The reason "the LORD God" of the OT turns to "the Lord God" in the NT (a very slight but important variation in punctuation) is because (if you have read "Jesus is Lord") we are moving from God Almighty, the invisible JEHOVAH in the OT, to God who became flesh, the visible JESUS in the NT. Hence ... the Father and the Son, the one and same God! Or "the LORD" as GOD deified or "the Lord" as God personalized!
However, there was a time when God did mention something about a consociate of individuals coming down together to earth in scripture, with Him in the picture, so to speak. However, this had nothing to do with "three divine persons" coming down together from the 'throne room' to the affairs of man on the earth. This was just after the Flood when man went about deliberately setting up a consortium against God, endeavouring to progress and aspire upwards as one, without Him. It is where we find the verse in regards to God's reaction against this deliberate rebellion, where He (they) went down to the same level as man, sowing confusion in the midst of this project, successfully spoiling it, in which the verse says:
"Go to (departure and travel required), let us (in plural) go down, and there (note: as ALL being there on the earth at the same time) confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."
This passage of scripture, however, is not to be confused with an earlier passage in Genesis (chapter one) where God says repeatedly in regards ALL His creating going on about the time in sequence, "Let the" or "Let there be", repeated a number of times with no "Let us" mentioned at this stage. Then when it came to completing this Creation by namely creating man, He then used the phrase "Let us" as His final creation piece in making man. This event being the only time in the plural He used the word "us" here, in regards to and prophetically of the Father and Son manifestation to come. It is also the reason when man fell He said, "behold the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil", as Jesus would taste death and be separated from the Father also by sin, although in a blameless situation this time. Thus, the situation would be God in the flesh manifested as the Son being totally separated from God spiritually in heaven as the Father.
This is the reason the Creator, as the one true God, could never have used the line "Let us" before this verse as it would've never fit in or been in context in reference to Him making the rest of the Creation. It had to be in regards to Him making man and prophetic of "the us" being in conformity of the relationship of the Father and the Son to come, as God never had an image or shape until He became flesh and blood, which man was made in the image and glory of. "So God created man in his (not their) own image, in the image of God (that's Christ - 2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:3) created he him".
Moving on again ... the line "let us go down" has been a major endorsement from Christendom in order to verify its Trinitarian doctrine and disarm anyone who dares to agree with God in saying He is one Lord and one (stand-alone) God, and leaving it there with no additional add-ons. However, when one sets himself apart from the persuasive mainstream of Christendom, with its "official" and adamant arguments, and really takes a closer and more thorough look at its flawed "justification", it becomes evident that this teaching does not stack up in reinforcing a "three Person Godhead" function at all. Not to forget this doctrine's three limited offices in the "Godhead" being set in concrete without beginning and for eternity, from this apparent 'three divine persons' status, can somehow change or adjust on the odd occasion, to suit a passage of scripture that may not fit in. This is certainly double-de-dutch if there was ever an expression! It certainly is not in line with consistency, is it? Nor in line with the consistency of scripture!
You see the amazing thing about the 'Three Person Godhead' idea is that its adherents are very happy and comfortable to point out (even though each so-called person in the Trinity/Godhead in heaven are coequally and eternally of the same substance) that one of these (God the Son in this case) happened to break this fixed mode (or prefixed eternal position) temporary by coming down to earth for about thirty three years as Jesus of Nazareth (as if, at times, God breaks His own rules He sets). Then on the other hand, away back in earlier times at the Tower of Babel, all Three somehow gave up their heavenly posts in unison, temporarily abandoning heaven together, while all Three somehow became earth bound for a short time, doing their thing together (as in the style of the fictional Athos, Aramis and Porthos - the Three Musketeers) of interrupting mans plans for bridging heaven with earth, by building something physical as in towers, steeples and spires (again, as if God breaks His own rules He sets).
Just think about it? We have three scenarios running here from tradition, which all appear to contradict each other as well as the prefixed Trinity doctrine, that allows these scenarios in the first place, and allows God to break His own rules or contradict Himself at times (if you happen go along with the three person thing, that is):
Scenario 'one' ... This is a doctrine which ties up Three in heaven as being coequally three in substance, and coequally three eternally together. Yet, with scenario 'two' (where a different twist is found) ... we find One of the Three being limited to being a man at one stage, by being the first Person out of this Three, of leaving heaven by Himself and tasting temptation, immense suffering and finally death, where the other remaining Two beings would never know or experience any of these things! Also, considering all Three are still being regarded as coequally and coeternally (with no beginning nor end) the same in substance, would you believe?
Then finally, we have scenario 'three' ... This actually departs from this stance again earlier on (yes, a new twist) where all Three depart from heaven all together this time (not just the second in command - the eternal Son) and all Three leave their posts in heaven (like the Godhead is put on-hold for a short period of time) to mingle and intervene with man. Meaning, all Three came down in "angelic form" (did you get that?), supposedly having the appearance of man, leaving heaven temporarily vacant ... apparently!
Oh yes, and there is actually another ('forth') scenario believe it or not (again accommodating God being able to break His own rules when it suits) ... where according to many in Christendom, all Three depart from heaven again together, a few decades later. Yes, once again heaven is empty of divine persons and the Godhead status is abandoned for a short time, while all Three come down yet once again in human form (there is much "Christian" art to prove this is a doctrine) as the Father (an old grey beaded wise looking man), the Son (a youthful zestful looking character), and the Holy Spirit (an effeminate soft looking gentleman) come and have a meal with Abraham. Really? Yes, really!!
However, at the end of the day, wouldn't there be a lot less flaws and wouldn't it make much more sense, with sharp biblical accuracy, to say that the "us" coming down from heaven to deal with pompous man at Babel was Jesus in angelic form (the angel of the Lord) plus two other fellow holy angels? Just as, would it not make more sense to say that the three men visiting Abraham were not 'the three divine persons' from the Godhead after all, called God the Father now in the flesh, God the Son now in the flesh, and God the Holy Spirit now in the flesh? After all, isn't it plain and clear that the word of God calls these three men angels anyway over in the NT ... Heb 13:2? Therefore, if the book of Hebrews says these three men were angels why not settle it once and for all, and just leave it there, with anything extra being man's device?
Meaning, the two who weren't Jesus (the Angel of the LORD) were probably the two angels who entered Sodom when Lot was there. Plus, the Angel of the Lord (sometimes spelt with a capital A in this context) that went with and looked after the children of Israel in the Wilderness was also Jesus (the Rock that could speak would you believe? - 2 Sam. 23:3) also confirmed in 1 Cor. 10:4 ... "for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Oh, it is so easy and simple when we just allow scripture to speak for itself and not let mans theories and fables get in the way, that "think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone (some religious commodity or icon or item), graven by art and man's device."
To me it makes much more biblical sense and stacks up much more, when we rightly divide the word of truth ... where we see plainly Jesus as the Lord in the OT and his opponent, the false lord called Baal or "another Jesus" over in the NT. Simple, as the overall picture goes ... we have God our Creator and we have Satan the one who opposes Him! Yes, one God and one Devil, at loggerheads. Or one angel of the Lord and one fallen angel (who was of the Lord) called Lucifer, at war with each other.
At present Baal in the form of the "other Jesus" in scripture, or the other lord (Baalzebub/Beelzebub - as Satan "the god of this world"), rules this present world system. However, scripture prophesies a day when this war will come to an end (Zec. 14:9) and the true one LORD will rule both heaven and earth forever:
"And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one (as God will only have one name - Jesus)."
In other words, the One and only true Lord shall have one paramount name above all (hidden then, but revealed now) being the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 2: 9-11) ... "a name which is above every name"! Certainly not the title of "Trinity". This name, the name of Jesus, will be (and is) the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Ghost, as I will soon prove from scripture. Because from the gospels on, in the name of Jesus they baptized, preached, cast our devils, healed, and proclaimed the gospel as well as were beaten and persecuted (ever hear of anyone getting cut-off, shunned or castigated for proclaiming or supporting the Trinity?). This is the record the New Testament bears, including the Four Gospels, the books of Acts and the Epistles of the apostles. No one has been able to prove otherwise. If you don't agree could you please supply me with the name of the so-called Trinity you endorse? That's the name we are supposed to baptize people in according the largest segment of Christendom ... "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". What is that name? Jesus made it clear to the religious establishment of His day when He said in John 5:43:
"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."
Another has come in his own name would you believe ... "the blessed Holy Trinity"! Man's device! Moreover, this "God" insists that you don't baptize in Jesus name but you do it (as well as a host other things - practised in large segments of Christendom) in the name of 'the three divine persons'. Whatever name that is! Maybe it is just about to be announced along with (1) the image and (2) the mark and (3) the (triple) number of his name? I know Revelations 13:1 says ... "and upon his (multi) heads the name of blasphemy." After all, at the end of the day, blasphemy is only what or the way someone corrupts the precious name of God or His doctrine. Blasphemy ... blaming and defaming the name and doctrine of the one true God! Here's more in regards to this blaspheming (blaming and defaming the name and doctrine) endtime beast system:
Rev. 13:6. "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name"!
I know one thing ... the most precious and wonderful name of Jesus is going to be blasphemed more and more as we advance into the latter days and the days of the great falling away period. You never hear people cry out "the Holy Trinity" when they accidentally jam their finger in the door or hit their thumb with a hammer, do you? No, J e s u s C h r i s t!! More so, as bad as it is, this is not as bad as tampering with the holy name of Jesus religiously and watering it down, or replacing it. That is real blasphemy in its truest sense!
James 2:7. "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?"
By which name are we called? Is it "the name of the Father"? Or is it "the name of the Son"? Or is it "the name of the Holy Ghost"? Or is it in the name of all three in unison (whatever that is)? Or is it in the name of Jesus? The answer is dependant on whether you are looking at it scripturally or traditionally. Or in the light of the Holy Bible or in the light of man's device. As Romans 1:6 says:
"Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ"
Getting back to "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" debate, or the Trinity verses Jesus name ... let's look at the whole issue from purely a scriptural basis:
Point (1). Laying aside tradition, opinion, creed or dogma just this once, what does scripture says is the name of the Father?
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". Therefore, to get access to God the Father you have to go through the name of Jesus as there is no other way. Repeating this ... you can only do this through Jesus' name! Yes, one way! Some of you will remember 30 years back most Christians being emphatic about there being only "one way" ("One Way Jesus") and making a hugh thing about it with scriptural references, signs, banners and illustrations. What's happened? The great falling away (apostasy) has intensified, that's what's happened! Jesus confirms He is the only way to the Father, the only one representing the Father, and the only name the Father will respond to by saying this in John 14:13:
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name (Jesus name), that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Meaning, the Father can only be glorified, satisfied and pleased in Jesus name.
John 15:16 ... "that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name (Jesus name), he (the Father) may give it you."
You don't ask the Father in His own separate name, do you? The name of the Father is Jesus. Therefore, baptizing in the Father's name is baptizing in Jesus' name! Ministry in and through the Father is always in Jesus name as John 16:23 confirms:
"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name (Jesus name), he will give it you."
Oh, it's getting mundane now ... refreshingly mundane I must add! Eph. 5:20:
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"!
Plus Col. 3:17:
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Jesus name)."
Therefore, it is obvious, even irrefutable, that the name of the Father is identified and satisfied with, and that ALL NT ministering is done in Jesus name.
Point (2). Now we go to the so-called second person of the Trinity called the Son of God. Who's name is His? Biblically we do not have to go far to see who the name of the Son is ... Matt. 1:21:
"And she (a virgin called Mary - not 'The Virgin' - nor the third person and feminine side of God) shall bring forth a son (the Son of God), and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
There is no denying that the Son of God is called Jesus in scripture. Furthermore, it does not really take much to destroy the Trinity theory about baptizing in the name of the Son, because is not the name of Jesus found here in Acts 19:5 for a starter?:
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Therefore, this name controversy is solved once and for all and really there shouldn't be any issue, should there? However, there is someone out there who is really against the truth getting out and people being set free by it. And we all know who this is, don't we?
It is the name of Jesus that we suffer for and nothing or nobody else, isn't it? The apostles were beaten for that name and forbidden to teach in that name. It's amazing to know that they could have taught in any name they wanted except Jesus name. What does that tell us? For "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Point (3). The last and so-called third person of the so-called Trinity: Who does scripture say is the name of the Comforter ... the Holy Ghost? No, it is not 'the Virgin Mary' as already mentioned. Nor a feminine gentle looking, starry blue eyed bloke, with long blond hair. Here it is as "it is written" ... Jesus speaking in John 14:26 regarding His name:
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name" (Jesus name).
Oh, I almost forget ... Ph. 1:19, Paul writing (unless there is another holy Spirit):
"For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ"!
Therefore, and lastly, the name of the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus (or the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of God etc. for that matter) is indisputably the name of the same person, Jesus! Thus placing the Trinity theory and 'the three person in the Godhead' notion to rest once and far all. Yet this controversy goes on and on for some reason, coz it is to do with a fight over truth and error, light and darkness, sound doctrine and false doctrine.
According to the Oxford Dictionary of "the Christian Church", describes the Trinity as "the central dogma of Christian theology". Of "Christian" theology, yes (as just read, they admit it themselves)! But of true sound biblical doctrine, no!
Ask yourself as a believer my friend ... did the Trinity die for you? That's three different persons agonizing and being tortured to death on your behalf! Yes, did three different individual persons die for you or just one innocent lamb? Or, did three people save you? Or was it the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world? We know from scripture that three people died together, don't we? However, only one was the spotless lamb (truly the second person of the three in this true case) whereas the other two were sinners. Relax! I'm talking about the two thieves here, and no doubt it is not recorded there in scripture as a coincidence or just to make the story more juicy or interesting. Think about that too! Furthermore, did three different people create you? Or was it as the word of God says, the Lord (1 Cor. 8:6)?
Proverbs 16:4 does not say "The Trinity hath made all things for themselves", does it? No, but it does say (emphasizing our one Lord), "The LORD hath made all things for himself"! That's the Old Testament my friend! Moreover, the New Testament never says anything about three people creating you, me or anything for that matter, does it? However, it does categorically say this, declaring the one true God, Saviour, Creator (not Three):
"For by him (not them) 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, (not them) and for him (not them): And he is (not them) before all things, and by him (not them) all things consist. And he is (not them) the head of the body, the church: who is (not them) the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might (not them) have the preeminence."
Who is it dear reader, who is before ALL THINGS? By who does ALL THINGS consist? Is it Jesus or is it the Trinity? Can you answer this very simple, straight question with a very simple, straight answer please? Jesus or the Trinity? Who is your Redeemer? Who is your rock and strong tower? Who is your Maker, "of him with whom we have to do"?
This is not puzzling or perplexing, is it? Nor contradicting scripture!
Or are you perplexed? Has these questions thrown you, and are you about to write me off as a cultist or Oneness Pentecostal, or something? Because I deny in every sense of the word being any of these brush-off labels, people will pin on me or use to get past the issue, religion will continue to confuse the issue in order for folk not to get the truth. The issue always being Jesus of course. I see myself as just a simple Bible believing Christian who knows he is saved by the remarkable act of God his Saviour coming and dying for and raising me up spiritually into heavenly places with Himself, sealed with His eternal life, that no one man or devil can ever snatch away from me. Knowing His word is reliable and trustworthy to the end, and something so incredible to share with others, as the only true hope and promise for all of mankind, that other things become a fading mist in comparison.
Okay, you have a problem with God in heaven being the Father and Jesus on earth being the Son, as well as the two appearing like two different people in relationship as a father and son relationship on earth. Moreover, where human logic can only be a reality seen by two different people sharing a relationship on earth as two different people and so on. All this because you have not been taught or shown otherwise, or really encouraged to think for yourself. Right!? On the contrary (as in the fashion of many) you have been inundated and entrenched with this Trinity stuff before and since inception into the kingdom. Yes!?
However, as related in Part Two of this series, with God being one and one God, and Him being One Lord (of all) and one Saviour (of all men) and one husband for His bride (the whole church) and the one Creator/Maker of all things, then we are only dealing with one person. Or this one person dealing with us. Remembering, we are not talking about a mere earthly relationship confined to earth, like a flesh and blood father and son thing; but a (spiritual) relationship and union on earth and in heaven happening simultaneously, where one is flesh and blood and the other is Spirit, communing together. Big difference! Moreover, something that can only be spiritually discerned and not just naturally or physically understood.
Something else to take into account here, is that while mans wisdom is uniform and earthly, God's wisdom (which He only imparts to His obedient children) is manifold (Eph. 3:10). Another big difference! Therefore, we need God's mind on this matter, not mans. Important (1 Cor. 2:16):
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
Remembering also, scripture never uses the term THREE 'persons' or THREE 'natures' let alone TWO essential personified substances. Considering also, the first commandment (making it the first priority command to hear and heed) ... "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD".
If there was a Trinity or a Bi-God Person to serve, would not the inclusion of this verse into the canon of scripture make this a great opportunity for God to be revealed as God not hiding Himself (or playing tricks) from those who seek Him with a humble heart? Would this not be His great opportune time to make it plain and clear (even just this once) for Israel or the Church to hear: "The LORD our God is THREE!!" No, the definition is clear and straight to the point for all ... "The LORD (one person emphasized) our God (one God not tri, bi or multi) is one LORD"! There it is ... "one LORD"! Again, the emphasis on one LORD! The LORD our God is one LORD! The Lord, who is God (the one God) is the one Lord! Got it ... as we really have to drive the point home!
That's all very well Tom, you might say, but how on earth are we able to reconcile this One God/One Lord thing with the Father and the Son type of thing, with Jesus the Son talking to His Father in heaven? Does this not spell clearly God (Jesus) as the Son talking to God (Jesus) as the Father, meaning Jesus (or God) talking to Himself?
Exactly, if we are to see this divine witness/record through the eyes of the Spirit, having the mind of Christ, and from a scriptural viewpoint, rightly dividing the word of truth, and leaning not on our own
(intellectual)
understanding.
Bearing in mind the crux of the Christian faith and the revelation that
sets Bible believers apart from all religiosity and every religious
doctrine connived by man in regards to distorting the divinity of the
Lord Jesus
Christ or God, is just that! This revelation being Jesus being
both God and man. Expounded more ... the God part
being "the eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God" in
parallel to
the man part being Jesus of Nazareth, born of a woman, of sinful flesh,
under the law, and lower than the angels, as well as limited to time,
natural
boundaries and flesh. This is "the mystery of God, and of the
Father, and of Christ" as Colossians 2:2 brings out, hidden
from the foundations of the world, but made known to those that are
His,
through redemption and drawing near to God with a humble heart, as the
rest of the Epistles makes clear.In this mystery we have the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ made clear and real to those who a fully 'word based' and discerning by the Spirit. It is to do with the Father and of the Son. It is to do with God manifesting Himself two ways as an example and a way for His followers to perceive and heed and understand, and live by. The almighty God as always being the constant God He is, yet coming down and isolating Himself, and being confined to earth and restricted as a flesh and blood man like as ourselves, possessing the same like passions, and empathizing with the temptations we face and our weaknesses, while never succumbing to them, unto suffering and eventual death. Or in other words ... the great unseen God who is Spirit encompassing all, both heaven and earth ... manifesting Himself in the visible flesh for a time and becoming the Son, while still being the Lord the Spirit, encompassing all simultaneously and eternally!
Yes, God as man being dependant on God as Almighty and Great, as provider and rewarder, at the same time. Thus manifesting Himself through the Son (on earth) in communing with the Father (in heaven) and being an example of how His redeemed were to be on earth ... one in truth, mind and spirit.
Solomon communed with his own heart, telling himself what he would be pursuing after (Ec 1:16 - 2:15), and setting himself these things within, finding nothing satisfied in the end outside of God. You may say how can God talk to Himself? My answer would be ... we commune with ourselves all the time, and follow Jesus example in encouraging ourselves in the Lord and finding our confidence and surety there. This is both a spiritual union and communion, and the reason "David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" (Lord again in capitals). David being as a type of Jesus the Son here. It is also the reason David prophesied this by becoming a reality in regards to the Lord relying on His own provision and person ... Himself. Jesus the man (the Lord) being dependant on God the Father (the LORD). Here it is, which should be the proof in itself, prophesied in Psalms and fulfilled in Mark 12:36:
"For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD (in heaven) said to my Lord (the glorified Jesus), Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool."
That's ... GOD (Almighty) in communion with our (personal) God! Or God ministering to (or communing with) Himself! Here's more, prophesied in Gen. 1:26 of this coming relationship of two divine witnesses (not separate individual persons):
"And God (as one GOD, One LORD) said, Let us (the Father and the Son) make man in our image (the Word with God and as God, becoming flesh), after our likeness (the Son pointing to and manifesting the Father)"
Fulfilled in 1 Cor. 11:7 & Col. 1: 14-16:
"... for a man, indeed, ought not to cover the head, being the image and glory of God (singular)"
The image and glory of God being Christ, who was not the image, voice or the shape of God (John 5:37) until He became a man:
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created"
This is the God who could not fully be made known, revealed, discerned, understood until His image, voice and shape become a reality, through the incarnation of the Son:, where God become approachable and attainable:
"And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape."
Because the Father and Son were in relationship as in one being earth bound and the other being a free spirit (Ps. 51:12), this is a great example and reality for us to follow and experience ... earth bound sons of God being in communion with our Dad (Father, Abba, Pappa) in heaven. This is also learning dependence and trust, and obedience through suffering with Him. It has nothing to do with having a conversation with God in our heads. The relationship with the Father and the Son was not like this.
I would question anyone who claims to have conversations with God in their head (like hearing audible voices inside their mind) as this is not what the Bible calls having a sound mind and would eliminate faith and revelation and take the individual over the edge into fantasy and even lunacy. Abraham, the father of our faith, out of all his life and sojourning for years and years, rarely heard from God as God speaking directly to him (to him, not from inside his head). If God spoke directly to him every time Abraham wanted (not needed) guidance or to make a simple decision, then this would be too easy and faith could not be exercised and God would be taken for granted. Our fellowship with God is the same as the fellowship of the Father and the Son. It is being subject to and being limited to the flesh, yet worshipping in Spirit and communing with an invisible God in heaven. This is not evidence that God is two people (let alone three) by the way, but Jesus showing us the way. His way!
Proof from Mal. 2:10 we were not created by two or three persons:
"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?"
Furthermore, here is something else to consider in regards to someone praying, talking, communing to them self. Bearing in mind, sometimes in the OT one of the saints can be a type of Jesus, even praying/communing to/with himself:
Ps 110:1. "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand"
Fulfilled:
Mark 12:36. "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord (my Saviour and God)
Here's Job communing with himself and building himself up in the inner man:
Job 9:27. "If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself"
Remembering, the soul is the central part of the being of man as an individual ... body, soul, and spirit. The soul being the real person, the real you or me. The spirit being the part that communes with God. The soul being the part which communes with yourself (the part the deceiving spirits will try and infiltrate and intervene, interfere and influence, to get your mind on wrong things - from temptation to wrong mindsets and false doctrine). The flesh being the part that relates to the physical world around ... taste, touch, smell, sight etc.
David took counsel in his soul:
Ps. 13:2. "How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Directing your soul in the right direction ... who dictates? Answer, you do yourself, being created in the likeness and image of God!
"Oh my soul" ... talking to/dictating to your soul:
P.s 16:2. "O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD"
Here's more on asking/querying with your soul:
Ps. 43:5. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God (talking to and directing yourself to): for I shall yet praise him"
David would comfort himself in the Lord by communing with his own faculties, just as Jesus (the man part) would do with His Father (the God part). Moreover, this does no mean we as an individual are two people, just as God is not two people but one communing with Himself as God and man simultaneously:
Ps. 119:52. "I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself"
We comfort, encourage and lift ourselves up in the Lord, as Jesus did in the Father. This can only be done by communing with ourselves, as God does with Himself (witnessed and recorded three times):
Is. 33:10. "Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself."
We can determine ourselves in the LORD, with His strength and blessing, as the Lord does:
Is. 45:23. "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return"
How did Jesus get through the wilderness against all odds coupled with great spiritual onslaughts? He found strength in Himself (in the inner man) through communing with the Father:
Jer. 8:18. "When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me."
How did Jesus get through Gethsemane and with all the extreme torture and cruelty dished out on Him the next day? He relied on His Father. That's where His dependence and confidence was and where our confidence and dependence should be too. Just like God the man communing with God the Father:
Ps. 42:4. "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me"
It is not wrong or unscriptural to talk or query yourself when in anguish and in time of trouble, in a controlled and sound manner:
Ps. 42:5. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?"
Praying (talking to, communing with) yourself is scriptural:
Ps. 62:5. "My soul, wait thou only upon God"
We direct (command) our ways unto the Lord as God did in the flesh:
Ps. 103:1. "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."
This is why there is a wealth of confirmation from scripture about our communing and directing our souls (ourselves) in scripture:
Ps. 103:2. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"
This is a good and beneficial thing to do:
Ps. 103:22. "Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul."
It is good to direct your soul in the ways of the Lord:
Ps 104:1. "Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great"
The Palms is full of the Psalmist communing with himself in the Lord, just as Jesus did in regards to liaising with Himself through the Father.
Ps. 104:35. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
This is not mundane but enlightening ... encouraging your soul (yourself) in the word and in the Lord as the Lord did, as David did:
Ps. 116:7. "Return unto thy rest, O my soul"
"O my soul" in scripture is nothing more or nothing less than talking to yourself. However, not in the sense of a two-way verbal conversation going on in the head with another voice or voices. This latter could really mean spiritual possession (Mark 5:9).
Ps. 146:1. "Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul."
Communing with yourself in the Lord is only a good thing when God is included. It is not self-centred or weird if God is in the picture. It is a principle in God. God does it:
Jer. 49:13. "For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD"
As God is God He has every right to commune, declare, decree and action through Himself:
Ez. 38:23. "Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Jesus did it. He was God in the flesh after all:
John 17:19. "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."
The relationship of the Father and of the Son in the NT is not an edict that God is more than one individual person, being, entity, but that the man part of God, alone in the flesh, being dependant on the God part in heaven as all powerful, great and mighty:
John 8:18. "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me"
That's two divine witnesses (not two separate individual people) bearing witness to who Jesus was ... God in the flesh. Yes, the two were certainly not bearing witness to a Trinity or Dual Godhead. Man will always try and bypass or counterfeit God in order to avoid serving the one true God by substituting Him for a tri-part Figurehead, making a "wonderful", plausible alternative. Look at Luke 9: 30 - 35, f'instance:
"And lo, two men were speaking together with him, who were Moses and Elijah (remembering - these two OT saints were translated/raptured direct to heaven therefore bypassing Abraham's Bosom in the nether parts of the earth, to an even more privileged place), who having appeared in glory (more special/privileged than the other OT saints), spake of his outgoing that he was about to fulfil in Jerusalem (going to the cross), but Peter (as opposer- Matt. 16:23) and those with him were heavy with sleep, and having waked, they saw his (not their) glory, and the two men standing with him. And it came to pass, in their parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, ‘Master, it is good to us to be here; and we may make three booths, one (1) for thee, and one (2) for Moses, and one (3) for Elijah,’ not knowing what he saith (initiated by mere human thinking and religious endeavour): and as he was speaking these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them, and they feared in their entering into the cloud, and a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is My Son—the Beloved; hear ye him’"
Peter could easily have erected three memorials here to 'three "divine" or "special" beings' whereby placing two others on an equal godhead footing and taking the emphasis, orientation and pre-eminence away from the one Beloved/Son (God) - "hear ye him!" However, God was not having a bar of His people looking to a 'tri-part God set-up' and severely rebuked the disciples for their idolatrous thinking.
Many today justify the Holy Trinity or God being three separate people, by cunningly using so-called rational or physical examples from science and nature. How clever! Here's how this thinking works:
"In space we have three dimensions ... width - breath - height!" Yes! Sooo? "In time we have three dimensions ... past - present - future!" Yes! Sooo? "With our most valued commodity, H2O, we have 'one' element (like 'one' God) but with three forms ... water - steam - ice!" Yes! Sooo? "Then there is God's creation, man, made up of three functions ... body - soul - spirit!" Yes! Sooo?
Sooo what!! This has not proved anything about a Holy Trinity at all, or three different people cohabiting together, coequally as the Godhead. However, it does reaffirm three manifestations of God (not three separate beings). It does confirm three witnesses in heaven (not three divine persons). Just the same, it does reinforce three biblical records. It has got nothing to do with confirming three separate individuals, people, personalities being God. Just a play on words, that's all; by endorsing laws which are already in existence where God coming as three different people does not exist nor stack up. Nature and science reinforces God as the one and only Creator. Three elements in nature has got nothing to do with three different people as three forms. However, some will always twist this to give their own spin on our Maker and Saviour as well as distorting the 'three witness' principle in scripture.
The Father and the Son relationship in the NT is not a justification or evidence of two separate people communing, but the LORD saying to our Lord, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I (the Father) make thine enemies (those that are counteracting, neutralizing or cancelling out Jesus) thy footstool."
Don't you think that Jesus' enemies here might not only be those opposed to the gospel but also those dumbing down His divinity and replacing His name with "the Holy Trinity" theology not found in scripture?
If this treatise can at least get you really thinking for yourself, outside the square (I mean outside the triangle in this case) then it has achieved something. I say Jesus was one of three people at the cross. Yes ... a different story! However, in great contrast, I debunk Jesus being one of three people in the Godhead. He is my Lord, God and Saviour! The conclusion you make is in your own hand, as it will have to be either tradition or the scriptures standing on their own merit. The conclusion of God has already been concluded. His word is sufficient, not mans endorsement, interpretation or spin on the truth. God's conclusion is what counts in the end, as His record always bears record to the truth ... "and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe."
The Whole Trinity Series:
Introduction to the Three Divine Persons
The Threefold Witness of Jesus
The Eternal Word and the Begotten Son
Jesus - God and Man
The Traditional Trinity - vs - The Biblical Godhead
The LORD and the Lord
"Behold the Man" - The Fulness of God
The Satanic Trinity in Progress
Another Pilgrim - Without the Camp
Jesus