"Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from the present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Galatians 1:2-3)
Note that this scripture does not state that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are two separate persons, as in "themselves" but rather -- that He [God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ] gave Himself. Singular. As in One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism -- wherein One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all is both our Lord and Christ. (Ephesians 4:5-6; Acts 2:36-41)
Malachi said it clearly when he asked, "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?" (Malachi 2:10)
You see, in the covenant of the fathers, God always described Himself as One God. For example, in the beginning, God! (Genesis 1:1) "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters ..." (Genesis 1:2) Indeed, throughout the Old Testament, the doctrine of the Lord thy God as One Lord is clear.
"Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us His glory and His greatness ..." (Deuteronomy 5:24)
Moreover, the same Lord thy God which had brought them out of the land of Egypt -- "I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" -- said, "Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is One Lord! (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Deuteronomy 4:29, 31; Mark 12:29-31; I Corinthians 8:4, 6)
"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9)
When we seek Him, we shall find Him. Did Jesus not tell us that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life? (John 14:6) Immediately following, how does Jesus rationalize that He is who He says He is? Jesus tells His disciples that if you have known Him -- Jesus, and have seen Him -- Jesus, you would also have seen the Father. (John 14:7-12)
So why is it, that from the New Testament we so readily accept a false modern day religious teaching that reduces the same God who created this world into three persons. Does the scriptures state anywhere that God is divided into thirds? Does the scriptures speak of a trinity, or a triad, or a tri-une g/God? Is the scripture vague on who we are to worship in this dispensation of grace? The answer is no.
But the foundational doctrines cited in Hebrews 6:1-2 and II John 1:9 does speak of the doctrine of Christ. To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19) That God was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) That the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory. (James 2:1) The life manifested that the apostles have seen, their own hands having handled the Word of life. (I John 1:1-3) The Word made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-3, 10-11, 14)
And we are to hear ye Him! The only begotten of the Father who willingly came forth to bring us salvation. The Lord God giving His right arm so that we might be redeemed in His love. After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. (I John 3:5)
"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (I Peter 2:24-25)
Is there two Shepherds of your soul? Is there two Bishops of your soul? Again, no. There is only One Good Shepherd and He laid down His life for His sheep. You and I who He was calling from the very beginning. This is why we can attest to every book of the Bible pointing to Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
"Behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!"
It is for this reason that we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, and are ready always to give an answer to every man that asks us for a reason of the hope that is within us.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which He also went up and preached unto the spirits in the prison." (I Peter 3:18-19)
Not another but the One and Only God who was so willing to prepare for Himself a body so that we might have abundant life in Him. He is the Light of the world. He is the Bread of Life. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in a few words) whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men; as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3:3-6)
It is for this reason that we hold "fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9)
Stand in the offering plate.
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