The Diety of Christ

The Godhead

Christendom has produced four basic views of the Godhead:

(1) Trinitarianism - One God in three persons. Co-Equal, Co-Eternal, Co-Existent.

(2) Binitarianism - One God in two persons. The Father and the Son. This doctrine teaches that the father and the Spirit are the same person.

(3) Strict monotheism with a denial of the full deity of Jesus Christ (Judaism or Islam).

(4) Oneness or Modelism - Strict monotheism with an affirmation of the full deity of Jesus Christ.

The Nature of God

God Is A Spirit - John 4:24

John 4:24 (ESV)

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God Is Invisible - Col. 1:15

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

God Is Omnipresent - Everywhere Present. In All Times At the Same Time.

God Is Omniscient (All Knowing).

God Is Omnipotent (All Powerful)

Oneness:

Oneness - There is one God with no distinction of persons.

Jesus is the father, son and Holy Ghost.

Or Jesus Only

Historically speaking it was most likely the prominent view of the early church.

The most prominent teacher of modalism in the third century was Sabellius, who held that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were modes (designations, manifestations, not persons) of the one God and that Jesus was the incarnation of the undivided Godhead.

In the view of prominent church historians such as Adolph Harnack, modalism was once the majority view and was the most significant rival to trinitarianism from about A.D. 180 to 300.

The Oneness Pentecostal movement is the fastest growing movement in the world today other than Islam.

It is the fastest growing Christian movement in the world.

There are over 24 million professing oneness believers worldwide.

Famous Modelists are: T.D. Jakes, Steven Furtick, Marcus Rogers, Philips, Craig & Dean, J.T. Pugh, William Branham, Charles F. Parham and possibly William Seymour.

Other prominent modelists are: David Bernard, Nathaniel Wilson, C. Myles Young, Joel Urshan, Randy Williams, Lee Stoneking, Steve Waldron, Robin Johnson, Samuel Smith and George Jeffrys.

A lot of Messianic Jews believe and teach Modelism.

Tell the Kings of Leon story.

Tell the heresy stories in Redding.

Oneness Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Psalm 86:10 ESV

10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Malachi 2:10 ESV

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Isaiah 43:10 ESV

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

Isaiah 44:6 ESV

6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

No god was formed before me No other deity existed before Yahweh. See 41:4; 47:8. Other divine beings are called Yahweh’s “sons” (Job 38:7–8; Psa 89:5–8), suggesting He created them.

43:11 there is no savior besides me This assertion is repeated in Isa 45:21 again in the context of a strong polemic against idolatry. For Israelites, the gods of the nations were inferior to Yahweh and undeserving of worship (Deut 32:8–9, 17).

“The Oneness Pentecostal movement teaches that the biblical, apostolic, Christian doctrine of God, which it commonly calls Oneness, excludes the modem doctrine of the trinity. This statement gives rise to at least two historical questions. First, if the trinitarian dogma is not biblical, when and how did it become part of Christendom? Second, what beliefs about God do the earliest postbiblical Christian writings express—Oneness, trinitarianism, or something else?” - David Bernard.

The Only God

John’s Gospel begins with a theological prologue that introduces its central character by underscoring His divine origins, identity, and role in a new act of Creation (John 1:14).

John 1:1–18 (ESV)

1 In the beginning (was) the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things (were) made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was (in the world), and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes (after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Rank - Is often associated with seniority in the kingdom of God.

It is not always primary to us who are engrafted in, but is when it comes to qualifying a deity it does.

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Fullness:

Colossians 1:19 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Colossians 2:9 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Trinity:

Trinitarianism - asserts that there are three distinct persons in the Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost—but yet one God.

Tertullian and Origen were leading opinion makers for trinitarian theology in the third century.

The Council of Nicea was established under Constantine’s rule in 325 AD.

Constantine held the council for purely political reasons

But also, there was a major divide in doctrine especially when it came down to the godhead.

The Council of Nicea is of immense historical significance as

(1) the first ecumenical council of postapostolic Christendom,

(2) the first (but not final) official step in the formulation of orthodox trinitarianism, and

(3) the prime development in the merger of church and state.

Not long before the Council of Constantinople in 381, Basil, bishop of Caesarea, spoke of a revival of Sabellianism.

7 of that council confirmed the existence of many modalists in its day and rejected their baptism.

Modelism was completely rejected by Basil.

The result was that the doctrine of the trinity was fully submitted and established as the prominent view of the godhead in 381. Every other view was deemed heretical.

One of the most prominent sayings in Trinitarianism is that the “father is not son, the son is not the father and the father and the son are not the Holy Spirit.”

Who’s the father of Jesus? The father or the Holy Spirit?

And if the father and the Holy Spirit are individual persons apart from Christ than why aren't they given names?

Talk about the “Who Will Go For Us” Belief.

Talk About the Family of God misconception.

The Genesis 1:26 misconception. It’s referring to the heavenly council not the trinity.

Prominent Trinitarians: Practically anyone else you ever heard of...

God the Son or Son of God?

The terms “God the Son” and “eternal Son” are non-biblical; the Bible instead speaks of the “Son of God” and the “only begotten Son.” The Son is not eternally begotten by some incomprehensible, ongoing process; rather, the Son

There is a real distinction between God and the Son—not a distinction of two divine persons, but a distinction between the eternal Spirit of God and the authentic human being in whom God was fully incarnate. While Jesus was both God and man at the same time, sometimes He spoke or acted from the human viewpoint and sometimes from the divine viewpoint.

As Father, He sometimes spoke from His divine self-awareness; as Son, He sometimes spoke from His human self-awareness. As a man, He prayed to, related to, and submitted to God as all humans should do. At the same time God dwelt in and revealed Himself in that man with His undiminished character, nature, power, and authority.

“There is a real distinction between God and the Son—not a distinction of two divine persons, but a distinction between the eternal Spirit of God and the authentic human being in whom God was fully incarnate. While Jesus was both God and man at the same time, sometimes He spoke or acted from the human viewpoint and sometimes from the divine viewpoint. As Father, He sometimes spoke from His divine self-awareness; as Son, He sometimes spoke from His human self-awareness. As a man, He prayed to, related to, and submitted to God as all humans should do. At the same time God dwelt in and revealed Himself in that man with His undiminished character, nature, power, and authority.” - David Bernard

Jesus the father?

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify” (Romans 3:30).

“There is none other God but one” (I Corinthians 8:4).

“But to us there is but one God, the Father” (I Corinthians 8:6).

“But God is one” (Galatians 3:20).

“One God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6).

“For there is one God” (I Timothy 2:5).

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Paul’s prayers include this statement in multiple epistles including Romans 15:5-6, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Ephesians 1:3, etc.

There are not multiple persons, but one person in the Godhead.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit refers to God in spiritual essence and activity. It describes the fundamental character of God’s nature, which is holy.

The Holy Spirit is God in action. See Genesis 1:2.

Holiness forms the basis of His moral attributes

Spirituality forms the basis of His nonmoral attributes.

The title is particularly used of works that God can do

The holy Spirit’s role operates as the anointing, regenerating, indwelling, and sanctifying humanity. (See Genesis 1:1-2; Acts 1:5-8.)

The Holy Spirit works in our lives to empower and transform us.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit describe God’s multiple roles and works, but they do not reflect an essential threeness in God’s nature.

Father refers to God in family relationship to humanity;

Son refers to God in flesh; and Spirit refers to God in activity. For example, one man can have three significant relationships or functions—such as administrator, teacher, and counsellor—and yet be one person.

For example man is made up of spirit, soul and body, but is still one person.

Oneness and Trinitarianism Contrasted:

1. There is one God with no distinction of persons. / There are three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial persons in one God.

2. The oneness of God is not a mystery. / The triune nature of God is an incomprehensible mystery.

3. Jesus is the incarnation of the fullness of God; in His deity He is Father, Word, and Spirit. / Jesus is the incarnation of only one of three divine persons, the Son.

4. The Son of God was begotten after the flesh, not from eternity; the term refers to the Incarnation. / The Son is eternal and is eternally begotten; the term refers to Christ’s identity as the second divine person.

5. The Word is not a separate person but is God’s mind, plan, thought, and self-revelation, which is God Himself. / The Word is the second divine person; the term is synonymous with the title of Son.

6. Jesus is the revealed name of God in the New Testament. / Jesus is the human name of the Son of God.

7. Water baptism should be administered by invoking the name of Jesus. / Water baptism should be administered in the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

8. To receive Christ is to receive the Holy Spirit and vice versa. / Many trinitarians say one can have separate experiences with Christ and the Holy Spirit, or receive each on different occasions.

9. Believers will definitely see only one divine being in heaven: Jesus Christ. / Believers will encounter the trinity in heaven. Many trinitarians say they will see three visible forms; many are uncertain or unclear.

What do you guys think?

The Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Jews

Acts 2:38 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Talk about the Michael story.

Samaritans

Acts 8:12 ESV

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Gentiles

Acts 10:48 ESV

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Paul Baptized in Jesus name in Acts 19.

Peter taught on Baptism in Jesus name.

So What Do I believe?

Who are we to know the mind of God?

Is He three? Two? Or One?

Who are we to define divinity?

What would happen if God moved?

The father fills and upholds the entire cosmos.

The Holy Spirit Moves

Jesus is God in the flesh. Or God revealed.

The three major problems with trinitarian theology is when it comes to the deity of Christ in Heb 1:5 and Revelation 2:10. The baptism in the name of the father, son and Holy Ghost and the fact the Jesus ic called the father in Isaiah 9:6, and John 14 (Explain).

Talk about the oversimplification with oneness theology.

Talk about the possible denial of sonship with oneness theology.

The three major problems with Modelism is the account of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3. The fact that Jesus prays and speaks about the father. And the fact that Jesus sits at the right hard of the father.

Talk about Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4.

If I had to choose between oneness or trinity I would choose oneness.

He is three-in-one, not “they.”

I believe that there are distinctions within the Godhead.

I personally don’t believe there are three persons.

I’m ok with the term trinity as long as someone is referring to distinctions.

I’m more concerned about baptism in Jesus name more than anything.

Even Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty baptizes in Jesus Name.

Talk about Presbyterian school experience.

In conclusion: I believe that God is three in one chosen to reveal himself through one person. The person of Jesus Christ. We will see one person in heaven. Only He died for us and at his name every knee shall bow.