Does the Bible say that the one true God is three persons? If so, where? This is a challenge to the church to put forward its best scholars with its best arguments to show from the scriptures that the one true God is three persons.

The best of Roman Catholic scholarship declares that the doctrine of the Trinity – namely, that the one God is three persons – is not specifically taught in the scriptures, but rather assumed. They claim the authority to declare doctrines that are not specifically taught in the Bible. But what do Seventh-day Adventists have to say, who claim sola scriptura – the Bible alone – as their rule of faith and practice?

Rome once derided Protestants for keeping Sunday, while claiming sola scriptura, because they declared that Sunday worship derived its legitimacy from Rome and not the Bible. At that time, they said that Seventh-day Adventists were the only consistent ones, but that they were small and insignificant. At that time Seventh-day Adventists did not declare belief in a Trinity. Now that Seventh-day Adventism has grown and can no longer be ignored, and have since declared belief in the Trinity as a Fundamental Belief, will Rome deride us for believing in a Trinity while claiming sola scriptura?

My challenge is for the church to come to grips with itself before it faces the onslaught of others outside.

TRINITARIANS NEED TO ANSWER ONE SIMPLE QUESTION: DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT THE ONE TRUE GOD IS THREE PERSONS? IF SO, WHERE?

A godly response to the concern raised will suffice.

Many persons have confused nature with identity. So, they will tell you that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is divine; but there is only one God, so the one God must be the three. But being God (by nature) is not the same as being designated or identified as the “only true God” or the “one God”, which has to do with identity, position and authority.

It is like being a man as opposed to being a specific man. One might be a man but not the man. When Pilate pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the man” (John 19:5), he was not referring just to any man, but to a specific man, namely, Jesus. In a similar way, the Bible says, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Cor. 8:5-6).

There we have it: there is one God, the Father, and one Lord, who is the Christ – two distinct individuals: God and Christ. The Christ is the one sent by God, and not God himself. Jesus Christ himself identified both, when He prayed to His Father in heaven. He said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).

Yes, the Holy Spirit is a person – he speaks, he can be grieved etc. But the Father is greater than the Son because the Father sends the Son; and the Son is greater than the Holy Spirit because the Son sends the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 16:7).

The one God (one supreme Being) of the Bible is Jesus’s Father – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14, 15).  The Father has no co-equals. He is “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see” (1 Tim. 6:15, 16). There aren’t three supreme beings, only One. All other beings are subject to Him.

IT IS TIME TO REPENT! WE HAVE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE AND WORSHIP GOD FOR WHO HE IS.

“God is one” (Deut.6:4) – not three.

There is “One God and Father of all, who is above all” (Eph.4:6).

He is “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph.1:3; 2 Cor. 11:31; I Pet. 1:3).

The issue is not that Jesus is not God. Jesus is God by nature – same nature and character as His Father. But Jesus has a God who begot Him (John 1:14). Jesus has a God who anoints Him (Heb.1:9). Jesus has a God who appoints Him (Heb. 1:2). Jesus has a God who sends Him (John 17:18). Jesus has a God whose will He does (John 6:38). Jesus has a God who reveals things to Him (John 5:20). Jesus has a God who gives Him power (1 Cor. 15:27).

There is concern that Jesus is being diminished. Really? It is the Father who is being diminished. He dwells in light that no man can approach unto (1 Tim. 6:16). No one anoints Him. No one appoints Him. No one sends Him. No one reveals anything to Him. No one instructs Him (Isa. 40:13). He does the will of no one but His own will. No one gives Him power. He can swear by none greater than Himself (Heb. 6:13). It is His name that the saved will have written in their foreheads (Rev. 14:1). The entire family in heaven and in earth is named after Him (Eph. 3:15).

We are commanded to worship God and Christ. But if we make Christ to be God himself, then what becomes of God himself? He is overlooked or forgotten! This is the idolatry of the present age – we worship the Holy Spirit as God and worship Jesus Christ as God but overlook the “only true God” to whom Jesus prayed (John 17:3). We come to the Father, the one Supreme Being, the “only true God” through Christ, His only begotten Son – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). It is for this reason we pray to the Father in Jesus name.

WHO IS JESUS?

The question, “Who is Jesus?” is about identity – not nature. It is clear from the Bible that Jesus was not merely a man. He existed before being born as a human being. He is God, by nature; that is, He is a divine being. But who is He?

There is none with greater authority to declare this than God Himself. What did God declare? God spoke directly from heaven, and the Biblical record is as follows: “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Pet. 1:17).

Jesus Himself agreed with the Father’s declaration concerning Him when He spoke with Peter, in the following conversation: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:15-17).

The Jesus of the Bible is the Christ, the son of God, not God himself. The Bible speaks of God and Christ. Even Jesus Himself declared this in His prayer as follows: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). If we make Christ to be God Himself then what becomes of God Himself? He becomes non-existent. It is a false Christ that is represented as God Himself. God is the father of Christ.

May the Lord help us to repent before it is too late.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15).

For further information, please visit Patience of the Saints at http://thecommandmentsofgodandthefaithofjesus.com/

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