How Can Trinity Believers Explain This

Hi Angel,This topic is of tremendous importance, imo, to those who choose to believe the Bible.There is a non-Trinitarian Christian view which you might find interesting: the Oneness doctrine. The Oneness doctrine has nothing to do with the Witnesses, btw. It is held by an organization called United Pentecostal Church International and a few others. Often we call ourselves Apostolic Pentecostals and we are not to be confused with Trinitarian Pentecostals. Other denominations call us "Jesus Only" churches (because we will baptize only in Jesus' name), and we take no exception to that "title" , for it describes us and our doctrines beautifully.In the Oneness view, the only God is God the Father. It is worth noting a few things: (1) the Bible NEVER calls Jesus "God the Son" and (2) the Bible NEVER calls Jesus the "Eternal Son." Jesus is neither of these things. Jesus IS the "Son of God" and the "only begotten Son" of the Father. The Bible does, however, mention "God the Father" in several places. I Corinthians 8:6 is very informative: To sum up this view: God (the Father) is an omnipresent, invisible Spirit (the Holy Spirit ~ simply another term by which to refer to this Spirit but which is usually used in reference to the power of God esp. when working among or through men). The Son of God (the man Jesus) never existed until the day Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus is simply God the Father and has existed for all eternity. Put another way, Jesus is God (the Father, the Holy Ghost) manifest in the flesh (the Son).Consider this verse: A few things: The Father (of the Son) is the Holy Ghost. Jesus is called the "Son of God" because He is the product of the Holy Ghost (the power of the Highest). This verse actually calls the Son of God "that holy thing."That Jesus was fully human is manifest in several scriptures. That Jesus was fully God is manifest in several scriptures. That He could speak from either viewpoint (i.e., His limited, human viewpoint or His unlimited divine viewpoint) is manifest in several scriptures.Jesus is also called Emmanuel: God with us. Another place says that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself" (II Cor. 5:19).In addition to Matthew 10:20 and Mark 13:11, consider Luke 21:14-15. As far as Acts 7:55-56 is concerned, please consider that Stephen did not literally see Jesus standing on the right hand of God. God is invisible and, being an omnipresent Spirit, doesn't have a literal right side. The phrase "on the right hand of God" is a reference to a place of exaltation or acceptance by God.Consider Apostle Paul's question and God's answer in Acts 9:5. Consider Thomas's actions and comments in John 20:28.Finally, look at Matthew 28:19, which says: Two things: (1)the word name is singular in this verse, indicating that all three share one name, and (2)Peter first obeyed this verse in Acts chapter 2, which name did Peter use (Acts 2:38)?I certainly DO consider Jesus to be God.I consider the Trinity to be a pagan belief made up by a pagan organization called the Catholic Church, which organization has demonstrated in almost innumeral ways that it has nothing to do with biblical Christianity. I consider the Jehovah's Witnesses doctrines to be incorrect because they consider Jesus a lesser god, which the Bible never declares Jesus to be.I am extremely interested in this topic, which has great depth and can go in many directions. I feel I have not done a very good job of expressing the Oneness view. If you have any questions about this view, please feel free to ask. I shall try my best to answer them.This message has been edited by TheLiteralist, 12-06-2004 05:56 PMThis message has been edited by TheLiteralist, 12-06-2004 05:59 PMThis message has been edited by TheLiteralist, 12-06-2004 10:17 PM