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There is one God; "the trinity" is from paganism & adopted into "the church" Israel was unique amongst the nations. Whereas the peoples about them had a multiplicity of gods, Israel was commanded: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD"-Deuteronomy 6v4. God testified also- "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me"- Isaiah 45v5. A significant quotation by Jesus Christ shows He did not consider Himself as part of a "trinity". He quoted Deuteronomy 6v4 (above) and the listener ("a scribe") answered- "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he". "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly (i.e. with intelligence and understanding) he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God"- Mark 12v28-34. We might ask, did this scribe,commended by Christ for his understanding, believe in one God, or "a trinity"? Further,Jesus testified-"my Father is GREATER THAN I"- and "I can of mine own self DO NOTHING"- & when called "Good Master", replied "Why callest thou me good? there is none good BUT ONE, THAT IS, GOD". -John 14v28; 5v30, Mark 10v17,18. Where does the "trinitarian" idea of "co-equality" fit in? The term "trinity" does not appear in the Bible, but the concept figures prominently in pagan sources, such as in ancient Babylon and its mystery" religion. The apostate "church" is called "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT"- Revelation 17v5, and "ministers" are known to speak of "the trinity" as "a mystery". This abomination was finally defined after centuries of arg- ument in AD381-451. 'Babylon' signifies 'confusion', cp Genesis 11v9. Such things were foretold- Acts 20v 28-32, 2nd Timothy 4v1-4, Jude 3-5. Cp 1st Corinth- ians 1v17-31. See under 'Index' links to 'spirit', 'mor- tal', 'devil', 'satan', 'baptism'. The process of apostacy is traced out in 'departure'. The "trinitarian" teaching requires that Jesus Christ divested Himself of His divine nature and was born on the earth, and now He has again assumed equality with the Father. Well, the apostle Paul, who wrote by the spirit of God, and was a chosen vessel by Christ Himself, testified that the above proposition is untrue. He wrote, long after Jesus ascended to heaven- "For there is ONE GOD, and one mediator BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS"- 1st Timothy 2v5. Yes, Jesus Christ is still a man, how- ever, not mortal, but immortal. He now has an immor- tal body, which is also the hope of His followers today- "it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM"- 1st John 3v2. Even at the end of the Kingdom Age of 1000 years upon the earth, when the glory and power of Christ will be at its zenith, He will still NOT BE EQUAL TO GOD. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom TO GOD, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is except- ed, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, THEN SHALL THE SON ALSO HIMSELF BE SUBJECT UNTO HIM THAT PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIM,THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL"- 1st Corinthians 15v24-28. So how important is this subject? Jesus Christ tells us: "And this is LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent"- John 17v3. |