In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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Before we even get started...
NONE of these Scriptures (below or in Part 1) take away from the glories of God's grandest achievements in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Have no doubt... Jesus WAS before ALL, and He IS before ALL.
Joh 17:4-5 I have glorified Thee [God The Father] on the earth: I [Jesus] have finished the work which You [The Father] gave Me [Jesus] to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with [G3844 - para; beside] Thee before the world was.
The Name of Jesus is now and will forever be ABOVE ALL ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE!
In spirit, we ARE ALREADY a part of God's family:
Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you HAVE RECEIVED [past tense] the Spirit of adoption [G5206 - sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that WE ARE the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
Jesus is an "heir" of the Father... by Jesus we become "joint-heirs".
God WANTS sons and daughters:
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ:
According as He has CHOSEN us in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated [pre-determined] us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the GOOD PLEASURE of His [God, the Father] will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Everything that God, The Father, has given to Jesus, He has given to US as "joint-heirs" (in the form of a down payment)... this includes being His CHILDREN:
Gal 4:6-7 And because YOU ARE SONS, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son [Jesus - NOT the third person of a trinity] into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Jesus IS God's Firstborn Son, and through Jesus we are then adopted as sons and daughters also!
God is the same "Abba Father" to US as He is also "Abba Father" to Jesus (Mar 14:36).
Also, did you catch the above? It is NOT the third part of a "triune god" that comes into our hearts... it is the Spirit of The Father's Son which is God's Spirit!
The Spirit of The Father and The Spirit of The Son are the same - it is THEIR Spirit... NOT a separate, third, co-equal, entity of a "triune god".
Scripture plainly speaks of the relationship of The Father and Jesus. It NEVER speaks of a relationship with the "Holy Ghost".
We've already seen that God is both The Father and The God of Jesus.
Yet... what do we read in Mat 1:20?
Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is CONCEIVED in her is OF the Holy Ghost.
Oh... well then. There you have it.
Jehovah is not the Father of Jesus, the third part of the trinity, the Holy Ghost is the Father, right?
NO! Do you not see by now how ridiculous this is?!
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit OF God, The Father! He was NOT conceived by the third person of a trinity.
Luke comes right out and tells us:
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of The Highest [The Highest IS God, The Father!] shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing [G40 - hagios, most holy thing, sacred, physically pure, morally blamesless] which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son OF GOD [The Father].
It doesn't read "shall be called the Son of the Holy Ghost".
Luk 1:30-32 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God [NOT the third person holy ghost]. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS [G2424 - Iesous, Jesus, Jehoshua]. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest [NOT the third person holy ghost]: and the Lord God [NOT the third person holy ghost] shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:
Jesus said that He cast out spirits by "the Spirit OF God" [NOT the third person holy ghost] and the Pharisees claimed He did it by the power of Beelzebub... this is what defines blasphemy against the Spirit of God... His Holy Spirit.
Mat 12:28 But if I [Jesus] cast out devils by the Spirit OF God [NOT the third person holy ghost], then the Kingdom of God is come unto you.
The Holy Spirit is something that God possesses - it is not a separate, third deity of the fabled trinity doctrine. The spirit OF - IS God's Spirit... He offers His Spirit as a gift to those who ask:
Luk 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ASK Him [God, the Father]?
If the Holy Spirit were it's own deity, wouldn't it "give of itself"? Is that what happens? NO. God, The Father gives His Holy Spirit... it's His to give.
Wouldn't we ask the third person (Holy Spirit) instead of God, The father?
No. We ask The Father.
The Holy Spirit is not a separate deity, but a possession of God's in which He freely gives to us. It is the SAME Spirit in which Jesus shares... it is THEIR Spirit in which they share with us.
That is how they BOTH dwell within, and make Their abode in us:
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
Jesus said that He and His Father "will come unto him" and "make our abode with him".
Once again... the third person seems to have been shortchanged. The third person of holy spirit was not included in this conversation.
The Comforter
Well, what about the Comforter?
Joh 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter [G3875 - parakletos], that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth [Jesus said "I am the Truth" Joh 14:6]; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be IN you.
Why do they "know Him"? Because Jesus is right there with them when He was speaking this to them... for "He dwells with you".
Who will come to them?
Joh 14:18 I [Jesus] will not leave you comfortless [G3737 - orphanos; orphan]: I [Jesus] will come to you.
PARAKLETOS
Remember that Jesus said "I AM the truth."
How then can this "Comforter" be coming from both His Father and Himself? Is this possible?
Once we understand just what this "Spirit of Truth", "Spirit of God", "Holy Spirit", "Holy Ghost", "Comforter" really is, we will see that it certainly DOES come from both the Father and His Son Jesus, the Christ.
(sidenote: not to be dogmatic, but technically - Jesus' name is not "Jesus Christ". His name is Jesus (Yeshua) and He IS the Christ [G5547 - christos, anointed, the Messiah] which is why you'll see me type it as "Jesus, the Christ" throughout these blogs.)
It is evident when checking various translations that the translators did not have a clue as to just what they should call this "parakletos".
In the Greek, the word is [G3875 - parakletos; BESIDE-CALLER, intercessor, advocate].
It can be "Consoler" or "Entreater" as in 1 Jn 2:1.
The Moffatt translation has "...to give you another Helper..."
The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has "...another Advocate..."
The Revised Standard Version has "...Counselor..."
The Monsignor Knox version has "...Another to befriend you..."
The Phillips Translation has "...Someone else to stand by you..."
The Amplified New Testament has "...another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby)..."
It also should be noted that not all translators capitalize this Greek word parakletos in their translations, nor do all translators use the pronoun "he" but rather "it".
As you'll soon see... Parakletos should be capitalized, and should be referred to as "He".
Additional literal translations:
YLT Joh 14:16-18 and I will ask the Father, and another Comforter He will give to you, that He may remain with you—to the age; the Spirit of Truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it doth not behold Him, nor know Him, and ye know Him, because He doth remain WITH you, and shall be IN you. I will not leave you bereaved, I come unto you;
CLV Joh 14:16-18 And I shall be asking the Father, and He will be giving you another Consoler, that it, indeed, may be with you for the eon - the Spirit of Truth, which the world can not get, for it is not beholding It, neither is knowing It. Yet you know It, for It is remaining WITH you and will be IN you. I will not leave you bereaved; I am coming to you.
Roth Joh 14:16-18 And, I, will request the Father, and, Another Advocate, will He give unto you, that He may be with you age-abidingly, The Spirit of Truth,—which, the world, cannot receive, because it beholdeth It not, nor getteth to know It. But, ye, are getting to know It; because, WITH you, It abideth, and, IN you, It is. I will not leave you bereft,—I am coming unto you.
Notice how "It" is remaining with them? How can something "remain" unless it was there to start with?
"You already know Me because I'm standing right in front of you... I dwell with you!"
Jesus was most assuredly with them at the time that He spoke this, and He is "the Spirit of Truth" of which He spoke.
The Spirit of Truth will remain [just as He is already with them] with them because when Jesus leaves them to be with The Father, He, Jesus will come back to them.
When He does, He will not only be WITH them, but IN them.
If Jesus IS the Comforter, then it CANNOT be a third person of a trinity.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter [G3875 - parakletos], which IS the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How is this accomplished?
Joh 14:23 ... WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
Jesus will not leave them "comfort-less" (orphans). Jesus has returned to His followers to "comfort" them by the Spirit of God which God shares with Jesus and then shares that very same Spirit with US.
Joh 16:15 ALL things that the Father has are Mine [Jesus]: therefore said I [Jesus], that He [The Father] shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.
Here is one more proof that the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of God" are one and the same.
Here is what Jesus told His disciples would happen when they would be brought before magistrates and powers:
Luk 12:11-12 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
In the very same account of this occasion of Christ's teaching in Matthew's gospel, we read this:
Mat 10:17-20 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak.
For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father [NOT the third person holy ghost] which speaks in you.
There can be no doubt from these two accounts that the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of your Father" are one and the same spirit--THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
NOT a third person of some fabled trinity...
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I'm going to keep driving this one home because this is one of those "stubborn" doctrines that people don't want to let go of...
In Part 3 let's examine WHO and WHAT are God and Jesus.
NONE of these Scriptures (below or in Part 1) take away from the glories of God's grandest achievements in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Have no doubt... Jesus WAS before ALL, and He IS before ALL.
Joh 17:4-5 I have glorified Thee [God The Father] on the earth: I [Jesus] have finished the work which You [The Father] gave Me [Jesus] to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with [G3844 - para; beside] Thee before the world was.
The Name of Jesus is now and will forever be ABOVE ALL ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE!
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The Holy Spirit
Does no one think it strange that in all these passages of Scriptures the "Holy Spirit" was not even mentioned so much as once?
If the Holy Spirit is an EQUAL to the Father and the Son, it sure seems that it is being shortchanged in all of these profound Scriptures.
Could it be that just as Jesus is the Son OF God and not God Himself, that the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit OF God and also not a God Himself?
That is EXACTLY what the Scriptures clearly teach.
We have the Son OF God [The Father] and the Spirit OF God [The Father] and yet God [The Father] is OF NO ONE and/or NOTHING!
Trinitarians try to support a triune god with:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of [1] the Father, and of [2] the Son, and of [3] the Holy Ghost:
I'm unsure as to how this proves God, The Father is a triune (three-in-one) God and that these three are co-equal entities.
The verse certainly doesn't end with "and these three form ONE God", or "and these three are co-equal with one another".
In fact, there's no recorded act of the Disciples ever doing what the above instructs them to do!
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [G4151 - pneuma].
(Remember this Greek word "pneuma" - I'm going to cover it in depth when I get to the blog "Body, Soul & Spirit")
Notice what Peter didn't say:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of [1] the Father, and of [2] the Son, and of [3] the Holy Ghost"
Maybe he did so with Cornelius? Nope.
Act 10:47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And then there was Paul...
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
The mention of the Holy Spirit in Mat 28:19 no more proves that the Holy Spirit is the third "God part" of a trinity than "the Comforter" of Joh 15:26 proves that it is the fourth part of a God quartet, or "the spirit of Truth" makes a quintet.
Why stop here? Let's examine other phrases such as "the Holy Spirit" which refer to God and Jesus.
God, The Father, The Highest, The Holy Ghost, The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of God, The Spirit of Christ, Jesus Christ, The Son of God, The Mediator, The Mind of God, The Spirit of Truth, The Word was God...
... and what about...
"The SEVEN Spirits of God" (Rev 4:5), etc., etc., ...
I shouldn't even have to mention this, but make note that ALL spirits are in SUBJECTION [subordinate, obedient] to The Father... NOT co-equal!
Heb 12:9 ... shall we not much rather be in SUBJECTION [G5293 - hupotasso, NOT co-equal] unto The Father OF spirits, and live?
1 Cor 8:6 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.
Back to Mat 28:19:
Does anything in this verse preclude the "Holy Spirit" from being "the Holy Spirit OF God?"
No.
In fact, Scripture tell us that God the Father is indeed "Holy" [Greek, hagios] (Joh 17:11), and God the Father is "Spirit" [Greek, pneuma] (Joh 4:24).
No one is denying the close relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But close relationship does not dictate co-equal SAMENESS of three separate persons.
Let's try a different example using the same wording. Most of us are familiar with the Catholic Church and its hierarchy, who for the most part, formulated this theory of the trinity. Suppose a letter of comfort was sent to Catholics of South America from the Papacy with the following benediction:
"May all your hearts be comforted in the name of the Pope, and of the Cardinal Secretary, and of the Holy See."
Does anyone have trouble understanding that statement? Does anyone believe that the Pope, the Cardinal Secretary, and the Holy See are CO-EQUAL and ONE AND THE SAME?
Does anyone believe that they are a HOLY TRINITY or a "triune papacy"?
Then why should we believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all co-equal members of a triune godhead?
There is NO justifiable reason to believe such a thing but there IS plenty of Scriptural reason to KNOW that there is NO SUCH THING.
The trinity is a man-made hypothesis that is detrimental and opposed to the Biblical teaching that God has a growing family. Yes, God is a growing family not a closed trinity as some claim.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household [G3624] of God;
G3624 - oikeios; domestic, that is, (as noun), a relative, adherent: - (those) of the (his own) house (-hold).
Eventually, everyone in the entirety of the universe is going to be one, holy, united, giant FAMILY of GOD, The Father.
... that God may be ALL in ALL (1 Cor 15:28)
The Holy Spirit
Does no one think it strange that in all these passages of Scriptures the "Holy Spirit" was not even mentioned so much as once?
If the Holy Spirit is an EQUAL to the Father and the Son, it sure seems that it is being shortchanged in all of these profound Scriptures.
Could it be that just as Jesus is the Son OF God and not God Himself, that the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit OF God and also not a God Himself?
That is EXACTLY what the Scriptures clearly teach.
We have the Son OF God [The Father] and the Spirit OF God [The Father] and yet God [The Father] is OF NO ONE and/or NOTHING!
Trinitarians try to support a triune god with:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of [1] the Father, and of [2] the Son, and of [3] the Holy Ghost:
I'm unsure as to how this proves God, The Father is a triune (three-in-one) God and that these three are co-equal entities.
The verse certainly doesn't end with "and these three form ONE God", or "and these three are co-equal with one another".
In fact, there's no recorded act of the Disciples ever doing what the above instructs them to do!
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [G4151 - pneuma].
(Remember this Greek word "pneuma" - I'm going to cover it in depth when I get to the blog "Body, Soul & Spirit")
Notice what Peter didn't say:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of [1] the Father, and of [2] the Son, and of [3] the Holy Ghost"
Maybe he did so with Cornelius? Nope.
Act 10:47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And then there was Paul...
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me NOT TO BAPTIZE, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
The mention of the Holy Spirit in Mat 28:19 no more proves that the Holy Spirit is the third "God part" of a trinity than "the Comforter" of Joh 15:26 proves that it is the fourth part of a God quartet, or "the spirit of Truth" makes a quintet.
Why stop here? Let's examine other phrases such as "the Holy Spirit" which refer to God and Jesus.
God, The Father, The Highest, The Holy Ghost, The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of God, The Spirit of Christ, Jesus Christ, The Son of God, The Mediator, The Mind of God, The Spirit of Truth, The Word was God...
... and what about...
"The SEVEN Spirits of God" (Rev 4:5), etc., etc., ...
I shouldn't even have to mention this, but make note that ALL spirits are in SUBJECTION [subordinate, obedient] to The Father... NOT co-equal!
Heb 12:9 ... shall we not much rather be in SUBJECTION [G5293 - hupotasso, NOT co-equal] unto The Father OF spirits, and live?
1 Cor 8:6 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.
Back to Mat 28:19:
Does anything in this verse preclude the "Holy Spirit" from being "the Holy Spirit OF God?"
No.
In fact, Scripture tell us that God the Father is indeed "Holy" [Greek, hagios] (Joh 17:11), and God the Father is "Spirit" [Greek, pneuma] (Joh 4:24).
No one is denying the close relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But close relationship does not dictate co-equal SAMENESS of three separate persons.
Let's try a different example using the same wording. Most of us are familiar with the Catholic Church and its hierarchy, who for the most part, formulated this theory of the trinity. Suppose a letter of comfort was sent to Catholics of South America from the Papacy with the following benediction:
"May all your hearts be comforted in the name of the Pope, and of the Cardinal Secretary, and of the Holy See."
Does anyone have trouble understanding that statement? Does anyone believe that the Pope, the Cardinal Secretary, and the Holy See are CO-EQUAL and ONE AND THE SAME?
Does anyone believe that they are a HOLY TRINITY or a "triune papacy"?
Then why should we believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all co-equal members of a triune godhead?
There is NO justifiable reason to believe such a thing but there IS plenty of Scriptural reason to KNOW that there is NO SUCH THING.
The trinity is a man-made hypothesis that is detrimental and opposed to the Biblical teaching that God has a growing family. Yes, God is a growing family not a closed trinity as some claim.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household [G3624] of God;
G3624 - oikeios; domestic, that is, (as noun), a relative, adherent: - (those) of the (his own) house (-hold).
Eventually, everyone in the entirety of the universe is going to be one, holy, united, giant FAMILY of GOD, The Father.
... that God may be ALL in ALL (1 Cor 15:28)
God IS "The Father" of His family and Jesus is the Firstborn Son of God's family.
Col 1:13-15 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son [Jesus]: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of EVERY creature:
Col 1:13-15 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son [Jesus]: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of EVERY creature:
In spirit, we ARE ALREADY a part of God's family:
Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you HAVE RECEIVED [past tense] the Spirit of adoption [G5206 - sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that WE ARE the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
Jesus is an "heir" of the Father... by Jesus we become "joint-heirs".
God WANTS sons and daughters:
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ:
According as He has CHOSEN us in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated [pre-determined] us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the GOOD PLEASURE of His [God, the Father] will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Everything that God, The Father, has given to Jesus, He has given to US as "joint-heirs" (in the form of a down payment)... this includes being His CHILDREN:
Gal 4:6-7 And because YOU ARE SONS, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son [Jesus - NOT the third person of a trinity] into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Jesus IS God's Firstborn Son, and through Jesus we are then adopted as sons and daughters also!
God is the same "Abba Father" to US as He is also "Abba Father" to Jesus (Mar 14:36).
Also, did you catch the above? It is NOT the third part of a "triune god" that comes into our hearts... it is the Spirit of The Father's Son which is God's Spirit!
The Spirit of The Father and The Spirit of The Son are the same - it is THEIR Spirit... NOT a separate, third, co-equal, entity of a "triune god".
Scripture plainly speaks of the relationship of The Father and Jesus. It NEVER speaks of a relationship with the "Holy Ghost".
We've already seen that God is both The Father and The God of Jesus.
Yet... what do we read in Mat 1:20?
Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is CONCEIVED in her is OF the Holy Ghost.
Oh... well then. There you have it.
Jehovah is not the Father of Jesus, the third part of the trinity, the Holy Ghost is the Father, right?
NO! Do you not see by now how ridiculous this is?!
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit OF God, The Father! He was NOT conceived by the third person of a trinity.
Luke comes right out and tells us:
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of The Highest [The Highest IS God, The Father!] shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing [G40 - hagios, most holy thing, sacred, physically pure, morally blamesless] which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son OF GOD [The Father].
It doesn't read "shall be called the Son of the Holy Ghost".
Luk 1:30-32 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God [NOT the third person holy ghost]. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS [G2424 - Iesous, Jesus, Jehoshua]. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest [NOT the third person holy ghost]: and the Lord God [NOT the third person holy ghost] shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:
Jesus said that He cast out spirits by "the Spirit OF God" [NOT the third person holy ghost] and the Pharisees claimed He did it by the power of Beelzebub... this is what defines blasphemy against the Spirit of God... His Holy Spirit.
Mat 12:28 But if I [Jesus] cast out devils by the Spirit OF God [NOT the third person holy ghost], then the Kingdom of God is come unto you.
The Holy Spirit is something that God possesses - it is not a separate, third deity of the fabled trinity doctrine. The spirit OF - IS God's Spirit... He offers His Spirit as a gift to those who ask:
Luk 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ASK Him [God, the Father]?
If the Holy Spirit were it's own deity, wouldn't it "give of itself"? Is that what happens? NO. God, The Father gives His Holy Spirit... it's His to give.
Wouldn't we ask the third person (Holy Spirit) instead of God, The father?
No. We ask The Father.
The Holy Spirit is not a separate deity, but a possession of God's in which He freely gives to us. It is the SAME Spirit in which Jesus shares... it is THEIR Spirit in which they share with us.
That is how they BOTH dwell within, and make Their abode in us:
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
Jesus said that He and His Father "will come unto him" and "make our abode with him".
Once again... the third person seems to have been shortchanged. The third person of holy spirit was not included in this conversation.
The Comforter
Well, what about the Comforter?
Joh 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter [G3875 - parakletos], that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth [Jesus said "I am the Truth" Joh 14:6]; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be IN you.
Why do they "know Him"? Because Jesus is right there with them when He was speaking this to them... for "He dwells with you".
Who will come to them?
Joh 14:18 I [Jesus] will not leave you comfortless [G3737 - orphanos; orphan]: I [Jesus] will come to you.
PARAKLETOS
Remember that Jesus said "I AM the truth."
How then can this "Comforter" be coming from both His Father and Himself? Is this possible?
Once we understand just what this "Spirit of Truth", "Spirit of God", "Holy Spirit", "Holy Ghost", "Comforter" really is, we will see that it certainly DOES come from both the Father and His Son Jesus, the Christ.
(sidenote: not to be dogmatic, but technically - Jesus' name is not "Jesus Christ". His name is Jesus (Yeshua) and He IS the Christ [G5547 - christos, anointed, the Messiah] which is why you'll see me type it as "Jesus, the Christ" throughout these blogs.)
It is evident when checking various translations that the translators did not have a clue as to just what they should call this "parakletos".
In the Greek, the word is [G3875 - parakletos; BESIDE-CALLER, intercessor, advocate].
It can be "Consoler" or "Entreater" as in 1 Jn 2:1.
The Moffatt translation has "...to give you another Helper..."
The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has "...another Advocate..."
The Revised Standard Version has "...Counselor..."
The Monsignor Knox version has "...Another to befriend you..."
The Phillips Translation has "...Someone else to stand by you..."
The Amplified New Testament has "...another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby)..."
It also should be noted that not all translators capitalize this Greek word parakletos in their translations, nor do all translators use the pronoun "he" but rather "it".
As you'll soon see... Parakletos should be capitalized, and should be referred to as "He".
Additional literal translations:
YLT Joh 14:16-18 and I will ask the Father, and another Comforter He will give to you, that He may remain with you—to the age; the Spirit of Truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it doth not behold Him, nor know Him, and ye know Him, because He doth remain WITH you, and shall be IN you. I will not leave you bereaved, I come unto you;
CLV Joh 14:16-18 And I shall be asking the Father, and He will be giving you another Consoler, that it, indeed, may be with you for the eon - the Spirit of Truth, which the world can not get, for it is not beholding It, neither is knowing It. Yet you know It, for It is remaining WITH you and will be IN you. I will not leave you bereaved; I am coming to you.
Roth Joh 14:16-18 And, I, will request the Father, and, Another Advocate, will He give unto you, that He may be with you age-abidingly, The Spirit of Truth,—which, the world, cannot receive, because it beholdeth It not, nor getteth to know It. But, ye, are getting to know It; because, WITH you, It abideth, and, IN you, It is. I will not leave you bereft,—I am coming unto you.
Notice how "It" is remaining with them? How can something "remain" unless it was there to start with?
"You already know Me because I'm standing right in front of you... I dwell with you!"
Jesus was most assuredly with them at the time that He spoke this, and He is "the Spirit of Truth" of which He spoke.
The Spirit of Truth will remain [just as He is already with them] with them because when Jesus leaves them to be with The Father, He, Jesus will come back to them.
When He does, He will not only be WITH them, but IN them.
If Jesus IS the Comforter, then it CANNOT be a third person of a trinity.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter [G3875 - parakletos], which IS the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How is this accomplished?
Joh 14:23 ... WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.
Jesus will not leave them "comfort-less" (orphans). Jesus has returned to His followers to "comfort" them by the Spirit of God which God shares with Jesus and then shares that very same Spirit with US.
Joh 16:15 ALL things that the Father has are Mine [Jesus]: therefore said I [Jesus], that He [The Father] shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.
Here is one more proof that the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of God" are one and the same.
Here is what Jesus told His disciples would happen when they would be brought before magistrates and powers:
Luk 12:11-12 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
In the very same account of this occasion of Christ's teaching in Matthew's gospel, we read this:
Mat 10:17-20 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak.
For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father [NOT the third person holy ghost] which speaks in you.
There can be no doubt from these two accounts that the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of your Father" are one and the same spirit--THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
NOT a third person of some fabled trinity...
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I'm going to keep driving this one home because this is one of those "stubborn" doctrines that people don't want to let go of...
In Part 3 let's examine WHO and WHAT are God and Jesus.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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