THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE

When Jesus stood before Pilate, he asked Jesus, “What is truth?” But he didn’t wait for the answer. If he had, I’m sure Jesus would have told him something similar to what he said in John 17:17 and John 8:31-32.

In John 17:17, Jesus said God’s word is Truth. In John 8:31-32, Jesus said if we continue in his word we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. I don’t know about you, but I want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

The truth is there in God’s Book, the Holy Bible. The answers to our questions about life here on Earth, and life in the hereafter. Satan is out to destroy us, and we make it easier for him when we don’t know and understand God’s word. Remember how Jesus responded to Satan’s attacks when he tempted him in the wilderness? He used God’s word. Each time, he said, It Is Written, then he quoted the scriptures.

Today, there are many different opinions about religion, the Bible, human nature, the beginning of time, and many other things. Too often, people put their own interpretations on the things we deal with in life, and too often, we develop our beliefs by following our emotions. I’ve talked to many people about God and the Bible who say they believe what they believe because that’s what they’ve always believed. I’ve talked to people who believe what they believe because of things they saw in a movie years ago.

I’ve loved Bible movies since I was a kid, but sadly, I’ve never seen one that was 100% biblically accurate. There always seem to be errors or at least misinterpretations in the script, especially when they add dialogue that's not in the Bible. I understand why the writers add words in a movie, but sometimes I wonder if they’ve even read the Bible or if they’re just telling a story that they grew up hearing. I mean, sometimes that’s exactly what it seems like.

Reading the Bible is very important. Knowing the truth can mean the difference between life and death; both physical and spiritual. We can be deceived in so many ways if we don’t read God’s word. Acts 17:11 tells us that the people of Berea were more noble than the people in Thessalonica because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was true, and that’s the way we should be today. There are so many foolish teachings that would be completely cleared up if we would only read and believe the Bible.

Let’s read the scriptures I mentioned at the beginning. Since I only generalize them there, we’ll now see that they have a much deeper meaning.

John 17:17

17 Make them holy through your truth. Your word is truth.

Jesus was talking to the Father here about his disciples. He asked the Father to make them holy through his word because his word is holy. So, to be holy we must read God’s word. Paul tells Timothy something similar in 2 Timothy 3:15.

2 Timothy 3:15

15 From childhood, you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus, the Messiah.

So to be saved, we must believe in Jesus. To believe in Jesus we must read (or hear) about him, and get to know him through God’s word, the Bible. Can you see how important the Bible is? Look at the next verse.

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All scripture is inspired by God, and is helpful for teaching, for evidence, for correction, and for instruction in being holy:

These verses tell us that the Bible leads us to salvation, and then shows us how to live a holy life through Jesus. That's how important the Bible is.

John 8: 31-32

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and,

32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

There it is again; if we continue in his word or continue to read his word and follow it, and obey it, we will truly be his disciples, and by reading God’s word, we'll know the truth, and we'll be set free by the truth. Don’t you want to be set free? Don’t you want to know the truth? Lies deceive us, but the truth sets us free from those lies and deception. Knowing that God’s word is truth, we should want to read and know God’s word so we can be saved, live a holy life, and protect ourselves from being deceived by Satan and his minions.

Find time to read the Bible every day, if only for a few minutes. You’ll soon find yourself spending more time reading, and loving it. Yeah, it’s really that simple to start. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so don’t delay. Start today. God bless you.

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I WANT TO BE CLOSE TO GOD, BUT...

Over the years, I’ve talked to many people who, at some time in their lives, have accepted Jesus as their savior. Many of them struggle every day to be good people. Many have given up because they have lost that battle. They tell me they want to be close to God, but they just don’t seem to be able to reach that goal. I know what they’re going through because I’ve been there myself.

Living a Christian life in this day and age can be challenging. Many times we lose track of what’s important before we realize it. It’s so easy to wake up one morning and realize you’re a million miles away from God. Well, there’s a reason for that. “If You’re No Longer Close To God, Guess Who Moved.” I’m sure you’ve heard that one. It’s true. If we’re not close to God, it’s our fault. There are many things to distract us, and too often, we allow other things to take priority over God. We don’t mean to, but it happens.

When we come to Jesus we’re so excited to know we’re saved. It’s so good to be free from the guilt and shame that our past life of sin put on us. Then the newness wears off and the excitement level drops, and many times we forget that we have been made into a new creature. Satan reminds us of our past, and sometimes we wonder if we're really saved. Many ask themselves, “Did God really save me?” If one reaches this point, it’s a sure bet that they haven’t been spending enough time with Jesus, in prayer, and in Bible study. Believe it or not, this makes a big difference in a person, and others around us can see the difference in us when we spend time with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

We have to be intentional about our relationship with the Lord, just like any other relationship. If you aren’t close enough to God that you can hear and know his voice when he speaks, then try these few steps; Pray, Read and Study the Bible, and Avoid Evil things that will lead you away from God.

PRAY – Talk to Jesus and listen for him to talk to you. It may not be an audible voice every time, but sometimes it will. Talk with him all the time, no matter where you are or what time it is. Stay in constant communication with him. Talking to Jesus is the first and most important step to getting back on the right track. Return to your first love (Revelation 2:4-5). Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Pray more for others than for yourself, but remember, prayer is the first step to getting closer to God.

BIBLE READING – Get out your Bible and read it. Read it every day. Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Reading the bible helps us to get to know Jesus better. The better we know him the easier it is to trust him, and that draws us closer to him. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more like him we become. We actually become less sinful. We see more clearly. Many of the things that were once acceptable to us, we now see their true nature and reject them. The opposite is also true. The less time we spend with Jesus, the more sinful we become and evil is easier for us to accept. So, fill your mind with God’s word.

BIBLE STUDY – Studying the Bible is comparing scripture with scripture. We take everything the whole Bible says about a certain subject and put them all together to get the full picture. Then we know everything that God has said on that subject. We're commanded to study for God’s approval (2 Timothy 2:15) and to be able to tell others about the hope he gives us, whenever someone asks us (1 Peter 3:15). Studying the Bible also helps us to better understand what he expects from us, and we find proof that it is, indeed, the Word of God.

AVOID EVIL – The Bible tells us that Job was a righteous man who loved God and avoided evil (Job 1:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:22, tells us to, “Avoid all forms of evil.” In Psalm 101:3, David said, “I will put no evil thing before my eyes:” We have to protect ourselves from evil things coming into our minds. Whether through the eyes or the ears. What many people don’t understand is, that we can’t live like everybody else, and participate in all the things the world offers, and still stay close to God. People disagree strongly when you tell them that their entertainment is preventing them from being as close to God as they need to be, but today, the majority of movies, TV shows, games, and music are controlled by people with no morals, no family values, and no desire to please God. In fact, many of them don’t even believe in God. At least, that’s what they say.

A person who has been born again, and wants to stay close to God, should not watch any presentation that shows anything the Bible says we shouldn’t participate in. If the Bible says don’t do it, then it’s a sin. If a movie, TV, play, or real-life presents such things, we should avoid those presentations. Sin is often glorified by movies TV, and music, and by watching and listening to it over and over, we become desensitized. Common sense should tell us this is true, but I know this from experience.

It’s not just the things you see, but also the filthy language, with the sexual references and the innuendos. Even the commercials and advertisements are going too far lately. If God’s followers watch movies and television at all, we should only watch programs that are Godly, or at least family-orientated. I’ve even seen several “Christian” films that have cursing in them, which makes no sense at all because the Bible says we shouldn’t use foul language. Many people try to rationalize that fact away and say the only bad words are using God’s name in a derogatory manner. Sad to say, I used to be one of them, until God showed me the truth in his word. Look at what God says about that at this link. What’s Wrong With Using Profanity?

Video games are the same way. Not all are bad, but many are. Not just video games, but board games, and card games as well. We need to be wise in choosing our entertainment. Everything that we see and hear is teaching us, and we need to be careful about what we allow ourselves to learn.

The music we choose to listen to is also a factor in our drawing closer to God. Many people don’t like it when you tell them they’re listening to the wrong music. Not all secular music is bad, but much of it is. Apart from the fact that most music today is engineered to alter people’s minds as well as bodies, the songs are filled with filthy words and immoral messages. They glorify sin and demean those who don’t participate in those sinful acts. Look what Colossians 3:16 says about music.

Colossians 3:16 

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

We should fill ourselves with the word of God in all wisdom, and teach ourselves and others with Christ-centered songs. Whatever the message in a song may be, we learn from it, whether it’s good or bad. Even though Contemporary Christian music is supposed to be Godly, many songs don’t even mention God, and some have no destination from the music of the world. If we want to draw closer to God, we should listen to music that makes us think about him. Songs that uplift God as the Creator. Songs that talk about our duties and responsibilities to him. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all, guard your heart; for out of it are the issues of life.”

In Philippines 4:8, Paul says, “Whatever things are True, Honorable, Just, Pure, Lovely, and of Good Report; Whatever has Virtue, and Praise, meditate on these things.” In verse 9 he said, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things: and the God of peace will be with you.”

That’s what I want. That’s what all those people I’ve talked to over the years wanted, but didn’t know how to get there. If that’s what you want, remember that it takes a little work on our part, as with any relationship. There are many who worship and serve God with all their hearts. They have dedicated their lives to his service, and are very close to him, but there are many who are still struggling with their relationship with God. Try these few things for yourself, and you'll see that they work. Then, share them with others and watch God transform their lives as well.

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UNDERSTANDING BIBLE TRUTH

I’ve been reading the Bible since I was very young. I’ve known it was God’s book for a long time, but I didn’t really understand exactly what that meant. When I got older and learned how to properly study the Bible, it came alive to me. I realized that what I once thought was a big book of collected stories from many different writers, is actually one big book containing one story about God and his people, and although the words were written down by over forty different men, it all came from one source, God himself.

It’s not only a history book, but a book of promises for us, now, and for the future. It’s an instruction book on how God wants us to live and treat each other. As anyone can see, many who don’t follow God’s instructions, contained in the Bible, do whatever they want, violate every command given by God, and cause countless innocents to suffer.

What’s even worse, there are many who claim to follow biblical teaching, but often have the same mindset as those who don’t. Part of the problem is the interpretation, or should I say, the “misinterpretation” of scripture. This leads to all kinds of problems; from simple disagreements, to split congregations, new denominations, split families, and even total rebellion against God.

Everyone thinks their interpretation is right, and that’s understandable, but most will not even consider the possibility they might be wrong, even when shown from the holy word of God. Almost every denomination believes it’s the only one who has the truth.

In giving Bible studies, I’ve studied with and talked to many people over the years. I’ve studied different denominations and what they believe, and I’ve arrived at one conclusion. No denomination that I know of has all the truth. Most of them have some true doctrines, and some have mostly true doctrines, but they all teach something that is contrary to the Bible. It seems the Truth is scattered throughout the earth.

Before I go any further, let me say that I’m not a Bible scholar, and I don’t know everything there is to know. I’m not claiming to be perfect, nor to have divine wisdom. I’m a sinful wretch saved only by the grace of God. I have believed strongly in certain Bible teachings only to discover I was wrong, and as I continue learning, I expect to find more things in God’s word that I didn’t know or maybe even misunderstood. I’m not claiming to be smarter than anyone else, but when the Bible clearly teaches something, and a church or an individual is doing and saying something totally opposite, it doesn’t take a scholar to see the contradictions.

So what should we do, stop going to church? No. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day didn’t have everything right either, but that didn’t stop him from going. Sometimes it may be serious enough that we have to move to a different congregation or even change denominations, but we have to realize that God’s true Church is not a certain building, or denomination anyway.

The true church is made up of believers all over the world who have been born again; Those who follow God wherever he leads, and obey his Commandments (Luke 17:21). They pray and study his word every day. That’s the key. Bible Study; Not just reading, but studying; Treating the entire Bible as one book, comparing scripture with scripture (Isaiah 28:10), and being willing to change our minds when we see we are wrong. That’s called growing.

There’s only one Truth, and it’s there in God’s word for all of us to see. There are so many denominations today because there are so many different interpretations of God’s word. Too often, people will develop their own views, and when they come to the Bible, they look for evidence to support their beliefs. This is the wrong way to study the Bible.

Another mistake we make when studying God’s word is one that we often ignore because we don’t really think about it. When we read something, we understand it based on how we think and what we’ve learned. Even our understanding of word definitions color our thought process.

When reading the Bible, there are several things we need in order to understand it properly. One is a desire to know the truth. The other is an understanding that there are words and phrases in the Bible that meant something different when they were written than what they mean now. A good Bible Concordance will help with this. I also recommend the Free computer program called e-Sword, which has a Concordance, and a ton of other helpful Bible Study tools, including many free versions of the Bible. There’s also an app for iPhones and Androids which does cost a few dollars, but it’s worth every penny.

The Bible usually interprets itself, and the King James Version has a built-in dictionary. The more you study, the better you understand. We should always come to the Bible as little children, with humble, teachable spirits, and again, we must be willing to change our beliefs when they are different from God’s Truth. We should always pray and ask God to guide us in our understanding of scripture. Who better to help us understand the word of God than the One who inspired the men who wrote it (2 Peter 1:21).

When we do this we’ll see the Truth more clearly. The Bible will become to us the book that God intended it to be from the beginning, and we’ll join the ranks of those who make up the true church scattered throughout the entire world; The ones who know the Truth, and have been made free by it.

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SANTA CLAUS AND JESUS

As I stood there staring into space, a full range of emotions flooded my entire soul. My heart pounded inside my chest as if it were trying to escape. Then it seemed to move upward into my throat. I could barely breathe. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. How could this be? My whole world had just been shattered into tiny pieces. I had just discovered, to my utter disappointment, that Santa Claus was not real. Now, this may seem like a gross overreaction, but to a child of only eight, I had never dreamed that anything like this could ever happen to me. Such a revelation just seemed to be too much to bear.

It was more than just realizing the fat man in the red and white suit was a fairy tale. Everything that I had ever believed, now came into question. How could everybody have lied to me for so long? How could they? Had it all been a lie? Everything? Could I trust anything that I had been told? Was it all lies? The Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy? What about Jesus? Was he real or just another story? Would I find out later that God doesn’t exist? I mean, I had never seen him either so I couldn’t know for sure.

Now, your experience may not be as dramatic as mine was, but have you ever wondered how other children react when they find out their parents have been lying to them for years? To say that a “Little White Lie” doesn’t have a long-term effect on people is to deny human nature. The subconscious is a very powerful thing.

For just a moment, think about the last time you found out someone had lied to you. How did you feel? How long did it take you to get over it? Have you gotten over it yet? People should stop lying to their children. In fact, people should stop lying, period. Especially people who claim to be Christians. It sets a bad example for the kids and it’s a bad witness.

I don’t know, maybe people have forgotten the definition of lying. Dictionary.com says lying is saying something that is false or untrue.* Maybe they have forgotten that lying is a sin? I keep hearing people say, “Everybody lies.” Well, if everybody lies, there will be nobody in heaven because the Bible says ALL liars will burn in hell fire (Rev. 21:8). Even if it were true that “Everybody Lies,” just because “Everybody’s Doing It” doesn’t make it right. I’m not judging anybody, because I’m not the judge, and I’ve done more than my share of lying in the past. At some point, we all need to grow up, and act like adults, and take responsibility for our actions, instead of lying about what we have said or done, and we need to stop the tradition of lying to our children. We need to let the Santa lie die.

How many souls have been lost? How many will be lost because of this so-called “harmless,” “little” “white lie?” How many children grow up and reject Jesus, placing him in the same category as the unreal, made-up, pretend, fairy tales they knew as a child and eventually grew out of? Remember, there’s no such thing as a white lie or a little lie. A lie is a lie, and lying is a sin. It’s that simple, and no amount of reasoning will ever change that fact. ---

Definition of LYING

* http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lying

The Most Popular Sin

https://teddylynn.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-most-popular-sin.html

For information on how the legend of Santa began, follow this link. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

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ONE GOD

You’ve probably heard about many different gods from many different cultures around the world, but the bible says there is only ONE God (Mark 12:32, 1 Cor. 8:6, 1 Tim. 2:5, James 2:19). That simply means there’s only ONE TRUE God (John 17:3). He’s the only living God. There is only ONE GOD and there is no other (Mark 12:32, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

The word ONE is also used in the bible to show unity. The Bible says when a man and a woman marry they become ONE flesh (Genesis. 2:24). They don’t become the same person, but they are united as ONE.

In Genesis 11:6, God said, “The people is ONE…” ONE in unity. God uses this idea throughout the Bible.

The nation of Israel and other nations are referred to as He and Him in the Bible (Exodus 4:22, 1 Sam. 15:2). This shows the people are UNITED. They are all ONE. They are unified. United into ONE entity. We are all ONE in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Many members, but ONE body (Romans 12:5). Unity.

Paul said that he and Apollos were ONE (1 Corinthians. 3:6-9). Did he mean that he was Apollos? Were they the same person? No. They were two separate individuals. They were both in Christ, working toward the same goal, so he said they were ONE. We see this same unity in Acts 2:44, 46. They had all things in common and continued in ONE accord.

Jesus prayed to the Father that His disciples would all be ONE in the same way that He and the Father are ONE (John 17:11). He also prayed for you and I, that we would be ONE in the same way that He and the Father are ONE (John 17:20-22). This ONEness that Jesus prayed for clearly is to be unified as ONE body of believers. Not to be ONE person or being. It means to be ONE in unity. ONE in thought, deed, and purpose.

Jesus talked to the Father, and about Him in such a way to let us know, without a doubt, that He and the Father and the Holy Spirit are three separate individuals. They are not the same person (John 17:3). “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are ONE” (1 John 5:7). They are ONE in thought, in action, and in purpose.

The English word God in the book of Genesis is translated from the Hebrew word Elohim, most of the time. It is used 2,555 times in the Old Testament. It is used 200 times just in the book of Genesis. This word is a plural word consisting of more than ONE being. (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible).

The word Elohim reveals the Trinity (Matthew 28:19, 1 John 5:7). Every time this word is used all three are involved in whatever is happening. Mark 1:9-11 presents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all three at the same time.

Colossians 2:9 says that all the fullness of the Godhead lives in the body of Jesus Christ. This verse does NOT say Jesus is the Father and/or the Spirit. It says, that the fullness of the Godhead is in Him (Hebrews 10:5).

Colossians 1:19 says it pleased the Father that Jesus should have all the power of the complete Godhead. He has all the attributes of God (Isaiah 9:6). He is equal with God (Philippians 2:6). He is the express image of God (Hebrews 1:1-3). He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

This is why Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). He wasn’t saying that He was the Father. He said no man has ever seen the Father. “NO MAN has seen God at any time…” The Son has revealed Him (John 1:18). “Not that any man has seen the Father” (John 6:46; 5:35; 1 John 4:12).

In these verses, Jesus declares that NO MAN has EVER seen the Father at ANY time. He NEVER said that He was the Father. He showed us the character of the Father while He lived on earth.

In Exodus 24:9-10, Moses, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel “saw the God of Israel and lived to eat and drink”. But if no man has ever seen the Father, as we previously saw, then how can this passage be explained? Simple. No man has ever seen the Father at any time (John 1:18, 6:4-6, 5:37, 4:12). This was Jesus, the Son, the second person in the Godhead. He went with the children of Israel through the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4). He talked to them (Deut. 5:4, 22-23; 9:10), and He talked to Moses, face to face (Ex. 33:11).

Numbers 20:16 says the LORD (Jehovah) “sent an angel and has brought us out of Egypt.” Exodus 14:19 says, “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. 1 Corinthians 10:4 says that angel was Jesus Christ. (The original Greek word, translated as “followed” in this verse, means accompanied He went with them.)

In Exodus 3:2 the angel of the LORD (Jehovah) appeared to Moses in a burning bush. In verse 4, God (Elohim) speaks to Moses. So here Jesus appeared to Moses, and Elohim speaks to him. Keeping intact our earlier discovery that No man has ever seen the Father at any time (John 1:18, 6:4-6, 5:37, 4:12). He told Moses to take off his shoes because the ground where he was standing was holy. In Joshua 5:13-15 the captain of the Lord’s host appeared unto Joshua and told him the same thing. The ground wasn’t holy in itself, the presence of God is what made it holy. This man, the Captain of the Lord’s host, was also Jesus.

Jesus was also the angel who wrestled with Jacob until the breaking of day (Gen. 32:24-30; 35:10-13; Hosea 12:2-5). Jesus is not a created being, though. The word angel simply means messenger.  (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

The word archangel means chief or leader; or captain, as he told Joshua. Jesus is the archangel. It is He, NOT Gabriel, who will shout with the voice of the archangel, when the last trumpet sounds, as He leads all the angels of heaven to the earth at the end of this world.

Before there was ever a man on the earth, and before there was even an earth, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existed together (John 17:24; Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; John 17:5). “In the beginning Elohim (the Trinity) made the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1-2, 26). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God at the beginning” (John 1:1-2). Jesus is the Word (John 1:14; Revelation 19:13).

Jesus is called God in John 1:1, but the same verse says He was with God. Verse 2 also says He was with God. He was not with Himself, but He was with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1-2).

Although the name Jesus was given to him when he put on human flesh, Jesus did not have His beginning as a baby in a manger as many people believe (Ps. 2:7; Heb. 10:5). He has always existed. As a member of the Godhead, and as an individual (John 1:3, 10; Heb. 1:1). The prophet Agur said that God had a Son (Proverbs 30:4).

Jesus is the Word through which God created all things (John 1:1,14; 1 John 5:7; Rev. 19:13; 1 John 1:1-2; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:1-2; Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5).

He spoke and it was done… (Ps. 33:9). God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness” (Gen. 1:26).

After Adam sinned, God said, “The man has become as ONE of US to know good and evil” (Gen. 3:22). Then at the tower of Babel, the LORD God (Jehovah Elohim) said, “Let US go down and confuse their language…” (Genesis 11:7). Who was God talking to in these three passages? Certainly not Himself. He was talking to the other members of the Godhead.

The Bible continually speaks of the Father and the Son as two separate individuals (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3, 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2, 12-13, 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4, 2:13; James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 4:15, 5:5,7,9-13; Revelation 1:1, 11:15).

2 John 9 says, “He that abides in the doctrine of Christ (Messiah) has BOTH the Father AND the SON. It is clear that they are not the same person. Jesus is not the Father.

Jesus prayed to the Father many times. He said many things that prove He is not the Father. He said the Father was in heaven while He was here on earth (Matthew 5:16, 45, 48, 6:1,9, 10:32, 33). In Matthew 10:32 He said if we confess Him, He will confess us before the Father who is in Heaven. This text shows that He and the Father are two separate individuals. Mark 13:32 proves this without a doubt. Jesus made a distinguishing difference between Himself and the Father. Here are some more verses that show the teaching of Jesus on this subject (John 8:54, 17:18, and 14:10).

Jesus said His Father is greater than Him (John 14:28). He said “if anyone loves me they will keep my words, and my Father will love them and WE will come to them and make OUR home with them (John 14:23).

In John 15:1 Jesus tells a parable. He says He is the Vine and the Father is the gardener. Notice that the plant and the gardener are not the same. When Stephen was stoned he saw heaven open, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55).

Jesus prayed to the Father that He wouldn’t have to die. But then He said, “not My will, but Your will be done (Mark 14:36). Then before He died on the cross He cried “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus was not talking to Himself. He could not forsake Himself.

“God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). Sin can not exist in the presence of God. When Jesus bore our iniquities (Is. 53) and became sin for us, (2 Cor. 5:21) the Father had to leave Him. Jesus and the Father are clearly not the same person.

John 3:16 says He is the Son of God. Jesus said, “My doctrine is not mine but His who sent Me (John 7:16, 14:24). The Father judges no man but has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). He said in John 8:54, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me.” Jesus didn’t honor nor glorify Himself (John 17:18, 8:54; Hebrews 5:5). The Father glorified the Son (Matt. 3:17; Acts 3:13). So, if Jesus and the Father were the same person, then when the Father honored and glorified the Son, He would be honoring and glorifying himself. Thus contradicting his own words.

Jesus gave a prophecy about the second coming and the end of the world. Then He said, “no man knows the day nor the hour, not the angels in heaven, neither the Son, only the Father” (Mrk. 13:32). Jesus said the Father knew something that He didn’t at the time. That would be impossible if they were the same person or being. They are not. There is ONE God and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Bible, from beginning to end, shows that there is only ONE God. ONE God, as opposed to many gods. But this God is Elohim (plural), with three persons working together, like a family.

The Holy Spirit was there in the beginning with the Father and Jesus. Each person in the Godhead has separate individual works, as well as collective works as ONE God. The Holy Spirit did not have His beginning on the day of Pentecost as some teach (Gen. 1:2, 26). The Trinity, Elohim, the Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They were all three there at creation (Gen. 1:2, 26). They have always existed. That’s impossible for us humans to understand completely because in our minds everything has to have a beginning, but, this is what the Bible teaches. We don’t have to understand something for it to be true.

In Genesis chapter ONE, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, all working together, in unity and in ONE accord, created the world and everything in it (Genesis 1:1,2; John 1:1-14). We can see each ONE working separately, as individuals, and all together as ONE God throughout the Bible (Genesis 1:1,2; Psalm 51:11; Proverbs 30:4; Daniel 3:25; 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3).

The Spirit of God is mentioned throughout the Old Testament (Genesis 1:2, 41:38; Exodus 31:3, 35:31; Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:10, 11:16, 19:20,23; 2 Chronicles 15:1; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 11:24). Sometimes He is called the Spirit of the Lord (Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 13:25, 15:14; 1 Samuel 10:6, 16:13-14; 2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Kings 22:24; 2 Kings 2:16; 2 Chronicles 20:14; Isaiah 11:2, 40:13, 48:16, 59:19; Ezekiel 11:5; Micah 3:8). He is also called the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament as well as the new (Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 63:10-11).

Mark tells us that the Holy Ghost, in the new testament, is the same Holy Spirit that David refers to in Psalm 51:11 (Mark 12:36). Acts 7:51 confirms this also. The words “Ghost” and “Spirit” are translated from the same Greek word (Pneuma). Both names refer to the same being and either name is correct. He is the Comforter (John 14:16, 26, 15:26). Jesus referred to Him as a person not as “IT” (John 14:16, 26, 15:26).

Jesus said the Father would send the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name (John 14:26). Here we have all three mentioned at the same time and in such a manner as to distinguish them as three different beings. Isaiah 48:16 says “God and his Spirit has sent me”.

Throughout the Bible, God makes it a point to show us that there are three persons in the Godhead. Let’s look at the most conclusive Scripture first, that shows Jesus is not the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is not Jesus. In Matthew 12:32 and Luke 12:10 says “whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him; but unto him, that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost, it shall NOT be forgiven him.” If Jesus and the Holy Spirit were the same individuals, this statement could not be true. To blaspheme the Holy Ghost would be to blaspheme Jesus. It is clear that they are not the same person with just different titles.

Jesus told his disciples that He was going back to heaven to his Father. Then He told them He would pray to the Father (not Himself) and the Father would give them another Comforter (not Himself) (John 14:16). ANOTHER means ANOTHER. Not the same with a different name. Jesus said, “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak of Himself, but whatever He shall hear that shall He speak” (John 16:13). Jesus is saying here that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will not speak His own words but the words He hears from GOD. This verse makes it clear that they are not the same person. Jesus makes this plain in verses 14 and 15. Jesus said the Holy Ghost would glorify Jesus, not Himself. “He will take of mine and show it to you. All things that the Father has are mine. That’s why I said, He will take of mine and will show it to you” (John. 14:14, 15).

This study shows without a doubt that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three different individuals. We see all three of them at Christ’s baptism (Mark. 1:9-11). We also see all three at creation (Genesis 1:2b, 26; Hebrews. 1:1) and throughout God’s holy word.

The Bible is clear. The Trinity is Biblical. While Jesus is God, He is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit. They are three separate persons that make up ONE GOD.

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