It's hard to really answer these questions, isn't it? I would think it especially hard for a Trinitarian to answer them. Because……If Jesus is God, it really does seem impossible that he could have NOT gone to the cross, and say, changed his mind?But the question still is…….could he have? The question still is………what did he…[Read more]

Ah – this is where the women are! I'm only kidding, of course. Sometimes I feel outnumbered out there (in the forums). But like you, Debra, I have been reading my Bible more, and just really being drawn to some quiet time with the Lord. This forum has been great for me because I have wanted to sharpen my skills at giving answers to those who…[Read more]

The nature of Christ. What is Christ? Is he a man? Is he God? Is he a God-man? Is he a divine-man?One thing is for certain – he sacrificed his life. To sacrifice means he gave something up. Does anyone think that if Jesus didn't sacrifice his life that he could have moved out of Nazareth, bought a house in the burbs and go married; maybe…[Read more]

Ah – this is a good forum. I hope it catches on. There are many topics that I have noticed that are built on inference. One that I am interested in is the JW theory that Jesus is Michael.I would add to your definition and include: Inference is implicit-type scriptures that are used for a particular slant. In other words, the teaching (like…[Read more]

I'm not sure when SON OF GOD ever got confused with GOD. I know the religious leaders of Jesus' day were confused on this when they told Jesus he was making himself equal to God. But Jesus corrected them (lets not forget that part), and told him he was the Son of God. Meaning – not God – someone other than God.

Tim2 wrote:People on this board keep trying to say that Jesus is like YHWH. Well this isn't possible. No one is like YHWH. Our only choice is to accept that Jesus is YHWH, only people still won't accept that Jesus is eternally a person, but say he's just a vessel for God or God's Spirit. None of these are faithful to Scripture. Only the…[Read more]

No one here, including me, has the complete answer yet. So, yes, I believe it's good to keep re-visiting the issue. Wouldn't you agree? Or do you feel comfortable with your complete understanding? I don't mean to sound sarcastic, I am only saying that sometimes it comes down to one word. In this case – The Word

Well, Nick, as always – it has been a pleasure chatting with you, and learning from you. I'm not sure what time it is in New Zealand, but it's about 11:15 p.m. here in WA State. I'm gonna head to bed now, but I'll check back tomorrow. Good to chat with you. Goodnight

We agree that the Spirit of God is not another Son – yet he does come forth from God. True.And yes, the Son proceeded from God and then was born. Agree. I am simply saying that “proceeding from” does not negate my belief that God didn't “bring forth” his seed to help create the baby inside of Mary. Scripture does not refute this idea. In…[Read more]

What? Who is “not another son?”

The Spirit is not begotten.To “proceed forth” from God does not in any way close the idea of God begetting a literal Son through his own seed. Proceeding forth means just that – coming forward – heading out.

Nick, can you give us a working definition of “inference” please

Yes, Nick, the life was “manifested” and then could be attested to. But before it was “manifested” it was “with” God.

With him after, surely.So if the Word was WITH God, then he needed to come from God first in order to be WITH him.My son is with me now. He was born first and then he was with me. I watched him open his eyes for the first time.******************************OK, I didn't want to get too personal here, but I'll be frank: are your seed “with” you…

Hi not3,They each have a half. Is that enough to make them part of me?*******************************************PART of you – yes! I'm sure one of your good-looking sons has your eyes, or another one has your big ears? Kidding of course. They are not clones of you (you, reinvented, or like Jesus being God incarnate), no – they “share” your…[Read more]

Good point Not3in1, but it is hard to picture the Word WITH God. You seem to teach that the Word was IN God. But it says WITH****************************Scripture doesn't really tell us HOW the Word was “with” God – does it? We have filled those blanks in ourselves. But scripture is quite to a large degree on the topic. How were Nick's son's…[Read more]

The one thing you do have in common is that you all share the same human nature. That is the only thing that is really the same.******************I think you are over-simplifying this a bit. Nature is not the only thing that Nick's boys have in common with him. There is a theory of “Nature versus Nurture” and basically it says that we inherit a…[Read more]

John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.Revelation 19:13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.So it is even from this perspective easy to understand that the Word of God existed in the beginning as he does now***************************t8, it's interesting to look at…[Read more]

Hi not3,I have three wonderful sons and none of them is a part of me.They are not clones of me or of each other and you would soon realise they look quite different and have very individual ideas, attitudes and personalities. **********************************Nick, you don't give yourself enough credit! Your boys share your DNA!

Tim2 writes:As far as “God's seed,” I'm curious where you get that from. What does it mean? That He was part of God?****************************Hi Tim, I am very simple sometimes in my understanding of scripture. And because I am a women, I look at the “conception” of Jesus, and the “birth” of Jesus as a very human act. We know that unless a…[Read more]