Read more about the article Is the Holy Spirit a Separate Person From the Father and the Son?
Who is the Holy Spirit

Is the Holy Spirit a Separate Person From the Father and the Son?

The doctrine of the Trinity hinges on the Holy Spirit being a separate person from the Father and the Son.  Without this determination, there is no Trinity.  What does Scripture have to say about the matter?  Has belief in the personhood of the Spirit always been a foregone conclusion? What does the historical record reveal?  You may be surprised at what you're about to read.Survey SaysIn 2014, Lifeway Ministries and Ligonier Ministries surveyed evangelical Christians in America.  While the vast majority of the respondents (96%)…

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February 29, 2020
Read more about the article 10 Biblical Truths About the Holy Spirit That Contradict Orthodoxy
Who is the Holy Spirit

10 Biblical Truths About the Holy Spirit That Contradict Orthodoxy

As we endeavor to build our lives on the foundation of God's word, it's important to know what the Bible says and what it doesn't say about the Holy Spirit. We've been taught that the Holy Spirit is God, a separate person from God the Father and Jesus the Son, and the third member of a triune being.  The Spirit is understood to be co-equal, co-eternal, and co-essential with the Father and the Son.  If this is the case, we should find ample evidence of these…

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January 29, 2020
Read more about the article Christ Belongs to God
Who is Jesus

Christ Belongs to God

From ancient times, the Jews understood that the coming Messiah would be a servant or agent of God who would rule on God's behalf.[1]   Just as King David was referred to as God's anointed[2], so the coming king would be called the same: Psalm 2:2 (NASB)  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed (emphasis added) The Christ of God To be sure, throughout Scripture, Jesus is referred to as being of or belonging…

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January 22, 2020
Read more about the article Does Jesus’ Authority to Forgive Sins Prove He is God?
Christ and the Palsied Man by J. Kirk Richards
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ

Does Jesus’ Authority to Forgive Sins Prove He is God?

A paralyzed man and his friends went to see Jesus but were unable to reach him because the house where he was teaching was too crowded.  So the man's friends lowered him through the roof.[1]  When Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the man's sins: Luke 5:20-26 (NASB) Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21  The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" 22 But…

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January 16, 2020
Read more about the article Who is The Almighty God of Scripture?
Christ Pantocrator, St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai, 6th century
Who is God

Who is The Almighty God of Scripture?

Who is the Almighty God?  Does the title refer to the Trinity--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--as orthodoxy requires?  Or does Scripture provide a different answer?  Let's examine the definition of the word almighty, as well as its usage in Scripture and in creedal history. What does Almighty mean? The first occurrence of the word almighty in Scripture is found in the book of Genesis: Genesis 17:1 (NASB) Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD [Yahweh] appeared to Abram and said to him,…

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January 7, 2020
Read more about the article Who Do Demons Believe Jesus Is?
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld c. 1860
Who is Jesus

Who Do Demons Believe Jesus Is?

Demons are a reality.  Scripture is replete with references to these spirit beings who are said to have rebelled against God and are now under the authority of Satan.[1]  Although we're never given a formal description, we're told that demons, also known as unclean or evil spirits, can cause sickness[2] and violence,[3] perform false signs and wonders,[4] propagate deceitful doctrine,[5] and possess and oppress people.[6]  In addition, we learn from Scripture that demons are aware of or are knowledgeable about certain people.  For example, when…

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December 29, 2019
Read more about the article The Evolution of the Doctrine of the Trinity
Church History / Guest Posts

The Evolution of the Doctrine of the Trinity

This is a well written article detailing the historical development of the doctrine of the Trinity.  It is being shared here with the permission of its author.  The original can be found at The Trinity on Trial website.   The Evolution of the Doctrine of the TrinityModern Christians owe a debt of gratitude to the early church. Her legacy of courage under persecution stands to this day as a bold testimony of faith. However, this legacy tends to overshadow the devastating impact of false teachers who…

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December 23, 2019
Read more about the article Jesus Christ, the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ

Jesus Christ, the Same Yesterday and Today and Forever

Many have taken comfort in the promise found in the letter to the Hebrews: Hebrews 13:8 (NASB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. But is the comfort taken from this passage rooted in a proper understanding of the verse?  Often it is interpreted to mean that Jesus is unchanging from eternity past to eternity future, and thus, many see it as an affirmation that Jesus is God: he pre-existed yesterday, he exists today, and he will exist forever.  The verse is…

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December 17, 2019
Read more about the article Does Jesus’ Superiority to Angels Prove He is God? An Examination of Hebrews 1:4-14
White Angel of Mileševa, Serbia, 13th century
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ / Worship of Jesus

Does Jesus’ Superiority to Angels Prove He is God? An Examination of Hebrews 1:4-14

The letter to the Hebrews was written to Hellenized Jews who had come to faith in Christ, but were in danger of returning to the Law.  It's possible that an esteem for angels as mediators of the first covenant[1] is what motivated the author to pen two chapters presenting Jesus as being "better than" the heavenly beings.  Some posit that the writer based his claims of Jesus' superiority to angels on a belief that he is God.  But is this what the author was trying…

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December 11, 2019
Read more about the article Jesus is the Radiance of God’s Glory and the Exact Representation of His Nature: An Examination of Hebrews 1:3-4
Proof Texts for the Deity of Christ

Jesus is the Radiance of God’s Glory and the Exact Representation of His Nature: An Examination of Hebrews 1:3-4

The first chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is a favorite text for those attempting to prove the deity of Christ.  However, when examined more closely, the text fails to provide support for the fourth century doctrine.[1]  For example, in a related post, we examined Hebrews 1:1-2 in light of the claim that Jesus is the Creator of the world.  We discovered that the first two chapters are not about the Genesis creation at all, but about the coming kingdom age.[2]  Moreover, we learned…

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December 3, 2019
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