On January 30, 2017, BBC News published an article entitled “From relief to regret: Readers’ experiences of abortion.” The article can be found here: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38775641
Notice the high percentage of women who express regret and remorse over having had an abortion. Also, note the high percentage of those who view the unborn child as a human person, rather than a piece of tissue. A basic sense of right and wrong is programmed into each human by God. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10 NIV). This is more or less true to an extent even among those who are not Christians. Of course, it is also true that the “consciences [of many people] have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2 NIV)after people begin to violate them over time.read more
Do people have approach to God only through a clergy class, priests, church, an organization, a certain denomination, or is approach to God directly through Jesus Christ, and him alone? What is the priesthood of the believer?
The Bible is written so that anyone can read and understand it for themselves, but each person has a serious responsibility to use the Bible correctly, “accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB).
Ants have a navigation system that is more sophisticated than humans.
“Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: the ants are not a strong people, yet they store up their food in the summer.” (Proverbs 30:24-25)
A new article on the BBC News website published on January 19, 2017, entitled “Ants use Sun and memories to navigate” says:
Ants are even more impressive at navigating than we thought.read more
Does God love us unconditionally? What does the Bible say?
Does God love us unconditionally? There is no doubt that God loves us, as John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV). The principle expressed in John 3:16 means that God does love everyone, in a sense. In another sense, however, there are conditions relative to God’s love.
“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love”—John 15:10 NABread more
The Trinity is said to be the main doctrine of Christianity. Verses from Hebrews chapter 1 are often used to support the doctrine. However, there are some very valid and legitimate questions about what the verses in Hebrews actually say about the Trinity issue that need to be answered.
Hebrews 1:1 – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (NIV). Who is the “God” mentioned here?
Hebrews 1:2 – “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe” (NIV).read more
There are questions about the Trinity in the gospel of John
Some Scriptures from the gospel of John are often used in support of the Trinity doctrine. However, there are some important questions about scriptures in the gospel of John regarding the Trinity doctrine that need answers.
John 1:1 – Who is God here? The Father? Who is “the Word?” How is the first one called “God” different from the second one? Why is the first “God” qualified by the definite article “ho” in Greek, and the second God is not? Why does the REB say, “What God was, the Word was”? Why does AAT render it, “And the Word was divine”? Why is the verse rendered, “In the origin there was the Logos, and the Logos was present to God, and the Logos was god” (Hart)?read more
As the above article points out, Antartica had a rich ecosystem in the distant past, scientists have discovered. This is one of many evidences that there was a global flood.
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month–on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights”—Genesis 7:11,12 NIV
“For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered.The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits.Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind.Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died.Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” (Genesis 7:17-23 NIV)read more
Hebrews is a comprehensive treatise about Christian doctrine. Since the Trinity doctrine is asserted to be the main doctrine of Christianity, we would expect Hebrews to include significant mention of the Trinity doctrine, if it is true.
Is the Trinity doctrine in the book of Hebrews?
In our series about what is stated concerning God the Father, his Son Jesus, and the holy Spirit in the various books of the New Testament, we examine all the relevant scriptures of each particular book. In this article, we will examine the Letter to the Hebrews, and discover powerful testimony about whether or not the doctrine of the Trinity is in Hebrews. All quotes from NIV, unless noted otherwise. Hebrews says God speaks to through his Son.read more
Why does the Trinity matter? – Is Jesus Christ Almighty God?
Does the Trinity matter? It matters because the Bible says:
“There is no wisdom, there is no discernment And there is no counsel against Yahweh”—Proverbs 21:30 LSB
Does this picture make sense? It is confusing and contradictory!
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)
The Bible says our eternal life depends on knowing the only true God the Father, and His Son, whom he sent, Jesus Christ. “Knowing” would have to include knowing who they are.
The Athanasian Creed, which many denominations accept, says a person’s eternal life depends on acceptance of certain statements of belief about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Ghost).
“Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.”
“So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.”
“Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.”
“And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.”—Book of Common Prayer translation. See Schaff (1877b, pp. 66–71)read more
In the book of Acts, did the Apostles teach or preach the Trinity doctrine?
This article is part of our series about what is stated concerning God, Jesus and the holy Spirit, and whether they comprise a Trinity, in the various books of the Bible. This article examines whether the Trinity was taught or preached the book of Acts of the Apostles.
Jesus had foretold that, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my place, will teach you everything and remind you of =&0=&“The Helper, the Holy Spirit” would “guide [them] into all the truth” (John 16:13 NIV). Acts records for us how this was done, by documenting the spread of Christianity during its first three decades, including its beginning, when the holy Spirit was “poured out” (Acts 2:33). If the Trinity is true, then the doctrine should be evident in the book of Acts, because it records what the early Christians taught and how Christianity was established throughout the Roman Empire.
Acts 1:3 – “During the forty days after he suffered and =&1=&The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of the Gospel, and it’s the affirmation of Jesus’ Sonship and Messiahship. This is what the early Church preached, as recorded in the Book of Acts and the New Testament letters. However, today many theologians and preachers are “preaching” “a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9 NIV), asserting that the essence of the Gospel is that “God became a man and died for our sins. In contrast, for the early church it was,“God has resurrected this Jesus.” (Acts 2:32 HCSB)
Acts 1:4 – “Wait for the gift my Father promised” (NIV). – The Father alone is the one who is in control. “The “gift” refers to the Holy Spirit, as promised in the Old Testament (e.g., Joel 2:28-29) and reiterated by Jesus in John 14:16-17” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Calling the holy Spirit a “gift” gives us a clue that the holy Spirit is not a person. According to Jesus, “the holy Spirit” (Luke 12:12 NAB), is “the Spirit of your Father” (Matthew 10:20).
Acts 1:7 – “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority” (NIV). – Jesus said his Father is in control, who operates entirely “by his own authority,” without the involvement of a Trinity ‘godhead’, or even Jesus. Jesus, on the other hand, said, “I don’t speak on my own authority” (John 12:49 NLT). “Jesus . . . cried out, ‘ . . . I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him'” (John 7:28 NIV). Jesus said that he wasn’t even here on earth on his own authority, but was sent by his Father, whose authority he is under, because, as Jesus said, “the Father is greater” (John 14:28). This unequal authority between Jesus and his Father eliminates the equality aspect of the Trinity dogma. The equality aspect of the Trinity doctrine is thus obliterated by such Biblical truths.
Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you” (NAB). This action had been foretold in the prophets. God said, “I will put my spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27 NRSV). The holy Spirit is God’s “spirit”, not another person. The language “comes upon you” is not appropriate when referring to a person, so this gives evidence the holy Spirit is not a person. Jesus connected “the holy Spirit” with “power’, which is essentially what the holy Spirit is. Without the holy Spirit being a person, the Trinity doctrine falls apart.
Acts 2:17 – “I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh” (NAB). Yahweh speaks, and refers to the holy Spirit as being “my spirit”, provides very strong evidence that the holy Spirit is not a person. The apostle Peter quoted the prophecy,”Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Yahweh your God, and there is no other . . . And it will be afterwards That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind” (Joel 2:27,28 LSB). These scriptures show that ‘Yahweh is God and no other’, that is, he is incomparable, unique. The holy Spirit, which is also featured in this prophecy, is obviously not Yahweh, as Trinitarianism claims.Even more so, the language, “a portion of my spirit” gives additional evidence the holy Spirit cannot be a person, because a portion of a person cannot be ‘poured out.’ Without the holy Spirit being a person, the doctrine of the Trinity falls apart.
Acts 2:22 – “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him.” (NIV) – Jesus was used by God, who is the superior one. Notice that “God” is not “Jesus,” who is “accredited by God to you”, and that “God did” the miracles “through” Jesus. Jesus is called “a man”. “God is not a man” (Numbers 23:19).
Acts 2:22,23 –“Jesus . . . –delivered up through God’s settled purpose and foreknowledge”(Weymouth New Testament) – Yahweh God the Father, as the one who is “supreme over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18 NLT), decided long in advance what Jesus would do. No one else but God, not even Jesus, is ever said to have a “settled purpose and foreknowledge”. Also, Jesus is called a “man” (Acts 2:23 NIV; LSB), so he couldn’t be God, because “God is not a man” (Numbers 23:19). Also, “God” is shown to be someone other than Jesus.
Acts 2:24 – “God raised him from the dead.” – “God” is again clearly shown to be someone other than Jesus. Jesus “died” (1 Corinthians 15:3); God didn’t. Why? “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB), whereas Jesus was “dead” (Revelation 1:18). Trinitarians claim that “only the human part of Jesus died”. However, if any part of Jesus had remained alive, “Christ” could not have “died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Acts 2:30 – “Since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants upon his throne.” (NAB) – God controlled everything, and he seated Jesus on “the throne of his father, David” (Luke 1:32), as foretold in fulfillment of Psalm 132:11. God is clearly shown to be someone other than Jesus.
Acts 2:31 – “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (New King James Version). – Resurrection means coming back to life from the dead. Jesus was resurrected by God, the superior one, who did not die (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). Notice that “his soul was not left in Hades”. “Hades” (Hebrew is “Sheol” [Psalm 16:10]) is the figurative place of “the dead” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,10). Jesus “was dead” (Revelation 1:18). If any part of “Christ” had remained alive, he could not have “died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). God is not “the Christ”, Jesus is. For these reasons, Jesus cannot be God.
Acts 2:32 – “God has resurrected this Jesus.” (HCSB) – “God” is obviously someone other than Jesus, because he brought the deceased Jesus back to life. Jesus “was dead” (Revelation 1:18). “God “is always alive, and “never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). Jesus is clearly shown not to be eternal, since he “died” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Without the eternity factor, the Trinity doctrine collapses.Trinitarians sometimes assert that “God” = Trinity (3). Since Jesus was dead, that would only leave the other two members of the Trinity dogma alive, so God cannot = 3. When we analyze the Trinity doctrine in the light of the scriptures, we find that it is simply pure “nonsense” (Isaiah 32:6).
Acts 2:33 – “Exalted to the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you both see and hear” (NAB). This scripture is a death knell to the Trinity doctrine. Since “God” has Jesus at his right hand, and he channels the holy Spirit through Jesus to believing Christians. “God” is identified as “the Father”. Jesus is shown to be someone other than God, and also subservient to God, his Father, by being at “the right hand of God”. Additionally, the holy Spirit is called “it,” which proves it is not a person. These facts eliminate “the Son is God”, the equality, and the personhood of the holy Spirit, aspects of the Trinity doctrine, so the Trinity doctrine collapses.
Acts 2:34 – “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand'” (NIV) – Quoting from Psalm 110:1, “Yahweh declared to my Lord, ‘Take your seat at my right hand'” (NJB). Jesus is shown to be at God’s right hand of favor, so he couldn’t be God. God is the speaker, and the one who is in control, not Jesus. “Yahweh” is clearly shown to be someone other than Jesus.
Acts 2:36 – “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus” (ESV). – God the Father decided and granted Jesus Lordship and Messiahship. Jesus had neither of these “highly exalted” positions “from eternity” (Philippians 2:9 ESV), as Trinitarians like to claim. Trinitarians like to claim that title “Lord” makes Jesus God. But the scriptures tell us differently. “Christ” is obviously not God, because God made him both “Lord and Christ”.
Acts 3:13 – “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob . . . has glorified his servant Jesus.” (NIV) – God gave glory to His servant, Jesus. Jesus cannot be Almighty God because he is GOD’S “SERVANT.” God’s “servant” cannot be Almighty God, nor is the servant equal to the master! What is interesting about this is that in Exodus 3:15, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:15 LSB), “Yahweh” identifies himself as “God Almighty” (Exodus 6:2,3 LSB). Since Almighty God has “his servant Jesus”, Jesus cannot be Almighty God. As Jesus said, “The Father is greater than I am” (John 14:28 GWT; ISV; NET). Thus, there is no equality between Jesus and his Father, so Jesus cannot be Almighty God, as Trinitarians claim. Without equality, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
The Trinity is said to be the main doctrine of Christianity. Verses from Hebrews chapter 1 are often used to support the doctrine. However, there are some very valid and legitimate questions about what the verses in Hebrews actually say about the Trinity issue that need to be answered.
