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To: kosta50; betty boop; TXnMA; Quix; Texas Songwriter
God the Father revealed himself by himself in the OT. Jesus revealed himself through incarnation. And the Spirit is said to reveal himself to the faithful.

That sounds like modalism. LOLOL!

And the lines you draw do not comport with Scripture, e.g. all things were created by Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. – John 1:1-4

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 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. For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.– Colossians 1:15-20

I chose each word carefully when I wrote "God the Father revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ and in the Person of the Holy Spirit"

God is One God in Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are sent.

This is clearly revealed in the Gospel of John which so strongly reveals the deity of Christ. And it is illustrated by words in Revelation 4 and 5 and in Hebrews 1:3 where Jesus Christ is called the brightness of the Father's glory.

In Revelation 4, the Father sits on the throne. In Revelation 5, the Son emerges from the bosom of the Father with the Holy Spirit as His eyes going forth into all the earth.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. – Revelation 5:6

There are way too many references in the Gospel of John to list here, e.g.

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:38-40

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: - John 15:26

That the Spirit indwells each and every Christian does not mean that He breaks into as many autonomous pieces as there are Christians. He is still One Person of the Triune God Who is One. And God is fully entailed in His indwelling us.

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. - Romans 8:9

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. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. - I Corinthians 2:11-12

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:4-5

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3

Likewise, when the Scriptures speak of the Seven Spirits of God it does not mean that the Spirit is broken into seven separate identities.

Likewise, when Scriptures speak of the Father and Son, it does not mean that God is broken into two autonomous identities.

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

I and [my] Father are one. - John 10:30

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

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?

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.

Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. - John 14:7-11

The Law of Identity (A=A and not B) and the Law of the Excluded Middle (either/or) do not apply to the Creator of them. Indeed, autonomy is part of the creation and a late comer at that.

God is one God in three Persons!

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: - Matthew 28:19

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. - Romans 8:9

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. – Isaiah 9:6

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. – Zech 14:9 (KJV)

And Jehovah hath become king over all the land, In that day there is one Jehovah, and His name one. – Zech 14:9 (YLT)

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. – Zech 14:9 (NIV)

And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one. – Zech 14:9 (RHE)

Man is not the measure of God.


804 posted on 09/29/2010 9:24:42 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl

THanks for another excellent ping.


805 posted on 09/29/2010 9:30:11 AM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: Alamo-Girl; betty boop; TXnMA; Quix; Texas Songwriter
That sounds like modalism. LOLOL!

Modalism means that God is one, but appears in three different "modes" (or masks) instead of being three "Persons" in one Godhead.

When you and the Catholic Catechism say that the Father revealed himself through the Son (or the Spirit) that is Modalism!

If you had said that Jesus revealed the Father to us, that would not be Modalism, since anyone can reveal something about another person. But it means something completely different when you say that one person reveals himself though another person, i.e. by taking on the appearance of that person.

806 posted on 09/29/2010 10:00:04 AM PDT by kosta50 (God is tired of repenting -- Jeremiah 15:6, KJV)
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