And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: In that day shall there be one LORD, and his Name one. (Zech 14:9)
Preamble:
And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Psa 91) And Jesus answering said unto him, it is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Luke 4:9-12)
Christians are raised to believe Jesus is part of the Godhead, now firmly established as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But is this right? Is there any evidence the Apostles, the Prophets, even Jesus, stated this as fact? Is there support found anywhere in Scripture, which states beyond doubt God is a three-part Deity? The Holy Bible abounds with citings that attest to the true nature of Christ, and not one of them declares He is part of a Trinity, in fact it states the opposite.
This Creed plainly undermines what we find in Scripture, and Jesus has told us directly: He that has seen me has seen the Father. (Jn 14:9) This belief originated in the early Church; formulated to illuminate certain events and statements early Christian theologians couldn’t adequately explain. It became an article of faith in 325AD; though not entirely unanimous. It came out of the first Council of Nicaea when Church Leaders assembled to attend to the disquiet of Gnosticism and Sects, becoming established in the new and growing Christian faith.
The coming of the Christ was prophesied to Israel, who believed as a standard of truth, there was only One LORD. Moses declared to the nation: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deut 6:4-6)
And, Isaiah announced the Messiah, to be born of a virgin; a sign given, so they would know Him. He declared His Divinity and revealed His Titles. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6)
Who can forgive sins but God only? (Mark 2:7) To Mary, the Angel Gabriel declared the Holy one born of her would save His people from their sins …that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins. (Mark 2:10) Gabriel spoke of Immanuel, (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23) born of the virgin who brought forth the Christ in a form we could see and hear: How then, by the human expression of the Everlasting Father does He become three, when Jesus said: I and (my) Father are one.
Note: The above words in brackets; (man) and (my) were inserted by early editors to smooth the account, which is why they were either, bracketed, faded, set in italics or both. The word (my) was not spoken by Jesus in this narrative. (John 10:30) The Greek is: egO kai ho patEr hen esmen, renders; “I and the Father one we-are-being;” or “I and the Father one are.” By adding to the Scriptures, misunderstandings can and do occur; the proper meaning muddled, watered down, or in this case lost completely. Even if done for supposed clarity and best motives, we are instructed never to add to it! (Deut 18:20) It foolishly presumes the intent of the Holy Spirit through the writer. Look again at Matthew: 1:23.
Nicaea:
A great gift of history is being able to review the past, to settle the right or wrong of what went before. The same can be said of Ecclesiastical history as it relates to our judgment of God and Church. Within this history have been two significant events; the 325AD Council of Nicaea and in 1517; Martin Luther, the ensuing Reformation and its impact on Christian thought.
Although the Council was not convened to establish a predetermined article of faith, the proposal of a Trinity to express an idea of the fullness of God came out of it; and initially, without mention of a Holy Spirit. But the notion of Divine Spirit, as described by John was recognized. The meeting was called by Constantine to facilitate a unity of belief across a church showing signs of division. The argument was to Godhead, its character, and where deity rested; Father, Son or both? Discussions essentially drew a line between Arianism and non-Arianism, which believed Jesus was consubstantial with the Father. The Arius opinion held Father and Son were materially separate; the Father created the Son.
But for a moment, I want to look to Jesus and allegory. When Jesus spoke in parables, He often used fruit as an example. His most direct illustration is found in Matthew: Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. (Matt 12:33) But, the main reason Jesus used storytelling was to show result and consequence. We will do likewise; look not so much to the debate at Nicaea, and the reasons why, but to the fruit it bore.
There are numerous books and websites with a view on these proceedings. Some in exactitude are very scholarly, others hijacked by tradition and hearsay. We will not enter this scrimmage; for this meeting was not about doctrine to be argued, it was about consensus; a unification of understanding to protect the Church through tenets, statute and regulation.
Most believe the authority of the Nicaean Creed rests in tradition, citing the apostles and their teaching as held by the early church; apostolic practice reasoned the basis of policy, as agreed by the council. According to best authorities, all but five bishops subscribed to the formula as outlined in the Creed; soon after reduced to two, who were later exiled, declared anathema, and branded heretics. The works of Arius were found aberrant by the Council. He also was declared anathema, exiled and his writings were burned. So, coerced or otherwise, the first fruit we discern coming out of Nicaea is the machinery of statute and punishment. The Reformation on the other hand was about Faith!
Apostolic Tradition:
The Council ruled apostolic tradition was the foundation of the Nicaean Creed as taught and handed down. Tradition is not teaching it is custom. A tradition is to follow a professed standard of truth, and the ways of one’s ancestors. The tradition of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, was rooted in the faith of their forefathers through the Law and the Prophets. Their tradition was to observe the Feasts of Israel and the Law of Moses. The apostles and evangelists were raised to believe the truth of their God as passed down by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. They believed their LORD was one LORD; that He would one day redeem them.
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isa 44:6)
The suggestion of the Creed of Nicaea being the tradition of the Apostles is errant; but it was inspired by the teaching of the apostles. So, let’s look at some of what they said:
Paul declared; There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4-6)
Peter said: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1Pe 1:25) The Word of the Lord is Jesus Christ. …And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13)
John wrote: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (Jn 1:1-3)
James said: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (2:19)
At Pentecost Simon Peter declared: Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Act 2:36) Think about this. Peter declared the Christ is Jesus AND Jehovah: the Father and the Son. He also confirmed the word of the Prophets: Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Pe 1:20-21)
But then Paul stated: But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12) And in Hebrews he wrote: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (1:8)
From the outset we find the fruit of Nicaea at variance with these teachings of the Apostles and Paul in their writings of Christ Jesus and His ministry. We find insinuation and nuance at work in their claims and announcements. This Council may have set out with good endeavor to validate the word of God as preached, but it ended up surrounding it in dubious doctrine.
…brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the innocent. (Rom 16:17-18)
Son of God and Man:
Matthew’s Gospel gives the ancestry of Jesus from Abraham, being three sets of fourteen generations, each a milestone in the history of Israel; Abraham to King David, David to the Captivity of Israel, the Captivity to Christ. Matthew also reports, as does Luke, Mary’s conception through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Mark begins his record with John the Baptist humbly announcing …There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose (1:7) and records the very public demonstration of the ubiquitous nature of God manifest at the baptism of Jesus, by John. The Synoptic Gospels each convey corresponding accounts of Jesus and His ministry; yet John stands remarkably alone in his understanding of the dispensations of the Ever-Living God.
The word translated son is from the Greek, huios [Strongs: a son of immediate, remote or figurative kinship] used to show the structure of relationship, connection or offspring. The term, Son of God was used by New Testament writers to show the connection of Jesus to the Father; that He was of, or came out from God. It was to explain he was a divine being come from Heaven.
While this was the usual idiom to show correlation, not once did Jesus state He was actually, the Son of God. Son of Man on the other hand, is used to show relationship to His parents and siblings, through their Israelite lineage from Judah and Jacob, Abraham and Adam. [Note: the Hebrew word for Adam and man is the same; eadm.]
There are numerous examples in the Bible where the term, the son was inserted by mainly eighteenth century editors. It is not found in the Greek manuscripts. Early Bibles showed these in faded italics, used to smooth the narrative. …which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph etc… When giving this lineage, Luke did not use the son, but showed a continuous link back to Adam by using, of. Old Testament writers when showing a line of inheritance used the past tense of beget.
The terms, son of and begat, which means got shows the progenitor and integrity of the birthright and speaks as a rule of males only, as it is through the male seed inheritance is carried. In the New Testament, Jesus was also mentioned 16 times as the Son of David to show His royal lineage; ten times in Matthew; three in Mark, and three in Luke. King David ruled the Kingdom of Israel c. 1010-970 BC.
The term, Son of David shows the Christ was born into David’s line; the Tribe of Judah, who carried the kingship; …until Shiloh come… Jesus would plainly be a descendent of this line. The lineage given in Matthew (1:1) confirms; …the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asked the Pharisees what they thought; …what think you of Christ? Whose son is he? And they say unto him, the son of David. (22:42) Note, how Jesus asks who they thought the Christ was; and not who He was. Everyone, apart from those to whom He made Himself known, regarded Jesus as nothing more than a natural son of regular parents.
Mark adds to this: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judah, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? (Mark 6:2-3) Few had knowledge of the circumstances of His birth, which is how Jesus wanted it: …then he charged his disciples they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matt 16:20) Early in His ministry, Jesus rebuked a spirit into silence for speaking His name aloud. (Mark 1:24-25)
We should now look at the recognized meaning of parent, which Webster’s defines; one that begets or brings forth offspring. We know a virgin; one, who found favour with God, was the LORD’S vessel for conception by the Holy Spirit. And, from the Gospel we know that her husband, Joseph was not part of these proceedings. So, we need to confirm who the real parent of Jesus was. What was the source by which He was begotten and brought forth?
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Then said Mary unto the angel, how can this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:29-31; 34-35)
Note: Gabriel said; …called the Son of God… not; is the Son of God, or named the Son of God.
Here’s Matthew’s account; now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (1:18) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet (Isaiah) saying: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name, Jesus. (Matt 1:22-25)
So, the parent (seed planter) of the son of man was the Power of the Most High; the creating Spirit of God. This being the case, what did Jesus inherit? As a son of man, He came with the same elements we do, familial human DNA and genetic coding. He also inherited the perfect attributes of His Father. Also His Father’s Kingdom, the right to judge, and the power to forgive sin. See what Paul says on this matter concerning the origin of Christ:
And so it is written, the first man, Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first, which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1Cor 15:45-47)
This is Paul’s statement of truth, following his encounter with the certainty of the LORD: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecute. (Acts 9:3-5) Watch now: as we witness Paul’s shock realization that the one speaking to him truly was the Messiah raised from the dead: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (9:6) Paul was turned in an instant! This is the might, and power and splendour of our God. And Paul loved Him with all his heart.
Now, Peter tells us the Prophets were inspired by the Holy Ghost; yet Paul said his revelation was from Jesus directly. The implication is apparent; Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, a truth the Creed of Trinity steals from you. When Moses enquired of the LORD who He was, the LORD gave him His Name: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. (Exo 3:14)
When we translate the Hebrew into English we get a lot more. And he-is-saying Elohim to Moses I-shall-become who I-am-becoming andhe-is-saying thus you-shall-say to sons of-Israel, I-shall-become he-sentme toyou. The Hebrew: אהיה [aeie] rendered; I AM, literally means I am becoming. The first part of this verse, I-shall- become who I-am-becoming, points straight to Jesus and declares the Christ. I AM become the Messiah! (Look at John 8:58.) The LORD revealed Himself to Moses; He is the Ever-Living God, the beginning and the end. (See Rev 22)
In only three letters of the English alphabet is the highest, widest, deepest and most eternal Name ever known to man! I AM.
Errant Sowing:
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. (Isa 30:1)
The Trinity was a solution for errant men who sought justification for verses and events they couldn’t comprehend. In their failure to grasp the true nature of Jesus Christ, they built a matrix to rationalize what they believed these verses are declaring. In turn, they buried the truth of His Kingdom and erroneously proclaimed a Gospel and God unknown to Israel, the Apostles and the Saints.
The problem arises when we look at God through a human lens, with the additional constraints of time and space in which we are bound. Each, according to our gifts, grasps the qualities of the Divine Being with varying degrees of comprehension. And while we affix omnipotent and omniscient to describe God, He is much more than that.
To Israel God was YHWH; a title in which His Name was hidden from the unworthy. This Name means the Existing One; a multi-dimensional, spiritual, creator being. The One that exists is present on manifold planes in, and outside our time and space, simultaneously. He is the beginning and the end. He is Father, Son and Spirit; our Comforter, and the Angel of the LORD. This is our LORD and Christ.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Rev 22:16)
The God of Christian Scripture is an omnipresent being, which the Trinity Creed plainly ignores, as it must. If this Ever-Living quality of the LORD had been fully understood and expressed, the creed would not exist. But it does. A congress bereft of understanding, exchanged a truth for an illusion:
But counsel was taken; and men divided the LORD. This errant mischief became an instrument of power, proclaiming its authors; their law and ruling, the supreme authority on matters of Christian belief. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. (Luke) Nicaea raised men above God, who built a tower of righteousness to cover their sin. The worldly Church clearly on view as it acquires the trappings of Empire and titles of Emperors. Division is born, and the dividing begun… with a three person prison built for the Saints.
Because ye have said, we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isa 28:15)
The lie is the Trinity Creed; the Sanctuary of your Church. It is not safe and it is no haven. Everyone, without exception, man, woman, priest and bishop are guilty before God who follows this teaching. He is the Judge, and He will judge those who deny His Commands. He is coming with His reward for us all, according to our works. What will your work be? Will you adhere to this agreement with hell, and its covenant with darkness, or will you seek the light of Christ Jesus and His golden doctrine of truth?
Jesus, has given His own testimony, and he has declared His own witness, but not for the first time. When Abraham, by his pure faith, was ready to sacrifice his only son, the LORD swore an oath on His own name of the blessings to come for Abraham and his seed; by myself have I sworn. (Gen 22:16) He again declares His standing, and in doing so is the only being in our entire history to lay claim to the fact that He alone is truth.
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Jn 14:6)
Not by man’s Creed! Not by Marian prayer! Not by Yahshua! Not by Church or Priest! BUT BY HIM!
When Jesus was asked the Greatest of all Commands, He declared the very same witness, declared of Him by Moses. (And, why Moses was with Him at the transfiguration.) Now, let’s read Mark 12:29-30:
Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
This is the First Command meaning the first thing we must do. It is not a request. We are required to keep it in the same way we are obligated to love our family, neighbours and our enemies. But, if you do not honour this Commandment and reject these words spoken by the one you claim to follow, if you would rather hide yourself in the creeds of men; then I hope the Lord will be kindly in His Judgement. He has already given you a clue as to how that might pan out…
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt 7:22-23)
The Rock of Offence:
Now we come to the hub…
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. (Matt 7:24)
We opened this testimony with Zechariah and will finish with, Peter and Paul. (Not that the testimony of Jesus Christ is ever ended.) Zechariah declared the headstone, and the Spirit of Christ in him saw it come out: …and he shall bring forth the head stone with shouting’s of Grace, Grace, unto it. (Zech 4:7) He also saw its rejection: …they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit by the hand of the former prophets: (Zech 7:12)
In each of the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus referred to the headstone, and as we see in Luke, amid some frustration with the scribes and priests: But he looked upon them, and said, what then is this that is written; the stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner? (Luke 20:17) the headstone is Christ. It is this quality of Jesus, which has, and must become a stone of stumbling, the offensive rock, for all who agree with the Trinity Creed.
When Peter wrote his first letter, he referred to Isaiah who said: And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait for the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (Isa 8:14-17)
Peter put it this way: Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect; precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. For you therefore which believe, is the preciousness, but for such as disbelieve, the stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner; a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient, in to which also they were placed. (1Pe 2:6-8)
Isaiah speaks of the snare in the words of men; of doctrine and creeds that bind up the truth of God. Peter reflects on the adamant stones of Zechariah, pride and defiance and how these things chain God’s Word in us. And here is the stumbling, and here the offense. We stumble at the truth as it offends our pride. We stumble at Lord and Christ when it offends our Creed. This sanctuary Rock, this rejected Stone, is the corner piece of faith and we see it not. For our Creeds are the rock and the adamant stone our binding. What do we say then …if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them? Not likely! But declare Grace and Faith to the penitent heart, and all who seek the Kingdom of Truth. That we are living stones; that by doing God’s work we are raised acceptable in the Name of the LORD’S Salvation; the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Book that bears His Name, Jesus calls us out of the bondage of Egypt and Nicaea; out from the dogma of Church and men. Come out of her my people that ye not be partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. What then is sin, but unbelief? What then plagues, if not blindness and death? Now is the time our faith must be measured:
…for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1Pe 4:17-18)
Are we to be found deficient in our belief, or have we made our calling and election sure? (2Pe 1:10)
Remember: Paul told us He received his revelation directly from Jesus, and now he tells us plainly who Jesus is. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Tim 3:16) He did not say the Son of God was made manifest, but Immanu-el was made manifest; as declared and revealed by Isaiah: Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.
The LORD broke into our history and walked this Earth, and not all believed. He was rebuked and was murdered to kill His testimony. Yet, He let it be done as it had to be done; for without it, sin would still reign and death would inherit. But a line was drawn and Satan marked; time was divided and His Saints were sealed. By His Resurrection death is departed and Grace, as living water, is given freely to all who believe on His Name. There is no debate to be had, there is only faith. There is only Christ.
Paul did not believe or teach the Trinity; neither did Peter, or John, James or Jude. The Evangelists did not write of the Trinity, and neither did the Prophets whose work was at the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. It was impossible for them. But errant men spoke it, and they thought of a creed; and wrote an idea, and they convened a meeting and made a law. Certain men; seduced by a lie…
It is Time:
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Rev 14:12)
When He was crucified, He said; it is done. And it is done. Now is the time of In-gathering, He is calling you one last time. All you need do is believe; accept the call, change your thinking, and invite Him in. This is repentance. You do not need to go to church to find Him, as His Kingdom lives within you. It is the unobserved Kingdom no one can see. He has told us this truth; He that believes and is baptised shall be saved. (Mk 16:16) But you do need to know, and have faith in His Name, the only Name by which we are saved, and into which we are baptised. There are not three, there is only one: ho Kyrios Iesous Christos, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And it is due time that we all came to know and acknowledge, He is the potter and we are the clay. He is the LORD and we His possession. It is not; and has never been, the other way around! I pray He blesses you, and gives you understanding of these things.