The Master's Plan
Part 1
The God Head- Trinity, Oneness or Something else?
Printable Version
In part one of The Master’s Plan we’re going to try and understand the true relationship of God the Father to Jesus Christ and what or who the Holy Spirit really is. We will explore if there really Is a "Holy Trinity" of one God in three persons; that of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit that are co-equal, coexistent, and co-eternal. Does the Bible really teach this or does it teach “Oneness” that there is only one God, and that God is singular, His name is Jesus Christ and any reference to God or the Holy Spirit is really talking about Jesus. Churches that believe in "Oneness" say there is no such thing as three separate entities of the Godhead but just one and that name is Jesus. They say that when God the Father or the Holy Spirit are mentioned, it's really Jesus Christ speaking because Jesus is that one name of the God we worship. Most Christians believe in the Trinity but almost all will fall into one of these two camps, each having Scripture they feel can back up their belief. It seems that our religious denominations have taught us what to believe about this topic, but what does the Bible really teach us about this subject? Is it the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit that we worship or is it just one God in the name of Jesus we worship? What if the Bible makes the case for neither and it's really something completely different then what we’ve been taught?
Most people have tried to comprehend God, where He came from and how He came to be. After thinking about God and trying to understand where He came from and how He came about, you’ll quickly find yourself with a huge headache and just give up. There is no answer for God, He has no beginning and has no end; He has always existed and has always been. God just is, and God just was!
How about His Son Jesus Christ, did He have a beginning? Has Jesus always existed or was He created by God? Was He first born 2,000 years ago in a manger or has Jesus always existed with God? Is Jesus God? Who or what is the Holy Spirit? These are all questions we’ll answer with God’s Word. We will investigate the Scriptures to understand the real truth as to who it is that we really worship.
So let’s dive right into some Scripture that directly contradicts both the Trinity and Oneness doctrines. The contradiction we find is that Jesus Christ hasn’t always existed. You heard me correctly, Jesus has not always existed, God the Father has always existed but Jesus was created by the Father. (Revelation 3:14) "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. Jesus is speaking and addressing Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness AND the beginning of God’s creation. Did you realize that Jesus was the beginning of God’s creation? While God the Father has no beginning, Jesus Himself says that He was the beginning, or the first of God’s creation. For those who believe in the Trinity, how can you believe that Jesus has always been co-existent with God when we see that Jesus was created by God? You cannot! Those who believe in Oneness and that Jesus is God the Father, how do we explain that Jesus was created by God? You cannot; Jesus being created by God makes two, and that contradicts with the Oneness teaching. Please look up the Greek words for "the beginning of God's creation" and you will see it means exactly that.
Let’s look at more proof that Jesus was created by God. (Colossians1:15-17) (Jesus) who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; (16) for in him (Jesus) were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him (Jesus), and unto him (Jesus); (17) and he is before all things, and in him (Jesus) all things consist. This is our second witness that Jesus was the firstborn of all creation; God’s begotten Son was the very first of the Father's creation. This created son of God named Jesus is vastly different than the Father who has no beginning and who always was. If we remove our manmade doctrine and what we’ve been taught, just taking Scripture for what is says, then you would conclude that indeed Jesus is God’s son and not God Himself. You would see that Jesus is God’s son whom the Father created in the very beginning. Jesus was the very first task in the Father’s creation, and the son Jesus, was made in the very image of God Himself! If we just read this for what it says, then it’s very easy to understand. Once Jesus was created by the Father, Jesus created all things in the heavens and on earth! Jesus created everything that you can see and all the things you cannot see, including the angels in Heaven and all things unseen. Let's look at more proof that Jesus was created by the Father.
Who was the Lord speaking about here? "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me (Isaiah 43:10). God the Father has always been in existence and was never created or "formed". That Hebrew word "formed" is yâtsar which means to mould into a form; especially as a potter. The Father was not created but as we have seen, Jesus the Son of God was the "God" created and formed in the very image of God the Father. This whole idea that Jesus was created by God did not fit with the doctrines of Bible scholars so they changed the meaning within the book of Hebrews. (Hebrews 3:2) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus; (2) who was faithful to him that appointed (Greek - made) him, as also was Moses in all his house. Because of their doctrinal beliefs, Bible translators inserted the word "appointed" instead of the real word "made". Hebrews 3:2 should read that Jesus was faithful to God who made Him... That Greek word they use for appointed is poieō which is translated 517 times in the New Testament and only one time out of 517 times that word is translated as "appointed". That one time is in this exact verse! Almost all the rest of the 517 times it is translated as some form of either made, makes, making or some form of do, did, doing, done. To translators, it made more sense that Jesus was "appointed" by God rather than "made" by God. That's why they inserted a word that has nothing to do with its real meaning instead of the real word.
Does this fit into what you’ve been taught about Jesus and God? Are the alarm bells going off in your head? They should be, because we have either been taught lies about who God and Jesus Christ really are, or I’m misleading you. If you’ll please be patient with me, you’ll see that we are only looking for the truth and only the truth which lines up with all the Scriptures. As for the church doctrine you’ve grown up with, let’s just set that aside for now and just read the Word of God and what it says and does not say.
(Hebrews 1:2) But in these last days he (GOD) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he (Jesus) created the world. God has appointed Jesus the heir of all things and once again we see that it was Jesus who created the world and not just God.
Listen as Jesus prays to His Father in Heaven. (John 17:4) I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.(5) And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Here we see Jesus praying to His Father in Heaven (not to Himself) to glorify Him with the glory that He had with the Father before the world existed. So in the very beginning before the creation of the world, God created Jesus and He was with His Father before the world even existed. That makes two that existed even before the world was. So what glory did Jesus have with the Father before the world existed? (John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God (Father), and the Word (Jesus) was God. (2) He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God (Father). (3) All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) was not any thing made that was made… (14) And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us. If we read this carefully, we can see exactly what that glory was that Jesus had with the Father before the world existed. This Scripture says that Jesus was with God the Father that Jesus was God, that Jesus was in the beginning with God the Father and all things were made through Jesus. This may be a bit confusing as to how Jesus can be with God and yet be God, so let’s explore.
The first thing we need to understand is what the original Hebrew word for “God” is. When you read “God” in the Old Testament what is the meaning of that word “God”? Did you know that nine times out of ten when you read the word “God” the Hebrew word is “ELohiym”? Why is that important? In Hebrew it means “Gods” plural so 90% of the time you read the word “God” in your Bible, it really should be translated as “Gods” more than one God! Only 10% of the time we read the word “God” it is singular, meaning one God. Let’s read it for ourselves in the book of Genesis.
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God[s] (ELohiym) created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God[s] (Elohiym) moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God[s] (ELohiym) said, let there be light, and there was light. (4) And God[s] (ELohiym) saw the light, that it was good, and God[s] (ELohiym) divided the light from the darkness. (5) And God[s] (ELohiym) called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. and the evening and the morning were the first day. Who created the heavens and the earth? We just read that Jesus created the world and everything seen and unseen, yet we read here that “Gods” created the world. Why would the original Hebrew word read Gods and not God? Could it be that it is speaking about both God the Father and His created first born son Jesus?
(Genesis 1:26) Then God[s] (ELohiym) said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Who are these Gods and who is God speaking to when He says "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”? Remember how we read that Jesus was the first born of all creation, made in the image of the Father and that everything was made through Jesus? Well I think we can see that in the beginning the “Gods” spoken of, can only be the Father and His Son and we can see this throughout the whole creation story. The reason the Bible says “God[s] created the heaven and the earth” is because it was not just Jesus or one “God” creating, it was Jesus creating through the Father’s commands and that makes two. That’s why the Hebrew word is “Gods” (ELohiym) and not the Hebrew word “God” (EL).
Please don’t get confused by the word God or Gods because this is not the name of our God but merely a title or what we attribute to His name. The Hebrew meaning of the word EL (God) or in English singular for God means power, strength, mighty one, a title for deity. Now the word for Gods or in Hebrew ELohiym is the same as EL except it's plural or more than one deity. Whether it’s our true God or a false god it is still the same Hebrew word ELohiym or gods. An example would be the scripture below, you’ll see that false gods have the same title as the real Gods that we serve, that being the Father and His son Jesus.
As we read this next Scripture, notice how it's the translators of our Bibles who decide when to put an "s" behind god and when to use a small "g" god or a capitol "G" God even though it is the same Hebrew word. (Exodus 34:14) For thou shalt worship no other god (EL) for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (EL): (15) Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods (ELohiym), and do sacrifice unto their gods (ELohiym), and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice (16) And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods (ELohiym), and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods (ELohiym). (17) Thou shalt make thee no molten gods (ELohiym). Translators of our modern Bibles have in essence put their own interpretation into the pages of our Bibles by adding an "s" to god while other times dropping the "s" when it shouldn't be. It's sad but it seems that only when the Bible speaks of false gods do the translators put the correct plural tense on the word "god". So we must understand that there are many false gods mentioned in our Bible and they have the same Hebrew title as the true Gods. The false gods (Elohiym) have the title of "gods" meaning mighty ones or deity, the Father has the same title of Gods (Elohiym) or deity and His son Jesus has the same title of Gods (Elohiym) or deity. This is why 90% of the time that God is mentioned, it's the Hebrew word ELohiym (plural) but it's translated incorrectly as God instead of Gods, like below.
(2 Chronicles 2:12) Hiram also said, "Blessed be the LORD God[s] (ELohiym) of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son… Who made the heaven and earth; who is he praising? Not just the Father, not just the Son, but the ELohiym (Hebrew –Gods) of Israel which is both the Father and Son. They have the title of deities or Gods. So when we read in John 1:1 that “the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God”. We can see how it really is true that Jesus was both with God (deity) and is God (deity). In fact, we can see throughout Scripture that Jesus is now on the throne seated at the right hand of the Father. Not one, not three seated on the throne but two!
(Mark 16:19) So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Jesus is not the Father and they are not one God, they are as the Bible says Father and Son ruling and reining on their thrones, they are two. (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus …has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Stephen even says that Jesus is at the Fathers right hand. (Acts 7:55) But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (56) And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Once again if we forget what we’ve previously been taught by our churches and just believe what the Bible says; we would simply believe that our Father is on His throne and His son Jesus Christ is at His right hand.
Even more scriptural evidence against the Trinity and Oneness doctrine would be that Jesus said He was not good but only God was good. (Luke 18:19) So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. This is hard to explain why Jesus would say this if you believe Jesus to be God and God to be Jesus in the flesh. Harder yet to explain is why the Bible says that Jesus was not equal to God. (Philippians 2:5-7) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. How can a Trinity doctrine that says Jesus is co-equal to God be supported with a scripture that says they are not equal? How can a "Oneness doctrine" that says the Father and Son are really one God under the name of Jesus be supported when we see that Jesus is not equal to the Father? When combined with the other Scriptures we’ve looked at, they simply cannot explain this verse. Yet, we need another witness that would support this bold Scripture that Jesus did not count Himself equal to the Father. (Please note –King James Version reads “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”. This is completely opposite of what we just read; why is that? If you look at the original manuscripts from which the Bible was translated, robbery or the Greek word harpagmos, was not in the original, it was added to fit the translators doctrine! It does not fit the perfect numeric pattern and is deceptive to say the least. If the King James Version is true, we must have another witness in Scripture that Jesus considered Himself equal to God, yet we cannot find even one instance where Jesus says this.
We do though have another witness that Jesus considered the Father to be greater than himself. (John 14:28) Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. We just saw that Jesus was made or created in the form or likeness of God but did NOT think He was equal or could ever be equal to God the Father and now Jesus says that the Father is greater than He! Once again this Scripture directly contradicts what we've been taught about the relationship of Jesus and God the Father. (1 Cor 11:3) But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Yes, God is above Christ and the head over Him. Just as man is head over the woman and Christ is head over the man, God is Christ's head. This certainly does not line up with the Trinity doctrine that I was brought up with that teaches the Father and Son are co equal and one God. In fact, Satan is the only one I remember that wanted to be equal to God, so we must be very careful.
(Isaiah 14:12) "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (13) You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' (15) But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Yes, Satan is the only one who tried to make himself like the Most High God and now we are taught in our churches that the Son of God is like the Most High God. Yet, Scripture clearly says otherwise.
Continuing on our quest to find truth we see that Jesus was sent by the Father. (John 6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him. In order to be sent you must have another to send you. There’s a difference if you went somewhere versus if you were sent somewhere. If you were sent, it implies there is someone who sent you. If you went, then you do that of your own accord. It was not God the Father coming in the flesh as we are taught, it is what the Bible says; it was the Father who sent His created son Jesus. (John 13:16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. This has a double meaning as Jesus is talking about both His servants whom He sent out and Himself who was sent by the Father. (John 8:42) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. This Scripture is hard to explain if you believe that God the Father manifested Himself by coming down as God in the flesh (Jesus); in fact Jesus contradicts this manmade belief by saying that He came from God and not of His own accord but from God's. If Jesus really was God the Father manifested in the flesh, then He would be lying about not coming of His own accord. Yet, we know that Jesus does not lie and if you just believe what is written you would see that Jesus, God’s son, was sent by His Father.
Next we see that Jesus was sent not to do His own will but to do the Fathers will. (John 6:38) For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. Did you also realize that Jesus did nothing on His own and that everything He did was from the Father? (John 8:28) Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. Can you see the clear distinction between the Father and His Son? If you just believe what the Scripture says, you’ll understand more and more of their true relationship to each other. If you hold onto your past beliefs and understandings, you’ll just be more confused. Put your doctrine aside and let the Lord teach you.
Just look at what you’d believe if you took Scripture at face value. (Mark 1:10) And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. (11) Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Don’t try and explain this according to your man made doctrinal beliefs, just believe what it says, that the Father sent His spirit upon His Son and the Father spoke His approval about His Son, who was not God Himself but the firstborn of all creation. It's just so much easier if you simply believe that Jesus was the Son of God and not God Himself. Here is another time when the Father spoke to His son. (John 12:27-29) “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (28) Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”(29) Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” We see the son once again praying to His Father who is in heaven. If you hadn’t grown up with man’s teaching that says God the Father was manifested in the flesh of Jesus Christ (Oneness), then you'd simply believe what the Bible says, that this was the Father speaking to His son from heaven. If you believe Jesus and God are one, then wouldn't God really be talking to Himself? If you wouldn’t have grown up with the Trinity doctrine that says there is one God in three persons and that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh, then you would simply believe this was God the Father speaking to His son from heaven and not a separate part of Himself who was manifested in the flesh as Jesus. In other words you would believe the Father and son to be two completely different “persons” just as you are completely different from your earthly Father.
If you still believe Jesus to be God how do you explain this next passage? (Mark 13:26) Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (27) And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.(32) “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Earlier we read that Jesus could do nothing of Himself but only as the Father has taught Him. Now we see that Jesus didn’t even know the time of His second coming, but the Father only! How could Jesus have been God when Jesus didn’t know what the Father knew? How could Jesus be a co-equal part of the Godhead if He didn’t know what the Father knew?
After healing a crippled man, the disciples understood that Jesus wasn’t the Father. (Acts 3:12) So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate… Yes, Jesus was God’s Son, who was the Fathers servant sent to do His will, first in heaven and then on earth.
So far we’ve laid a solid foundation with many Scriptures that tell us that Jesus was the very first thing that God the Father created. We’ve seen in the creation story where there were two Gods that were present, the Father and the Son. We then saw that God is not a name but simply a title used for deity and most of the time it is used in the plural form of Gods. We saw that even the false gods used the same Hebrew title of gods or ELohiym. In the New Testament we’ve found that It was not the Father God who created the world but Jesus His son who created everything and He did it through the Fathers command. We also showed Scripture that says that Jesus was sent by His Father and that Jesus could not do His own will but only what the Father taught Him. We saw that Jesus said the Father is greater than He and that Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”. With that being said, any scriptural foundation is only as strong as its weakest link, how can we explain the Scriptures that say that Jesus and the Father are one? (John 10:30) I and the Father are one. This verse by itself, spoken from the very lips of our Savior could make the case that Jesus is God. Then we have this, (Deuteronomy 6:4) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God[s] (ELohiym), the LORD is one.(5) You shall love the LORD your God[s] (ELohiym) with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. If we wouldn’t have laid a foundation earlier, it would be very convincing to believe that Jesus really is God, just like this next verse. (John 14:7) “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also”. Here’s another convincing Scripture. (John 14:9,10) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
All these Scriptures are true, Jesus and the Father are one, but we must look beyond the letter and into the spirit. Here’s an example of Jesus praying to the Father. (John 17:11) And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. Jesus is praying to His Father to keep them in His name (Name - Greek is onoma which means nature and character). What is the Father's name or the Father's nature and what is His character? Holiness and love, that is God’s nature and character. If you were to be kept in the Fathers name, you would be HOLY for God’s nature and character is HOLY. We see that Jesus acknowledges that the Father has given Him that same name, "keep them in your name, which you have given me" which is God's nature and character of love and holiness. Then Jesus prays that the believers are one just like the Father and Son are one. They are one in name, which is the same nature and same character summed up in two words, HOLINESS and LOVE; Jesus goes on to pray in verse 21, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. How is it that you and I as believers can be one? How can we be one just as Jesus and the Father are one? We both have two separate bodies which can never be one, but we can be one in the same Spirit. Both Jesus and the Father have a separate body and we see the Father seated on the throne throughout the New Testament and even in the Old (see 1Kings 22:19, Ezekiel 1:26). God Himself said that we could not see His face and live, (Exodus 33:20) But He said, “You cannot see My face for no man shall see Me, and live.” God does have a face and a body just like Jesus His son. Yes they are two separate entities just like you and I. The Father and Son are one in spirit, one in the same nature, and character. Jesus continues His prayer to the Father. (John 17:22,23) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one. Jesus again unlocks the key as to how Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus and the Father are perfectly one in name, which is their nature, their character and authority. They are one in holiness; they are one with God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus is in His believers and God is in Jesus, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one”. That’s how Jesus is in the Father and are one, and that’s how we are in Christ and are one. It shouldn’t be hard for us to understand how God and Jesus are one in spirit because we are taught to be the same in Christ. (Romans 12:5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Galatians 3:28) Ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. We are one in Christ just as Jesus is one in the Father.
Next we read how the believers were one. (Acts 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (32) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul. These believers were one just as Jesus had prayed that they would be one, just as God and Jesus were one. They were not one of their own accord but they were one in the Fathers Spirit, which is in Jesus and in His believers; they were of one heart and soul. That’s why Jesus said that there is none good but one. (Luke 18:19) So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. How could Jesus Christ who knew no sin, say that He is not good, and that only God is good? Just as you and I don’t have a righteousness of our own, neither does God's Son. All that Jesus has is from the Father. Jesus’ goodness and righteousness is from the only one who is good and holy and that’s God the Father. We get our righteousness from Christ, and His righteousness is from the Father. Jesus was created in God’s image and in His likeness. (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15-17). That’s why Jesus doesn’t claim to be good, because He was created and His goodness is only from His Father, just like we were created and our righteousness comes only from Christ.
Now let’s look who they said Jesus was in the Scriptures.
Who did God say Jesus was? When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”(Luke 3:21-22)
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. (Luke 9:34-36)
Who did Jesus say that He was? For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18)
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” (John 9:35-37)
Who did the Angels say Jesus was? And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David… And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:32,35)
Who did the demons say Jesus was? And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known. (Mark 3:11)
And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” (Mark 5:7)
Who did the disciples say Jesus was? Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)
Who did the disciple Peter say Jesus was? When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)
Who did the disciple Mark say Jesus was? The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)
Who did the disciple Nathan say Jesus was? Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49)
Who did the disciple John say Jesus was? And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1John 4:14-15)
Who did the Apostle Paul say Jesus was? Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. (Colossians 1:3)
Who did Philip and the eunuch say Jesus was? Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)
Who did John the Baptist say Jesus was? “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34)
Who did Martha say Jesus was? She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27)
While Jesus is often called the Son of God in the Bible, nobody in the first century ever thought of him as being ‘God the Son’. In fact if you look at almost every single New Testament book after the Gospels you will notice they all start by addressing God separate from Jesus. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) Please notice that how the Father and the Son are addressed as two separate beings. Even more interesting is how Peter addresses the relationship of Jesus to His Father. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… (1 Peter1:3) No, Jesus is not God the Son, He is what the Scriptures say and that is the Son of God.
(John 14:7) “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also and from now on you know Him and have seen Him". Yes, Jesus was created in the very image of the Father, that’s how they had seen the Father and that's how they would have known the Father. (8) Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” (9) Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? Again you have two individuals, Father and Son that are one in the same Spirit, Jesus in the Father and the Father in Jesus. Just like we are "IN CHRIST JESUS" and Jesus is in us. "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works". Jesus neither speaks nor does His own works but the Father's Spirit who dwells in Jesus is the one who does this! It's the same of mature believers as they do works in the Lord. It's not us and our works but Christ doing His works in us. We don't claim anything to be of our power anymore than Jesus claimed that His power and authority came from the Father. (11) Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Can you see how the Father's relationship with His Son mirrors our relationship with Jesus?
As we begin to understand the relationship between God the Father and His Son, realizing that Jesus is not God the Father after all, we must be careful not to feel that Jesus has somehow lost the power we once attributed to Him. Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords! A good analogy of the relationship of the Father and Son would be that since Scripture says they are both Gods (ELohiym) meaning Deity or Royalty, The Father is the King who has turned His kingdom over to His Son the Prince. This Prince has all the authority of the King and everything the Prince does; He does in the name of His Father the King. (1 Cor 15:23) ...Christ’s at His coming. (24) Then comes the end, when He (King Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He (King Jesus) must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet… (27) For “He has put all things under His feet...”(28) Now when all things are made subject to Him (King Jesus), then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him (God the Father) who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. This Scripture really explains what God’s plan was and how the Father is still sitting on His throne while He has His son Jesus ruling and reigning with all the authority and power that the Father has. When Christ comes back and His enemies are under His feet, then Jesus will set up His Kingdom and then hand it over to the Father. What a beautiful picture this is!
Holy Spirit
Hopefully you’re starting to see with your spiritual eyes about the true relationship between the Father and His Son Jesus, but what about the Holy Spirit? I was raised with a church doctrine that taught that the Holy Spirit was the third “Person” of the Trinity; co-equal and co-existing with the Father and the Son. We have already dispelled the manmade myth that God and Jesus are co-equal and coexistent, so what about the Holy Spirit, what or who is it, and what does the Bible really say about it?
The first problem we run into is that there are only two places in the Old Testament that we see the words “Holy Spirit” mentioned. (Psalm 51:11) Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Does this sound like the third person of the trinity, separate and equal part of the Godhead or is it merely God’s spirit? (Isaiah 63:10,11) But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit ... Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit. Does this last mention of the Holy Spirit sound like a separate entity of the Godhead or simply God’s Spirit? Notice the ownership when it says His Holy Spirit and not the Holy Spirit. It is what it says, it’s God’s Spirit, it is His Holy Spirit. That is the last time in the Old Testament we see God’s Spirit called the “Holy Spirit”. Yet we do see many references to the "spirit of God" and "God’s spirit". (Exodus 31:1) ...The LORD said to Moses, (2) "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, (3) and I have filled him with the Spirit of God.
(Exodus 35:30) Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; (31) and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship.
(Numbers 24:2) And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, (3) and he took up his discourse and said…
(1 Samuel 10:10) When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. So far what we see in the Old Testament is not a separate "third person" of the trinity called the "Holy Spirit" but simply the Spirit of God.
We know that God is spirit. (John 4:24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth". Yet we’ve seen earlier that the Father is seated on His throne and that He has a body and a face that no one has seen, and if you do see it, you’ll die. We also know that God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere and He knows everything. Is it the Fathers body that’s everywhere or is it His Spirit that’s everywhere and omnipresent? If His body were everywhere, then you wouldn’t be able to see anything for it would fill the earth; the Father’s body would be in all places, right in front of your eyeballs. It is God’s Spirit that is everywhere; it’s the Fathers Spirit that is omnipresent. (Psalm 139:7) Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? (8) If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (9) If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, (10) even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Let’s read some more about the Holy Spirit to try and understand what it is and how it worked even before Christ came in the flesh. (Numbers 11:25) Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it…(29) But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" Doesn’t God have a spirit and is it not His spirit that this Scripture is talking about? Throughout the book of Judges we see the Spirit of the Lord coming upon His servants. Here are some excerpts of Judges. The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel…But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon… Then the Spirit of the LORD was upon Jephthah…And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him…Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat… And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him… Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire. Is the spirit of the Lord a third person of the Trinity or simply what the Bible says; the spirit of the Lord?
(1 Samuel 16:13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (14) Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul… Does this sound like what our “religion” teaches us of a co-equal third person of the Trinity; or does it seem like this is simply the Spirit of our Father? Notice this next verse in Isaiah when it seems to be Jesus speaking and says that the Father sent Him and His Spirit.(Isaiah 48:16) Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there." And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Jesus, even before He came in the flesh says that God the Father sent Him and God the Father sent HIS Spirit. God did not send a separate entity or co-equal part of the Trinity called the Holy Spirit. He simply did as the Bible says, He sent His Spirit. Let’s read other promises of God sending His Spirit.
(Ezekiel 36:25) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. So now we see the promise of the Holy Spirit that we read about in the New Testament. It’s not some new co-equal “person” called the Holy Spirit that was to come, but it was simply God’s Spirit that He would put into His believers.
(John 15:26) "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. Wow! Please read this again…If we don’t fall back on our religious teaching about who or what the Holy Spirit is, then we can read that the Helper comes from the Father, that it is the Spirit of truth who Proceeds from the Father. Not a separate entity that has been waiting patiently in heaven for “His” turn to do God’s work. This is just what the Bible says, it’s God’s Spirit. Please compare these next two Scriptures.
(Romans 8:11) If the Spirit of him [God] who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you…
(1 Thessalonians 1:9) ...to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he [God] raised from the dead.
As we read the Scriptures above, we have two accounts of who raised Jesus from the dead. One is attributed to the Spirit of God and the other is attributed to God Himself. You can’t have it both ways unless they are one in the same. The Holy Spirit is simply God’s Spirit, God in spirit form; not a separate part of God that's helping the Father, it’s simply what the Bible says it is; the Spirit of God. For more truth let’s compare these next two Scriptures.
(Matthew 10:19) When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. (20) For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
(Luke 12:11) And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, (12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Read them both again, one Scripture attributes the “Holy Spirit” as the one that will speak through you while the other says it’s the “Spirit of your Father” as the one who will speak through you. Can it be any clearer as to what the Holy Spirit is? Truly it is God's spirit and not another separate "person" of the Godhead.
Look at this next Scripture, do you notice anything missing? (1 John 1:3) That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. Why is the Holy Spirit missing here? Because we worship two, Father and Son and the Holy Spirit is simply God’s omnipresent Spirit, it is the Father’s Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 13:14) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. This is how we have that fellowship with the Father and the Son, by the Father’s Holy Spirit which was prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel.(Ezekiel 36:26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Just like it says, God’s Spirit is in you!
(Luke 12:10) “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. Why is blaspheme against Jesus forgiven and not the Holy Spirit? Because Jesus even though He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He is not God the Father but His son. Now blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is blaspheme against God Himself and this will not be forgiven. Once again we can see that difference between the Father and the Son. Jesus is not God and Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. I think we can stop with our scriptural evidence on the Holy Spirit. There are so many Scriptures to prove our point that we can’t even begin to list them all.
Where Did the Trinity Doctrine come from?
As we have seen so far, the trinity doctrine cannot be supported by scripture; so where did the teachings of the Trinity come from? The simple answer would be the Roman Catholic Church. The longer answer is that the modern belief in the trinity originated in the 4th century at the Council of Nicaea in approximately 325 C.E. Constantine, the Roman Emperor and an adherent to paganism, presided over the Council. Its main purpose was to unite the Roman Empire by achieving agreement on Christian doctrine. This would promote a universal consolidation within the church.
Constantine instituted a mandatory belief in the trinity and the Nicene Creed had taken hold. All who did not believe in the trinity doctrine were persecuted and killed. Every available instrument of torture was used on the “nonbeliever.” The Nicene Creed has since been amended, but it is still read today in many of the Protestant and Catholic churches. Those churches that associate themselves with the World Council of Churches now require belief in the trinity doctrine.
What is interesting is that we find that all Pagan religions from the time of Babylon have adopted in one form or another a Trinity doctrine or a triad of gods. In Babylon it was Nimrod, Semiramas, and Tammuz. In Egypt it was Osiris, Isis, and Horus. Within Israel paganism it was Kether, Hokhmah, and Binah. In Plato's philosophy it was the Unknown Father, Nous/Logos, and the world soul. The Greek triad was composed of Zeus, Athena and Apollo. These three were said by the pagans to 'agree in one.'
Now you know where the real teaching of the “trinity” started. Not from the Holy Scriptures but pegan worship.
Conclusion
In review of our discussion on the relationship of who the Father is compared to His Son and the Holy Spirit, I hope you can lay down what you’ve been taught and simply believe what the Scriptures say. If you hold more respect for what your church teaches than you do the Word of God, you will be held responsible. If you love the truth, you’ll research this topic to see if what the Lord has spoken to my heart is really true. Stay tuned to the Master’s Plan part two where we’ll be taking a closer look at what the name of our God really is and if we can find Jesus interacting with man throughout the Old Testament.
God bless,
Mark, a servant of the Lord
www.HeavensHelpers.org
Questions/Feedback - email me: mark@heavenshelpers.org
