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Hi All,
I have changed my position on who the Word is. But basically the rest is the same: there is only one God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Me: “with God” shows subordination.
Gen 1: 27 So God created man in his ___ image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
2 Cor 4:4…Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Me: Man was created in the image of Christ who was to be. “own” in Genesis is an added word. I put ___ to indicate that.
So there is only one God. His expressed image of himself is himself expressed. This is the Word of God. The Word or expression of God is God put is subject to himself.
God appeared in temporary visible expressions of himself called theophanys.https://www.gotquestions.org/theophany-Christophany.html
“A theophany is a manifestation of God in the Bible that is tangible to the human senses. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament period, often, but not always, in human form.”
Me:
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.
Me: Actually the Word was made one with flesh or the Word joined flesh. Click on the link below. Then click on 1096 above “became”.https://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/1-14.htm
Definition
NASB Translation
accomplished (1), appeared (3), arise (1), arises (2), arose (6), arrived (3), became (53), become (83), becomes (8), becoming (2), been (12), been brought (1), been done (1), been made (2), been…came (1), began (1), behaved (1), being (2), come into being (1), being carried (1), being done (2), being made (2), born (5), breaking* (1), came (45), came into being (2), came to pass (2), come (16), comes (1), comes to pass (1), coming (1), dawn (1), decided* (1), developing (1), done (20), drawing (1), during (1), elapsed (1), existed* (1), falling (1), feeling (1), fell (6), finished (1), followed (1), formed (3), found (2), get (4), give (1), got (1), granted (1), grown* (1), had (1), happen (6), happened (46), happening (5), happens (3), has (3), join* (1), joined (3), made (15), occur (3), occurred (18), performed (4), prove (7), proved (6), proving (1), put (1), reached (2), realized (1), results (2), show (1), spent (1), split (1), spoken (1), starting (1), take place (16), taken (2), taken place (5), takes place (1), taking place (3), there arose (1), thundered* (1), took place (7), turned (1), turns (3), would (1).Me: The express image of God’s mind came into the human Christ. God does not change. His express image does not change. There is only one spirit, holy spirit in all at the end (Eph 4:4). So the holy spirit was in Christ from conception. The Word was the mind of the Messiah with the heart or seed of David in it. A seed is an offshoot of an ancestor. This seed grew in spirit in the Word.
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet ______; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Me: The human heart of the Messiah was not fully integrated with the holy spirit through the Word or express image of God. The holy spirit with power was not given until Pentecost after Christ was glorified in heaven. The holy spirit before Pentecost was not given from John the Baptist to Christ’s resurrection from the dead (John 20:22).
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Me: Unlike the theophanys in the OI which did not have a human seed in them, Christ had the seed of David in him. This is of the seed or offshoot of the heart of David. A seed comes from a tree. God gives every seed a body. Thus the seed with the human mind of David was in the mind of Christ. This lineage came from his mother. Christ had no human father. God created the second Adam to look like the image he had in mind in Genesis 1:27 (John 14:9). Thus, the holy spirit, and no other spirit, was the spirit of Christ. The body of Christ had no sin in it. It was not weak flesh like man has and it did not have sin and death in it.
Melchizedek was an example of God expressing himself through his Word or image as a theophany. Melchizedek had no human ancestors. Christ was of the seed of David.
https://www.compellingtruth.org/theophany-christophany.html
Good article except for Christophany which I believe is a theophany.Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Me: Christ did not have the body laden with sin and death as we do. His flesh was not weak. He could transfigure himself (Matt 17:1-2) and walk through walls (John 20:19-20). He could forgive sins. He was God manifested. We are born of the Word (1 Peter 1:23)
New American Standard Bible
Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.Me: Christ is the first of the spiritual creation.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Hi All,
This part is a repeat:
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
34 Bible verses about No Other is God
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/No-Other-Is-GodDoes Elohim really mean a “plural oneness” or a “plurality of persons”?
The best explanation, I believe, is from the below link.
Did Someone Find the Doctrine of the Trinity In the Name of God? Why is God’s Name “Elohim” Plural?
The noun, Yahweh is always singular. So, Elohim has to be likewise the singular form (plural intensive) to describe the true God. Elohim is used in plural form to describe the many false pagan Gods but only in singular form (plural intensive) to show majesty.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/elohiym.html
http://searchforbibletruths.blogspot.com/2010/02/does-elohim-really-mean-plural-oneness.htmlComment: Plural of excellence and not of number refers to the Almighty. Plural in number refers to beings that are not the Almighty as in man and the angels. Although the article above is a JW article, it smacks of the truth.
“Let us” in Genesis 1:26 is NOT the Trinity
http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/trinity.htmGenesis 1:26 And God said, Let us (singular, plural intensive) make man in our image, after our (singular, plural intensive) likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he (God) them (Adam and Eve).
Interlinear Bible:
Genesis 1:26 God (singular) utter, make man an image likeness
http://biblehub.com/lexicon/genesis/1-27.htm
Verse 27: God create mankind an image an image God create male a female God create
Comment: To comment on vs 27, is God both a male and female? No, he is neither. For God is invisible spirit. On the other hand, his visible image, who is the lamb of God is a male. To match “us” and “our” in verse 26 would be to match it with “male and female” in verse 27. That would make God both a male and female. So “us” is a wrong word used in a wrong place. In fact God is singular plural intensive (H430) noun. What does this mean? It means that when the greatest majesty of a thing or person is emphasized, it is used in this form. That is exactly what is happening here. For verse 27 uses the pronoun “he” to describe God. Here, the singular “he” in verse 27 agrees with the singular plural intensive God in verse 26, both describing as a singular being. It is not referring to the pagan trinity as explained in my opening posts. Can you find anywhere in biblical history where a monotheistic God is considered pagan? On the hand, there is an plethora of historic evidence of the pagan origins of the trinity.
To continue with the phrase, “make man in our image”, I feel it should be to “make man in my image” to provide cohesiveness.
There is no “us” or “our” in the first part of Genesis 1:26 presented in the interlinear bible. It could have very well been stated as “God said I will make man in my image and likeness”. So, whether the pronouns should be translated as the plurals “us” and “our” or “I” and “my” are predicated on “God” being singular or plural. And all reputable biblical scholars, even those that are Trinitarian admit that “God” here is singular, plural intensive.
http://biblehub.com/lexicon/genesis/1-27.htmEnd of Repeat:
TC…..There are “seven spirits of God” all seven act as one. ONE GOD WHO IS COMPOSED OF SEVEN SPIRITS, hence a uni-plural. JUST AS A MAN IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL MEMBERS WORKING AS ONE, SO I BELIEVE IS GOD, GOD IS SPIRIT HAVING SEVEN SPIRITS WITH POWERS ,THAT HE USES IN CREATION. So he could have been relating to his seven spirits.
Peace and love to you and yours. …..gene
Hi Gene,
True, but the plurality of God is a Hebrew idiom that shows his majesty as explained above. Yes, their are seven aspects to the one holy spirit but only one mind of God.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth😉
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Me: Goodness, righteousness, truth, love, peace, longsuffering, temperance,
Gentleness, and faith and graciousness are what we should have. There may be some overlap.
Hi TC
Here another take on what you said in your post, It’s kinda long . It’s by a man that’s already passed. It’s by Ernest Martin.you can Google His name to find out more.
To ask the question “What is God?” seems to depersonalize the concept that most people feel defines “God.” This is true. However, the Bible looks upon the Father and Christ as distinct personalities and use of the terms “Father” and “Brother” make this clear. (The New Testament shows that Christ is our Elder Brother). But if we ask, “What is God?” this allows us momentarily to redirect our concept of defining “God” as a personality. It will permit us to arrive at a fuller meaning of the Godhead as shown in the Holy Scriptures. So, we begin our search by asking “What is God?”
Let us look at the Old Testament Hebrew word Elohim itself to find out what that term really means. First of all, Elohim is clearly a plural word. The two terminal letters “im” make the word to be plural. Etymologically, the word Elohim is derived from the Hebrew words“El” and “Eloah” which are singular words that signify what we in English call “Strong,” “Mighty” or “Power.” 1 Since Elohim is plural, the simple meaning of Elohim is“Powers” or “Powerful Ones.”However, we will see that when Elohim is governed by a singular verb (which occurs often in Scripture), the stress coalesces the plural meaning into a singular understanding (but still with plural significance).
The plural is fused into meaning a singular “Group of Powers” or, worded differently, a“Congregation of Powers.” This single “Group” or “Congregation”can easily take a singular verb. Note that the English words“Group,” “Congregation”, and“Assembly” (Greek: Ekklesia) need singular verbs to modify them, while the words themselves have the significance of plurality inherent in their meanings. Thus, when Elohim is governed by singular verbs, it means a “Group of Powerful Beings” united as ONE entity. But if a plural verb is used with Elohim, then Elohim returns to its simple plural meaning and signifies “Powers” or “Powerful Ones.”
When the singular verb is used, it tends to “institutionalize” the significance of Elohim. This institutionalizing of “God” is found in the use of Elohim in Exodus 6:7 (note the use of the first “God” in this verse): “I will be to you a God: and you shall know that I am the Lord [YHVH] your God.” This emphasis makes the first use of“God” in the verse as denoting a“Thing,” not a personality alone. It focuses its meaning into being a“What” rather than a “Who.” The Hebrew of this verse is clearer in showing this.
Elohim Can Be a “What” and a “Who”
The English “God” is translated from the Hebrew word Elohim. No matter what we have been taught over the years about the singularity of God, the word Elohim is a simple plural. If we wish to use the English word “God” as its translation, we must (to be grammatically harmonious and consistent) place the letter “s” on our word “God” throughout the Hebrew scriptures. It makes no difference if some theologians object to this plural usage, the “s” should be attached to the translated English word “God” if it translates the Hebrew word Elohim. It is grammatically correct to do this no matter what the theological objection. True enough, the word Elohim most often takes a singular verb to modify it, but it still must be understood (grammatically) as a plural word. Using a singular verb with a plural noun may seem like a contradiction, but it is not. In the Hebrew, when Elohim is kept plural with a singular verb, it makes a “what” out of the word and not a “who.”
Many modern examples in English show the legitimacy of this conclusion. Look at the following statement: “Since the end of the Cold War, the United States is the singular world power on earth.” This clause makes perfectly good sense to anyone reading it today. Of course, the United States is a “What.” It is not a “Who,” though it is made up of a multitude of human beings. The United States is not considered a personality. It is an institution, a political power governed by human beings who are its citizens. Its grammatical usage is very similar to that of Elohim when governed by singular verbs. Note that though the United States is plural in form, it is a single power, not a multiplicity of states acting independently in foreign affairs, and it normally takes a singular verb to describe its actions.
In fact, we in the world today know of ONE United States of America and no other. Likewise, “God” is described in the same way as being the ONE “God” and no other. And like the word “God,” the USA is also one state made up of many individual states of lesser rank. This usage is similar to what Jewish theologians call the Shema statement of their faith in the oneness of God as recorded in the Law of Moses. The Shema is supposed to be the heart and core of Judaism. It defines the fervent declaration of their belief in the unity and the singularity of God as defined in the Bible. It is what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 6:4–5. It reads,
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord [YHVH]our God [Elohim] is ONE Lord[YHVH]: And thou shalt love the Lord [YHVH] thy God [Elohim] with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
This statement is clear enough except in one major point. The English word “God” in the above two verses was not understood correctly by the King James translators because the Hebrew word Elohim is plural and if one wishes to retain the English word “God” one must put an “s” on “God” each time it is used. By stating this, I would normally be subjected to ridicule by those who read and use the Hebrew language because it is evident that in the great majority of cases Elohim,though plural in grammatical construction, is governed by singular verbs and must be understood in a singular manner. Yes, but still I state dogmaticallythat the only way to make sense out of the Hebrew in regard to understanding the Godhead is to put the letter “s” on the end of every word translated “God” in the English language if the Hebrew word is Elohim.
Again, note this. We know the “United States” is plural in rendering, but we still use a singular verb to modify it. If we do this with Elohim (plural) in the same manner, things will begin to make sense. True, by keeping Elohim plural (as it actually is in the Bible), we would ordinarily recognize a major disharmony in normal English renderings. It is contrary to our basic understanding of grammar when the plurality of a noun does not agree with a singularity of a verb. This clanging disharmony in sound and usage may disturb our concept of balance and agreement in using our English laws of language. But it need not be that way. Notice again how grammatically harmonious it is in English to say, “The United States IS located in the Western Hemisphere.” That is NOT a cacophonic statement inharmoniously clanging to our ears.
In similar fashion, Elohim (as a plural) was not discordant to the early Hebrews when a singular verb was used to modify the word. To the early Hebrews there was often a concordant consistency and harmony in letting Elohim(plural) be governed by singular verbs. It is just this grammatical feature of the Hebrew language that provides us with an understanding of “What” the Godhead really is, and by deduction we can learn “Who” the Godhead are as far as its personalities are concerned. This is so important to understand that I do not apologize for being repetitious.
In Elohim, there is not the slightest disharmony with using a plural noun governed by a singular verb. Now note this. Use of the plural with a singular verb “institutionalizes” the word and places the emphasis outside the grammatical environment of signifying personalities. The usage could easily describe a plurality of offices or ranks that a person may hold within an institution. Indeed, we find the Hebrew word Adonaias a plural means “Lords” or “Masters” showing a singular person having a plurality of ranks. 2 I will discuss the use of Adonaias a plural word later in this chapter. The fact is, the plurality of the Godhead is everywhere shown in the Holy Scriptures. It is a cardinal doctrine of God.
But for now, look again at the Shema declaration found in Deuteronomy 6:4. If one puts an “s” on the end of the words translated “God,” those words obviously become “Gods” (plural). There is no verb “is” in the original of the Shema statement. (Note that “is” in the KJV is italicized, showing there is no written verb in the original Hebrew.) Still, we recognize (correctly) that a singular verb can be used in the Shema statement because the very text itself says that Elohim(“Gods” plural) is ONE. This cardinal point emphasizes the singularity of the plural word Elohim. But how can a plural word have singular attributes buttressed by the use of the Hebrew word “ONE” that governs the clause? It may seem strange that “ONE” can be MANY, but it can.
There is not the slightest argument that the verb connecting Elohimwith “one” should be the singular “is.” But the plural noun with a singular verb makes a “What” into a “Thing” out of the plural word “Elohim.” It institutionalizes the word “Gods” much like we reckon the “United States” as a plural in form while we understand it as a single institution. The singular, on the other hand, emphasizes the “group” rather than the individuals of the “group.” “The United States is committed to supply troops to NATO,” is a perfectly good sentence that is not grammatically discordant to English speaking people.
The same is the case with the Hebrew Elohim that English translators most often translate as “God” (singular). But we need to return to the original Hebrew manner of using Elohim, and should always keep it plural (or, understand it as a plural). This means that Elohim should be translated as “Gods” (or something similar) and recognized as a plural in the same way we in English use our political term “United States.” Pluralizing the word has the effect of “institutionalizing” its meaning, which can then be governed by a singular verb. When this is done, we can use a perfectly good English word to describe the Deity.
What word? There is an English word that is better than our word “God” or “Gods” that can denote an exact equivalent of Elohim, and it also means an institution — a “Group of Powerful Ones.” That word is “Headquarters,” a word connected with the idea of “power” the same as Elohim is associated in Hebrew with “power.” Though the word “Headquarters” is plural, the headquarters of an army (and even the headquarters of a corporation in the business world) are most often used in the singular sense. Usually there is only ONE “headquarters” (that is, ONE power center) normally made up of a commanding officer or a chief executive with lieutenants under him who manage a staff with associated offices all under the top leadership. And so it is with Elohim. The word denotes a heavenly “Headquarters” with God the Father as the head, but with lieutenants (other officers called “Sons of God”) and a staff (various angels) under Him who comprise the singular institution. God the Father is chief in command and under Him is His Firstborn Son, Christ Jesus.
This “Headquarters” can even be personified as a “he” (as it would be in Hebrew) if the commanding officer or an inferior officer representing the top authority is the person being discussed in the context. Our English word “Headquarters” (a power center) is what the word Elohim actually signifies when considered in many biblical texts. When we speak of “Headquarters” we normally do NOT think of the physical buildings with the actual rooms that contain the various offices, physical furniture, and the office machines. No, by “Headquarters” we almost always think of the personnel, the individuals, who make up the top command — from the commanding executive officer on down through the complete staff who comprise all the personnel of “Headquarters.”
So it is with Elohim. It has the meaning of “Headquarters” (a center of Powerful Ones). The word Elohim signifies the combined group (an Ekklesia or assembly of powers). Those individual powers are the powerful Father, the powerful firstborn Son and all their powerful staff in the various offices and ranks which they hold at Headquarters. Elohimis a word indicating those plural offices or ranks at the single Headquarters in heaven. This Headquarters as a single authority has the legal right to act, even in unison, as a creator. As a matter of fact, “Headquarters” (Elohim) can be reckoned as the creator itself. Look at Genesis 1:1. The verse could be rendered, “In the beginning, Headquarters created the heavens and the earth” — one must understand this as the Divine Headquarters in heaven doing the creating with the Father, the “Sons of God” and other staff helping Christ.
Similar to “Headquarters,” the word “Elohim” (plural) could also mean Deity or Divinity, or the Divine as a group. This Divinity group when it creates is made up of “Creators” who act in unison. And though we are told by the apostle Paul that the chief executive in charge of the creation was the firstborn Son, Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:15–19; Hebrews 1:2, 10), Paul shows that Christ did this under the authority of the Father with many helpers. 3Indeed, Solomon in the Hebrew of Ecclesiastes 12:1 shows that the human race was made by “Creators” (plural). In Hebrew, the Creators are always reckoned to be Elohim. This is why the plurality of the word should be retained in regard to the Godhead (the Divinity). This rendering is why our English plural “Headquarters” (that is, a Power center with a plural emphasis) is an accurate and useful meaning of Elohim (Powers or Powerful Ones).
Since the Hebrew Elohim is a clear plural, it is better to retain the plural rendering in all our English translations. Thus, the plural word “Headquarters” could be accepted as an English equivalent of the Hebrew Elohim that makes sense. And to further buttress this suggestion, even the word Adonai,which means “Lord” or “Master,” is often used in the plural while its emphasis is to a single entity (e.g. Genesis 42:30, 33; Isaiah 22:18; 51:22; Ezra 10:3; Malachi 1:6). In the case of Adonai being plural, the scholars state this means a plurality of rank — one or more persons having several offices and ranks that he or they hold. This is like the President of the United States who is the top person at the “Headquarters” of the executive branch of government. Though there are individual cabinet officers in Washington, D.C. who actually head the several branches of executive government, the President is technically the chief officer over them all. He is the one who wears “all the caps” of headship. In Hebrew, the President would be called the “Lords” (plural) of those various offices. So “Headquarters” comprises all those offices as does Elohim and the plural of Adonai.
There is more. The word Elohimand the plural of Adonai are not the only plural words designating the Godhead in Scripture. As I have already mentioned, we are told of the “Creators” of humans on earth (Ecclesiastes 12:1, see Hebrew). But even the patriarch Job called his creator “my Makers” (Job 35:10, plural in Hebrew). In Isaiah 54:5 the words “Maker” and “Husband” referring to God are both in the plural. And this plural usage is reflected in Isaiah 6:8 where the Lord said to Isaiah,“whom shall I send, and who will go FOR US.” There is also Genesis 1:26: “Let US make man in OURimage, after OUR likeness.” Even the word “make” in Genesis 1:26 is a plural verb. And remember Genesis 11:7 where Elohim says, “Let US go down and confound their language.” These plural forms are placed in the Bible in a plain way to emphasize the plurality of the Godhead (a Divine Group of Powerful Personalities). And remember, Genesis 1:26–27 states that the plural “Godhead” includes members that are both males and females. The “female” aspect of the Godhead is emphasized along with the “male” in the first chapter of Genesis, and we are told by the apostle Paul that there are “Sons” and “Daughters” of God (2 Corinthians 6:18).
So the Godhead in the Hebrew language is filled with plural significance, and not limited to three personalities as the false Trinity doctrine teaches. We in English have little difficulty with such plural/singular concepts when we view the United States as a single political state (as an institution) in foreign affairs with other nations. The United States of America is a single political state in the way foreigners look at us from their external point of view, but internally we are made up of 50 individual states when reckoned in the domestic sense. Now, rephrasing the Shema statement as an example for illustration, one might say: “Hear, O World, the United States is ONEstate.” All political scientists would recognize instantly the validity and propriety of such a sentence. In the case of the United States, even the word “one” associated with it (to show it is a single political state) still includes the plurality of the 50 separate states that make up the single state known as the United States. This usage is used in the word “ONE” (Hebrew: echad) found in the Shema declaration. So, it is quite common to think of “one” as “many.”
The Hebrew Word “One”
The Hebrew word “one” can actually carry the meaning of more than “one” (a single person). Note carefully when Adam was married to Eve, they became “ONE flesh” (echad), though they represented two separate personalities (Genesis 2:24). But the Hebrew word echad is more expansive in the plural meaning than that. When the Lord (YHVH) went down from heaven to view the people of the earth building the Tower of Babel, He said, “Go to, let US go down, and there confound their language” (Genesis 11:7). Then notice what happened. God, as Commander in Chief of Supreme Headquarters in heaven, because all the people who lived in the world at the time had been rebellious to the Godhead, said,“Let US go down. … for the people is ONE [echad], and they have all ONE language” (verses 11:6). This usage is well known in the Holy Scriptures.
The word “ONE” [echad] is very expansive in its meaning. Its usage includes all people on earth within a single unit. This biblical use of the word “ONE ” included all female members of humanity as well as all the males. They were all reckoned as ONE [echad]. That’s right! All the people at the Tower of Babel were simply and plainly ONE[echad]. They were united as ONEsociety. And indeed, in the very same manner, the Godhead is represented as “ONE ,” and there is not an iota of difference in the meaning of the words. This is similar to the United States (plural) being ONE country (singular) with all 50 states representing ONE entity.
So also the plural Elohim refers to ONE Godhead made up of many individuals (the Father, the Firstborn Son, and other “Sons of God,” along with female members, see Proverbs 8:22–31), and the apostle John included spirit-filled humans in it (1 John 3:1–2). Altogether, the Divine Group of individuals represents the ONE divine Headquarters called the Family of God (with both males and females in it). Because males govern in the Family apparatus the most, we seldom hear of the female side of the Godhead, but it is there as sure as the male side (2 Corinthians 6:18).
This oneness in plurality is even shown in the Shema statement. It states emphatically that Elohim is ONE [echad]. But we should recognize that the Hebrew word echad can mean two people who are married and reckoned as ONE flesh or the word can embrace the whole of the human race, depending on the context in which it occurs.
The Greek Word “One”
The same usage is found in the Greek of the New Testament. The apostle Paul applied the same usage for “ONE” and referred it to the whole of the Ekklesia (wrongly translated the church) in Ephesians 5:31. Paul used the same term (“ONE”) and said that as Adam and Eve became ONE flesh, so Christ has become ONEflesh with a group of people whom He identified as the Ekklesia. He said this group represents ONE Body made up of many members (1 Corinthians 12:12–27, 30).
“For as the Body is ONE, and hath MANY members, and all the members of that one Body, being MANY, are ONE Body: so also is Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
“The Body is not one member, but MANY” (verse 14).
“Now are they MANY members, yet but ONE Body” (verse 20).
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (verse 27).I have emphasized the word “ONE” for a reason. In the Bible ONE can mean MANY:
“For as we have MANY members in ONE Body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being MANY, are ONE Body in Christ.”
- Romans 12:4–5
Never forget! All of us are members of ONE Body because all of us are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14). But Christ is also in the Father. This means we are also in the Father because Christ said, “I and the Father are ONE” (John 10:30). This indicates in the theological terms of the Bible that ONE can be reckoned as TWO when the Father and Christ are unified in purpose. But it goes further than that. Christ said in His prayer to the Father that all people on earth are given to Christ by the Father and they are also ONE with Him as Christ is ONE with the Father.
“Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are [ONE].”
- John 17:11
And since we Christians as a group (being members of the singular Body of Christ) are now ONE with the Father, then the word “ONE” embraces all of us within its meaning (and also within the Shema statement). Indeed, all members of the Ekklesia are called the single “Body of Christ.” This “Body” is like “Elohim,” a plural significance in a singular form. Indeed, the New Testament term Ekklesia can apply to the Hebrew Elohim as meaning a plurality of powers. It is unusual in the Bible to find it otherwise. Thus, the Hebrew word for “monotheism” (one-God) means a plurality of beings.
There is still more. A modern word for “Body” is “Corporation.” Our English word “corporation” is derived from the Latin word “body.” But no one conceives of a corporation being made up of one person. In the business world a corporation usually denotes a vast number of people governed by a Headquarters, and like Elohim it can take a singular or a plural verb. We could say that the British Broadcasting Corporation (the BBC) is a large institution, or as it is quite common in Britain to say, “the BBC are a large corporation.” And so it is with Elohim, or with the “Body of Christ” (which could be legitimately rendered as being the “Corporation of Christ”). Many members make up that ONE “Body” or that ONE “Corporation.” And recall, the “Body of Christ” is ONE Body. This is why the word “ONE” in the Shema declaration can also include a vast multitude of individuals who comprise the ONE Family who governs the universe. The apostle John made it clear that we, even though we are still in our human flesh during this age, are presently reckoned as the Children of God — actual born children!
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God [the Greek means “children of God” here]. … NOWARE WE THE SONS OF GOD[“children of God”], and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
- 1 John 3:1–2
The reason Christ Jesus came into this world to die on the tree of crucifixion and to be resurrected from the dead was to provide the entire human race with our divine destiny. That destiny is to be the children of God and brothers of Christ. The apostle Paul made this doctrine a cardinal one to him.
“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste death for EVERY MAN [all men died]. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of ONE: for which cause he [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them BRETHREN [BROTHERS], saying, ‘I will declare your[GOD’S] name UNTO MY BRETHREN [BROTHERS]’.”
- Hebrews 2:9–12
The apostle Paul says in the above verse that “all things” were made FOR Christ and that “all things”were made BY Christ. Paul also said that we are all ONE in the Father and in Christ, and we are “brothers” of Christ. Being called “brothers” means we are all of the same Family. It is a divine Family made up of all the children of God the Father, with Christ being our Elder Brother. And in Christ, Paul said we “ARE ALL OF ONE.” All of us make up ONE Body and ONE Family. We (plural) all make up the ONE monotheistic Family of God. And females are as much a part of that divine family as males. Paul said we are all “sons and daughters” of God the Father (2 Corinthians 6:18). And since Paul taught that all Christians are collectively in the ONE Body of Christ, called the Ekklesia (1 Corinthians 12:12), and that we all are acknowledged as being seated together in Christ who as a singular person sits at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1), then we Christians are also reckoned as EQUALLY sitting on the Father’s right side.
“But we are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and Ekklesia [a divine group] of the firstborn [Greek: FIRSTBORN ONES, plural], which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.”
- Hebrews 12:22–23
Christians are acknowledged as having their names written in a manner denoting our membership in the heavenly Ekklesia, of which the earthly Ekklesia is a type and we are acknowledged as firstborn ones. And in the resurrection we will be able to meet personally with the spirits of just men made perfect. These will be other deified individuals. Indeed, all mankind (who were made FOR and BY Christ) are destined to become the very children of God the Father through no works of their own, but through the grace and works of Jesus Christ (His life, death and resurrection.)
God bless.
Hi Anthony,
Ernest:
Let us look at the Old Testament Hebrew word Elohim itself to find out what that term really means. First of all, Elohim is clearly a plural word. The two terminal letters “im” make the word to be plural. Etymologically, the word Elohim is derived from the Hebrew words“El” and “Eloah” which are singular words that signify what we in English call “Strong,” “Mighty” or “Power.” 1 Since Elohim is plural, the simple meaning of Elohim is“Powers” or “Powerful Ones.”However, we will see that when Elohim is governed by a singular verb (which occurs often in Scripture), the stress coalesces the plural meaning into a singular understanding (but still with plural significance).
Me: When Elohim refers to Yahweh, it always uses a singular verb and refers to Yahweh only. When Elohim refers to a plurality in number, it always uses a plural verb and never refers to the Almighty.
Ernest:
The plural is fused into meaning a singular “Group of Powers” or, worded differently, a“Congregation of Powers.” This single “Group” or “Congregation”can easily take a singular verb. Note that the English words“Group,” “Congregation”, and“Assembly” (Greek: Ekklesia) need singular verbs to modify them, while the words themselves have the significance of plurality inherent in their meanings. Thus, when Elohim is governed by singular verbs, it means a “Group of Powerful Beings” united as ONE entity. But if a plural verb is used with Elohim, then Elohim returns to its simple plural meaning and signifies “Powers” or “Powerful Ones.”
When the singular verb is used, it tends to “institutionalize” the significance of Elohim. This institutionalizing of “God” is found in the use of Elohim in Exodus 6:7 (note the use of the first “God” in this verse): “I will be to you a God: and you shall know that I am the Lord [YHVH] your God.” This emphasis makes the first use of“God” in the verse as denoting a“Thing,” not a personality alone. It focuses its meaning into being a“What” rather than a “Who.” The Hebrew of this verse is clearer in showing this.Me: I don’t believe so. There is only one God who is one person. I disagree based on the following:
https://www.nas.org/articles/Ask_a_Scholar_What_Does_YHWH_Elohim_Mean
From the Author:
“So, why the plural form if the referent is singular? The best answer is that this is an “honorific plural,” that is to say, a plural used to show honor to a singular referent. Such an honorific plural is used for humans in texts like 1Kings 1:43, where we read, “our lord King David.” The Hebrew word translated “lord” in this case is plural, even though it refers to the singular David. This honorific plural is also used of God elsewhere in texts like Psalm 8:1, where we read, “O LORD, our Lord….” In this text “LORD” (small caps) translates YHWH, while “Lord” translates a common noun for “master,” which is in this text plural in form though referring to the singular YHWH. So Psalm 8:1 could be translated “O YHWH, our Master….”Outreach Judaism
The word Elohim possesses a plural intensive syntax and is singular in meaning. In Hebrew, the suffix ים (im), mainly indicates a masculine plural. However with Elohim the construction is grammatically singular, (i.e. it governs a singular verb or adjective) when referring to the God of Israel, but grammatically plural elohim (i.e. taking a plural verb or adjective) when used of pagan divinities (Psalms 96:5; 97:7)… God created. The Hebrew noun Elohim is plural but the verb is singular, a normal usage in the OT when reference is to the one true God. This use of the plural expresses intensification rather than number and has been called the plural of majesty, or of potentiality.
Me: When referring to the one true God, Elohim refers to a singular personal being and not a group, congregation. It is an “honorific plural” or “plural of majesty” .
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Me: There is only one person who is called God. The expression or image of himself is the Word and thus the Word is God. No manner if in a burning bush, pillar or some other Theophany like Melchizedek , the expression is God. Christ is called the Word of God, and is God. The Word is eternal. Theophanys are temporary expression that came and went. Christ, born of the seed of David and Word of God is God’s permanent expression from about 2000 years ago. Thus Chris is the Word and is God (Rev 19:13), but his father is greater than he. The expresser is always greater than the expression of himself.
Hi TC
Yes I agree that the Father is greater then the Only Begotten Son, and all things was created through and by the Son for the Son. He is lower then the Father, and He was the first one in heaven then the Angel. This is what we might say is ” the divine headquarters”. When the Father said let us make, the us refers to them. Angel are never sons but the Only Begotten Son is, And He is a God because His Father is a God.He as a holy righteous nature from His Father, we might say that this nature is like the fruit of the Spirit. The divine headquarters has a change of command, first who is the Father, the only eternal God. There is only one Yahweh, second the one and Only Begotten Son. Then the Angels, (at this time) many. Yahweh Elohiym is one. The true God.
It seem that Ernest Martin makes out that the whole headquarters of heaven is the only one God. Do you think that what Ernest is trying to do here? As for Melchizedek , I would say that this speaks of Jesus Christ not the Father. When Abraham saw the three Angel one was God the Father. I will post on Melchizdek next. Do you think that’s what Ernest Martin was trying to do is make out that the divine headquarters was the one true God???? I do agree with what you said about Elohiym. Elohiym could be many. Yehwah Elohiym is one. The true God. God bless TC thanks for your response.may God be with you.
Hi All,
I would like to finish up what I have started on this thread. If nothing new comes up, this should conclude it.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Me: The Word is God and thus is spirit. The Word was “with” God and thus is subordinate to God.John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him…
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God…
Me: The image or Word of the invisible God, who is spirit, is spirit also.Heb 1:3…and the express image of his person…
Me: The Word of God is spirit. It is in the exact image of God (John 14:7) above.Rom 8:27 And he (Christ) that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit (the mind of God), because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Me: God’s spirit is omnipresent. His mind is in heaven. His mind is of the spirit. God is spirit, and thus is mind and spirit. The Word is spirit, and thus is the exact image of the mind of God.Young’s Literal Translation
1 Cor 15:45 so also it hath been written, ‘The first man Adam became a living creature,’ the last Adam is for a life-giving spirit,
Me: The last Adam, not the last man Adam became the parent of the whole new creation of the human race.From Bible Hub: 1. Adam, the first man and the parent of the whole human race: Luke 3:38; Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13; Jude 1:14. In accordance with the rabbinic distinction between the former Adam (הָרִאשׁון אָדָם), the first man, the author of ‘all our woe,’ and the latter Adam (הָאַחֲרון אָדָם), the Messiah, the redeemer, in 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus Christ is called ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδάμ (see ἔσχατος, 1) and contrasted with ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος; Romans 5:14 ὁ μέλλων namely, Ἀδάμ.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Me: The Word with the added human heart and mind of the seed of David became a life giving spirit (holy spirit). Now man could be baptized with the holy spirit and become sons of God. This doesn’t mean God did not create all life through his word, but that he now is the progenitor of a new spirit creation. The disciples of Christ knew that Christ would become a life giving spirit by his resurrection from the dead (John 5:26). but the added step of his ascension into heaven was needed. They thought he was a spirit already at that time of his resurrection.
John 1:14 And the Word (became one with) 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.
Me: The Word became (the son of God) of man when he became one with the man of the seed (from the heart and mind) of David (John 1:14 above).
There is only one son of God born, who is the Word, born into the human mind of the seed of David. The seed of David grew in its bond with the Word of God. We are called sons of God when baptized of the holy spirit. We are not “THE son of God”. We are adopted sons of God through THE son of God (Eph 1:5).
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (Ezk 36:26: heart) shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet____because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)Me: The bond of the mind of the humanity in Christ had not completely bonded with the Word of God in Christ at this point.
All the emphasis in the parenthesis are mine except in the last parenthesis in John 1:14.
Hi All,
The bodily expression of God needs to be addressed. Thus John 14:7,9 that I had quoted in the above post can be completed here.
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him… 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time 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?
Me: The bodily image of God is the expression of God and is not God in essence but the expression of both the father and his now son, the Word of God.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
John 17 :5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.:
Me: The glory of the father and the glory of the Word is spiritual and invisible. The expression of that glory is the bodily glory of the lamb.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God
Hi TC,
The BODILY EXPRESSION OF GOD.?
What nonsense. God is spirit and not a man.
Heb 1
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets, in many portions and in many ways,
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son..
Neither the prophets nor the Son became God.
God uses vessels.
Nick:
You:
The BODILY EXPRESSION OF GOD.?
What nonsense. God is spirit and not a man.
Heb 1
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets, in many portions and in many ways,
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son..Neither the prophets nor the Son became God.
God uses vessels.Me: No Nick, the word of God is not nonsense but you are the epitome of it. You are an annoyance like a fly that needs to be swatted.
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Did I not just write this:
“Me: God’s spirit is omnipresent. His mind is in heaven. His mind is of the spirit. God is spirit, and thus is mind and spirit. The Word is spirit, and thus is the exact image of the mind of God.
Young’s Literal Translation
1 Cor 15:45 so also it hath been written, ‘The first man Adam became a living creature,’ the last Adam is for a life-giving spirit,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Me: Word of God is God and was in the man Christ.
Exodus 3:3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 3 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Me; God is spirit and has expressed himself here bodily or visible. I guess you cannot understand spiritual things.
Hi All,
The comments in the parenthesis in the scriptures below are mine. This is part 1 of a long post.
New American Standard Bible
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“His only begotten only begotten” (monogene)
Monos: NASB Translation
alone (31), even (1), just (2), mere (1), merely (2), only (18), only one (1), only thing (1), private (1), themselves* (1).
Genos: birth (2), countrymen (2), descendant (1), descent (1), family (2), kind (3), kinds (3), nation (1), native (1), race (3).Me: Therefore:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his “only one of its kind son…
Me: This does not at all say that the Messiah was begotten by God in the spirit. I believe it is implied wrongfully to mean the Messiah was begotten with the spirit of God, for the expression or the Word of God was fully in him. On the other hand, he was the only one begotten with the seed of David from his mother’s side and the creation of the male genes (no human father) in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:35). Thus. the expressed form of God would be as he had looked before the Word becoming one with flesh. He would be of the mind and soul (seed) of his ancestor David from his mother’s side but without sin.John 1:15 The Word became (one with) flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.
New American Standard Bible
Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Me: The messiah was the only son full of grace and truth. He was the only son with the Word in him fully.
The first Adam (man) was called a son of God. He had no ancestors. He was created in the physical image of God—body, heart, and spirit. After he had eaten of the tree of death, his spirit was bound to go back to the earth at death. His mind was of the spirit (higher spirit but not holy spirit) and of the heart or flesh. He died to this higher mind after he had eaten of the tree of death and acquired the spirit of the devil in his heart (Jer 17:9, Rom 7:18).The second Adam (man) was called the Son of God. He was the son (of God) of man. His spirit mind was the Word of God. His fleshly mind and heart was that of man without sin—the Word became one with flesh (John 1:14). The human child grew in his bond with the Word of God, who is God expressed. Those saints of the OT born of the holy spirit were not sons of God until after the sacrifice and ascension of Christ into heaven. Those saints that died before Pentecost were baptized of the holy spirit in their graves (John 5:25).
Those of the first resurrection are the sons of God. They form one temple with Christ. Thus they are not kings and priests (Rev 20:6).Hi All,
Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Me: Click on the link above. Then click on 639 above “your wrath”
NASB Translation
anger (205), angry (2), angry* (5), before (2), breath (1), countenance (1), double (1), face (15), faces (4), forbearance* (1), ground (1), nose (10), noses (1), nostril (1), nostrils (13), quick-tempered* (1), snout (1), wrath (8), wrath with his anger (1).Wrath here cannot be the wrath of God’s judgment upon the world after he returns. Because the saints are with him already when he administers his wrath.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call (John 5:25, John 11:25,26), and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Me: This change is after Christ had ascended into heaven around Pentecost. It is the baptism of the holy spirit. The change here is of a new heart and one spirit, the holy spirit (Ezk 36:26, Eph 4:4).Hi All,
Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Me: Click on the link above. Then click on 639 above “your wrath”
NASB Translation
anger (205), angry (2), angry* (5), before (2), breath (1), countenance (1), double (1), face (15), faces (4), forbearance* (1), ground (1), nose (10), noses (1), nostril (1), nostrils (13), quick-tempered* (1), snout (1), wrath (8), wrath with his anger (1).Wrath here cannot be the wrath of God’s judgment upon the world after he returns. Because the saints are with him already when he administers his wrath.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call (John 5:25, John 11:25,26), and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Me: This change is after Christ had ascended into heaven around Pentecost. It is the baptism of the holy spirit. The change here is of a new heart and one spirit, the holy spirit (Ezk 36:26, Eph 4:4).Hi All,
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear (5319), we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
NASB Translation
5319. phaneroó appear (1), appeared (6), appears (3), become visible (1), becomes visible (1), disclose (1), disclosed (1), displayed (1), made…evident (2), made known (1), made manifest (2), make…clear (1), manifested (18), manifests (1), revealed (7), show (1), shown (1).New American Standard Bible
1 Cor 15:45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (Romans 8:27 mind of the spirit).Me: The body of Christ is not complete until the church as building blocks of the temple become complete it at the first resurrection (1 Peter 2:5, 2 Cor 5:1).
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Me: Christ became a spirit (mind)—a life giving spirit. His body is a reflection of that spirit.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart of Christ: Ezk 36:26) shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet____because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Me: The heart and mind of the humanity of Christ was not completely bond with the holy spirit until after Christ was glorified in heaven.
1 Thes 5:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall (appear) first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Me: The dead in Christ are spirit beings (minds: Eph 4:23) in heaven. “appear” fits in with the other contributing scriptures. What are they dead to?
Matt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Me: The body and soul of man will be replaced with the holy spirit and the human heart of Christ. This is shown in John 7:38-39, Ezk 36:26, and Eph 4:4 where there is only one spirit in the end, the holy spirit. Hell (Gehenna fire does not exists now. It was a place outside of Jerusalem where detestable criminal’s bodies were completely destroyed. Rather “hell” in Matt 10:28 connotes a symbolic complete destruction of our souls and bodies and replaced with the soul of Christ and a body liken unto his.
Hi All,
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years
Me: The death of our present evil hearts, bodies and spirits are dead already with Christ. Those whose hearts, bodies, and hearts are not dead in Christ will face the second death in which they will.
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Me: God consumes sin and eternal death.
To the Pharisees:
Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you (the Pharisees) with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
To those Christians that are unfruitful:
1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.The Lake of fire is Christ himself that saves all.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
1 Cor 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Me: This is salvation by the second death. It cannot be resisted. Those of good works are saved are not affected by the lake of fire, for they have new souls (heart of Christ), spirits (holy spirit) and bodies.
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheLakeOfFire-Eby.html#Not Hurt Of The Second Death
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