What is my view on the Trinity?

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From time to time over the years I have been asked about my view of the doctrine of the trinity. Today on my YouTube channel, someone even asked me to do a video teaching on the subject.

Trinity 3D sign

Actually, I have very little to say on the subject, except that I fear that any explanation any man (including myself) could proffer on the subject of the “Godhead” would be just that: man’s explanation of it. How can the mind of man with its limited intellect and language that is only capable of describing earthly and physical things comprehend much less explain the unexplainable — namely the “Godhead”? Think about it for a moment. If he could, then he would be an a par intellectually with Elohim (Hebrew for God). For man, this is an impossible feat.

Moreover, for a man, or a men, regardless of the height of their intellectual capacities to quantify the “Godhead” in human terms would be a violation of the second commandment — idolatry or making a god in our own image. Man is incapable of comprehending much less explaining that which is uninvestigatable, uncomprehendable and unexplainable.

Having made these disclaimers, let me share with you what I tell people when they ask Continue reading →

 

Franklin Graham Urges Christians to Stand up for Their Faith Amidst a ‘Culture of Intolerance’

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From http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/franklin-graham-urges-christians-to-stand-up-for-their-faith-amidst-a-culture-of-intolerance.html at http://www.christianheadlines.com

Amanda Casanova | Religion Today Contributing Writer | Friday, October 23, 2015
Franklin Graham Urges Christians to Stand up for Their Faith Amidst a 'Culture of Intolerance'

FRANKLIN GRAHAM URGES CHRISTIANS TO STAND UP FOR THEIR FAITH AMIDST A ‘CULTURE OF INTOLERANCE’

“This was not about gun control,” Graham said in a column for Charisma News. “It was about a man filled with hate, especially for those who bravely and boldly confessed they were Christians. The shooter, who listed ‘organized religion’ as a dislike on his Facebook page, perpetrated a hate crime against the name of Jesus Christ and those who follow Him.”
Graham said that there is a “culture of intolerance” against Christians in the United States.
“From the media, to the courts, to this current administration, there has been a flagrant, disturbing mockery of Christian values and beliefs,” he said.
Graham referred to the bakers in Oregon who were fined for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex marriage. He also mentioned the florist in Washington who also would not provide services for a same-sex wedding.
“Who would have thought that, here in our own country, there would be less empathy for Christianity than for any other faith?” he said. “That God-fearing people who stand up for their biblical faith would be called bigots and be vilified while those who harass and mock Christians draw approval and applause?”
Today’s Christians need to take a stand against the “culture of intolerance.”
“Here’s what I know we can do: Like the courageous men and women at Umpqua Community College, in Roseburg, Oregon, we can stand up for our faith by unashamedly confessing Jesus Christ. They knew they would be killed when they stood and faced the gunman, and they stood anyway,” Graham said.
 

High School Football Player Penalized for Giving Glory to God after Scoring Touchdown

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We must pray people in this nation who go to such extremes to show their hatred for Elohim. In this case, it was a high school football referee. May the fear of Elohim come on this spiritually backslid and destitute nation!   Natan

From http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/high-school-football-player-penalized-for-giving-glory-to-god-after-scoring-touchdown.html at the http://www.christianheadlines.com

High School Football Player Penalized for Giving Glory to God after Scoring Touchdown

Veronica Neffinger | Editor, ChristianHeadlines.com | Friday, October 23, 2015
High School Football Player Penalized for Giving Glory to God after Scoring Touchdown

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER PENALIZED FOR GIVING GLORY TO GOD AFTER SCORING TOUCHDOWN

Christian Today reports that 17-year-old Dante Turo ran 73 yards to score a touchdown in a high school football game in New York over the weekend.
After scoring the touchdown, Dante raised one finger to the sky in a gesture of thanks to God for allowing him to make the play.
Immediately after, the referee penalized Dante 15 yards for “taunting” and “excessive celebration.” Dante, his father, and others who watched, were incredulous and did not understand why the referee would penalize Dante’s action so severely for such a simple gesture.
In video replays of the offense, it is clear that Dante raises one finger to the sky only for a couple seconds.
“I talked to the referee and told him I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious or arrogant—I was just trying to give praise to God. He [referee] told me, ‘don’t do it again,’” Dante said.
Dante’s coach argued with the referee, stating that Dante was only praising God and not taunting, but the referee stood by his claim.
Dante’s father also said that his son was not being overly arrogant, but on the contrary, he was taking a moment to give God the glory so he would not become arrogant.
“When you score touchdowns, when you make big plays, it’s easy to become proud,” Geno stated. “It’s easy to take credit for yourself. I didn’t want my son to get caught up in that.”
In speaking of the referee’s decision, “It troubles me,” Geno said. “I think people have forgotten that we settled in this land to flee religious persecution. We’re supposed to have religious freedom here. But it seems like instead of religious freedom we are being persecuted for our beliefs.”
Dante has vowed not to let the referee’s warning deter him from giving glory to God. If he scores another touchdown, “Without a doubt I will raise my finger,” he said.
 

Blog Scripture Readings for 10-25 Through 10-31-15

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THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Vayera — Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
Haftarah — II Kings 4:1 – 4:37
Prophets — Joshua 22:1 – 24:33; Judges 1:1 – 4:24
Writings — Psalms 21:1 – 27:14
Testimony — Matthew 14:1 – 18:20

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 10/25 through 10/31/15.

 

Unlocking Some Mysteries Relating to the Kingdom of Heaven

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The Ruach just gave me this teaching starting last night as I was falling asleep reading the  Bible that I keep on my night stand next to my bed. I finished it this morning and am now passing it on to you. I hope you enjoy it.

As a teaser to read this article, I finally understand why Yeshua uses leaven — usually a biblical metaphor for sin — in a positive sense (the only place where this occurs in the Scriptures) as a metaphor for his kingdom.

porta sull ecologia

Matthew 13:1–58, Yeshua unlocks fundamental mysteries pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. 

Let’s sytematically analyze this amazing chapter section-by-section to see if we can unlock some deep mysteries pertaining to the kingdom of Elohim. Continue reading →

 

Many Called; Few Respond — Yeshua Desires Quality Over Quantity

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Matthew 13:14, Hearing you will hear. In Yeshua’s Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3–23), we are confronted with the difficult issue about who will receive the gospel message and thus enter into the kingdom of heaven and who will not. Put into modern vernacular, Yeshua is discussing who will receive YHVH’s free gift of salvation resulting in immortality and who will die in his sins to perish for eternity.

Yeshua’s discussion all started when his disciples asked him why he taught the people using parables. To them, it was as if he were deliberately obscuring the gospel message.

A superficial reading of his response in verse 15 to their question may imply not only a lack of impartiality but a brutal selectivity on the part of Elohim when it comes to determining who he will choose to receive the gift of salvation including the gift of immortality. If this is the conclusion one draws from Yeshua’s response, then what he said contradicts other scriptures that indicate Elohim’s unconditional love for the whole world and his desire that all be saved (John 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 2:9).

The fact is that a thorough reading of this passage shows us another important truth, which in no way impugns the character of Elohim, but instead leaves the onus on man.

After giving this parable, Yeshua quotes Isaiah the prophet (Isa 6:9–10), where we learn that it’s up to the individual as to how far they want to go with Elohim spiritually. All humans have eyes and ears to see and hear, but merely seeing or hearing doesn’t equate with understanding or perceiving. Sadly, many people want to dabble in religion, or to have a Continue reading →

 

The Significance of Circumcision

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Genesis 17:1, 22, YHVH appears to Abraham and establishes circumcision as a sign of the covenant. 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, YHVH appeared [ra’ah meaning “to see, look, behold, show, appear, observe, have vision, present oneself, be seen”] to Abram, and said unto him, I am El Shaddai; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

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YHVH proceeds to lay out to Abraham the terms of the Abrahamic Covenant including circumcision and the fact that Sarah would give birth to a son with whom YHVH would also establish his covenant. When YHVH was done Scripture records the following in verse 22,

And [YHVH] left off talking with him, and Elohim went up [alah, to go up, ascend, climb, depart] from Abraham. (KJV)

And when He had finished speaking with him, God ascended from upon Abraham. (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach)

And He ceased speaking with him; and the Glory of the Lord ascended from Abraham. (Targum Jonathan)

And when He had ended to speak with him, the Glory of the Lord ascended up from Abraham. (Targum Onkelos)

And be left off speaking with him, and God went up from Abraham. (LXX)

This text does not state how YHVH appeared or spoke to Abraham, just the fact that he did. According to the Hebrew rules of biblical interpretation (and the rules of common logic when reading anything), a scriptural text is to be taken at its literal or plain (peshat) meaning, unless the text itself suggests an allegorical (drash) or mystical (sod) interpretation. The Talmud (the Jewish Oral Law) states this in Talmud b. Shabbath 63a ( … that a verse cannot depart from its plain meaning”) and Talmud b. Yevamoth 24a (“Although throughout the Torah no text loses its ordinary meaning …”). Therefore, it is evident that YHVH appeared to Abraham in some tangible form with which humans are capable of interacting. If he did so once, we have to ask, cannot he do it again in the Person of Yeshua of Nazareth, the Messiah?

Let’s note some reasons why YHVH chose circumcision to be the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Remember, physical circumcision is not passé, but is still a requirement for those desiring to be priests in YHVH’s future (spiritual?) temple (Ezek 44:7, 9):

  • It is a token or sign of spiritual things—a sign that always goes before us. (Gen 17:11)
  • It signifies purification of the heart from all unrighteousness by cutting away a piece of the flesh that would otherwise be a carrier of filth and disease.
  • It is a holy seal of righteousness—the foreskin removed is round like a ring. A ring signifies a bond or union and is worn constantly even as the seal of circumcision is worn constantly.
  • Circumcision occurs at eight days of age. Eight is the number meaning new beginnings. A new heart, a consecration of the person to YHVH; the commencement of a covenant. (Gen 17:12)
  • The rite of circumcision is painful and humiliating. So is repentance and self denial of which circumcision is a picture.
  • From the penis flows the seed of life. Circumcision is a sign that the seed should and could be righteous and consecrated to YHVH.
  • In Romans 4:11, Paul teaches us that circumcision is a sign, mark or token, and a seal (placed on someone) or an impression or stamp made by a signet ring signifying ownership. Circumcision spoke of Abraham’s righteousness and the faith he had in YHVH and YHVH’s “ownership” of Abraham. A modern-day example of this would be the marriage ring. One can be legally married without wearing a ring; however, a wedding ring is an outward and visible sign of one’s marriage covenant. The same is true of circumcision. It’s not a salvational requirement, yet it’s an outward sign of an inward spiritual reality.

The Scriptures make it clear that circumcision is not a requirement for salvation (see Acts 15) or else women couldn’t be saved. Circumcision is, however, an act of obedience that indicates one’s identity with the Abrahamic Covenant model of salvation and with the people of Israel. Additionally, the Torah makes it clear that circumcision is required for all men who desire to take Passover, and those who do not keep the Passover will be cut off from Israel (Exod 12:47–48), although in the New Covenant, circumcision of the heart is now the chief requirement (Rom 2:25–29; Gal 6:15; Col 2:11).