Hi Alex,
This has been an issue that I have been extremely interested in as well. Ray stated in his letter to the forums, dated July 27, 2011:
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,13370.0.htmlAnyway, I have finally started to write on my research paper. I have tentatively chosen for the title of this paper: "Solving the Enigma of God" which is a slight change from my original title "The Enigma of God Solved." I felt that my first choice of titles too presumptuous, seeing that I don't want to come across as having totally solved this problem, as I doubt anyone will completely solve just Who God is. What we can do is eliminate all of the popular theories of Who God is, including: [1] a trinity of three different persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, [2] a dual God consisting of Father and Son, excluding the Holy Spirit, and [3] the Father only, excluding both the Holy Spirit and the Son.
All three of these theories are wrong and unscriptural, though there are millions who are convinced that God is either #1 or #3. God is neither #1, #2, or #3, and I can prove it. There is no problem with excluding the Holy Spirit from the divine Godhead. The problem or enigma lies with the fact that the Scriptures clearly show that Jesus and His Father have Both existed from the beginning; Both are credited with creating the heavens and earth; Both exhibit all of the qualities of Deity; and Both are called God Yet the Scriptures state a dozen times that there is but ONE GOD! That's the enigma that needs solving. It's not that the proponents of these three theories are evil or stupid, but rather they do not harmonize all of the Scriptures. There are major Scriptural problems with all of the popular Christian theories as to just Who constitutes the divine nature of God--the Godhead.
The theory which comes closest to blaspheming the Name of God, however, is the 3rd one which not only totally denies the deity of Jesus, but lowers Him to nothing better than a lucky Jewish boy who grew up to age 33 without sinning. He was admittedly an outstanding citizen, an honor to His race, but nothing more. All those who have been hoodwinked into believing such an incredible lie will be be so embarrassed when they learn the truth that they will want to crawl under a rock and hide! I assure you all, that when the time came to die for the sins of the world, the Father did not say: "Son, YOU DO IT--I'll watch from up here."
Notice how he said that a Dual God (two beings, but one spirit) consisting of Father and Son is UNscriptural.
The Scriptures clearly state that there is no one else but the Lord: (Isa 45:5, 45:18, 44:8, 46:9, Deut 4:35, 4:39, 32:39, 1 Kings 8:60, Joel 2:27)
Yet our Lord
seems to make a distinction between Himself and the Father: (John 14:28, 14:12, 16:16, 1 Cor 15:24-28, Heb 1, etc)
There is
seemingly a contradiction, but we know that Scripture does not contradict. I have a suspicion to what the answer is, but I don't want to say just yet because there are still some holes - especially Hebrews chapter 1.
We also have verses such as:
John 4:24 God is Spirit
vs
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit
Col 1:13 ...the
Son of His love,
Col 1:14 in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of the sins,
Col 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,
Col 1:16 because in him were the all things created, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth, those visible, and those invisible, whether thrones, whether lordships, whether principalities, whether authorities; all things through him, and for him, have been created,
Col 1:17 and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted.
vs
1 Cor 8:6 yet to us is one God, the Father, of whom are the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are the all things, and we through Him;
As well as:
Rom 11:34 for who did know the mind of the Lord? or who did become His counsellor?
Rom 11:35 or who did first give to Him, and it shall be given back to him again?
Rom 11:36 because of Him, and through Him, and to Him are the all things; to Him is the glory--to the ages. Amen.
Notice how it is the Lord in two passages, then it is the Father in another.
Like I said, I have an idea, but I don't want to say due to Ray not finishing his paper yet.
I'm also starting to suspect that all those verses that say, "For no man hath seen God" - the word "seen" wasn't the best choice. It is the greek word "horao" which means to "perceive"/"to discern clearly" - not as in "to see" with physical eyes.
In Him,
John