I haven't had internet for a few days..but here is a couple updates I wrote...
Tonight as I was tucking Racheal and Esther into bed I asked them if they had any questions before they went to sleep. I expected to hear maybe a simple question like are we doing math or english tomorrow, but what I heard surprised me. Esther said, “yes, I have a question. When the world is over will Jesus send stairs down from Heaven for us to climb up?” I tried to simply explain to them that when Jesus returns he will gather all his people together and we will go straight into his presence, while the wicked will remain on earth for awhile until God's wrath on earth is complete, and then all will go to Heaven or Hell for eternity. Which we all agreed is too hard to understand. Racheal's response was, “Some people think it is a punishment to die, but it is just because God wants us to be in Heaven with him.” Wow..I want her to speak at my memorial service! Racheal also said.. “I have another question. Did God send Jesus to earth or did Jesus send himself? Because there is only one God, but how come there is Jesus and the Holy Spirit and God?” I tried the egg explanation and we discussed the Trinity for a few minutes, before deciding that it is just too hard for us to really comprehend and we will have to wait until we get to Heaven to see God and ask him...which we are all excited for. These are my favorite moments on tour :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Greetings Angela
I know that there is no need to remind you of the awesome responsibility of training up children in the way of the Lord and the joy that it brings.
Indeed the Scriptures declares:
(Deu 6:4-7) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
The above verses (which the Jews call The Shema) define who their GOD is.
Jesus, himself, the Messiah, quotes this verse as the foremost (first) of all the commandments in Mark 12:28-34.
My point is: have you noticed that in these verses which are Jesus' creed (therefore, as Christians, followers of Christ, this ought to be our creed); there is no room for a trinity?
Note the scribe's response:
(Mark 12:32) And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
It is obvious then, that neither Jesus nor the scribe were trinitarian.
If Jesus was never taught such a concept as the trinity when he was a child in light of Deut 6.4-7 (the first of all the commandments), then is it right that we teach such things to children??
Surely we ought not to!
Jesus' creed stipulates that GOD is ONE i.e. ONE Being, ONE Person, for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And Jesus identifies his Father as
the only true GOD.
[John 17.3]
Paul concurs ...
(1 Cor 8:4) ... that there is none other God but one.
(1 Cor 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; ...
So, there is solely ONE GOD, the Father.
A child can easily understand that.
Indeed, this was the understanding of the early church:
TO US there is but one God, the Father
There is simply no need for egg explanations and the such like, because Jesus and his disciples simply taught:
that there is solely ONE GOD, namely, the Father.
With all due respect, this is what Racheal & Esther need to hear. For this is what Jesus was taught when he was a child, and this is what he now teaches us all, through the Scriptures.
Indeed, children are wonderful? The way they think, and the kind of questions they ask
i.e. "When the world is over will Jesus send stairs down from Heaven for us to climb up?”
Well, Angela, it is time for a rethink! :-)
Because, in actuality, Angela,
the Bible does not teach that we are going to Heaven, but rather,
that Jesus is coming down to us on Earth!!
(Rev 5:9-10) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
That is why Jesus will descend from Heaven!
[1 Thess 4.16]
Yes, the saints are caught up.
But why? Why are the saints caught up? To go to Heaven? No!
Rather, to meet Christ in the air.
[1 Thess 4.17]
The saints shall meet him as he descends to inaugurate the Kingdom of GOD here upon the earth.
[Dan 2.35,44; 7.14,27. Luke 1.32-33, 19.11-27. Acts 3.20-21. Rev 5.9-10]
Hence we pray "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
[Matt 6.10]
And this prayer will finally be answered when Christ returns.
GOD indeed will give him the throne of David and Christ shall reign over this planet from Jerusalem.
So, this world will never be over as such.
Rather, this present evil age will end & this planet will be renewed & restored.
[Acts 3.20-21, Isa 66.22]
And the saints will reign with Christ in the Kingdom of GOD.
That's what the Gospel (Good News) of the Kingdom of GOD is all about!
[Matt. 24.14]
:-)
For more info on this subject,
please read:
The Simplicity of the Christian Message
Concerning John 14:1-6
And on the topic of the Trinity, I thoroughly recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
So, Angela, I may have surprised you with my response. However, I assure you that these points, are indeed scriptural; that
1) There is no such thing as a Trinity ... there is solely ONE Being, ONE Person,
who is Almighty GOD, and that's
the Father!
2) There is no going to Heaven, rather GOD Almighty will send Jesus back to Earth, who will then raise the dead saints/believers from the dead, who will in turn, be caught up to meet Jesus as he descends; and together, they shall reign in the Kingdom of GOD here upon the earth
(the earth will be restored & renewed).
Truly and sincerely, Rachael & Esther; in fact, us all,
need to be taught and to understand these things!
There are some other points, but let's leave those for another time.
Please be Berean [Acts 17.10-11] about the points made in this post,
and please view the video.
Let me know what you think.
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
The Human Jesus
Post a Comment