FINALLY THE TRINITY UNDERSTOOD!!!!

Well, let me qualify that statement. I understand the Trinity and I will teach it to you so you can also understand it when God changes physics to allow iron to sharpen iron, in the mean time I will attempt to explain my understanding with the hope that you will consider it.

Suppose I am on a journey and I happen on a pond. In the middle of the pond is a large rock and on that rock is a Bible. It is resting on it’s tail and tailcap. I can not get to the Book to examine it closely, so I do the next best thing. I begin to walk around the pond and examine it from all angles. First it looks about 8×10 and it is red with the words The Holy Bible written on it. As I walk to my right my view changes and it looks slightly less than 2 inches wide, though it still seems as tall. The color has changed to white with two vertical red lines on each side. Then as I progress to a view opposite my first the view has changed again. Now the Book looks as though it is similar to my first view and yet there is nothing printed on it. So I continue and then the Book seems to change and it looks like the second time I viewed it, however it is all red with The Holy Bible printed on it vertically!

You see all of the views were correct and many arguments have resulted between Christians about their own views. The trick, if you want to call it that, to understanding the Bible is to view it from all angles, because even though your view may be absolutely correct you may lean more by viewing it from a different angle. I have viewed the Bible from many angles and this is how I see it now. If you see it differently then how is it different and can our two views eventually harmonize and result in a better understanding?

Christianities concept of God has led to many problems with understanding God. We are told that there is only one God and yet we are also told that Melchizedek was without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life and that can only mean that he is God. Then we are told about the Holy Spirit which also seems as though He is God and there are verses that seem to say Jesus is God!

When we are baptized properly, we are buried with what seems to be three Gods: Father, son, and Holy Spirit. But if there is only one God and there is, because Scripture can neither be wronged nor changed, then there is a problem with saying that, “The Trinity is the union of three divine persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one God.” That is the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of “Trinity” and what those who do not understand believe. We should be ashamed of ourselves when we teach something that even demons know is not true (James 2:19).

Now I do not have to tell you there is a problem, because you already know there is. Those who believe the Trinity to be three persons are quick to say that we as humans can not understand everything about God to defend their position, but actually the Bible does not make either claim. It does not say there are three persons of God, nor does it say that we can not know everything about God. We really can know and understand everything about God. Look what the Bible says about this (John 14:26 NIV)  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Rom 8:32 NIV)  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  (1 Cor 2:10-12 NIV) “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” You see we can know and understand even the thoughts of God. (I didn’t say it. I only pointed out that the Bible said it.)

When God says that we are given the Holy Spirit to teach us all things I believe He means all things Spiritual. Not all things about this world. Things about this world are interesting, but they will all pass away, so things of this world are not really important in the grand scheme of God’s plan.

I search Scripture in order to understand it completely and exactly. Not too long ago I wrote a post that said Melchizedek was the Holy Spirit. Well that was only partially correct. Something that is only partially correct can lead to confusion rather than clarity.

So because I see clearer now let me explain just how I understand at this time. Perhaps I will understand better in the future and if I do, and it is God’s will, I will attempt to explain again.

Suppose you met me some time ago and we have walked and talked together many times. You have become accustomed to the sound of my voice and of course you would immediately know me if you met me face to face, but even if you just heard me speak you would know it was me.

Now suppose that one day that you were standing close to your front door and I opened it just far enough to slide my hand around it. Though it is me, you do not know who it is until you hear my voice. You saw my hand clearly and yet you did not understand that it was my hand, or said a slightly different way you saw me and because you did not yet understand everything, you did not know it was me.

(Rom 12:4 NIV)  “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function.” My hand is one of my members and because it is part of my physical body and you can see that it is, you know it to be true. We are all made in the image of God and if we have many members then doesn’t it stand to reason that God also has many members? God is Spirit and because Spirit is different than flesh then doesn’t it make sense that God’s members are different than our own?

If God would stand in Heaven and slide one of His Members around to earth so that we could see it and it looked like a man, would we understand that it was a Member of God? We would if He told us, because we know His voice: and He did tell us! (Heb 7:1-3 NIV)   “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.” This could only be God. Yet not all of God, because Moses was told by God, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” and Moses did not die. Well, he didn’t die right then.

Would God be his own priest? Well, who else is more qualified? If a priest is someone that represents God then isn’t God the ultimate Priest? Did God appear early in His plan to claim His tithe? Or did He appear to declare He would Give 90% of what He owned to man? The better I know Him the more I understand how wonderful He is!!!

When I first thought about the members of my body I only considered my appendages, but my mind is real and a member of myself. If you have read my post on the Trinity you know that I view the Holy Spirit as the mind of God and Jesus as His arm. That is not something that I made up, but it comes from my understanding of God thru His Word. “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11). (1 Cor 2:16 NIV)  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

(Psa 98:1 NIV) “A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” We know that it was Jesus through which salvation came, but Jesus was a man. So how can both be true? I view Jesus as God’s own hand with a glove over it. Jesus, the man, was that glove. (John 14:10 NIV) “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” When we look at Jesus from a man’s perspective we see a glove, but we do not understand it is God inside the glove. This only comes after much study. I take nothing away from my savior because Jesus did not have to allow himself to be sacrificed, but did so out of his own free will.

To conclude it seems to me that we do great damage to the plan of God by preaching the Trinity as three persons of God when they are three parts, or Members of God. It alienates both Jews and Muslims and even those that try to teach it claim we can not understand it. At least that is right: either God is one person or He is three persons and He, who is the authority, says that He is one. (Rom 3:30, 1 Cor 8:6, Eph 4:6, 1 Tim 2:5, & James 2:19)

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN II?

I stopped writing about belief in the first post when I got to governments. It seems that many people in this world believe in governments. Most of my Christian brothers in this country believe in this government. Just before the Forth of July every church that I have attended has a service devoted to this country. I have to stay home that Sunday because they exalt this country and those who founded it. If they would only apply Romans 13:1&2 to this country there would be no celebration!

 

This country was formed in rebellion to God and the Founding Fathers lead that rebellion!

 

I anger my brothers when I point this out! Shouldn’t they be glad they understand, instead of mad?

 

When I realized this country was formed in rebellion to God it freed me to think about and understand all governments. Here is something that can not be understood with out spending a lot of time with the Spirit that lives in all Christians. Those that do not have the Spirit can not even begin to understand this.

 

All governments are an abomination to God.

 

After spending much time trying to understand everything about God that is possible for me to understand I realized this. The God that made everything that there is wants to be the One that takes care of us. He wants to lead us and He wants to be the ultimate authority in each one of our lives. In other words God wants to be our government. That is what governments try to do, but the problem is governments are controlled by men and men have their own wants and desires and they put them first. God has no selfish motives (He already owns everything) so only God is able to govern in our best interest. When God chose a people to reveal Himself to the world He lead them through the desert, fed them with manna, and clothed them (their clothing did not wear out). And after all of that they wanted a “man” as their country’s ultimate authority: just like we do! Well there is one difference, Israel wanted God to choose their authority and we want to choose the authorities ourselves.

 

Think about this form of government with truth guiding your thoughts. We are told and we tell others that we are free and that the people control the government. Is that really true? As I understand Democracy the only power the people have is to vote some man or woman into an office of authority, after that we must live with that man’s decisions. To put it as Spiritually plain as I can we choose a “man” as our master. How do you think that makes our Heavenly Father feel?

 

I know that Christians say “Pray to God so He will guide you when you vote”, but does He? Do you hear a voice that says vote for Mr. Right? If you think that He guided your choice without an audible sign then did you always vote for the winner? Do you know who God will choose so that you can vote for them?

 

Surely you can see that you do not control what happens. After you choose a “man” to be your master you have no more say in the matter. You might say it is wrong to reward those who have stolen so much from the people that it has bankrupted the whole nation, but you can not really do anything about it. Legally you can only lament about it and tell each other to vote the “man” out of office, but you can not change a thing. The “man” you vote into office the next time will do worse things to you.

 

I will go no farther pointing out the flaws in this government. Instead let me say a few words about governments and the book of Revelation.

 

(Rev 12:3 NIV)  Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.

 

We know that the Dragon is Satan (Verse 9) and we should also know that the seven heads are symbolic. The number seven is symbolic of something that is complete.

But in this case I believe it is also symbolic of governments.

 

There are seven basic forms of governments. What seems like other forms are mixtures of the seven (Boy I’m going to get augments on that statement).

 

Monarchy – rule or the power of government in the hands of an individual who has inherited the role and expects to bequeath it to the descendants.
Despotism - the form of rule wherein a single leader rules the entire population and all his or her subjects are considered to be his or her slaves.
Dictatorship – rule by an individual without hereditary succession, who has complete power over the country.
Oligarchy – the form of government where a small group has the power to govern or rule.
Plutocracy – a form of government, which is run by the rich.
Democracy – a form of government, which allows people to choose the representatives amongst themselves who are given the rights to govern.
Communist – a form of Government in which the state is governed by a one-party system.
Theocracy – a form of government, which implies rule by a religious elite.

 

There are also horns, and crowns that are spoken of and the beast that comes out of the sea has the same number of heads and horns, but three more crowns.

 

I think that I will stop here and let you think about what I have said so far and then I will write a post about what I think the horns, crowns and the two beasts mean.

NOTHING MAKES SENSE WITHOUT FREEWILL

I might add that everything makes sense with free will. Pick the subject that would keep anyone from believing and view it as if we have free will and it is obvious that we (mankind) are responsible for it.

 

Sin abounds in this world and if we have no free will then God would be responsible for it. It is sin that separates us from God. If there is no free will then it is God that separates us from Him by making us sin. Those who understand God know He would not do such a thing.

 

There are those who say “I can not believe in God because a loving God would not allow war”, but God must allow war, because if He stopped it no one had the right or power to sin in that way. The fact that man goes to war proves free will: just as any sin proves free will.

 

We pray that God will stop sin, especially when someone is sinning against us, but with a little thought it can be seen that God has tied His own hands and can not stop sin without ending this age.

 

I believe that it is right to pray that sin be stopped, however I think we should always add that we want God’s will to be done. There are more sinners that God knows will turn to Him and therefore He does not end this age.

 

Pick your sin, any sin, murder, theft, even child abuse and if you apply free will to it you can see that God cannot completely stop it without removing the power to commit it.

 

It is God’s plan that we have the power to sin. He did not prevent Eve from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, though it cursed all of mankind. Unfortunately all sin hurts others as well as the one that sins: which is one of the reasons that God hates sin.

 

Consider these two verses. (Exo 32:33 NIV)  The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book” and though I usually quote from the NIV it seems to me that the KJV says this better, (Mat 18:7 KJV) Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

 

It may seem a dichotomy, but I am not saying God can not stop sin. If you believe that God can do anything then stopping sin would not be beyond His abilities. I just don’t think it would be in His will.

 

Right now we face a great depression and life will not be as easy as it was. It will help if we can keep in mind that it was the greed of the rich that has caused it and if we are adversely affected it is not God’s fault. It is time to remember what God has done for us and to know these problems will not last forever. After theses times we will live forever happy.

 

Now we need to feel sorry for the rich and pray for them, because they are the ones who are really poor: poor in spirit and that is true poverty.

FROM MY SIDE OF THE TABLE

Picture a Bible study. The study consists of a square table with a student at each side. Al is on the north side, Bob on the east, Chuck on the south, and Dave on the west side. All of the students have tunnel vision. Sitting with each student is an instructor. These instructors look uncannily alike and sitting so close to their perspective students they are almost invisible.

 

A Bible is set on end in the middle of the table at eye level. The front of the Bible faces Al and they begin to explain to one and another what each man sees. Because each man suffers from tunnel vision they see only what is directly in front of them. Al sees only the front cover, Bob looks directly into the right edge of the Book, Chuck sees the back of the Book, and Dave looks at the binding of the Book.

 

Al begins after consulting with his instructor and he says, I see an object that is red in color, approximately 12 inches tall, 9 inches wide, and it has Holy Bible printed on it in a Gold color. After consulting with his instructor Bob says, although you are correct about the height of the object the width is only about two inches”. It is red only on the outer edges and white in the middle. Chuck agrees with Al about the size and color, but he says there are no words printed on it. Dave agrees with Bob on the size, but not the color, and he agrees with Al about the printing.

 

You can see that each man is correct about what he sees and if you gain any understanding from my writing I hope it is this, that is possible to be correct about what you see and yet even more correct if you view the same question from a different angle. Viewing a question from a different angle may change what you thought you already knew.

 

Even though the views of the men at the table are different, they are all 100% correct about what they see and yet not one of them fully understands that it is a book and will not until they change seats and views with their peers. 

 

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the instructors are all the same person, they represent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can only answer the questions which are asked. If you are one of the students at the table and only ask your instructor if what you see is true, and it is true, He can only answer yes, but if you ask if one of the other students is correct the answer could also be yes.

 

The only way each man could fully understand what is on the table is to move to another side of the table and look at the Bible from that perspective. Combine that view, or information, with his previous view, and then move again until he has seen the Bible from all four views. Of course the next step would be to actually open the Bible and begin to study God’s word.

 

I have been moving around many tables studying the Bible, trying the view from other sides. Now I try to tell you about the view from my side of the table and how I see from your angle also (if I do see from your angle).

 

Think about what I write here and I believe you will see at least one subject differently when you view it from my side of the table. I believe you will be surprised and amazed at the view from another’s side. I know I have been when the Holy Spirit has revealed a fresh new way of viewing or understanding something which I thought I already knew, by allowing me to see it from another side of the table.

 

I have a few disclaimers and I would like to state. First and foremost, if you see any wisdom or insight in this blog it is from God and if you see any mistakes I will assume credit for them. After all I should get credit for something! Shouldn’t I?

 

Second I am only a student, not a teacher, and I write this blog for other students, not for teachers (Unless they are honest enough to admit that they too are students). The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). I have heard this verse quoted many times by those who work in the Ministry. There are exceptions, but as a rule Ministers do not work with their hands. It seems most of them think the verse means one man can sharpen another man. However, it may come as a surprise, but iron doesn’t sharpen iron. You do not sharpen a knife with a knife, nor an axe with another axe and you can’t sharpen iron with iron. (You don’t tug on superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t take the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and you don’t mess around with Slim)

 

So take what I say with a grain of salt, but don’t just assume that I am wrong; though I certainly can be. Please tell me if from your view, my view looks wrong. Perhaps I have not explained my view very well. But above all let all of us quell our pride of “knowing it all” (because we don’t).

HOW SHOULD WE FAST?

Well, I have to laugh. It seems as though I am always asking a question and then answering it for everyone. The truth is I am giving the answer that seems correct to me and I try to use the Bible to find my answer. If your answer is different from mine that is fine, because I am only human and all humans are flawed (Don’t forget that you are also human).

 

Fasting use to be a problem for me. I didn’t understand how or why going without food for some period of time would help my walk with God. Then I found Isaiah Chapter 58 and God explanation of fasting: what He meant it to be.

 

(Isa 58:5 NIV)  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

Is this not the same as going without food for a day?

 

The very next two verses explain what God wants a fast to be. (Isa 58:6&7 NIV)  “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

 

Fasting is to go without something for a reason. If it is food that one chooses to go without then use that food to feed the hungry. If you do not give it away isn’t it still there in your refrigerator waiting for you when your fast is over? What did you really give up? I might add (I’m always adding; aren’t I) God didn’t say totally abstain from food. He said share it with the hungry.

THOSE “Bodies” EXHIBITS!!!

I read an article in the Sunday paper about the “Bodies” exhibits. There are a few things that no one is pointing out about those exhibits that really bother me.

One thing is even if you did not want your children to see the gross displays, because of all the ads, TV commercials and shows like 20/20 they can’t help but see them. The ones they show in the ads must be the most gross of them all. I can not imagine any way to make them even a bit more macabre.

I read in another article that the bodies were unclaimed for at least 4 years. My immediate thought was “Who keeps unclaimed bodies for four years?” Then I wondered how a body could be posed after 4 years.

The process as I understand it is the silicone is injected, the body is posed, and then it hardens. The only way that is possible is for the body to be treated immediately after death, when it is still supple enough to be posed. Then I am supposed to believe it is kept 4 years for someone to claim? After someone invests in the process they wait for someone else to claim the “product”? Who would have the authority to defile a body that is unclaimed even before it has stiffened from rigor mortis? Don’t quote me, but I believe rigor mortis is complete in about 12 hours.

Then I question who has the right to authorize the display of a body in this manner at all. Everyone in the family including the deceased would have to agree. I have been alive long enough to know that is not possible. These “Bodies” are not mannequins, but real people with real sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. I can not even imagine a mother giving permission to display her child in such a manner, or a child giving permission to display their mother, or father. It should be obvious that consent would not be given whether the body is claimed or not.

Don’t we have laws against publicly displaying sexual organs? Is “art” the magic word that changes everything? Can a flasher claim “art” as a defense? Or “education”? Isn’t the one who displays a sexual organ to the unsuspecting child as guilty as any flasher? Where are those who are suppose to enforce the law and protect the citizens? Can’t we, at the very least, protect the children! Parents are encouraged to bring children to view this atrocity! And they do!!!

I can picture the flasher standing before a judge saying “But your honor, it is “art” and merely for the education of the child”. Whereupon the judge replies, “I don’t doubt you when you say it is “art”. After all, the only requirement for defining “art” is the word of the artist. And I don’t doubt that it was educational for the child, though not beneficial, but you have committed a grievous offense against society. Don’t you understand that no one made any money from your display? I’m going to have to give you six months to think about this so you can learn how to make money from your “art”; like those wonderful museums and promoters”.

Well, it is a stretch to imagine a judge, or anyone else being that honest or understanding, but I don’t understand how anyone could be fairly prosecuted for exposing themselves or defacing a body after these displays.

No sooner than I wrote this than it occurred to me that if someone would gather a group of flashers, dress them in designer coats, place them in a museum, and call it art that they could, not only get away with flashing, but get paid for it!!! Can’t you just picture the ads? The side view of a flasher with his coat almost fully extended and women and children standing in front of him with their eyes wide, and an occasional ooh and ah. It could be called “The art of the uncommon man”. I could think of some funnier names, but I have already gone too far with this.

If you are laughing and I hope you are, don’t laugh to hard. If I described “Bodies” just a few years ago you would have been just as amused and unbelieving that it could really happen as you are of “The art of the uncommon man”.

I believe the “Bodies” exhibit proves beyond a doubt that some will do absolutely anything for a buck (That other master) and also that others will ignore any moral code in order to satisfy a morbid curiosity.

The “law of the land” has evolved into one rule. That is, anything that consenting adults want to do should be allowed. Those who sin do so because they want to. If everyone sets their own standards for what is right or wrong, because it is what they want to do, then there is no standard. Many before me have made this observation. I am just pointing out that the “Bodies” exhibit is proof of the problem; because some adults consent all children are abused.

Because we all come from Adam and Eve these people are related to me and I have not given, or would I give my consent for this atrocity. I might add that God is the Father of everyone and I am quite sure He has neither given His approval, nor is He amused with this “art” and “education”.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT IF TWO AGREE ABOUT ANYTHING, IT WILL BE DONE FOR THEM?

Matthew 18:19 NIV says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”

If you interpret this verse literally as two Christians agreeing about anything, it does not prove true. I believe that the entire Bible is perfect. If this verse could be taken as any two Christians agreeing about something that the outcome would be guaranteed and it worked, then we would all be rich. If you think otherwise you have forgotten our basic nature.

Picture two people agreeing that each should be driving an expensive car. We want the best for our brothers, don’t we? I could do without the car but my brother loves me and he wants me to have it! I think you can see that it wouldn’t be too hard to twist the meaning of the verse to our worldly advantage.

It wouldn’t be any stretch of imagination to picture two individuals realizing that on this earth it takes money to spread the word: because it does. When you factor in human nature it would only be logical that if they prayed for money and Matthew 18:19 was correct then God would pour out that money.

I believe that this logic is so close to correct it confuses many. There are preachers that preach this very idea. The problem is that it leaves out the Spirit of God. The Bible states, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty”. (Money is power) In stead of asking God for money to spread the Word I think it would be better to ask that He give us what ever it takes and leave it up to Him to supply it. It will take money sometimes, but other times it might take something other than money. The Church might need a more enthusiastic leader, or a gift of land, or something that is not apparent at all.

I wonder if anyone else has realized that because the Spirit of God lives in us we are always two! If you are in the wilderness, or in a crowd, you are never alone. Now if you can convince the Spirit of God that you need an expensive car then you will have it. There might be some situations where such a car would be necessary, or for some other reason that God would give one to a person, so don’t judge it wrong if you see your brother driving one. I am only using a car as an example; it could be any item of luxury. Don’t take me wrong. If God grants you wealth then enjoy it. When I consider 1 Sam 2:7 I think it would be an insult to God not to.

I would write some more on the subject, but I need the time to convince my Spirit that I really need a new Ferrari. Will somebody agree with me? (I’d settle for a Vet)