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From what I have read,the site seems to be Unitarian in structure.
Do you hold to any belief, that can be described?
I am an Unitarian Jew.(Karaite)
Welcome papaw,
We are not linked to any denomination. We are a forum where scripture is studied to find the essential biblical truths.Unitarians are a group with diverse beliefs and sometimes are linked with Universalists who say “all are saved”. They hold to some general tenets such as God is One. They deny the divinity of Christ and they do not accept the concept of a trinity God.
Our study agrees God is One. We administrators agree trinity is a falsely derived concept of God. However the Son of God is shown to be of separate divine nature.
All are welcome to debate these and other matters as the search for truth is ongoing and necessary for all. Church doctrines are examined to find if they can be proved scripturally. The hope is that we can spread the love of God and the Word. By dispelling myths and exposing falsehood we hope that true unity between the brothers in the Body of Christ can be fostered so that we are prepared to meet the master on his return. Such work is of God.
I was referring to Biblical Unitarians. They are far removed from the Univeralists.
More in the vein of The Chuch of God in their beliefs.
Sorry for the mis-spelling of Faith in the topic.
Biblical Unitarians believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the gift of holy spirit.
We believe that the Scriptures are “God-breathed,” perfect in their original writing, without flaw or contradiction, and provide the only sure and steadfast basis for faith. Understanding the Scripture is attainable by applying logic and sound principles of biblical interpretation, in conjunction with the spirit of God in us.
We believe that the Heavenly Father alone is God (John 17:3).
We believe that God (the Father) is:
§ Supreme – greater than all others
§ Omniscient – having infinite knowledge or understanding
§ Omnipresent – present in all places at the same time
§ Omnipotent – having unlimited power
The Creator of the heavens and earth.
He (the Father) is whom we worship as “God.”
We believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16; Rom. 1:4).
We believe that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament Scriptures (Gen. 3:15).
We believe that he was born in Bethlehem to Mary, a virgin, who was betrothed to Joseph (Matt. 2:1; Luke 1:26-33).
We believe that through Mary he was directly descended from David according to the flesh, as promised to David (Rom. 1:2-4).
We believe that God was literally his father, in that God created his (Jesus') life in Mary (Luke 1:35).
We believe that because of God being his father and Jesus' not being descended from Adam, that he was genetically perfect—”the Last Adam.” Jesus achieved behavioral perfection by continually choosing to subject his will to God, his father, all the way to his last breath on the Cross (1 Cor. 15:45; Heb. 5:7).
We believe that in his earthly ministry Jesus was granted all authority on earth by God to teach, heal, raise the dead, forgive sins, and act on behalf of his Father, whom he represented (Acts 2:22, John 3:34, Heb. 1:3).
We believe that on the third day after he died, God honored his promise and raised Jesus from the dead and gave him a new body that was and remains incorruptible (Acts 10:39-41; 13:29-31).
We believe that God also highly exalted Jesus, gave him the “seat” at his right hand (made him His right hand man), made him “Lord,” and gave him all authority in heaven and on earth (Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 2:36; Matt. 28:18).
We believe that God has essentially given Jesus functional equality with Himself, and that only with regard to the throne is God greater than Jesus (Gen. 41:40; Matt. 28:18).
We believe that Jesus was designated by God to be the mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).
We believe that God is “holy” and that He is “spirit,” and that He is often referred to as the “Holy Spirit” in Scripture. God is the Giver, and the gift He gives via the new birth is “holy spirit,” His divine nature (Isa. 6:3; John 4:24; Acts 2:38).
We believe that when the Last Adam has completed his mission of restoring the Paradise that the First Adam lost by his disobedience, including the creation of a new heaven and earth, Jesus will again be subject to God (1 Cor. 15:24-28).
Hi papaw,
Do you believe that Jesus is a man (created) only, or that he was a divine son of God before he came to earth as a man.
Do you believe that Christ was literally the firstborn (of all creation) or just the firstborn in office (privilege)?
No. I do not believe the Trinitarian concept of the Godhead.
The shema is very plain regarding this.:blues:Hi PP,
Do you believe everything was created through the Son of God?
Did the Son of God have divine nature of his own?
Was Jesus begotten of God in the beginning?
Was the Son of God sent to earth from heaven?
Do you believe Jesus was conceived of Mary or was God his mother too?
Do you believe behavioral perfection can make us too perfect like the Son of God?
Did Jesus present or represent the Father on earth?
When was Jesus granted complete authority?
Does the Holy Spirit help us worship God?
Was Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit?
What evidence do you have that Jesus was genetically perfect?
Has Jesus any other ministry than his earthly one?Papaw: Welcome to the board! I tend to believe everything you posted as the beliefs of Biblical Unitarians. Originally a member of the UPC (United Pentecostals), I agreed with much of what Herbert Armstrong (founder of the Worldwide Church of God) proffered as truth. Because most of these beliefs are in direct opposition to the doctrines supported by mainstream religion, those of us who believe this way are deemed heretics (as they always have) and the churches as cults. It is for this reason that we understand organized religion to be the apostate church of the Beast. This countefeit religion posing as Christianity has veered so far off the path that it would be unrecognizable to Jesus or the early church. Very little truth remains at all within these 'cloisters'. It appears that little has changed in the world since the time of Christ…the religious leaders are STILL hypocrites and snakes.
I hope that you weren't 'put off' by some of Nick's questions. He's a great guy who shares most of your beliefs (as do many here).
I hope that you will find (as I have) that there is much more truth revealed here than you will find at most 'Christian' sites. Stick around, join the discussions, and help to keep us straight.
Hi bic,
Interesting your comments about Armstrongism. Certainly they were the first to open my eyes to the millenial kingdom. They have views about USA and the UK suggesting they are the descendants of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. They then claim to be able to prophesy their future based on that assumption and prophecies about those tribes.They also do not seem aware of the Spirit and cling to the commandments as their hope of salvation.Do you agree or not and can you add here ?Hi, Nick. When I started reading “The Plain Truth”, I was amazed at how I could find hardly any fault in their magazine. This was very unusual because I snorted in disgust, more often than not, at what I normally read. I requested all of their free literature (which also impressed me) and, once again, found myself agreeing to MOST of what they taught. Some of it I wasn't too sure of.
Anyhow, I was impressed enough to contact the local 'chapter' and a husband and wife team came to visit us in our home. Now remember, I had just come out of a POWERFUL church (full of the Holy Ghost) and was not particularly looking for another church (denomination), though I had moved away from my previous one. I was NOT too impressed with the couple that visited. As I said earlier, God had given me the gift of discernment and the Holy Spirit was not detected (felt) from them. Of course, this is not to judge either them or the denomination, so I wasn't 'put off' by the visit. Yet, neither was I drawn. The good news, however, is that a sense of dread did not come over me, as was sometimes the case when I went to another church or even just considered entering one. Many times the Holy Spirit had stopped me from entering a church or had warned me of the spirit within another person. I can now read those verses where the demons were affected merely by the presence of Jesus (His Spirit tormented theirs) and understand them completely.
So, later, in a different city, I once again contacted them and located a local assembly to attend. While I was impressed by the knowledge of some I met there, and by the format of the 'services' (they met in a rented building and not a church), the Holy Spirit was still noticeably absent. IOW, I just didn't feel the POWER (of the HS) that I was expecting. Still, there was no 'red flags', no HS warnings, as was usually felt where Satan was working. Perhaps this church is the “lukewarm” church of Revelation, I don't know. I do think, though, that they very much believe in the power of the HS and do not believe in the cessation of gifts, as some denoms do.
As far as the ten lost tribes of Israel, I believe that Armstrong was indeed on to something but as far as the ability to prophesy their future, I don't see that happening. Still, Manasseh and Ephraim are two very good fits for Britain and the USA. Also, while I do admire how they believe that God's commandments were NOT nailed to the tree with Christ (IOW, believing that faith without works is dead), I also am a little put off by their legalistic leanings.
The WWCOG was heading in one direction under HA. Upon his death, the church splintered and the various factions each headed tangentially in different directions. Without Armstrong, his ship became lost at sea. I still read the Good News magazine and use some of his writings for reference.
The doctrines that Armstrong taught that I agree with are the very ones thought by mainstream religion to be heretical: Unitarianism (no Trinity), soul sleep, and annihilation of the wicked. A lot of the rest I agreed with also but not all. I'm not sure that I would call Herbert a prophet but I do believe that God used him to let some light into this otherwise darkened world.
For the mind, HA's writings were as good as they come. For the heart, however, the UPC is still tops in my book.
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