"It is a heresy to affirm that there is an ontological subordination of one member of the Trinity to another, since they are identical in essence. His submission to the Father was not just for time, but will be for all eternity."
It's exactly as I said Ed. The three persons of God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) equally share God's essence but fulfill different roles. This is so simple even a child can understand it and exactly what scripture teaches.
"Knowledge, righteousness and holiness. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden possessed these latter qualities before their fall into sin."
Innocence does not equate to dumb Ed. Not only were Adam and Eve innocent (without evil), they were morally virtuous by virtue of their created state, for God endowed them with moral perfection. The perfect condition of the original state of creation is derived from the nature of God as an absolutely perfect Being. The argument goes as follows:
(1) God is an absolutely perfect Being.
(2) An absolutely perfect Being cannot produce an imperfect creation.
(3) Therefore, the original creation God made was perfect.
Again, Innocence does not equate to dumb.
"At university you would study the entire Bible systematically and walk away with a deep understanding."
I was pointing out the obvious. Build a firm foundation on sound doctrine.
The pattern of understanding I am teaching is mainstream and authentic Old and New Testament scripture exactly rooted in an accurate recounting of Jesus's teachings, Apostolic teaching and tradition, and the early church. It's not based on a cult's heresy, wishful thinking, or made up nonsense.
Each individual member of the Trinity is a person, since each is referred to as a person (I, Who) in scripture. Each has all the basic elements or powers of personhood: mind, will, and feeling.
The Father is a Person:
In addition to being referred to as a person ("He"), the three elements of personhood all are attributed to God the Father. He has the power of intelbct to know (Matt. 6:32): "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them"; the emotional faculty to feel (Gen. 66): "The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain"; and the power of will to choose (Matt. 6:9-10): "Our Father in heaven... your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In addition, personal traits, such as the ability to communicate (Matt. 11:25) and teach (John 7:16-17), are also attributed to the Father.
The Son is a Person:
In addition to being referred to as a person ("He"), the Son can cornmunicate and teach (John 7:17) as only persons can do. Further, He too has intellect (John 2:25): "He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man"; feeling (John 11:35): "Jesus wept"; and will (John 6:38) : "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." The personal pronoun "He" is used consistently of the Son.
The Holy Spirit is a Person:
All the elements of personhood are attributed to the Holy Spirit in Scripture. He has a mind (John 1426): "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you. He has will (1 Cor. 12:ll): "All these are the work of one and the same spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines"; and He has feeling (Eph 4:30): "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."Further, personal pronouns ("He" and "His") are attributed to the Holy Spirit: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13, emphasis added).
Finally, the activities of a person are ascribed to the Holy Spirit: He searches, knows, speaks, testifies, reveals, convinces, commands, strives, moves, helps, guides, creates, recreates, sanctifies, inspires, intercedes, orders the affairs of the church, and performs miracles (see Strong, ST, 325). There are numerous verses of Scripture to support these activities (see Gen. 6; Luke 12:12; John 3:8; 16:7-8; Acts 8:29; Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor.2:11; Eph. 4:30; 2 Peter 1:21, etc.).
Leave the bondage, the legalism, the heresy, the wishful thinking, and the nonsense and enter into grace and truth. That's the calling Jesus (sharing the essence of God equally with God the father and God the Holy Spirit but fulfilling the role effector of our salvation) places on each of us. I have already done so.
I have watched you struggle with who and what God is here teaching a doctrine that looks like Jehovah Witness heresy to me and am trying to help you understand this topic for your good. God loves you very much and wants you to know Him as He is: in His Triune perfection and glory not deceived by enemy and apart from it. I'm trying to help you understand Ed out of love.
