitting at the "right hand" of the Father,
Jesus is sitting by Himself.
Paul described seeing Jesus sitting at the right hand in that verse, with right hand contextually meaning "in the power and position of" meaning he saw Jesus sitting in the full power and position of God because He was God...God robed in flesh....before the Scripture calls God the "invisible God" but then Jesus became "the image (icon) of the invisible God" therefore giving God a manifested body that could actually now be seen, felt and could shed blood.
The same apostle Paul, in another place said "I saw ONE sitting upon THE throne" very clearly denoting singularity and God not subdivided into different parts but one God, who in times past was invisible but now has made Himself a body to become visible, seen and available to be sacrificed at the hands of His creation...God the Father didn't send another co-eaual part to do His work...He left glory, put Himself in a body and became our ultimate, Supreme sacrifice.
Another way to say it is that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are simply descriptions of parts of God's attributes just like all of the Jehovanistic compound names such as Jehovah Shalom. God revealed many of His attributes throughout Scripture before He revealed His actual name. He told Moses to call Him the "I Am That I Am"....God described Himself and His many different attributes with many different descriptions however when He created a body inside of Mary to be born so that He could come and manifest Himself to the world and have a body that He Himself could lay down, shed its blood and His body die, it was at that point the name Jesus was finally revealed....Moses asked to know what to tell them when they asked Who had sent him and all He got was the name of an attribute but when God came Himself and became Emmanuel, God with us, it was at that time He revealed His proper name that He had kept secret up until that time....that's why the Bible says "do all you do in word or deed in the name of Jesus" because that's God's proper name and even demons are subject to His actual name.
Sadly many bless their food in Jesus' name, use His name to ask for protection on their family, pray for blessings in Jesus name but won't actually baptize using His proper name but will follow the Church of Rome/Catholic manmade baptismal formula and just repeat the command of Matthew 28:19 and repeat three of His attributes instead of actually speaking the only saving name over someone in baptism. You can sign a check using the words Father, Son, Daughter, Aunt or any other attribute but to have that check be valid and able to be deposited, one must use their actual, proper, recognized name.
That's why you see the disciples preaching about actually using His name in baptism in Acts 2:37-39 when the Jews asked how they were supposed to be saved under the new dispensation after having killed Jesus ...... the book of Acts, which is the history book of the first century church under the new covenant, describes and gives examples in Acts chapters 8, 10 and 19 of them preaching and actually baptizing and helping people truly receive the Spirit of God according to Peter's sermon and according to Jesus' command in John 3:5 on the only way a person can get to Heaven.
As far as the reference to "create man in our image"....Ephesians 2:11 explains God was in "counsel of His own will".
In that time, and even still some in our time in some countries, kings used what is called the "majestic plural" referring to themselves in the third person....Jesus being the only wise king, as the Scripture says, is truly the King of all Kings, therefore, if any king has the right to use the majestic plural, then Jesus sure does being the King of Kings.
The humanity of Christ was born BUT the divinity inside of Him was always in existence.
A point you may consider is that the Bible never says "God the son"....only the "Begotten Son".... Having a body and naming it Jesus was only a concept in God's mind for the total redemption of man but it wasn't until the baby was born did God robe Himself in that flesh and reveal His actual proper name.
The Scripture calls the "Father" the father but it also calls the "Holy Ghost/Spirit" the father so outside of the teaching of Jesus Himself that He and the Father were one, and that if someone had seen Him they had also seen the Father, (John 10:30), then one would have to contemplate that Jesus had two fathers which then begins to really bend the Scriptures out of shape.
God was a Spirit and had no flesh or blood. To become our Supreme Sacrificial Lamb, He had to have a body so the Spirit/Father impregnated Mary and God's human body, named Jesus, was born.
We know from John 1:1 & 14 that these verses alone let us know who Jesus is....
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....and the Word (God) was made flesh (Jesus)..."
From this text, the Bible lets us know:
Word = God
Word = Flesh (Jesus)
God = Flesh (Jesus)
Colossians 1:15 let's us know that Jesus is "....the image of the invisible God..."
Isaiah 9:6 is very clear that Jesus (God's earthly body) is the Mighty God & Everlasting Father.
I Timothy 3:16 God was "....robed in flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us...."
These few texts alone make it clear that God and Jesus are not two different entities but one and the same, that's why Jesus said "If you've seen Me, then you've seen the Father.."
It is clear that God being a Spirit needed a human body to shed blood with to become our final Sacrifice, so the Spirit (God/Father) created the flesh and named the body Jesus thus finally revealing His actual name, no longer referring to Himself with His attributes such as I Am, Jehovah Nissi, etc but now He gave us His revealed name when He created Himself a body.
Revelation 4:2 lets us know there is only ONE throne in Heaven and only ONE will be sitting upon that throne and it will be Jesus.
Jesus is the Almighty Creator of the Universe come down, made flesh and dwelt among humanity to become our final sacrifice so therefore to worship the One True God, we worship Jesus and praise His name because it's the name of Almighty God, Jesus name, that is the only name that has power to save....if one is not baptized in the only saving name of God and filled with the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) he will not be saved....(Acts 4:12, John 3:5, Acts 2:38)
Jesus is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of all gods and thus we worship Jesus as the One True Living God!
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY....
THE CHURCH OF ROME/CATHOLICISM IS THE GREAT WHORE OF REVELATION AND PERVERTED THE GOSPEL JUST AS JESUS PROPHESIED.
The TRINITY is a man made term & dogma propagated by the church of Rome who perverted the original doctrine. Everyone who teaches the trinity teaches the catholic doctrine and is therefore catholic in their belief....not believing as the original apostles taught or believed. Teachers and believers of the man made trinity makes the pope happy because they fall in line with his teaching and are like him in doctrinal belief. Most mainline denominal churches sadly are simple trinity teaching catholic-lites.
Trinitarians say, “You must believe in the eternal Father, the eternal Son, and the eternal Spirit?”
I do believe in the eternal Spirit because the Bible distinctly speaks of the eternal Spirit. Jesus offered Himself without spot to God through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). But I cannot find in Scripture the expression “the eternal Son.” However, often I find in the Bible an expression which is in direct contradiction to the theological term “eternal Son”—namely, “begotten Son.” In John 3:16 we read, “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.”
The two words eternal and begotten are in direct contradiction to each other. If someone is eternal he has never been begotten. If he has been begotten then he is not eternal. Jesus cannot be both the “eternal Son” and the “begotten Son.”
The Bible states that Jesus is the “begotten Son.”
It never says that He is the “eternal Son.”
The Humanity of Jesus
The Sonship began at Bethlehem. The Incarnation was the time when the Sonship began. The angel, in Luke 1:35, said to the virgin mother-to-be, “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Here it is clearly revealed that the humanity of the Lord Jesus is the Son. “That holy thing”–that physical, fleshly one—is the Son. In Galatians 4:4 we find this truth stated in different words: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Clearly the Son was made of a woman.
Hebrews 1:5-6 pinpoints the very day in which Christ was begotten as to His Sonship: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? . . . When He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.” In other words, Jesus was begotten and brought into the world on the day that the angels of God worshiped Him in the sky over Judea. The shepherds were startled as they listened to the heavenly choir. The angels bade them not to be afraid, for there was that day born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Hebrews 1:5-6 tells us that was the day in which Jesus was begotten and born as a Son.
A Denial of the Eternal Sonship
A quick look thru a concordance to look up the verses speaking of Christ as Son will reveal the humanity is always thought of in inferior and subordinated terms, humanity and time.”
Luke 12:10: ‘And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” Here Jesus said that if we blasphemed against the Son it would be forgiven us.
But He further declared that if we blasphemed against the Holy Ghost it will not be forgiven. Now the very fact that people can blaspheme the Son and be pardoned and yet when they blaspheme the Spirit it is unpardonable–that very fact infers inferiority on the part of the Son.
Another verse of similar nature is Mark 13:32. Speaking of His own second coming, Jesus said, “Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Jesus declared that as the Son, He did not know the time of His own coming. But He said the Father knew what the Son did not. Without going into the verse to expound it, let us notice that there were certain things of which the Son was ignorant, again teaching subordination on the part of the flesh/Son.
I John 4:14 and John 13:16, among others, impress us with the thought that every time the Scripture mentions the Son it shows Him in a subordinate and inferior light.
The Supreme Reason for this Denial
A very strong reason why the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ is not correct teaching is if I believed in it I would eternally humiliate Jesus Christ! Since all the verses speaking of the Son put Him in a subordinate and inferior condition, if I were to believe He would eternally be in the role of the Son, I would eternally humiliate the Lord Jesus Christ. I will never do that.” I am interested in any teaching that eternally exalts the Lord Jesus. The role of the flesh will have its ending and Jesus Christ will be crowned Lord of Lords, King of Kings, God of all Gods with His body having done what It was intended to do....shed Blood for the remission of our sins.
Prophetical References
In Proverbs 30:4 we find another reference to the Son: ‘What is His name, and what is His son’s name, if thou canst tell?’ Now verse 1 tells us that this was a prophecy of Agur. He was speaking of things that were not as yet. Jesus was not the Son then, but Agur prophetically asked the question, looking over into another time and era when Jesus would have taken upon Himself Sonship. (the flesh part of God, named Jesus was both Son of God and Son of Man....the Spirit, that didn't have flesh and bone, impregnated Mary, so the Father/Spirit, Who was 100% God, was the fathering agent thus Jesus was called the Son of God but Mary, who carried and delivered Jesus in the manger, was 100% flesh, thus Jesus was also called the Son of Man (flesh).
Jesus' Spirit (before Abrahman was I AM Jesus said) fathered/impregnated Mary and Mary birthed Him....therefore Jesus is both Son of God and Son of Man!
Although the Son is mentioned in Old Testament passages, they do not prove that Christ was the Son in the Old Testament. They are prophetical references to His coming Sonship.
The Pre-existence of Jesus
Some argue that Christ was a Son before Bethlehem because “The Father sent the Son.” But John 1:6 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” By the same reasoning we would be justified in saying that John was man before his birth, which is absurd! Others use the word gave, as in John 3:16, to prove that Christ was the Son before God gave Him to us. But Joseph spoke of the sons God had given him (Genesis 48:9). Were Joseph’s children sons before they were born?
If the Bible teaches Christ existing as Son prior to Bethlehem then surely it would not be hard to find the Son in existence in the Old Testament, and yet this is something trinitarians have never succeeded in doing. Yes, the Son is mentioned in the Old Testament, but never as being then in existence. He is PROPHESIED of as coming, which He did at Bethlehem.
I certainly believe in the pre-existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. There never was a time when He did not exist. I believe that He is the bread that came down out of heaven. I believe that, although as to His humanity He was not fifty years of age, yet He was older than Abraham. I believe that He came forth from Bethlehem, but that He had many goings forth from of old, from the days of eternity. There is no mistake about the truth of the eternality of the Lord Jesus Christ!....BUT.... I do not believe that He is the eternal Son.
There is a begotten Sonship taught in the Word of God....BUT....the Holy Word of God teaches nothing of a "God the Son" manmade term made up by the church of rome and it knows nothing of the so-called eternal Sonship.
I am glad that it does not.
I do not want Jesus to be eternally known or looked at as the the little boy God Who did the dirty work of a tyrannical Father God.
Jesus is truly the I Am, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace!
Jesus shall be eternally known as the Mighty God when sets upon His throne to rule and reign forever.
He was and is the eternal God NOT the eternal Son.....flesh should never receive that much glory!
He Who was the eternal God became the Son/flesh and accepted voluntarily as to His flesh and as to His humanity, which was the Sonship part of Him, an inferior and subordinate position relative to His essential deity. This explains Jesus to us.
When the millennium is completed, the Sonship ministry will be finished.
When He has accomplished redemption, which He has;
When He has accomplished mediation, which He is now in the process of doing;
When He returns as man and rules as the Son for a thousand years; and
When the thousand years are expired, the Sonship ministry of Jesus Christ will have been climaxed, completed, and fulfilled.
The need for the Sonship/flesh/Blood role will be completed and Jesus will forever be the One sitting upon The throne as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the only One, True and Wise God of all God's.
There will not be two, three or more thrones....there will be ONE throne and Jesus, the King of Glory, will be sitting upon It reigning Supremely! (I Corinthians 15:24-28).
Is Jesus in a godhead OR is the Godhead in Jesus?
The church of rome/catholicism changed the baptismal formula & convoluted the Godhead....sadly much of Christendom teaches the trinity doctrine of the catholic organization making them core doctrinally the same as catholicism. Jesus told us in Revelation that the Great Whore of Rome would do these things and lead many to damnation. It's a sad truth many refuse to see and will one day wake up in eternity realizing they were deceived by a manmade doctrine from a Rome organization who perverted the original gospel, who worships idols, is pagan in origin and is the Great Whore that God made clear He hates in the Book of Revelation.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY ROBED IN FLESH....HE'S NOT PART OF A CONVOLUTED, MAN MADE, PLURALISTIC, PAGAN TRINITY.....
I Timothy 3:16....GOD was manifest in the FLESH (JESUS)
John 1:1, 14..... Word = God, Word = flesh (Jesus), God = Jesus
Be careful reducing Jesus to just a part of a pagan, roman pluralistic entity....if you believe the manmade trinity, you are not a Christian but a Roman Catholic.
So what about the Genesis account when God said "let us make man in our own image"?
There is only one God and He said He knows no other and will share power with no other.
For us to split Him up into multiple little gods is paganism.
Ephesians 1:11 lets us know He was in counsel of His own will.
In other words, He was talking to Himself about His plans.
There is also what is called the Majestic Plural where royalty speaks of themselves in the third person.
There were not multiple little gods discussing creation among themselves.
If we're going to split God up and claim He's broken up in co-equal, co-existant parts, due to His attributes of being Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Spirit), then we might as well go ahead and split Him up even more due to His many other attributes such as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting, Lilly of the Valley...on and on His attributes go but those are NOT his name.
A split up, fragmented godhead doesn't speak well of God but turns Him into one of the many other pluralistic manmade gods of this world.
Jesus is Emmanuel being interpreted God With Us!
God robed Himself and flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us.
Jesus is Who we will see sitting on the ONE throne in Heaven (not three thrones) in full authority as God because He is God.
Sadly many won't get to see Him on His throne in Heaven because they believe a perverted trinity gospel, changed and propogated by the evil catholic organization.....Jesus Himself said "Except ye believe that I am He (God), ye shall die in your sins."
To reduce Jesus to a part of a split up, man made, pluralistic pagan godhead is to deny Who He really is and that will lead to spiritual death.
A Few Notes On Trinitarianism Being Advanced Over Time:
Specific construals of Jesus Christ were in the third century termed modalism.
Tertullian and other scholars of that period, biased by philosophical teachings of their day, had agnst with this modalistic construct of God, His person and Godhead.
"In an effort to explain himself, Tertullian resorts to neologisms. Alister McGrath has noted that Tertullian is responsible for creating new words and ideas to support and argue his developing views; “509 new nouns, 284 new adjectives, and 161 new verbs in the Latin language” one of which is the word "Trinitas" from which the English word Trinity came into being.
Tertullian had come to accept a view of God that disallowed the God of the Old Testament from physically being present and participating in human affairs. Tertullian’s antipathy with Praxeas seems to stem from the fact that the Praxean party was large and not above opposing the position of Tertullian as that of polytheists. Tertullian had a polytheistic mindset from which sprang his pluralistic trinity (three) godhead argument.
Tertullian disliked Praxeas greatly because Praxeas allowed that it was God who literally became incarnate, there was an obvious corollary: Praxean christology allowed that the Father suffered. Tertullian was enraged by this possibility and in his ire framed an epitaph for Praxeas: “Patripassian.”
In so doing Tertullian betrays his indebtedness and commits to philosophy above all. As church historian Jaroslav Pelikan notes, Tertullian, for all of his hostility to metaphysics, freely accepts the notion of the impassability of God without either biblical support or theological proof.
It was Tertullian, who in Latin, first constructed God in terms of “persons,” the term Trinitas coined over against Praxeas. For Tertullian, the Logos was a second person, and though “person” did not mean to Tertullian what it would later come to mean, threeness was fully intended!
Tertullian was not in fact arguing against innovators, but the rank and file of early Christianity and teachings of the original apostles.
As Arthur Cushman McGiffert notes, “Those to whom Tertullian refers as ‘the simple, who are always the majority of believers’ were certainly not innovators.”
Tertullian was neither particularly convincing nor consistent. His terminology is drawn unevenly from Hellenistic categories, and in the end it would all be reshuffled by later church fathers.
Nonetheless, Tertullian’s contribution to language and the beginnings of definition for Trinitarianism cannot be denied. Though Tertullian would in the end of his life argue against the church that he worked to build, during these christological debates, he would assume the high ground as orthodox and is much responsible for the construct of a triune, multiplistic concept of The One True God, Yahweh.
However, in all honesty, in the end, it was Oneness christologians who caused their own demise.
While the Oneness doctrine was “embraced by the great majority of Christians in the first earlier centuries” it was when teachers in the movement turned from a christology that was “markedly monotheistic, and had real interest in Biblical Christianity” to a defense that was “scientific” (philosophical) and “lost its raison d’être” (reason to exist). Trying to argue with and rationalize with Rome was a fatal mistake. Thus, while a turn to a Stoic style defense of its christology seemed to be a good strategy, it failed. Ultimately a political victory in Rome was assured and turned the tide in favor of developing Trinitarianism.
When Constantine converted to Christianity at the beginning of the fourth century, such an alliance mutually furthered the fortunes of Constantine while giving significant power to the church. Because Christianity was an important vehicle for solidifying Constantine’s empire, he was concerned the debate between Athanasius and Arius might fracture the unity of the church. He therefore had a vested interest in the outcome of the Oneness vs newly formed Trinitarian debate.
***Because of the potential disunity in the empire, Constantine worked toward a solution.
In AD 325, a regional council in Antioch condemned the position of Arius by the Imperial council at the Council of Nicea and the newly proposed orthodoxy, but yet to be fully developed teaching of the Trinity, was quickly signed on to by the political and religious leaders of the Council which paved the way for the crushing of and killing of all dissenting teachings, even the original teachings of the apostles which were discarded. This union of political and christological needs would fundamentally change the gospel, until this day, as most even today teach the doctrine of the Trinity, conceived by the man Tertullian, used by the man Constantine to solidify his power, and ultimately adopted and commissioned as truth by the Council of Nicea and subsequent counsels for several centuries thereafter as the wording of the Creeds and development of the verbiage of this new doctrine was worked out by the Church of Rome.
The language of Nicea would need further refinement; something that occurred largely in the work of Basil and the Council of Constantinople in 381. Basil used language suggested by Origen, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shared one "ousia" but were different in hypostasis. This language was enacted with an anathema clause at the Council of Chalcedon. Indeed, the first martyr of the church—that is, the first one that was martyred by the church was Priscillian, a believer in Oneness christology in the latter part of the fourth century.
Augustine of Hippo would soon gain a firm grip and voice in directing theological discussions on these matters. It was Augustine who would largely become the norm for finding the church’s position on arguably every major position of theology, and it was Augustine’s view of the Trinity that would become the normative model for Western Christianity. Epistemologically, Augustine argues for the view of the philosophers, not as examples or as useful for analogy, but rather as a normative way of doing business doctrinally. He was lead by Greek and other philosophies and not solely by the leading of the Holy Ghost/ Holy Spirit.
*** Augustine argues that church tradition recommended the use of philosophers to construct doctrine!
What can be agreed upon is that Augustine conflated understandings from both Greek thought and church fathers in constructing his theology.
In Augustine, what sadly occurred was a hermeneutical divorce between the church and its Old Testament roots of namely Hear OH Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD with radically monotheistic Jews having no concept of a triune or aggregated Godhead.
Augustine read his philosophical constructs back into the New Testament and then utilized this understanding to read his position back into the Old Testament.
Trinitarianism continued to develop in its understanding of persons of the Godhead, in part because the introduction of one Hellenistic construct called for another to buoy it up. For instance, in attempting to understand how the “Lord of glory,” mentioned in I Corinthians 2:8 could be said to have been crucified, church theologians had to work through how it was that God could have suffered.
One solution was the development of the fourth-century enigmatic formulations of mutual interpenetration (Greek: perichoresis/Latin: circumincessio); this development continued until the seventh and eighth centuries. This, along with “appropriation,” working toward a notion of God as a “community,” largely became a normative way of talking about the Trinity.
In some ways, this was more pronounced in the East, where for Alister McGrath, it is represented by an “understated form of tritheism which is often regarded as undergirding the understanding of the Trinity found in the writing of the Cappadocian fathers. In the West, an Augustinian approach worked toward limiting such tendencies toward tritheism, but the Trinity would still be thought of as a “community.”
Oneness christology existed strongly until the fourth and fifth centuries, but it was largely labeled for its most prominent recent spokesperson, one who had been repeatedly condemned, Sabellius.
Although modalism was officially condemned by the church it did not go away. For instance, it continued to be formally condemned by the sixth-century Synod of Braga.
For many, Trinitarianism is an allowable expression of God both because it largely utilizes the language of the Bible as it has been transformed by the creeds and further, because for the vast majority of the Christian Church, it has become orthodox and understood as correct.
The real question, though, is to what extent our relationship with Jesus Christ is affected by what we believe about christology.
It would be easy to summarize how church history went out of control; the church fathers went awry when they could no longer see Jesus Christ as a man who prayed to God and as the man in whom God dwelt. The New Covenant is possible only because Jesus is absolutely a man and because Jesus is a man in whom God dwelt absolutely. Unfortunately, church history made Jesus a “man who is not” instead of truly "The God-Man."
Jesus....
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His (Jesus) name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting FATHER, Prince of Peace.....They shall call His name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is "GOD WITH US."
(Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:23)
*** What does it matter?
In John 8:24, Jesus said "....if ye believe not that I AM He (God), ye shall die in your sins.
Jesus once again uses the Old Testament "I AM" phrasing to impress and profess that He alone is God robed in flesh, God with us, and that being God, He is the one that forgives sin and is our only option to avoid hell and obtain eternal life with Him in Heaven.
The Catholic Church Changed 'THE METHOD OF BAPTISM."
From The Singular Name Of JESUS CHRIST to the triune formula of Father Son And Holy Spirit Around The Third Century!"
Following are a few secular references explaining that the Catholic church changed the method of Baptism from that practiced by the apostles and the early church to their triune trinity doctrine:
BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA 11TH edition, Vol 3, Pg 365-366 The baptismal formula was changed from the name of JESUS CHRIST to the words Father, Son, & Holy Ghost by the Catholic Church in the second century.
BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 3, Pg 82 Everywhere in the oldest sources it states that baptism took place in the name of Jesus Christ.
CANNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Pg 53 The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until development of Trinity doctrine in the 2nd century.
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 2, Pg 263 Here the Catholics acknowledged that baptism was changed by the Catholic Church.
HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Vol 2, Pg 377 Christian baptism was administered using the words “In the name of Jesus”. Vol 2, Pg 378 The use of a Trinitarian formula of any sort was not suggested in early Church history. Vol 2, Pg 389 Baptism was always in the name of Lord Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr when Triune formula was used.
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 8 Justin Martyr was one of the early Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church.
HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Vol 2, Pg 377 on ACTS 2:38 NAME was an ancient synonym for “person”. Payment was always made in the name of some person referring ownership. Therefore one being baptized in Jesus Name became His personal property. “Ye are Christ’s.”
NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 22, Pg 477 The term “Trinity” was originated by Tertullian, a Roman Catholic Church Father.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS (1951), II, 384, 389 The formula used was ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’ or some synonymous phrase; there is no evidence for the use of the triune name… The earliest form, represented in the Acts, was simple immersion….in water, the use of the name of the Lord, and the laying on of hands. To these were added at various times and places which cannot be safely identified, (a) the trine name (Justin)
INTERPRETERS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (1962) I, 351 The evidence … suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, NOT in the threefold name, but ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’.
A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (Otto Heick) (1965), I, 53 At first baptism was administered in the name of Jesus, but gradually in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (1898), I, 241 [One explanation is that] the original form of words was ‘into the name of Jesus Christ’. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development.
A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Williston Walker, (1947), Pg 58 The Trinitarian baptismal formula … was displacing the older baptism in the name of Christ.
THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE (1957), I, 435 The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus …, which still occurs even in the second and third centuries.
CANNEY’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIONS (1970), Pg 53 Persons were baptized at first ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ … or ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus.’… Afterwards, with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, they were baptized ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BIBLICA (1899), I, 473 It is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times ‘in the name of Jesus Christ,’ or in that ‘of the Lord Jesus.’ This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single – not triple, as was the later creed.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 11TH edition, (1910), Vol 2, Pg 365 The Trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning… Baptism into the name of the Lord [was] the normal formula of the new Testament. In the 3rd century baptism in the name of Christ was still so wide spread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Carthage, declared it to be valid.
The evidence is overwhelming. Baptising in the name of Jesus is obviously the way the apostles baptized in the first Church.
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Notice that in this scripture Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize in the NAME OF the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost..
NAME is Singular meaning Jesus was referring to ONE NAME not three names..
The terms Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not Names, they are titles or attributes of God.
Power is only in a name. If we were in a large building, full of people, and I just said "Hey father", a lot of men would look my way....BUT....if I called your name specifically, you would be aware of my call directly. That's why the Bible says in Acts 4:12 that there is NO other NAME, under Heaven, given among men, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.
Jesus is the Bridegroom....the true church will be His Bride....He is coming back for a holy bride, who has separated herself from this world and that has fully consummated the relationship by taking His name on their lives in baptism.
His name is very important.....being baptized using words others than His actual name is only an exercise of getting wet....there is no power applied to wash away sins or make one ready to meet Jesus.
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Father", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Son", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Husband", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Spirit", can you cash it?
Of course not, because although you are a Father and although you are a son and although you are a husband and you are also a spirit being, none of those are your name....they're titles or descriptors of who you are.
So what is the NAME Jesus was telling His disciples to use when they Baptise?
To find out we simply have to go to the book of Acts and see how the disciples carried out the instructions that Jesus gave them..
Acts 2:38
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 8:16
"(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus.)"
Acts 10:48
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
Acts 19:5
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus."
Acts 22:16
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME of the Lord."
As you see in these scriptures, the apostles only baptised people IN THE NAME OF JESUS.. Because that is what Jesus was instructing them to do.. He said in the NAME..
Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
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.”
Colossians 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 For in Him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The power is in the NAME of JESUS
The authority is in the NAME of Jesus
You cannot cast out demons by announcing titles..
You cannot raise the dead by announcing titles
You cannot heal the sick by announcing titles
And your sins cannot be remitted announcing titles either.......Only the Name of Jesus can take away our sins!
If you don't go under the water In the NAME OF JESUS then you are only getting wet for no reason because without the NAME OF JESUS you are not covered in the blood of JESUS and there is no remission of your sins.. YOUR SINS ARE NOT COVERED IN THE BLOOD..
Baptism announcing the titles Father son and Holy spirit is a practice that was started by the Catholic Church in the second century and is a lie straight from hell meant to deceive many.. And many have been deceived and baptised using this false method of baptism.
Nowhere in the Bible was anybody ever baptised announcing the titles. Nowhere not once ever..
Nobody was ever sprinkled with water or baptised by having a cup of water poured over their head..
The word baptism used in scripture comes from the original Greek word BAPTO or BAPTIZO and means to immerse or dip.
You must be baptized in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST..
THAT IS THE BIBLE WAY AND THE ONLY WAY THAT GIVES REMISSION OF YOUR SINS.. THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE HIS NAME AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THE BLOOD IS APPLIED..
Even the Catholic encyclopedias admit they changed the mode of baptism to the trinity
Jesus...Emmanuel meaning God with us!
Jesus... Isaiah 9:6 Mighty God & Everlasting Father.
Jesus said before Abraham was I AM!
Jesus is the Great I Am of the Old and New Testaments that's why only baptism in His name, Jesus name, will save you...Acts 4:12
To say that the triune doctrine of the church of rome is correct is to mock Jesus to His face and trample thru His Blood.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost are just three of the many attributes of the One True God BUT His name is Jesus and Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life!
If one was to ascribe a separate person to each of God's attributes, He would, by the definition of those who changed God's Word, have many persons....one person for Father....one person for Son.....one person for Holy Ghost....one person for Deliverer....another person for High Tower....another person for Wonderful....another person for Counsellor and the list goes on....BECAUSE those are only attributes and titles of the One True God BUT His revealed name is Jesus and is the only saving name and only name satan trembles at.
Why use His name to cast out demons....bless your food.....ask for protection for your family....BUT refuse to use His name in one of the important steps of eternal salvation?
One is already promoting polytheism with splitting God into the prescribed three persons of the trinity doctrine, so one might as well embrace full blown polytheism and ascribe a person to every attribute of God in the Bible. God's only revealed name is Jesus....Jesus was Emmanuel being interpreted GOD WITH US!
There can only be ONE Almighty....He is not split up sharing His power with any others.
What About Peter?
*** Catholics believe the apostle Peter was the first pope and, by default, those that teach their manmade trinitarian doctrine believe false doctrine. The Roman Catholic church [system] sees Peter as the first pope and they teach that Peter is the “rock.”
If one was to read Matthew 16:15-18 carefully, they would see that the rock, which Jesus would build His church on, was Peter’s faith not his person.
The Greek word for rock means “boulder” while Peter just means “small stone.”
IF Peter was truly the first pope and you are supposed to listen to the pope as your spiritual leader, then you would do as Peter said in Acts 2:38 when he told them what to do to be saved under the New Testament now that the law of the Old Testament had been superseded.
Peter told them to:
(1) Repent,
(2) be baptized actually in the name of Jesus so their sins could be taken away,
(3) told them to receive the Holy Ghost which is our power to overcome (Acts 1:8) and the first example God gave us of humans receiving it was the Upper Room experience in Jerusalem when the Holy Ghost first fell.
If you won't believe anyone else and if you believe Peter was the first pope, then believe Peter because his Acts 2:38 message fulfilled Jesus' command on how to be saved in John 3:5.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY!
I TIMOTHY 3:16.... And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IS THE FLESH....
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....!
Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is the Everlasting Father....
that's why when He was only in His early 30s He said "BEFORE Abraham was, I AM"....
Not only did He precede Abraham but He also called Himself I AM....
the I AM of the Old Testament is the same I AM of the New Testament and He was called Emmanuel being interpreted "GOD WITH US"....
Jesus, the GodMan, both human and Divine, was God robed in flesh so He could become our final, sacrificial Lamb to shed His Blood to wash our sins away permanently.
The Throne John Saw:
John saw ONE throne and ONE sitting upon THE throne.
John did NOT see two or three thrones with a big Father God and then a little throne over to the side with a little Son God.
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and for those that make it to Heaven, Jesus will be the ONE sitting upon THE throne that will be worshipped forever.
Following is very good additional material for someone with an open, sincere heart desiring pure truth....Please read these:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/621azsmrr7pi1dr/Avoid_Hell_-_Only_Truth_Will_Set_One_Free.docx/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/yf1taq9p4h4u4ec/What_Must_I_Do_To_Be_Saved_Bible_study.docx/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/7iq3poipuoa4p0i/The_Early_Church_Was_Absolutely%252C_Unequivocally_NOT_Trinitarian..pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/p3393hown2mw2r8/Oneness_Baptism_%2526_Holy_Ghost_-_by_Ken_Raggio.doc/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/46w8nsw0ibf93hl/The_Oneness_of_God_-_Who_The_Bible_Says_Jesus_Really_Is%2521.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/a8rjifwtxh9k92o/The_New_Birth_Experience.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/g23ql9naxwlnlr2/The_Son_of_Man_In_Heaven_-__Right_Hand_of_the_throne_of_God.doc/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/1eott3qt2ujcd39/What_about_God_-_Let_US_make_man_in_OUR_image.doc/file
What Is Wrong With The RCC?:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/cc0jycarm1zagtt/What%2527s_Wrong_with_the_Roman_Catholic_Church_%2528RCC%2529.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/view/wlb1mag2jylgx38/Who_Is_God_-_Wheel_Of_Prophecy.jpg/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/bx87dlzs6nx3wcn/Who_The_Bible_Says_Jesus_Really_Is%2521.doc/file
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What Must I Do To Be Saved?
MATTHEW 24:5-8
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Many horrible things are happening around the world....wars and rumors of wars....sickness.....perversion....lawlessness....societies going out of control.....
Some may ask why this is all happening.....
But the REAL question is this….What Must I Do To Be Saved?
This question, you could say, has been asked by many who found it important to make things right with God and obtain Biblical salvation. However, the question, depending on who you ask, will be answered in many different ways. The most important question one can ask has been the subject of so many debates and ideas that a person can become quite confused. The devil would like nothing more than for a person hungry for salvation to be misled into believing a lie; therefore, losing their soul and finding in the Judgment that the Lord would say, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity.”
It is very important that you understand God is no respecter of persons. If He requires something of one person it is required of all!
Some may say, “I have been going to this church for years. I know they are teaching the truth.”
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
II John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 3:17
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1 Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
How can I be sure I know the real truth?
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
I Timothy 4:13-16
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Jude3-4
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Luke 1:77
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
How am I saved?
There are many things in the Bible that speak of how to be saved. The Bible says God is no respecter of persons, so if He tells some that they must do something to be saved then it applies to all. If you read in one place that you have to believe on Jesus to be saved, and in another place you have to be born again of the water and the spirit, then you cannot just say all you have to do is believe. There is one place in the Bible where Peter-who was given the Keys to the Kingdom-was asked the question, “What must we do?” He gave an answer; the words he spoke were to be the same answer to the people who were there and the people who would read those words in the Bible. We must follow those words to be saved, and do many other things also to continue in that salvation.
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 2:37- 38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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.
1 John 2:12
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
The scriptures above will be in agreement with what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that salvation should be in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection. The message Peter preached in Acts 2:38 says to REPENT – to have the old man die. We must repent, and this is the DEATH. And be BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. When a man is dead we bury him. The Bible says we are buried with Christ in baptism, and this is the BURIAL. And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Bible says we can take part in the resurrection of Christ if we have His Spirit. This is the RESURRECTION. So if you follow Peter’s answer, you will Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then you will have obeyed Jesus and taken part in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ!
If I have to be baptized, into what name should I be baptized?
This question has been one of controversy for many years. To answer it you must open your Bible and see what it says. Do not take anyone’s word for it, but study to shew thyself approved.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
This Scripture, no doubt, has been taught as the correct formula for water baptism. There is one problem with the way people look at this verse of Scripture and feel it is the way to baptize. You see, when many churches baptize someone, they repeat the commandment given by Jesus instead of obeying the commandment. Jesus said to go and baptize in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. If you look closely at this scripture you will see Jesus said in the NAME of, not the NAMES of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. When people are baptized, they should be baptized in the NAME of Jesus, because JESUS is the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Every time in the Bible after Jesus’ death, you will see that when someone was baptized they did not repeat Jesus’ commandment and say FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST. They said in the name of JESUS, or in the name of Jesus Christ, etc. Never in the Bible was anyone ever baptized saying, “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”
If the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were names, Jesus would have said to baptize in the NAMES, not NAME. The same commandment of Matthew 28:19 was recorded by Luke in Luke 24:47 and he said: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Now Luke said in HIS NAME, not THEIR NAMES…if the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were names, he would have said in THEIR NAMES. Now when Luke was talking here he said that this would begin at Jerusalem. The message Peter preached was this message, and it was Acts 2:38. If you will look into the history of the church, you will find that everyone was baptized into the name of JESUS, and it was changed to repeating the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost at a later time by the Catholic Church and a teacher named Tertullian.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:16
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 10:48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 19:5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
This makes sense since the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do in word or deed do all in the name of Jesus. Now baptism is certainly a deed and a word.
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Philippians 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
There is only ONE name whereby we must be saved:
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.
Again, if the devil could find a way to deceive you it would be in false doctrine and teaching you a lie about salvation. It only makes sense that if he could have the whole world believing in a lie that he would have his way; but God has a people who know the truth and are not scared to follow His Word. You must be BORN AGAIN.
To be sure of what truth is, you need to do what the Apostles taught, not what so-called “men of God” teach. If the Apostles taught repentance, baptism and Holy Ghost to be saved, and being baptized into the name of Jesus-not the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost-then you need to do the same.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The thief on the cross did not have to be baptized, so why should I?
The Bible has different dispensations of salvation. For instance, The Flood – the way to be saved then was by entering the Ark. The Tabernacle – where people were under the law. And finally, the dispensation of Grace – whereby we are saved through the Blood of Christ. At the time of the crucifixion, the Lord had not yet died for the blood to take affect for all repented mankind. The veil of the temple that was ripped when Jesus died signified the dispensation of Grace that started at that moment. The thief on the cross was saved by Jesus through the law.
Matthew 27:51
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mark 15:38
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Luke 23:45
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Well, let’s say I die before I get baptized. Will I be lost?
The Lord gives every man and woman a chance to repent and obey the scriptures for salvation. Some times we find ourselves trying to work out our own salvation by justifying why we did not do the right thing. If we live to be 20 years old, at some time we had a chance to make a choice to serve God. If we didn’t and waited till the last minute, and we died before we made the right choice, is God at fault? In the flood, surely there were many that when the rains came down, they decided that they should have listened to Noah. But we do not read where God opened the door and allowed them in because they were foolish of the time. If we believe that if a man repents on his death bed, and it is ok that he was not baptized, can we also say, “Well…he was going to repent, but he died before he could,” is he still saved? Certainly not, because the Bible tells us that you must repent.
2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Information from History about baptism:
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (1951), II, 384, 389: "The formula used was "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" or some synonymous phrase; there is no evidence for the use of the trine name. . . . The earliest form, represented in the Acts, was simple immersion . . . in water, the use of the name of the Lord, and the laying on of hands. To these were added, at various times and places which cannot be safely identified, (a) the trine name (Justin). . ."
Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (1962), I, 351: "The evidence . . . suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, not in the threefold name, but 'in the name of Jesus Christ' or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus.'"
Otto Heick, A History of Christian Thought (1965), I, 53: "At first baptism was administered in the name of Jesus, but gradually in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible (1898) I, 241: [One explanation is that] the original form of words was 'into the name of Jesus Christ' or 'the Lord Jesus'. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development.
Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church (1947), page 58: "The trinitarian baptismal formula . . . was displacing the older baptism in the name of Christ."
The New Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1957) I, 435: "The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus . . ., which still occurs even in the second and third centuries."
Canney’s Encyclopedia of Religions (1970), page 53: "Persons were baptized at first 'in the name of Jesus Christ' . . . or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus' . . . Afterwards, with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, they were baptized 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.'"
Encyclopedia Biblica (1899) I, 473: "It is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times 'in the name of Jesus Christ,' or in that 'of the Lord Jesus." This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single - not triple, as was the later creed."
Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed. (1910), II, 365: "The trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning....Baptism into the name of the Lord was the normal formula of the New Testament. In the 3rd century baptism in the name of Christ was still so widespread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Carthage, declared it to be valid."
What now?
Many have had to face the truth in their walk with God and make a decision to follow the Bible. So many people have believed so many things concerning the truth of salvation. Many have been taught a certain way all of their lives, but when we see in the Word of God that we have been believing in something that was not exactly the whole truth, we have a responsibility to obey the truth. One of the hardest things a person can do is admitting that they have believed something that was wrong; but we, if we want REAL salvation must humble ourselves and submit to the real truth. If you remember in the Bible you can recall the story of Jesus. The Bible says He came teaching a different doctrine than they had believed. As a matter of fact you can read where He was crucified on the cross because He taught a different doctrine. The Jews, to this day, still do not believe what He taught and who He was. As you have read in this document, you can recall all of the scriptures that show where the devil would try and deceive even the very elect of God. So it is possible for any to be deceived. One thing about truth is, there is only ONE truth. There is only one LORD, one FAITH, and one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5). So if we have believed in any other Faith, Lord, or baptism other than the one in the Scriptures we are in error and must do what it takes to follow the truth. There should be only one reason someone goes to church, and that is that they want to be saved. If you read this and have not done what the Bible clearly says is the way to be saved, then do not waste one day making things right. You have to obey the Scripture, or you could be going to church every day, praying every day, reading your Bible every day, paying your tithes, believing in God, loving God and still be lost! If the apostles taught that we have to repent, and be baptized in the name of JESUS and receive the Holy Ghost to be saved (Acts 2:38), then we have to do the same.
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
God would not allow some be saved one way and us another.
Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Some teach you need to only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’re saved. Some teach you only need to repeat a so-called “sinners prayer.” Some teach you don’t need to be baptized to be saved. Some teach that you receive the Holy Ghost without an outward sign of speaking in tongues. Some teach that once we have accepted the Lord in our heart we are saved forever and cannot lose salvation. But there is only one plan of salvation that lines up with the Word of God!
Acts 2:37- 38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The plan of salvation is shown in the Old Testament. It was a foreshadow of the plan of salvation in the New Testament.
Therefore, the Tabernacle is a picture, a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Exodus, when God dictates to Moses the detailed design of the Tabernacle (some 1450 years before the birth of Jesus), He speaks forth a description of just who and what the coming Messiah (the Christ) would be.
In the Bible you will never see where something was done repeating the term: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. However, you will find plenty of Scripture for IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Some of those scriptures are listed below:
John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:16
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 9:27
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:29
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Acts 15:26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Acts 19:5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:13
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Acts 19:17
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 5:4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
2 Thessalonians 1:12
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Part One
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes an actual name.
Cousin Aunt Brother Son Niece Daughter
Mother David Father Nephew Uncle In-law
Salesman Mechanic Pastor Friend Counselor
Part Two
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes a position or title.
James Mary Beth John Nancy Tracey
Edward Janet Steven Dale Father Tim
Tammy Donnie Candace Sarah Jill Thomas
Part Three
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes an actual name.
Father Son Spirit Jesus
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
Part 1. David
Part 2. Father
Part 3. Jesus
If you have all 3 correct…arise into the fullness of the Marvelous Light of Jesus Christ!
Be baptized calling on the name of Jesus!
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Who Jesus Is,
What did the church of Rome change to pervert the gospel,
What Is Truth?
"What Must I Do To Be Saved" Bible study is toward the end of this material. I pray it is a blessing to you.
This is a lot of material but worth taking the time to read and study it.
Blessings
================================================================================
Who Is Jesus?
Is He just a part of a godhead OR is the the Godhead in Jesus?
What is truth and how has it been changed over time by man?
Let's start with taking a look at who Jesus is and we'll also explore God's Word about Who Jesus is and various points about what Truth really is.
Jesus is Emmanuel meaning God with us....Jesus is the image of the invisible God....the name Jesus is the only saving name (Acts 4:12), Jesus said if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father...I and my Father are ONE.
God robed Himself in flesh to be able to shed Blood for us.
There won't be three thrones in Heaven with one for a Father God and another for a little junior Son God...John saw one throne with One sitting upon the throne. Jesus will be sitting on the throne as the only image of the Invisible Spirit that we will ever see.
If the trinity doctrine is correct and not manmade by the church of Rome (Catholics) then there's a problem because Jesus would then have two fathers...the Father and also the Spirit (Holy Ghost).
Catholics coined a deceptive trinity phrase "God the Son" that's nowhere in the Bible.
When you say Jesus, you say Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Creator and the list goes on.
Jesus is the Mighty God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself!
Jesus said "except ye believe that I am He (God), ye shall die in your sins."
All daughters of Rome believe the catholic doctrine of the trinity sadly.
Even Matthew 28:19 lets you know Him....
What is the....
Name...of the Father...
Name...of the Son...
Name...of the Holy Ghost....
Only Jesus fits the Name....
For there is NO other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved....Acts 4:12
When you say Jesus...you identify Father, Son, Spirit and every other attribute of God because Jesus was "God robed in flesh dwelling among us."
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/cc0jycarm1zagtt/What%2527s_Wrong_with_the_Roman_Catholic_Church_%2528RCC%2529.pdf/file
The First church was NOT Trinitarian....
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/qn8cssr7bwh40h5/The_Early_Church_Was_Absolutely%252C_Unequivocally_NOT_Trinitarian..doc/file
With the omnipresence of God in mind we can understand the baptism of Christ very easily. It was not at all difficult for the Spirit of Jesus to speak from heaven and to send a manifestation of His Spirit in the form of a dove even while His human body was in the Jordan River. The voice and the dove do not represent separate persons just like the voice of God from Sinai indicates that the mountain was a separate intelligent person in the Godhead.
The Bible says that Jesus is the "image" of the invisible God....the flesh was just the part that walked earth and that they saw. The original Greek of the word image means "icon"....much like software on a computer today....the icon on the screen isn't separate from the program installed on the hard drive.....it's just the part you see that represents every thing about the program and makes the entire program open and work.
A scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" He replied, "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord". This is the most important doctrine in the Bible. Old Testament saints called the Father, "Lord." Jesus is Lord. The Lord is "that Spirit," (2 Corinthians 3:17). These are not three Lords, but One. Jesus is the only body of the invisible God you will ever see. Mark 12:30 - "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."
Jesus is the Almighty God come in flesh to walk among us to be the final ultimate sacrificial Lamb and usher in the New Testament dispensation of grace, the dispensation we're currently living under.
John 1:1 says God was the Word and then in verse 14 It says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 10:33... the Jews wanted to stone Jesus for saying He was God.
John14:8-10.... Phillip asked to see the Father and Jesus said I've been with you so long and still you don't know (me). Contextually Jesus was very clearly calling Himself the Father.
1Tim 3:16 ...says (God) was manifested in the (flesh).
Jesus said "I and my Father are one"....another place He said "if you've seen Me you've seen the Father."
Jesus in another place said "except ye believe that I am He (God) he shall die in your sins."
They called Jesus "Emmanuel, meaning God with us."
The Scripture says that Jesus is the "....Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace."
Much like Paul's salutations where he would make reference to "God "and" Jesus Christ our Savior"....first, there is only one savior, God and secondly the word "and" in the original language, and lost in translation, actually means "even" which when taken out of the original language that had much more color and meaning says "God "even" Jesus Christ..." combining Jesus and God not dividing them.
The word trinity is not in the Bible and the man made Latin term "trinitas", our modern English word "trinity", was coined in the third century by Tertullion, which was eventually excommunicated as a mad man by even Catholicism, yet his teachings and self coined words continued to be taught because of political pressure to please everyone.
John 14:16-18..... Jesus talks about the Comforter and He calls Himself the Spirit of truth which is the Holy Ghost-verse 26.
Colossians2:9 ....In Jesus dwells ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The only time we will ever see God is in the glorified body of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians5:19.....God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the one and only true and wise God.
If any verse seems fuzzy, it's important to take very clear verses and reconcile all verses together....really all one needs is to see that Jesus was called Emmanuel being interpreted "God with us".... God was "robed in flesh and dwelt among us".... and Jesus clearly said "If you've seen Me, then you've seen the Father....I and My Father are One."
Much like the cross....either God came and died for us or He didn't.
If He sat on His throne in Heaven while He sent a second person of His being to do the dying....then all of God was not crucified on the cross and a supposed "God the Father" coped out and sent little "God the son" to do the dirty work while God the Spirit stood by and watched. No, God Himself had no flesh or blood, the Scripture says, He came and robed Himself in a fleshly body so He could die Himself for us and that's why when we get to Heaven, there will only be "ONE sitting upon THE throne" Paul said....not two or three thrones or one big throne and one or two more little thrones.
To understand it all is to understand that Jesus was the God man, both man and God, flesh and divinity all wrapped up in one package....as God with no flesh, He robed Himself in a body called Jesus and as God Jesus spoke to the winds, sickness and demons and even forgave sins which only God can do but His flesh part also became weary, he drank water and ate food but He was still the image that God had wrapped Himself in.
On the cross when Jesus cried out, His flesh was crying out to His divinity....His flesh part felt abandoned, was bleeding and hurting and wanted down but His God part looked over at the repentant thieves, and under the rules of the dispensation of the law, He spoke as only God can do and told the man "today you will be with Me (not us) in paradise."
I Timonthy 3:16....truly there is a mystery surrounding how Jesus could be both God and man, undivided, at the same time....but the verse itself answers the mystery with a profound statement that "...God was manifest in the flesh...."
God is never a divided entity....there can only be ONE Almighty and if subdivided into three equal parts, then there's no Almighty but three coegual parts all subject to one another thus requiring three thrones because each would want his own throne.
Truly God was manifest in the flesh, robed in flesh and dwelt among us, called Emmanuel God with us, was the flesh part of God created and became image of the invisible God that could die for us, is the Almighty God and Everlasting Father come in flesh among us and will the one sitting on the one thrown embodying and exemplifying God and will be the only One, the Lamb, that will be opening the Book and books to judge......Jesus will be the final Judge as only God can be.
Regarding the question about Paul describing Jesus sitting at the "right hand" of the Father,
Jesus is sitting by Himself.
Paul described seeing Jesus sitting at the right hand in that verse, with right hand contextually meaning "in the power and position of" meaning he saw Jesus sitting in the full power and position of God because He was God...God robed in flesh....before the Scripture calls God the "invisible God" but then Jesus became "the image (icon) of the invisible God" therefore giving God a manifested body that could actually now be seen, felt and could shed blood.
The same apostle Paul, in another place said "I saw ONE sitting upon THE throne" very clearly denoting singularity and God not subdivided into different parts but one God, who in times past was invisible but now has made Himself a body to become visible, seen and available to be sacrificed at the hands of His creation...God the Father didn't send another co-eaual part to do His work...He left glory, put Himself in a body and became our ultimate, Supreme sacrifice.
Another way to say it is that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are simply descriptions of parts of God's attributes just like all of the Jehovanistic compound names such as Jehovah Shalom. God revealed many of His attributes throughout Scripture before He revealed His actual name. He told Moses to call Him the "I Am That I Am"....God described Himself and His many different attributes with many different descriptions however when He created a body inside of Mary to be born so that He could come and manifest Himself to the world and have a body that He Himself could lay down, shed its blood and His body die, it was at that point the name Jesus was finally revealed....Moses asked to know what to tell them when they asked Who had sent him and all He got was the name of an attribute but when God came Himself and became Emmanuel, God with us, it was at that time He revealed His proper name that He had kept secret up until that time....that's why the Bible says "do all you do in word or deed in the name of Jesus" because that's God's proper name and even demons are subject to His actual name.
Sadly many bless their food in Jesus' name, use His name to ask for protection on their family, pray for blessings in Jesus name but won't actually baptize using His proper name but will follow the Church of Rome/Catholic manmade baptismal formula and just repeat the command of Matthew 28:19 and repeat three of His attributes instead of actually speaking the only saving name over someone in baptism. You can sign a check using the words Father, Son, Daughter, Aunt or any other attribute but to have that check be valid and able to be deposited, one must use their actual, proper, recognized name.
That's why you see the disciples preaching about actually using His name in baptism in Acts 2:37-39 when the Jews asked how they were supposed to be saved under the new dispensation after having killed Jesus ...... the book of Acts, which is the history book of the first century church under the new covenant, describes and gives examples in Acts chapters 8, 10 and 19 of them preaching and actually baptizing and helping people truly receive the Spirit of God according to Peter's sermon and according to Jesus' command in John 3:5 on the only way a person can get to Heaven.
As far as the reference to "create man in our image"....Ephesians 2:11 explains God was in "counsel of His own will".
In that time, and even still some in our time in some countries, kings used what is called the "majestic plural" referring to themselves in the third person....Jesus being the only wise king, as the Scripture says, is truly the King of all Kings, therefore, if any king has the right to use the majestic plural, then Jesus sure does being the King of Kings.
The humanity of Christ was born BUT the divinity inside of Him was always in existence.
A point you may consider is that the Bible never says "God the son"....only the "Begotten Son".... Having a body and naming it Jesus was only a concept in God's mind for the total redemption of man but it wasn't until the baby was born did God robe Himself in that flesh and reveal His actual proper name.
The Scripture calls the "Father" the father but it also calls the "Holy Ghost/Spirit" the father so outside of the teaching of Jesus Himself that He and the Father were one, and that if someone had seen Him they had also seen the Father, (John 10:30), then one would have to contemplate that Jesus had two fathers which then begins to really bend the Scriptures out of shape.
God was a Spirit and had no flesh or blood. To become our Supreme Sacrificial Lamb, He had to have a body so the Spirit/Father impregnated Mary and God's human body, named Jesus, was born.
We know from John 1:1 & 14 that these verses alone let us know who Jesus is....
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....and the Word (God) was made flesh (Jesus)..."
From this text, the Bible lets us know:
Word = God
Word = Flesh (Jesus)
God = Flesh (Jesus)
Colossians 1:15 let's us know that Jesus is "....the image of the invisible God..."
Isaiah 9:6 is very clear that Jesus (God's earthly body) is the Mighty God & Everlasting Father.
I Timothy 3:16 God was "....robed in flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us...."
These few texts alone make it clear that God and Jesus are not two different entities but one and the same, that's why Jesus said "If you've seen Me, then you've seen the Father.."
It is clear that God being a Spirit needed a human body to shed blood with to become our final Sacrifice, so the Spirit (God/Father) created the flesh and named the body Jesus thus finally revealing His actual name, no longer referring to Himself with His attributes such as I Am, Jehovah Nissi, etc but now He gave us His revealed name when He created Himself a body.
Revelation 4:2 lets us know there is only ONE throne in Heaven and only ONE will be sitting upon that throne and it will be Jesus.
Jesus is the Almighty Creator of the Universe come down, made flesh and dwelt among humanity to become our final sacrifice so therefore to worship the One True God, we worship Jesus and praise His name because it's the name of Almighty God, Jesus name, that is the only name that has power to save....if one is not baptized in the only saving name of God and filled with the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) he will not be saved....(Acts 4:12, John 3:5, Acts 2:38)
Jesus is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of all gods and thus we worship Jesus as the One True Living God!
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY....
THE CHURCH OF ROME/CATHOLICISM IS THE GREAT WHORE OF REVELATION AND PERVERTED THE GOSPEL JUST AS JESUS PROPHESIED.
The TRINITY is a man made term & dogma propagated by the church of Rome who perverted the original doctrine. Everyone who teaches the trinity teaches the catholic doctrine and is therefore catholic in their belief....not believing as the original apostles taught or believed. Teachers and believers of the man made trinity makes the pope happy because they fall in line with his teaching and are like him in doctrinal belief. Most mainline denominal churches sadly are simple trinity teaching catholic-lites.
Trinitarians say, “You must believe in the eternal Father, the eternal Son, and the eternal Spirit?”
I do believe in the eternal Spirit because the Bible distinctly speaks of the eternal Spirit. Jesus offered Himself without spot to God through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). But I cannot find in Scripture the expression “the eternal Son.” However, often I find in the Bible an expression which is in direct contradiction to the theological term “eternal Son”—namely, “begotten Son.” In John 3:16 we read, “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.”
The two words eternal and begotten are in direct contradiction to each other. If someone is eternal he has never been begotten. If he has been begotten then he is not eternal. Jesus cannot be both the “eternal Son” and the “begotten Son.”
The Bible states that Jesus is the “begotten Son.”
It never says that He is the “eternal Son.”
The Humanity of Jesus
The Sonship began at Bethlehem. The Incarnation was the time when the Sonship began. The angel, in Luke 1:35, said to the virgin mother-to-be, “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Here it is clearly revealed that the humanity of the Lord Jesus is the Son. “That holy thing”–that physical, fleshly one—is the Son. In Galatians 4:4 we find this truth stated in different words: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Clearly the Son was made of a woman.
Hebrews 1:5-6 pinpoints the very day in which Christ was begotten as to His Sonship: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? . . . When He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.” In other words, Jesus was begotten and brought into the world on the day that the angels of God worshiped Him in the sky over Judea. The shepherds were startled as they listened to the heavenly choir. The angels bade them not to be afraid, for there was that day born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Hebrews 1:5-6 tells us that was the day in which Jesus was begotten and born as a Son.
A Denial of the Eternal Sonship
A quick look thru a concordance to look up the verses speaking of Christ as Son will reveal the humanity is always thought of in inferior and subordinated terms, humanity and time.”
Luke 12:10: ‘And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” Here Jesus said that if we blasphemed against the Son it would be forgiven us.
But He further declared that if we blasphemed against the Holy Ghost it will not be forgiven. Now the very fact that people can blaspheme the Son and be pardoned and yet when they blaspheme the Spirit it is unpardonable–that very fact infers inferiority on the part of the Son.
Another verse of similar nature is Mark 13:32. Speaking of His own second coming, Jesus said, “Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Jesus declared that as the Son, He did not know the time of His own coming. But He said the Father knew what the Son did not. Without going into the verse to expound it, let us notice that there were certain things of which the Son was ignorant, again teaching subordination on the part of the flesh/Son.
I John 4:14 and John 13:16, among others, impress us with the thought that every time the Scripture mentions the Son it shows Him in a subordinate and inferior light.
The Supreme Reason for this Denial
A very strong reason why the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ is not correct teaching is if I believed in it I would eternally humiliate Jesus Christ! Since all the verses speaking of the Son put Him in a subordinate and inferior condition, if I were to believe He would eternally be in the role of the Son, I would eternally humiliate the Lord Jesus Christ. I will never do that.” I am interested in any teaching that eternally exalts the Lord Jesus. The role of the flesh will have its ending and Jesus Christ will be crowned Lord of Lords, King of Kings, God of all Gods with His body having done what It was intended to do....shed Blood for the remission of our sins.
Prophetical References
In Proverbs 30:4 we find another reference to the Son: ‘What is His name, and what is His son’s name, if thou canst tell?’ Now verse 1 tells us that this was a prophecy of Agur. He was speaking of things that were not as yet. Jesus was not the Son then, but Agur prophetically asked the question, looking over into another time and era when Jesus would have taken upon Himself Sonship. (the flesh part of God, named Jesus was both Son of God and Son of Man....the Spirit, that didn't have flesh and bone, impregnated Mary, so the Father/Spirit, Who was 100% God, was the fathering agent thus Jesus was called the Son of God but Mary, who carried and delivered Jesus in the manger, was 100% flesh, thus Jesus was also called the Son of Man (flesh).
Jesus' Spirit (before Abrahman was I AM Jesus said) fathered/impregnated Mary and Mary birthed Him....therefore Jesus is both Son of God and Son of Man!
Although the Son is mentioned in Old Testament passages, they do not prove that Christ was the Son in the Old Testament. They are prophetical references to His coming Sonship.
The Pre-existence of Jesus
Some argue that Christ was a Son before Bethlehem because “The Father sent the Son.” But John 1:6 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” By the same reasoning we would be justified in saying that John was man before his birth, which is absurd! Others use the word gave, as in John 3:16, to prove that Christ was the Son before God gave Him to us. But Joseph spoke of the sons God had given him (Genesis 48:9). Were Joseph’s children sons before they were born?
If the Bible teaches Christ existing as Son prior to Bethlehem then surely it would not be hard to find the Son in existence in the Old Testament, and yet this is something trinitarians have never succeeded in doing. Yes, the Son is mentioned in the Old Testament, but never as being then in existence. He is PROPHESIED of as coming, which He did at Bethlehem.
I certainly believe in the pre-existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. There never was a time when He did not exist. I believe that He is the bread that came down out of heaven. I believe that, although as to His humanity He was not fifty years of age, yet He was older than Abraham. I believe that He came forth from Bethlehem, but that He had many goings forth from of old, from the days of eternity. There is no mistake about the truth of the eternality of the Lord Jesus Christ!....BUT.... I do not believe that He is the eternal Son.
There is a begotten Sonship taught in the Word of God....BUT....the Holy Word of God teaches nothing of a "God the Son" manmade term made up by the church of rome and it knows nothing of the so-called eternal Sonship.
I am glad that it does not.
I do not want Jesus to be eternally known or looked at as the the little boy God Who did the dirty work of a tyrannical Father God.
Jesus is truly the I Am, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace!
Jesus shall be eternally known as the Mighty God when sets upon His throne to rule and reign forever.
He was and is the eternal God NOT the eternal Son.....flesh should never receive that much glory!
He Who was the eternal God became the Son/flesh and accepted voluntarily as to His flesh and as to His humanity, which was the Sonship part of Him, an inferior and subordinate position relative to His essential deity. This explains Jesus to us.
When the millennium is completed, the Sonship ministry will be finished.
When He has accomplished redemption, which He has;
When He has accomplished mediation, which He is now in the process of doing;
When He returns as man and rules as the Son for a thousand years; and
When the thousand years are expired, the Sonship ministry of Jesus Christ will have been climaxed, completed, and fulfilled.
The need for the Sonship/flesh/Blood role will be completed and Jesus will forever be the One sitting upon The throne as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the only One, True and Wise God of all God's.
There will not be two, three or more thrones....there will be ONE throne and Jesus, the King of Glory, will be sitting upon It reigning Supremely! (I Corinthians 15:24-28).
Is Jesus in a godhead OR is the Godhead in Jesus?
The church of rome/catholicism changed the baptismal formula & convoluted the Godhead....sadly much of Christendom teaches the trinity doctrine of the catholic organization making them core doctrinally the same as catholicism. Jesus told us in Revelation that the Great Whore of Rome would do these things and lead many to damnation. It's a sad truth many refuse to see and will one day wake up in eternity realizing they were deceived by a manmade doctrine from a Rome organization who perverted the original gospel, who worships idols, is pagan in origin and is the Great Whore that God made clear He hates in the Book of Revelation.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY ROBED IN FLESH....HE'S NOT PART OF A CONVOLUTED, MAN MADE, PLURALISTIC, PAGAN TRINITY.....
I Timothy 3:16....GOD was manifest in the FLESH (JESUS)
John 1:1, 14..... Word = God, Word = flesh (Jesus), God = Jesus
Be careful reducing Jesus to just a part of a pagan, roman pluralistic entity....if you believe the manmade trinity, you are not a Christian but a Roman Catholic.
So what about the Genesis account when God said "let us make man in our own image"?
There is only one God and He said He knows no other and will share power with no other.
For us to split Him up into multiple little gods is paganism.
Ephesians 1:11 lets us know He was in counsel of His own will.
In other words, He was talking to Himself about His plans.
There is also what is called the Majestic Plural where royalty speaks of themselves in the third person.
There were not multiple little gods discussing creation among themselves.
If we're going to split God up and claim He's broken up in co-equal, co-existant parts, due to His attributes of being Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Spirit), then we might as well go ahead and split Him up even more due to His many other attributes such as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting, Lilly of the Valley...on and on His attributes go but those are NOT his name.
A split up, fragmented godhead doesn't speak well of God but turns Him into one of the many other pluralistic manmade gods of this world.
Jesus is Emmanuel being interpreted God With Us!
God robed Himself and flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us.
Jesus is Who we will see sitting on the ONE throne in Heaven (not three thrones) in full authority as God because He is God.
Sadly many won't get to see Him on His throne in Heaven because they believe a perverted trinity gospel, changed and propogated by the evil catholic organization.....Jesus Himself said "Except ye believe that I am He (God), ye shall die in your sins."
To reduce Jesus to a part of a split up, man made, pluralistic pagan godhead is to deny Who He really is and that will lead to spiritual death.
A Few Notes On Trinitarianism Being Advanced Over Time:
Specific construals of Jesus Christ were in the third century termed modalism.
Tertullian and other scholars of that period, biased by philosophical teachings of their day, had agnst with this modalistic construct of God, His person and Godhead.
"In an effort to explain himself, Tertullian resorts to neologisms. Alister McGrath has noted that Tertullian is responsible for creating new words and ideas to support and argue his developing views; “509 new nouns, 284 new adjectives, and 161 new verbs in the Latin language” one of which is the word "Trinitas" from which the English word Trinity came into being.
Tertullian had come to accept a view of God that disallowed the God of the Old Testament from physically being present and participating in human affairs. Tertullian’s antipathy with Praxeas seems to stem from the fact that the Praxean party was large and not above opposing the position of Tertullian as that of polytheists. Tertullian had a polytheistic mindset from which sprang his pluralistic trinity (three) godhead argument.
Tertullian disliked Praxeas greatly because Praxeas allowed that it was God who literally became incarnate, there was an obvious corollary: Praxean christology allowed that the Father suffered. Tertullian was enraged by this possibility and in his ire framed an epitaph for Praxeas: “Patripassian.”
In so doing Tertullian betrays his indebtedness and commits to philosophy above all. As church historian Jaroslav Pelikan notes, Tertullian, for all of his hostility to metaphysics, freely accepts the notion of the impassability of God without either biblical support or theological proof.
It was Tertullian, who in Latin, first constructed God in terms of “persons,” the term Trinitas coined over against Praxeas. For Tertullian, the Logos was a second person, and though “person” did not mean to Tertullian what it would later come to mean, threeness was fully intended!
Tertullian was not in fact arguing against innovators, but the rank and file of early Christianity and teachings of the original apostles.
As Arthur Cushman McGiffert notes, “Those to whom Tertullian refers as ‘the simple, who are always the majority of believers’ were certainly not innovators.”
Tertullian was neither particularly convincing nor consistent. His terminology is drawn unevenly from Hellenistic categories, and in the end it would all be reshuffled by later church fathers.
Nonetheless, Tertullian’s contribution to language and the beginnings of definition for Trinitarianism cannot be denied. Though Tertullian would in the end of his life argue against the church that he worked to build, during these christological debates, he would assume the high ground as orthodox and is much responsible for the construct of a triune, multiplistic concept of The One True God, Yahweh.
However, in all honesty, in the end, it was Oneness christologians who caused their own demise.
While the Oneness doctrine was “embraced by the great majority of Christians in the first earlier centuries” it was when teachers in the movement turned from a christology that was “markedly monotheistic, and had real interest in Biblical Christianity” to a defense that was “scientific” (philosophical) and “lost its raison d’être” (reason to exist). Trying to argue with and rationalize with Rome was a fatal mistake. Thus, while a turn to a Stoic style defense of its christology seemed to be a good strategy, it failed. Ultimately a political victory in Rome was assured and turned the tide in favor of developing Trinitarianism.
When Constantine converted to Christianity at the beginning of the fourth century, such an alliance mutually furthered the fortunes of Constantine while giving significant power to the church. Because Christianity was an important vehicle for solidifying Constantine’s empire, he was concerned the debate between Athanasius and Arius might fracture the unity of the church. He therefore had a vested interest in the outcome of the Oneness vs newly formed Trinitarian debate.
***Because of the potential disunity in the empire, Constantine worked toward a solution.
In AD 325, a regional council in Antioch condemned the position of Arius by the Imperial council at the Council of Nicea and the newly proposed orthodoxy, but yet to be fully developed teaching of the Trinity, was quickly signed on to by the political and religious leaders of the Council which paved the way for the crushing of and killing of all dissenting teachings, even the original teachings of the apostles which were discarded. This union of political and christological needs would fundamentally change the gospel, until this day, as most even today teach the doctrine of the Trinity, conceived by the man Tertullian, used by the man Constantine to solidify his power, and ultimately adopted and commissioned as truth by the Council of Nicea and subsequent counsels for several centuries thereafter as the wording of the Creeds and development of the verbiage of this new doctrine was worked out by the Church of Rome.
The language of Nicea would need further refinement; something that occurred largely in the work of Basil and the Council of Constantinople in 381. Basil used language suggested by Origen, that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shared one "ousia" but were different in hypostasis. This language was enacted with an anathema clause at the Council of Chalcedon. Indeed, the first martyr of the church—that is, the first one that was martyred by the church was Priscillian, a believer in Oneness christology in the latter part of the fourth century.
Augustine of Hippo would soon gain a firm grip and voice in directing theological discussions on these matters. It was Augustine who would largely become the norm for finding the church’s position on arguably every major position of theology, and it was Augustine’s view of the Trinity that would become the normative model for Western Christianity. Epistemologically, Augustine argues for the view of the philosophers, not as examples or as useful for analogy, but rather as a normative way of doing business doctrinally. He was lead by Greek and other philosophies and not solely by the leading of the Holy Ghost/ Holy Spirit.
*** Augustine argues that church tradition recommended the use of philosophers to construct doctrine!
What can be agreed upon is that Augustine conflated understandings from both Greek thought and church fathers in constructing his theology.
In Augustine, what sadly occurred was a hermeneutical divorce between the church and its Old Testament roots of namely Hear OH Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD with radically monotheistic Jews having no concept of a triune or aggregated Godhead.
Augustine read his philosophical constructs back into the New Testament and then utilized this understanding to read his position back into the Old Testament.
Trinitarianism continued to develop in its understanding of persons of the Godhead, in part because the introduction of one Hellenistic construct called for another to buoy it up. For instance, in attempting to understand how the “Lord of glory,” mentioned in I Corinthians 2:8 could be said to have been crucified, church theologians had to work through how it was that God could have suffered.
One solution was the development of the fourth-century enigmatic formulations of mutual interpenetration (Greek: perichoresis/Latin: circumincessio); this development continued until the seventh and eighth centuries. This, along with “appropriation,” working toward a notion of God as a “community,” largely became a normative way of talking about the Trinity.
In some ways, this was more pronounced in the East, where for Alister McGrath, it is represented by an “understated form of tritheism which is often regarded as undergirding the understanding of the Trinity found in the writing of the Cappadocian fathers. In the West, an Augustinian approach worked toward limiting such tendencies toward tritheism, but the Trinity would still be thought of as a “community.”
Oneness christology existed strongly until the fourth and fifth centuries, but it was largely labeled for its most prominent recent spokesperson, one who had been repeatedly condemned, Sabellius.
Although modalism was officially condemned by the church it did not go away. For instance, it continued to be formally condemned by the sixth-century Synod of Braga.
For many, Trinitarianism is an allowable expression of God both because it largely utilizes the language of the Bible as it has been transformed by the creeds and further, because for the vast majority of the Christian Church, it has become orthodox and understood as correct.
The real question, though, is to what extent our relationship with Jesus Christ is affected by what we believe about christology.
It would be easy to summarize how church history went out of control; the church fathers went awry when they could no longer see Jesus Christ as a man who prayed to God and as the man in whom God dwelt. The New Covenant is possible only because Jesus is absolutely a man and because Jesus is a man in whom God dwelt absolutely. Unfortunately, church history made Jesus a “man who is not” instead of truly "The God-Man."
Jesus....
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His (Jesus) name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting FATHER, Prince of Peace.....They shall call His name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is "GOD WITH US."
(Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:23)
*** What does it matter?
In John 8:24, Jesus said "....if ye believe not that I AM He (God), ye shall die in your sins.
Jesus once again uses the Old Testament "I AM" phrasing to impress and profess that He alone is God robed in flesh, God with us, and that being God, He is the one that forgives sin and is our only option to avoid hell and obtain eternal life with Him in Heaven.
The Catholic Church Changed 'THE METHOD OF BAPTISM."
From The Singular Name Of JESUS CHRIST to the triune formula of Father Son And Holy Spirit Around The Third Century!"
Following are a few secular references explaining that the Catholic church changed the method of Baptism from that practiced by the apostles and the early church to their triune trinity doctrine:
BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA 11TH edition, Vol 3, Pg 365-366 The baptismal formula was changed from the name of JESUS CHRIST to the words Father, Son, & Holy Ghost by the Catholic Church in the second century.
BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 3, Pg 82 Everywhere in the oldest sources it states that baptism took place in the name of Jesus Christ.
CANNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Pg 53 The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until development of Trinity doctrine in the 2nd century.
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 2, Pg 263 Here the Catholics acknowledged that baptism was changed by the Catholic Church.
HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Vol 2, Pg 377 Christian baptism was administered using the words “In the name of Jesus”. Vol 2, Pg 378 The use of a Trinitarian formula of any sort was not suggested in early Church history. Vol 2, Pg 389 Baptism was always in the name of Lord Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr when Triune formula was used.
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 8 Justin Martyr was one of the early Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church.
HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION Vol 2, Pg 377 on ACTS 2:38 NAME was an ancient synonym for “person”. Payment was always made in the name of some person referring ownership. Therefore one being baptized in Jesus Name became His personal property. “Ye are Christ’s.”
NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol 22, Pg 477 The term “Trinity” was originated by Tertullian, a Roman Catholic Church Father.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS (1951), II, 384, 389 The formula used was ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’ or some synonymous phrase; there is no evidence for the use of the triune name… The earliest form, represented in the Acts, was simple immersion….in water, the use of the name of the Lord, and the laying on of hands. To these were added at various times and places which cannot be safely identified, (a) the trine name (Justin)
INTERPRETERS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (1962) I, 351 The evidence … suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, NOT in the threefold name, but ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’.
A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (Otto Heick) (1965), I, 53 At first baptism was administered in the name of Jesus, but gradually in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (1898), I, 241 [One explanation is that] the original form of words was ‘into the name of Jesus Christ’. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development.
A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Williston Walker, (1947), Pg 58 The Trinitarian baptismal formula … was displacing the older baptism in the name of Christ.
THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE (1957), I, 435 The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus …, which still occurs even in the second and third centuries.
CANNEY’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIONS (1970), Pg 53 Persons were baptized at first ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ … or ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus.’… Afterwards, with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, they were baptized ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BIBLICA (1899), I, 473 It is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times ‘in the name of Jesus Christ,’ or in that ‘of the Lord Jesus.’ This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single – not triple, as was the later creed.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA 11TH edition, (1910), Vol 2, Pg 365 The Trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning… Baptism into the name of the Lord [was] the normal formula of the new Testament. In the 3rd century baptism in the name of Christ was still so wide spread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Carthage, declared it to be valid.
The evidence is overwhelming. Baptising in the name of Jesus is obviously the way the apostles baptized in the first Church.
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Notice that in this scripture Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize in the NAME OF the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost..
NAME is Singular meaning Jesus was referring to ONE NAME not three names..
The terms Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not Names, they are titles or attributes of God.
Power is only in a name. If we were in a large building, full of people, and I just said "Hey father", a lot of men would look my way....BUT....if I called your name specifically, you would be aware of my call directly. That's why the Bible says in Acts 4:12 that there is NO other NAME, under Heaven, given among men, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.
Jesus is the Bridegroom....the true church will be His Bride....He is coming back for a holy bride, who has separated herself from this world and that has fully consummated the relationship by taking His name on their lives in baptism.
His name is very important.....being baptized using words others than His actual name is only an exercise of getting wet....there is no power applied to wash away sins or make one ready to meet Jesus.
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Father", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Son", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Husband", can you cash it?
If I write you a check and I make it out to "Spirit", can you cash it?
Of course not, because although you are a Father and although you are a son and although you are a husband and you are also a spirit being, none of those are your name....they're titles or descriptors of who you are.
So what is the NAME Jesus was telling His disciples to use when they Baptise?
To find out we simply have to go to the book of Acts and see how the disciples carried out the instructions that Jesus gave them..
Acts 2:38
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 8:16
"(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus.)"
Acts 10:48
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
Acts 19:5
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus."
Acts 22:16
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME of the Lord."
As you see in these scriptures, the apostles only baptised people IN THE NAME OF JESUS.. Because that is what Jesus was instructing them to do.. He said in the NAME..
Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
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.”
Colossians 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 For in Him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The power is in the NAME of JESUS
The authority is in the NAME of Jesus
You cannot cast out demons by announcing titles..
You cannot raise the dead by announcing titles
You cannot heal the sick by announcing titles
And your sins cannot be remitted announcing titles either.......Only the Name of Jesus can take away our sins!
If you don't go under the water In the NAME OF JESUS then you are only getting wet for no reason because without the NAME OF JESUS you are not covered in the blood of JESUS and there is no remission of your sins.. YOUR SINS ARE NOT COVERED IN THE BLOOD..
Baptism announcing the titles Father son and Holy spirit is a practice that was started by the Catholic Church in the second century and is a lie straight from hell meant to deceive many.. And many have been deceived and baptised using this false method of baptism.
Nowhere in the Bible was anybody ever baptised announcing the titles. Nowhere not once ever..
Nobody was ever sprinkled with water or baptised by having a cup of water poured over their head..
The word baptism used in scripture comes from the original Greek word BAPTO or BAPTIZO and means to immerse or dip.
You must be baptized in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST..
THAT IS THE BIBLE WAY AND THE ONLY WAY THAT GIVES REMISSION OF YOUR SINS.. THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE HIS NAME AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THE BLOOD IS APPLIED..
Even the Catholic encyclopedias admit they changed the mode of baptism to the trinity
Jesus...Emmanuel meaning God with us!
Jesus... Isaiah 9:6 Mighty God & Everlasting Father.
Jesus said before Abraham was I AM!
Jesus is the Great I Am of the Old and New Testaments that's why only baptism in His name, Jesus name, will save you...Acts 4:12
To say that the triune doctrine of the church of rome is correct is to mock Jesus to His face and trample thru His Blood.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost are just three of the many attributes of the One True God BUT His name is Jesus and Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life!
If one was to ascribe a separate person to each of God's attributes, He would, by the definition of those who changed God's Word, have many persons....one person for Father....one person for Son.....one person for Holy Ghost....one person for Deliverer....another person for High Tower....another person for Wonderful....another person for Counsellor and the list goes on....BECAUSE those are only attributes and titles of the One True God BUT His revealed name is Jesus and is the only saving name and only name satan trembles at.
Why use His name to cast out demons....bless your food.....ask for protection for your family....BUT refuse to use His name in one of the important steps of eternal salvation?
One is already promoting polytheism with splitting God into the prescribed three persons of the trinity doctrine, so one might as well embrace full blown polytheism and ascribe a person to every attribute of God in the Bible. God's only revealed name is Jesus....Jesus was Emmanuel being interpreted GOD WITH US!
There can only be ONE Almighty....He is not split up sharing His power with any others.
What About Peter?
*** Catholics believe the apostle Peter was the first pope and, by default, those that teach their manmade trinitarian doctrine believe false doctrine. The Roman Catholic church [system] sees Peter as the first pope and they teach that Peter is the “rock.”
If one was to read Matthew 16:15-18 carefully, they would see that the rock, which Jesus would build His church on, was Peter’s faith not his person.
The Greek word for rock means “boulder” while Peter just means “small stone.”
IF Peter was truly the first pope and you are supposed to listen to the pope as your spiritual leader, then you would do as Peter said in Acts 2:38 when he told them what to do to be saved under the New Testament now that the law of the Old Testament had been superseded.
Peter told them to:
(1) Repent,
(2) be baptized actually in the name of Jesus so their sins could be taken away,
(3) told them to receive the Holy Ghost which is our power to overcome (Acts 1:8) and the first example God gave us of humans receiving it was the Upper Room experience in Jerusalem when the Holy Ghost first fell.
If you won't believe anyone else and if you believe Peter was the first pope, then believe Peter because his Acts 2:38 message fulfilled Jesus' command on how to be saved in John 3:5.
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALMIGHTY!
I TIMOTHY 3:16.... And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IS THE FLESH....
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....!
Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is the Everlasting Father....
that's why when He was only in His early 30s He said "BEFORE Abraham was, I AM"....
Not only did He precede Abraham but He also called Himself I AM....
the I AM of the Old Testament is the same I AM of the New Testament and He was called Emmanuel being interpreted "GOD WITH US"....
Jesus, the GodMan, both human and Divine, was God robed in flesh so He could become our final, sacrificial Lamb to shed His Blood to wash our sins away permanently.
The Throne John Saw:
John saw ONE throne and ONE sitting upon THE throne.
John did NOT see two or three thrones with a big Father God and then a little throne over to the side with a little Son God.
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and for those that make it to Heaven, Jesus will be the ONE sitting upon THE throne that will be worshipped forever.
Following is very good additional material for someone with an open, sincere heart desiring pure truth....Please read these:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/621azsmrr7pi1dr/Avoid_Hell_-_Only_Truth_Will_Set_One_Free.docx/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/yf1taq9p4h4u4ec/What_Must_I_Do_To_Be_Saved_Bible_study.docx/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/7iq3poipuoa4p0i/The_Early_Church_Was_Absolutely%252C_Unequivocally_NOT_Trinitarian..pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/p3393hown2mw2r8/Oneness_Baptism_%2526_Holy_Ghost_-_by_Ken_Raggio.doc/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/46w8nsw0ibf93hl/The_Oneness_of_God_-_Who_The_Bible_Says_Jesus_Really_Is%2521.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/a8rjifwtxh9k92o/The_New_Birth_Experience.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/g23ql9naxwlnlr2/The_Son_of_Man_In_Heaven_-__Right_Hand_of_the_throne_of_God.doc/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/1eott3qt2ujcd39/What_about_God_-_Let_US_make_man_in_OUR_image.doc/file
What Is Wrong With The RCC?:
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/cc0jycarm1zagtt/What%2527s_Wrong_with_the_Roman_Catholic_Church_%2528RCC%2529.pdf/file
https://www.mediafire.com/view/wlb1mag2jylgx38/Who_Is_God_-_Wheel_Of_Prophecy.jpg/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/bx87dlzs6nx3wcn/Who_The_Bible_Says_Jesus_Really_Is%2521.doc/file
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What Must I Do To Be Saved?
MATTHEW 24:5-8
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Many horrible things are happening around the world....wars and rumors of wars....sickness.....perversion....lawlessness....societies going out of control.....
Some may ask why this is all happening.....
But the REAL question is this….What Must I Do To Be Saved?
This question, you could say, has been asked by many who found it important to make things right with God and obtain Biblical salvation. However, the question, depending on who you ask, will be answered in many different ways. The most important question one can ask has been the subject of so many debates and ideas that a person can become quite confused. The devil would like nothing more than for a person hungry for salvation to be misled into believing a lie; therefore, losing their soul and finding in the Judgment that the Lord would say, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity.”
It is very important that you understand God is no respecter of persons. If He requires something of one person it is required of all!
Some may say, “I have been going to this church for years. I know they are teaching the truth.”
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
II John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 3:17
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1 Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
How can I be sure I know the real truth?
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
I Timothy 4:13-16
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Jude3-4
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Luke 1:77
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
How am I saved?
There are many things in the Bible that speak of how to be saved. The Bible says God is no respecter of persons, so if He tells some that they must do something to be saved then it applies to all. If you read in one place that you have to believe on Jesus to be saved, and in another place you have to be born again of the water and the spirit, then you cannot just say all you have to do is believe. There is one place in the Bible where Peter-who was given the Keys to the Kingdom-was asked the question, “What must we do?” He gave an answer; the words he spoke were to be the same answer to the people who were there and the people who would read those words in the Bible. We must follow those words to be saved, and do many other things also to continue in that salvation.
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 2:37- 38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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.
1 John 2:12
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
The scriptures above will be in agreement with what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that salvation should be in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection. The message Peter preached in Acts 2:38 says to REPENT – to have the old man die. We must repent, and this is the DEATH. And be BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. When a man is dead we bury him. The Bible says we are buried with Christ in baptism, and this is the BURIAL. And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Bible says we can take part in the resurrection of Christ if we have His Spirit. This is the RESURRECTION. So if you follow Peter’s answer, you will Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then you will have obeyed Jesus and taken part in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ!
If I have to be baptized, into what name should I be baptized?
This question has been one of controversy for many years. To answer it you must open your Bible and see what it says. Do not take anyone’s word for it, but study to shew thyself approved.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
This Scripture, no doubt, has been taught as the correct formula for water baptism. There is one problem with the way people look at this verse of Scripture and feel it is the way to baptize. You see, when many churches baptize someone, they repeat the commandment given by Jesus instead of obeying the commandment. Jesus said to go and baptize in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. If you look closely at this scripture you will see Jesus said in the NAME of, not the NAMES of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. When people are baptized, they should be baptized in the NAME of Jesus, because JESUS is the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Every time in the Bible after Jesus’ death, you will see that when someone was baptized they did not repeat Jesus’ commandment and say FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST. They said in the name of JESUS, or in the name of Jesus Christ, etc. Never in the Bible was anyone ever baptized saying, “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”
If the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were names, Jesus would have said to baptize in the NAMES, not NAME. The same commandment of Matthew 28:19 was recorded by Luke in Luke 24:47 and he said: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Now Luke said in HIS NAME, not THEIR NAMES…if the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were names, he would have said in THEIR NAMES. Now when Luke was talking here he said that this would begin at Jerusalem. The message Peter preached was this message, and it was Acts 2:38. If you will look into the history of the church, you will find that everyone was baptized into the name of JESUS, and it was changed to repeating the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost at a later time by the Catholic Church and a teacher named Tertullian.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:16
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 10:48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 19:5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
This makes sense since the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do in word or deed do all in the name of Jesus. Now baptism is certainly a deed and a word.
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Philippians 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
There is only ONE name whereby we must be saved:
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.
Again, if the devil could find a way to deceive you it would be in false doctrine and teaching you a lie about salvation. It only makes sense that if he could have the whole world believing in a lie that he would have his way; but God has a people who know the truth and are not scared to follow His Word. You must be BORN AGAIN.
To be sure of what truth is, you need to do what the Apostles taught, not what so-called “men of God” teach. If the Apostles taught repentance, baptism and Holy Ghost to be saved, and being baptized into the name of Jesus-not the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost-then you need to do the same.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The thief on the cross did not have to be baptized, so why should I?
The Bible has different dispensations of salvation. For instance, The Flood – the way to be saved then was by entering the Ark. The Tabernacle – where people were under the law. And finally, the dispensation of Grace – whereby we are saved through the Blood of Christ. At the time of the crucifixion, the Lord had not yet died for the blood to take affect for all repented mankind. The veil of the temple that was ripped when Jesus died signified the dispensation of Grace that started at that moment. The thief on the cross was saved by Jesus through the law.
Matthew 27:51
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mark 15:38
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Luke 23:45
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Well, let’s say I die before I get baptized. Will I be lost?
The Lord gives every man and woman a chance to repent and obey the scriptures for salvation. Some times we find ourselves trying to work out our own salvation by justifying why we did not do the right thing. If we live to be 20 years old, at some time we had a chance to make a choice to serve God. If we didn’t and waited till the last minute, and we died before we made the right choice, is God at fault? In the flood, surely there were many that when the rains came down, they decided that they should have listened to Noah. But we do not read where God opened the door and allowed them in because they were foolish of the time. If we believe that if a man repents on his death bed, and it is ok that he was not baptized, can we also say, “Well…he was going to repent, but he died before he could,” is he still saved? Certainly not, because the Bible tells us that you must repent.
2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Information from History about baptism:
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (1951), II, 384, 389: "The formula used was "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" or some synonymous phrase; there is no evidence for the use of the trine name. . . . The earliest form, represented in the Acts, was simple immersion . . . in water, the use of the name of the Lord, and the laying on of hands. To these were added, at various times and places which cannot be safely identified, (a) the trine name (Justin). . ."
Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (1962), I, 351: "The evidence . . . suggests that baptism in early Christianity was administered, not in the threefold name, but 'in the name of Jesus Christ' or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus.'"
Otto Heick, A History of Christian Thought (1965), I, 53: "At first baptism was administered in the name of Jesus, but gradually in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible (1898) I, 241: [One explanation is that] the original form of words was 'into the name of Jesus Christ' or 'the Lord Jesus'. Baptism into the name of the Trinity was a later development.
Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church (1947), page 58: "The trinitarian baptismal formula . . . was displacing the older baptism in the name of Christ."
The New Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1957) I, 435: "The New Testament knows only baptism in the name of Jesus . . ., which still occurs even in the second and third centuries."
Canney’s Encyclopedia of Religions (1970), page 53: "Persons were baptized at first 'in the name of Jesus Christ' . . . or 'in the name of the Lord Jesus' . . . Afterwards, with the development of the doctrine of the Trinity, they were baptized 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.'"
Encyclopedia Biblica (1899) I, 473: "It is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times 'in the name of Jesus Christ,' or in that 'of the Lord Jesus." This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single - not triple, as was the later creed."
Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed. (1910), II, 365: "The trinitarian formula and trine immersion were not uniformly used from the beginning....Baptism into the name of the Lord was the normal formula of the New Testament. In the 3rd century baptism in the name of Christ was still so widespread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to Cyprian of Carthage, declared it to be valid."
What now?
Many have had to face the truth in their walk with God and make a decision to follow the Bible. So many people have believed so many things concerning the truth of salvation. Many have been taught a certain way all of their lives, but when we see in the Word of God that we have been believing in something that was not exactly the whole truth, we have a responsibility to obey the truth. One of the hardest things a person can do is admitting that they have believed something that was wrong; but we, if we want REAL salvation must humble ourselves and submit to the real truth. If you remember in the Bible you can recall the story of Jesus. The Bible says He came teaching a different doctrine than they had believed. As a matter of fact you can read where He was crucified on the cross because He taught a different doctrine. The Jews, to this day, still do not believe what He taught and who He was. As you have read in this document, you can recall all of the scriptures that show where the devil would try and deceive even the very elect of God. So it is possible for any to be deceived. One thing about truth is, there is only ONE truth. There is only one LORD, one FAITH, and one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5). So if we have believed in any other Faith, Lord, or baptism other than the one in the Scriptures we are in error and must do what it takes to follow the truth. There should be only one reason someone goes to church, and that is that they want to be saved. If you read this and have not done what the Bible clearly says is the way to be saved, then do not waste one day making things right. You have to obey the Scripture, or you could be going to church every day, praying every day, reading your Bible every day, paying your tithes, believing in God, loving God and still be lost! If the apostles taught that we have to repent, and be baptized in the name of JESUS and receive the Holy Ghost to be saved (Acts 2:38), then we have to do the same.
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
God would not allow some be saved one way and us another.
Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Some teach you need to only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’re saved. Some teach you only need to repeat a so-called “sinners prayer.” Some teach you don’t need to be baptized to be saved. Some teach that you receive the Holy Ghost without an outward sign of speaking in tongues. Some teach that once we have accepted the Lord in our heart we are saved forever and cannot lose salvation. But there is only one plan of salvation that lines up with the Word of God!
Acts 2:37- 38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The plan of salvation is shown in the Old Testament. It was a foreshadow of the plan of salvation in the New Testament.
Therefore, the Tabernacle is a picture, a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Exodus, when God dictates to Moses the detailed design of the Tabernacle (some 1450 years before the birth of Jesus), He speaks forth a description of just who and what the coming Messiah (the Christ) would be.
In the Bible you will never see where something was done repeating the term: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. However, you will find plenty of Scripture for IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Some of those scriptures are listed below:
John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:16
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 9:27
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:29
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Acts 15:26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Acts 19:5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:13
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Acts 19:17
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 5:4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
2 Thessalonians 1:12
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Part One
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes an actual name.
Cousin Aunt Brother Son Niece Daughter
Mother David Father Nephew Uncle In-law
Salesman Mechanic Pastor Friend Counselor
Part Two
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes a position or title.
James Mary Beth John Nancy Tracey
Edward Janet Steven Dale Father Tim
Tammy Donnie Candace Sarah Jill Thomas
Part Three
Below you will find several choices, please choose the answer that best describes an actual name.
Father Son Spirit Jesus
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Answers:
Part 1. David
Part 2. Father
Part 3. Jesus
If you have all 3 correct…arise into the fullness of the Marvelous Light of Jesus Christ!
Be baptized calling on the name of Jesus!
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