The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - IS GOD A "TRINITY"? -Continue

 What about the statement at John 1:1 (AV), which refers to Jesus as "the Word," saying: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"?  Does that not prove the "Trinity"? No. Notice, first of all, that only two persons are mentioned, not three. Also, in this same chapter, verse 2 says the Word was "in the beginning with God," and verse 18 says that no man hath seen God at any time," yet men have seen Jesus Christ. For these reasons, and in full harmony with the Greek text, some translations of verse 1 read: "The Word was with God, and the word was divine," or with "a god," that is, the Word was a powerful godlike one. (AT; NW) So that this portion of the Bible is in agreement with all the rest; it does not teach a "Trinity." 

As for the "Holy Spirit," the so-called Person of the Trinity," we have already seen that it is, not a person, But God's active force.  (Judges 14:6) John the Baptist said that Jesus would be baptized with holy spirit even as John had been baptizing with water. Water is not a person nor is a holy spirit a person. (Matthew 3:11) What John foretold was fulfilled when God caused his Son Christ Jesus to pour out holy spirit on the apostles and disciples during Pentecost 33 C.E., so" they all became filled with holy spirit." Were they filled with a person? No, but they were filled with God's active force. - ACTS 2:4, 33. 

What, then, do the facts show as to the "Trinity"? Neither the word nor the idea is in God's Word, the Bible. The doctrine did not originate with God. But you will be interested to know that, according to the book Babylonian Life and History (by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, 1925 edition, pp. 146, 147), in ancient Babylon, the pagans did believe in such a thing; (Note: But paganism is not Christianity) they worshiped more than one trinity of gods. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life -IS GOD A "TRINITY"? - Continue

 But did not Jesus say on one occasion, "I and the Father are one"? (John 10:30) Yes, he did. However, that statement does not even suggests a "Trinity," since he spoke of only two as being one, not three, Jesus was surely not contradicting the scriptures we have already read. What he meant by this expression he made clear later when he prayed regarding his followers that "they may be just as we are one." (John 17:22) Jesus and his Father are "one" in that Jesus is in full harmony with his Father. And he prayed that all his followers might likewise be in harmony with his Father, with Jesus and with one another. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - IS GOD A "TRINITY"?- Continue

 When Jesus was on earth he certainly was not equal to his Father, for he said there were some things that neither he nor the angels knew.  (Mark 13:32) Furthermore, he prayed to his Father for help when undergoing trial. (Luke 22:41, 42) Also, he himself said: "The Father is greater than I am." (John 14:28) Because of this, Jesus spoke of his Father as "my God" and as "the only true God." - JOHN 20:17; 17:3. 

After Jesus' death, God raised him to life again and gave his glory greater than he had before. However, he was still not equal to his Father. How do we know? Because later the inspired Scriptures state that God is still "the head of the Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:3) The Bible also says that Jesus is to reign as God's appointed king until he has put all enemies under his feet, and that then shall "the Son also himself be subject under him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28, AV) Clearly, even since his resurrection Jesus Christ is not equal to his Father. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life- IS God A "TRINITY"?

 Many religions of Christendom's teach that God is a "Trinity," although the word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible. The Word Council of Churches recently said that all religions are part of that Council should advocate the belief that there is "one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit," that is, three persons in one God.  Those teaching this doctrine admit that it is "a mystery." The Athanasian Creed, of about the eighth of the Common Era, says that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Spirit) are all three of the same substance, all three are eternal (and hence had no beginning), and all three are almighty. So the creed reads that in the "Trinity none afore or after other; none is greater or less than another." Is that reasonable? More importantly, is it in agreement with the Bible?

This doctrine unknown to the Hebrew prophets and Christian apostles. The New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967 edition, Volume XIV, p. 306) admits that "the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught in the OT (Old Testament)." It also admits that the doctrine must be dated as from about three hundred and fifty years after the death of Jesus Christ. So the early Christians who were taught directly by Jesus Christ did not believe that God is a "Trinity." 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S QUALITIES AND WHY WE SHOULD WORSHIP ALONE -Conclusion

 With Jehovah there are "wisdom and mightiness; he has counsel and understanding." (Job 12:13) Evidence of his wisdom is seen in all his creative works, in both heaven and earth. We may well, ask, then: "Why should anyone ever doubt God's wisdom?" The Bible shows that his requirements are for our good, with our everlasting welfare in view.  It is true that there may be times when we, as humans having limited knowledge and experience, do not fully appreciate why a certain law stated by God is so important, or how it really works for our good. Yet our firm belief that God obviously knows far more than we do, that is experience is so much greater than ours. And that what he does is for our everlasting good will move us to obey him with a willing heart. - PSALM 19:7-11 (18:8-12, Dy]; MICAH 6:8.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S QUALITIES AND WHY WE SHOULD WORSHIP HIM ALONE -Continue

 Are we really to fear God? Yes, but with a healthy fear of rebelling again his will, because his will is right. In even ordinary things do we not fear take risks that could cause injury or loss of life? How much more so should we fear to displease "Jehovah God, the Almighty." Yet we can be glad that he is the almighty, for "as regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9; see also Isaiah 40:29-31) And we may be sure that Jehovah always uses his power with a right purpose and for the good of those loving what is right. For "God is love." - 1 JOHN 4:8. 

Jehovah, therefore, is not an oppressive God. "All his ways are justice." (Deuteronomy 32:4) True, his is "a God exacting exclusive devotion," but he is "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth. (Exodus 20:5; 34:6) "He himself well knows he formation of us, remembering that we are dust." (Psalm 103:14 [102:14, Dy] We can be happy indeed to have such a just compassionate God as our Supreme Judge, Lawgiver and King. - ISAIAH 33:22. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S QUALITIES AND WHY WE SHOULD WORSHIP HIM ALONE

 How right, then, that our worship should go only to him! As we consider his creative works, we too can say: "You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created." (Revelation 4:11) He accomplished the creation, not with tools such as men use, but by means of his holy spirit, which is his invisible active force.  (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30 [103:30, Dy] It is that same holy spirit by which he later caused the Bible to be written so that we might know his will and purpose for men on earth. - 2 PETER 1:21.

Since all things were created ''because of his will,' they all must serve God's purpose. Jehovah informed the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, of his purpose for them, and he held them accountable to act in harmony with it. Are we, too, accountable to God? Yes, because God is the Source of our life. This is true, not only because we have descended from that first human pair to whom God gave life, but also because our continued life each day depends on the sun, rain, air, and food from which Jehovah continues to let us benefit. (Psalm 36:9 [35:10, Dy]; Matthew 5:45) To what extent, then, do we live our lives in harmony with God's purpose for us? We ought to think seriously about this, because our opportunity for eternal life is at stake. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S QUALITIES AND WHY WE WORSHIP HIM ALONE

 What does the Bible itself tell us about God? It tells us that "God is Spirit." (John 4:24) A spirit is not composed of flesh and blood, nor other material substances that can be seen or felt by human senses. (1 Corinthians15:44, 50) So, human eyes have never seen God. (John 1:18) He is far superior to anything our eyes behold. The majesty of the mountains, the brilliance of the sun, and even the glory of the starry heavens are nothing as compared to him. -ISAIAH 40:25,26. 

No wonder that in the heaven the song is sung: 'Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity. Who will not really fear you, Jehovah and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?" (Revelation 15:3, 4) As the Creator of all things, Jehovah God, the King of eternity," existed before all others. He is "from everlasting to everlasting," meaning that is he had no beginning and will have an end. -1 TIMOTHY 1:17; PSALM 90:2, AV [89:2, Dy].

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Who Is God?

 In Hebrew, the language in which the first thirty-nine books of the Bible (AV) were written, God's name is represented thousands of times by four Hebrew letters, YHWH. In ancient times the Hebrew language was written without vowels, the reader supplying the vowels as he read the words. So, the problem is that today, we have no way of knowing exactly which vowels the Hebrews used along with the consonants YHWH. Many scholars think the name was pronounced "Yahweh," but the form "Jehovah" has been in use for many centuries and is most likely known. 

Because there is uncertainty as to the exact pronunciation of God's personal name, some clergymen say that you should not use it at all, but instead simply say "God" or "the Lord." However, they do not insist that you should not use the names, "Jesus" "Jeremiah." And yet these commonly used pronunciations are quite different from the Hebrew pronunciations "Yesh' and " and "Yirm iah'." The vital point is not what pronunciation you use for the Divine Name, whether "Yahweh," "Jehovah," or some other, as long as the pronunciation is common in your language. What is wrong is to fail to use that name. Why? Because those who do not use it could not be identified with the ones who God takes out to be "a people for his name." (Acts 15:14) We should not only know God's name but honor it and praise it before others as God's Son did when he was on earth. - MATTHEW 17:6, 26.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Who Is God?

 Man's need for God and his help has never been greater than now. Our lives depend upon knowing him. But, strangely enough, there is much confusion as to who he is, for today, as in the past, there are many gods worshiped in different lands. Yet, the Bible makes clear that there is only one TRUE God. - 1 CORINTHIANS 8:5, 6. 

To distinguish himself from the many false god's, the true God has given himself a person name. This sets him apart from all others.  "Is not 'God' his name?"  some may ask. No, for "God" is merely a title, just as "President," "King" and "Judge" are titles. God's personal name is made known to us through his Word, the Bible, and that his name is JEHOVAH. In many translation of the Bible this name is found at Psalm 83:18, where we read (AV): That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the most high over all the earth." And in almost all translations the name is found at Revelation 19:1-6 as part of the expression "Alleluia" or "Hallelujah." This means "praise Jah" (a shortened form of Jehovah). The Catholic Encyclopedia (1910, Volume VIII, p.3290 says of the divine name: "Jehovah, the proper name of God in the Old Testament." However, The Jerusalem Bible, a recent Catholic translation, regularly uses the name Yahweh," as do a number of other translations. Why is that? 

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