Please help me to respond to some of my non-trinitarian friends

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jul 15, 2024
100
23
18
On the subject of Trinitarians -VS- Unitarians...

Scrpiture seems to answer this controversy clearly, lets investigate;

Trinitarians believe that God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Unitarians reject the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God the Father is one singular being, AND THAT JESUS CHRIST is a distinct being, His Son, but IS NOT DIVINE. These definitions come from researching the terms, not from what I consider them to be. So let's look into scripture on this;

Even though the word "God" seems to be singular, there are many scriptures that reveal God as plural. We see in GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image", GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) " And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of US, to know good and evil".

Movin on, in MATTHEW 3:16-17 (KJV) when Jesus was baptized, we see the presence of God the Father, speaking about His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven and upon Jesus. This scripture itself defines and identifies who the "US" and "OUR" are in GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) and GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) regarding the plural use of God.

I must conclude with these two scriptures; 1 JOHN 5:7 (KJV) "For there are THREE that bear record in Heaven, the FATHER, the Word (JESUS) , and the HOLY SPIRIT: and THESE THREE ARE ONE", and JOHN 10:30 (KJV) where Jesus states "I and My Father are One". Again, we see scriptures that show and prove that God can be seen as three in one, or one as three. This could be seen as "legalism" to a certain degree.

NOW, TO THE ARGUMENT OF TRINITARIANS -VS- UNITARIANS...

"God" is the ancient Hebrew word "ELOHIM". Grammatically, it is a plural word used as if it were singular. The verbs and pronouns used with "ELOHIM" should be in the plural, but when ELOHIM" refers to the LORD God the verbs and pronouns are in the singular.

I can see a belief of God alone stemming from the Old Testament, before Jesus and the Holy Spirit were clearly revealed, even though they are indirectly mentioned in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit being revealed in GENESIS 1:2 (KJV) "as the Spirit of God" and Jesus being mentioned in GENESIS 3:15 (KJV) as "the seed of the woman" which was a prophecy of Jesus' virgin birth by Mary to come... and again GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) and GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) as God in the plual form.

However, based on these scriptures, it is apparent that the Trinitarian belief is the Biblical truth. The concerning part here is that Unitarians, (according to the definition of their belief above) deny Christ Jesus as being divine, which I see as a DANGEROUS BELIEF. This is to DENY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AS DIVINE.

It sounds like to me that Unitarians have allowed man's logic to decieve their way of Spiritual thinking, regardless of the fact that scripture PLAINLY confirms a trinity.

Regards,
Pastor Tommy
Hi Pastor Tommy. You need to read the original post as well as post #30,32,39, 40, 42, 46, 48, 49, 58, 60, 113, 125, 148, 153, 154, 155, 157, 162, and 177. My friend does believe that Jesus Christ is divine since he is the Son of God, created all things in our reality, and is above all things created in our reality. He is our God, just not the one God almighty of all realities.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,315
6,643
113
62
Hi Pastor Tommy. You need to read the original post as well as post #30,32,39, 40, 42, 46, 48, 49, 58, 60, 113, 125, 148, 153, 154, 155, 157, 162, and 177. My friend does believe that Jesus Christ is divine since he is the Son of God, created all things in our reality, and is above all things created in our reality. He is our God, just not the one God almighty of all realities.
How does your friend see Colossians 1:16-17? It says all realities...seen and unseen...are created by Jesus.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
Hi Pastor Tommy. You need to read the original post as well as post #30,32,39, 40, 42, 46, 48, 49, 58, 60, 113, 125, 148, 153, 154, 155, 157, 162, and 177. My friend does believe that Jesus Christ is divine since he is the Son of God, created all things in our reality, and is above all things created in our reality. He is our God, just not the one God almighty of all realities.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,033
8,375
113
How can you or anyone see God as God actually is?

No one could stand back far enough from Him to see Him!

How could you?
He is everywhere present!
That means?

While trying to look at Him He would be everywhere behind you!
Everywhere present beneath your feet!!
And, everywhere present above you!

You can not see God, as God is, without Him having a second nature in union.

No one can not stand back far enough from omnipresence to see it!
For no matter how far you back up He will always be all around you!

:eek::unsure:;)
The thing is:
The hypostatic union (the incarnation) is actual and real and.....final.
Irreversible as far as we know.

God can be (and now is) both a man and infinite omnipotent omnipresent God.

Mat 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,271
1,050
113
These definitions come from researching the terms, not from what I consider them to be.
Unfortunately, this topic is not as simple as "I looked it up"; because not everyone defines these terms the same way. Historically, "unitarian" has been used to describe anyone who believes in singular personhood of God; regardless of any other beliefs.

Wikisource
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Unitarianism

The term “Unitarian” first emerges in 1682, and appears in the title of the Brief History (1687). It was construed in a broad sense to cover all who, with whatever differences, held the unipersonality of the Divine Being.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
THANK YOU, but NO, I am not going back to read any of that. MY REPLY DID NOT ADDRESS ANYONE SPECIFICALLY. It was based on the definitions I found regarding what Trinatarians and Unitarians believe, and was answered with scripture, that's it.

How can you say that Jesus is your God, just not the one God almighty of all realities, when Jesus said "I and my Father are one" in JOHN 10:30 (KJV)? Do you have a mental block or inability to understand this?

Then, to support that , we see in PHILIPPIANS 2:9-10 (KJV) Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus), and given Him a name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. This can be verified in MATTHEW 28:18 (KJV) in Jesus words "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth".

IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR, Jesus is the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, that would position Him to be equal with God, since God clearly handed Him the authority. By the way, His authority also include final Judgments, when Jesus will judge all of humanity, both the living and the dead as we see in JOHN 5:22 (KJV) For the Father judgeth no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son.

Again, not to be ugly, I ask you... do you have a mental block or inability to understand this? It is as plain as day.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,271
1,050
113
How does your friend see Colossians 1:16-17? It says all realities...seen and unseen...are created by Jesus.
It's not even making sense anymore. He started off talking about how the Jews were monotheists; and now he's saying Jesus "our God"; but not "thee God"... is anyone else in on this pantheon?
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
Unfortunately, this topic is not as simple as "I looked it up"; because not everyone defines these terms the same way. Historically, "unitarian" has been used to describe anyone who believes in singular personhood of God; regardless of any other beliefs.

Wikisource
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Unitarianism

The term “Unitarian” first emerges in 1682, and appears in the title of the Brief History (1687). It was construed in a broad sense to cover all who, with whatever differences, held the unipersonality of the Divine Being.
THANK YOU. I knew this would come up. I did not say "I looked it up"... I researched the definitions for a base to address it from. But of course, there is always going to be variables in this, as with almost anything. But I was not going to try and answer with a 10,000 page Thesis to cover it all.

I believe the scriptures I offered gave credible evidence of a trinity. I HAVE NOT MADE IT MY LIFE GOAL TO ARGUE SUCH, which I see as nonsense, to try and separate God from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, as many have. It's demonic to try and do so.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,315
6,643
113
62
It's not even making sense anymore. He started off talking about how the Jews were monotheists; and now he's saying Jesus "our God"; but not "thee God"... is anyone else in on this pantheon?
It's reasonable that the Jews thought of God as One because God gave gradual revelation over time and didn't have the benefit of NT scripture. I've wondered on occasion what I might have thought of Jesus if I lived at that time.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,348
113
3 gods in 1 as the trinitarians teach.

no it was not added it was revealed in the context of the word of God.

The issue is man limited ability to fully know all about God Divine Nature.

God the Creator and Father is seen in the word of God

The Spirit of the Living God the Holy Spirit is God seen in the Word of God .


Jesus the Son of God who is God is seen in the word of God

three distinct person's yet one. No one on this side can fully comprehend that.

The Triune God who is one cannot be explained by human rational.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,348
113
On the subject of Trinitarians -VS- Unitarians...

Scrpiture seems to answer this controversy clearly, lets investigate;

Trinitarians believe that God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Unitarians reject the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God the Father is one singular being, AND THAT JESUS CHRIST is a distinct being, His Son, but IS NOT DIVINE. These definitions come from researching the terms, not from what I consider them to be. So let's look into scripture on this;

Even though the word "God" seems to be singular, there are many scriptures that reveal God as plural. We see in GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image", GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) " And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of US, to know good and evil".

Movin on, in MATTHEW 3:16-17 (KJV) when Jesus was baptized, we see the presence of God the Father, speaking about His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven and upon Jesus. This scripture itself defines and identifies who the "US" and "OUR" are in GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) and GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) regarding the plural use of God.

I must conclude with these two scriptures; 1 JOHN 5:7 (KJV) "For there are THREE that bear record in Heaven, the FATHER, the Word (JESUS) , and the HOLY SPIRIT: and THESE THREE ARE ONE", and JOHN 10:30 (KJV) where Jesus states "I and My Father are One". Again, we see scriptures that show and prove that God can be seen as three in one, or one as three. This could be seen as "legalism" to a certain degree.

NOW, TO THE ARGUMENT OF TRINITARIANS -VS- UNITARIANS...

"God" is the ancient Hebrew word "ELOHIM". Grammatically, it is a plural word used as if it were singular. The verbs and pronouns used with "ELOHIM" should be in the plural, but when ELOHIM" refers to the LORD God the verbs and pronouns are in the singular.

I can see a belief of God alone stemming from the Old Testament, before Jesus and the Holy Spirit were clearly revealed, even though they are indirectly mentioned in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit being revealed in GENESIS 1:2 (KJV) "as the Spirit of God" and Jesus being mentioned in GENESIS 3:15 (KJV) as "the seed of the woman" which was a prophecy of Jesus' virgin birth by Mary to come... and again GENESIS 1:26 (KJV) and GENESIS 3:22 (KJV) as God in the plual form.

However, based on these scriptures, it is apparent that the Trinitarian belief is the Biblical truth. The concerning part here is that Unitarians, (according to the definition of their belief above) deny Christ Jesus as being divine, which I see as a DANGEROUS BELIEF. This is to DENY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AS DIVINE.

It sounds like to me that Unitarians have allowed man's logic to decieve their way of Spiritual thinking, regardless of the fact that scripture PLAINLY confirms a trinity.

Regards,
Pastor Tommy
I disagree with some of the terms in what is called "Trinitarians."


First off, the debate is, in my opinion, a ploy of the enemy to keep those who know Christ from being effective in preaching the Gospel.


Debate:

  • Trinitarians vs Unitarians or Oness
  • Calvinism vs Arminianism
  • cessationism vs continuations


All of this is unfruitful. Most are pride-driven. No one reading this debates on these topics is getting saved who were not saved. They are argued by those who claim to be saved already.


Most in this debate are looking to be right instead of DOING Right.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,348
113
It's reasonable that the Jews thought of God as One because God gave gradual revelation over time and didn't have the benefit of NT scripture. I've wondered on occasion what I might have thought of Jesus if I lived at that time.
the verse that says
Deut. 6: 4
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:


God is plural.

You or I can't fully understand how that is possible to say one does is a lie.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
I disagree with some of the terms in what is called "Trinitarians."


First off, the debate is, in my opinion, a ploy of the enemy to keep those who know Christ from being effective in preaching the Gospel.


Debate:

  • Trinitarians vs Unitarians or Oness
  • Calvinism vs Arminianism
  • cessationism vs continuations


All of this is unfruitful. Most are pride-driven. No one reading this debates on these topics is getting saved who were not saved. They are argued by those who claim to be saved already.


Most in this debate are looking to be right instead of DOING Right.
===============

I agree, this Trinitarian -vs- Unitarian is a division device by Satan, as is the Rapture argument. My definition of Trinitarian was found in my research, which is apparently a "generic definitiion". But as usual, there are going to be variances.

My intention was to use scripture to show what the bible actually offers to settle this ongoing dispute, nothing more.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
the verse that says
Deut. 6: 4
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:


God is plural.

You or I can't fully understand how that is possible to say one does is a lie.
=============

Personally, I can understand, simply by taking God at his word.

A good way to understand this is to look at a family of a father, mother and child. There are three persons, who form one family.

In the same way, we know God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are three who form the one Godhead.

TA DA! :)
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,348
113
=============

Personally, I can understand, simply by taking God at his word.

A good way to understand this is to look at a family of a father, mother and child. There are three persons, who form one family.

In the same way, we know God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are three who form the one Godhead.

TA DA! :)

Well is cute but far from explaining the full Nature of God. First off, the father, mother , and child are all limited; God is not.

The father is not the mother, and the mother is not the father

God is God the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus is God .
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
Well is cute but far from explaining the full Nature of God. First off, the father, mother , and child are all limited; God is not.

The father is not the mother, and the mother is not the father

God is God the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus is God .
=============

Yes, and your point is?

Understanding the full nature of God is not necessary in trying to simply understand the concept of the trinity.

We understand that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit each have a different purpose or role, but work in perfect unity to form the one Godhead.

Why do you insist on being "legalistic", making this technical and difficult for others to try and understand it? The use of Spiritual common sense is all that is needed to grasp this.

The simple truth of the Gospel is not that hard to understand, as some people make it out to be. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
 
Jul 15, 2024
100
23
18
THANK YOU, but NO, I am not going back to read any of that. MY REPLY DID NOT ADDRESS ANYONE SPECIFICALLY. It was based on the definitions I found regarding what Trinatarians and Unitarians believe, and was answered with scripture, that's it.

How can you say that Jesus is your God, just not the one God almighty of all realities, when Jesus said "I and my Father are one" in JOHN 10:30 (KJV)? Do you have a mental block or inability to understand this?

Then, to support that , we see in PHILIPPIANS 2:9-10 (KJV) Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus), and given Him a name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. This can be verified in MATTHEW 28:18 (KJV) in Jesus words "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth".

IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR, Jesus is the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, that would position Him to be equal with God, since God clearly handed Him the authority. By the way, His authority also include final Judgments, when Jesus will judge all of humanity, both the living and the dead as we see in JOHN 5:22 (KJV) For the Father judgeth no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son.

Again, not to be ugly, I ask you... do you have a mental block or inability to understand this? It is as plain as day.
This is from Post #113 which you didn't read:
My friend says that you don't have the correct understanding of Oneness.
John 17: 20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Jesus is praying to the Father and at the same time is explaining Oneness. How is the Father in Jesus and Jesus in the Father? Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and where the Holy Spirit is, the Father is. In Isaiah 63: 9-10, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Angel of His presence". It is referred to as an angel because it can be sent. When someone is baptized by Christ with the Holy Spirit, he becomes the temple of the Son, who is the temple of the Father ("as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee"). The Holy Spirit is a portal through which the Father (the invisible God) can interact with the beings indwelt. Christ is so filled with the Holy Spirit that he is the visible image of the invisible God and is One with the Father because of the portal (Holy Spirit) that connects them. When we get baptized with this portal, both Father and Son enter our beings and we as part of the spiritual body of Christ are welcomed in the Father's family. That is how we are in Christ and in the Father. Together, they perfect us by filling us with divine love so that when every thought and action is motivated by love for God first and everyone else as we love ourselves, we will be obeying the Spirit of the Law as given by Jesus when asked which is the greatest commandment. We become One with the Father and Son when they can access our beings through this portal. Any living being with a mind of his own would have words to explain his thoughts, but the Holy Spirit does not speak his own words. When the Holy Spirit speaks, he is speaking the words of the Father or the Son.

Again, you should humble yourself and read the posts that I listed.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
This is from Post #113 which you didn't read:
My friend says that you don't have the correct understanding of Oneness.
John 17: 20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Jesus is praying to the Father and at the same time is explaining Oneness. How is the Father in Jesus and Jesus in the Father? Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and where the Holy Spirit is, the Father is. In Isaiah 63: 9-10, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Angel of His presence". It is referred to as an angel because it can be sent. When someone is baptized by Christ with the Holy Spirit, he becomes the temple of the Son, who is the temple of the Father ("as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee"). The Holy Spirit is a portal through which the Father (the invisible God) can interact with the beings indwelt. Christ is so filled with the Holy Spirit that he is the visible image of the invisible God and is One with the Father because of the portal (Holy Spirit) that connects them. When we get baptized with this portal, both Father and Son enter our beings and we as part of the spiritual body of Christ are welcomed in the Father's family. That is how we are in Christ and in the Father. Together, they perfect us by filling us with divine love so that when every thought and action is motivated by love for God first and everyone else as we love ourselves, we will be obeying the Spirit of the Law as given by Jesus when asked which is the greatest commandment. We become One with the Father and Son when they can access our beings through this portal. Any living being with a mind of his own would have words to explain his thoughts, but the Holy Spirit does not speak his own words. When the Holy Spirit speaks, he is speaking the words of the Father or the Son.

Again, you should humble yourself and read the posts that I listed.
============

Oneness? Oh my! Sorry, I said all I had to say to you or your friend about this. BYE
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,348
113
=============

Yes, and your point is?

Understanding the full nature of God is not necessary in trying to simply understand the concept of the trinity.

We understand that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit each have a different purpose or role, but work in perfect unity to form the one Godhead.

Why do you insist on being "legalistic", making this technical and difficult for others to try and understand it? The use of Spiritual common sense is all that is needed to grasp this.

The simple truth of the Gospel is not that hard to understand, as some people make it out to be. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
again we can't explain God using things that profane Gosd to do so.

Profane meaning makes common. The Jews were even fearful (reverent), not to mention His name of fear to insult God.
We are fast to use water, ice, and steam or a chicken egg to make common God.


That is error.
 

TommyT

New member
Sep 28, 2024
20
0
1
again we can't explain God using things that profane Gosd to do so.

Profane meaning makes common. The Jews were even fearful (reverent), not to mention His name of fear to insult God.
We are fast to use water, ice, and steam or a chicken egg to make common God.


That is error.
==================

You are impossible... someone who chooses to create confusion. I do not need anymore of what you have to offer... Please do not respond to me again about anything.