It’s a bit complicated.  Who out there that has spent years trying to understand it is surprised?  There is one GOD, the Father (YAWEH) , and one LORD, Jesus Christ. The thing is, it’s not all that complicated.  It’s literal.  How difficult is that?  THERE IS ONE GOD!  EXCLAMATION POINT!  THERE IS ONE LORD, lesser than YAWEH, but appointed by HIM because HE’s that great and because they share the same Spirit.  Jesus was begotten by the FATHER, but He is not the FATHER.  He is born of the FATHER. 

Was Jesus GOD?

 

Here is what scripture says:

 

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

 

Eph 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

1 Tim 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

Mr 12:29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one’.

 

De 32:39 "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

 

2Sa 7:22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

 

Note the differentiation between God and Lord in all of Paul’s salutations.

 

1Co 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2Co 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Ga 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Eph 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Eph 6:23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Php 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1Th 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

 

2Th 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

2Th 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2Th 1:12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Phm 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Note that God the Father was also the God and Father of Jesus.

 

Ro 15:6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2Co 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

 

2Co 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

 

Eph 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

1Pe 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Joh 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’"

 

Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

 

Rev 1:4-6 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father— to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen

 

If Jesus is not actually God, then why have so many people thought so?

 

John 14:8-9 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’”?

 

John 14:7 “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

 

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

 

Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

 

John 14:7 “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

 

John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”

 

John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

 

Phil 2:6-7 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

 

This would seem like a contradiction. How can it be explained?

 

Jesus was indeed like the Father, but that apparently doesn’t mean that he was God. He and the Father were one in Spirit/nature/in likeness, and Jesus held a unique and exalted place as Lord. You might say that Jesus was God the Father’s right hand man.

 

Ro 14:11 It is written: “’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”

 

Phil 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Eph 1:18-23 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 

1Co 15:27 For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.

 

Jesus existed before the world began and was part of the creation process.

 

Hebrews 1-2 ¶ In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

 

John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

 

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

 

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

 

Okay…so if you look like God, and you walk like God, and you talk like God, people are going to think you are God. Such appears to be the case with Jesus. He was in the perfect likeness of God. Should a person in the likeness of God be honored as God? Is it okay to worship someone that is in the likeness of God?

 

John 5:19-23 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

 

Mt 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

Mt 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

 

When you pray, who should you pray to?

 

Jesus’ example was to pray to the Father, but Jesus also said you could ask him (personally) for anything and he would give it to you. God the Father has put all things under Jesus…and Jesus is the mediator between God and man….the high priest so to speak. Jesus is also the ‘ruler’ over God’s kingdom.

 

Mt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

John 14:12 ¶ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

 

Re 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

 

1Co 15:27 For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.

 

So where does this leave us? For me, personally, it makes more sense both biblically and logically than the concept of the trinity. For me, personally, it doesn’t diminish Jesus Christ in any way. He is still THE Lord….and MY Lord. Can I claim to understand the complexities of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus? No, I cannot.

The way I feel at 68...

 

·         There is no hope for this world, or for all of mankind, outside of the grace of God.

·         Though God is holy, righteous, and good, there is still no way of tracing out His ways.

·         God will test your commitment.

·         None of us are holy, righteous, and good.

·         None of us have EARNED redemption by our works.

·         We all live by God’s grace alone.

·          God is the one that sustains us day to day.

·         We live, move, and have our being within God.

·         Any hope of redemption lies in God’s mercy.

·         Jesus exemplifies God’s mercy, grace, and love. 

·         Choose humility instead of self-exaltation.

·         I’m not in charge.

·         There IS a creator.  Have you ever looked at the inner ear?  NO ACCIDENT!

·         He has a purpose for all of this.

·         He is love.

·         His purpose is ALL good.

·         Humility

·         Humility

·         Humility

·         Humility 

Much love to you all.

Racism

I was born and raised in a state, in an area, where NO black people lived throughout my 20 years there.  My high school graduating class of 35, comprised of at least 4 communities, still did not have even one black person in any of our schools.  Lucky for me, my parents never once, in all of my years, EVER said a bad thing about any other race.  On the other hand, I don’t recall them ever even speaking of race?  

 

The point is, though, that I was not raised to be a racist.  If I was, if that hate was injected into me from day one, I suspect I would be more inclined to be so, though, that is not something I’d bet on. Humans can surprise you. 

I’ve never had a close black friend.  I wish I did.  I wish I had a few.  Had I did, I’d personally ACTUALLY, know a lot more about afro-Americans.  Sadly, I don’t.  I suspect, though, that they are just like me on the inside…just people trying their best, even though they’ve been handed a burden unlike anything I have EVER experienced.

Be wise and condemn not my friends.  Give people the benefit of the doubt.  When you do, you will be included.

Luke 6:37  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

John 7:24  "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

James 2:13...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Take a pass...

What if satan did something you approved of?  Would that make you vote for him?  This is the world we live in.  Yes, satan will lie and deceive you.  Yes, satan will attempt to appear as an angel of light.  You must step back and look at the big picture to determine if he is worthy of your trust.  Is he honest, has he been known for honesty?  Is he moral?  Is he known for his staid morality?  Does he lie like it's his native language?  Has he been faithful to any one of his wives?  Or will he do anything to save himself from his own sins?  Will he throw the entire world under the bus to save himself?  Yeah....he would.  The next time he drives by offering candy to the kids, take a pass.

2 Cor 11:13-14...For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

John 8:44...Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

cambridge analytica ....

Time for our government to open cambridge analytica's books and see/reveal the complete truth.  Who is paying for their services?  What are those services?  Whatever member of congress isn't interested in doing so, make sure you vote for the 'other' candidate. 

Weaponized

Now that the internet has been weaponized by Russia…I’m in the beginning stages of signing off forever.  Hello TV again?   Well, that just depends on the integrity of that format.  If it becomes obviously compromised, I’m moving to the little house on the prairie minus commercials.  I’m quick on the mute button.

What I loved about the internet was the information it provided.  It was like having the encyclopedia Britannica (and much more) constantly updated and on hand at all times.  Now that that ‘encyclopedia’ has been corrupted beyond measure, and will be corrupted further without fail, I am looking elsewhere for facts.   Russia is one actor that has successfully undermined the accuracy of the internet in hopes of undermining democracy, in an attempt at destroying the USA and its allies.  Indeed, information warfare is as dangerous as anything relating to nuclear and should be defensively responded to in like fashion.  Whether you destroy a nation with lies and deception and manipulation, or with a nuclear bomb, that nation is still destroyed.  

Hopefully ,the alarm just went off.  Time to wake up and do what is necessary or be complicit in the fate of the world as we know it.  Can it be worse?  YES, a billion times worse.  Remember, the devil is a liar, and the author of lies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yck7gb_qdDI ) .  

John 8:44… You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.