Tribulation

"God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain." C.S. Lewis

The Apostle Paul was not a Trinitarian

Paul, the most prolific New Testament writer, gave honor to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the introductory salutation of every one of his epistles. However, he did not mention the Holy Spirit. Why would he not honor the third person of the Trinitarian Godhead?

It is interesting to note that when he does include a third name it is not the Holy Spirit. Consider:

1Ti 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels,.....

If the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, why are angles mentioned in the place of it.

One can only conclude that Paul was not a Trinitarian.

The Only True God

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

These are Jesus’ words. He was speaking to his Father and called Him the only true God. How then can Christ be God?

Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow.

Theodore Epp

Power on Earth

In Matthew chapter 9 we see a story of a man sick of the palsy brought before Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (v. 2) The scribes got upset and considered this blasphemy. (v. 3) But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking said to them, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (v. 6)

The Greek word for power, as in “power on earth” above, is expisoa. Thayer (1), and Strong (2)both say this Greek word means: power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; leave or permission.

It can be seen from the above definition of the Greek word expisoa, that although the word means “power of choice” there’s a strong sense of having “leave or permission”. In other words, this power of choice is delegated (3).

Delegated from whom? Leave or permission from whom? The answer can be found in verse 8, “and the multitudes having seen, wondered, and glorified God, who did give such power to men.” This power came from God!

If then, according to the doctrine of the deity of Christ, Jesus is co-equal with the Father, why did the power to forgive sins need to be delegated to him from God?

The answer can be found in verse 8. God gave “such power to men.” Jesus, although the Son of God, was a man and only a man. (See Rom 5:15, 1 Tim. 2:5,)

Reference:

(1) Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., The New Thayer’s Greek - English
Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers,
1981) p. 225

(2) God’s Word for Windows, Strong’s # 1849

(3) W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, JR., Vine’s
Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Atlanta: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1985), p. 479

The Creeds and the Deity of Christ

As alluded to in the Nicene Creed, and stated in the Athanasian Creed, “in this Trinity none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another.” If then this is true, that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are co-equal, “none is greater, or less than another,” why does Jesus say, “the Father is greater than I?” Consider:


John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.


If Jesus is co-equal with the Father, then why did he need to be taught by his Father? Consider:

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.


These two passages are just the beginning of problems found in scripture with the doctrine of the Trinity and the deity of Christ as defined in the Creeds. In fact, for every so called “proof” text for the Trinity or the deity of Christ, there is a simple and reasonable way of looking at them that does not require the Trinity or the deity of Christ.

I believe in Christianity

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
C. S. Lewis

SAFETY FROM THE STORM

What a storm! It was one of the most dramatic events in the history of mankind when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and the earth opened up and all the springs of water flowed to the top. This was the time that God flooded the earth to destroy sinful men. But Noah and his family were righteous so God told them to build an ark so that they would be safe from the storm that was coming. When Noah, his family and all the animals were in the ark, God shut the door and they were sealed in. Then it rained and water poured out on the earth from the springs while the ark and it's precious cargo floated safely, guided by the hand of God and protected from the water that destroyed every other living thing. Noah and his family did not avoid the storm but they were sheltered from its devastating effects. No doubt they were swirled and tossed around on top of the water, but they escaped death.

Jesus promised us peace if we put our trust in him. Storms of unrest may rage around us but in the midst of it all God's anchor holds and we can be saved from the devastation and have his peace in our hearts. So let's do what he tells us to do today and experience the peace of God even in the midst of a storm.

Robert Prins Auckland - Pakuranga - (NZ)

"My Father is greater than all"

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If the Father is "greater than all," is not the Father then greater than the Son? How then can the Son be co-equal as in the doctrine of the Trinity?

Worldwide protests denounce Israel

The headline reads, "Worldwide protests denounce Israel."

Why is it there are no worldwide protests about the rockets and mortars fired into Israel? Why is Israel the bad guy on the block? For months Israel has absorbed rockets and mortars and now they have finally responded they are at fault. Doesn't make sense to me.