The Rock Fortress Ministries

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revised: August 2022

Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 1

The statement, “nothing but the truth” is used where emphasis is placed on factually accurate statements. The statement is defined as follows:

“The absolute truth about something, without omission, embellishment, or alteration. Used to swear in witnesses while giving evidence in court, and used by extension in other contexts.

Place your hand on the Bible—do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” (Source: The Free Dictionary)

We are all familiar with this. Everyone loves to be told the truth and no one likes to be told lies. It seems God has made us that way, to hate lies. The statement above is used in courts and many other places. It is important to give the truth and only the truth if the courts are to function properly in doing justice.

You probably have come across something like this.

Declaration

I confirm that the information supplied on this form and in support of claims made on this application form is true and correct

I understand that providing false or misleading information is a serious offence.

When completing some documents such as tax returns, passport application, oaths and so on, you find it written there that false or misleading information is a punishable crime. That is true even if the false information is very little.

The Bible is even more emphatic.

1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Truth and lies have no fellowship. In fact, a big truth mixed with a small lie is a big lie.

big ~~truth~~ + ~~small~~ lie = big lie

The Bible goes further and says this.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Bible shows us who is the source for lies. It is the Devil and Satan. No lie comes from God. It is that simple. So whenever we see a lie, we know the spirit behind it is not of God.

Because some statements contain lies, the Bible admonishes us to test and prove everything. The Bible says this.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

We should never accept something without proving it first, to see if it is true. Then the Bible says this.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

We can conclude clearly that there is absolutely no lie in God, not a bit. We see that:

We have to prove what is true.
The truth sanctifies us, i.e. makes us separate from the world for God’s holy purposes.
There is no lie in the mouths of those who will stand before God, the saved.

Probably the most important thing we want to prove if we are in truth is who we worship. The whole Bible is about who must be worshipped. The Israelites were punished by God for worshipping the wrong god, Baal and other gods. Jesus spoke this about knowing who we worship.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

So true worship is knowing who we worship. You cannot worship correctly until you know who you are worshipping. That makes sense because to worship is to have a relationship. There is no relationship unless we know who we are relating to. Hence the first thing people who have just met for the first time do before they can relate, is to know each other. What’s your name, where do you come from, male or female, young or old, profession, culture, etc.? One cannot have a proper and intimate relationship with an unknown person. Neither can we have an intimate father-child relationship with an unknown and unknowable father.

So, who is the God we worship? Who is the God of the Bible? What is his true and correct identity? We want the truth and nothing but the truth.

To start answering this question, let us take this quotation from a well-known writer, whom I believe was inspired by the God we worship.

“Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come. The knowledge of the Holy is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Through a knowledge of Him are given unto us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). {MH 409.1 to 410.1} (emphasis added)

There is a very important point here. Our Christian experience depends on correct knowledge. As Ellen White said in the quote about, our lives depend on the accurate knowledge of our God. We need to know not just his character, but who he is, his identity. Character and identity cannot be separated. Who you are, your habits, and behaviours go together. In fact, in the Bible one’s name (i.e. identity) was often derived from one’s current or desired behaviour/habits (i.e. character). Jacob for example was called the supplanter for displacing his brother Esau from the first-born privileges. After changing his character, Jacob was renamed Israel, to suit his new character as one who successfully strove with God and man. Similarly, the devil was once called Lucifer, the light-bearer because that’s what he did. When his character changed, he was renamed Satan the adversary, for that’s what he now was.

God also is known by names that emphasise his character, for example, Father because he is the father of all (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6), El Shaddai meaning God Almighty (e.g. Genesis 28:3) because God is all powerful. God is the merciful God, the Lord of hosts and many other such titles which reveal his identity in his character.

The primary doctrine (the primary truth) of any church (and any religion) is the identity of God they worship. Most of the churches that profess belief in the Bible clearly identify the God they worship as the trinity. The Catholics say that all their doctrines are based on the trinity doctrine. The modern SDAs have the identity of the triune God as Fundamental Beliefs 2 to 5, that is, 4 of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs are about who God is. The modern SDAs spend much more effort in defining who their God is than they spend in defining any other single doctrine. The pioneer SDAs in the mid to late 1800s defined God the Father as the one God they worshipped and that was in their fundamental principle number 1. The Methodists have the identity of the triune God as basic belief number 1. The SDARM have the identity of their God (whom they call the Godhead) as fundamental belief number 1. So we see that of any church, it is certain that the identity of God is the primary doctrine on which the rest of the doctrines anchor.

Most churches believe in what is called the trinity. In other words, they worship one God who is called Trinity – a one god who is in the form of three persons. The SDA Church defines this One God as follows:

“The Trinity – There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.”

Let us look at this closely. This statement is describing the one God they worship. From this statement we can see that:

The One God they worship is not one individual single person.

The One God they worship is made up of three individual single persons.

The One God they worship is a UNITY not a person.

So, the question is, is this statement the truth and nothing but the truth? Is there no lie in it?

Question 1: Does the Bible state that the One God we worship is made up of persons?

The Bible does not talk about any three persons who make up One God. The Bible does talk of the Father and the Son as one and of the Father the Son and Spirit as one but not One God. Let us consider the verses.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Christ says him and His Father “are one”. However, he does not say him and his Father are One God. In fact, Christ explains how him and his Father are one.

John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

The way Christ is one with his Father is the same way as the 11 disciples must be one. It is the same as how the church must be one today. The Bible further explains how this oneness is like.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

The disciples were one in that they had one mind, or one spirit. Their deep love for one another and their common singular purpose made them one. Therefore, they were all united as one, but not making one man or person out of 11 persons. So, we see clearly that when Jesus says him and his Father are one, he means they are totally united, i.e. of one Spirit. This unity however, contrary to the trinity doctrine, has no intention of making up one God. He never says they are one God.

The inspired writer explains the oneness in John 17 this way:

“The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” {MH 422.1} (emphasis added)

Hence the unity between God and His Son is not to form another person or another entity besides them. It is not a unity that forms the One God, but being united in everything they think and do. This oneness therefore has nothing to do with forming one god out of three persons. In other words, the oneness is not a means of forming the identity of the One God.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Another verse which talks about oneness is 1 John 5:7. In its own words, the three i.e. the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, are one in bearing record in heaven. Nowhere does it say they are One God.

In fact, the Bible continues to talk about the bearing record (witnessing) and just a few verses later, the Bible makes it clear that there is God (the Father), then there is his Son both involved in witnessing. Notice:

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

At no time does this passage tell us of a One God who is made up of three. It clearly identifies God, then His Son, and leaves out the Spirit. As we saw already in John 10:30, God and his Son are one in mind and in spirit. Do we have evidence for this oneness in spirit? Yes, notice.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings…
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me [Christ], because he [God] hath anointed me [Christ]… (emphasis added)

These were words prophesied by Isaiah about Christ, the Son of God and echoed by Christ himself when he read the same words in Luke 4:18 referring to himself. Christ confirms that he was given his Father’s Spirit. Him and his Father have one Spirit. Therefore, the Father, the Son and by the same Spirit they have are all one, i.e. united in bearing record. That is what 1 John 5:7 is saying. It is talking about the unity between the Father and the Son in the one Spirit in witnessing the truth. It is not talking about the forming of One God out of three persons.

We can further confirm that the Father and His Son have one Spirit.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

We see here again how the Father and the Son have one Spirit. The Spirit belongs to the Father and was given to the Son by the Father. Many more verse confirm this thought including:

John 5:26 which tells that the Father gave the same life as He has to His Son.
1 Timothy 6:16 which tells use that the Father is the only one with inherent immortality.
Colossians 1:9 and 2:19 which together tell us that it was the Father who chose to give full divinity (i.e. the nature of being God) to His Son.

So, we know that there is not a word in the Bible about forming one God out of three persons. He idea of forming one God out of three persons is completely a non-biblical assumption.

Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 2

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Another verse which has the three mentioned in one sentence is Matthew 28:19. However, there is no ONE mentioned here. In Matthew 28:19, there is an instruction to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. In this verse there is no talk of forming a One God out of the three. There is only baptism and a name. But what does the Bible teach about baptism, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost?

Baptism symbolises the death and resurrection of Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ reconciles us with God. To support that we read:

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

In baptism, we are baptised with the Holy Spirit, and we receive the Holy Spirit by whom we are sealed to salvation.

Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

So in short, in baptism, we are reconciled with the Father, through the sacrifice of Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit. That is the baptismal formula as explained by the Bible itself. None of that demands that the three be one God for baptism to takes place. Nowhere does Matthew 28:19 teach that the Father, the Son and the Spirit form One God.

But how about the name. About the name of God we read:

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

In this verse we see the name of God. How about Christ?

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

We hear that Christ inherited a name and this name was from his Father. Only a father’s name can be inherited by a son. So, the Father’s name is his Son’s name. The inspired writer confirms this by saying.

“Jehovah is the name given to Christ.” (The Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899, p. 2.; 7ABC 439.3) (emphasis added)

And about the Spirit we read:

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…

So, we see that the Spirit came in the name of Christ, and Christ inherited the same name that belongs to his Father. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit do NOT come to us in three different independent names. There is only one name, that of God, the Father. The name was inherited by God’s Son, and the Spirit was given in the same name. It is no surprise then that we have one name for baptism whilst God, His Son and His Spirit are all involved in the same baptism.

Again, in all this, there is nowhere where the forming of One God out of three persons is taught.

There is a bit more about this name. We quote the inspired writer again.

“The creation of the worlds, the mystery of the gospel, are for one purpose, to make manifest to all created intelligences, through nature and through Christ, the glories of the divine character. By the marvelous display of his love in giving “his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” the glory of God is revealed to lost humanity and to the intelligences of other worlds. The Lord of heaven and earth revealed his glory to Moses, when he offered his prayer to Jehovah in behalf of idolatrous Israel, and pleaded, “Show me thy glory.” And the Lord said: “I will make all my goodness to pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy…. And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock.” {ST April 25, 1892, par. 2} (emphasis added)

We see here that the name of the Lord, is his character of love. We see that character and identity (name) go together. Then the Bible says:

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Those who are going to be triumphant over the world have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. That same one name (both identity and character) is on them too. They identify with God and have God’s character.

Therefore, at baptism we are to receive the one name of the One God, who gave his name to his Son, sent His Spirit in the same name and gives us a seal by the same name. In all that, there is no forming of a God made up of three, God remains one God from whom the name, the character, the Son and the Spirit all come.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

We could also search for this One God made up of three in 2 Corinthians 13:14 since it is another verse which mentions the three. What we see there is that Christ has grace, God has love and we have communion through the Holy Ghost. There is nothing about forming a One God out of three persons. In fact, only one is identified as God in this verse and we know that is the Father.

If we read further in the Bible, we will see that the Father also has grace and the Son has love.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…

If we read even further, we will see that the communion/fellowship we have between ourselves is with the Father and the Son through the Spirit.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

By the same Spirit, we have communion with the Father and the Son. Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 13:14, there is no reason to assume that the one God is formed out of three persons. God remains God, His Son remains the Son of God and His Spirit remains the Spirit of God.

Summary

We can check all the Bible, but we will never see any statement that says the One God we worship is made up of three persons. In fact, this fact that no passage teaches the one-in-three-god is so true it is agreed by the churches, even the churches which preach that the One God is made up of three persons. They all know that the one-in-three-god is not taught by the Bible. Here are two quotes to confirm that.

“While no single Scripture passage states the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact… only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” — (Adventist Review, Vol. 158, No. 31, p. 4) (emphasis added)

“The concept of the Trinity, namely the idea that the three are one, is not explicitly stated but only assumed.” — Fernando L. Canale, The Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopaedia, Volume 12, page 138, ‘Doctrine of God’ (emphasis added)

Notice here that it is officially taught that the idea of a one in three god is an assumption. We wonder how many times an assumption can be made to turn it into truth. Yet, in the passages quoted from the modern SDA theology. We wonder how this world would be if assumptions were treated as facts. More importantly, who would inspire such a move whether the forces of truth or the forces of error?

Therefore, if we all want the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth, if we do not want truth mixed with a lie or an assumption, then we can embrace the truth that the idea of a One God formed by three persons is not there in the Bible. That the One God we worship is formed by three persons is a lie, and in God, there is no lie.

Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 3

Who is the One God we worship according to the Bible?

The only way to prove the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is to present the evidence and if available the facts. Evidence and facts are devoid of assumptions, opinions and sentiments. Evidence and facts are statements which speak for themselves directly saying what they are saying in their own words.

So, what then is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the identity of the God we worship? Well the answer is so simple. You do not need nothing more than to read it directly from the Bible. No need for many books, for learned people, for Greek or Hebrew languages. You can simply read it straight as a “THUS SAITH THE LORD”.

A “thus saith the Lord” is very important. Only those statements that are clearly stated by God in the words of the Bible can be trusted. Statements that are created by men, no matter how many men they are, nor how educated they are, cannot be relied on. In fact, the time of Christ’s earthly ministry tells us that the educated people and the leaders of the people are the most likely to mislead the people. Christ referred to them as “Woe unto you, ye blind guides” (Matthew 23:16) and “You fools and blind” (Matthew 23:17).

The Bible shows that to teach the truth, simple language is necessary. Notice what the Bible says.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.

Except simple words are used to mean what they mean; the teaching of the truth is corrupted. So Paul says to the Corinthians that he was using great plainness of speech. He meant what he said. But today, many theologians make arguments based on claiming that words in the Bible are not plain statements. They say that words in the Bible do not mean what they mean. They claim that the words of the Bible mean what the theologians think they mean.

It is this thinking that God is so mysterious that He cannot simply state that he is three in one but uses certain code words to say so. The devil must be happy with that because with that thinking, one can build just about any doctrine they want, because the actual words of the Bible do not matter, but the construction put on them does.

The inspired writer says this about finding the truth, the whole truth and nothing about the truth.

“History is repeating. With the open Bible in front of them, many religious leaders of our time are destroying faith in it as the Word of God. They dissect the Word and set their own opinions above its plainest statements. This is why unbelief is growing rapidly and iniquity is everywhere.” {HH 113.2} (emphasis added)

An average person now thinks the Bible is so hard to understand. Yes, because they are told that when the Bible says Father, it does not mean Father, when it says Son, it does not mean Son, and when it says ‘one’, that means three persons. When the Bible says, “only begotten Son” it does not mean a son born of a father it means “only a special person”. If the words no longer mean what they mean, then where are we getting the meaning from. Yet what we need are the “plainest statements” because only those can be relied on.

“…The Pharisees scoffed at Christ; they criticized the simplicity of his language, which was so plain that the child, the aged, the common people heard him gladly, and were charmed by his words. The Sadducees also derided him because his discourses were so unlike anything delivered by their rulers and scribes. Those Jewish teachers spoke in monotonous tones, and the plainest and most precious scriptures were made uninteresting and unintelligible, buried under such a mass of tradition and learned lore that after the Rabbis had spoken, the people knew less of the meaning of the Scriptures than before they listened…” {CE 142.2} (emphasis added)

Please notice. When we read what Christ said we are reading simple language, plain enough for a child to understand. Is there anyone who says to a child ‘son’ when he does not mean ‘son’? Christ spoke words in their simple meaning as we will see.

The inspired writer continues:

“…In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a “Thus saith the Lord.”…—Letter 90, 1906. {CM 126.2} (emphasis added)

“We believe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment because it is written plainly and is the foundation of our religious faith. Let none of us be ashamed of this…. We accept not the authority of men’s councils, but we go further back, even to the councils of heaven. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). We take a “Thus saith the Lord.” Here we stand. A DOCTRINE THAT HAS NOT A “Thus saith the Lord” may be accepted by the whole world, but that does not make it truth…. If we want to know the way to heaven we must study the Bible, not man-made theories or man’s suppositions…. We are not at all ashamed of our faith, Seventh-day Adventism, for it is the very best specification we can have. We are waiting for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Men may scoff and ridicule our faith, but this should not provoke or surprise us. All these demonstrations do not make the truth error, neither do they make error truth. We take our stand firmly and unmovably upon the platform of the Word of God…” {TMK 357.3} (emphasis added)

The doctrine that says the One God we worship is formed of three persons comes from councils of men. It does not have a clear “Thus saith the Lord” to support it. Thus, it is said again “A doctrine that has not a “Thus saith the Lord” may be accepted by the whole world, but that does not make it truth”.

If we want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we cannot take anything that has no “Thus saith the Lord.” We must not speculate or assume. Yet, as we saw, it is clearly stated by many that the doctrine of a One God made from three persons is an assumption. So, we know it is not truth and nothing but the truth. There is no “Thus saith the Lord, God is three-in-one”.

The writer goes further:

“Walk by faith in a “Thus saith the Lord.” Rest your case with the Lord, and believe in His Word. Believe, oh, believe the Word of the Lord, and walk by faith, not by sight. Consecrate yourself anew to God. Be loyal and true to a “Thus saith the Lord,” and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ doth make you free.—Letter 388, November 19, 1907, to a church member in South Lancaster, Massachusetts.” {UL 337.6} (emphasis added)

“In this age of the world there is no safety in departing from a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” however wise and correct the human assumption may appear. Tradition in names and books is nothing. God’s word is everything. The wisdom of the wisest man that lives is foolishness if it swerves one jot or tittle from the word of the living God. God lives, God reigns, and He declares, “Them that honor me I will honor.” Of those who place their sophistry above a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” God says, “I will make their wisdom foolishness.”” {BTS May 1, 1913, par. 3} (emphasis added)

“Those who disregard a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” are casting off their allegiance to God, and exalting human power in His stead. By thus placing themselves in opposition to the God of heaven, men are failing to receive the mark, or sign, by which the people of the world are to know God’s true followers. There is no justification for those who, having the light, close their eyes and their ears to a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” They have taken up the weapons of their warfare against God, and their guilt is made manifest.” {ST November 22, 1899, par. 5} (emphasis added)

In simple terms, God speaks to us in plain language. Even when God speaks in symbols, they are plain language.

TAKE ONLY THE PLAIN “THUS SAITH THE LORD” AND NO FURTHER

What does a “Thus saith the Lord” mean to you? What does a simple reading of the Bible mean to you? Would you agree that it means this?

ONLY WHAT IS CLEARLY PLAINLY STATED

No need for assumptions and reasonings beyond what is simply stated. No ‘if this then that’. Just read it as it says.

With that let us read the simple “Thus saith the Lord” of who the one God we worship is.

Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

The identity of the One God is the part of the first commandment given to Moses.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee [you – just one] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (emphasis added)

To know the Father of Jesus Christ, is to know the ONE ONLY TRUE God. It is the One True God who sent Christ.

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The God is the Father of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

There is One God, the Father of all.

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is One God the Father of All

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The One God can be easily identified. Christ mediates between God, his Father and us.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

To believe in the One God is to do well.

1 John 5: 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him [God] that is true, and we are in him [God] that is true, even in his [God’s] Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

This passage puts together all the verses before. Notice what John is saying. Firstly, he says we know we belong to God and the world lies in wickedness. How do we know? Because when the Son of God came, he gave us an understanding. What understanding did he give us? That we may know the true God, in whom we are. How are we in him? Because we have his Son Jesus Christ. So, what does this all mean? John says it means this is the true God, and eternal life. And the last verse, if we are not worshipping him, we are in idols.

So, judge for yourself. If we are looking for a clear “Thus saith the Lord”, can we say with confidence:

Thus saith the Lord, “There is One God the Father of all”.

Yes, we can, it is stated several times in exactly those words. We add nothing, we remove nothing, we do not assume, we read and stop there with the plain simple language. This is true in any language the Bible has been translated in. Just pick it up and read and we will all see the same thing.

We can read throughout the Bible and see this. There is always One God, the Father. God the Father has a Son and God the Father has a Spirit as we will see later. The Son of God and the Spirit of God are never said to form the One God, but to belong to the One God. This is the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 4

So, is Christ God?

Having declared with a simple “Thus saith the Lord” that the One God is the Father, a question is raised. Is Christ also God? Let us see what the Bible says.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Thomas declares in very simple way calling Christ “My God”. So, we see that Christ is called God.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah the prophet also declared that Christ would be called “the mighty God”. So, we see again that Christ is called God in the words of prophecy (Isaiah) and of witness (Thomas).

We can say “thus saith the Lord, Christ is called God”.

That’s confusing, isn’t it? We saw that the One God is the Father only. So how is it that Christ is also God? Do we now have two Gods? This is where many people choose to throw away all the “Thus saith the Lord” we have seen so far and start forming a new One God out of many persons, which as we saw is an assumption and a lie.

But let us read further. Why is Christ also called God, when the One God is already there, the Father only? We turn to Hebrews and find this.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he [God] hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he [God] made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his [God’s] glory, and the express image of his [God’s] person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he [God] at any time, Thou art my [God’s] Son, this day have I [God] begotten thee? And again, I [God] will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he [God] bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he [God] saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he [God] saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he [God] saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (emphasis added)

Let us see what is going on here. Here we see God and the Bible is explaining how God, the One God has communicated with us, people. First, he communicated through prophets. Later and now, he communicates through his Son. So we see again that the God is there, then his prophets then His Son. But notice what is said to qualify the Son’s role in this communication.

The Son is not like angels. He is much more than angels. That’s because:

God appointed Christ as inheritor of all things – “whom he hath appointed heir of all things”
God made the worlds by Christ – “by whom also he made the worlds”
Christ is the brightness of God’s glory – “Who being the brightness of his glory”
Christ is an exact copy copied from God’s person – “and the express image of his person”
Christ, having been given everything God, he also was given power by God (Matthew 28:18) – “and upholding all things by the word of his power”
Christ, with that power from God, by his flesh (death and resurrection) he took away our sins – “when he had by himself purged our sins”
After taking away our sins, he went back to God and sat, not on his own equal throne, but the right hand of God – “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”

Now notice what the Bible goes on to say. We have seen that Christ was given everything by God. The other thing he was given besides the power of God is the very name of God. He inherited it. He has the right to inherit because he is a real Son of God. In the Bible, only a real son inherits from his father. Thus, he is better than angels.

The Bible now shows us how Christ inherited all things including the name of God from God. This inheritance is shown by the words of God to His Son. God speaks better things to his Son than to angels. God speaks five times in this passage. Remember that in all this speech, God is declaring the inheritance, in other words explaining what the inheritance is. Let us see what God says about His Son’s inheritance.

“For unto which of the angels said he [God] at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?”

First God declares his fatherhood over His Son. He declares that he, God is Christ’s Father because he has begotten Christ. Angels where never told that they were begotten by God.

“And again [God saith], I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

Then God declares again that he has a Father-Son relationship with Him. In a Father-Son relationship, where there is only one Son, all that belongs to the Father, he gives to the Son, everything. Many Fathers even give their only Son the same name as themselves (e.g. Luke 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.).

“And again, when he [God] bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he [God] saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”

God makes it clear that the angels are not in the same class as Christ, God’s Son. God instructed angels to worship Christ as they worship God. So, it is no surprising to us that Christ is to be worshipped. The worship due to him is channelled to the Father, to whom all worship ultimately goes. The worship given to the Son is to the glory of the Father.

“And of the angels he [God] saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

God continues by placing the angels in their right place below Christ, God’s Son. The angels are his ministers. Now, God turns to his Son and finishes off the inheritance ‘speech’ with a strong statement. Listen to this explanation of the inheritance.

“But unto the Son he [God] saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

God declares His Son to be God. Christ having received everything from God, including the right to be worshipped, the same nature (express image of God’s person) as God, the same Spirit as God and a kingdom, God appoints His Son as God thereby completing the inheritance. True, because the Son is and has everything that God is and has, but by inheritance. While God did not inherit from anyone, the Son did inherit everything from His Father.

Notice that while God declares his Son to be God, God is still God to His Son. So the Father is both Father and God to the Son, but the Son is not God to His Father.

This Christ, whom God has bestowed with so much, whom God has loved so much, is the one given to us for our salvation. So, the inspired writer says again.

“In giving us His Son, the Father gave the most costly gift that heaven could bestow.” {YRP 200.2}

So now we see the truth. Yes, Christ is called God. But that is not said in order to form a One God by somehow putting the Father and the Son together into one entity. NO. He is called God because he inherited being God as the only-begotten Son of the One God. As the son of any earthly king is fully a man and a king like his father, so is Christ, but more. Christ is the express image of His Father, that means he looks like, thinks like, talks like, behaves like His Father. So, the Bible can say Christ came to reveal the Father.

Luke 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

When we see him, we see the Father. To see Christ is to see the Father, because he has all that the Father has and is all that the Father is. He thinks the same and does the same as the Father. That’s the only way he could reveal the Father to us by his own life.

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Him and His Father are one. Why? Because the Son never does anything, say anything he has not seen from the Father. The behaviour of the Son is exactly as the Father. And they share the same name, the same nature and the same Spirit. They are truly united, truly one but not to form the One God.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Now the truth is out. We do not make two Gods by calling Christ God. No not at all. We simply acknowledge that God made an express image of himself in Christ and gave Christ everything by inheritance. The One God remains the One God, the Father, and the Son remains the Son, God by inheritance, Fully God in the Highest Sense because God gave Him everything. So, the Bible says:

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [divinity/deity] bodily. (emphasis added).
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

God gave everything to Christ. He is the divine Son of God, fully God by inheritance. By His only begotten sonship to God, Christ is called God.

I trust that so far, we have not made a single assumption. We have simply taken a “thus saith the Lord” and no further.

We have raised another question. Is Christ the Son of God since he was born as a man on earth or before? Let us see some more plain statements.

John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John said the same thing again a few verses later.

John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

We know that in terms of earthly number of years, John was older than Christ by about 6 months. But in terms of existence, John says Christ “was before him”. So Christ existed before John existed.

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Christ was with the Father before the world was created. Those are Christ’s own words. He existed before the world was made for by him, the worlds were created.

The inspired writer then says this:

“CHRIST WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, AND LUCIFER, THAT GLORIOUS ANGEL, GOT UP A WARFARE OVER THE MATTER, until he had to be thrust down to the earth” {Ms86-1910 (August 21, 1910) par. 30}. (emphasis added)

“Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God…THIS FACT THE [FALLEN] ANGELS WOULD OBSCURE, THAT CHRIST WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ.” {TDG 128.2}. (emphasis added)

So, the truth is out again. Christ was the Son of God, the only-begotten Son of God before he was born on earth. Not just that, if you believe the inspired writer’s words, the devil and his angels did not like that fact and are still busy trying to make that fact unclear. Many Christians on earth have joined them in trying to remove the fact that Christ is the Son of God.

Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 5

We have one last question to discuss. Now that we have seen that there is only One God the Father, who has one only begotten Son who is God by inheritance, what about the Spirit? Is the Spirit God? Let us see what the Bible says.

The Bible is clear that the Spirit belongs to God. This fact is stated over fifty times. The Bible says:

“Spirit OF God” – 26 times/witnesses in the Bible

“HIS Spirit” – 9 times/witnesses in the Bible

“MY Spirit” – 12 times/witnesses in the Bible

“Spirit OF Christ” – 2 witnesses/times in the Bible

“THY Spirit” – 5 times/witnesses in the Bible

The small words, i.e. OF, HIS, MY and THY are completely ignored in the one in three god doctrine. If these small possessive words could be considered as they are, it would become immovably clear that the Spirit which is OF God belongs to the One God, not that the Spirit is a third part of who the One God is.

So, if we are to establish the truth on the basis of a “Thus saith the Lord”, we can say, “Thus saith the Lord, the Spirit is OF God, it belongs to God”. That would be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. God is the one who has the Spirit as His own, which he sends, gives, takes, etc. as He sees fit, and that by that Spirit, he is present everywhere. In fact, there is no record in the Bible where the Spirit was active except when explicitly sent by God. Not once is the Spirit not sent!

In all the verses about the Spirit of God there is nothing about forming a One God out of three persons. There is no verse which says the Spirit is God. The Spirit is never addressed as God in any statement in the Bible. But there are a few verses where that assumption can be made. Let us study one of them.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost (the Spirit). And it was said that Ananias lied not to man, but to God. So, it is concluded that, if to lie to the Spirit is to lie to God, then the Spirit is God.

But is that what the verse is saying? What does it mean to say the Spirit is God?

Just to be clear. What is stated is that Ananias lied to the Spirit and that Ananias lied to God. The connection that this Spirit is itself the God who was lied to is not there in this verse. That connection is reasoned out by assumption as we will now demonstrate.

But is this reasoning always so? Is it even correct that if to lie to someone is to lie to God, then that someone has become God himself?

May be the question should be:

Would it be true that to lie to the Spirit is to lie God if the Spirit belonged to God and was sent by God?

Yes. Let us see how.

Is the Spirit God? Well, Yes and No.

The simple answer is:

WHAT YOU DO TO THE ONE WHO WAS SENT

IS WHAT YOU DO TO THE ONE WHO HAS SENT.

Here are examples of this simple principle which occurs in the Bible, that to do something to one sent by God is to do it to God.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

If you despise man, to whom God has given His Spirit, you despise God, not man.

Is man God? Yes and No.

How yes? Figuratively, man is standing in place of God and is a god. John 10:34 puts it this way:

John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.

So the ones to whom the word of God came so that they can give it to others, i.e. the ones who were sent with God’s word were called gods, because they were a conduit of the words from God.

How no? Not literally. Man, who has received the word of God and the Spirit of God is not the God we worship neither is he part of forming the One God we worship.

Man is god by virtue of representing God, but is not in the persons of the One God whom he is representing. Hence, we can say “the Man of God” but we cannot say “God the Man” or “Man the God”.

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

To do good to Christ’ brothers (owned and sent by Christ) is to do good to Christ himself. Similarly, to do evil to men who are Christ’s brethren, is to do evil to Christ himself.

Are Christ’s brethren Christ? Yes and No.

How yes, they stand in Christ’s place therefore what is done to them is done to Christ.

How no? Not literally, Christ’s brethren are not in the person of Christ who paid for our sins, the one we worship, neither are they part of forming who the One Christ is.

Christ’s brethren are Christ, by virtue of representing him, but not literally the One Christ they represent. So we can say the ‘brethren of Christ’ but we cannot say ‘brethren the Christ’ or ‘Christ the brethren’.

Exodus 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

When you chide with Moses, who is owned, sent and given by God, you chide with God.

Is Moses God? Yes and No.

How yes? Figuratively, Moses stands in place of God and is to be obeyed by Pharaoh as obeying the very God himself. Exodus puts it this way:

“Exodus 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee A GOD TO PHARAOH: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.”

How no? Not literally. Moses is not in the person of the One God we worship neither is he a part that forms the God we worship.

Moses is god by virtue of being sent by God, but Moses is not literally the God who has sent him. Hence, we can say “Moses of God” but not “God the Moses” or “Moses the God”.

So we can see clearly that Acts 4:5 or any other verse, when weighed against the evidence of the Bible, to harmonise it with the most important truth about the Spirit (that it belongs to God), it says nothing about the Spirit being a person that forms the One God. The Spirit, which is OF God, when sent by God, is to be obeyed as God himself. Yet the Spirit remains “Thus saith the Lord, the Spirit is OF God”, not forming a third part of who God is.

The spirit can think, speak, and show the qualities of a personality

Remember we want a clear “Thus saith the Lord” only to establish the truth.

There are many verses that show the Spirit doing that which you would expect a person to do. Here are some examples:

The Spirit intercedes for us with groaning – Romans 8:26

The Spirit searches – Romans 8:27

The Spirit speaks – 1 Timothy 4:1

So, yes, the Spirit shows the qualities of a person. But what do we do with the fact that the Spirit belongs to God and is sent by God to do God’s will? Let us look further. We have an interesting hint in 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11. It says,

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

The Bible does something interesting here. The Bible compares the spirit of man which is in him and the Spirit of God. As the spirit of man is in man, so the Spirit of God is in God. What the spirit of man does to man is the same that the Spirit of God does to God, i.e. know the deep things of God.

So far, the Spirit of God is still the Spirit belonging to God, searching the things of God, knowing the things of God, and as sent by God revealing the things of God to us. Yet in doing so, the Spirit exhibits a personality, by doing, speaking, even thinking. That’s all that we have from the Bible directly stated about the Spirit of God. Beyond that we can have our speculation, but it is not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Let us look at the spirit of man. We do so because the spirit of man to man has been compared to the Spirit of God to God by the Bible. How does the spirit of man relate to man? Or from a different angle, when Paul compared the spirit of man to the Spirit of God, was that something he could find in the Bible?

Let consider this case of Jacob and his spirit, the spirit of Jacob.

Genesis 45:27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

Would you say according to this statement, the spirit of Jacob showed a personality? Yes, a person is revived by receiving good words. So was the spirit of Jacob after receiving the good words from Joseph and seeing the wagons from Joseph. But who was revived? Was another person other than Jacob, i.e. a second person called Jacob the spirit revived? No. The revival of the spirit of Jacob is the revival of Jacob himself, in his very life or spirit.

Psalms 77:3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

The spirit of David showed the qualities of a person. The spirit of David was overwhelmed and also made diligent search. So, of a truth the spirit of David has a personality just like David. But is the spirit of David a second person to David or a second part of who David is? No. The Spirit of David is David himself. When the spirit of David is overwhelmed, David is overwhelmed. When the spirit of David is making diligent search, David is calling to remembrance.

We have many more examples of the attributes of God and man displaying personalities. Here are a few more.

Agape love (charity) shows a personality in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 when charity “suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Wisdom shows a personality in Proverbs 9 when wisdom “builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city”

Grace shows a personality when it “bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11) and “frustrated” (Galatians 2:21).

Just like the Spirit of God, the love of God, the wisdom of God and the grace of God all have a personality. If having a personality is the evidence of being another person who makes a part of who God is, then we have more than three on one god. We have five if not more than five in one god. Love, grace, wisdom all show a personality, hence must be included in making the one God as the Spirit is since they too satisfy the same condition, i.e. having a personality.

However, in all these cases we know already that the love of God, the wisdom of God and the grace of God are God’s attributes that belong to him. The Spirit of God has also been presented as an attribute that belongs to God. Thus, we can say, just as much as the love, wisdom and grace of God accomplish that which God wants, so is the Spirit of God. Just as much as to frustrate the grace of God (Galatians 2:21) is to frustrate God Himself not another person called the God the Grace, so is the lying to the Spirit lying to the God who owns and sends His Spirit to us.

Here is how David understood the Holy Spirit of God.

Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psalms 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

According to David, the Spirit of God cannot be fled from. The Spirit of God is the presence of the same God.

So let us summarise what we have seen.

There is only truth in God, no truth mixed with a lie.
All lies come from one source, the devil.
We must know the true identity of the One God we worship, that is eternal life.
We must decide only on the basis of a clear “Thus saith the Lord” because Christ spoke in simple language simple enough for babies.
We measured the statement that says:
1. The One God is formed the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
1. The One God is made up of three persons.
1. The One God is not a person, but a concept of unity.

Against a clear “Thus saith the Lord”.

We found that:
- The One God of the Bible is the Father.
- God has a Son begotten from eternity before the world was created.
- The Son of God is God by inheritance but not the One God, or a part of the one God.
- We do not have two Gods, but one God and His divine Son.
- The Spirit belongs to God as God’s own presence.
- Of all these points, we did not make an assumption.
- Those who believe that the One God is made up of three persons teach that they assume this doctrine because it is not clearly taught in the Bible.
We therefore conclude that the idea of a One God formed out of three persons is a lie. There is no “Thus saith the Lord” in this idea, but there is “Thus saith the men”.

God’s blessings to you all.

The Rock Fortress Ministries

Email: therockfortress@gmail.com

Website: www.rockfortress.net

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Original: 05 September 2020

Revised: 04 August 2022