How Can We Understand Who Is The Holy Spirit?

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and He will

give you another Helper,

(παράκλητος, Paraclete, the one who is called to come along side: my addition)

that He may abide with you forever–The Spirit of truth,

whom the world cannot receive,

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;

but you know Him, for He dwells with you

and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans;

I will come to you.

John 14:15–18

            What a great promise: Jesus will come to each of His children and will not leave us as orphans. There is a requirement for all of God’s children, that is, if you are really one of His children and making sure your election: You must keep His commandments. We are not to just say we love God, we show our love by our actions. As one of God’s children and in love to God we are keeping His commandments, then, notice this: then He will pray the Father and will give to you another Helper, the Paraclete. This One, the Paraclete is the Spirit of Truth. The world does not know Him and cannot receive Him, the Greek is very explicit here: “ό ό κόμος ού δύναται λαβείν, ότι οϋ θωρεϊ αύτό, ούδέ γινώσκει αύτό. This is strong, notice the two: “ό ό” for this is important as it is the world that He is speaking of, and almost in a poetical manner, “And, but,” “the world,”

 is placed in contrast with those who love God and keep His commandments. The world does not have the “power,” “δύναται” to receive Him, nor can they contemplate Him: “θωρεϊ.” Neither can they know,”γινώσκει,” Him. You can know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. Now, notice this: the Spirit will come to dwell in you and then Jesus says: “I will come to you.” The Spirit is coming and Jesus is coming, both speak of one coming and both the Spirit and Jesus are conjoined as the One coming. You have the Spirit, you have Jesus. If you have Jesus, then you have the Father, the Trinity exists, and as all are one, the same essence you have God residing in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Now, wait!!!!!! Some would shout; the Spirit is an. it, for the word for Spirit is neuter. Yes it is! So then, how can a neuter word represent or be either masculine or feminine and then be a person? Great question!

            Here is one big mistake many make: they think that Greek and English are equivalent. They are not! Greek is Greek, and English is English. In English we follow word order: A – B – C., that is, Subject, verb, and object. We use word order to determine what is being said. In Greek word order is not important, but the type of word is important. It may be said in Greek: the brown on the hill house is mine. In English we would write the My house on the hill is brown. In Greek gender is grammatical: in English Gender is determinative: i.e., He, she, it, her, him, and its, so forth. In English we use pronouns to show gender. In Greek endings are used to show gender and this is grammatical: example: Church in English is neuter. In Greek ekklesia, Church is feminine and it is always feminine and does not mean that the Church is a girl, or consists of girls. If it did then what about us boys, are we included? Spirit in Greek, pneuma, is neuter, it is always neuter and does not mean, “it.” Why is this? I don’t have a clue, but that is the way it is in Greek. So we must then look at the pronouns to determine how we are to understand the noun. Let then examine the above words: “because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him.”  Here then is where many mistakes are made: the word for Him: αύτό, is neuter. Or is it?  “αύτό.” Is nominative, or accusative singular, or neuter. So then, is it neuter or accusative? How can we know? Look at its antecedent that this word is associated with: παράκλητον, Paraclete, and we find that it is accusative; therefore the pronoun must agree with it antecedent and in this case the antecedent is accusative, therefore the pronoun is accusative. Along with other Scriptures which I will present in future blogs we find that it is proper not to call the Paraclete an ‘it” as proper translation will not admit of such a translation. Jehovah Witness would object that the Holy Spirit is a Person, especially a Person of the Trinity and make the Holy Spirit only a power and not God. As you can see from the above example this is wrong. When we add to the Holy Spirit, any form of personality, i.e., sadness, to be able to be grieved, and that the Holy Spirit speaks, we cannot hold to such a Sabellian, or Arian view of the Holy Spirit.

            The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and Scriptures presented will definitely point this fact to you. This term occurs in all parts of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Let me add this: You are you, are you not? You think, do you not (I hope so! Ha!) and by your thinking you make cause, do you not? Is your thinking able to be grieved, sad, or happy, or in the least have happy thoughts even though outwardly you may not be what you are thinking? By your thought, which are able to be separated in some fashion, from you, and your actions a part, if not in all actually you, but separate with its own personality? Yes! Can then from you make cause for an action, and is this not you, all of you? Is it not you, your thoughts, and the action caused by you and your thoughts that any action then proceeds from you. In this simple explanation, we can see that a person can have different personality within themselves, and still be one. God is not a being like us and has all ability to be whatever He desires, and this according to His will and purpose. And His purpose for His children is to not leave them as orphans and will one day come back to take home His children as the Bride of Christ His Only Begotten Son for whom the called out ones, the Church have been given. We should bow down before Him for He is our God, our Savior, and our Helper.

Abide in Me, and I in you,

            As the branch cannot

Bear fruit of itself, unless it

            Abides in the vine,

Neither can you, unless

            You abide in Me.

                        John 15:4

Prepare now to be in fellowship with you brothers and sisters

Richard L. Crumb

Understanding How The Holy Spirit Can Be A Person: Part 2

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar

in the temple of My God, and he shall go out

no more. I will write on him the name of My God

and the name of the city of My

God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down

out of heaven from My God.

And I will write on him My new name.

He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:12–13

            Before I continue with the study on the deity of the Holy Spirit I must address a rule that must be followed if a correct interpretation or translation of the Scriptures is to be had: CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT! A major problem with many is that they use PROOF TEXTS, to attempt to prove a presupposition or supposition. We must, that is, if we are to reach a correct understanding use the context above and below a verse(s) and then to address a verse(s) in context of the book, and the Holy Bible as a whole on a teaching. I just had a small debate, or in the least a conversation with a Jehovah Witness at Barnes & Nobles where I was meeting with the pastor of my church along with the pastor for the Red Bluff Church. This man, who stated for 40 years he had been ordained: such that was not done in the Watchtower Association, overseers, yes, traveling overseers, etc., but no one was “ordained” so from that standpoint we started with a lie for no one was ever said to be “ordained.’ Be as that may, he wanted to discuss the above verses as though he had the truth for does it not say, “My God?” Yes! Now to just use that verse to prove your theology it would then be true that Jesus was not God, for He had a God in which He was addressing. Is this true? NO! The context will not allow for such translation or interpretation. Read on! Jesus sand that He would write the name of My God and the name of he city of My God, the New Jerusalem upon the one overcoming (vs. 11). Then Jesus says; “καί.” “and,” I will write on him my new name: “καί τό όνομά μου τό καμόν” (vs 12): “and the name my the new” literal translation and the adders word for English is “I will write on him,” is added for clarity and syntax of the sentence, but notice in your Bible they do italicize those words so that you know they were added and not in the Greek. The “καί” or “and,” can be used copulative or cumulative or both and as copulative then it simply adds to the antecedent, and if cumulative it then gives an increase or growing as a successive addition. It is clear that this is a cumulative use of the Greek word “καί” for sense to be had this sentence in verse 12b, the last sentence, makes sense for both God and Jesus are having the one name written on the foreheads of the over comers. Does the Bible call Jehovah the Almighty? Yes! Some 48 times in the Old Testament God is called “Shadday” and the New Testament quotes 2 Samuel 7:14 in 2Corinthians 6:18 that calls God the LORD Almighty. Now in Revelation Jesus says that He is the Alpha and the Omega. Is God ever called the Alpha and the Omega, that is the First and the Last? Yes! Isaiah 41:4: and now in Revelation Jesus is said to be the Fist and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. Both are said to be the First and the Last thereby conjoining both God, the Father and Jesus Christ the Son to be called the same making them both the same, one God, and then furthermore, God is called the “Almighty,” and Jesus is Called the Almighty (Revelation 1:8b). In Context alone, it is plain and clear that Jesus as the Son of God, as both the Son of Man, has both the nature of man and the nature of God. Jesus is the Wisdom of God and God, the Supreme, as the Father, the One sending forth His Wisdom to be in the flesh as man, then Jesus calls God as My God. This is true for as man, as the Savior of Man, having return to heaven bodily; did not the disciple in the least see Him rise heaven bound bodily and this they did: “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). As we are discussing the Holy Spirit and it is true that Jesus is God, the Son of God, the Wisdom of God and is speaking to the Church, then it is said: “let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Spirit speaks, God speaks, Jesus speaks, and all are saying the same thing, and in those verses alone the Trinity is demonstrated: The Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has a personality. The personality of the Holy Spirit has been the faith of the Church from its inception. Origen states: “The Holy Sprit Himself receives instruction. This is clear from what is said about the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit: ‘He will take of min and will declare it to you.’ “Does he, then, from these instructions, take in everything that the Son Himself knows, gazing at the Father from the first?” (Origen 228 A.D.). An earlier Church father states: “If you are patient, the Holy Sprit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad…But if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is sensitive, is constricted. For He does not have a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For he is choke by the vile spirit” (Hermas 150 A.D.).

            Next blog I will address that which is in regard to His nature: Is He a Person, a Person of the Trinity, or a mere power, as do the Jehovah Witnesses’ teach?

Behold, I am coming as a thief.

            Blessed is he who watches,

And keeps his garments, lest he

            Walk naked and they see

His shame.

                        Revelation 16:15

Alongside you is the Paraclete: you do not have to sin

Richard L. Crumb

Proving the Deity Of The Holy Spirit: Part 1

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit

of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows

the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,

but the Spirit who is from God, that we might

know the things that have been freely given

to us by God. These things we also speak,

not in words which man’s wisdom teaches

but which the Holy Spirit teaches,

comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Corinthians 2:10–13

            There are several things in those verses that we must speak of and that is we must compare Scripture with Scripture if we are to understand what God through the Holy Spirit inspired men to write. Secondly, it is the “Spirit of God” that that is from God enabling us to know things of God and if we do not have the Spirit then we cannot know God. As a side note, but an important side note: in verse 13 the word, “Holy” is not in the NIV or any other translation using the Critical Text, and this is telling for when one looks at the variance between the Textus Receptus and the Critical Apparatus we find that there many, many, texts that do include the word Holy. It seems as though the Critical texts diminishes God, His Son, and the His Holy Spirit by leaving out those words that teach us that the Spirit of God, in this case, is Holy. Se must be careful in our choices for a Bible and ensure that the one we use is based upon good textual criticism and not on someone’s pocketbook, or presupposition.

            Macedonius, bishop of Constantinople (341 A.D.–360 A.D.) taught that the Holy Spirit was “a minister and a servant” placing the Holy Spirit on the same level as the angels. He did not deny the personage of the Holy Spirit, yet he did teach that the Holy Spirit was a creature subordinate to the Father and the Son. This was a denial of the deity of the Holy Spirit. His views were as harmful as that of Arius as was Arius’ views of Jesus Christ. Is this what you believe? Are you confused as to who, and what, is the Holy Spirit? Is it possible that the Holy Spirit is a person in the Trinity? How can this be? Let me return to an example I used in the past: The sun, the ray of the sun, and the power of the sun. The sun represents the Godhead, and the Father is the one by which we address the other persons of the Godhead. The Son, is represented by the ray of the sun, the Godhead, and is sent forth by the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the power produced by the ray, and sent from the sun, or the Father. All three, Father, sun, Son, ray, and Holy Spirit, power of the sun, are all of the same essence. All are one and yet each has purpose in the economy of God. Upon examination by the ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. the views of Macedonius were condemned. The Creed of Constantinople, our Nicene Creed which was recited at the third Council of Toledo in 589 A.D. the words: “That proceedeth from the Father and the Son were added (filioque) therefore the relationship of the Holy Spirit between the Father and the Son was established and included into the articles of the Christian faith. The Western Churches, have since insisted upon the true deity of the Holy Spirit and the personality of the Holy Spirit as being then coequal, coeternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. This then is some of the history behind our acceptance of the Holy Spirit as God.

            As we study this subject we must admit that the Greek word πνεύμα, pneuma or the Hebrew word חוך, ruwach, are used in different senses, both literal and figurative in the Holy Scriptures. A proper meaning of those words is wind, and as any invisible power, immaterial, invisible agents, as the soul and angels; then as God Himself Who is said to be a Spirit, which then expresses his nature as being immaterial and an intelligent being. Finally, the word express the Third Person of the Trinity is called; “The Spirit” by way of his imminence, and as He is the power or efficiency of God, whereby God is directly exercised, and to express the Holy Spirit’s relation to the other Persons of the Trinity. As the words Father, and Son, are terms the express relation, so to the same terms used to express the relation of the Holy Spirit to both the Father and the Son. Jesus, the Logos, the Word of God is the revealer or image of God, ant the Holy Spirit is His breath and power. By calling the Holy Spirit Holy it is indicated both His nature, and the cause of holiness in all creatures, or He is the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Wisdom, and Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God, Sprit of Peace, or Love, and of Glory. 

            Next blog I will then examine His personality and proof of His personality. Think upon this: When God sent to His chosen the Holy Spirit, it was God Himself that resides in you and empowers you to live according to His commands and requirements. This is exhilarating to think that God, the creator, the Savior, and His power all given to you and me; does this not drive you to your knees in humbleness and repentance?

Grace to you and peace

            From God the Father

And our Lord Jesus Christ,

            Who gave Himself

For our sins, that He might

            Deliver us from this

Present evil age, according

            To the will of our God

And Father, to whom be glory

            Forever and ever. Amen.

                        Galatians 1:3–5

Read Today His Word: and Be Blessed

Richard L. Crumb

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

But when the Helper comes,

whom I shall send to you

from the Father, the Spirit

of truth who proceeds from the Father,

He will testify of Me.

And you also will bear witness,

because you have been with Me

from the beginning.

These things I have spoken to you,

that you should not be made to stumble.

John 15:26–17; 16:1

            The early church believed in the divinity of he Holy Spirit. They believed in the consubstantiality of all three person of the Trinity, and in the order among the members of the Trinity, the hierarchy. For the Modalist and the Sabellians, there is only God, the Son being divine, possibly, and created is not God, and the Holy Spirit is not God, rather a power from God as do the Jehovah Witnesses believe and teach. The Mormons represent God first as: the Godhead means a council of three distinct gods, Elohim, Jehovah who is the Son or Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son were able to perfect material bodies but not the Holy Spirit. Mormon conception of the Trinity differs from Christian Trinity, although they do believe and teach that all are in harmony and united in purpose. In 1843 Joseph Smith gave a final and public description of the Godhead before his death. He described God the Father as having a physical body, (this can be found in their Doctrines and Covenant book), and this then means that the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s. the Son also has a body, the same as the Father, but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit that is why the Holy Ghost can dwell in man.[1] Lorenzo Snow (April 3, 1814–October 10, 1901), who was the fifth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints (LDS Church), stated this about God: “As man now is, God once was: As god now is, man may be.[2] From the early Church and into the 21^st century the Holy Spirit and the relationship of the Holy Spirit with the Godhead has been the subject of debate and many forms of theology concerning the Holy Spirit has developed. Let us then look back in time and see for yourself what the early Church taught.

            Tertullian wrote: “He has received from the Father the promised gift, and has shed it forth, even the Holy Spirit––the third name in Divinity, and the third degree of the Divine Majesty” (Tertullian, c.213). Origen stated: “In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the apostles’ hands in baptism. From which we learn that the person of the Holy Sprit was of such authority and dignity that saving baptism was not complete except by the authority of the most excellent Trinity of them all…. who, then, is not amazed a the exceeding majesty of the Holy Spirit when he hears that he who speaks a word against the son of man may hope for forgiveness, but he who is guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Sprit has no forgivenss––either in the present world or in that which is to come” (Origen, c. 225). Further, Origen gives this about the Holy Spirit: “Up to the resent time, we have been able to find no statement in the Holy Scripture in which the Holy Spirit could be said to be made or created––not even in the way in which we have shown above that the Divine Wisdom is spoken of by Solomon” (Origen, c.225). Novation states: “The source of the entire Holy Sprit remains in Christ, so that from Him could be drawn streams of gifts and works, while the Holy Spirit dwelled richly in Christ” (Novation, c.235). It is clear that the early Church regarded the Holy Spirit as divine and one Person of the Trinity; not separate persons, rather of the same essence as the Father and the Son, all three of the same essence and all are God, the Godhead. Men in time chose to remake the Holy Spirit according to their presuppositions. It took many years to give as an article of faith that the Holy Spirit was not some power, not some other thing of God, but that the Holy Spirit is God. This will be the thrust of the next blogs on the Trinity and this one subject, the Holy Spirit and the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the Father must be clarified according, not just a council decision, rather according to Scripture. History given first as foundation: and then, Scriptural foundation for a conclusion.

An I will pray the Father,

            And He will give you

Another Helper, that He may

            Abide with you forever.

                                    John 14:16

Rest in the power of the Holy Spirit

Richard L. Crumb

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[1] D&C 130:22: Retrieved from the internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Mormonism: August 27, 2013

[2] Lund, Gerald N. (February 1982), Is President Lorenzo Snow’s oft-repeated statement—“As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be”—accepted as official doctrine by the Church?, "I Have a Question", Ensign

Millet, Robert L.; Reynolds, Noel B. (1998), "Do Latter-day Saints believe that men and women can become gods?", Latter-day Christianity: 10 Basic Issues, Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, ISBN 0934893322, OCLC 39732987: Retrieved from the internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Mormonism: August 27, 2013

Holding Fast The True Doctrine Of Jesus Christ

Look to yourselves, that we do not lose

those things we worked for, but that

we may receive a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide

in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

He who abides in the doctrine of Christ

has both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring

this doctrine, do not receive him into

your house nor greet him: for he who

greets him shares in his evil deeds.

2John 8–11

            Somehow, over the many years that liberalism found a place in Christendom the word: Doctrine, has become pejorative. The need and desire of many who attend church are looking for thrills, signs, and wonders, and speak of love and yet do not desire doctrine. Many do call Jesus Christ Savior, and believe that He is the One sent by God to pay the debt of sin, yet, do not follow the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Programs designed such as a prominent form of worship today that is called: “Contemporary Worship,” designed for teens, or college age people, yet speak more of a ’New Age” ideology and little about the doctrine of Jesus Christ. One such teaching that has pervaded the church is that we are to love everybody. There is a form of ecumenism, that is to form a unity among those calling themselves Christian, interreligious, or interdenominational, accepting all doctrines as being right and correct without investigation to know if such doctrines are scriptural. Sounds good! Yet, is bad! If we do not abide in the truth, the truth about the doctrine of Jesus Christ we do not have either the Father or the Son. Therefore, it is important, and this I have been attempting to show, that we not only believe in Jesus Christ we are to grow in sanctification and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Why? So that when a person comes into the church and teaches another doctrine, we will know that this is false teaching. We have to “Man Up!” We stand strong for the truth. We neither receive him; in our houses, not greet him: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 17:17–18). Have you ever allowed heretics into your home? Those who are Mormon, or Jehovah Witnesses, are they allowed in you home? Are you allowing them to pray with you? Are you knowledgeable enough to defend you faith at the doorstep? We many not be a trained theologian as those who have attended a Seminary, but we can know the simple and plain truth of God if we study His word and then be able to defend your faith. I am tackling this most confusing doctrine of Jesus Christ, that is, the Trinity, and attempting to give history as to how this doctrine became a doctrine of the Church. What were the opposing forces, and how did the decision come about so that we believe that Jesus Christ is God, the same essence as the Father, and why it is important to understand the truth of this doctrine. Knowledge does not save you. Knowledge gives to your faith growth, and by that growth you grow in sanctification and are a witness for God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. By this knowledge, we know false teaching. Let us learn to walk the talk and not talk about walking, rather put on your spiritual armor and be what you are; an ambassador for Jesus Christ.

            Now, about the doctrine of the Trinity and the fact that this doctrine came out of the fire, but men who examined the teachings and beliefs of those who were in the church and taught heterodoxy. Who was right? This was the work of the councils, and those men, who desired to serve God in truth. This they did by searching the Scriptures. You too must search the Scriptures: VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY!! Those early councils brought to the Church the truth of the doctrine of Jesus Christ even though there was a split between the Eastern and Western churches. We must not become blind as the value of the decisions for our faith because of the split. The true deity of Jesus Christ became an article of the faith and recorded for us to recite for our remembrance in the creeds.

            Even though our faith was grounded deeper and deeper in the truth of the Scriptures there was and is a cost for at the council of Nicaea 325 A.D. the Church lost its independence. The Church become more and more dominated by the emperor, and at this council the emperor was Constantine, and it must be remembered that Constantine had first and foremost to bring harmony and peace to the Empire. This he did by presiding over the council and making a decision for the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately the domination or in the least a strong influence over the Church led to false teachings, even the Inquisitions were greatly influenced by the emperors. This combining of the Church and the state even was a problem in the days of Martin Luther, Swingli, and John Calvin. When our Constitution was formed the formers made sure that the this combining or dominion over religion would not occur in the United States. This separation between Church and state has taken a turn that the founding fathers of our Constitution never intended. We have a need to return to the original intent that our Constitution states: “Restrictions on the Powers of Congress: Amendment I: Section 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibition the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791). (Italics mine).

            Our battle is against spiritual forces from Satan, his hordes of demons, and those so influenced by satanic influences, even those who claim to be Christian, who in many ways have and are attempting to destroy the truth.

Therefore, since we have this ministry,

            As we have received mercy,

We do no lose heart. But we have

            Renounced the hidden things

Of shame, not walking in craftiness

            Nor handling the word of God

Deceitfully, but by manifestation of the

            Truth commending ourselves to

Every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

                                                2Corinthians 4:1–2

Hold fast to the truth

Richard L. Crumb

How Not To Stumble

For if these things are yours and abound,

you will be neither barren nor unfruitful

in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted,

even to blindness, and has forgotten

that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent

to make your call and election sure,

for if you do these things you will

never stumble.

2Peter 1:8–10

            What is Peter referring to that we should not forget? Peter writing to the elect, (1Peter (1:2), tells that Grace and Peace is granted to a person by the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ (2Peter 1:2). God’s elect have His divine power. Now, many are misusing that statement to say that they have supernatural power to heal, to raise the dead, etc., as does the Bethel Church in Redding, CA., and many other Pentecostal and Assemble of God churches so often teach. This is not what the divine power is for: “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2Peter 1:3). Our call by God and this is for us to be fruitful. How accomplished? “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2Peter 1:5–7). By these things we then make our call and election sure, oh, some would point out that then we could lose our salvation if we don’t make it “sure.” No, the Greek does not allow for that interpretation. The Greek word: ”πταίσηέ” has a meaning of “to cause to stumble, to stumble, stagger, fall, to make a false step, to err, offend, transgress, to fail of an object as is used in (2Peter 1:10). The places the word: ‘οΰ” that means not; for then it is best translated that you are not to stagger, not to fail, not to make a false step, not to err, not to offend, and how is this possible, the above quoted Scriptures tells what this means. You have been cleansed from our old sins, and yet the old original sin we have inherited from Adam is still with us in this life and we can and do often fail, sin. It is then we who are making our election sure realize how we have failed our God and Savior and not relied on His promises: “by which have given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:4). For those of you who will not believe in predestination and election: read you Bible, for the word for election is used 23 times and the word for predestined used 6 times and with the word for election as in Romans 8: 28–29. God has given to His children His Holy Spirit and by the Holy Spirit living in us we have the helper to give to us aid in this lustful and sinful world. W can live and not sin, at least not willingly and deliberately sin: that is if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and how can this happen: knowledge does not save, but knowledge is brought to mind by the Holy Spirit in times of temptation. To often we are so independent that we do not allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and this is so often by not praying, and reading, studying His word. We are, as in this example (as poor as it may be, HA!), in a car, a fast sport car that has all the power, and we do not turn on the motor. We turn the steering wheel, we push on the accelerator pedal, we dream of the power and speed that this care can provide, a thrill, excitement runs through our being; but we are not going anywhere, we are not using the power that is at hand. This is far too often the life of a Christian, and even by this lack of prayer, study, and reading of His word, associating with other brothers and sisters in Christ, we not only do not use the power and the promise of God, we begin to slide backwards even to the point of not being sure of our salvation. Our election is no longer a sure thing. For a moment let me be like Peter in quoting his inspired words: “For this reason, I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this ten, to stir you up by reminding you,” (2Peter 1:12–13.

            I will return next week to continue my series on the Trinity so that those who would come to you to attempt to draw you away from the truth by giving aid to make your election sure and to be able to give a defense of you faith (1Peter 3:15). Let us be as those in the early church who faced much dissension at times and heresies: “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, by were eyewitnesses of Hi majesty” (2Peter 1:16). We too, today, are faced with heresies and false teachings, those things that are drawing people away from the truth of God making them believe that they are worshipping our God and Savior properly when in fact they are not believing in the God of the Bible. Return to God, read His word, study His word, think, think, think: for God did not give us fables. God gave us His word: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do will to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in you hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Peter 1:19–21).

You therefore, beloved, since

            You know this beforehand,

Beware lest you also fall from your own

            Steadfastness, being led away with

The error of he wicked; but grow in the grace

And knowledge of our Lord and Savior

            Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory

Both now and forever. Amen.

                                    2Peter 3:17–18

Prepare now for the Sabbath

Richard L. Crumb

Jesus Is God: Do You Believe That: Proof Given

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End, says the Lord,

who is and who was and who is to come,

the Almighty.

saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the First and the Last,” …..

Revelations 1:8,11a

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End,

the First and the Last.

Revelation 22:13

            When studying the Bible it is context, context, context, that determines any interpretation and translation. It is not just the context surrounding a verse(s), or just the book, it is the Bible in the whole. This lack of using context properly leads to a false and incorrect understanding and that can and has led to heresy. Isaiah writing by the influence of the Holy Spirit writes: “Who has performed it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last I am He” (Isaiah 41:4). The Bible opens up from the first verse that God created and throughout the Old Testament God is given credit for creation and for being One, the great I AM. John tells us in (John 1:3) that Jesus made all things, then we look at Revelation and Isaiah and find that the Alpha and the Omega refer to both God, and the Son Jesus Christ. Both created, called the same, and unless the Scriptures are twisted, these Scriptures are admitting that Jesus is God. The Gnostics, the Platonists, and the Neoplatonists had a philosophy and ideology that contradicts Scripture. Yes, they made Jesus Christ divine, a god, but not the God. This battle has not ended even with the decision at the council of Nicaea 325 A.D. This controversy is not just a controversy of little importance and you believe one way or the other as if it does not matter which side of the debate is correct. It does matter for salvation and our understanding of salvation and whom we worship as Savior is at stake. Do you, we, worship the true God, or do we worship Jesus as a god, and not give to Him what Scripture so plainly gives: that He is God, and is the Son of God, and is the Savior who not only saves but baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to do this baptism of the Holy Spirit and I ask, how can He do so if He is not God? Jesus did not baptize by giving the Holy Spirit from Himself, because he was a god. If this was so, then there are more Holy Spirits: one for God the Father and one for Him: “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33). God certified to the world that Jesus was the Savior and that the Holy Spirit resided upon Him as the Son of God, the incarnate Messiah. And by His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven He can baptize the children of God with the Holy Spirit, the One whom He would send to all believers: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26).

            During the debate at the council of Nicaea 325 A.D. a scholar and church historian, Eusebius of Caesarea tried to moderate the two views, one of Arius, and the other of Athanasius by saying that Jesus Christ was created out of nothing, an Arian view, and that He was begotten of the Father before time in eternity. Some 200 or the 300 men at the council at first followed this compromise. This compromise made Jesus to be (homoi) or similar in essence to the Father. A creed was formulated, no the Nicene Creed of today as it differs in its insistence upon the unity of the essence or substance of the Father and the Son. Orthodoxy did gain a temporary victory at Nicaea by the assertion of the eternity of Jesus Christ and the identity of His substance with that of the Father. During the years, 325 and 361 A.D. under the rule of Constantine and his sins orthodoxy faced a reaction that caused their defeat to Arianism. Arianism not only defeated orthodoxy but also made significant inroads to the Teutonic tribes. Between the years 361 to 381 Theodosius defined the faith of true Christians by his formulation that held to the orthodox views from the Nicaea council. Yet, we must notice that there was much contention and bitterness between the years 325 to 381 A.D. It was at the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. stated in Canon 1 of it decision that the faith of the fathers at Nicaea, “Shall not be set aside but shall remain dominant.’ (Italics mine). This decision upheld at Chalcedon in 451 A.D. The creed formulated at this time is the creed known today as the Nicene Creed. The task now was to bring Christianity to the Teutonic tribes and winning them back from Arianism to orthodox Christianity. This battle is still raging today, maybe not as openly as in those days but still there is need to bring the truth of Scripture that have fallen under the veil of false teaching that Jesus Chris is not God, but rather a god, divine, but not God. We can be thankful that the orthodox party was successful because Arian theology wrought havoc then and even now, with Modernism and Unitarianism as both relate to unorthodox doctrine that Jesus Christ is true deity. Our article of faith, so state, true facts, of Scripture as related in the opening of this blog.

I, Jesus, have sent My angel

            To testify to you

These things in the churches.

            I am the Root and the

Offspring of David, the

            Bright and Morning Star.

                        Revelation 22:16: (cf. Numbers 24:17).

Jesus is coming: Be ready

Richard L. Crumb

Wrong Translation Of The Bible: Wrong Understanding

For there are three that bear witness in heaven:

the Father, the word, and the Holy Spirit,

and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness on earth,

the Spirit, the water, and the blood;

and these three agree as one.

I we receive the witness of men,

the witness of God is greater;

for this is the witness of God which

He has testified of His Son.

he who believes in the Son of God

has the witness in himself; he who does not

believe God has made Him a liar, because he

has not believed the testimony that God

has give of His Son.

1John 5:7–10

            These verses quoted above have been in the center of controversy for many years and are still controversial today. Maybe you too have some concern over them, especially verse seven. The conservative Christian who desires to hold to the orthodoxy of Christianity, and those who are liberal Christians who, in the case of these verses hold to heterodoxy make for confusion among congregants. Verse seven as written in the Textus Receptus, the version for the Authorized King James Version and the New King James version is different from such versions as the NIV, ESV, ASV. The 1901 edition of the ASV translates verses 7& 8: “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.”  The ESV translates verses 7 & 8: “⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” The NIV version translates verses 7 &8: “⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the^[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.” The Authorized King James Version translates verses 7 & 8:” For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.⁸ And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” The New King James version translates verses 7 & 8: “7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” The NIV, ESV, and the ASV are translations from the Critical Text (there is no such single Critical Text for the Critical text is a composite from many sources including the Textus Receptus) and one such large difference is that the NIV, ESV, and the ASV leave out the words in verse seven “in heaven.” Furthermore the NIV, ESV, and the ASV also state the three “are in agreement.” By leaving out the fact that the three are witness in heaven, and that they are only in agreement and not one is telling of Gnostic influence or neo–Platonism which had its school in Alexandria, Egypt and where even Origen a church father attended and had great influence on his theology. The NIV, ESV, and the ASV demote Jesus as being God, and to be a separate being who is only in agreement and not One in the Godhead. The Greek word: “εἰσιν” is a copula word which connects or links together the subject with the verb establishing the identity between the subject and the predicate. Why is this so important? It is for two reasons: 1. Either Jesus Christ is the same essence as the Father; one in Person in the Godhead as is the Holy Spirit therefore there is a Trinity. 2. And it does matter as to which translation you are reading for if your translation denigrates or demotes Jesus Christ in some manner, what you are reading and assimilating will have an affect upon you and your theology. This was a problem for Arius who held that Jesus Christ was a created being, divine, yes, but still not the God.

            Athanasius (297 A.D. – 373 A.D.) bishop of Alexandria who was not affected by neo–Platonism nor Gnosticism and who defended the orthodoxy of the Church was a chief exponent of the Orthodox view and held that Jesus had existed from all eternity with the Father, although He was a distinct personality. This he wrote in his work, De Incarnatione. Athanasius insisted upon this view of Jesus Christ for if Jesus Christ was less than what He stated then Jesus could not be the Savior of Men. You see, it is the salvation of men, eternal salvation that is involved in the relationship of the Father and the Son. Athanasius held that Jesus Christ was coequal, coeternal, and consubstantial with the Father. Athanasius suffered five exiles due to his views before his death. This was a heated and highly debated question: Who was Jesus Christ and what was His relationship with the Father.

            God has witnessed as to who His Son was and that our belief in the Son who has testified to the truth of who He is. We are not destitute to the truth, without the words of God telling us that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that Jesus Christ is God, one in essence with the Father albeit having His own personality. Does it matter as to which translation you use? YES!

Whoever believes that Jesus is

            The Christ is born of God,

And everyone who loves Him who

            Begot also loves him who

Is begotten of Him.

                                    1John 5:1

Show love for your brothers and Sisters in Christ

Richard L. Crumb