There is ONE God who has NO EQUAL…
A Sound Knowledge of God is Essential to Salvation
In praying to the Father, Jesus declared; “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent” (John 17:3).
Again, “True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).
The “knowledge of God” is an essential feature of Christian attainment, according to the Apostle Paul’s standard. Those “who know not God” are among those whom vengeance is to overtake (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Knowledge of God is the basis of sonship to God. Without it, we cannot enter the divine family. How can we love and serve a being whom we do not know?
To what extent do we “know” God? Is our knowledge according to Bible truth?
Two opposing ideas are taught in Christendom concerning God. Most churches teach that He is a triune Being, made up of Father, Son and Holy Ghost – one yet three; equal in knowledge, power, and being, from all eternity to all eternity. On the other hand, Christadelphians claim that the doctrine of the Trinity is false, that God is one only; that Jesus Christ is His Son born over 2000 years ago, before which he had no corporeal existence, and that the Holy Spirit (rend. Ghost in many Bibles) is the power of God.
If Christ’s words mean anything, they teach that eternal salvation is conditional upon a person worshipping God in truth. Therefore, we must decide as to whether our personal salvation is worth the time and trouble to seek into the matter.
god as Revealed in the Bible
The Scriptural teaching is that God is one: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the manifestation of the Father; the Holy Spirit is the power of God. This is straightforward, comprehensive, orderly, and above all else, Scriptural.
Consider the following epitome in the light of Bible verses quoted:
One God/Unity of God
The supreme, self-existent Deity, the One Father, dwelling in unapproachable light, Who has, out of His own underived energy, created heaven and earth, and all that is in them (see Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:6-8; 45:5, 46:9; Mark 12:29-32, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Psalm 124:8, 146:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 Timothy 6:15-16).
The Word of God through Moses, and the confirmation of this teaching by the Lord Jesus, is the foundation of all Apostolic doctrine concerning the Godhead. Here are some statements from their teaching, demonstrating that this is so:
“To us there is but One God, the Father, of whom are all things…and one Lord Jesus Christ…howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge” (1 Corinthians 8:6-7).
“There is One God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
“One Lord (Jesus Christ)…and One God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6).
“Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs which God did by him” (Acts 2:22).
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
All these statements are consistent with the Word of God through Moses. They refer to God as one, the Father, and to the Lord Jesus Christ as His only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit (God’s power). They provide no support for the doctrine of the Trinity, but the very reverse.
The Differences between God and His Son Jesus Christ
(xxxxTopic 2 of this series deals specifically with what the Bibles says regarding Jesus Christ so brief details only follow):
Jesus Christ cannot be “Very God” (ie, of “one person” with the Father) since statements about Jesus Christ are contradictions of statements about God, his Father. Consider what the Bible says:
Table: differences between God and His Son:
| Jesus Christ | God, (his Father) |
|---|---|
| Was tempted (Heb 2:18) | Cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13) |
| Died (Rev 1:18) | Cannot die (1 Tim 6:16) |
| Seen by men | Cannot be seen by men (1 Tim 6:16) |
Jesus Christ is a separate person from his Father.
This is further indicated by the following references:
Jesus ascended to his Father and his God. (Jn 20:17). Since Jesus after his resurrection, ascended to his God, then clearly he was not himself “Very God”. (See also Luke 6:12, Eph 1:17, 1 Pet 1:3)
He prayed to his Father indicating a distinction and independence of wills. “Not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matt 26:39)
He is referred to as a man after his ascension into heaven. (1 Tim 2:5)
Jesus is not co-equal with his Father.
This is indicated by the following passages:
God is the head of Christ – “the head of Christ is God”. (1 Cor 11:3)
Christ is approved by God – the greater – “a man approved of God”. (Acts 2:22)
Christ himself states that his Father is greater – “for my Father is greater than I”. (John 14:28)
Christ is to be subject to the Father (1 Cor 15:28). This passage shows the relationship of Jesus to God. It shows his position of delegated authority in the kingdom (vs 27) and subsequent subjection to the Father (vs 28). Can one person in the God-head be subject to another and yet all persons be co-equal?
See also Mark 10:18 and John 5:19.30.
Recognising that God seeks those who would worship Him in truth (John 4:23), let us, in respect of His teaching and in love of His person, quietly search out the truth of this important doctrine, that we may render to Him the honour due to His Holy Name.
Further reading
Article with timeline on origin of the Trinity Belief
Second article regarding origin of the Trinity Belief