We humans are so accustomed to versions and variations of what we already have, we attempt to mold God into some derivative of human nature. God is God and nothing other than. The only way to understand and know Him is to fully accept Him as Him and not our version of what, or who, God should or could be.
Todd Beal
go deep, go broad, zoom in ...Go
The Science & Art of Mushroom Cultivation
Every programmer needs a Rubberduck
Daily Words of Wisdom from the Study of Proverbs
Love is the Ultimate Science
a defense of the faith once delivered to the saints
Declaring a different way to live life!
Words Make a Difference. Use Wisely
Answering questions, sharing communion meditations, and other theological questions of interest in Churches of Christ
Draw to Smile :-)
Parting the veil of illusion, one thought at a time – a place for building the bridge of understanding between life’s big questions and life’s big answers
Relevant thoughts for your journey in the Word.
Living a Life of Grace
Bitsy Griffin | Librarian
Author, Blogger, Social Media Jedi
ربِّ زِدْنِي عِلْماً
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.
The Art and Craft of Blogging
A Place of Worship: "Tugging at the Heartstrings of God"
Parting the veil of illusion, one thought at a time – a place for building the bridge of understanding between life’s big questions and life’s big answers
CLOUDWATCHER'S LIFE STORY and inspirational thoughts
seeking to think the thoughts of God after Him and to share words of life
Faith Seeking Understanding
"CRUX sola est nostra Theologia." - 'The Cross alone is one theology.' - Luther
a place for me to reflect, rediscover my roots, and hopefully find some restoration
Reading, Writing, and Ressurrecting Childhood Dreams.
Truth Behind Reality 
This is somewhat the essence of St. Paul’s Romans chapters 1 & 2, etc.
LikeLike
Fr. Robert,
These two are very powerful chapters. Would you care to elaborate?
LikeLike
Would anyone care to elaborate?
LikeLike
Well, I am inclined to agree with Fr Robert on this one. The opening chapters of Romans establish the natural general revelation of God’s sovereignty. Later chapters of Romans address various aspects of God’s nature as well as sin, salvation, law, and other things. Through the book Paul builds a case and prosecutes it brilliantly – which is to say the brilliant mind of God acts through the Holy Spirit to inspire Paul’s revelation of truth. It begins, though, in the first couple of chapters establishing the contrast between human and divine nature and how they relate and their importance. God is indeed God – I AM THAT I AM – the Self Existent One – the First and the Last. Of course Paul doesn’t say those words, we have the balance of scripture to draw all that out. Humanity cannot approach holiness on its own – not with morality or philosophy or even religion, or any other human construct or work. Knowledge is not enough. Behavior is not enough. Even a purely human faith is inadequate. Divine revelation is required, divinely initiated faith, then sanctification through obedience which is repentance and trust. Oh, that I were the man of faith I would be. Oh, that I were obedient as my heart desires and my mind knows I should be. Oh, that my soul could rest from its war. These sorrows have their reasons and Paul reveals those through Romans with depth and passion.
LikeLike
Lance,
So in a sense, I take this to mean that this post serves as a bird’s-eye-view introductory summary to – or broad essence of – Paul’s message. Do I understand you correctly?
LikeLike
Well…. at least to the opening of Romans. ~_*
LikeLike
Okay, and thanks for the in-depth look at Romans. Ever considered writing a commentary?
LikeLike
LOL – I published a book on James, Chapter 1 “Ask James one”. I have published blogs on most of the minor prophets, tho I’m just getting started here on WordPress. As for Romans, there’s a lot of good stuff out there on that book. Other parts of scripture tho are often overlooked. I’ve got several pages on Obadiah. Ha.
LikeLike
Lance, very few people have the ability to explain scripture in the way that you do.
I’d like to take this opportunity to personally and publically thank you for your input on Truth Behind Reality. I appreciate your thought-provoking comments and look forward to more. They are certainly a welcome addition.
LikeLike
Yes, and much of the rest of scripture, too. ~_*
LikeLike
And the only way to know God (and know who he is), is through Jesus Christ whom He sent. The Son of God lived and walked among us, and there are records of Him. The Father and the Holy Spirit (two witnesses) have testified of Him. We have the additional witnesses of prophets and apostles. This is so different from the idolatries and Greco-Roman mythologies that Paul battled. This is truth testified of by multiple witnesses. We must still live and act by faith, but the witness of the Spirit is available to all who are willing to receive it.
LikeLike
Michael,
Just a friendly question, but do Mormon’s believe in tritheism: three separate, distinct god’s, within the Godhead? Btw, 1 John 5:7, has very late Greek manuscript evidence. But, I also love both the KJV and the NKJV myself. In fact, I give the NKJV to people as my choice of a first Bible.
* I have a leather copy of the Holy Bible (KJV)/Book of Mormon/Doctrine and Covenants/Pearl Of Great Price, in one binding. I bought it for myself when my wife and I went to St. George, Utah in October. We loved the place! I wanted to understand my Mormon friends better, so I bought the book. 🙂
LikeLike
Fr. Robert,
Yes, we believe the Godhead to be composed of three separate and distinct personages, the Father and the Son to be glorified and exalted beings with tangible bodies, the Holy Ghost a being of spirit. Although beings of separate substance, we believe them to be inseparable in purpose. That purpose you’ll find in the Pearl of Great Price in Moses 1:39, “For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” The clearest references for this are in extra-biblical sources within the book you bought in St. George, but some biblical examples of the separateness of the Godhead include the presence of all three at Jesus’ baptism and Stephen’s vision of Christ “standing on the right hand of God.”
I appreciate that you would actually buy the “Quad”, as we call it, to investigate. It takes a great curiosity to go to those lengths!
LikeLike
Michael,
I try to be fair in my understanding of other positions. My personal study right now is Islam, though I fought in Gulf War 1, (Royal Marine recon)…and we had our intell and study mostly radical Islam.
LikeLike
Michael, truer words were never spoken; to the point and authoritative.
LikeLike
I would maintain however, that we must have the proper doctrine and revelation of God! And this would include the doctrine of God’s Triune Being: Three in One, One in Three! And the only “Person” to become “Incarnate” was the Son of God! (John 1: 14 ; 18).
LikeLike
I agree, Fr. Robert.
LikeLike
I’ve recently been reading up on some doctrinal quarrels and what you’ve written here is the authoritative answer to them. For example, the Arminian vs Calvinist doctrines. Both interpret scripture and in so doing attempt to place human understanding above the scripture itself – putting the Author in a peg-hole, so to speak.
LikeLike
Lance,
Thanks for pointing that out.
I am somewhat familiar with the elementary teachings of Calvin, but I find myself agreeing with the fundamental basis of Arminianism:
| Arminian vs Calvinist doctrines. Both interpret scripture and in so doing attempt to place human understanding above the scripture itself – putting the Author in a peg-hole, so to speak. |
Are you referring to Classical Arminianism or Wesleyan Arminianism?
What example argument between these two differing doctrinal beliefs does this Post address?
You raised my curiosity.
LikeLike
//What example argument between these two differing doctrinal beliefs does this Post address? //
It does not, directly. That’s the beauty of your post. You go straight to the source, not to one particular doctrine or another.
//Are you referring to Classical Arminianism or Wesleyan Arminianism? //
It has flavors? LOL.
Here’s a reference for you to check out, if you really want to open this can of worms: http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/calvinismarminianism.htm … and if you do, then perhaps a new thread is needed. ~_*
LikeLike
| It does not, directly. That’s the beauty of your post. You go straight to the source, not to one particular doctrine or another. |
Lance, thanks for this. I trust your judgment, which makes me appreciate your confirmation of this post.
| http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/calvinismarminianism.htm |
I agree; this begs for another thread. We need to address this issue, not for the sake of theology, but to give truth its just due. Do you have any suggestions for a post title (including topic direction)?
LikeLike
Well, there are five main points to Calvin/Arminius. That could easily make for five posts right there to dissect each one. Then there’s all those additional references and thought provoking questions on that site to pull from. I have a lot of other stuff on my plate, but it has caught my attention. But, you have more traffic on your site so perhaps it would make a livelier discussion here. 😉
LikeLike
Okay Lance, you’re on. I’ll get back with you.
LikeLike
I must have missed this one – better late than never I guess.
Yes Todd, mankind has ALWAYS sought to create his own god, but as you say “God is God” and no thinking on our part will change Him.
Why does man try to create his own god?
Well, there is of course no medical evidence for this, but Scripture bears out that WITHIN every person, there is a God-shaped vacuum. This demands a desire to fill that vacuum – to worship God. [Romans 1:19-20 and others] That is the reason why EVERY tribe of man ever known creates a god to worship – be it the mountain, the river, the stars, the snake, the lion, the volcano – or an endless list. [Romans 1:21-23] NO TRIBE has ever been known that does NOT serve a god of some sort.
Now, when it comes to modern mankind, I am sure you can list off numerous “things” which become a god – sport, money, home, work, pets, hobbies, self . . . etc.
Because the majority of “civilised” society has grown up with “religion” of some sort, most people over the centuries attached themselves to the religion of their area. As freedom of thought became more acceptable, people started “modifying” their beliefs to accommodate their own ideas – and an explosion of beliefs resulted. This probably happened more in the western world than in the eastern countries which is why we see such a diversity of belief within so-called Christendom – including many which have NO resemblance to Biblical Christianity.
I think the crux of the matter is that man wants to be his own god; make his own decisions; rule his own life. Therefore, he accommodates his god to his own design.
Once a person recognises the FACT of a living God, he becomes accountable to God and must accept his responsibility to God.
While this thought does not appeal to man, once a person comes to a personal, intimate relationship with the Father God, through the Lord Jesus Christ (and there is no other Way) he enjoys all the resources of heaven and finds a life beyond comprehension. The new life is not without problems and tribulations but “IN all these things” we are “more than conquerors through Christ” [Romans 8:37] and enjoy His presence, peace and joy and blessings beyond measure.
LikeLike
| I think the crux of the matter is that man wants to be his own god; make his own decisions; rule his own life. Therefore, he accommodates his god to his own design.
Once a person recognizes the FACT of a living God, he becomes accountable to God and must accept his responsibility to God. |
Angela, you hit the nail right on the head with these two statements. The first statement is the very thought that fueled this post. Regarding your comment as a whole, it is an added bonus to this thread – thought-provoking stuff!
I never gave this topic much thought until the year 2001. A coworker of mine told me that he doesn’t believe God exists. I said, “The fact that, historically, every society finds either a god to worship or a god to reject tells me that God exists. If God did not exist, we would be unable to think about him.” He told me that made sense.
That reasoning is the essence of the following statement: If truth exists, it is wholly true and irrefutable. If it does not exist, its non-existence is not true. Therefore truth exists, and must exist to say it does not.
LikeLike
This thought really resonates with me. We have our idols and gods of convenience today just like those who worshipped volcanoes and holes in the ground. This type of worship often eventually results in destructive behavior because the object of adoration cannot deliver spiritual benefits in return, and these “gods” are in fact oblivious to human adoration. To me this is the greatest evidence for the reality of the great I AM, the one true God. He does deliver, and faith in Him cannot fail.
LikeLike
Well said!
LikeLike