How do you reconcile the first Commandment with the trinity?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
E

evyaniy

Guest
#81
Why did the Son have to return to the Father before the Spirit would come?

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
1,589
794
113
#82
I don't understand the trinity and I don't need to.
BINGO!!!! "Denominational Theologians", however, earn their living by making up theories about unimportant stuff like this.

The Bible is DEFINITE that there"s ONE GOD - PERIOD, and Jesus refers to "Father" "Son" and "Holy Spirit", but doesn't provide any "scientific explanations" so your observation is absolutely accurate. I don't need to understand either.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,099
113
#83
I strongly suspect that the supreme being has no personal identity by which
He might be addressed when spoken to by even His closest friends and/or
relatives.


The Word-- depicted by John 1:1-18- has released quite a bit of information
about God, but to my knowledge has yet to release His personal identity.


* Speaking of the supreme being's relatives: this is something that's nigh
unto impossible for me for me to fully comprehend.


At one time I was in grave danger of every man's worst nightmare; whereas
today I'm actually in God's genealogy, i.e. listed among His posterity, and in
line for an inheritance alongside His one and only begotten son by the
process of adoption; which is a process that not only gives kids inheritance
rights, but also the right to become identified with their new father.


"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God" (1John 3:1)


Christians are sometimes thought of as foster children, but foster kids have
no right to identify with the father in a foster home, and certainly no right to
a position in his family tree, nor a right to inherit.


There was a time when the Son was an only child, but now he's
accompanied by a horde of siblings.


"Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (Heb 2:13)

I was baptized an infant into the Catholic church and anon completed
enough catechism for First Holy Communion and Confirmation-- never once
did the instructors even so much as hint that it was possible to associate
with the supreme being as His kin folk; real honest to gosh family tied to
Him forever by the bonds of adoption. (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5)
_
My earthly father had a Christian name. I dared not call him that as I grew up in a time when children were disciplined and showed respect to parents. Just because I did not call him "Charles", his name, made no difference to my relationship with him. No one outside of the family called him "dad" because that would have been weird. That God has no "Christian" name, so to speak, is irrelevant. Even in my 50's, before dad passed away, he was still "dad". We still call God "our Father" if we are born again. That's because He is our father.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,099
113
#84
We know, whenever we SEE God, like how the People of the Old Testament saw the LORD [YHWH = MOST HIGH GOD], to Yahweh, to the Angel Jacob wrestled with and knew it was God, and then the New Testament with Jesus, is ALWAYS, the FATHER through the WORD, revealing Himself.

In Every literal Case, when we see a Physical Body Representation of the Father, it comes by way of humans actually looking at the WORD.

Even in the Destruction of Sodom, we see the LORD reigned down upon from the LORD in Heaven. The term LORD here, MOST HIGH GOD [YHWH] is the SAME PERSON for the LORD on Earth and the LORD in Heaven. We know, this is the WORD and the FATHER. But, we also know, the LORD here, is saying the SAME PERSON LORD is in 2 Places doing ONE ACTION.

It's almost, since we absolutely KNOW that GOD is SPIRIT, when He makes contact with us, He does it in the Flesh as the WORD.

I can see how people just think this is ONE God as SPIRIT manifest Himself into Flesh. Because, the BIBLE literally shows us this example over and over and over.

I think it's best us modern day trinitarians, which, does not reflect even closely to how either the 325 AD nor the 385 AD explains the Trinity, need to rethink our own position here. the Modern Version is actually an act and form of Heresy when compared to the literal Creeds.

I am not saying anything against our Triune God, but, I am saying, I don't think Today's Modern explanation is Biblical at all.

Just a bunch of Pharisees screaming 3 PEOPLE!

Bible, doesn't even say that anywhere. And when it does explain how the FATHER deals with His Creation, it's always through the WORD. Which can easily be presented as a question: the Father is Spirit, the WORD is Spirit and Flesh. The Father DWELLS in the WORD doing the WORKS. I am merely pointing out, this seems a lot closer than it being between a Father and Son.
This whole conversation is overblown. Jesus is God in the flesh, God the Father is Spirit, God the Holy Spirit is Christ in a form that we can receive. Jesus explained it perfectly: "I and the Father are one". "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father". Christ is the visible image of the visible God. And so on.

I don't understand it. Who can "understand" God? I accept without understanding.
 

613

New member
Aug 17, 2023
27
6
3
#85
The first verse of the Shema, a Hebrew prayer is "Hear oh Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one." The prayer comes from two book of the Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41. In the New Covenant there is just more of Yahweh to love. This is a guess, perhaps it is in the wording, what about one G-d in three persons? Blessings
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,099
113
#86
I strongly suspect that the supreme being has no personal identity by which
He might be addressed when spoken to by even His closest friends and/or
relatives.


The Word-- depicted by John 1:1-18- has released quite a bit of information
about God, but to my knowledge has yet to release His personal identity.


* Speaking of the supreme being's relatives: this is something that's nigh
unto impossible for me for me to fully comprehend.


At one time I was in grave danger of every man's worst nightmare; whereas
today I'm actually in God's genealogy, i.e. listed among His posterity, and in
line for an inheritance alongside His one and only begotten son by the
process of adoption; which is a process that not only gives kids inheritance
rights, but also the right to become identified with their new father.


"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God" (1John 3:1)


Christians are sometimes thought of as foster children, but foster kids have
no right to identify with the father in a foster home, and certainly no right to
a position in his family tree, nor a right to inherit.


There was a time when the Son was an only child, but now he's
accompanied by a horde of siblings.


"Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (Heb 2:13)

I was baptized an infant into the Catholic church and anon completed
enough catechism for First Holy Communion and Confirmation-- never once
did the instructors even so much as hint that it was possible to associate
with the supreme being as His kin folk; real honest to gosh family tied to
Him forever by the bonds of adoption. (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5)
_
The Supreme Being has a name: God. I don't know why that should be so difficult to comprehend.
 

Saul-to-Paul

Junior Member
Jun 5, 2017
403
71
28
#87
Nor are people that talk to themselves.

There is no legitimate way to interpret a text and say that it is the "heavenly" and the "earthly" counterparts interacting with one another, as if they are two distinct persons, when in those very contexts, are themselves filled with examples of distinct individuals interacting with one another in the same exact way.

The problem with engaging with a Modalist is that you hold to a Unitarian worldview. And the moment your Modalism is debunked, you will then default to another "Unitarian" view that has close affinities with your already held traditions: Socinianism. They hold to nearly the same thing as you do now, minus the Modalistic tendencies.
Still not in the Bible. Can you type back to me that there is no verse that describes God as a person?
The fact of the matter is, we absolutely know about God is that He is a Father, Spirit, and WORD. God is SPIRIT! But the function of how God works is uniquely intertwined and ALL of God is connected by the Same Essence [325 Council Terminology that I AGREE with].

But in order to describe God, you must pay attention to the Role that God has.
As a Father, His Love is for His Creation to be Saved.
As the WORD in flesh, the Fathers Love was Completed by the Work of Christ to bring Salvation.
As the Spirit, God's Love is to stay Connected to His Saved Creation.

Each Role is Unique.

That is God!
I see no uniqueness. All the Bible teaches is One Supreme Being.

Romans 8:9 KJV
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Matthew 10:20
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

This is why trinitarians use the word "persons." Their false doctrine is pure polytheism being that Jesus is not the Father.
 

Saul-to-Paul

Junior Member
Jun 5, 2017
403
71
28
#88
God describes Himself in the Bible, how you ask? He chose to manifest Himself as three "distinct" persons. For example, I give you Mark 1:11-12, "and a voice came out of the heavens, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Three I am well-pleased." Vs12, "And immediately the Spirit impelled Him/Jesus to go out into the wilderness."

Suppose you tell us all here how many persons are in view in these two verses? If your answer is anything but three, please explain why? PS: And while you at it, explain how many persons are in view at Matthew 28:19?

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
You're describing God as a person. The Bible does not describe God as person. Do you understand that!?
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#89
Still not in the Bible. Can you type back to me that there is no verse that describes God as a person?

I see no uniqueness. All the Bible teaches is One Supreme Being.

Romans 8:9 KJV
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Matthew 10:20
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

This is why trinitarians use the word "persons." Their false doctrine is pure polytheism being that Jesus is not the Father.
I am merely pointing out that from Genesis to Revelation, the Father dealt with His Creation in the form of the WORD made flesh. We see this as Angel of the Lord, or as when God proclaims and gives us a Name like Elohim, I AM TO BE, LORD, YHWH, MOST HIGH GOD, Yahweh, Angel Who wrestled with Jacob, with Joshua, Fourth Man in the Furnace, then as Jesus.

It's just unique that the Father does things through the WORD. Everything the Father does as God in person is Always done through the WORD. Then we read the Father is Dwelling inside the WORD doing the Will of the Father. It's really hard when you can see the Symmetry here that when the Father wants to DO something and then DOES it through the WORD.

It's like God said, this is the Plan.
I want to be with my Creation but I cannot be in their presence or they will DIE.
So, I will do it through the WORD made flesh.

because, that is how it has always been done.

So, the question then, is this TWO people doing the One's Will as a TEAM, or what?
Or, just how the Father is able to deal with His Creation by doing His Will as the WORD made flesh?

I have my own belief and ultimately know that however God's Works, He does it in 3 Unique ways. That makes Him Triune, whether it is persons or not.
 

SpeakTruth101

Active member
Aug 14, 2023
874
186
43
#90
I know Yahshua speaks truth

John 5:43, “I have come in My Father's Name, but you do not follow Me. Let another come in his own name; him you will follow.”

Yahanan/John 14:28, "You have heard that I told you: I go away, but come again to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."
 

Saul-to-Paul

Junior Member
Jun 5, 2017
403
71
28
#91
I am merely pointing out that from Genesis to Revelation, the Father dealt with His Creation in the form of the WORD made flesh. We see this as Angel of the Lord, or as when God proclaims and gives us a Name like Elohim, I AM TO BE, LORD, YHWH, MOST HIGH GOD, Yahweh, Angel Who wrestled with Jacob, with Joshua, Fourth Man in the Furnace, then as Jesus.

It's just unique that the Father does things through the WORD. Everything the Father does as God in person is Always done through the WORD. Then we read the Father is Dwelling inside the WORD doing the Will of the Father. It's really hard when you can see the Symmetry here that when the Father wants to DO something and then DOES it through the WORD.

It's like God said, this is the Plan.
I want to be with my Creation but I cannot be in their presence or they will DIE.
So, I will do it through the WORD made flesh.

because, that is how it has always been done.

So, the question then, is this TWO people doing the One's Will as a TEAM, or what?
Or, just how the Father is able to deal with His Creation by doing His Will as the WORD made flesh?

I have my own belief and ultimately know that however God's Works, He does it in 3 Unique ways. That makes Him Triune, whether it is persons or not.
What verse told you the Father isn't the Word of God?
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,769
1,064
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#92
We still call God "our Father" if we are born again. That's because He is our
father.

When I underwent the spirit birth spoken of by John 3:3-8, I simultaneously
underwent an act of God that gave me something new. (2Cor 5:17, Gal
6:15, Eph 2:10)

However, it wasn't until I underwent the divine adoption process that I was
placed among God's posterity. (Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5)

Well; I'm not actually God's paternal offspring like Jesus is, but I'm content to
be one of His son's siblings no matter how I got there.
_
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,095
2,132
113
#93
Why did the Son have to return to the Father before the Spirit would come?

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
Before then, the Presence of the Lord could only be approached in the Holy of Holies, behind the veil and only once a year by the High Priest who had to go through much cleansing. But the Holy Spirit could indwell Jesus because He is unlike Aaron and all other priests, pure and undefiled.

Also, keep in mind that Jesus is the Seed prophesied in Genesis. He came from the Father, so His substance is of the Father and also, He took upon Himself our substance by His mother, the virgin.

John 12:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
There are two verses offered as cross-reference for this verse:
Romans 14:9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
and
1Cor 15:36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.



Would it be too far a stretch to look at His resurrection as His "sprouting"? with us now incorporated into '"the new man" producing much more similar fruit?
 
Mar 9, 2023
95
58
18
Perth, Western Australia
#95
This must be a foolish question. for the Bible clearly states that there is only one God. Jesus said "I and the Father are one". -- and we read in John 1:18, "No man has seen God, Jesus Christ, He has revealed Him" . Then you have Isa. 9:6 which attributes to Jesus names which can only be given to God. -- Of course there are a multitude of other verses which could also be used here to show that Jesus and the Father are one. God (YHWH) is an unseeable Spirit and has simply chosen to reveal Himself in three ways. Not three persons , but three revelations. After conversion the Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide them. There are titles which all three share and which indicates that they are one. Here are just 3. --
Eternal - Father = Psm 90:2 / Son = John 8:58 / Holy Spirit = Heb. 9:14.
Creator - Father = Gen.1:1 / Son = Heb. 1: 2,10 / Holy Spirit = Job 26: 13 + 33:4
Omnipresence - Father = Jer. 23: 24 / Son = Matt 18: 20 + 28:20 / Holy Spirit = Psm 139: 7.
There is nothing difficult to understand about this subject. One must deliberately disregard Scripture to avoid it. --- I could write pages on this subject for there is so much Scripture in support of it and I find it hard to understand how people fail to see the truth that the one great Creator God YHWH reveals Himself in three different ways for three different purposes. Three revelations of one God which we have called "The Trinity".
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,703
13,516
113
#96
This is why trinitarians use the word "persons." Their false doctrine is pure polytheism being that Jesus is not the Father.
no matter how many times you say i believe in many Gods, i still believe there is only one God.

i don't get to make up my own definitions of things i don't like in order to like them less.

trinitarianism is not polytheistic.
 

selahsays

Well-known member
May 31, 2023
2,796
1,484
113
#97
Do you believe they are not contradictory? Why?
Do you rely on faith to believe they are consistent with each other? Is that an excuse or a reason?

Inquiring minds want to know! Leave your answers below, eh.
And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. "You shall have no other gods before Me.

- Exodus 20:1-3

I believe they are not contradictory; this is why: Notice the little “g” in “gods” (It’s not talking about Gods with a big G). Now let’s consider that in verse 5, it is written that our God is a jealous God. I believe this first commandment is talking about idolatry and not the Trinity. God created all things on the earth, the universe and the sea and He will not allow His creation to be worshipped.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,769
1,064
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#98
.
Ex 24:9-11 . .Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and
seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: and there
was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it
were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the
children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and
drink.

And yet:

Ex 33:20 . . You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.

John 1:18 . . No one has ever seen God

Plus:

There are many incidents throughout the Old Testament-- too numerous to
count --wherein folks heard an audible voice spoken by someone identifying
themselves as God and/or Jehovah. And yet:

John 5:37 . .The Father who sent me . . .you have never heard His voice.

That claim was addressed to the Jews; who I think would strongly disagree
seeing as how it can be easily shown that God/Jehovah spoke to their
patriarchs with a voice that could be heard and understood.
_
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#99
What verse told you the Father isn't the Word of God?
Good question and point made.

I have wondered myself if Paul, was not leaning towards Modalism, when he introduces a Letter, it's via the Father and Lord, never "mentions" the Holy Spirit. Neither does the others like Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Jude, Peter, James, NONE OF THEM, say in their Beginning Letters, Greetings and Blessing from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ [and the Holy Spirit]....Holy Spirit, is NEVER included in the Greeting. That is a Big Red Flag because WHY NOT?

But then we get this little Gem from Paul:
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us

This is an Elevation of Jesus, unlike Paul ever mentions before: [our great God and Savior Jesus Christ] who gave himself for us to redeem us.

Paul, on several occasions claims, "Jesus, is the Physical Image to the Invisible Image of God," and that can be called Express Image or Same Essence. But here, Paul is saying, Jesus is: our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

Which is interesting, because Titus 2, is known as the [[Sound Doctrine]] Chapter

But I agree about that I cannot find anywhere in the Bible that answers the Question you ask.
 

bluto

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2016
2,103
531
113
What verse told you the Father isn't the Word of God?
Can you please explain in what respect do you mean that the Father is the Word of God? Are you talking about the spoken word of God? Now, if were to use your line of reasoning then according to John 1:1 Jesus is clearly identified as the "Logos/Word." This does not men Jesus is the spoken word of God but God Almighty in human form. John 1:14. Lastly, and in "logic" your asking to prove a "negative" assertion. Since your making the assertion in the positive, you provide the proof where the Father is the Word of God and in what respect is He the Word of God?

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto