I was thankful to be invited to the Confronting the Devil Podcast with Kevin Collier.  His excitement about the open air ministry was great and gives me hope for the body of believers who have been fearful or ignorant of how to preach to the lost for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Here is Vol 1 of that podcast, please like, comment, and share with your friends, family, churches, and enemies!  Thank you.

 

 

 

 

This teaching by Mike Bradley is both timely and necessary in this dark age in which we find ourselves.  I have found Mike’s insights and teaching style to be edifying and insightful by the Holy Ghost and God’s Word.   Enjoy this great teaching from a small home family fellowship in Palawan, Republic of the Philippines.

Is Progressive Sanctification True?

By Mike Bradley

This morning’s home church went well. I am so impressed, seeing both my wife and teenage daughter taking notes and with their bible open! Praise the Lord! It’s such a joy to see this kind of attentiveness to the things of God and that we have a shared vision in our home to walk in obedience and holiness before the Lord.

Today’s topic was three-part… “A scriptural response to the Augustinian error of ‘Original Sin’, “Do Genuine Believers Crucify The Flesh Daily?” and “A Scriptural Response to the Error of ‘Progressive Sanctification’.” These three false beliefs have contributed to many professing believers thinking they can continue in sin and still be saved when in fact, they may have never repented from sin to begin with, and thus, were never saved at all.

Any good Christian husband should both teach and demonstrate to his family how to obey God and walk in holiness, so these three false beliefs need to be preemptively dismantled so as to not be obstacles to obedience. But first, let’s define some terms. What is the ‘flesh’? The ‘flesh’ is another term for the acquired (not inherited) ‘sinful nature’ that characterizes all unrepentant, spiritually unregenerate sinners.

Sinful Nature/ Original Sin

Who is willing to contradict God when He describes our pre-born state as….

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works…” (Psalm 139:14 KJV)

We are born with a nature that is worthy of praising God for, a good nature, not an evil nature. It is this good nature which became corrupted when we chose to sin. Even in the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Spirit, the apostle Paul describes mankind as….

(1Co 11:7 KJV) ….the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

The Bible says in….

(Isa 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We have not been forced by Adam to sin, nor is God responsible for our sinful nature, but we have ‘turned every one to his own way’. Sin is something we have done, not Adam. We are responsible for our choice to sin. Not Adam. Not God. Not Satan. You.

The bible says….

(Ecc 7:29 ESV) See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

Neither Adam nor God can be blamed for men sinning, because it is men themselves who seek out ‘many schemes’, implying sinful acts.

We have brought our sinful nature upon ourselves due to our own choice to disobey God at some time in the past, and we have been in need of deliverance, of salvation, or spiritual rescue from the wrath of God and from sin itself ever since the first time we disobeyed God.

So, we see that our nature was created by God and that it was good. We see that the flesh is a sinful nature that is acquired after our birth which predisposes a person toward rebellion. And rebellion is when we choose to sin, which leads to spiritual death.

(Rom 6:23 KJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Up to this point I’ve used the terms ‘flesh’ as synonymous with a ‘sinful nature’. There are many who believe we have a sinful nature that is inherited (the Augustinian error), while others believe we don’t have a sinful nature at all (sinners in denial). But we know there is a sinful nature that is acquired, not inherited. For example…. (caps mine for emphasis)…

(Eph 2:3 KJV) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and WERE BY NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

And we see the antithesis of the sinful nature in the ‘divine nature’ that only spiritually regenerate souls have. For example….

(2Peter 1:4 ESV) by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

To be a partaker of the ‘divine nature’ is what a genuinely saved person enjoys, the freedom from the influence of a sinful desire.

(Jas 3:9 KJV) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

The word “similitude’ means ‘likeness’. So, far removed from the time of Adam, we see that God still creates us in His likeness. Since God is not sinful, it follows that contrary to Calvinists led by the 4th century heretic Augustine, God does not create us as sinful beings.

Notably, all three verses use the same Greek word for “nature”, which is

φύσις
phusis
‘foosis’

This word for ‘nature’ has a primary meaning of ‘lineal descent’, but is also used figuratively to mean a ‘disposition’. The latter meaning is preferred here.

Since we do not inherit a divine nature through physical inheritance, it follows that we also do not inherit sin through physical inheritance.

Now people will sometimes say, “oh, but the bible says we were brought forth in sin!”….No, it doesn’t.

(Psa 51:5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:5 is clearly saying that David was conceived in sin, not that he was born sinful.

The bible also says….

(Psa 53:3 KJV) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Gone back? From what? If they became altogether filthy, what were they before?

The bible say’s man’s heart is evil from his youth (not his birth). Caps mine for emphasis.

(Gen 8:21) And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil FROM HIS YOUTH; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

(Jer 22:21 KJV) I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner FROM THY YOUTH, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

(Jer 32:30 KJV) For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me FROM THEIR YOUTH: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.

Our ‘youth’ is not when we were born. It’s the time after we are born. It’s a time when we first disobeyed God and felt shame or guilt for it. A baby doesn’t have that capacity. Children do not acquire a sinful nature until they comprehend accountability for their actions.

Perhaps I will go into more detail on additional refutations of the false doctrine of “original sin” in the future, but for now, we will return to the main point of the study.

WHY WOULD GENUINE BELIEVERS CRUCIFY THE FLESH?

Crucifying the flesh was supposed to have already happened.

(Gal 5:24 KJV) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

‘Have crucified’….past tense. It already happened…or should have happened. And how can you be Christ’s if you repeatedly crucify the flesh? The Spirit-inspired word says of the believer…

(Rom 6:14 KJV) For sin shall not have dominion over you….

If you’re repeatedly crucifying the flesh, then you’re still under the dominion of sin. Obviously, some have been delivered from the power of darkness…Others have not.

(Col 1:13 KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son

If Jesus has delivered you from the power of darkness, why are you still crucifying the flesh daily? According to the bible, our ‘old self’ was crucified a long time ago.

(Rom 6:6 KJV) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Anyone who claims to have died with Christ should also be declaring they are set free from sin, because that is one of the reasons Jesus died on the cross.

(Rom 6:7 KJV) For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Again, past tense. The believer ‘has been’ set free from sin It does not repeatedly happen because it was supposed to have already happened. If you’re still crucifying the flesh, then it was never killed. Thus, you haven’t been set free from sin.

The bible says….

(Rom 8:6 KJV) “For to be carnally minded is death.” And…

(Rom 8:13 KJV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

If you’re crucifying the flesh daily, it’s apparent that you’re in the flesh daily, and thus, still spiritually dead. How can you claim to be Christ’s if you’re spiritually dead every day? p

According to the author of Hebrews, your sins were purged already.

(Heb 1:3 ESV) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

If your sins have been purged already, why are you still crucifying them as if you still have them?

Speaking to the Corinthian believers, apostle Paul says….

(1 Corinthians 6:11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

They already were sanctified. It already happened.

This is the predicament that believers in the modern ‘churchy’ church are in. They claim to ‘crucify the flesh’ daily, but are unaware that their sins should have been purged in a one-time occurrence when they first repented…..if they repented. Their criteria for being ‘Christ’s’ is not the word of God in its entirety, but ‘faith alone’. The problem is, the word of God demands more than just ‘faith alone’.

What must a professing ‘Christian’ who has either not repented, is disobedient and otherwise still walking in sin do? Under the inspiration of the Spirit, the apostle Paul says…

(Rom 13:12 KJV) The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

(Rom 13:13 KJV) Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

(Rom 13:14 KJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The bible is teaching that to mortify the deeds of the flesh, we must ‘walk properly’. What is ‘walking properly’? To walk as Jesus walked. In obedience. An unregenerate, unsaved person doesn’t walk as Jesus walked, but a repentant, saved from sin and born again believer does.

The bible here also says to ‘Put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ ‘ and ‘make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires’. In other words, stop sinning.

(1Jn 1:5 KJV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Jesus said…
(Joh 8:12 KJV) ….”I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

If you repent from sin (turn away from sin), follow Jesus (which is to obey Him) and abide in Him with an enduring faith, your way will be lighted. You will not stumble because you will see where you’re going. If your eyes are open, and you’re spiritually born again, you’ll see the kingdom of God and will by the grace of God, be able to avoid sin and ultimately, overcome the world.

So instead of sinning daily and then crucifying the flesh daily, repent from sin and follow Jesus. If you do this, you won’t have to make excuses like ‘God is still working on me’ or ‘I just need to crucify the flesh daily!’.

AGAINST PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION

I then prepared my family to respond to the error of ‘progressive sanctification’ with the word of God. Progressive sanctification is the belief that one’s cleansing of sins is an ongoing work that happens as one repeatedly sins, confesses and (supposedly) repents over and over. Finally, at some time in the future (never soon) a breakthrough is supposed to happen and they finally become ‘sanctified’ or in some cases, they believe God finishes the work after they die. This is completely against what the bible teaches.

Jesus died to save us from sin itself. We died with Him through faith and we were raised with Him as well, in newness and purity in heart, having been purged of sins and sanctified. To believe that our sanctification is incomplete at the time we first believe on Jesus implies that His work on the cross was insufficient. God forbid such a belief! But what does the bible say?

(Act 20:32) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among ALL OF THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED.

“All them which are sanctified” are genuine believers, sanctified in the present tense. They are sanctified in their nature. It’s already happened.

(Act 26:18 KJV) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Jesus is speaking here, explaining to Paul the reason for sending him to the Gentile people (the non-Jewish nations), clearly indicating that it is faith in Jesus that sanctifies a person, not a life-long process of repeatedly sinning, confessing and repenting….sinning, confessing and repenting etc etc.

(1 Cor 1:2 KJV) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

There are some at Corinth who were not sanctified, as evidenced by Paul’s correcting the Corinthians of sexual immorality, false tongues and other spiritual abuses going on in that church. And there were some who “ARE” sanctified.

(1 Cor 6:11 KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye ARE SANCTIFIED, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Again, some WERE unsanctified, still doing the kingdom prohibiting sins mentioned in 1 Cor 6:9-10, but at the time Paul was penning this letter, they “ARE” sanctified, present tense. Their present state as some who are genuine believers is a state of being sanctified already.

(Heb 2:11 KJV) For both he that sanctifieth and they who ARE SANCTIFIED are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

There is Jesus who sanctifies, and there are those ‘brethren’, genuine believers, who “ARE SANCTIFIED”, present tense.

(Heb 10:10 KJV) By the which will we ARE SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Again, present tense, indicating their present state.

(Heb 10:14 KJV) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that ARE SANCTIFIED.

Again, present tense, indicating one’s present condition of being in a sanctified state.

(Jude 1:1 KJV) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

The ‘called’ are also the sanctified, present tense, indicating their present sanctified state. For them, it’s already happened. There is no further sanctification. They’ve already believed in Jesus’ work on the cross, which through their faith evidenced by deeds worthy of repentance, sanctifies them.

Thanks for making it this far, if you did. May the grace of God be with you.

(Tit 2:11) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
(Tit 2:12) training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

For those who know they are unsaved, unsanctified and still a slave to sin and on the way to hell fire, I would encourage you to repent from all sin. If you’re sincere, you will, and you’ll be blessed for it. And cry out to Jesus, beg Him to forgive you. If you’re sincere, He will. Then, know Jesus by following Him in an enduring, obedient faith.

Closing Thoughts by Br. John McGlone

In reading Mike’s teaching about the false concept of ‘progressive’ sanctification, what we are really trying to understand is progressive maturation.  With the thought of maturation in place. my next thought is what about progressive reprobation?

What is Progressive Maturation?

Progressive maturation comes with the study of God’s Word, sincerely seeking to live holy, rejecting bad doctrines, good/bad spiritual experiences, etc.  As we grow in the grace and knowledge of God’s will for our life we adjust our thinking and behaviors based upon our personal convictions that the Holy Ghost gives us personally.

Some examples of progressive maturation in my own life are: 1. stopping smoking about a week after I became a believer.  When I was convicted about this I was doing a Bible study while puffing on a cigarette.   2.  Another is speeding about 5 mph over the limit as my practice for almost 20 years as a Christian.  A brother mentioned to me why wouldn’t I obey that ordinance of man, and the Holy Ghost convicted me.  I have not been perfect in this but every time I catch myself I bring my speed back in line with the posted limit.  I don’t condemn others about this, but will openly discuss my convictions.  3.  My bad thinking that, “…love covers a multitude of sin.” meant that I could ignore what I believe is sin in another brother’s life.  I matured and realized that I must deal with those kind of uncomfortable situations and that if the person repents then that love to warn them has covered the sin.  Ignoring sin in our life or anyone else’s is to allow and bring greater destruction in the person’s life.

What is Progressive Reprobation?

This is a very important concept that I hope to do a fuller teaching later, Lord willing. Every converted, born again of the Holy Spirit believer on the planet are under what I term ‘probation’.  What I mean by that is that we were former criminals(sinners), that have come to the court of the Ancient of Days in our spirit, made a confession of our crimes, and asked to be forgiven, and then trusted the Lamb of God to wash us clean.  He then probated or set aside our record of crimes by passing over them through the propitiation of the blood of Jesus Christ.  This began our faith walk.  Now, while we journey down this narrow and difficult path which leads to life we begin to do our former criminal activity, we grieve the Mediator and the Holy Ghost by which we had been saved from our sins.  As they distance themselves from our unholiness, they are still desiring to bring conviction of the leaven that has begun to permeate our life.  Sin brings forth death!

by Brother Jed Smock

An often repeated maxim in Christian circles is, “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak.  Where the Scriptures are silent we are silent.”

I do not think anyone truly keeps this saying.  It is not practical.  All men speak beyond the scriptures. However, many refuse to admit to it.  I suggest a better aphorism for theological reflection, which has become known as the Wesley Quadrilateral: The core of the Christian doctrine and faith is revealed in Scripture; but our faith is also illumined by tradition, quickened in personal experience of the Holy Spirit, and confirmed by reason. There are paradoxes in scripture that cannot be answered without the use of tradition, experience and reason; all Christians employ them to some extent, whether or not they admit it.

A child or a new Christian should have a strong foundation of scripture study nurtured by parents, pastors and fellow believers.  Being a part of a church community is vital! Church history and tradition as revealed through the fathers of the church and the creeds are valuable sources for theological reflection. Regrettably, most Christians are woefully ignorant of the traditions of our fathers established by the long history of Christianity as expressed in different nations and cultures.

The Holy Spirit has spoken through church councils and individuals with prophetic gifts throughout history.  He continues to speak today through the experiences of men vivified through the third person of the Trinity.  One should not ignore the mystical element of our union with Christ, who communicates through and to each generation of believers.

One of the laws of logic is the law of non-contradiction.  Yet, Christians in their appeal to the Bible often contradict themselves.  Christian doctrine is in conformity to the laws of reason, or natural law.  Self-contradictory doctrines cannot be true.  Trying to understand Scriptures independently of reason is folly.  God himself is the Logos, which may be translated the Logic.  Would he speak contrary to reason?

One problem in appealing to Scripture alone is that the Scriptures were inspired in the context of a particular historical time and place.  Paul’s letters often address issues, which were relevant to the primitive church, but not necessarily as pertinent to Christians of our time or place.  Sometimes we may not have enough historical information to understand what Paul, Peter, James or John meant.  How can we really understand the Bible and the Christian faith and its application to modern life, if we ignore tradition, experience and reason as aids in our understanding of the faith, which was once delivered to the saints of old and continues to be conveyed to us today?

With this in mind, we must understand that reason has limits, because the human mind has been restricted by the fall.  When we study history, we often only see in a glass darkly.  Furthermore the pride of life is always lurking to try and lead us astray as we gain more knowledge.

In conclusion, scripture, tradition, experience and reason, guided by the Holy Spirit and guarded by a community of believers will keep us on the straight and narrow.

 

 

We didn’t see this coming? My view and supposition is that conservative Christians are not lion like in their approach to the onslaught of our perfect and true religion. By personal experience, I know that most Christian lawyers want the easier win, the non confrontational cases which don’t cause many waves to their reputation/careers. But, never before in our history has the bold preaching of the Gospel more warranted and the defense of the same! But, MOST ‘Christians’ do not want to take up this cross and follow Jesus. This may mean loss of family, jobs, reputation, jail time, fines, harassment, persecutions, and even beheadings. The winnowing fork of Jesus is upon the threshing floor for the ‘church’ in Amerika! Get ready Amerikan church, your time to rise up has been decades overdue!

 

http://libertycounsel.com/a-new-level-of-attack/

 

 

 

PILGRIM BECOMES AN EVANGELIST  An Allegory of the 21st Century Christian Walk

Having only had my eyes opened for a short time, I now realized that most of the people around me were rushing towards the City of Destruction. My heart burned within me as I struggled to persuade them that they must turn and go with me on the way to the Celestial City. Daily I stood on the way as they thronged around me and cried out to them to turn. Frequently they would berate me and tell me to take my preaching to the church. But often one of them would stop and speak with me giving me opportunity to shed some light into their hearts and plead with them for their soul.   One day as I stood and cried aloud my fellow pilgrim, MR. COWARD approached me and asserted that I was doing it the wrong way and would surely keep some from ever joining us on our trip to the Celestial City. Being a new pilgrim, I was smitten in my heart that I might be a cause of them not heeding the words of truth. Eagerly I asked MR. COWARD for help in learning how best to touch these desperate souls. He did not seem to have any answer, but simply stated that he tried to befriend them and eventually HE HOPED they would ask him for the truth. Of course, I wanted to befriend them also, as I was much troubled over their plight, but as I pored over the Holy words of Truth, I saw that the Apostle Paul said in Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” This much encouraged my heart and I again went out to the broad way where the sinners were going on their way heedless of the danger that awaited them.     Once again MR. COWARD saw me and came over along with MR. SANCTIMONIOUS. They stated that perhaps if I really felt that I needed to scream in public I could find someplace where I would not bother anyone. They seemed to be much concerned about the image that I was giving fellow pilgrims. I pointed out to them that John the Baptist, Paul, Peter and the other apostles and even our Lord preached outdoors frequently and I urged them to stay and help me but they seemed to take great offence and pointed out to me that EVANGELIST would be coming through the area soon. They said we could bring the sinners to hear him then and perhaps he could persuade them of their peril. Thinking that they were older pilgrims than I and undoubtedly had more wisdom I waited eagerly for EVANGELIST to arrive. Earnestly I invited and befriended all those I could, but I could not help but feel that it was SO FEW!     Night after night of EVANGELIST‘S meeting, I looked in vain for those lost souls to come. It seemed to me the building was filled with fellow pilgrims and yet EVANGELIST preached as if the building was full of unbelievers. Not understanding, I spoke with EVANGELIST and told him if he would accompany me on the morrow I would show him where he could preach to thousands of lost souls and perhaps we could rescue some of them. But it seemed that EVANGELIST‘s time was already planned and besides PASTOR APATHY had already told him that he did not want our place of worship to be considered so peculiar. Being much in turmoil over the lost souls on the OUTSIDE, and all the preaching going on INSIDE, I again turned to the Holy word and found that if I would be a true evangelist and indeed even a good Christian I must GO (Matthew 28: 19-20) and plead with the sinners where they were which was in the markets (Acts 17:17), local gathering places (Mars Hill-Acts 17:22), in prisons (Acts 16:31) and generally OUTSIDE the church. The spirit much strengthened me as I approached the road leading to the city of Destruction and stood in the midst of the sinners and cried out “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.“

THE DOCTRINE OF THE GODHEAD
by Pastor Britt Williams

 

 

 

The Bible repeatedly asserts that God is one. He is one God (James 2:19) and one Jehovah (Deut 6:4). However, nowhere in Scripture are we ever told that God is one person.  The Bible teaches there is one God manifest in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Oneness Pentecostalism teaches that Jesus is the Father, He is the Son and He is the Holy Ghost.  Hence the name, Jesus Only.  However, evidence from the Word of God clearly refutes this erroneous doctrine which dishonors the Godhead.  Indeed, the Scripture does state there is one God, but the word “one” relates to unity as well as number.  For example, I John 5:7 communicates the Godhead as being one in unity while carefully preserving the distinction of persons within.

1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The three are spoken of as one in number and yet treated individually in Scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Ghost.

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.

Thus there are three separate persons in divine individuality and divine plurality. The Father is called God…

1 Cor. 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father…

The Son is called God…

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God.

And the Holy Spirit is called God…

Acts 5:3-4  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Individually, each is called God; collectively, they can be spoken of as one God because of their perfect unity. The word”God” can be used either in the singular or in the plural, like sheep. Everything that could pertain to God collectively could also apply equally to each member of the Godhead as individuals. However, there are some particulars which relate to each individual person of the deity as to position, office, and work that could not be attributed to either of the other members of the Godhead.  For instance, the Father is the head of Christ…

1 Cor. 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

The Son is the only begotten of the Father…

2 John 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

The Holy Ghost proceeds from both the Father and the Son…

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…

 Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

PLURALITY IN SCRIPTURES

The names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew word Elohim, translated “God” in Genesis 1:1 and also in more than 2,700 other places in the Old Testament, is a uni-plural noun which means “more than one.” Had the sacred writer been led to use the singular El, then there would have been no indication of a divine plurality. But in this initial reference to God, he was led of the Holy Ghost to pen the Word Elohim.

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth.

Also when one considers that the word Elohim is used about ten to one over the word El, we would have to conclude that this preference for the plural over the singular indicates a definite sign of plurality in the Godhead. Genesis 3:22, where it says, “the man has become as one of us,” proves plurality of persons by the use of the pronoun “us.” Two Lords are mentioned in Genesis 19:24–one on earth and one in heaven. Two Lords sit side by side in Psalms 110:1-5, in Matthew 22:44, and in Acts 2:33-34, 36. Two and three Persons are mentioned in the introductions to many New Testament books: Romans, James, I Corinthians, I Peter, to name a few.

 

JESUS IS NOT THE FATHER

We know from the Word of God that while Jesus was on earth the Father was in heaven…

Matthew 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Consider Jesus praying, “Let this cup pass from Me.”

Matthew 26:39  And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Here, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, right before His betrayal.  He was praying to the Father about the ordeal He was about to undergo. Several points are worth bringing out here.  First, in this passage, Jesus addresses the Father. He says, “Oh my Father…” Note that Jesus says”my” and “Father.” These two words designate a “me and you” relationship.  Second, “If it be possible” is Jesus expressing a desire, a hope. What is that hope or desire? It is that “this cup pass from me.” The cup Jesus is speaking of is the immanent ordeal of betrayal, scourging, and crucifixion. Jesus did not want to go through this. He was expressing His desire.  It was His will not to undergo the severe ordeal ahead of Him.  If this was not so, He would not have expressed the desire to have the cup pass from Him.  Third, Jesus says, “Nevertheless., not my will, but thine, be done.”  With this,Jesus is expressing His will and contrasting it to the will of the Father. Yet,He is stating that even though He does not want to undergo what lay ahead,”Nevertheless,” He would submit to the will of the Father.This shows that the person of Jesus had a separate and different will than the Father. Since we have two separate simultaneous wills, we have two separate and simultaneous persons and Oneness Pentecostal theology is incorrect.

We also know that Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father…

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus also said He would confess men before His Father which was in heaven, proving He (Jesus)is not Himself the Father…

Matthew 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus was the only begotten Son of the Father. Hence, Jesus could not be the Father, nor could He beget Himself…

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Over 80 times in the Word of God Jesus affirmed that He was not the Father, nor was He the only person in the Godhead. Admittedly, we do not understand everything about the Trinity. However, it does become somewhat less confusing and mysterious if we don’t try to force two or more separate Persons into becoming only one Person, simply because we choose not to recognize that the true meaning of the word “one” actually refers to unity.

 

THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT JESUS OR THE FATHER

The Holy Spirit is another and He is from both the Father and the Son (John 5:32).

John 5:32  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Jesus could not be the Holy Ghost as Jesus said it was necessary for Him to go away for the Holy Ghost to come…

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

So, what do we have? Jesus is God; the Holy Ghost is God; the Father is God. But Jesus is not the Holy Spirit; Jesus is not the Father. And neither is the Father the Lord Jesus Christ; nor is the Father the Holy Spirit. The Scriptural passages which provide the basis for the Trinitarian doctrine cannot be reconciled to the Jesus Only position without totally disregarding the meaning of language and without totally ignoring many contrary Scriptures. On the other hand, the favorite Jesus Only passages can be reconciled without strain or contradiction to the Trinitarian position.

 

RESPONDING TO ONENESS

 

1. Oneness apologists claim that Deuteronomy 6:4 denies the Trinity.

 

Deut. 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord…

Deuteronomy 6:4 does not deny the Trinity, but rather affirms one of the tenets of the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that there is “one God.” Quite often, those who argue against the Trinity don’t understand the doctrine of the Trinity well enough to explain it, much less refute it. Oneness apologists often claim that the Trinity is a belief in three Gods in order to make the doctrine contradict the Bible. On the contrary, Trinitarians believe in one God who exists in three separate, simultaneous, persons.

 

2. Oneness apologists claim that Isaiah 9:6 proves that Jesus is God the Father.

Isaiah 9:6  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.

The careful examination of the original languages indicate “Everlasting Father” can be rendered “Father of Eternity.” Therefore, “Father of eternity” in Isaiah 9:6 means that Jesus is “eternal.” According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary this implies that Jesus is the creator of the ages (Heb.1:2; 11:3). It does not mean that He is, “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor.1:3).

 

3. Oneness apologists claim that John 5:43 shows that “Jesus”is the Father’s name and thus that Jesus is the Father.

John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name,him ye will receive.

Notice that the second part of this verse insinuates that one who comes “in his own name” is not to be “received.” If Jesus was actually the Father which would literally make His name Jesus, then He would have been coming “in His own name” and it would have been wrong to receive Him. This contrast between “My Father’s name” and “his own name”proves that Jesus did not come “in his own name.”Therefore, “Jesus” is not the Father’s name, and Jesus is not the Father. This turns out to be a proof text against oneness theology.

 

4. Oneness apologists claim that John 10:30 proves the Father and the Son are one person.

 

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Any first year Greek student will notice that a one-person interpretation of this verse is precluded by the first person plural in the Greek New Testament. A literal translation of this verse would be: “I and the Father we are one.” If Jesus was the Father, He would have used the first person singular and said, “I am the Father.” Furthermore, the Greek word for “one” is in the neuter gender which points to the idea of one in “unity or one essence.”   The masculine form would have been used to signify one in contrast to many.

 

5. Oneness Pentecostals claim that John 14:6-11 proves that Jesus is God the Father.

John 14:6-11  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so longtime with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Notice in the passage that Jesus begins by stating, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me” and later states, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  Dr. Robert  Bowman  points out that “the natural sense of these words is that Jesus is not the Father, but a mediator between us and the Father.” It would be ridiculous for Jesus to claim that no man could come “to” the Father except “through” Him if Jesus and the Father were one and the same person. The words “to” and”through” only make sense if Jesus and the Father are distinct persons, with Jesus being the Mediator between man and the Father. In verse 7,Jesus states, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” Bowman points out that “this is true, not because Jesus is the Father,but because those who know Jesus are led by Him to know the Father as they see Him imaged perfectly in Jesus. Thus, says Jesus, ‘from now on you know Him, and have seen Him’ (v.7b). Existing with the Father as the one indivisible Divine Being, Jesus can say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ (v.9). Nevertheless, Jesus does not say, ‘I am the Father,’ but rather, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in Me’ (v.10, repeated in v.11; and 10:38).” Oneness believers frequently cite the second part of this last statement, “the Father is in Me,” to mean that the deity (“Father”) dwells in the humanity (“Son”) of Jesus. This view, however, is clearly faulty in light of the first part of the sentence, “I am in the Father,” which in oneness terms would mean that the human nature of Jesus dwells in His deity. No Oneness Pentecostal believes the humanity of Jesus dwelt in the divinity of Jesus. Moreover, it fails to account for the fact that in this same context, as well as elsewhere, Jesus uses this sort of expression to denote His unity with believers: “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you inMe, and I in you” (v.20; and 17:21-23).

 

6. Oneness apologists interpret John 17:6,11-12 as proof that”Jesus” is the Father’s name and therefore that Jesus is the Father.

John 17:6, 11-12  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word….11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Oneness writers point to the words “manifested” and “gave” in order to claim that Jesus was the Father’s name, and that the Father “gave” His name to Jesus, as evidence that Jesus is the Father. They overlook the fact that a human father can give his name to his son, without the father and son being the same person!  Furthermore, it should be noted from this passage that Jesus said twice that His disciples were “in Thy (the Father’s) name.” If oneness believers interpret this phrase in a consistent manner with the way they interpret it in John 5:43, they are left with the ridiculous conclusion that the disciples are the Father! The oneness interpretation simply does not work because it is not logically consistent.

 

7. Oneness writers claim that Col.2:9 proves that Jesus is God the Father and Holy Spirit.

Col. 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Since Colossians 2:9says that the fulness of “the Godhead” dwells in Jesus, Oneness writers have argued that the Godhead is in Jesus, not Jesus in the Godhead. This either/or approach, however, causes the oneness interpretation of Colossians 2:9 to contradict their interpretation of John 10:38 where Jesus states, “the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.” Since “the Father” in oneness theology is “the Godhead,” John 10:38 in their terms would mean that the Godhead is in Jesus, and Jesus is in the Godhead. When Oneness believers deny that “Jesus is in the Godhead,” what they mean to deny is that Jesus is one person in a triune Godhead. Colossians 2:9, though, does not rule out that possibility. What it affirms is that Jesus is no less than the full and complete revelation of God’s nature (‘theotetos’,”deity”) in the flesh. While not all three persons of God are incarnate in Jesus, all of God’s essence is incarnate in Jesus.

©  Edited by B.W., all rights reserved, Consuming Fire Fellowship.

 

 

Psa 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

I awoke today to my pregnant daughter explaining she had been up every ten minutes since 4 am with pains repeating.  Did I say she was 81/2 months pregnant?  We were not that excited at first but by afternoon her labor pains were 5 minutes apart, we called the mid wife.  She arrived and we began to set up the curtains and birthing pool downstairs.   We have had the privilege to host three previous births there from fellow believers’ families, this will be our fourth.  Our granddaughter’s name is Lydia Orissa Lovell, they thought that LOL would be cool initials, we’ll see what Lydia says in the years to come.

After a few hours of hand holding and encouragement, our son-in law Joshua came up overwhelmed with the suffering of his bride.  I chided him to return to her side to suffer alongside of her.  My wife encouraged him to take a break and get some more blankets, my wife is very wise in these things!  She explained that Jenna’s sisters were being very helpful giving him a break.  I can imagine the heartache, he is going through.  We’re all feeling it too…

As I am writing, I can hear her cries in labor.  My heart skips a beat as it has every time one of our children has been hurt over the years.   Every parent relates to this roller coaster of emotions which hit you as you see or hear your child get hurt or are hurting.  Nida related how difficult it was to bear through the painful wailing of Jenna as she began her final push for just over an hour.  It was at that time that the Lord drew me off this blogpost.  He led me and the boys to pray for her, the baby, and the rest of our family, and midwives.  We were on the second level of our home right over where the birth was happening.  We could hear her pain and cry out to the Lord with her for mercy with quick and less painful deliverance for them as she went through each birth pang.  However, we know that as difficult as these things are, this pain is a trial which brings forth joy when the child has been delivered.  As our Master Jesus taught the disciples about His going away.

John 16:20-22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

One of the midwives later stated, “Thank you for praying, that went about as quickly and smoothly as we could expect.”  Praise Jesus for His mercy unto our family in this birth of our granddaughter.  Boy, I really look forward to deliverance from this present world as well.  These earthly bodies we now inhabit will be planted so that we may inherit immortal bodies which shall never see corruption!  Hallelujah, what hope we have in you Jesus!

At 8:15pm Sarah Ann came rushing up the stairs, “Lydia is born, she’s cuuuuute!”

Lydia Orissa Lovell born 28 Jan, 2016, 8:15 pm to Joshua and Jenna Lovell in the McGlone home in Breeding, KY.   She is 20″ long, 5 lbs 14 oz, very active, estimated to be at 37-38 weeks of gestation.  Very white complexion, with little hair, lots of Joshua’s features; nose, chin, but Jenna’s legs, and toes.  More characteristics forthcoming in the next months…as God grows her at her momma’s breast.

Jenna and Lydia not long after delivery getting baby warmed up!

We pray for Joshua and Jenna to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as they seek Him to govern over their family as they raise Lydia.  Hopefully they will have a dozen more if the Lord wills.   I always really enjoyed the old movie, “Cheaper by the Dozen” what a classic!  They even have a scene where the father mocks a planned parenthood crony.  We love babies round these parts…

Joshua already has Daddy’s touch

Lots of love for Lydia

We were speechless, all we can say now is, “Praise Jesus!”