“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ” (1 John 4:1 NIV) Is the Trinity in James?
Is the Trinity in James? James’ short general letter to early Christians doesn’t have a plethora of references to God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit, but what it does have is more than enough to figure out whether the Trinity doctrine is in the book of James. First of all, notice who James is a servant of:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1 NIV). James identifies himself as serving two distinct personages, namely Almighty God and Jesus Christ. These two are not mysteriously merged together, as Trinitarians assert. Their distinctive separateness is maintained. Notable by absence are references to the Trinity and the holy Spirit. If these are real, why isn’t James serving them?—Perhaps because the Trinity is fictional. He’s not serving the holy Spirit because it is not a person, even though it is real. “The holy Spirit” is called “it” at John 1:32 (ESV); 14:17 (NAB, REB), Acts 2:33; 8:16; 11:15 NAB, and Romans 8:16,26,27 (NAB;REB). Persons are not called “it”. The holy Spirit is God’s “power” (Acts 1:8), not a person.read more
Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. Yet Trinitarians claim Jesus is God.
The Bible says there is only ‘one mediator between humans and God.’ Who, or what, is that?
“This, then is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven . . . “—Matthew 6:9 NIV.
“No one comes to the Father except through me”—John 14:6
“There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus”—1 Timothy 2:5 NIV
While they all give ‘lip service’ (Mark 7:6-13) to the principles that the scriptures above express, Christian denominations have differing views on the exactly how the mediatorial relationship between them and God operates. So, yes, they all “say” that Jesus is the mediator, but in actual practice things are not exactly the way the Bible says they should be. For example, Catholics teach that Christians must go through their priesthood and their hierarchy, including their Pope, to have a relationship with God. Others teach that one can only have a relationship with God through their particular denomination, organization, or church. Some have even thought, or taught that a relationship with God was only possible through one particular pastor. Trinitarians often simply ignore this vital relationship. Let’s make clear what the scriptures say about this:
“The true worshippers will worship the Father”—John 4:23
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved”—John 10:8 NIV.
The Father of Jesus, Almighty God, is the only one who should be worshipped, according to the scriptures. But we must go through his Son, Jesus Christ, to have this relationship. Why?
“Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here”—Hebrews 9:11 NIVread more
Are the Doctrines of Purgatory and Hellfire in the Bible?
“Those who contend with you shall be as nothing and will perish . . . Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent”—Isaiah 41:11,12 NASB
The Bible teaches that death is non-existence. Purgatory is a Catholic doctrine which teaches there is an intermediate state after physical death in which some of those ultimately destined for heaven must first undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven, holding that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. But what does the Bible teach? Let’s compare some Catholic claims about the doctrine of Purgatory to the Scriptures.
Is the doctrine of Purgatory a true Biblical teaching?
Catholics claim:
Those that build their foundations on wood, grass or straw will be burned when we are purified to go to purgatory. Yet they will saved though only as men are saved by passing through fire. All people who go to purgatory will be saved though suffering (fire).
Paul was using word pictures, such as metaphors, in the account at 1 Corinthians 3:10-17. He uses simile in verse 15 saying “the person will be saved, but ONLY AS THROUGH FIRE.” (Catholic New American Bible [NAB])
The fire is figurative for spiritual cleansing and difficulty prior to death, not after! Even the Catholic New American Bible (NAB) footnote on this verse admits: “THE TEXT OF V 15 HAS SOMETIMES BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THE NOTION OF PURGATORY, THOUGH IT DOES NOT ENVISAGE THIS.”
Catholics claim:
1 John 5:16 gives us the idea that there are sins “unto death” and sins that “are not unto death.” Sins that are unto death are those sins committed that kill the soul. Those sins that are not unto death are those sins that injure the soul but do not kill it. These are the sins that are forgiven in purgatory. We see purgatory all over the Old Testament sometimes called the bosom of Abraham or Sheol.
When you actually look at the scriptures, such as 1 John 5:16, you’ll see that it says: “IF ANYONE SEES HIS BROTHER SINNING, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God.” (NAB) This is obviously talking about a brother that is sinning who is still alive, not someone who is dead in “purgatory.”
Purgatory is a “myth” that “does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 6:3 NAB) There are ZERO OCCURENCES OF PURGATORY IN THE BIBLE. Sheol is the Hebrew word, meaning the symbolic common grave of mankind. It is not literal, so there is no literal fire, or burning, there.
Catholics claim:
These are places where the Old Testament Fathers await Christ to come and preach to them to set them free.
Not according to the Bible — “For Sheol cannot praise you, nor Death celebrate you; those who go down to the pit can hope no longer in your constancy. The Living, the living are the ones who praise you as I do today.” (Isaiah 38:18 Catholic NJB)
Catholics claim:
What possible reason would Christ have to go to Hell to preach to the damned? The Damned will not get any consolation from it. It would be more likely that he went to the righteous to show them that He was the messiah and that it was time for them to follow Him to heaven.
The Bible says that Jesus: “WENT TO PREACH TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON, WHO HAD ONCE BEEN DISOBEDIENT WHILE GOD PATIENTLY WAITED IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.” (1 Peter 3:19-20 NAB) This, along with Genesis 6:4; 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 7 makes clear that these “spirits” Jesus preached to were demons.
Catholics claim:
You are saying that Jesus went to the underworld to preach to demons. Because of this, the Demons could be saved? Was Jesus just telling them, “Ha! Ha! You guys are going to fry here in hell for all time?”
No, he simply preached a message of judgment. As the demons asked Jesus at Luke 4:34 (NAB), “Have you come to destroy us?” Jesus confirmed that he would indeed eventually “destroy” or obliterate them – not “fry” them in a hot roasting hell for eternity.
Catholics claim:
Hades and Purgatory are the same thing. Hades is Greek and Purgatory is Latin.
Hades is in the New Testament 22 times. So-called “Purgatory” is in the New Testament zero times. The New Testament was written originally in Greek, not Latin. The meaning Catholics assert for their myth “Purgatory” is in stark contradiction to the meaning the Bible attaches to Hades.
Catholics claim:
There is a problem with the Greek because Hades means both a temporal place of punishment or a permanent place of torment, Hell.
It means neither.
The New Testament Greek uses Hades in place of the Old Testament Hebrew, Sheol. The Bible uses these words to mean one thing only, that is, the symbolic common grave of mankind, or nonexistence, until resurrection.
“For you will not abandon me to Sheol, you cannot allow your faithful servant to see the abyss.” (Psalm 16:10 Catholic NJB)
“He spoke with foreknowledge about the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not see corruption.” (Acts 2:31 Catholic NJB)
You can see from the verses above that the terms Sheol and Hades are interchangeable – they mean the same thing in the Bible. People who will receive a resurrection are said to go there, even righteous people, such as Jesus when he died.
Catholics claim:
Purgatory will be emptied in the final days. That means it exists now. Remember, you are saved if you are in Purgatory.
You’d better read it again. It says Hades will be emptied. It says nothing about Purgatory.
“The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds”—Revelation 20:13 NABread more
Are God, Jesus and the holy Spirit a Trinity? – Titus
Are God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit part of a Trinity? Is Jesus God? Let’s take a look at the Bible book of Titus to find some clues to answer these questions.
What does the Book of Titus say about God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit?
“Paul , a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” (Titus 1:1 NIV) If Jesus is God, why are God and Jesus are referred to separately? It’s because they are separate and distinct individuals, and not merged into a mysterious Trinity! Why does Paul not say that he is a servant of the Trinity? Because that idea is not found in the Bible. Why is Paul not a servant of the holy Spirit? Because the holy Spirit is not a person.
“Grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:4 NIV) “God” is named as “the Father,” not the Son, or the holy Spirit, or the Trinity. Jesus is separate and distinct from God. “Grace and peace” are not said to come from the Trinity, because it is fictional, nor are they said to come from the holy Spirit, because it is not a person.
Many translations render Titus 2:13 as though Jesus and Almighty God are the same person, due to Trinitarian bias, like this: “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 ESV). More accurately, however, the verse is translated:
“the appearing of the glory, of the great God and of our savior, the Anointed One, Jesus” (Titus 2:13 Hart)
“As we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NAB).
God and Jesus are thus spoken of as completely separate and distinct yet again. Notice, this refers to an appearance of both God and Jesus, but what about the Holy Spirit? There’s no reference to its appearing since it’s not a person. Why is the Trinity not said to appear? Because it doesn’t exist. Also, Jesus said that, “The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father” (Matthew 16:27 ESV). So Jesus’ glory comes from his Father, and is not original with him.
The Bible is the court of final arbitration, so if something is true it has to be in agreement with the Bible. Otherwise, it is false. So if Trinitarians want to provide evidence for the Trinity doctrine, their argument should be in agreement with the Bible. Likewise, if we believe the Trinity is false, our belief should be in agreement with the scriptures.
Does Bible teach the Trinity?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
The Bible says that God is one, not three:
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Mark 12:29 HCSB)
This is the same God referred to in Galatians 1:1 (NASB): “Through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead.”
God and Jesus are separate and distinct. When someone says “One Divine Being who exists in three persons,” they are using a very different definition of God from what the Bible uses.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Pr 16:25)
Trinitarian “evidence” is not found in the Bible. How could someone say such a thing?
“They will believe what is false.” (2 Thess 2:11 HCSB)
We respect them as persons and know they sincerely believe what they think is true. However, sincerity of belief does not equate to truth.
“No lie comes from the truth.” (1 Jn 2:21 HCSB; NIV) The Trinity is a lie, which is viewed by God as a very serious problem. We mean no disrespect to them when we point out the falsehood of the Trinity.
Trinitarians use several scriptures to “prove” that Jesus has always existed. Let’s consider some examples:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (Jn 1:1-3)
This says that Jesus was “with God” at the “beginning” of the universe. It does not say that Jesus has always existed.
“‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!'” (Jn 8:58)
Jesus says he existed before Abraham was born, but he does not say he always existed.
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (Jn 17:5)
Jesus says he was with his Father “before the world began,” but he does not say he always existed.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Heb 1:3)read more
Can One Who Believes in Trinity Have Relationship with God?
Many churches and preachers teach that the Trinity doctrine is true Biblical. On this basis, therefore many sincere Christians believe in the Trinity doctrine. Can a person who who in the Trinity have a relationship with God?
“It is God who judges”—Psalm 75:7 NIV; “God is a righteous judge”—Psalm 7:11 NIV“He is a God of justice”—Psalm 50:6 NIV; “Why do you judge your brother or sister?”—Romans 14:10 NIV; “Be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves”—Matthew 10:16 NASB
Can someone who believes in the Trinity have a relationship with God and Christ?
GOD IS THE JUDGE
The short answer, based on the Bible, God is the judge of who has a relationship with God and Christ. Why? All human knowledge is partial, not total. God is the judge, not us humans. Still, we should be very “wary.”
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom andknowledge of God!How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths beyond tracing out!Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34 NIV)
While the Trinity doctrine is unscriptural and demonstrably false, probably the vast majority who believe in it only do so because they were told it was true. Since the Trinity doctrine makes no sense, these simply assume they are supposed to believe it.
“Will not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 NIV)
“With righteousness he will judge the needy.” (Isaiah 11:4 NIV)
God’s judgment of each person will be perfectly right and fair, without pettiness over trivialities.
“I, Yahweh, examine the mind,I test the heartto give to each according to his way,according to what his actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10 CSB)
Please take note of the following scriptures which indicate that if one believes in Christ and is in Christ, that is a follower, a doer, then that person believes in, honors, and serves the Father also:
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN, KNOWS, AND HONORS GOD’S SON, HAS THE FATHER ALSO
“That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” (John 5:23 NIV)
“Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” (John 12:44 NIV)
“If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:19 NIV)
“If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.” (John 14:7 NIV)
“Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23 NIV)
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” (1 John 4:15 NIV)
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.” (1 John 5:1 NIV)
“We are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 5:20 NIV)
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)
So while the Trinity doctrine is false, Christians whom God judges to be doing the best they can with what they have to work with, possibly may be able to have a relationship with God and Christ, although it would be weaker than would otherwise be possible through accurately ‘knowing the only true God and the one He sent, Jesus Christ’ (John 17:3). And we can be confident that God will do the right thing in his judgment.
CORRECT BELIEF IS IMPORTANT
Since the ‘road to eternal life is narrow, and only a few find it, whereas the road to destruction is wide, most people follow it’ (Matthew 7:13,14), and will not gain eternal life.
“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved . . . all will be condemned who have not believed the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10,12 NIV). read more
