Soul Sleep

 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 KJV
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul's point was that our mortal body is burdensome and he would rather be in his new body and with the Lord. We get a new body at the resurrection, not when we die. It does not say that when we die, we are instantly with the Lord. Although, it will seem like that.

1 Corinthians 15:52-54 KJV
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This verse tells us when we will be "present with the Lord," at the physical resurrection:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 KJV
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Bible teaches that the dead are asleep and unconscious while they await the physical resurrection for judgment.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10 KJV
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. [10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Daniel 12:2 KJV
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Isaiah 26:14 KJV
They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

Psalm 146:3-4 KJV
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. [4] His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Job 14:7-13 KJV
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. [8] Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; [9] Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. [10] But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? [11] As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: [12] So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. [13] O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Ezekiel 18:4 KJV
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Psalm 78:50 KJV
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

Job 33:22 KJV
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Psalm 89:48 KJV
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Psalm 115:17 KJV
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

John 11:11-14 KJV
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Isaiah 38:18-19 KJV

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. [19] The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Many use the below passage for an objection.

Luke 23:42-43 KJV

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

"Paradise" isn't heaven here, but Christ's "kingdom" that will come at his Second Advent (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus spoke this unto the thief ("Verily I say TO THEE"), no one else. After the thief died, he experiences no consciousness or sense of time, so that for the thief, when he resurrects at Christ's coming, it will be the same day for his perspective.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV

For the living know that they shall die: BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

The below passage is used for a common objection.

Luke 16:22-23 KJV

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also DIED, and WAS BURIED; [23] AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The rich man's "soul" in Luke 16 is nowhere mentioned. What is mentioned is that the same rich man who DIED and was BURIED lift up his eyes in hell. That's not an immortal soul that dies and is buried, but the physical body. This is a parable, not literal. Every time Jesus begins to say, "There was a certain man," it's always the beginning of a parable. Without exception. Jesus' parable isn't false or misleading, but patterned after a common Old Testament metaphor where dead bodies in the grave (not immortal, metaphysical souls) are personified as though alive.

Isaiah 14:9-11 KJV

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: IT STIRRETH UP THE DEAD FOR THEE, even all the chief ones of the earth; IT HATH RAISED UP FROM THEIR THRONES all the kings of the nations. [10] ALL THEY SHALL SPEAK AND SAY UNTO THEE, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? [11] THY POMP IS BROUGHT DOWN TO THE GRAVE, and the noise of thy viols: THE WORM IS SPREAD UNDER THEE, AND THE WORMS COVER THEE.

“Another place proving that the dead have no ... feeling. There is, saith he, no duty, no science, no knowledge, no wisdom there. Solomon judgeth that the dead are asleep, and feel nothing at all. For the dead lie there, accounting neither days nor years, but when they are awaked, they shall seem to have slept scarce one minute.” -Martin Luther, Exposition of Solomon's Booke Called Ecclesiastes, page 152

Babylon

Neither the city of Rome nor the Papal system are the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. Both are more recipient than the originator. Mystery Babylon will be literal Babylon in Iraq rebuilt. Babylon has been the center of humanism since its creation by Nimrod. 

Jeremiah 50:8 KJV
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

Jeremiah 51:6 KJV
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

Revelation 18:4 KJV
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Jeremiah 50:15 KJV
Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord : take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

Revelation 18:6 KJV
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Jeremiah 50:39-40 KJV
Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. [40] As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord ; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

Jeremiah 51:29 KJV
And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 51:37 KJV
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

Revelation 18:22-23 KJV
And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; [23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Jeremiah 51:7 KJV
Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Revelation 17:1-2,4 KJV
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Jeremiah 51:13 KJV
O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

Revelation 17:1 KJV
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Revelation 18:16-19 KJV
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! [17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, [18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Jeremiah 51:49 KJV
As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

Revelation 18:24 KJV
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Jeremiah 51:58 KJV
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.

Revelation 18:8 KJV
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Jeremiah 51:62-64 KJV
Then shalt thou say, O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. [63] And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: [64] And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Revelation 18:21 KJV
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

It's in the wilderness (Rev. 17:3) or desert. Rome isn't, but Babylon is. Babylon of Revelation 17-18 matches the description of the land of the Chaldeans (not the Romans) in Jeremiah 50-51. Her name is not Mystery Babylon, as if this was a mysterious and different form of Babylon. Her name in the KJV is, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT." There's a comma there showing these are two names. The Bible said it's "Babylon the Great." So it's Babylon the Great. The seven heads as seven mountains requires wisdom to understand (Revelation 17:9). But it required no wisdom at all to know the famous seven hilled city was Rome, so that isn't what's going on here. The seven mountains (not "hills," a mountain is a very large hill) must be symbolic then for seven kingdoms (as a mountain is a kingdom according to Daniel 2:35, 44). This goes along with the seven kings in the next verse. Revelation 17-18 is prophetic and deals with events in the Tribulation, to come "hereafter" (4:1). It doesn't deal with the Church Age. So it can't be describing the Roman Catholic persecutions in the Dark Ages. The Whore is the mother of harlots and abominations. That fits Babylon, which originated idolatry; rather than Rome, which is just a daughter or product of Babylon's idolatry.

Father - Son - Spirit

I have spent much prayer and thought about this subject and decided I would write another article on the issue of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe it's very important that we define the three correctly according to scripture alone. I pray that the reader will prayerfully consider the scriptures given in the article and ask God for the truth. 

James 1:5 KJV

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It is easy to spot traditions in other denominations, but it's not as easy to spot the traditions within our own churches that we grew up with. I have been told that I am falling away from the traditional position of the Trinity. I have people messaging me, demanding that I agree with statements about the Trinity written by men instead of asking me to agree with Bible verses on the issue. I have lost so many friends, but for me, the truth is worth it. I want to please God, not men. He is my judge.

Galatians 1:10 KJV

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

My goal is not to line up my belief about the three with any Creed, Confession or statement of faith of ANY church (Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah's FALSE Witnesses). I want to align my beliefs with the living words of God, not the traditions of men. I do not feel comfortable defining the three by traditional statements that are not found in the Bible. I am not sure why there is so much pressure to conform our belief about the Trinity to Creeds written by men that believed in many things that we preach against. Dr. Ruckman, who I respect, but is not my authority once said, "Never tie God and the Bible to your theology. You had better tie your theology to God and the Bible." 

Colossians 2:8 KJV

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

This is a complex subject and I couldn't count how many different views I have heard regarding the Trinity. It seems like all of them are tolerated, but my own. I believe we should be willing to listen to each other and exchange information with love, kindness, humbleness, and patience. If we care about each other and want each other to find the truth then we should not go about this in a hateful way. Instead of personal attacks, we need to stick to discussing the topic with the scriptures. 

1 John 5:7-8,11 KJV

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. [8] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. [11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Notice that verse 7 does not say that the three are one *God*. That is adding to the text and we are warned by God not to add or take away from His words (Deut 4:2, Prov. 30:6). Instead we should look at the context to see how they are one. Verse 7 means that they are one in agreement because that is how verse 8 repeats that phrase. We are told to lay line upon line, precept upon precept when studying the scriptures (Isaiah 28:9-11). Verses 7 and 8 repeat the first and last parts of the verses, so "these three are one" is defined by the King James Bible itself to mean "these three agree in one." What do they agree about? Verse 11 shows that they all bear record that the Father has given us eternal life by His Son. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in agreement, but not numerically. 

The scripture is clear that the Father and Son are two separate persons. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Father. To believe this is a form of Modalism. 

Mark 1:10-11 KJV

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: [11] And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John 8:17-18 KJV

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. [18] I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

The Father is the Son's God.

John 20:17 KJV

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Jesus is given the title "the everlasting Father" because He will forever be a father to Israel in the Millennium. Everlasting Father is a title and Isaiah 9:6 does not mean that the Son is the Father.

Isaiah 22:21 KJV 

And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

Isaiah 9:6 KJV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The Father and Son are one in agreement in purpose and works, not in person. 

John 10:28-30 KJV

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

John 17:11 KJV

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:21-23 KJV

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. [22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] 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.

It is very important to realize that every single time the phrase "one God" is used in scripture, it is always referring to the Father. 

1 Corinthians 8:6 KJV

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.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Ephesians 4:6 KJV

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

John 17:1-3 KJV

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The Word is the Son. The Word was with God the Father. The Word is God. Both are God. The Word, not the Father, was made flesh.

John 1:1,14 KJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So this is the dilemma. The Father and Son are two separate persons and the Father is called the "one God", while the Son is also called God in numerous places. There are many reasons why the Son is God. The Son is the image of the Father and the brightness of God's glory (Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:1-3). The Son was sent by the Father and does the Father's will (John 5:30). The Son represents the Father (Ex. 4:16). Jesus as the Old Testament Angel of the Lord had the Father's name in him. So before Abraham was, Jesus was I AM, by having his Father's name in him (Ex. 23:20-21). The Son comes in the Father's name (John 5:43, John 10:25). Jesus is the Almighty, Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending as a gift from the Father and because the Son has the Father's name in Him to represent Him (Matt. 28:18, Ex. 23:20-21). The Son has the fullness of the Father's divine nature/Godhead (Col. 1:19, 2:9). 

The Bible defines Godhead as the invisible glory of God, which can only be his divinity or essence, or his attributes and powers.

Romans 1:20-23 KJV

For THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed THE GLORY OF THE UNCORRUPTIBLE GOD into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

You can more literally define Godhead from the King James Bible alone by just changing the pronunciation to other Bible words. God means God, but with "head," pronouncing it as, "hood" (as in priesthood, widowhood) shows it means a condition or state of being. Priesthood in the Bible is the state of being a priest. Widowhood in the Bible is the state of being a widow. Godhead in the Bible is the state of being God, or the nature or condition of God. Even the 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines Godhead as "Godship; deity; divinity; divine nature or essence". In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, under Etymology it says, "Middle English godhed, from god + -hed -hood; akin to Middle English -hod -hood". Dictionaries are not the final authority, but I'm showing how they agree with how the King James Bible defines the word "Godhead" in the context of Romans 1:20-23.

The Father's divine nature dwells in the Son. 

Colossians 2:9 KJV

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Paul said not to think God's divine glory or essence was like earthly materials. 

Acts 17:29 KJV

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Think of it like this, a human son has his father's Adamic nature. They are not the same person, but they have the same nature. The Son has the Father's divine nature (Godhead), but they are not the same person.

He that sees Jesus sees the Father because Jesus represents the Father as His image (2 Corinthians 4:4), not that the Son is the Father himself. Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus, the same way we are in God and God is in us, by our fellowship with God. Not because we are God the Father too.

John 14:8-10 KJV

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? [10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

1 John 4:15-16 KJV

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

It is clear that the Father and Son are both EQUALLY and fully divine in their nature. Both are God, but they're not the same person. Notice in the below verses where Son of God has God the Father as His God ("THY God"). The Father and Son are one in agreement, but not numerically. 

Hebrews 1:8-9 KJV

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. [9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The Son is called the the firstborn of every creature and the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. Jesus is literally firstborn of both, which establishes His preeminence over both. Verses 17 and 18 in the below passage proves he is the firstborn because he precedes all things in creating them. This may sound different because it is not what tradition has taught us, but what saith the scriptures? Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom. 3:4).

Colossians 1:15-16,18 KJV

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

He is called the beginning of the creation of God. This means that the Son was begotten before all things and the Father used the Son to create all things. The Son existed before the world. The Son is born out of the Father's divine nature. Instead of going to a commentary to look for a way to interpret away the word "firstborn", we should just believe what God said. The Son is the firstborn of every creature and the beginning of the creation of God.

Revelation 3:14 KJV

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Proverbs 8:22-26 KJV

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. [23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. [24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. [25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: [26] While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

The above scripture explains how Jesus is "from everlasting" (Micah 5:2), He was begotten of the Father "from the beginning, or ever the earth was" on a certain "day" (Psalm 2:7). He is not eternally begotten as Origen taught. The above passage is about God's wisdom in context, who is identified by Paul as Jesus himself.

1 Corinthians 1:24 KJV

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

John 17:1-3 KJV

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The Father says that He is the ONLY saviour.

 

Isaiah 43:11 KJV

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

How can this be if there are more saviours, such as the Father's Son? 

There are many saviours in the Bible:

Obadiah 1:21 KJV

And SAVIOURS shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

But, there is only one source of salvation and that is the Father. In no way am I denying Jesus is our Saviour, but I am simply saying that the Father is the source. The Son is the Saviour because the Father is the one that sent Him to save:

John 3:17 KJV

For GOD SENT not HIS SON into the world to condemn the world; but that the world THROUGH HIM might be SAVED.

Titus 3:4-6 KJV

But after that the kindness and love of GOD OUR SAVIOUR toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy HE SAVED US, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR;

So this is an example where the Father says that He is the only Saviour, yet His Son is also, but because He is sent from the Father. The Father is still the only Saviour, but He is using the Son to perform the action.

Galatians 4:4 KJV

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Back to 1 Corinthians 8:6: 

1 Corinthians 8:6 KJV

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.

Paul is clear that the Father is the "one God". He is the "one God" in the sense that He is the origin of all things in heaven and in earth. The Father is uncaused, while the Son is said to be the beginning of the creation of God. The Father is self-existent, while the Son is begotten of the Father and the firstborn of every creature. "Of whom" means source or origin. "By whom" means instrument (Matt. 1:22).

We are told that if we do not agree with the statement that "three persons are one God" then we are heretics. Maybe according to the tradition of men, but does the scripture actually ever say that? Scripture says that the "one God" is the Father, every single time.

I am monotheistic the same as Paul. When we worship Jesus Christ, we are worshipping the Father because the Father sent the Son. If the Father didn't send Him, we wouldn't worship Him. Worshipping the Son turns to the glory of the Father. The Son does the Father's will.

Matthew 4:10 KJV

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Philippians 2:11 KJV

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So both the Father and Son are fully God and fully divine in nature. The Father is the "one God" in the sense that He is the origin and the Son is made in His image, and is also God. They are one in agreement and purpose, but not numerically. 

The Holy Spirit is called God because it is the Spirit of God. It is called the Spirit of the Father. It is also called the Father's breath. The Holy Spirit is given by the Father, therefore to lie to the Father's Spirit is to lie to the Father.

Job 33:4 KJV

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

John 20:22 KJV

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Acts 5:3-4 KJV

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? [4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Matthew 10:20 KJV

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

We are made like God, with a spirit inside us. His Spirit is the Holy Spirit and to be clear I am not calling it a "force". 

1 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is called "it" and "he" (Rom. 8:26). While being called a personal pronoun that does not mean that it must be a whole person. Our spirit is not a whole person, it is part of our person. In the Bible, salt and the furniture of the tabernacle are given personal pronouns, while not being persons (Matt. 5:13, Ex. 35:14). The Bible is treated like a person, but isn't literally a person (Heb. 4:12-13). 

The Holy Spirit has personal attributes, but so does our own spirit, yet our spirit is not a whole person. Our spirit can be grieved (Dan. 7:15) and our spirit has a will (Ex. 35:21). So because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, I do not see it as a person technically. I believe a person has breath or a spirit inside them (Num. 19:22, Josh. 10:39-40). The Bible never says that the Holy Spirit has a spirit, rather that it is the Father's Spirit. Therefore, I do not consider the Holy Spirit a person according to that definition. The Holy Spirit is God because it is the Spirit of God. 

The Holy Spirit comes in the name of Christ. The Holy Spirit is not Christ.

Romans 8:9-10 KJV

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

John 14:26 KJV

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

It is important to know that God is not three parts in one person. The Father and Son are not parts, they are separate persons. To say God is one person is a type Modalistic Partialism.

Jesus' soul prayed to the Father, thus His soul was not the Father. 

John 12:27 KJV

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Jesus had the Holy Ghost inside him, but also had his own spirit because He was a man. As Christians, we did not lose our spirit when we received the Holy Spirit when we trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Luke 23:46 KJV

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Jesus is not the body of the Father. If Jesus is the Father's body, why is the Father outside of Jesus' body on his side?

Acts 7:55-56 KJV

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Some compare the Trinity to three phases of water, but that's a type of Modalism (one person who can appear in three different forms). Some compare it to three parts of an egg, but that's a type of Partialism (no part of the egg is the whole egg, so none of the three persons would be fully God). The Bible has to be the final authority on correctly describing the three. There is no perfect type or picture for the Trinity.

So far, these are my conclusions of who the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. Other views of the Trinity always seemed confusing to me, but this makes much more sense. Also, the Bible never says that we cannot understand the Trinity. I have more information on this subject in my article called the Trinity. I know this isn't the "traditional" view of the Trinity, but this is simply me looking at the scripture and refusing to use any Creeds to define what I believe about this topic. I believe the Bible alone is the final authority when it comes to what we should believe. 

There are people telling others that they need to "mark and avoid" me because I'm a heretic, but Paul said to mark and avoid those who oppose the doctrine received from him, the other apostles and Christ. I am agreeing with Paul that the Father is the "one God". I am in agreement with the word of God that the "one God" is the Father. I am not denying that Jesus is God and I fully believe in the DEITY of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Holy Spirit is God. I am in agreement that salvation is by believing on Jesus Christ alone after realizing we're a sinner. The Son's death, burial and resurrection is our gospel. If I am marked and avoided it will because I am refusing to conform to the tradition of men, not because I am in disagreement with God's word. 

1 Corinthians 8:6 KJV

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.

I am far from perfect and I have past sins and failures that I regret. I have confessed them to God and asked for forgiveness. I pray that if anyone has a grudge against me or looks down on me that they would forgive me. As Christians, we need to grow in the Lord, grow in His word and grow in His love. I pray that this subject will be examined more and discussed among Christians with love and humbleness. Let us believe what the scriptures say about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit instead of the tradition of men (Rom. 3:4). Our loyalty should be to the King James Bible, not any statement of faith or Creed.

Colossians 3:12-13 KJV

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The Trinity

 Note: All Scripture quotations found in this article are from the text of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

The Father, Son (Word) and Holy Ghost are one in agreement on the record that the Father gives eternal life through His Son.

1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 

1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all active in creation. The "us" and "our" in Genesis 1:25 is a reference to the Trinity.

Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Colossians 1:15-17 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not one person. The Father and Son are two separate persons. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Father. Modalism is false doctrine.

Mark 1:10-11 "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: [11] And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

John 8:17-18 "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. [18] I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

The Father and Son both protect us and keep us eternally secure. Both hold us in their hands and they are two distinct persons. The Father and Son are one in agreement in purpose and works.

John 10:28-30 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one."

John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."

John 17:21-23 "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. [22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] 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."

The Father is the one true God. 

Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Malachi 2:10 "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?"

1 Corinthians 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."

1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

John 17:1-3 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

The Father creates all things through Jesus Christ, the Son. 

Ephesians 3:9 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:"

Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father. 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. 

1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

The Father was declared by the Son.

John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

Jesus is the Word. The Word was God.

John 1:1,14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Jesus is God with us. 

Matthew 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."

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

The Son is God. The Son is the image of the Father and the brightness of God's glory.

Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:"

Hebrews 1:1-3 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"

The Son has the fullness of the Father's divine essence.

Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

Colossians 1:19 "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"

The Son was sent by the Father and does the Father's will. 

John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

The Son comes in the Father's name.

John 5:43 "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

John 10:25 "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me."

Everything the Son has comes from the Father. 

Matthew 11:27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

John 3:35 "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

Jesus did miracles through the Holy Ghost and by the power of the Father.

Acts 10:37-38 "That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

Jesus is given the title "the everlasting Father" because He will forever be a father to Israel in the Millennium. Everlasting Father is a title and Isaiah 9:6 does not mean that the Son is the Father.

Isaiah 22:21 "And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah."

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

He that sees Jesus sees the Father because Jesus represents the Father as His image (2 Corinthians 4:4), not that the Son is the Father himself. Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus, the same way we are in God and God is in us, by our fellowship with God. Not because we are God the Father too.

John 14:8-10 "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? [10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

1 John 4:15-16 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

The Holy Spirit is the Father's breath, therefore the Holy Spirit is God. The Father's spirit is the Holy Spirit.

Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

John 20:22 "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"

Acts 5:3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? [4] Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."

The Holy Spirit comes in the name of Christ. The Holy Spirit is not Christ.

Romans 8:9-10 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Just like man has a spirit, God also has a Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

Although the body, soul, and spirit of man may be a type of the Trinity, God is not literally a body, soul, and spirit. That would make God only one person like we are, which is a type Modalistic Partialism.

Jesus' soul prayed to the Father, thus His soul was not the Father. 

John 12:27 "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." 

Jesus had the Holy Ghost inside him, but also had his own spirit because He was a man. As Christians, we did not lose our spirit when we received the Holy Spirit when we trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Luke 23:46 "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." 

Jesus' spirit is His own human spirit, not the Holy Spirit. Jesus' spirit called God his Father, but God is never called the Father of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 10:21-22 "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." 

If Jesus did not have his own human body and spirit like Adam (Genesis 2:7), then he couldn't be "the last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Jesus is not the body of the Father. If Jesus is the Father's body, why is the Father outside of Jesus' body on his side?

Acts 7:55-56 "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

Some compare the Trinity to three phases of water, but that's really Modalism (one person who can appear in three different forms). Some compare it to three parts of an egg, but that's really Partialism (no part of the egg is the whole egg, so none of the three persons would be fully God). The Bible has to be the final authority on correctly describing the Trinity. There is no perfect type or picture for the Trinity.

In conclusion, the Father is the one true God with the Holy Spirit being His Spirt. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Father's only begotten Son and He is God because He has the fullness of the Father's divine essence, along with the many other reasons included in the article.

John Nelson Darby Quotes

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

"We shall see Him face to face whose visage was more marred than any man's. He washed me from my sins the first time He came, and He is only waiting to come and take me to Himself. Have you seen Christ in glory in this way? God Himself has interfered and made me as white as snow. Christ took the fruit of what I did, and I get the fruit of what He did. I am the fruit of the travail of Christ's soul. He is my everything, and I must seek to please Him in everything I do. The more we look at Him, the more we shall see what poor weak creatures we are; but let those of us who are Christians make it our business to glorify Him in everything, remembering how He has loved us and given Himself for us." -John Nelson Darby

"I am sure I do not love the Lord enough, but I am sure it is the Lord I love. I have no confidence in my own heart, but all confidence in Him. He has died for me; that is what I count on: He has put away my sins; that is what I need: He is coming again; that is what I am longing for." -John Nelson Darby

"People talk of whether future sins are forgiven. All my sins were future when Christ died for them." -John Nelson Darby

"No trial can touch a person who has Christ for his all. He may have lost this or lost that; but if he has Christ he has that which he cannot lose." -John Nelson Darby

"There is one Man who knows the truth, because He is the truth, who is satisfied with the written word, and that is the Lord. There is no craft of Satan that the word of God is not sufficient to meet." -John Nelson Darby

"The more you nourish your soul by feeding on the word of God, the more likely He is to use you in blessing to others." -John Nelson Darby

"Love likes to be a servant, and selfishness likes to be served." -John Nelson Darby

"What I get by the Holy Ghost, is a child worshipping the Father. I am standing with the Holy Ghost dwelling in me, between the first and second coming of Christ - a worshipper waiting for His coming." -John Nelson Darby

"The more we know of Him, the more we know He is everything." -John Nelson Darby

"Faith makes me see that God is greater than my sin, and not that my sin is greater than God." -John Nelson Darby

"Sorrow is a good thing, and makes God a more abundant source of joy." -John Nelson Darby

"If Christ is not God, then I do not know Him, have not met Him, nor know what He is." -John Nelson Darby

"The more you nourish your soul by feeding on the word of God, the more likely He is to use you in blessing to others." -John Nelson Darby

"Are there any of you who are thus halting between two opinions, and afraid to confess your obligations to the Lord? Oh! I once more entreat you to be candid. Be open, be decided, confess Christ's name on earth, and He will not be ashamed to confess your name before the whole assembled universe." -John Nelson Darby

"I fear much human language on this. But I affirm that the only full revelation of the one true God is the revelation of Him in the Trinity. Our prayers rise up the same. Through Him (Christ the Son) we have access by one Spirit unto the Father." -John Nelson Darby

"The expectation of the Lord's return would not prevent me going on with the ordinary business of life. If I am really expecting my Lord, I shall earnestly desire to be found doing my duty at the moment of His return." -John Nelson Darby

"All that we can do is to walk with vigilance, but peacefully, thinking of the interests of the Lord Jesus; as to ourselves having nothing to gain and nothing to lose. The path of peace, the place of testimony, is to seek to please God." -John Nelson Darby

"No trial can touch a person who has Christ for his all. He may have lost this or lost that; but if he has Christ he has that which he cannot lose." -John Nelson Darby

"It was purely grace shewn to us in the cross. We were just sinners and nothing but sinners when Christ died to save us. And I can never understand what God's love really is, until I can say I am merely a sinner. If you do not know what God's love is, it is because you have not learnt that great truth, that you are but a sinner." -John Nelson Darby

"If all the sins that ever were committed in the world were congregated in your persons and were your own act, this need not prevent your believing in Christ and coming unto God through Him." -John Nelson Darby

"The Lamb is nearer to my heart than any. He has known me better than any, better than I know myself; and this Christ who dwells in our hearts by faith is the One we shall meet there. I shall find One in heaven nearer and dearer to my heart, than any one I know on earth. Nothing is so near to us as the Christ that is in us, and nothing is so near to God as Christ. Yet the world is in a man's heart." -John Nelson Darby

"The effectual presence of the Spirit crucifies egotism, and gives freedom of thought about ourselves while on the way; it occupies us with one object — Jesus." -John Nelson Darby

"But will fruits of grace give you forgiveness, righteousness? They are not the blood of Christ; they are not Christ. How can they cleanse from sin? God delights in the fruits of grace, but they cannot put away sin. It is the work of Christ on the cross which alone does that God has set Him at His own right hand; and when I believe it, I see how God has loved me. May you be in yourself so broken down, that you may find One who never breaks down!" -John Nelson Darby

"Lord let me wait for thee alone. My life be only this. To serve thee here on earth unknown, then share thy heavenly bliss." -John Nelson Darby

"Is the thought of the Lord's coming your daily delight? Does it influence you in the ten thousand details of your everyday life? Or are you so walking hand in hand with the world that the very thought of His coming fills you with shame?" -John Nelson Darby

"If we take Scripture, we find there the attributes of God - the one true and only God - shine out, and in every page, with unclouded lustre. He is one, supreme, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things; knows all things. If we go to heaven, He is there; to hell, He is there (Jer. 23:24); can do all things. His eye and presence are everywhere; He is the eternal God; He is righteous and holy ; His goodness is over all His works." -John Nelson Darby

"God loves me as He loves Christ. I dare to say that. He has glorified God by taking my place. It was a true transfer. He has suffered, and we are saved - not by our responsibilities, but by His work. He has taken us out of the ditch. We have done with judgment. Who is to judge us? Can Christ judge Himself? Will He judge those that are His, or condemn His own work? When He sits in judgment, we shall be seated on thrones around Him. When He takes up Israel, we shall reign with Him." -John Nelson Darby

"While He was God in everything, He was the humblest, most affable man that ever walked this earth. In death only is He alone. He looked for compassion and found none. "Tarry ye here, and watch with me." In His sore trial He looked in Gethsemane for them to watch with Him; they could not, and an angel from heaven comes to strengthen Him. Will He ever give up being a servant? Never? That form of servant He will never give up. Selfishness likes to be served. Love likes to serve. That is just what I find in Christ." -John Nelson Darby

"Christ is God come down to sinners in their sins. The law could only say, If you do not do this, you are cursed. Christ comes to these sinners, and He shews us what we are; but He shews us also what He is: love, that brought Him down to us as we are, the vilest, the most wilful, sinners." -John Nelson Darby

"The Lord give us only to remember that the fashion of this world passeth away; but there is one thing that abides for ever, and that is the word of God - that through His grace, we may follow hard after Him. Oh, it is a wonderful thing that the Son of God became a man, on purpose to win us back to God." -John Nelson Darby

"God gives a power apart from man. He gives a new life - a life in His Son. In virtue of Him, it cannot fail. It is eternal life - life in Christ. God was perfectly manifested in the Son, when He came down from heaven to give life. But this is not enough. What about my sins? Where are my sins? To have life without the question of sin being settled will not do. Christ had them on the cross. Christ came down from heaven to put my sin away, and He did put it away and can say, "at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." Christ's life is in me - "eternal life, and this life is in his Son." I have His life, not His Godhead, of course. As surely as I have partaken of the life and nature of the first Adam, so have I life in the second Adam. "If any man be in Christ, there is a new creation." The divine nature is there. It is in a poor earthen vessel, it is true; but the nature is divine, and I should be shewing it out in my life and character." -John Nelson Darby

"We love His appearing, but we love Himself better. Therefore we wait for Him to take us to Himself. If our hearts have known what Himself is, we cannot confound His taking us to Himself, with His appearing. We are "members of his body." "Our life is hid with Christ." He is to take us up to the Father's house, the fulness of His own blessedness - with Christ; the blessed outshining of His Father's love connects itself with the church's position. All through there is an identity of blessedness with Christ in life, hope, object, all. If this hope is let into the heart, there must be a break with the world. I cannot be waiting for God's Son from heaven if I am expecting wrath; and I cannot be waiting for God's Son from heaven if I am linked up with the world. If this world is the scene where my heart is building itself up, if I have an object in this world, Christ will spoil it all." -John Nelson Darby

"Grace is to the sinner, and to none other. If I can stand before God in my own righteousness, grace is not needed. He will bring down your hearts to your real contrition. There He can act in the fulness of His grace, according to the need of the heart that has discovered its need in His presence. He is manifesting that grace according to the value of the sacrifice, now that He is at the right hand of God. Not merely now that God can come to the sinner, but the cleansed sinner stands accepted in the presence of God - accepted in the Person of Jesus; and that nothing stands between us and God. The Lord give us only to own the fulness of His grace, and see the way in which we are debtors to Him, who was willing to suffer all things that He might present us spotless to God. Amen." -John Nelson Darby

"He is our present and eternal joy. The time will come when all our sorrow will be over, but our Friend will remain. He is our tried and true Friend. He has entered into the deepest woes of our heart, and will make us the sharers of His joy for ever. Our blessing, our safety, our hope are all grounded on the atonement. Is there a soul reading this who cannot rejoice in Christ, who knows Him not as his portion? Is there one who is saying, My sin is too great to be pardoned? To feel about your sin is right, but to be in despair about it is quite wrong. You are virtually saying, My sin is greater than the grace of God. You will not dare to say so if you are looking at Christ. Is Christ come short? Is grace beneath your need or above it? Christ is the portion of every poor soul who believes on Him. The atoning work is done. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin." -John Nelson Darby

"How blessed it is to look at the Lord in this way! He is our present and eternal joy. The time will come when all our sorrow will be over, but our Friend will remain. He is our tried and true Friend. He has entered into the deepest woes of our heart, and will make us the sharers of His joy for ever. Our blessing, our safety, our hope are all grounded on the atonement. Is there a soul reading this who cannot rejoice in Christ, who knows Him not as his portion? Is there one who is saying, My sin is too great to be pardoned? To feel about your sin is right, but to be in despair about it is quite wrong. You are virtually saying, My sin is greater than the grace of God. You will not dare to say so if you are looking at Christ. Is Christ come short? Is grace beneath your need or above it? Christ is the portion of every poor soul who believes on Him. The atoning work is done. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin." -John Nelson Darby

"The law cannot give life; it can only convince of sin. The work was done between God and Christ; the whole question of sin was settled and done with, and He is my righteousness before God. God's righteousness has been displayed in putting the Man who bore my sins at God's right hand in glory. The Holy Ghost comes and says to me, You have no righteousness for God. Then I try to grow more holy. Quite right in itself that I should long after holiness; but as a means to peace it will not do. But here in Christ I have a divine righteousness that is fit to put me into glory. They that are led of the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. In the cross of Christ it is not merely that my debt is paid, for that might be, and yet I might have nothing as it were to live upon; but God has made me a joint-heir with Christ; and now down here I live looking for Him to come to take me to Himself, to be for ever with Him in the glory where He is." -John Nelson Darby

"But be of good cheer if your hearts are set on Christ: there is your stay, the anchor of your soul. If He is such, dear friends, stand forward for Him; be not ashamed to own your relationship to Him, your dependence on Him: be decided, cut short all expedients for deferring the bold acknowledgment of your being His; confess Him before men, and act for Him, and live for Him in an ungodly world. He is not ashamed to call you brethren; and will you be ashamed to confess Him as your Lord and Master in the face of all the world?" -John Nelson Darby

"The word of God presents to us this very precious fact, that we do not only find there certain truths and doctrines, but also every relation between God and man fully developed on earth, and each day we can clearly see all these things in the Person of Jesus. It is a great mercy of God to have brought Him so near to us, as so to make known to us those relationships in the circumstances in which we are ourselves found. At bottom the life of Jesus was like ours. He was in all things tempted in like manner as ourselves. It was indeed God manifested in flesh; but it was also life, and the expression of a life; perfectly acceptable to God.

In order to make progress in spiritual life we must study the Lord Jesus; whether in the grace of His Person or in the circumstances of His life; or, lastly, in the glorious position He has near the Father, and which we shall by-and-by share with Him." -John Nelson Darby

"The careless heart of man cannot bear to look at the cross except he be at the foot of it, acknowledging his need of it; for he has to measure himself by the wrath poured out on Jesus. But if your back is turned on the cross, there is none to give peace. The cross may cause us shame when it leads us to see what sin is; but itself, it is the power of God unto salvation. Haste then to God who beseeches you to be reconciled. And may the Lord, in the riches of His grace shew you the vileness of sin, and that Jesus has drunk the bitter cup of wrath but is now the risen Saviour; that you may enter thus life of peace through Him who, in that He died, died unto sin once, that he who lives might live unto God." -John Nelson Darby

"Nothing is more prominently brought forward in the New Testament than the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." -John Nelson Darby

"The Lord is coming, dear brother; the time for the world is departing. What a blessing! May God find us watching and thinking only of one thing - the One of whom He thinks - Jesus our precious Saviour." -John Nelson Darby

"In my retreat, the 32nd chapter of Isaiah taught me clearly, on God's behalf, that there was still an economy to come, of His ordering; a state of things in no way established as yet. The consciousness of my union with Christ had given me the present heavenly portion of the glory, whereas this chapter clearly sets forth the corresponding earthly part. I was not able to put these things in their respective places or arrange them in order, as I can now; but the truths themselves were then revealed of God, through the action of His Spirit, by reading His word." -John Nelson Darby (Letters of Darby, Vol. 3)

"Nothing cannot become, because there is nothing to become, but that does not say God could not speak and it be made." -John Nelson Darby

"A most extraordinary thing to do! Waiting for God's Son! that is, all our hopes are clean out of this world. Do not expect anything from earth, but look for something from heaven, and this God's Son Himself, "even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come."..Those who were looking for Christ were entirely delivered "from the wrath to come." This gives a very distinct position to the Christian." -John Nelson Darby

"If I hesitate to stand in His presence, I am putting in question the value of Christ's precious blood. You may say, I hope to be saved. You cannot hope that Christ will die for you! .It cannot be a matter of hope whether Christ is to die! The way the heart reasons is, I am not hoping Christ will die for me, but I hope to get an interest in Him; I want a proof of His love. When you question this, you question whether Christ has become the friend of publicans and sinners; and, further, you question the power of His blood." -John Nelson Darby

"The pope cannot be the head of the Church, because if Christ is the Head, one body cannot have two heads." -John Nelson Darby

"Judgment was born by Christ that grace might flow out to the sinner." -John Nelson Darby

"The rapture of the church is in this age. The new age will not begin till after this is done." -John Nelson Darby

"Do you really believe in the Third Person of the Trinity is actually here on the earth? If you do, you will walk carefully, and look to hear Him speak in your midst (1 Cor. 12, 14; 1 Peter 4:11)." -John Nelson Darby

"I adore the love that led Him to be made sin for me." -John Nelson Darby

"Is there any good in myself? No, I have no good in me - I was totally lost, I had no hope, but God has redeemed me out of that place; Christ is my life and righteousness, and the Holy Ghost in me makes me know it, so that I enjoy it; well, as Christ is so am I." -John Nelson Darby

"The gospel of the kingdom is not the proclamation of the union of the church with Christ, nor redemption in its fullness, as preached and taught by the apostles after the ascension, but the kingdom which was to be established on the earth." -John Nelson Darby

"When I see Him in that glory, instead of seeing my sins, I see that they are gone. I have seen my sins laid on the Mediator. I have seen my sins confessed on the head of the scapegoat, and they have been borne away; Leviticus 16. So much has God been glorified about my sins (that is, in respect of what Christ has done on account of my sins), that this is the title of Christ to be there, at the right hand of God. I am not afraid to look at Christ there. Where are my sins now? where are they to be found in heaven or on earth? I see Christ in the glory. Once they were found upon the head of that blessed One; but they are gone, never more to be found. Were it a dead Christ, so to speak, that I saw, I might fear that my sins would be found again; but with Christ alive in the glory the search is in vain. He who bore them all has been received up to the throne of God, and no sin can be there." -John Nelson Darby

"For Christ died for sinners; and those who believe stand before God in all the infinite value of that precious blood which He shed for them as their substitute. God therefore righteously pardons, accepts, justifies every believer: that righteousness which flowed out to Christ, raised Him from the dead, and glorified Him at His right hand, meets also and embraces every one who believes in Jesus, and brings him where Christ is in the presence of God. It could not be otherwise; for since the blood has met all God's claims, and even glorified Him, every sinner, the moment he believes, stands invested with all its infinite value. It is, therefore, in response to the value of the blood, that God's righteousness — for it is due to Christ — flows out rejoicingly, and invests the sinner with its own perfection, so that in Christ he is justified for ever before God. Yea, he is accepted in the Beloved." -John Nelson Darby

“We have first to find out that we are weak, and cannot help ourselves; then we turn, and look to God.” -John Nelson Darby

“…complete pardon [of sin] did not exist under the first covenant…”
(John Nelson Darby, “Hebrews Chapter 10”, Synopsis of the Books of the Bible)

“But when sacrifices were legally instituted and the law given, hopes of forgiveness and restoration in peace in a coming age, but no purged conscience, save occasional at the present time, marked the condition of the worshipper…Under the prescription of the law the conscience was more brought under the yoke, present occasional forgiveness by a sin-offering more definite, but it was narrowed into present occasional clearing, and the hope of deliverance put into the age to come and connected with Messiah, as we know also it will be.”
(John Nelson Darby, “53258E”, STEM Publishing, Volume 3, Number 258, (1862))

"Christ has come, and He has glorified God, and has shown what God is at all cost; it cost Him His life, and drinking that dreadful cup, He has shown what God is, and perfectly glorified Him, and that in the place of sin. When He was made sin, that was the very time when obedience was perfect, and love was perfect, and all that God was in His righteousness and hatred against sin and love for the sinner." -John Nelson Darby

"If I say I am in Christ, I say Christ is in me, and my business is to show out Christ, and nothing else." -John Nelson Darby

"The testimony of Scripture is the only secure resting-place for man amid the darkness of this world." -John Nelson Darby

"You see, the more Scripture is gone through, the more comes to light that He is the true God and Eternal Life." -John Nelson Darby

"Death is written upon our fairest hopes and our fondest joy; but where sin and death have come in, grace and the Son of God have come in after them to more than make up what was done." -John Nelson Darby

The Lord's Supper

Note: All Scripture quotations found in this article are from the text of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper the night before He was crucified (Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:15-20, 39).

Matthew 26:26 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

The Lord's Supper is done in "remembrance" of Him.

Luke 22:19 "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

Roman Catholics call this "Mass" and believe that the bread is literally His body and the new wine (grape juice/Matt. 26:29) is literally His blood.  Jesus Christ died once and does not need to be continually sacrificed (Heb. 10:10).  Besides that, drinking blood is forbidden before the law (Gen. 9:4), under the law (Lev. 17:12) and even under grace (Acts 15:29).

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul gives us more light on the Lord's Supper.  He makes it clear that the Lord's Supper is an ordinance to be observed by saved Christians.

1 Corinthians 11:2 "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."

1 Corinthians 11:23 "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:" 

As said before earlier, the Lord's Supper is done in remembrance of Christ's shed blood and broken body.  His body was broken because of the spear that the soldier put in his side on the cross.  His bones were not broken though.

John 19:36 "For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."

Not only are we to remember His First Coming, but also His Second Coming when He comes to reign as King for 1k years.  Also, notice that in verse 26 it says, "as often as".  This means that there is no set rule on how often to partake in the Lord's Supper.  That decision is usually left up to the Pastor, who looks after the spiritual condition of his local church.

1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

Another vital thing to do before partaking of the Lord's Supper is to examine ourselves and make sure we do not have any unconfessed sins in our life.  Those that do not examine themselves before partaking receive "damnation", which is not Hell, but the person getting "weak", "sickly" or even dying (sleep).  Verse 34 explains that the reason for the Lord's Supper is not to satisfy the belly.

1 Corinthians 11:28 "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

1 Corinthians 11:34 "And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come."

Those are the rules and instructions for the Lord's Supper.  Any other rules that any other church adds to it is not scriptural.  This includes "Closed Communion", which limits only the members of that local church to partake in the Lord's Supper.  No where does Paul or Jesus give those requirements.  Scriptures are clear that it is the responsibility of the believer to examine his own self by self-judgment and prayer.

The Pastor's job is to make sure everyone knows the rules and requirements before eating and drinking.  The Lord's Supper is for the Body of Christ.  "Closed Communion" is very popular with Baptist Briders, who believe only those in their local  Baptist church are the Bride of Christ, which is false doctrine.  Everyone that is saved by faith alone today until the Rapture is the Bride of Christ (Body, Church).

For example, Paul traveled from church to church.  Would you deny that Paul partake in the Lord's Supper just because he's not in your church membership?  Paul includes himself in the same body of the Romans, Corinthians and Ephesians (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, Eph. 5:30).

"Open Communion" means that the Lord's Supper (Communion) is open to all saved believers that have examined themselves.  With that said, Christians should not avoid joining a local church.  Every saved believer should find a King James Bible Believing Baptist church for preaching, teaching, hymns, fellowship and etc.  We are commanded in scripture not to forsake the assembling together of ourselves at a local level.  The Lord's Supper should bring a church closer together (1 Cor. 17-18).

Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Foot Washing

Note: All Scripture quotations found in this article are from the text of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

This article will explain why "foot washing" is not a Church Ordinance, rather an example that we should follow the Lord Jesus Christ in.  The chapter that deals with this subject is John 13.  

John 13:4 "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean."

Note:  The unclean one is Judas Iscariot, the Son of Perdition (More on this in my article "The Antichrist").   

In verse 7, Jesus says "What I do thou knowest not now".  Peter knew what He was doing and objected to it because he felt that Jesus, His Lord should not be washing his dirty feet.  Jesus clarifies in verse 7 that the literal foot washing is not what he wants them to follow.  Not one verse in the whole passage ever says that foot washing is a Church Ordinance.  The only Church Ordinances are water baptism and the Lord's Supper.  

Look at verse 7 again.  Jesus says, "But thou shalt know hereafter".  Jesus was saying that He was doing this as an example to show humbleness.  Keep in mind that foot washing then was a slave's job.  Jesus, the King of Kings humble himself enough to perform the task of a slave.  We need to follow His example.  Just days before in Matthew 20:26-27, Jesus was teaching the disciples about being humble.

Matthew 20:26 "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

Pride is a nasty sin that most Americans are ate up with.  The American media promotes things like self-esteem, self-glory, self-love, self-fulfillment and self-image.  If one holds pride in their heart, how can they ever humble themselves to see their self as a sinner in need of a Saviour?  As Christians, we should put God first, others second and ourselves last.  We cannot do that if we are caught up on self. 

Men and women today are so prideful that they refuse to obey God's word because they hate authority.  Instead, they would rather obey the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), whether directly (knowing) or indirectly (without knowing).  To the Born Again Christian, this life is not about your next paycheck or YOUR happiness.  This life is about doing things that glorify Jesus Christ.  It takes humbleness to accept that truth.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Pride is also the sin that made Lucifer the Cherub rebel against God.  He wanted to exalt his throne and be like God according to Isaiah 14:12-14, but instead in next verse shows his future, eternal destination.  

Isaiah 14:15 "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

The water in John 13 is symbolizing the word of God that cleans us by showing us salvation and then guiding our way after we are saved.  

 John 15:3 "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."

Our sins are completely forgiven at Calvary and our soul is saved, but as Christians we still need to ask for forgiveness to keep a good fellowship with God (1 John 1:3-10).  Christ died for us, so we ought to love and serve Him.  Repent of sins, read the Bible, pray without ceasing, do good works, witness and etc.  Those are all good things that bring us closer to God, but they do not save us or keep us saved.  

In conclusion, verses 15-17 in John 13 verifies once again that the foot washing was done for an "example", not a Church Ordinance.  It had nothing to do with washing feet, rather ministering God's word to each other for daily cleansing of sin for our fellowship with the Lord (Acts 20:28, John 21:15-16, Eph. 5:26, Ps. 119:9).  

 John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."