The BIBLE Does not support the "TRINITY THEORY"

Hello Timeworn: I have to maintain my position that although the word trinity is not used anywhere in the Bible, the concept of God existing mysteriously in three persons...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is presented throughout the Bible. I would like to comment, however, on the importance of this doctrine as a key tenet of the faith. There is probably no point of scripture that has been attacked by more people than this one. And the reason, I believe, is because of its importance. In the New Testament we read that "if Christ be not risen, we are yet in our sins". And therefore we would be condemned to pay the penalty for our own sins. This is what the early Christians came to understand as the most important point about the life and ministry of Jesus, and why they preached "Christ crucified and risen". This is what emboldened Jesus' disciples who during those few days of Passover when Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, had been a very discouraged and scattered group of followers. It was when he rose again that they began to understand what the scriptures had to say about the need for the sacrificial lamb to die once and for all for our sins. And it was his resurrection that opened their eyes, that confirmed to them whom he was....the Holy One of Israel, Emmanuel (God With Us), the one who was the author of creation, the one who could forgive sins. The people asked,"Who can forgive sins but God?" when they heard him publicly forgive the sins of some who came to him. Likewise when the Jews took up stones to stone him for heresy, it was this point that upset them. They heard him say that he and his Father were one and the same (I and my Father are One) and understood that he was claiming to be Messiah. They wished to stone him for blasphemy because of his statements about himself that clearly were claiming equality with God. They knew that their Messiah would be God, but did not believe that he was Messiah. I'd like to take this one step further. Not only is our faith in vain if Christ be not risen, but our sins could not be forgiven by his sacrificial death in the first place if he were not the "lamb without blemish". And only God is without sin. So an attack on the "deity" of Christ is to attack one of the most fundamental of Biblical doctrines. Only God had the power to forgive sins. So if Christ is not God, then he had no power to forgive sins, and without the forgiveness of our sins, we are all condemned. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". And "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Therefore, if Jesus was not the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, God in the flesh, then he had no power to save us at all, or to make any of the claims that he made. ("I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me" - John 14:6. "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die" - John 11:25 Many people during Jesus' lifetime debated who Jesus was also. He asked his followers "Whom do men say that I am?". And the answers of the people were many and varied. But Jesus went on to ask his followers, "But whom do you say that I am?" because this was such an important point that he wanted them to understand. And Peter rose to the challenge and declared, "Thou art the Christ". Now, all Jews knew that the Christ or Messiah would be God in flesh, and that he would "save his people from their sins". So Peter's declaration was very significant. He was declaring Jesus to be the God of Israel. And Jesus immediately blessed him for his faith. So those who attack this point are attacking the very person of Christ and this includes not only who he was, but also his power and authority to do everything that he claimed he would do. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace". All of Israel knew that their Messiah was God himself. Satan is very well aware of this point, and therefore it is not surprising that Satan has tempted so many to attack this important doctrine. Don't be deceived, Timeworn, by those who would have you sidetracked by issues such as differences between translations, or who cannot comprehend the mystery of God in three persons and so prefer to deny it. Rather, do as the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "study to show yourself approved...rightly dividing the word of truth". Don't rely upon magazines published by those who want you to believe their doctrine. Go right to the scriptures yourself, as I have likewise shared with you. And ask God to reveal His truth to you. Blessings, Maestrostar