The Godhead - three persons - ONE God!

There is much confusion on the subject of GOD; ie: the Godhead (Godhood). I hope you will look up the scriptures and study Gods’ word.

Only three known classifications of beings…..God; angels (created by God); man (also created by God).

GOD = ELOHIM = JEHOVAH.

Many don’t know (realize) that there are three (3) separate beings in ‘God’, the Godhead/Godhood. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Just like the Smith family has a father, mother, 2 children. 4 persons, but all the Smith family.

Three (3) separate persons in GOD, but all the God ‘family’….for a simple example.

NOTE: ELOHIM – (EL, mighty one + to swear; to make a covenant with);
Strength (Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God (ELOHIM)”; power, keeps promises, creates, governs.
Plural in form, always takes singular verb (unless it refers to heathen “gods” – 1 Samuel 4:8).

All three (3) share same and equal attributes of deity; same goal (mans salvation); same knowledge, same ability. But, from studying the bible, we learn all have a different function… as it were.
God (all three) has been 'from everlasting to everlasting', 'eternal', 'I AM'.
All three were manifest at the baptism of Jesus - Matthew 3, and at the mount of Transfiguration - Matthew 17.

"In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God and the Word was God; all things were made by Him"....John 1: 1-3, 14. "I and my Father are ONE"...John 10:30.

The Father developed the plan for man’s salvation IN Christ – Ephesians 1:3; Christ perfected (matured) the plan, putting it into action (as it were) by coming to earth and dying for mans’ sins and establishing His church = kingdom – wherein man might be saved - Acts 2; the Holy Spirit revealed the fullness (perfection) of the plan, recalling ALL things to the apostles who wrote it down - ie: New Testament. John 14:16-18.

Sure to raise some questions but answer them from God’s word.

ONE GOD ~ a United ONE

The One God of the Bible is a united One. One God, One Godhood, One God 'family', but three persons/members of that divine, from everlasting to everlasting, family: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
God = Elohim = Jehovah: plural word, always takes singular verb.

Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30.

John 17:11, 22
“Even As” ------{ 1 Corinthians 1:10
Acts 4:32


The Father and Son are One In:

1). Work – John 4:34; 9:4
2). Creation – John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9
3). Word (doctrine) – John 17:17; 12:49; 17:8
4). Name (authority) – John 5:43
5). Love – John 14:23
6). Protection – John 10:27
7). Witness – John 8:18
8). Will – John 6:30,38
9). Judgment – John 5:22
10). Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18

DENOMINATIONS

Webster defines ‘denomination’ as a “religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body; a number of local congregations;” also, a group of churches (collective) under the same name.

The “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) are each independent local churches. A church of Christ knows that its headquarters is in Heaven and Jesus is our head. Colossians 1:18.

We cannot find the denominational concept in the Bible. Each local church of Christ (that is organized and practicing scripturally) has only the Bible as its guide. Jesus said He had “all authority” – Matthew 28:18 - and what He (Christ) had bound and loosed in Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles and other inspired men to bind and loose on earth those same things. Matthew 16:19; 18:18.

We dare not bind where God has not bound, we dare not loose where God has not loosed.
All we do in word (what we teach) and deed (what we practice), must be done in the name (by the authority of – Acts 4:7) the Lord. Colossians 3:17.

We have no pressure from any group, headquarters, synod, to do anything we cannot read about in the Bible. Each local church of Christ is charged to study the Bible for itself and to be guided ONLY by God’s word – the Bible. What is found authorized in the Bible, we do! 2 Timothy 3:16-f. What cannot be found authorized in Gods word, we oppose and do not do!

For example:
1. We cannot find Christs’ authority for mechanical music in worship. So, we have singing only in our worship service – Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19.

2. We do find authority for partaking of the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week (Sunday) – Acts 20:7. Every week has a first day, we find no other time or frequency.

3. We find authority for giving into the church treasury on the first day of the week, so that is when we give – 1 Corinthians 16:2.

Are you a member of the Lords church using only His word as your source of information? If not, you can be!

ARE YOU IN CHRIST?

Ephesians 1:3-14 is a beautiful passage having to do with the spiritual blessings afforded to one who is IN Christ.

Vs. 3 – God hath blessed those IN Christ will ALL spiritual blessings. We have many physical blessings, but IN Christ, we receive spiritual blessings.

Vs. 4 – God chose those IN Christ before the foundations of the world. Some think this supports the erroneous doctrine of predestination. It does NOT. It tells us that God – before He created the world - determined that mans’ salvation would be IN Christ - for those who obey the gospel. Any person, any era, since Day of Pentecost 33AD, can obey Gods word = gospel.

Vs 5 – God ‘predestined’ this salvation for those who would become children of God by the new birth (baptism). In John 3:5, Jesus teaches one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom = church; kingdom = eternal in heaven. ‘Kingdom’ is used in two ways in the New Testament.
The water is baptism as directed by the Holy Spirit through the word of God (gospel). Galatians 3:27; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38.
The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into ALL truth – John 16:13.
This is why all scripture is inspired of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – and makes the man of God thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Vs. 7 – IN Christ we have redemption [bought back from sin] through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28; Galatians 3:27.

Vs. 9 – God made known unto us the mystery (gospel) of His will, which He purposed.

Vs. 10 – That when the fullness of times was come (last days = gospel dispensation), ALL things IN Christ gathered together.

Vs. 11 – IN Christ, we have what God ‘predestined’ (planned) – SALVATION.

Vs. 12 – That we (Christians = IN Christ), should be to the praise of His glory.

Vs. 13 – Through the gospel we (Christians), are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (A seal identifies – Christians follow the teaching the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into, and are guarded by such).

Vs. 14 – This seal is an earnest (foretaste) of heaven to come, unto the praise of God’s glory.

Are you IN Christ? Salvation is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in vs 3.
NO salvation outside Christ. One cannot be saved outside of Christ. How does one get INTO Christ? Galatians 3; Romans 6.

You can make your “calling (by the gospel) and election (salvation) sure”. 2 Peter 1:10.

What if....'Feelings' don't work?

Some religious bodies tell people that the way to be ‘saved’ is just to pray to God to save them, and when they ‘get a feeling’, that means they are saved!

A preacher was called to an elderly man who was on his deathbed. The preacher prayed and prayed and the sick man wanted to, tried to, ‘get that feeling’, but he never did. Here is a true example of a man that wanted to be saved, but just could not ‘get the feeling’. Is that what the Bible teaches?

Where in all of God’s word (ie: Bible) is such a thing taught? Where? One can read in Acts 2:37-38 where many heard the gospel preached until they had faith (Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes by hearing)….in Acts many heard until they believed (developed faith) and then were told “to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins”. According to the Bible, then, and only then, were they ‘saved’ and the Lord added them to His church.

One can also read in Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Again the Bible states in Acts 22:16…”arise and be baptized and wash away they sins”.

In Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27, one can read that people are baptized into Christ. All spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3. Baptism into Christ brings one into death of Christ (contact with blood of Christ) Romans 6:3. Christs’ blood shed in His death is what saves – gives forgiveness of sins. 1Peter: 1:18-19.

I can NOT read in my Bible – from Pentecost in Acts 2 – after the gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached, of anyone ever being told to just ‘pray for salvation’ and when he ‘gets a feeling’, he will know he’s saved! Better felt than told, as some put it. Total error with no appeal to Gods word. False doctrine concocted by some mans ‘feelings’. This error cannot save!

To be saved and spend eternity with God in Heaven, man must go by God’s word in all they do religiously. Go by the Bible, not anyones ‘feelings’.

Colossians 3:17 tells us…..“Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.”
Word – what you teach; deed – what you practice; in the name of – by God’s authority (Acts 4:7).

God’s words – NOT feelings, not man’s ideas – are the words whereby men are saved.
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Consider UZZAH!

Most people ‘feel’ that wherever you do religiously is OK. Just as long as your heart is right. You feel good about it. Seems ‘right’ to you. But, is it right to God?

In studying with one person, they stated they “just didn’t think God was going to be that nit-picky” – ie: requiring people to follow to the letter ALL that He has commanded. ‘Not add to nor take away from God’s word.’ Revelation 22: 18-19.

God had Paul write in Colossians 3:17 - “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord”.
“Word” = what you say and teach; “deed” = what you practice; “in the name of” = by the authority of – Acts 4:7.

Settles it. Christians (those in Christ) are commanded to have Bible book, chapter, and verse – Gods authority - for all they teach and practice!

Considering bible verses we have read above, is God going to be nit-picky?
Let’s consider a great example by looking at Uzzah. Many may not know who Uzzah is or what he did.

For this background read 1 Samuel chapters 4-9; 2 Samuel chapter 6.
[Paraphrasing slightly] The Ark of the Covenant, which resided in the Tabernacle and where God dwelled with the children of Israel, had been captured in a battle between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistines carried the Ark away and suffered many problems including physical maladies because of their having the Ark. They wanted rid of it. After moving it from town to town, the Philistines turned the Ark over to the men of Bethshemesh (the Lord killed over 50,000 of them for looking into the Ark) and the Ark finally came to reside in the home of Abinadab in Gibeah [north and east of Jerusalem] where it stayed some 20 years.

When David becomes the second king of Israel he goes to bring the Ark home to Jerusalem.

David put the Ark upon a cart pulled by oxen and started the journey. Many went along singing & shouting. One such was Uzzah. As the Ark traveled, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand and touched the ark to steady it. Perhaps just a reflex action on Uzzahs part? No matter. God struck him dead. God had commanded that no one touch the Ark at any time.
Gods action scared David so that David turned aside and left the Ark for some three months in the home of Obededom before finally returning it to Jerusalem.

Over 50,000 struck dead for looking into the Ark. Uzzah struck dead just for trying to steady the Ark, keep it from falling off the cart. Seems small thing to us, but God doesn’t think like man. Is God going to be nit-picky? The scriptures have just answered that with a resounding YES!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of [spiritual] death”. Proverbs 14:12.

Quotes from KJV.