Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 6/25/2011

Question
QUESTION: I read your "Understanding The Biblical Doctrine of The Trinity". My question is can you see that the same plural nouns that you believe to mean that Yehova (God) is made up of three distinct persons could also mean that like in a marriage Yehova is one with some of His creation like He prophecies to be with his followers through Yeshua (Jesus Christ). John 15 is a very good example of how Yehova's oneness with Yeshua is available to his followers. Verse 10 tells me that Yeshua still had to make the correct choice to remain in Yehova's love. Verse 26 talks about the spirit of Yehova and in my studies anytime the spirit is talked about including this verse its always seems to be accompanied by the revelation of Yehovah's truth or wisdom or a vision. So from what I can gather the Spirit imparts knowledge and since we would die if we saw the face of Yehova its how Yeshua was "one" with Yehova he had the direct communication with Yehova through the spirit and since he died and was resurected he can now see yehova directly just like its phrophecied about all Yehova's chosen. So back to the question. Couldn't it be just as possible that there isn't a "trinity" and when Yehova says in Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. He meant one and not three.

ANSWER: Mr. Howard,
   I do not see God existing like a marriage with the Son and Holy Spirit.   The most obvious reason is the Son and Holy Spirit are not God's creation, but are God Himself.  There is no hint or any thing in the word of God that suggests that the Son and Holy Spirit are created beings.  
   Yes, it is hard for a man, who only knows of this material world to understand that God is three persons and one God.  This is a revelation God has given us about Himself.  We do not understand the essence of God as a Spirit as we have nothing in our physical world to compare this truth to.  
   The Jews understood that Jesus plainly stated that He was God in John 10:30.  
   Jesus also stated, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 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? Believest 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. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."  (John 14:6-11)   They saw Jesus the Son, but Jesus said in seeing Him they were also seeing God.  
    I hope this helps.   The bottom line is this.   No man can fully understand the Trinity because man has no ability or understanding of the spiritual realm that God exists in.  Therefore, like many other things we cannot understand, we accept and believe this because it is revealed truth.  The difficulty in accepting the Trinity is that is trying to describe God in earthly or material terms.   If we think about this we can see that God is infinitely greater than our understanding...He spoke the Universe into existence!   Can we for a second understand that?  The truth is God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresence which is something else we cannot understand.   
    I am just glad He has told us in His word enough about Himself to know of His infinite greatest and most of all that loves His creation inspite of our sin and offers us eternal life and heaven with Him if we will accept Him as our Savior by faith.
    

If you have further questions or comments please write.

Respectfully,

Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
"You cannot serve God without serving others."

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity"  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 )

For a clear explanation of God's plan of salvation please go to: http:\\bible-truth.org/gospel.html

    
  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't see the holy spirit as a seperate entity His spirit is how communication takes place to flesh and blood. but the explanation verse john 10:30 Yeshua states that Yehova and him are one as in a marriage not that he is Yehova. Anyway thanks for the answer I just thought I'd try to get you to consider that scripturally this paticular doctrine is not black and white like your article seems to claim. I've been studying Hebrew and the tanakh along with the doctrinal claims of modern christianity and have realized that alot of my old beliefs were mens not Yehova's.
   Thanks once again for your time and may Yehova bless you and yours.

Answer
Hi Again,

 One last comment.  The reason the Nicene Creed was accepted by Christianity in 325AD was that it was a doctrine from the First Century.   Constantine nor the Nicene counsel established the doctrine.  It had already existed for 300 years.   The problem was that there were those who could not understand the teaching or would accept what the Bible teaches.  There were many cults and false teachers in the first 300 years since God instituted the "ekklesia."   One group was the Gnostics and another was Judaizers who perverts biblical doctrine.  The Gnostics taught that Christianity was built on Greek philosophy (paganism) which was not true.  They denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ saying that the material world was evil so Jesus could not have been God because He has a material body.
   Further the Jews detested the doctrine that Jesus Christ was God incarnate in flesh.  To them, God was one God and they applying faulty human reasoning, rather that what God's word teaches, concluded that Jesus was not God, but only a man.   Some Jews seeing the popularity of Christianity, tried to become a part of it, but taught against the deity of Jesus Christ, or tried to impost Old Testament Judaism on Christianity.   By the way, we have numerous "Christian" cults today who have done the same thing.

    I am well aware of the sources from where you are getting your information and none of them are doctrinally sound or Bible believing Christians.   Paganism has always sought to destroy the truth that Jesus Christ was God come in the flesh.   No man could atone for sin because all men are sinners.  Only God, come to earth, the perfect, righteous and holy Savior Jesus Christ could make atonement for sin.   If you deny His deity, you deny any possible atonement.

    When John wrote the epistle of 1 John he addressed this false teaching in his day.  He said "1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
     If any teach that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh that person or teaching is of the Antichrist.   Think....everyone is born in the flesh, so why make the statement that Jesus came in the flesh and make it a test of who Jesus truly is and who are truly saved?   The point is simple. Jesus is God, and He came to earth, became a man, incarnate in flesh.  He is the second member of the Trinity.
      Yes, you will read many "intellectuals" Gnostics of today,  who reject the biblical doctrine of the Trinity.   As my article points out, man using limited human wisdom cannot comprehend the essence of our Creator is is a Spirit.  But as John stated...it is a foundational belief of Christianity and to deny the Trinity is to deny Jesus Christ and salvation.

     I hope this helps.   If you have further questions or comments please write
Cooper Abrams