Who was Jesus Praying to in the Bible?

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VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
4,604
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He was speaking to God, the Father of All. Jesus is the Son of Man spoke of in Daniel, the Messiah God sent for His people. Because He fulfilled the covenant with God He has received equality with Him and has all power and people of all nation can serve and worship Him.

I do not believe in a Trinity or Oneness because it is not biblical (no offense to those who do, I understand the reasons for them). I can give you verses and such if you want to understand this more :) One thing is for sure, God is not the author of confusion.

Perhaps this is the problem, and it only happens after one mourns over their own utter sinfulness, and willingly surrender complete control of their lives to Jesus Christ as LORD, meaning MASTER.

1 Corinthians 2:7-14 (NIV)
[SUP]7 [/SUP] No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--
[SUP]10 [/SUP] but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

[SUP]14 [/SUP] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.


John 3:6-7 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. {That is the "spirit of man" - Zech 12:1}
[SUP]7 [/SUP] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'


I will be praying for you to be born again, so that you can have the spiritual understanding you lack.
 
E

Elijah19

Guest
This doesn't change the fact that the one "calling the shots" will always have more power than the other members, regardless. A military unit is not comprised of co-equal persons because there will always be some members over others. The problem still remains. Having authority over someone sets you above them and eliminates co-equality. This is not blasphemy, it's self-evident logic at it's simplest. Either Jesus is above God, or He is equal to Him. It is a logical contradiction to say that he is both.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
4,604
113
This doesn't change the fact that the one "calling the shots" will always have more power than the other members, regardless. A military unit is not comprised of co-equal persons because there will always be some members over others. The problem still remains. Having authority over someone sets you above them and eliminates co-equality. This is not blasphemy, it's self-evident logic at it's simplest. Either Jesus is above God, or He is equal to Him. It is a logical contradiction to say that he is both.
NO, they are co-equal in POWER, ONLY their POSITIONAL FUNCTIONS within the Triune GODhead are deliberately distinctly different.


Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Colossians 1:16-18 (HCSB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
Ephesians 5:23 (HCSB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.

Colossians 1:18-19 (HCSB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For God was pleased ⌊to have⌋ all His fullness dwell in Him,

Luke 9:42-43 (KJV)
[SUP]42 [/SUP] And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
[SUP]43 [/SUP] And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Philippians 2:5-10 (HCSB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
[SUP]6 [/SUP] who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a manin His external form,
[SUP]8 [/SUP] He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

[SUP]10 [/SUP] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

Isaiah 45:23 (HCSB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

If Jesus is not GOD in the Flesh, then God lied about NOT REVOKING THE COMMAND that "Every knee will bow to Me".

Luke 4:8 (YLT)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] And Jesus answering him said, `Get thee behind me, Adversary, for it hath been written, Thou shalt bow before the Lord thy God, and Him only thou shalt serve.'

Romans 1:1 (ESV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

James 1:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 Peter 1:1 (ESV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:1 (ESV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

AND the HOLY SPIRIT also has co-equally the Power of GOD.

Romans 15:13 (HCSB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe ⌊in Him⌋ so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:19 (HCSB)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
 
M

MyLighthouse

Guest
Perhaps this is the problem, and it only happens after one mourns over their own utter sinfulness, and willingly surrender complete control of their lives to Jesus Christ as LORD, meaning MASTER.

1 Corinthians 2:7-14 (NIV)
[SUP]7 [/SUP] No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--
[SUP]10 [/SUP] but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

[SUP]14 [/SUP] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.


John 3:6-7 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. {That is the "spirit of man" - Zech 12:1}
[SUP]7 [/SUP] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'


I will be praying for you to be born again, so that you can have the spiritual understanding you lack.
I am born again, of water and spirit :D I understand what it means to have the Holy Spirit. I know Ruach Hakadesh. What understanding do I lack?

Does this deal with doctrine?.... If so I know all about both. Attended a Trinitarian church since I was little and have attended Oneness 1/4 of that time. I understand both and could teach them as if they were my own beliefs(and have). I find both to have many contradictions and are contrary to God's character and Word, not for any other reason do I not believe in them. I have no problem with those who believe in them, just don't agree.

Thank you for you concern though!
 
May 3, 2013
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He was speaking to God, the Father of All. Jesus is the Son of Man spoke of in Daniel, the Messiah God sent for His people. Because He fulfilled the covenant with God He has received equality with Him and has all power and people of all nation can serve and worship Him.

I do not believe in a Trinity or Oneness because it is not biblical (no offense to those who do, I understand the reasons for them). I can give you verses and such if you want to understand this more :) One thing is for sure, God is not the author of confusion.
Hmm!

I have "seen" a dualism like this:


Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
 
M

MyLighthouse

Guest
Hmm!

I have "seen" a dualism like this:


Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
Cool! I know this is what I believe. I referenced scripture in my paragraph where I was shortly explaining my faith. It fills in a lot of gaps and avoids certain arguments that can be made with the other doctrines.
 
May 3, 2013
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Cool! I know this is what I believe. I referenced scripture in my paragraph where I was shortly explaining my faith. It fills in a lot of gaps and avoids certain arguments that can be made with the other doctrines.
Are we ready to be stoned, banned and killed for that?
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
4,604
113
I am born again, of water and spirit :D I understand what it means to have the Holy Spirit. I know Ruach Hakadesh. What understanding do I lack?

Does this deal with doctrine?.... If so I know all about both. Attended a Trinitarian church since I was little and have attended Oneness 1/4 of that time. I understand both and could teach them as if they were my own beliefs(and have). I find both to have many contradictions and are contrary to God's character and Word, not for any other reason do I not believe in them. I have no problem with those who believe in them, just don't agree.

Thank you for you concern though!

t<><

I find NO contradictions in my BIBLE, because I understand that anytime that I think I found a contradiction, it is I who mis-interpreted at least one of the verses, if not BOTH. Since I was born again, my background has primarily been non-denominational Conservative Evangelical Bible Teaching Churches.

By the way, do you understand that born of water is a reference to the breaking of water at natural child birth, and that becoming born again has nothing to do with speaking in tongues?

John 3:5-7 (ESV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

I do not believe one is born again (having one's human spirit birthed into Eternal Life) unless they come to GOD with a broken contrite heart, mourning over their own utter sinfulness; and willingly surrender complete control to Jesus Christ as LORD, which means MASTER. If one is holding back any part of one's life just for self, and has never felt deep remorse for their sinfulness; I seriously doubt if that person is born again. "By their fruit you will know them." One must be physically around another person claiming to be a born again Christian for about two years before one can DISCERN what kind of fruit they are producing. That is why it is almost impossible to tell for sure, if a fellow poster that claims to believe in the Trinity is genuinely born again.

Please do not take offense, but all of the Churches that I have attended since I was born again the last week of December 1977, believe if one denies the Deity of Jesus Christ, they are definitely not born again; because that doctrine comes from a Psuedo Christian Cult. Again this is also NOT a personal attack, but just lovingly sharing what we actually believe, and yes we believe that Oneness is also a Psuedo Christian Cult. We believe that all genuinely born again Christians WILL BELIEVE in the HOLY TRINITY.

Here is the proof that one who denies the Deity of Jesus Christ, is not born again.

Colossians 1:16-19 (HCSB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For God was pleased ⌊to have⌋ all His fullness dwell in Him,

Genesis 1:1 (HCSB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

JESUS is the Creator, which means Jesus is GOD in the flesh.

Romans 1:18-21 (HCSB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
[SUP]19 [/SUP] since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
To NOT believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, IS TO NOT GLORIFY HIM AS GOD.

1 John 2:23 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.


 
M

MyLighthouse

Guest
t<><

I find NO contradictions in my BIBLE, because I understand that anytime that I think I found a contradiction, it is I who mis-interpreted at least one of the verses, if not BOTH. Since I was born again, my background has primarily been non-denominational Conservative Evangelical Bible Teaching Churches.

By the way, do you understand that born of water is a reference to the breaking of water at natural child birth, and that becoming born again has nothing to do with speaking in tongues?

John 3:5-7 (ESV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

I do not believe one is born again (having one's human spirit birthed into Eternal Life) unless they come to GOD with a broken contrite heart, mourning over their own utter sinfulness; and willingly surrender complete control to Jesus Christ as LORD, which means MASTER. If one is holding back any part of one's life just for self, and has never felt deep remorse for their sinfulness; I seriously doubt if that person is born again. "By their fruit you will know them." One must be physically around another person claiming to be a born again Christian for about two years before one can DISCERN what kind of fruit they are producing. That is why it is almost impossible to tell for sure, if a fellow poster that claims to believe in the Trinity is genuinely born again.

Please do not take offense, but all of the Churches that I have attended since I was born again the last week of December 1977, believe if one denies the Deity of Jesus Christ, they are definitely not born again; because that doctrine comes from a Psuedo Christian Cult. Again this is also NOT a personal attack, but just lovingly sharing what we actually believe, and yes we believe that Oneness is also a Psuedo Christian Cult. We believe that all genuinely born again Christians WILL BELIEVE in the HOLY TRINITY.

Here is the proof that one who denies the Deity of Jesus Christ, is not born again.

Colossians 1:16-19 (HCSB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For God was pleased ⌊to have⌋ all His fullness dwell in Him,

Genesis 1:1 (HCSB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

JESUS is the Creator, which means Jesus is GOD in the flesh.

Romans 1:18-21 (HCSB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
[SUP]19 [/SUP] since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
To NOT believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, IS TO NOT GLORIFY HIM AS GOD.

1 John 2:23 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.


I'm not offended at all, I understand your concern based on you faith. I have been told a lot worse because I don't believe in those doctrines.
I agree that the Bible has no contradictions, that man is the one who misinterprets or contradicts the Bible.
I also agree that born of water and spirit is more than the tongue doctrine taught in churches. The tongues doctrine I believe is also taught or done unbiblically.
I also do not belong to a denomination for the obvious and less obvious reasons.

The Bible says that if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. It says whoever believes and is baptized, it says repent and be baptized, and receive the Spirit. Then it says to walk in the Spirit and to love. No where does it says you have to believe in a Trinity or Oneness doctrine to be saved. You are saved(born again) because of Jesus, the name for which all of us are saved.

I understand the Trinitarian and Oneness doctrine, I do not understand how either doctrines believe God could dwell with sin, die, and much more I could say. The doctrines don't match what the Old Testament says about God and Jesus (Son of Man, Branch of David/Jesse, my righteous/good Servant, etc.) or what the disciple/apostles believed. There are mates to the scripture you referenced and bias from faith. I feel your thinking I believe like a Jehovah Witness, and I don't. I worship God and Jesus as equal as Lord, I believe like the scriptures say. If interested I could tell you them :)

Again, I believe anyone you does what I mentioned from scripture is saved, whether you believe 3 is one or 3 in one, isn't what matters. As long as you believe in the Father and the Son in some way and have the Spirit living inside you, your saved according to scripture. Think about it, Trinity wasn't established until the 4th century after huge debates and Oneness until 1915. What of those before hand? Were they not saved?

Thanks again for you concern, Sir!
 
May 3, 2013
8,719
75
0
I'm not offended at all, I understand your concern based on you faith. I have been told a lot worse because I don't believe in those doctrines.
I agree that the Bible has no contradictions, that man is the one who misinterprets or contradicts the Bible.
I also agree that born of water and spirit is more than the tongue doctrine taught in churches. The tongues doctrine I believe is also taught or done unbiblically.
I also do not belong to a denomination for the obvious and less obvious reasons.

The Bible says that if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. It says whoever believes and is baptized, it says repent and be baptized, and receive the Spirit. Then it says to walk in the Spirit and to love. No where does it says you have to believe in a Trinity or Oneness doctrine to be saved. You are saved(born again) because of Jesus, the name for which all of us are saved.

I understand the Trinitarian and Oneness doctrine, I do not understand how either doctrines believe God could dwell with sin, die, and much more I could say. The doctrines don't match what the Old Testament says about God and Jesus (Son of Man, Branch of David/Jesse, my righteous/good Servant, etc.) or what the disciple/apostles believed. There are mates to the scripture you referenced and bias from faith. I feel your thinking I believe like a Jehovah Witness, and I don't. I worship God and Jesus as equal as Lord, I believe like the scriptures say. If interested I could tell you them :)

Again, I believe anyone you does what I mentioned from scripture is saved, whether you believe 3 is one or 3 in one, isn't what matters. As long as you believe in the Father and the Son in some way and have the Spirit living inside you, your saved according to scripture. Think about it, Trinity wasn't established until the 4th century after huge debates and Oneness until 1915. What of those before hand? Were they not saved?

Thanks again for you concern, Sir!

Where´s that Church you go to so I could attend?

Not because of what it´s believed, but just because you´re brave.

Sometimes I shrink and shrank... Am I seated to judge JWs or another men?

No! I´m not at heavenly setas to judge another sinner like me.

Joh 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

Luk 6:37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
 
Jan 24, 2012
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Your first response to this question is going to be, "He was praying to God, obviously, who else?" So I know this sounds like an odd question, but I mean it from a completely different angle than you might have thought.

Consider this for a second here... really...

We as Christians believe (by majority, and myself included) that Jesus is God.

Yet Jesus prayed to God, and even asked God for His will instead of his own in Luke 22:42!

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." ---Luke 22:42

So basically, according to this verse, Jesus is praying to his God, and asking for his separate and higher will. Yet Jesus is supposed to be God in my book! If Jesus is God, then why is He praying to God? Is He praying to Himself? And why is he asking God for His separate and higher will, yet not his own, if he is God?

If one thing is made painfully clear from this verse, it is that Jesus believed the person he was talking to to be greater, higher, and wiser than Himself - as well as possessing a separate and higher will altogether. But I believe that Jesus is God, so how can I reconcile my belief with the verse which seems to refute it.

Is Jesus talking to himself? The more I read it the verse, the more my belief in the Trinity seems to look less and less Biblical. Note that I am not trying to refute the belief in the Trinity here, but this is the one verse in the Bible that shakes my faith in it's scriptural authenticity. Either Jesus was talking to Himself and experiencing a split personality, or He was talking to Someone else. What's going on in this verse? Who was He talking to? It's obviously not Himself because the Entity has a separate opinion (according to Jesus), yet it has to be Himself because Jesus is God and there's no one else to pray to.

Now my mind is fried... :(
It seems that you don't believe in the Trinity but instead believe in Oneness. In the Trinity, Jesus isn't the Son AND the Father, He's just the Son. Jesus isn't the Son AND the Holy Spirit. However, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are all the essence of God. Think of it in terms of the original Power Ranger Zords to understand :) there were Zords (which would symbolize the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and then they would unite to form the Megazord (God)

In Oneness, Jesus is the Son, AND the Father, AND the Holy Spirit. Think of it as if the same person dresses up as a cop, then a doctor, then a fireman. God would be changing into each role instead of existing as each role.

Best ways I can interpret them.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
4,604
113
I'm not offended at all, I understand your concern based on you faith. I have been told a lot worse because I don't believe in those doctrines.
I agree that the Bible has no contradictions, that man is the one who misinterprets or contradicts the Bible.
I also agree that born of water and spirit is more than the tongue doctrine taught in churches. The tongues doctrine I believe is also taught or done unbiblically.
I also do not belong to a denomination for the obvious and less obvious reasons.

The Bible says that if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. It says whoever believes and is baptized, it says repent and be baptized, and receive the Spirit. Then it says to walk in the Spirit and to love. No where does it says you have to believe in a Trinity or Oneness doctrine to be saved. You are saved(born again) because of Jesus, the name for which all of us are saved.

I understand the Trinitarian and Oneness doctrine, I do not understand how either doctrines believe God could dwell with sin, die, and much more I could say. The doctrines don't match what the Old Testament says about God and Jesus (Son of Man, Branch of David/Jesse, my righteous/good Servant, etc.) or what the disciple/apostles believed. There are mates to the scripture you referenced and bias from faith. I feel your thinking I believe like a Jehovah Witness, and I don't. I worship God and Jesus as equal as Lord, I believe like the scriptures say. If interested I could tell you them :)

Again, I believe anyone you does what I mentioned from scripture is saved, whether you believe 3 is one or 3 in one, isn't what matters. As long as you believe in the Father and the Son in some way and have the Spirit living inside you, your saved according to scripture. Think about it, Trinity wasn't established until the 4th century after huge debates and Oneness until 1915. What of those before hand? Were they not saved?

Thanks again for you concern, Sir!
t<><

WOW, for one with your background, you have come a mile, in understanding that the modern day tongues is not being done biblically.

My concern for you is primarily that do you do not fully understand what the doctrine of the Trinity means, or you have been taught by someone who gave you an inadequate definition. No, Jehovah Witnesses never crossed my mind, as I usually recognize their teachings right off. I used to do a lot of Church hopping when I was first saved the last week of 1977, and I found a lot of Churches were very weak at teaching and explaining what the Scriptures actually mean. Over the years, I have heard just about every twist and turn of doctrine, due to the poor teachings that are out there. Oh, once in awhile, I run across a new one, but not very often any more. One that I noticed in your post is the erroneous idea that Trinity was not taught until the 4th Century. I see it all over the Scriptures and it was taught by the early Church too. Here is a link to some quotes that go way back before the 4th Century; even the word Trinity was written in a doctrinal book by Tertullian (160-215) - African apologist and theologian. Therefore the Doctrine of GOD being a Triune Being certainly was being taught, and it is the anti-Trinitarians who are most certainly in error and continuing to spread that lie:

https://carm.org/early-trinitarian-quotes


You also made a statement that validates that you certainly do have some misunderstandings.

Specifically:

"I do not understand how either doctrines believe God could dwell with sin, die, and much more I could say."

Where did you get the idea that for GOD to be dwelling in Christ would be dwelling in sin?

Whoever taught you that, certainly taught you UNTRUTH.

Here let me show you what the Scriptures actually say:

1 John 3:5 (HCSB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him.


2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


It is OUR sins that put Christ on the CROSS, He willingly took all of our sins upon HIMSELF, and like it says God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The only sin anyone will end up in hell for is rejecting (blaspheming) the work of the Holy Spirit, who is trying to get that unbelieving heart to come to BELIEVE IN HIM.

A lot of people do not grasp what and why GOD was doing all of this. GOD set the price for sin at a HOLY BLOOD sacrifice, something that NONE of us could offer. THEN GOD decided to pay the price HIMSELF. HOWEVER, GOD cannot die, because HE IS IMMORTAL. GOD wanted to show the ULTIMATE form of LOVE for HIS Creation, and GOD declared that the Ultimate Form of LOVE is when a man lays down his life for a friend, NOT HIS OFFSPRING'S LIFE. If Jesus was not GOD IN THE FLESH, then GOD's example of PERFECT LOVE was less than what a man could do.

JESUS obviously was GOD IN THE FLESH, therefore GOD created that body we know as JESUS in the womb of Mary, so that HE would have a mortal body that part of HIMSELF (HE REMAINS OMNIPRESENT AT ALL TIMES) could enter that mortal body and DIE FOR OUR SINS, becoming the ULTIMATE example of PERFECT LOVE.
 
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Elijah19

Guest
How do you mean by "part of himself" near the end of your explanation VCO? Did God divide himself. I always took it as Jesus was the Fullness of God, not a fraction of Him.
 
May 15, 2013
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Your first response to this question is going to be, "He was praying to God, obviously, who else?" So I know this sounds like an odd question, but I mean it from a completely different angle than you might have thought.

Consider this for a second here... really...

We as Christians believe (by majority, and myself included) that Jesus is God.

Yet Jesus prayed to God, and even asked God for His will instead of his own in Luke 22:42!

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." ---Luke 22:42

So basically, according to this verse, Jesus is praying to his God, and asking for his separate and higher will. Yet Jesus is supposed to be God in my book! If Jesus is God, then why is He praying to God? Is He praying to Himself? And why is he asking God for His separate and higher will, yet not his own, if he is God?

If one thing is made painfully clear from this verse, it is that Jesus believed the person he was talking to to be greater, higher, and wiser than Himself - as well as possessing a separate and higher will altogether. But I believe that Jesus is God, so how can I reconcile my belief with the verse which seems to refute it.

Is Jesus talking to himself? The more I read it the verse, the more my belief in the Trinity seems to look less and less Biblical. Note that I am not trying to refute the belief in the Trinity here, but this is the one verse in the Bible that shakes my faith in it's scriptural authenticity. Either Jesus was talking to Himself and experiencing a split personality, or He was talking to Someone else. What's going on in this verse? Who was He talking to? It's obviously not Himself because the Entity has a separate opinion (according to Jesus), yet it has to be Himself because Jesus is God and there's no one else to pray to.

Now my mind is fried... :(


[h=1]Three Parts of the Mind[/h]
Ancient philosophers and modern psychologists share the concept of a three-part mind with separate domains for thinking, feeling, and doing. The conative, or doing, part contains the striving instincts that drive a person's natural way of taking action, or modus operandi (M.O.). This is the unique set of innate strengths and talents every person has which remains unchanged from birth. Everyone has an equal amount of conative energy for engaging the thinking (cognitive) and feeling (affective) parts of the mind to produce purposeful action.

Three Parts of the Mind - Kolbe.com
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
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How do you mean by "part of himself" near the end of your explanation VCO? Did God divide himself. I always took it as Jesus was the Fullness of God, not a fraction of Him.
NO, GOD did divide HIMSELF, all I was pointing out is that GOD eternally exists as THEE Omnipresent, Triune, Divine, Spiritual Being. THEREFORE, even though GOD dwelt in the body of Jesus, HE did not CEASE to be the Infinite GOD of the Universe, ONLY the Human part of Jesus was finite. HE IS both man and GOD in the Flesh, BUT GOD's Divine Being does not stop at the SKIN of Jesus. YOU CANNOT PUT GOD IN ANY KIND OF BOX, NOT even SPACE, or TIME, or the BODY of JESUS. HIS fullness, means ALL THAT HE IS, and that includes HIS eternal Omnipresence.

Let me put the shoe on the other foot.

Where are the dividing lines between your Body, your Soul, and your Human Spirit?

They certainly are separate parts or attributes with separate functions, and the combined total is what is called a HUMAN BEING, but where are the dividing lines?

They are constantly intertwined. Why then are you trying to find the dividing lines between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are eternally intertwined and therefore they are all the Eternal GOD of the Universe, the ONLY GOD THAT EXISTS.
 
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williamjordan

Senior Member
Feb 18, 2015
495
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Your first response to this question is going to be, "He was praying to God, obviously, who else?" So I know this sounds like an odd question, but I mean it from a completely different angle than you might have thought.

Consider this for a second here... really...

We as Christians believe (by majority, and myself included) that Jesus is God.

Yet Jesus prayed to God, and even asked God for His will instead of his own in Luke 22:42!

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." ---Luke 22:42

So basically, according to this verse, Jesus is praying to his God, and asking for his separate and higher will. Yet Jesus is supposed to be God in my book! If Jesus is God, then why is He praying to God? Is He praying to Himself? And why is he asking God for His separate and higher will, yet not his own, if he is God?

If one thing is made painfully clear from this verse, it is that Jesus believed the person he was talking to to be greater, higher, and wiser than Himself - as well as possessing a separate and higher will altogether. But I believe that Jesus is God, so how can I reconcile my belief with the verse which seems to refute it.

Is Jesus talking to himself? The more I read it the verse, the more my belief in the Trinity seems to look less and less Biblical. Note that I am not trying to refute the belief in the Trinity here, but this is the one verse in the Bible that shakes my faith in it's scriptural authenticity. Either Jesus was talking to Himself and experiencing a split personality, or He was talking to Someone else. What's going on in this verse? Who was He talking to? It's obviously not Himself because the Entity has a separate opinion (according to Jesus), yet it has to be Himself because Jesus is God and there's no one else to pray to.

Now my mind is fried... :(
Several things to note:

You make the mistake of confusing Trinitarianism with a form of Unitarianism known as Modalism. This is evident in statements such as, “Either Jesus was talking to Himself… or He was talking to Someone else,” “the Entity has a separate opinion, yet has to be Himself because Jesus is God and there’s no one else to pray to.”

It's of vital significance to understand that there are multiple forms of Unitarianism. One of the heresies of the Early Church was a form of Unitarianism known as Sabellianism (which is a strand of Modalism), which didn't deny that Jesus was God, but rather (unlike Trinitarianism), denied that Christ was a distinct Person from the Father (and subsequently, that it was the Father who incarnated the flesh as Jesus). While there are multiple Unitarian groups (all with significantly different views of Christ), the primary belief that they each share is that God is one sole individual.

In contrast to Modalism, Trinitarianism believes that Jesus pre-existed the incarnation as a divine figure second to, and equal to the Father (John 1.1, Philippians 2.5-10). And it was not the Father who incarnated the flesh, but Jesus. Thus, for Trinitarians the two-way communication is very easy.

If there are more questions (and I there will be), feel free to ask.
 
Feb 5, 2015
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Now my mind is fried... :(
Possibly that is why God simply-in childlike faith wants you to accept His son as just that-His son. And if you do:

If anyone believes Jesus is the son of God, God lives in him and he in God 1John 4:15

Why concentrate on things that makes your brain fried?
 
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VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,984
4,604
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Possibly that is why God simply-in childlike faith wants you to accept His son as just that-His son. And if you do:

If anyone believes Jesus is the son of God, God lives in him and he in God 1John 4:15

Why concentrate on things that makes your brain fried?

Wrong.

Son of GOD does not designate OFFSPRING.

You have to study Judaism and their traditions to find the Legally Binding definition of "Son of whoever".

It is the same as the one who has the Birthright. It is the father's right to designate who will have the birthright. Sure, most of the time it just went to the first born, HOWEVER legally the father had the right to give it to whomever he wanted, even if it was a non-relative.

FOR EXAMPLE, say there was an elderly man named JOHN, and he had three sons, and he thought they were all no good drunkards; what was he to do? HE LEGALLY COULD GIVE THAT BIRTHRIGHT TO ANYONE, EVEN A SERVANT. {Remember Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob.} So let's say John had a very trustworthy servant named Issac, so JOHN gave the birthright to his Servant Issac. WHAT TITLE DO YOU THINK ISSAC WOULD INHERIT BECAUSE HE NOW POSSESSED THE BRITHRIGHT? You got it, HIS TITLE would be SON OF JOHN. AND with two or three witnesses that assigning of the Birthright is LEGALLY Binding, and with that TITLE "SON OF JOHN", would also come the responsibility of carrying out the will of JOHN until his death.

GOD WILL NEVER DIE but HE assigned the Birthright, creating the Title "SON OF GOD", giving it NOT TO AN OFFSPRING, but rather to the part of Himself WHO always has carried out the will of the FATHER. HE even says that in the Bible, but without the knowledge of the Jewish Customs and Traditions, most people totally miss it.

Hebrews 1:4-6 (HCSB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?

Still DOUBT that the SON IS NOT OFFSPRING, but rather part of GOD HIMSELF, then read the next verse.
[SUP]
6
[/SUP] When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.

Matthew 4:10 (HCSB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”

John 16:15 (NKJV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.


JESUS because of the Assigned Birthright Title "SON OF GOD" inherits everything that the FATHER HAS. THAT INCLUDES HIS DEITY and DEVINE NATURE.
 
Feb 5, 2015
1,852
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Wrong.

Son of GOD does not designate OFFSPRING.

You have to study Judaism and their traditions to find the Legally Binding definition of "Son of whoever".

It is the same as the one who has the Birthright. It is the father's right to designate who will have the birthright. Sure, most of the time it just went to the first born, HOWEVER legally the father had the right to give it to whomever he wanted, even if it was a non-relative.

FOR EXAMPLE, say there was an elderly man named JOHN, and he had three sons, and he thought they were all no good drunkards; what was he to do? HE LEGALLY COULD GIVE THAT BIRTHRIGHT TO ANYONE, EVEN A SERVANT. {Remember Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob.} So let's say John had a very trustworthy servant named Issac, so JOHN gave the birthright to his Servant Issac. WHAT TITLE DO YOU THINK ISSAC WOULD INHERIT BECAUSE HE NOW POSSESSED THE BRITHRIGHT? You got it, HIS TITLE would be SON OF JOHN. AND with two or three witnesses that assigning of the Birthright is LEGALLY Binding, and with that TITLE "SON OF JOHN", would also come the responsibility of carrying out the will of JOHN until his death.

GOD WILL NEVER DIE but HE assigned the Birthright, creating the Title "SON OF GOD", giving it NOT TO AN OFFSPRING, but rather to the part of Himself WHO always has carried out the will of the FATHER. HE even says that in the Bible, but without the knowledge of the Jewish Customs and Traditions, most people totally miss it.

Hebrews 1:4-6 (HCSB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?

Still DOUBT that the SON IS NOT OFFSPRING, but rather part of GOD HIMSELF, then read the next verse.
[SUP]
6
[/SUP] When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.

Matthew 4:10 (HCSB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”

John 16:15 (NKJV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.


JESUS because of the Assigned Birthright Title "SON OF GOD" inherits everything that the FATHER HAS. THAT INCLUDES HIS DEITY and DEVINE NATURE.
Perhaps you did not read my comment carefully. It states a person must believe Christ to be the Son of God to be saved. Are you querying that?