The Hubris of defining God

Can you think of anything more foolish than trying to define the nature of God? I can't because there's nothing more idiotic than that. Yet Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and other pseudo-Christian denominations have the audacity to claim that they can.

The Trinity has no direct analogue in our world. Any attempt to describe it falls apart under close examination. We can liken it to the three parts of an egg or water in its three states but they all collapse when pressed to there logical limits.

I liken the Trinity to the red, green, and blue phosphor dots in a colour television picture tube or the liquid crystals in a flat screen monitor. But close scrutiny causes all of any description to disintegrate.

God has a thing or three to say about the folly of trying to understand his nature. He said in Isaiah 55:8 and 9 (BBE), "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, or your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As for proof that the doctrine of the Trinity is true, we need look no further than Christ's baptism. Luke 3:21 and 22 (BBE) says, "Now it came about that when all the people had been given baptism, Jesus, having had baptism with them, was in prayer, when, the heaven being open, The Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, 'You are my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"

If there was no Trinity and God was a single being, how could his son and the Holy Spirit be present at once?

The Witnesses claim that Christ was a created being, akin to angels. But I've written before that their translators added words to the scriptures so it sounded like Christ was created. I also pointed out how the Holy Spirit was one with God in previous posts.

We also read in Hebrews 9:14 (KJV) that God is eternal. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

I could explain further about how the Godhead is inscrutable but I'll save that for my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Doubters of God's Word claim that the Trinity doesn't make sense. They insult the Lord by not believing his God-breathed revelation.

On Thursday, I'll post about how some Christians lack the devotion they owe to God.

A High Priest From Birth

It might seem strange to some folks but Jesus was born into the office of high priest. The job of that man in Israel was to bring the blood of the sacrifices for sin into the temple's holy of holies.

This is what Jesus did when he was born, lived a sinless life, and offered his life as a ransom for us. Hebrews 9:14 (KJV) speaks of this much greater sacrifice. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Christ could have had honour and praise in this world but he set it aside so that we would be saved. Matthew 20:28 (KJV) quotes him as saying, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Hebrews 2:17 (KJV) explains why Christ also set aside his heavenly prerogatives. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

Better still, Christ understands our weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) explains, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Jesus was born to be our priest between God and us. Hebrews 10:10 (KJV) says, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

We know this is true from what Hebrews 10:5 (KJV) says. "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, 'Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:'"

What a wonder it is that the second member of the Trinity became a baby and experienced all the things we do in this life. But this person wasn't just a nice man who preached about people being nice to each other. I'll be writing about his kingship and priesthood in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? The world thinks of Christ's incarnation as a quaint holiday story but we know differently.

On Thursday, I'll show that Christ was no mere prophet. Muslims and liberal Christians think so but the Bible says otherwise.

Why Were Animals Sacrificed?

 Remembering that sin brought death on all of humanity through Adam, why then were animals sacrificed. After all, they did nothing wrong. In fact, animals can't sin because they aren't moral beings like us. Only humans know better and yet we disobey God.

The heavenly Father often uses imagery to graphically teach us truths. One of those is the sinfulness of sin. The sacrifice of animals can't pay the penalty for our rebellion against god but they were a sort of spiritual IOU. The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews describes how those Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming messiah who would save humanity. Animal sacrifices indicated to the Old Testament believers that an innocent person, namely Jesus, would take our punishment.

We also see in the Bible that the first animal to be killed for humanity provided covering for Adam and Eve's shame. Genesis 3:21 (KJV) says, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

Furthermore, the requirements of perfect sacrificial animals was a picture of how the Lord wants his church to be. Hebrews 9:14 (KJV) states, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

So the offering of animals wasn't some sort of cruel rule imposed upon the Israelites by a mean deity but the Father's graphic warning of sin's dire consequences. Christ became the spiritual perfect lamb of God and died in the place of whoever surrendered themselves to his rulership. What an awesome gift salvation is.

I'm currently writing a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It warns people to be absolutely sure of their hope in heaven. Watch this space for updates as well as posts on the topic of heaven.