C H U R C H R E F O R M S E R I E S
By Biblicism Institute
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
What does that verse really mean?
It means that there is a duality inherent in God, Father and Son. Therefore God created that same duality in mankind, male and female. That duality is itself God’s image in mankind.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ ” Genesis 1:26
When Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, here’s how Jesus answered:
“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ ‘ ” John 8:9
There was no mention of the Holy Spirit. That’s because God is a duality of one, Father and Son.
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
Nowhere in the bible does Jesus or anyone say that The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. However, the Holy Spirit carries the power of the duality.
Creation of Light by Michelangelo
“…stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
“…the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1: 2-4
God speaks and the Spirit executes.
A NEW HELPER
Before Jesus left earth, He told the disciples that after His departure He would ask the Father to send the Helper.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you always.” John 14:16
While Jesus was here, He was the one helping the disciples. But upon the Holy Spirit’s arrival, the Spirit would become that other helper. However, as Philip clearly demonstrated, everyone wanted to see and deal with the Father. They got to do just that. Jesus was the Father’s physical manifestation, both one and the same.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1: 1,14
“For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9
As Jesus was readying the disciples for the Helper, they became melancholic. They had become accustomed to dealing directly with the Big Boss Himself, the Father. So why a Helper now? Why change a good thing?
“Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16: 6,7
For example, imagine that everyday you are dealing personally with the President of the Company where you work, but one fine day you are told that you’ll no longer be doing so, and that from now on you’ll have to deal with his helper or personal assistant. You’d feel somewhat cheated, wouldn’t you? Well, Jesus knew the disciples would be in such a frame of mind, so He sternly warned them not to blaspheme or speak irreverently of the Helper just because he wasn’t the Father.
“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.” Luke 12:10
Before the advent of the Holy Spirit heavenly help was given through angels like Gabriel or Michael.
“The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.’ ” Luke 1:19
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13
However, this time around, thanks to the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, God was about to unleash His most powerful weapon, the Spirit, for the benefit of all believers.
THE SPIRIT
Ezekiel got a glimpse of the Spirit.
Ezekiel Chapter 1:
Ezekiel’s Vision by Raphael c. 1518
4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the Spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The Spirit is a mind-blowing sight, almost frightfully so. He projects an awesome display of power via four living creatures and their dazzling embodiments.
First, Ezekiel noticed that wherever the Spirit would go, the four living creatures would go. But then he zoomed in on the wheels which moved the creatures about. And if the creatures went wherever the Spirit went and the wheels moved the creatures about, ergo the wheels were moved by the Spirit. As a result, the Spirit was in the wheels and was working the wheels, just like a driver behind the wheels of his car.
Ezekiel used the subsequent wording in his first observation of the movement of the Spirit and the four living creatures: Wherever the Spirit would go, they [creatures] would go. However when he noticed that the wheels moved the creatures about, he used the same structure: When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved. And finally he understood that the Spirit was in the wheels, so he wrapped both of these observations together in one sentence: Wherever the Spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Said conclusion was repeated twice in order to make sure we understand it.
FIRE AND THE QUATERNITY
As can be clearly observed, the Spirit is a quaternity, whereas God is a duality. He’s a quaternity because he is personified as four living creatures, so designed in order to watch over the believers (as in all four rims were full of eyes all around) in the four corners of the earth.
“…the nations in the four corners of the earth…” Revelation 20:8
“I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth…” Revelation 7:1
Another obvious manifestation of the Spirit is Fire.
“The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures… The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.” Ezekiel 1:4-5,13
Pentecost
As the disciples waited in Jerusalem, the promised Holy Spirit finally arrived on Pentecost.
“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5
God made sure the unveiling of the Holy Spirit was festively celebratory. He exhibited in our physical world one of the Spirit’s heavenly characteristics, Fire. Said Fire has the ability and power to regulate and alter things on earth. The proof of it was quite conspicuous and in full display that day.
“Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:3,4
Since then all believers have been able to be so baptized in order to receive the gift of Fire from the Holy Spirit, albeit the spark would subsequently be made to only kindle inside the spirit man without the original Pentecostal outer display of artifice.
“On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.” Acts 19: 4-7
The original physical manifestation of the flames of Fire on Pentecost was also intended to purposefully set apart the Holy Spirit from Angels in the minds of the disciples. After all, Angels are also Spirits from God or Spirit Angels of God or Holy Angels of God.
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16: 13-15
Thus these things John spoke of are the Father’s and the Son’s. They belong to the two of them, not to the three of them. And the Spirit, not “on His own initiative,” is allowed to take of Christ’s to give to us.
And what does the Spirit take of Christ to give to us? The Fire of God.
“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire…” Exodus 19:18
“And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.” Numbers 9:15
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.” Matthew 3:11
The Fire of God is the very presence of God, and it contains His essence which is His Word. And every Word of God is Truth.
“For the word of the LORD is right and true.” Psalm 33:4
Therefore the Fire of the Word of God became flesh in Jesus the Christ, Himself the Truth.
“I am the Truth!” John 14:6
The Spirit of Truth, as Jesus called Him, is a Spirit who belongs to the Truth, and as such has been tasked to carry the Fire of God’s Word of Truth, which He embodies, and to deliver it to the believers.
” ‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:29
“The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches.” Ezekiel 1:5
Thus the Spirit dispenses the Holy Fire of God’s Truth (Jesus) by placing it (Him) inside the believers.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19
“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10
However, the Spirit doesn’t just convoy and supply the Fire and then leaves. He is with the believers always, and as such maintains and cultivates the Fire within them to the point of total consumption.
“For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12: 29
“The fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” 1 Corinthians 3:13
“…another Helper, that he may abide with you always…” John 14:16
That’s why the Apostle Paul warned thus:
“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19
THE TESTIMONY
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three agree as one. For there are three that bear witness in earth: the Spirit and the water and the blood; these three agree throughout as one.” 1 John 5:7,8 (Biblicism Institute Translation)
In every bible version, the above verses (especially verse 7) are wrongly translated from the Greek.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. For there are three that bear record in earth: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree in one.” 1 John 5:7,8 (KJV)
Notice that in verse 7 (KJV), the Greek word eisi is translated as are, but in verse 8, that same word eisi is translated as agree.
Why did the translators feel the need to create such a glaring discrepancy? Because they assumed (wrongly) that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, and that their “oneness” would somehow explain their agreement.
Additionally, let’s follow John’s train of thought.
For there are three that bear record in heaven….
For there are three that bear record in earth…
John was establishing a record of testimony. To bear record or to bear witness is to testify. And what is God’s law concerning testimony?
“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses…” Deuteronomy 17:6
“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1
Therefore the essence of those verses was to establish a testimony or a record by 3 witnesses: 3 in heaven and 3 in earth. The goal of a testimony with many witnesses is to demonstrate that all of them are in agreement.
In verse 7, the translators (of KJV and others) tried hard to construct a non-existent trinity because they realized there were no other verses in the bible that pointed to it. Not one verse in the whole bible directs us to believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. So they felt it was their opportunity to somehow rectify a “wrong” in order to validate their presupposition.
If we leave their translation as is, it would only point to a false unity of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit as a trinity (three persons as they believe) and not to their agreement as befitting witnesses, which John was trying to convey.
Unfortunately for the trinity theory, if the testimony of the 3 witnesses in Heaven put forth by John is to be valid, the record must indicate that they are in agreement just like the 3 witnesses on earth are properly recorded to be in agreement in verse 8.
“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1
Here are 3 testimonies by 3 witnesses concerning God the Father and God the Son as a duality of one.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).” Matthew 1:23 (Apostle Matthew)
“For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9 (Apostle Paul)
“In the beginning was the Word… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1: 1,14 (Apostle John)
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30 (Apostle John quoting Jesus Himself)
However, no such testimony of 3 witnesses exists to validate the trinity theory.
THE HIERARCHY
The bible is quite clear on how God and Christ are “physically” and authoritatively positioned in Heaven vis-a-vis the Spirit.
“And between the throne and the four living creatures… I saw a Lamb standing.” Revelation 5:6
First, the Apostle John witnessed that God the Father was seated on His throne (Revelation 5), while Jesus the Lamb was temporarily standing between the throne and the Spirit (the quaternity).
Then, as John was allowed to glimpse further ahead at the renewal of all things, He saw Jesus on the throne with the Father, something Jesus Himself prophesied.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne…’ ” Matthew 19:28
Here’s what John saw.
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” Revelation 22:3
Jesus is seated on the throne with the Father, but the Spirit is not on the throne.
Ezekiel saw that last part (i.e., the figure of a man on the throne) while John saw the whole drama unfolding starting from before Christ sat down. This is what Ezekiel witnessed:
“Above the vault over their heads [of the quaternity of the Spirit] was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.” Ezekiel 1:26
Again, Jesus is seen on the throne, but the Spirit is not on the throne.
“I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21
There exists only one throne for the Father and the Son, not two thrones. And that throne is always above the quaternity of the Spirit, both in the Old and the New Testaments. Therefore God the duality, Father and Son, is distinct from the Spirit. Further, God the duality – as witnessed by Ezekiel and John – became fully integrated as one when Jesus sat on the Throne with His Father.
“The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4
THE BAPTISM
How can we reconcile all of the above with the following verse?
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:19
The Apostle Paul gives us the answer.
“…the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:14
The Holy Spirit is thus the gift that seals our salvation on the day of redemption. He is the one who keeps the Fire burning until the day when we cash in our inheritance.
“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
When we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into a covenant that stipulates the following: we become part of the Father’s family because of salvation in the Son purchased with His blood, and in turn we are given a pledge of our eternal inheritance, with said pledge being the Spirit Himself (with His gift of the Holy Fire of God), the guarantor of our redemption.
Consequently, if we curse and blaspheme that pledge, we blaspheme and spit on the very One who’s helping us apply all of God’s enduring laws as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and with a view to claiming our inheritance which Christ paid for with His Life. Hence for such irreverence there is no forgiveness. The Apostle John called it the sin unto death.
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.” 1 John 5:16
Therefore, that baptism command from the Lord Jesus is a procedural covenant that is to be understood and implemented by all people of the world. The baptism itself is performed in the name of Jesus.
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 2:38
“On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:4
CONCLUSION
There’s a duality inherent in God, not a trinity. It is Father and Son. It is a duality of one.
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
ADDENDUM 1
How The Holy Spirit Helps
1) He causes us to become like Christ by getting us to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5: 22-23
Faithfulness is to God’s commandments.
“If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15
2) He intercedes on our behalf. The way He does that is by causing us to pray in tongues. To the skeptics, praying in tongues may sound like gibberish, but it’s not. It’s a heavenly language.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…” 1 Corinthians 13:1
“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
“One who speaks in tongues edifies himself…” 1 Corinthians 14:4
3) He teaches us and guides us.
“...the Holy Spirit .. will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26
He enlightens the word of God (i.e., the Bible) for us, making it go beyond intellectual assent, and causing it to coalesce deep inside our spirit man (i.e., He teaches us). Then He reminds us of it, warning us when we’re about to do something that God forbids, or egging us on when God wants us to step into whatever service (the Duties Of Ministry and the Everyday Life Ministry) He has prepared for us.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
The Holy Spirit mostly reminds us of God’s written word because God doesn’t want the unscrupulous to attribute to Him things He never said. For example, if someone dares say that following the lead of the Holy Spirit they have come to realize that God no longer considers fornication to be a sin, then we would immediately know that they are lying because according to God’s laws fornication IS a sin. Consequently, the Holy Spirit and God’s written word form a system of checks and balances.
The more we study the word, the more the Holy Spirit helps us cleave to the truth. The more we live out God’s commandments, the more sensitive we become to His guidance, the more cleansed our mind, the more attuned our soul, and the more fruitful our work.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to help in said manners, we are thus walking by the Spirit.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5: 16-21
However, when we do not walk by the Spirit, we fulfill the desires of the flesh. And unfortunately, when we gratify these passions we must be ready to suffer the various consequences of sin.
“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12: 14
See How to Become a Christian to know how to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
ADDENDUM 2
Duality Of One
God’s duality of one (Father and Son) is imprinted in mankind’s body: 2 eyebrows, 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 lips, 2 cheeks, 2 shoulders, 2 arms, 2 hands, 2 hips, 2 knees, 2 legs, 2 feet = 1 body, 1 head, 1 brain, 1 mouth.
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