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The Trinity

Imagican

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Matthew 7:

Matthew 7 (KJV)

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Note the important lesson offered: KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT.

If we LOOK BACK at the FRUIT produced by the RCC or what is today merely referred to as the Catholic Church, I would offer that it was anything BUT 'holy'. Torturing people, murdering people, stealing from people IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

Note that this is EXACTLY what is stated above. Those mentioned STATE: look at all the wonderful things we have done IN YOUR NAME. The problem being that USING Christ's name OBVIOUSLY doesn't mean one DOING so KNOWS Christ Himself. Heck, you could call a hair brush Christ. That doesn't make the hair brush JESUS. And it is obvious by their FRUIT that they weren't FOLLOWING the message of Christ so far as forgiveness is concerned. You can't torture and murder people that you've forgiven. You can't RIGHTEOUSLY steal from people in the name of Christ no matter what you THINK or teach. You can't be TRUE followers of Christ and then LIE to the FLOCK and TAKE ADVANTAGE of the FLOCK. To be a true follower of Christ would be to SACRIFICE FOR the congregation, not make merchandise of them.

So let us JUDGE the RCC by their FRUIT as the Bible TELLS us to DO. Not making false judgements, but judgment according to RIGHTEOUSNESS: TRUE HOLY FRUIT. I don't SEE it. What I see is a group of people bent on CONTROL. Bent on POWER. Bent on DECEPTION as the means used to influence those that they desired to control. Heck, just the concept of torturing and MURDERING those that tried to give the Word of God to the PEOPLE so they could read it themselves is some pretty CORRUPT FRUIT.

And it wasn't merely a matter of a 'few sinners' in the RCC. The ENTIRE LEADERSHIP at times were as corrupt as any men have EVER been in the history of mankind. Yet the PEOPLE were taught that the LEADERSHIP were beyond reproach. That whatever the POPE declared was the WORD of God. That the POPE was the DIRECT representative of Christ on Earth. SHOW that one in the Bible???????? Show where we are taught to worship a MAN MADE 'church' rather than God through His Son. For that is exactly what the RCC taught it's followers: WORSHIP the 'church' for it is the "CHURCH" that has the power to grant or deny Salvation.

Blessings,
MEC
 
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Albion

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Let's put aside the ideas formed by the Catholic Church and go back to the OT. God revealed Himself to those called: His Chosen. He did NOT reveal Himself as 'three persons in one God'. He revealed Himself as the ONE AND ONLY true God. SINGULAR, uncompounded, NO OTHER GODS BESIDE HIM.
And yet, as early as Genesis, the word for him is a PLURAL world. ;)
 
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7xlightray

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It is very important who we worship as God, at lest it is to God. Even more then you think, because God is going to test us on the first greatest commandment, to see if we really love Him, or not. It speaks this way in the OT, and in the NT, as to the New, all I should have to mention is the man of sin, antichrist, the beast. There is a reason Paul knew, and warned with tears, that after he died, from in and from out, false doctrine would enter the church. It's not maybe, it's not, now that he has warned the church, it will now avoid this. No, it's coming, and will eat as does a canker (gaggraina) he knows, because it was prophesied in scripture, that after all the elders that seen all the great works that God did, after they died, another generation after them would turn quickly, and serve other gods. He spoke of the falling away (and worshipping a man that sits on God's throne as he were God himself,) so did Jesus, and the other disciples.

1 John 4:21 (KJV) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God (1B first Greatest commandment) love his brother also (2A second greatest commandment).

The first greatest commandment (Mark 12:29-31) is made up of two parts. Part (1A) The LORD our God is one LORD, and part (1B) we are to love this God with everything we have. You will notice the second greatest commandment (2A) in 1 John 4:21, love your neighbour as yourself, and part (1B) of the first greatest commandment, love God. Do you think He cancelled part (1A) God is one LORD?

Acts 17:29 (KJV) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device (G1761 – enthymēsis - thinking, thought, pondering, imagination, consideration (what man thinks up by his own understanding)). 30 And (G3303 – men - truly, or certainly, (so we need to pay close attention to what he is about to say...)) the times of this ignorance God winked at (G5237 – hyperoraō - to overlook, (God had overlooked mans understanding of God)); but now commandeth all men every where to repent (of other gods): 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness...

In the past, God overlooked mans own imagination of God, but now commands all, to repent of mans own understanding of God. We need to worship the true God, in truth. If we don't walk in the truth, we walk in a lie.

So, the scriptures must clearly teach who this God is.


Two thousand years may seem like a safe place to be, but lets put this in perspective.

John said it is the last hour, he is not saying it's coming, but it is hear. We know, because many antichrists have already shown up, and Paul is now passed on, and John is at the end of his days. The apostles were already fighting off, and holding back much false doctrine. So, the average time period of the apostles, to round it off, was about 30 AD to about 90 AD, about 60 years. Now to put this into perspective, after the first 60 years, after the times of the apostles, add another 60 years, then another 60 years, then another 60 years, then add another 60 years, which brings us to about 330 AD. How bad do you think it would have gotten by then? Think the church would now be greatly united, especially after things were already threatening in their day, and these many antichrists have been around for 240 years?

Matthew 13:33; 1 Corinthians 5:6
 
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razzelflabben

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I sincerely am. I already know what Scripture says. I'm asking for something outside of the box. I believe in the trinity. I personally do not believe my faith would change if I found out that God is not triune. Some people suggest it would destroy Christianity. I'm asking opinions.
I would suggest to you that it would not change christianity as a religion, but would have a profound effect on those who have a relationship with the living God.

See, in relationship, it is essential to understand who we are talking to when we converse...it is essential to know who we are submitting to when we submit...it is essential to our faith that Jesus the Christ is God incarnate and in that, our salvation. Without that, there is no relationship.
 
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razzelflabben

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I was going to read the entire thread, but instead, let me make two comments, if they have been covered so be it, if not, something to consider.

1. so far I haven't seen anyone talk about the HS part of the trinity. If God is not triune, what is the HS and why would I want Him to make HIs home within me? Why would Jesus have told us to watch for that HS?

2. without Jesus as part of the trinity, we revert (from a religious standpoint) back of observant Judaism. IOW's the Jews believe Jesus was a prophet, so nothing in Judaism would have changed and anyone being a "Christian" would in reality still be trying to obey the Jewish law.

Now back to catching up in the thread
 
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razzelflabben

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As per the discussion in the middle of this thread, why do we act surprised when the fleshly words we find to use, fail to describe a spiritual, supernatural concept? three in one is not that hard to understand and yet we insist on semantics to describe what only the spirit can understand. Wouldn't it be better to allow the HS to witness to our spirit the truth rather than try to argue semantics over how to explain the trinity? Just a thought for what it's worth.

Moving on, up to page 5
 
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razzelflabben

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Maybe you can help me understand it better, from your standpoint.
I'm curious for those that are quibbling over whose name you were baptized in....whose name was Jesus baptized in? His own? Wouldn't that be a little bit silly? And if He was baptized only for the forgiveness of sin, what sin was He repenting of, given that He was the fulfillment of the law (iow's without sin)? I don't know, I'm confused by this whole agenda and not sure who exactly to direct the questions to being it seems to be all getting mangled up somehow.
 
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JustHisKid

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I'm curious for those that are quibbling over whose name you were baptized in....whose name was Jesus baptized in? His own? Wouldn't that be a little bit silly? And if He was baptized only for the forgiveness of sin, what sin was He repenting of, given that He was the fulfillment of the law (iow's without sin)? I don't know, I'm confused by this whole agenda and not sure who exactly to direct the questions to being it seems to be all getting mangled up somehow.

There has been a debate that God is not three persons but simply presents Himself in three unique ways. I was wondering if God was not actually three persons, but one, how that would impact the faith of a Christian.
 
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Albion

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There has been a debate that God is not three persons but simply presents Himself in three unique ways. I was wondering if God was not actually three persons, but one, how that would impact the faith of a Christian.
Well, there is such a church and it has, in the USA, a couple thousand members only. I'd say, therefore, that this POV doesn't have a lot of traction, although it makes understanding the Trinity seem simpler.
 
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7xlightray

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The "Us"

First of all Paul talks about theses passages in Genesis as a great mystery. You will notice God is referring to making man in the image, and likeness of God, as in being created good, and giving him authority, which Christ has received authority over all the works of God's hands.

I to believe "Us" speaks of Christ, but of after bringing the true doctrine, and after his resurrection, as Genesis 2:21-23 shows. God putting Adam into a deep sleep (death), opening his side (as on the cross, spear into his side) and taking his rib (spirit), then closed up the flesh (resurrection), then took the rib (spirit) of Adam, and put it in Eve (church). God creating Eve in the image of Adam, who was created in the image of God.

God created Eve in the image of Himself, through Adam. Though, It also speaks of the Angels, that they would teach Adam and Eve how to care for God's creation, giving them authority, for God created them good, but did not create them authority, but told them to have authority.

To stand on "Us" as to how many persons are God, is a very vague statement to stand on.
 
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7xlightray

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Jesus is not an Angel...

Psalm 22:1 (KJV) My (Jesus) God, my God (the Father), why hast thou forsaken me (we've all been given wisdom to see Jesus in this verse from Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46, but can you see Jesus in the rest of scripture?)? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? . . .4 Our fathers trusted in thee (Father, he does not say Us): they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee (again Spirit of Christ speaking and does not say Us), and were delivered: they trusted in thee (Old Testament not teaching a trinity here), and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD (YHVH) that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him (remember what they said to him on the cross Matthew 27:43 and if you're willing Wisdom 2:12-20(RSV)). 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly (Jesus could not have been an angel if God the Father was his God starting from his mothers belly). 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help (going to and on the cross).

...for it says, God the Father was Jesus God from his mother's belly. Therefore could not have been an angel, because God would have been an angel's God, before an angel decended. Not only that, but angels were made immortal spirits, and don't die Luke 20:36. Made from the one that only has immortality, the immortal Spirit, the Father.
 
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razzelflabben

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There has been a debate that God is not three persons but simply presents Himself in three unique ways. I was wondering if God was not actually three persons, but one, how that would impact the faith of a Christian.
Is/was Jesus a person or a spirit? Is/was the HS a person or spirit? How about the Father? My point was and still is this, we can argue semantics all day long but in the end of the matter all that really matters is that the spirit within us, recognized and accepts that God is the three in one. Whether our flesh understands persons or roles, whether our flesh understands the three parts of an egg but one egg or the roles of a person being father, son, husband, is pretty petty and irrelevant to understanding the truth of a triune God.

Jesus was/is flesh, thus a person, so we could say that at least part of the trinity is persons...but the HS never took on flesh, but could not be considered a person, only a spirit...I guess the heart of my point is this, persons and roles are both part of the trinity and a good understanding reveals this. Is God a person or persons, no, and yet He in His wisdom presented Himself as a person, why should we allow that to hinder our understanding of trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God and HS all have different roles in the believers life, yet all those roles are for the same goal, the same purpose, why should that be allowed to cloud our understanding of the triune God? When we set aside the semantics and focus on the truth as witnessed by the HS to our spirit, we discover the God we only thought we knew.
 
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JustHisKid

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Is/was Jesus a person or a spirit? Is/was the HS a person or spirit? How about the Father? My point was and still is this, we can argue semantics all day long but in the end of the matter all that really matters is that the spirit within us, recognized and accepts that God is the three in one. Whether our flesh understands persons or roles, whether our flesh understands the three parts of an egg but one egg or the roles of a person being father, son, husband, is pretty petty and irrelevant to understanding the truth of a triune God.

Jesus was/is flesh, thus a person, so we could say that at least part of the trinity is persons...but the HS never took on flesh, but could not be considered a person, only a spirit...I guess the heart of my point is this, persons and roles are both part of the trinity and a good understanding reveals this. Is God a person or persons, no, and yet He in His wisdom presented Himself as a person, why should we allow that to hinder our understanding of trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God and HS all have different roles in the believers life, yet all those roles are for the same goal, the same purpose, why should that be allowed to cloud our understanding of the triune God? When we set aside the semantics and focus on the truth as witnessed by the HS to our spirit, we discover the God we only thought we knew.

Some would argue that they do not have different roles at all because there is only one God. God is Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ. When Jesus was on earth, He said the Father indwelt Him. He is the Father, in the flesh. The Spirit in the flesh. He came in the flesh but flesh is not His person.
 
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faroukfarouk

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Is/was Jesus a person or a spirit? Is/was the HS a person or spirit? How about the Father? My point was and still is this, we can argue semantics all day long but in the end of the matter all that really matters is that the spirit within us, recognized and accepts that God is the three in one. Whether our flesh understands persons or roles, whether our flesh understands the three parts of an egg but one egg or the roles of a person being father, son, husband, is pretty petty and irrelevant to understanding the truth of a triune God.

Jesus was/is flesh, thus a person, so we could say that at least part of the trinity is persons...but the HS never took on flesh, but could not be considered a person, only a spirit...I guess the heart of my point is this, persons and roles are both part of the trinity and a good understanding reveals this. Is God a person or persons, no, and yet He in His wisdom presented Himself as a person, why should we allow that to hinder our understanding of trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God and HS all have different roles in the believers life, yet all those roles are for the same goal, the same purpose, why should that be allowed to cloud our understanding of the triune God? When we set aside the semantics and focus on the truth as witnessed by the HS to our spirit, we discover the God we only thought we knew.
The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4.30); He has a will (1 Corinthians 12.11); historically among Bible believing Christians the word Person has fitted discussion of the Holy Spirit.
 
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JustHisKid

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The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4.30); He has a will (1 Corinthians 12.11); historically among Bible believing Christians the word Person has fitted discussion of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. God is Spirit. There aren't two Spirits. Just one. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ.
 
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razzelflabben

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Some would argue that they do not have different roles at all because there is only one God. God is Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ. When Jesus was on earth, He said the Father indwelt Him. He is the Father, in the flesh. The Spirit in the flesh. He came in the flesh but flesh is not His person.
really? Jesus life on this earth was the exact same role as the Father who asked Jesus to come and suffer and die and the HS who dwells within every believer has the exact same role as Jesus who suffered and died for our sins? I'm sorry but that argument doesn't hold any water at all as best I can tell. Now if you want to say as I already did that they have the same goal, that is a different matter, but you will never convince me that the suffering and death of Christ is the same role as the indwelling HS that is our guarantee of the salvation that Jesus secured on the cross.
 
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