Storybell

Q5. (John 1:18) What does it mean that Jesus is the "Only God" or the "Only Begotten God"? Does theApostle John seem to make a distinction between God the Father and God the Son? What does all this mean for our understanding of the Trinity? What does it mean that Jesus is the "Only God" or the "Only Begotten God"? Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, therefore, He is a god, a begotten god. John 1:14-18 The Word Made Flesh (NASB) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. God has always been, God was not begotten. Jesus is a god because He is the only true God's Son. Jesus was begotten of God. Therefore, Jesus is the "only begotten God". John is not saying that Jesus is the only God - as in "our one and only true God"-. He is saying Jesus is "the only begotten God". Jesus is fully god. Jesus is the only begotten God from God our Father. This is saying Jesus, the only begotten God is in the bosom of the Father who is our God - the being whose name is "God." There are many "gods". The Bible talks about other gods. However, God is the one and only true god who we worship. John 17 (ESV) The High Priestly Prayer 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, 2 since You have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. If Jesus was God the Father, Jesus would not need God to give these authorities and works to him. John 10 I and the Father Are One 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (As a husband and wife are one -- these are relationships.) 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. "the Father is in me and I am in the Father" shows a relationship or expression, not an equality. Jude vs 24, 25 (NIV) This is a Prayer 24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy---to the only God our Savior (God is our foremost Savior, stated throughout the Old Testament) be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord (we can only pray or talk to the Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord), before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. I don't think John is praying to Jesus through Jesus. The "only God our Savior" must be referring to God the Father. He is referred as "our Savior" many, many times in the Old Testament. So John is not saying that Jesus is "the only God". Does the Apostle John seem to make a distinction between God the Father and God the Son? Jesus says over and over and over again He is not God. Jesus does say He is in God and God is in Him, therefore, they are one. This is designating a relationship between the two. Just as a husband and wife are one is a relationship. John tells us over and over again that Jesus is the Son of God, not God. John says Jesus says He is the Son of God, not God many many times. John and Jesus both distinguishes the difference between them. What does all this mean for our understanding of the Trinity? God the Father is separate. He is the only one true God. God created everything (including time with the universe) through Jesus (the Son) and for Jesus (the Son). God the Son is separate. God has given Jesus all the authority and power he has acquired. He is the expression (see definition below) of God the Father, not God the Father. The Holy Spirit is separate. None of them are equal. God the Father is the highest authority. God the Father has given us Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Expression is the act or process of describing in lifelike imagery: delineation, depiction, description, portrayal, representation.

Why is the idea of God "becoming flesh" so important to the basis of the Christian faith? God sending His Son, Jesus, instead of Himself shows the depth of His love for us. It would be much easier for me to give-up my life for a cause then to send my most beloved. "For God so loved the world that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON (JESUS) that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 In addition, God knew what men would do to Him. You cannot possibly love someone more than that can you? God not only loves us, but He believes in us, all His children. What would Christ's life, crucifixion, and resurrection mean if he were only pretending to "become flesh?" It would mean nothing. It was imperative that Christ be born into humanty so He could grow just as we are born and grow. He went through the sufferings and temptations as all men of that time did. Being human, He went through the trials and tribulations as His neighbors did. Only because He is divine nature and having His Father behind Him, He was able to stay without sin and perfect, unlike the rest of men. Because He was born in flesh, He knew what living as a man was like. People had to see the truth, and the only way they could see the truth was to see how Jesus lived as a man (and a divine being), and how He died as a man, but more intensely. Then, there was the natural violent aftermath of His death and finally - the resurrection. Most people had to see to believe, but then only a few did. In what ways have you personally experienced his grace? I don't ever remember not believing in God and Jesus. Even as a little child I believed. They have never left me, especially in my trials and tribulations. A lifetime of living in emotional abuse, etc. took me someplace no-one should ever have to go. The doctors told me, "No husband would do that to theirr wife." Wrong, and there was proof. Anyway, after 15 years of suicide attempts and agonizing despair, because of God's grace I am coming back. I have never blamed God for my problems, only my bad choices and satan. God has given me so much more through His grace than I suffered in despair (and that was unbearable). I am closer to Him since the suffering and because of the suffering. That is so much more than anything on earth. I love my God and my Saviour so much - there are no words to express it, only feelings which are endless. In what ways has his truth changed your life fromwhat it was? I have known the truth for as long as I can remember. Experiencing the truth is continually bringing me closer to God, more knowledgeable and a littler wise. I pray I continue to grow in His love, truth and wisdom.

What does it mean to "receive" Jesus? To receive Jesus is to open your heart, mind and soul and invite Jesus in. To welcome Him into your life and to guide you into salvation through the Holy Spirit. Feel the love He bestows on you, the peace, the contentment. What does it imply to "believe in" Jesus? To believe in Jesus is to know He exists throughout the universe. He is the Alpha and Omega with God. It is knowing He is the Son of God, the most high. It is to know that He became flesh to sacrifice himself to give us the hope of salvation and the hope to live with Him and His Father for eternity in the Kingdom of God. It is to know that to do this, He had to be rejected, interrogated, betrayed, ridiculed, hated, beatened, flogged, crucified; but, most of all, He not only took upon himself these things, but within Him the sins of the world - past, present and future. I can't imagine the pain physically, emotionally and spiritually within Him. His Father, our God, forsook Him because of the evil temporarily within Him. He did this for us because He loves us so much. How can we not respect Him, worship Him, love Him, be devoted to Him. It is an honor and a priviledge to call him brother, friend, Redeemer, Saviour, Master and our King. What is the spiritual relationship to God of those who receive and believe in Jesus? God loves Jesus so much and has given Him all the authority in heaven and earth. He sacrifice His one and only begotten Son to suffer and die for our sins. God knew what He was putting Jesus through and why. To those who receive and believe in Jesus as stated above, God gives everlasting life, free from physical, emotional and spiritual pain, and full of life and love in His Kingdom to come. Of those who do not? For those who do not receive and believe in Jesus will die in the lake of fire on the Day of Judgment. God is merciful. Though it is an eternal, everlasting death, I believe it will not be everlasting, ongoing pain and suffering.

Q2. (John 1:7-8) What did it mean that John was sent to “testify” to the light? In what sense are you put here with the purpose of “testifying” to the light? How are you doing in this regard? What happened to John the Baptist? What might happen to you if you testify clearly? What might happen to the people to whom you testify? John was born to testify to the glory of God through the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is known as the "light" of the world because, as the Son of God, He brings the "God's glory" to the world. Jesus represents all that is good, "God" and the hope of living in the Kingdom of God at the end of the age. Light attracts light, good attracts good, love attracts love, God attracts Godly. The problem is at the time, people were not encouraged to be or look for any of these things. The Pharisees and Sadducees were not doing their jobs. They were instead, arrogant and self-serving. We had to be saved, and only Christ could do this. We are to testify to the existence of God through Christ. By showing our faith in God and Jesus Christ, that the Bible is the true journal of our existence and how to live according to the commandments, we can testify to others of Jesus (the light) and the coming of the Kingdom of God (the good news). I am not as strong in this as I should be, due to a long illness. But God is strengthening me. God as never left me. He has been with me since childhood. I am returning to the person I use to be through the power of God. I am doing acts of kindness and started a family Bible Study in an attempt to cultivate small vines and planting seed in my family. I expect to grow as I heal and strengthen. The more we suffer and love and help others, the closer we get to God. John the Baptist was very bold and passionate in his duties to open the minds and hearts of the people to Christ. But the time came when Jesus appeared on the scene and John had to dim his ministry so Christ could shine and begin His ministry. John was put into prison for his passion for Christ and eventually beheaded. He was taken out of the picture but his passion was never forgotten. He testifies to us today through God's Word. If we are successful in our duties to God, we and those who choose to be committed to God through the strength and words He gives us, have the hope of being named in the Book of Life and entering the Kingdom of God at the end of the age and spending eternity with God and Christ. What a wonderful day that will be!

Let the Bible interpret the Bible. I, too, have a personal relationship with God and Jesus. My entire life is to them. God has given me knowledge of Himself and Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Jesus made Himself known to me be before my mother passed away. I knew she was gone before I was told by my father. I understand the doctrine of the Trinity very well. I also researched it through men's words because the concept is not in the Bible. I let the Bible interpret itself. If I have a question about something I read in the Bible, I go through the Bible to find the answer. It is always there. The Book of John repeatedly tells us that Jesus said, He does nothing without the Father doing it first; Jesus speaks words of His Father and they are given to Him; Jesus asks God for things through prayer (ex. not to go through the crucifixcion); the Father gave Jesus authority in heaven and earth; etc. Again, if Jesus is God Himself, why did He need His Father to give Him His Words, answers to questions, authority, abilities, etc. Jesus is the expression of God. Jesus is the Word because God speaks through Him. God created everything through Jesus and for Jesus. God's love run deeply through and for Jesus. Jesus is the heir of all things. Jesus said He would not abandon us, and He didn't. Jesus told us that God's gift to us is the Holy Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit of Truth is our teacher and guide through this age. I deeply love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It's wonderful you have a PH.D in Divinity. However, it does not make one all knowing. The Bible does not say you have to believe in the Trinity Doctrine to enter the Kingdom of God. Though it doesn't matter in the end, please don't think that I and others who believe as I do are not Christians. We are all God's children, I believe Jesus is the Son of the living God and that God sacrificed His only begotten Son to absorb the sins of the world for those who love Him and they died when He died. Jesus did lay down His life for His friends. I pray to be like Jesus and that when I die, it will be for Him. I have been baptized and born again. My faith is nondenominational and the Bible contains my only Doctrine. We, here, are all Christians or we wouldn't be here.

Since there is no indefinite article in the Greek text or suggested by Greek grammar, how do you know whether or not one belongs there? Yes Jesus is fully God, just as we are fully human. Jesus is in His Father and the Father is in Him. Jesus is in us and we are in Him. That does not make Jesus the Father or even equal to the Father just as we are not Jesus or equal with Jesus. Jesus asked God for powers to do miracles, God the Father GAVE Jesus authority in heaven and earth. If Jesus was already the Almighty God or equal with God the Father, why did the He have to be GIVEN the authority from God the Father (God Almighty)? There is much more. You can't take just a one or two verses and make them what you want them to be. We are all Family with God. Jesus is the Son of God as he stated over and over again in the Bible. Jesus worshiped God. God did not worship Jesus, though HE was very pleased with Jesus. The doctrine of the trinity was developed in the 4th century by a faction of the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus nor the Apostles taught it. I believe in God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I do not believe in the Trinity - that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all equal.