[Hank Kerchief]

Thanks for the links. They were interesting.

My understanding of the nature of God is not exactly Trinitarian, in any of the calssical senses. This one sentence I thought was interesting in the midst of a discussion about the Holy Spirit "flowing" from either the Father or the Son:

He [Holy Spirit] is coeternal and coequal with the Father and the Son

Which I would say is all that is needed. I do not use the words "persons" or "Trinity" to describe the nature of God. Though I believe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are distinct, and that each is God, eternal, and is a "person" in the sense of being a conscious volition being. I believe these because all are clearly taught in Scripture. Almost everything else written about the nature of God, in this vain, by Theologians and others, I believe, is conjecture that has only added confusion to our understanding of God.

(RnMomof7 calls me a rebel. Actually, I'm a servant.)

Hank

[kjam22]

Personally, I believe we are born with a sinful nature. Inherited from Adam. Meaning it is natural for us to sin. It is in our nature as much as it is in the nature for a Robin to fly. But I do not believe we are born guilty of sin anymore than the Robin is born able to fly. I think we become guilty of sin when we sin. And while it is our nature.... it is also our choice. And I don't believe we are guilty of sin until we become able (old enough or mentally competent enough) to make that choice. And I think that once we reach that level.... we all sin. Everyone of us.

Adam sinned and ate of the tree of knowledge. Knowledge of good and evil. And that day he died. I think each of us that lives long enough reaches a day when we receive the knowledge of good and evil. And on that day we sin.