Heaven , Hell, and Politics

Can the Doctrine of the Trinity be defended as a mystery?

2010-04-16T18:43:00.000-06:00

The Mystery Of the Trinity

I was recently asked during an Internet Discussion about the Orthodox Christian Doctrine of the Trinity with several people. Through this discourse, it ended up helping readers gain some valuable tools to understand and defend this doctrine. It is my prayer that you may likewise be helped and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

One person involved asked the question – how can God be one and yet three? Another was opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity. Then another participant ‘Bart’ stated the following truth:

The Trinity or Godhead reconciles all the elements you're noting with the understanding that God is three, yet one in essence. There's an element of mystery to it that transcends human experience…

The truth of the Trinity as being a mystery is a very biblical factual position. Below is my response and may it help you gain insight into the Doctrine of the Trinity justified from the perspective of being a mystery continued below:

…Adding to what Bart says about 'there being in the Trinity (the Godhead) an element of mystery to it that transcends (our own) human experience,' let us look at these two scriptures:

Isaiah 40:18 - To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Isaiah 40:25 - "To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.

Notice how the bible proclaims that there is none like the Lord as it is written elsewhere:

2 Samuel 7:22 - Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Psalm 86:8 - Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works.

Psalm 89:6 - For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?

Now think upon this for a moment :

If God is in the same likeness of oneness as any other false god or thing, then these bible verses are in error as this cannot be because there is none like God! There is no likeness that can adequately compare with God (see Isaiah 40:25).

That is why the Orthodox Doctrine (Christian) of the Divine Trinity is termed as a mystery because it retains and proves that there is none like God: One God in three distinct persons of one divine essence. Truly, None like Him!

If God were in the same image of oneness as any other false gods, items, or things then that would be in conflict with what Exodus 20:1-5 says. God is unlike all and therefore His oneness is unlike all other oneness’s out there. That is why the mystery of the Trinity retains the biblical injunction from Exodus 20:1-5 and is in no violation of this.

Further Evidence

This is in keeping with how in the bible God describes and how God reveals himself to be within the very pages of the bible. For a few more examples see below:

Read Isaiah 40:1-31 - on your own and note the usage of third person speech God uses when speaking of himself. Note verse 10 and 11 as well who is speaking in throughout this chapter and then note transition in verses 25-31 (Isaiah 40:25-31) noting the types and parts of speech used by the Lord when referring to himself)

Note Isaiah 59:16, “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.”

Isaiah 52:10, “The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.”

Isaiah 53:1, “…Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”

Isaiah 63:12, “Who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them To make for Himself an everlasting name…”

Psalms 98:1-9, "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God..."

Psalms 89:13-18

Look at Psalms 89:13- 15, You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face (pāniym). 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance (pāniym).”

Note that the Hebrew word pāniym: is a masculine plural noun with dual meaning. It can denote face(s) or countenance(s). Pāniym used here looks like it refers to the distinct attributes of the Son and Holy Spirit. (See reference notes below)

Notice in verse 14 how two words are used – 'mercy and truth' in NKJV and note verse 13 that three distinct parts from one essence is being revealed within the context of biblical symbolism: You Have (denoting essence), then strong is your hand/arm and then another hand also mentioned as being distinct by the phrase ‘High Right Hand.’

Next note how Mercy and Truth being mentioned in the NKJV text. After this explore what is recorded in John 1:14 about Jesus and what John 14:26, John 15:26, and John 16:13-15 says. Look at what Isaiah 53:1 states – to whom has the Arm of the Lord Revealed – then look at what Jesus says about the Spirit of Truth.

Yes, God is One and there is none like him in the type – essence - of his own oneness! There is in the Trinity (the Godhead) an element of mystery to it that transcends our own human experience... which is very scripturally founded.

Psalms 89:6 , “ For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?

There is no likeness that can adequately compare with God. The Lord is unlike all and therefore His oneness is unlike all other oneness’s out there conceived by man. That is why the Orthodox Doctrine (Christian) of the Divine Trinity is termed as a mystery because it retains and proves that there is none like God: One God in three distinct persons of one divine essence. Truly, None like Him!

Reference notes:

Bible quotes are all from the NKJV (New King James Version)

Regarding Pāniym – AMG Complete Word Studies Old Testament and from Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (re: face – Pāniym)

Also explore what the symbolism of Hand and Arm had as used in the Old Testament – what these represent. Is there anything too difficult for God?

Faith to Faith

2009-11-22T17:04:00.004-07:00

God promises us victory and new life after one becomes born again. Why does this victory and new life seem so hard in today’s modern world? Where are the blessings of God? Have you ever felt like this – Your faith becoming disheartened? Don't know what to do?

The next series of posts in the Comments Section looks into these matters helping restore, strengthen, as well as challenge us to move forward from Faith to Faith and Glory to Glory. These postings are from edited sermon transcripts from my travels over the course of the year so that you can find help from Christ Jesus in time of need.

Please Note: I had to stop posting for a while as my blog was hit hard by spam as well as delayed by recent travel and speaking engagements. I am still in process of cleaning out the spam. Thank you for the emails regarding this.

Also, I will continue the writings on the Old Testament Concept of God which show how the Trinity is indeed thoroughly soaked within the language of the Old Testament as posted in the March 2009 Archive per many of your request!

Due to unsolicited spam, if you would like to comment and post, please join, so I can clear you to comment or send me an email at: BryanMelvin1@aol.com

Also visit my website as well: afterhoursministries.com

God Bless!

Be sure to enter the Comments Section and find help and encouragement in time of need – stretch and expand your Faith Today

Old Testament Concept of God

2009-03-16T00:46:00.000-06:00

The following section contains writings on the Old Testament Concept of God which show how the Trinity is indeed thoroughly soaked within the language of the Old Testament. There God reveals Himself like no other!

Enter 'Comments' section to read more…

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If you would like purchase my Book - A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion

You can order through the following links:

Xulon Press

Amazon
Google Books

Or to order buy phone - call Xulon Press Toll Free at 866-909-BOOK (2665)

B. W. Melvin

Interesting Thoughts

2008-12-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

Questions and Answers:

The following section contains clips from various interviews and teachings from my testimony concerning the topic Hell and the Afterlife during the year 2008 such as:

Is the Afterlife really real? What about people who've never heard the gospel? How can we be absolutely sure we're going to heaven? Can the bible be true? What about….

Enter 'Comments' section to read more…

Eternal Recompense Fact or Fiction?

2008-02-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

Is the idea of eternal recompense fact or fiction? Would God eternally punish...

Find out more by entering this lively debate with those that support Annihilationism, Soul Death, Soul Sleep, and Universal Salvation, verses what Orthodox Christianity has to say on the subject of eternity and everlasting recompense. Learn if the reality of Hell and everlasting punishment is real verses those bent on ignoring Christ’s own words on this very subject.

This debate began several months ago…During the course of the debate two people recanted their beliefs in the doctrine of ‘Soul Sleep’ and ‘Annihilationism.’ Find out whom in Post 11.

Post 2 through 10 revolves around combating the errors of the ‘Soul Sleep’ and ‘Annihilationisms’ doctrines. Post 13 onward switch to debating ‘Annihilationisms Soul Death’ concept and Universalism. May sincere Christians who find themselves at odds against these doctrines learn from this debate how to answer the criticisms imposed by the adherents of ‘Soul Sleep, Annihilationism,’ and ‘Universalism.’

…Too find out more - read comments section…

Q & A 2008

2008-01-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

New Postings:

Due to numerous emails asking such questions as:

Why only Christians enter heaven, isn't that unfair?

Is there really a hell?

How can God be so...?

I am opening this Post to answer questions like these and more.

However, due to increase in spam I can only open Blog to those wishing to post by invite only. You can email me at BryanMelvin1@aol.com so I can clear you to post your questions as a guest on this Blog.

My apologies for any inconvenience this method may impose but this is the only way to keep spam off Blog.

God Bless!

Comments

2007-03-19T10:57:00.000-06:00

Do you agree with these two passages of scripture to be true or not?

Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." KJV

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." KJV

Question: Do you agree that God's word is powerful? Do you believe that God carries out his word and means what he says? Then why the controversy over…

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Links detailing Author's Book:

2006 Questions

2006-11-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

New Postings:

I received a privet email and the questions asked by the writer of this email regarding myself and my book contains many of the same questions others have asked. Therefore, in this section, I would like to share these with you as well as my answers...

Rambling Ideas and Comments

2006-10-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

Current Postings:

These are current post on whatever theological or secular topics that strike me as important to comment upon today. Enjoy!

B. W. Melvin is available for interviews, speaking engagements, web interviews for further information please see Contact Info listed at bottom of Blog.

Also,to read from a chapter from B. W. Melvin's Book - A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion

Please follow this link to Google Books - Link Here

B. W. Melvin

1 - Book Info - 2006 - Q and A

2006-07-16T11:09:00.000-06:00

Questions and Answers:

In this Section, feel free to post questions to me about my book or anything you like. For example, here is a question I received from a reader:

Why did you title the book – A Land Unknown: Hell’s Dominion?

Answer - B. W. Melvin:

The reason I titled the book is because the doctrine of Hell has become watered down and has become in essence – a land unknown to many. The doctrine of Hell and eternal punishment is fading in today’s modern culture. The relevance of both doctrines are often misunderstood and oft misquoted into obscurity. It is truly a land unknown.

Next, the title ‘Hell’s Dominion’ was chosen as a play on words and refers to Revelations 20:13-15 final outcome of Hell as a double entrée. What I mean by this is simple, Hell’s dominion, authority, power, and territory is temporary. It has an end that is just a beginning where it is stripped of its dominion, authority, power, and an eternal territory established for it. It is real. I wish none to end up in that terrible place.

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If you would like to read from a chapter from my Book - A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion

Please follow this link to Google Books - Link Here

Here you can read a description about what part of Hell looks like in vivid detail.

B. W. Melvin

2 - Heaven, Hell, and Politics

2006-04-14T16:23:00.000-06:00

The Near Death Experience, is it real, a fable, or product of imagination? Why have so many reported on this phenomenon in books, movies, and in the media? How come numerous recorded near death experiences seem to bypass Christian Theology in context and theme?

There are voluminous accounts of such near-death experiences recorded in articles, books, TV, and radio. Recently, even Barbra Walters made a special prime time TV report on Heaven. The History Channel also has posted several documentaries on the nature of Hell and the hereafter.

Of the many articles, books, TV, and radio median currently dealing with the near-death experience and the existence of Heaven and Hell, how many truly reflect a perspective on the afterlife that is easy to read or understand? Why do so few of these life-after-death experiences speak of divine judgment and Hell?

A Land Unknown: Hell’s Dominion is my autobiographical account of my own personal near death experience. Within its pages, you’ll encounter the horrors of Hell, obtain a glimpse of the mysteries of Heaven, gain insight into the topic of predestination, explore why God permits evil, and uncover a new hope and purpose for your life. It is a read unlike any other!

A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion is a book that explores these questions and more from the perspective of someone who is not cluttered with culturally preconceived notions of the afterlife. When my experience occurred, I was an Atheists flirting with a deist naturalist agnosticism. Afterwards, my worldview changed. I found a new purpose and meaning for my life and I am sure you will too after reading, A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion.

Here are Links detailing Book:

Press Release

Book Summery

Book Details

Amazon

The purpose of this Blog is to explore different accounts of the afterlife, examine various Doctrines of Christianity, and yes, even explore Politics! Let's Begin!

I would like to begin and open discussion on the topic of the Near Death Experience:

Do you believe in an Afterlife, Heaven, Hell?
Where do you stand?

3 - Heaven, Hell, Consequences, and Eternity

2006-03-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

There are many diverse views concerning Hell, punishment, and eternity today. So much so, that the existence of Hell is nearly all but forgotten, or simply glossed over, as one writer put it, “Hell has become air conditioned” in our modern world view.

Also, the surging tide of NDE (Near Death Experience) also interposes on the Christian doctrine of Hell. What are we to make of all this information?

Has the concept of Hell become marginalized, over emphasized, or basically forgotten? Hell – is it relevant today? Is it necessary? Is it a myth? Is it real?

The purpose of this post is to examine if the doctrine of Hell is relevant today. Some hold the universalistic view concerning hell and divine punishment, which states that no one will end up in hell being punished for eternity and all will end up in heaven.

Opposite of this is the annihilationist doctrine of hell and judgment. This doctrine basically believes that those found unworthy of God, and are evil, will not be punished for eternity but rather God's great mercy will annihilate these persons and they will cease to exist in some manner or another.

Then there is the traditional Christian doctrine of hell and divine eternal recompense. All these different views about hell and punishment create confusion. It is this confusion that creates controversy. Within this controversy the nature and purpose of hell is obscured from humanities sight.

If a murder wanted to poison a person, they would never let the victim know they were being poisoned. The mash would be disguised as something pleasant to the taste and pleasing to the sight so that the end result of death would remain hidden from the duped party’s vision. For this reason, one must make sure they are not being poisoned and lulled asleep by any artificial concept of hell that marginalize its significance to one’s eternal future.

With such an important topic concerning a person’s eternal destiny, would it be best to hope hell will just go away, or just have one cease to exist rather than be perpetually damned, or kinder to let all into the Glories of Heaven despite how they lived on earth?

I ask in my book regarding this, “What is Justice without consequence if consequences do not last?”

What is divine Justice? Is it real? A fable? Fact or fancy?

More on this later..

4 - Open Discussion on Religious Subjects - 2006

2006-02-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

This Post is for Open Discussion on Religious Subject matter and doctrine. Please be respectful of each other and hold malice towards none.

Comments on Predestination - 2006

2006-02-16T10:39:00.001-07:00

Predestination vs Free Will:

Please note - Near the end of this Blog section was hit by a spam bot advertising medications on it, sorry for the inconvenience. I am removing these but process is slow due to so many unauthorized postings.

The Calvinist – Armenian debate has created confusion. One side basically states that God selects people to be sent to Hell based on some sort of Sovereign arbitrary selection process. The other side says, no, God foreknows who are his and who are not – that people send themselves there. I know that this is an over simplification of both sides of this long standing debate but that is the basic premise for both. OSAS vs Arbitrary selection, what is the answer, if any to this debate?

Since my book dealt with this subject in part, I will begin to post brief writings on this topic that may help both sides see the beauty of God’s Sovereignty in a whole new light. It is my prayer that within these writings – the debate will cease being a debate and people find common ground.

B. W. Melvin
Author: A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion

Statement of Faith

2006-01-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

Statement of Faith

1. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Bible was written by men divinely inspired, it is the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

2. God is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - blessed Trinity.

3. God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, omnipresent, omnipotent, all knowing, First person of the Trinity.

4. Jesus Christ is true God and true man, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. He came to earth for the express purpose of paying the penalty for our sins. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised from the grave.

5. God the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, came forth to indwell, guide, teach and empower the believer, and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ.

6. All men and women are sinners, born with a sinful nature, separated from God, thus guilty before God, and are under His condemnation and in need of a Savior: The Lord Jesus Christ. A person must be Born Again through personal faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, and are thus eternally saved [John 6:47 and John 10:28] by God’s Grace.

7. At the time of Physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting glory and blessing. At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord in Hell and awaits the resurrection of his or her body to everlasting judgment and condemnation at the time of the final judgment as Revelations 20:11-15 proclaims.

8. The Church is a living spiritual body of which Christ Jesus is the head and of which all regenerated people are members. The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are Born Again.

9. Every believer is endowed with Spiritual gifts that are solely for the building up of the body of Christ, not for dividing it and causing dissension within. Christians are also called to live a life of holiness apart from worldliness and sinful practice which takes time and patience as I John 1:8-10 and I John 2:1-6 instructs.

Contact Info

2006-01-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

B. W. Melvin is available for speaking engagements and interviews

You may contact by email at:

BryanMelvin1@aol.com