The Trinity.

  • 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.

williamjordan

Senior Member
Feb 18, 2015
495
122
43
Christ is the only begotten Son of God the Father because He is the only being directly formed by the Father. All other beings are created by Christ. Christ has eternal life (meaning living forever) and all that are part of His body will also have eternal life.
This is incorrect. In fact, Col. 1:16 gives you the reason why Christ is referred to as "firstborn." Completely lacking from the "reason given" by Paul, is this idea that Christ was "created." You have read your own distorted view into 1:15, but cannot reckon with 1:16. 1:16 is apart of the very same sentence, yet you have Paul contradicting himself in a matter of two words.
 
Dec 30, 2020
868
226
43
im not here very often - but from what I understand this is a trinity site - so if you carry on - you'll probably get banned, which is not nice or very christian like.

Me personally its good to have diffrent opinions and debates - can learn more - so hope you do not get banned.
Thanks. The early Christians got killed for their beliefs. I'm worried that I'm going to get banned? I like this website and have learned a lot from members and their scripture references. Have you checked the reviews on CC? My review is always positive because I appreciate the freedom to be able to not only express my beliefs, but also learn from others. When a member gets nasty, belligerent, extremely disrespectful, or abusive, they should be banned. If a member gets banned because his belief does not coincide with the beliefs of those in charge, and the member is passive and respectful, then it is not an open forum and I wouldn't want any part of it anyway. For me, all that I can do is put out my information and let the Holy Spirit touch the mind and hearts of those that are willing to listen and not shut the door to enlightenment. You can't force someone to believe what you believe. The Great Commission given by Jesus to His apostles was for them to go out and teach all nations so that by the foolishness of preaching people will come to understand the truth and be baptized by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I keep on thinking about the scripture that says that the road to damnation is wide and the road to salvation is narrow and few are those that find it.
 

williamjordan

Senior Member
Feb 18, 2015
495
122
43
Thanks. The early Christians got killed for their beliefs. I'm worried that I'm going to get banned? I like this website and have learned a lot from members and their scripture references. Have you checked the reviews on CC? My review is always positive because I appreciate the freedom to be able to not only express my beliefs, but also learn from others. When a member gets nasty, belligerent, extremely disrespectful, or abusive, they should be banned. If a member gets banned because his belief does not coincide with the beliefs of those in charge, and the member is passive and respectful, then it is not an open forum and I wouldn't want any part of it anyway. For me, all that I can do is put out my information and let the Holy Spirit touch the mind and hearts of those that are willing to listen and not shut the door to enlightenment. You can't force someone to believe what you believe. The Great Commission given by Jesus to His apostles was for them to go out and teach all nations so that by the foolishness of preaching people will come to understand the truth and be baptized by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I keep on thinking about the scripture that says that the road to damnation is wide and the road to salvation is narrow and few are those that find it.
Oh yes, of course, everyone wants to think they are on that "straight and narrow" path. But now, how about let's get back to the discussion on Col. 1:15-16 and Rev. 1:8, 1:17, 2:8, 21:6, 22:13 and the terms that are being used interchangeably of the Father and the Son, despite the fact that you are not consistent in application?

If Christ is referred to as "Alpha and Omega," "Beginning and End," you argue it refers to a "beginning point" in time, but don't realize that it is also used of the Father (Rev. 21:6) and is set within an OT backdrop, where it is used of YHWH who is spoken of being BEFORE "the beginning," and AFTER "the end." It's one of those euphanisms used to describe everlastingness.
 

williamjordan

Senior Member
Feb 18, 2015
495
122
43
Christ is the only begotten Son of God the Father because He is the only being directly formed by the Father. All other beings are created by Christ. Christ has eternal life (meaning living forever) and all that are part of His body will also have eternal life.
I do want to point out one more thing. You stated, "All other beings are created by Christ." When in fact, the actual text (1:16) is speaking about God creating "in" and "through" Christ.

Allow me to explain this in a way that may be more useful.

Col. 1:16
ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα
ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι τὰ πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται

Rev. 4:11
ἄξιος εἶ ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν λαβεῖν τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν ὅτι σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα καὶ διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου ἦσαν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν

The use of “created” (Rev. 4:11) is completely consistent with Col. 1:16’s use. If only for the verb “created,” both texts express the same thing. The very thing God does in Rev. 4:11, He does “in” and “through” His Son in Col. 1:16, thus, both texts are completely consistent with one another from this vantage point. The verb used for “created” (Rev. 4:11) is an active verb, i.e., something that God does. In Col. 1:16, the verb used for “created” is a passive verb, meaning that it is someone other than Christ (i.e., God) who performs the action of the verb. In both texts, it is God who performs the action of the verb, but in the Col. 1:16 text, it is God who performs the action “in” and “through” His Son. What is implicit in Col. 1:16, is explicit in Rev. 4:11. One text tells you plainly that God created “all things,” the other tells you how He did it.

So whatever is intended by “all things,” it certainly carries the same semantic force in both texts. If by “all things,” absolutely everything in creation is intended (Rev. 4:11), why then should it carry an altogether different nuance in the corresponding text (Col. 1:16), in light of the fact that it is God who is the one performing the action?

It is not that God created Christ first, and then Christ created everything else, but that God was the one doing the creating of “all things,” “in” and “through” Christ.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
The beginning means a point in existence when something starts. God has always existed, therefore He precedes the beginning. Christ was at the beginning of all things because that is when He came into being and time started. That is why He is the Alpha.


How can "the Beginning (Alpha)" mean always existing when it means a starting point in endless time? How can "the End (Omega)" mean always existing when the end of something means it no longer exists. It doesn't take a genius to understand this. The Father has always existed. The Son came into existence (the first being other than the Father).

NO, "At the beginning" is in context to Man. God has no beginning or end. Nor did Christ, who was with the Father and always been.


It was Christ, as second Person of the Trinity, who brought about the creation: “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3), and His Second Coming will be the beginning of the end of creation as we know it (2 Peter 3:10). As God incarnate, He has no beginning, nor will He have any end with respect to time, being from everlasting to everlasting.

The Book of Revelation is in context to what Christ will do to the world as HE was the beginning of it and will be at the ending and renewal of it. Alpha and Omega. "My Lord and My God."


You are not contextual in your application.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
Understanding the scriptures comes to a Christian when he receives the Holy Spirit. When truth is revealed in the Scriptures, scripture fits together and supports itself. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and Son have a desire to spread their understanding. To the non-Christian the basic concepts of salvation. To those that think themselves Christians, scripture has to fit together to make sense of the truth and be analyzed to see if it does. There is a scripture about always being ready to defend your faith. Faith is not blind faith. Blind faith will not endure. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding. With truthful understanding, your beliefs will endure when tested.
Your subtle suggestion that you are filled with the Holy Spirit and others are not to which you think you received greater revelation than any other is very telling of you. Much of this is opinionated and not biblically supported. Trying to discredit those who disagree with your understanding is not "Spirit Filled." That is desperation.

The Spirit of Christ

Roman 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Those who have Christ have Eternal Life Because only an Eternal God can give Eternal Life; therefore, Christ must be Eternal.



Anyone says they are filled with the Holy Spirit, which is also known as the Spirit of Christ, who is Eternal and can't understand what Eternal life is , I think needs to rethink of what spirit they are filled with. it could be just human understanding.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
im not here very often - but from what I understand this is a trinity site - so if you carry on - you'll probably get banned, which is not nice or very christian like.

Me personally its good to have diffrent opinions and debates - can learn more - so hope you do not get banned.
no gets banned for not agreeing with the Trinity.

they get banned for insulting those who hold the Trinity and suggest we are not filled with Holy Spirit, its man-made doctrine which is a false narrative all Doctrine ( teaching ) comes from the Bible. there are many Theological concepts to help us study the word of God that are very much complementary to the Holy Spirit.

There are four of them:

1. Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is the focus on the specific ways that the discreet and unique authorial voices in Scripture reflect on the larger questions of theology and the relationships of actions and activities between God and human creatures.
2. Historical Theology

Historical theology, likewise, is undertaken within the practices of faith, paying specific attention to all the movements of human history from the perspective of biblically informed views of space and time, accounting for the dynamic movements of dogmatic theology and the practices of the Church.
3. Systematic Theology
The practices and reflections of systematic theology take up the canonical currents of Biblical theology, appropriating the theological voices of history. It does so with the full consciousness that dogmatic theology serves the Church as the people of God in her efforts to live and act faithfully in relation to her Creator, and Lord and Savior in the power of the Holy Spirit. Dogmatic theology’s goal is forming practiced faithfulness.
4. Practical Theology
Lastly, practical theology begins with the full consciousness that all the practices of the church and Christians are underwritten by theologies; biblical, historical, and systematic. The goal of practical theology is to reflect intentionally on present practices and their ingredient theologies in order to critically discern their shape and character so as to deeper faithful practices, correct those which are sinful, and discern with greater clarity how to live out biblical Christian virtues.





One can scoff and mock them, yet great men and women and Church Fathers were used to teach the word of God as gifts to the church from the Holy Spirit.


Origen
Ignatius
Polycarp

Many others who were Spirit-filled men learned the word of God and showed us as The Holy Spirit led them in a more excellent way with the Holy Spirit.
 
Dec 30, 2020
868
226
43
Your subtle suggestion that you are filled with the Holy Spirit and others are not to which you think you received greater revelation than any other is very telling of you. Much of this is opinionated and not biblically supported. Trying to discredit those who disagree with your understanding is not "Spirit Filled." That is desperation.


Understanding the scriptures comes to a Christian when he receives the Holy Spirit. When truth is revealed in the Scriptures, scripture fits together and supports itself. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and Son have a desire to spread their understanding. To the non-Christian the basic concepts of salvation. To those that think themselves Christians, scripture has to fit together to make sense of the truth and be analyzed to see if it does. There is a scripture about always being ready to defend your faith. Faith is not blind faith. Blind faith will not endure. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding. With truthful understanding, your beliefs will endure when tested.

Please let me know which of my sentences is/are false or incorrect.
1. Understanding the scriptures comes to a Christian when he receives the Holy Spirit.
2. When truth is revealed in the Scriptures, scripture fits together and supports itself.
3. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and Son have a desire to spread their understanding.
4. To the non-Christian you teach the basic concepts of salvation.
5. To those that think themselves Christians, scripture has to fit together to make sense of the truth and be analyzed to see if it does.
6. There is a scripture about always being ready to defend your faith.
7. Faith is not blind faith.
8. Blind faith will not endure.
9. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding.
10. With truthful understanding, your beliefs will endure when tested.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
You left out my full post. Here is the rest of it.


The Spirit of Christ

Roman 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Those who have Christ have Eternal Life Because only an Eternal God can give Eternal Life; therefore, Christ must be Eternal.



Anyone says they are filled with the Holy Spirit, which is also known as the Spirit of Christ, who is Eternal and can't understand what Eternal life is , I think needs to rethink of what spirit they are filled with. it could be just human understanding.


for your list ?

Please let me know which of my sentences is/are false or incorrect.
1. Understanding the scriptures comes to a Christian when he receives the Holy Spirit. I agree Jesus said that in John 14, 15, and 16 chapters
2. When truth is revealed in the Scriptures, scripture fits together and supports itself.
3. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and Son have a desire to spread their understanding.
4. To the non-Christian you teach the basic concepts of salvation. wrong
5. To those that think themselves Christians, scripture has to fit together to make sense of the truth and be analyzed to see if it does. wrong
6. There is a scripture about always being ready to defend your faith.
7. Faith is not blind faith.
8. Blind faith will not endure.
9. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding. wrong
10. With truthful understanding, your beliefs will endure when tested. wrong


Much of your list is opinionated. Some are just wrong.


4. WE do not teach the basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians we tell them why we are saved and who did it. The Holy Spirit convicts the person when they hear the gospel message of Christ, which Paul said it the power of God.

5. That is your opinion. Who are you to tell of those who "think they are Christians"?

10. Any truth not Built on Christ is not the truth at all. It is a form of it but not the Truth. Jesus, I am the only Truth, the only, Way, and the only Life. No one sees the Father but through HIM.
 
Dec 30, 2020
868
226
43
You left out my full post. Here is the rest of it.


The Spirit of Christ

Roman 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Those who have Christ have Eternal Life Because only an Eternal God can give Eternal Life; therefore, Christ must be Eternal.



Anyone says they are filled with the Holy Spirit, which is also known as the Spirit of Christ, who is Eternal and can't understand what Eternal life is , I think needs to rethink of what spirit they are filled with. it could be just human understanding.


for your list ?

Please let me know which of my sentences is/are false or incorrect.
1. Understanding the scriptures comes to a Christian when he receives the Holy Spirit. I agree Jesus said that in John 14, 15, and 16 chapters
2. When truth is revealed in the Scriptures, scripture fits together and supports itself.
3. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of the Father and Son have a desire to spread their understanding.
4. To the non-Christian you teach the basic concepts of salvation. wrong
5. To those that think themselves Christians, scripture has to fit together to make sense of the truth and be analyzed to see if it does. wrong
6. There is a scripture about always being ready to defend your faith.
7. Faith is not blind faith.
8. Blind faith will not endure.
9. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding. wrong
10. With truthful understanding, your beliefs will endure when tested. wrong


Much of your list is opinionated. Some are just wrong.


4. WE do not teach the basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians we tell them why we are saved and who did it. The Holy Spirit convicts the person when they hear the gospel message of Christ, which Paul said it the power of God.

5. That is your opinion. Who are you to tell of those who "think they are Christians"?

10. Any truth not Built on Christ is not the truth at all. It is a form of it but not the Truth. Jesus, I am the only Truth, the only, Way, and the only Life. No one sees the Father but through HIM.
4. WE do not teach the basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians we tell them why we are saved and who did it. The Holy Spirit convicts the person when they hear the gospel message of Christ, which Paul said it the power of God.
The basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians involves telling them why we are saved and who did it. I agree with your second sentence.
5. That is your opinion. Who are you to tell of those who "think they are Christians"?
There are two classes of people that one who thinks they know the truth ( including both you and I ) can preach to: those that never heard of the truth and those that have heard the truth but got it wrong. If they got it wrong, then these are classified as people who think they are Christians but have the wrong understanding. Are you saying that people who think they are Christians (but are not) do not exists?
9. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding
I left out "or blind allegiance to other people's beliefs".
10. Any truth not Built on Christ is not the truth at all. It is a form of it but not the Truth. Jesus, I am the only Truth, the only, Way, and the only Life. No one sees the Father but through HIM.
Matt 11: 27 All things are delivered unto me by my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth the any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whomsover the Son will reveal Him. This happens when Jesus baptizes the person with the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
4. WE do not teach the basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians we tell them why we are saved and who did it. The Holy Spirit convicts the person when they hear the gospel message of Christ, which Paul said it the power of God.
The basic concepts of salvation to non-Christians involves telling them why we are saved and who did it. I agree with your second sentence.
5. That is your opinion. Who are you to tell of those who "think they are Christians"?
There are two classes of people that one who thinks they know the truth ( including both you and I ) can preach to: those that never heard of the truth and those that have heard the truth but got it wrong. If they got it wrong, then these are classified as people who think they are Christians but have the wrong understanding. Are you saying that people who think they are Christians (but are not) do not exists?
9. There has to be religious reasoning otherwise you are going by your gut feelings and understanding
I left out "or blind allegiance to other people's beliefs".
10. Any truth not Built on Christ is not the truth at all. It is a form of it but not the Truth. Jesus, I am the only Truth, the only, Way, and the only Life. No one sees the Father but through HIM.
Matt 11: 27 All things are delivered unto me by my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth the any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whomsover the Son will reveal Him. This happens when Jesus baptizes the person with the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son.

Just one question:

Were you told this when you were saved or did you learn it in discipleship?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,675
13,131
113
There are two classes of people that one who thinks they know the truth ( including both you and I ) can preach to: those that never heard of the truth and those that have heard the truth but got it wrong.
why does preaching need to be **only** corrective?

For both the classes you posit, the 'preacher' is supposedly speaking with the goal of changing someone's view.

What of exhortation? encouragement? exposition on shared knowledge? application of universally held doctrine?

i am not so sure that every sermon must be an argument.
 
Dec 30, 2020
868
226
43
Just one question:

Were you told this when you were saved or did you learn it in discipleship?
Neither. I was born a Catholic, got baptized as an infant into the Catholic Church, went to mass, confessed my sins to the priest, went to church on Sundays, received communion (host), got confirmed, but found too many inconsistencies in some of their teachings such as you had better confess your sins to a priest in order to erase any mortal sins simply by reciting some number of Our Fathers and Hail Marys. Also, the Catholic Church had a history of selling indulgences, making up venial sins and purgatory, and torturing other Christians. I went through the motions but I didn't think about religion that much. We moved to Florida in my sophomore year in High School, finished high school, went to college and got a degree in math education. In my first year teaching, some of my colleagues commented on the strange behavior of another teacher who prayed before he ate lunch in the teacher's area and he carried a bible everywhere he went. He was somewhat ostracized by some teachers but one day I decided to sit with him because I thought he couldn't force me to believe something I didn't believe. So I started asking him questions. Instead of answering my questions orally, he simply turned to different scriptures and had me read the biblical answers to my questions. I'm thinking, "boy, he really knows the bible. He invited me to his church. That is when I first felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. People were actually standing up one at a time and each praying to God aloud in worship and expressing their gratitude for their blessings from Him. That was a far cry from the Catholic mass where everyone just prayed in unison, stood in unison, kneeled in unison, recited in unison, and followed a preset ritual of worship.That is what made me realize that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are real. Eventually, I prayed to God to help me to believe, if He was real. I got baptized with water and started to attend a non-denominational church whose main source for their beliefs was the bible (unlike the Catholic Church who has the order of authority in their beliefs as the pope and clergy first, the traditions of the Church second and the Bible third). Before all this, I was a sinner and committed great sins that I was repentant of, asking for His help and strength to overcome. My sorrow and repentance was and still is deep. I knew and trusted in Jesus' death for the forgiveness of my sins, but I was still under the influence of the flesh and the world. It wasn't till about 4 years ago that I was overcome with the Holy Spirit. I know this because I was filled with love for the Father and Son, and extreme desire to know them more, and just like the Son, to do the Father's will. Also, with His help I have overcome my demons.I made God my reason for living. The church I was going to refused to discuss certain topics with me (neither in an assembly nor individually) because the subjects were too controversial and that it would cause friction within the church. That is when I decided to not depend on people and started to do my own research. We have more resources now than the early Christians did. I have different Bible versions, concordances, commentaries, dictionaries, the internet, history books, etc. Understanding lead to more understanding and the desire for more. I give myself and people zero credit for my understanding and give all the credit to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and my Bible.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,350
4,064
113
Neither. I was born a Catholic, got baptized as an infant into the Catholic Church, went to mass, confessed my sins to the priest, went to church on Sundays, received communion (host), got confirmed, but found too many inconsistencies in some of their teachings such as you had better confess your sins to a priest in order to erase any mortal sins simply by reciting some number of Our Fathers and Hail Marys. Also, the Catholic Church had a history of selling indulgences, making up venial sins and purgatory, and torturing other Christians. I went through the motions but I didn't think about religion that much. We moved to Florida in my sophomore year in High School, finished high school, went to college and got a degree in math education. In my first year teaching, some of my colleagues commented on the strange behavior of another teacher who prayed before he ate lunch in the teacher's area and he carried a bible everywhere he went. He was somewhat ostracized by some teachers but one day I decided to sit with him because I thought he couldn't force me to believe something I didn't believe. So I started asking him questions. Instead of answering my questions orally, he simply turned to different scriptures and had me read the biblical answers to my questions. I'm thinking, "boy, he really knows the bible. He invited me to his church. That is when I first felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. People were actually standing up one at a time and each praying to God aloud in worship and expressing their gratitude for their blessings from Him. That was a far cry from the Catholic mass where everyone just prayed in unison, stood in unison, kneeled in unison, recited in unison, and followed a preset ritual of worship.That is what made me realize that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are real. Eventually, I prayed to God to help me to believe, if He was real. I got baptized with water and started to attend a non-denominational church whose main source for their beliefs was the bible (unlike the Catholic Church who has the order of authority in their beliefs as the pope and clergy first, the traditions of the Church second and the Bible third). Before all this, I was a sinner and committed great sins that I was repentant of, asking for His help and strength to overcome. My sorrow and repentance was and still is deep. I knew and trusted in Jesus' death for the forgiveness of my sins, but I was still under the influence of the flesh and the world. It wasn't till about 4 years ago that I was overcome with the Holy Spirit. I know this because I was filled with love for the Father and Son, and extreme desire to know them more, and just like the Son, to do the Father's will. Also, with His help I have overcome my demons.I made God my reason for living. The church I was going to refused to discuss certain topics with me (neither in an assembly nor individually) because the subjects were too controversial and that it would cause friction within the church. That is when I decided to not depend on people and started to do my own research. We have more resources now than the early Christians did. I have different Bible versions, concordances, commentaries, dictionaries, the internet, history books, etc. Understanding lead to more understanding and the desire for more. I give myself and people zero credit for my understanding and give all the credit to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and my Bible.
who is Jesus to you?