The God of the Bible
Three Persons, One Being
The God of the Bible is not a man, nor did He come from humans. Numbers 23:19 states, God is not a man that He should lie, nor is He a son of man that He should rue what He has done. Has He not said and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not carry it out?
There is only one God. No others exist, nor have ever existed, beside Him, Deuteronomy 4:39. When Moses gave Israel the Law, he stated to Israel that God is One God, Deuteronomy 6:4. Through Isaiah, God states that He shares His glory with no one, Isaiah 42:8. The continuation of the nation of Israel shows that the God of Israel is the only One, for there are no others, 1 Kings 8:60.
The concept that God came from man or men become gods is a result of humans rejecting the knowledge of Who God is. Adam, Eve, and their children knew God, Genesis 4:4-5. They walked with Him. Noah and His sons knew God, Genesis 9:1. However, they decided that maintaining a proper understanding of Who God is was not something that was valuable to them, so they changed the glory of God into that of corrupt man, birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things, Romans 1:23. In their lack of appreciation towards God, they become futile in their rational, and their foolish hearts were darkened, Romans 1:20-21. Those who follow after false religions, including Atheism, have exchanged the truth of God for the lie, which is independence from God, and worship the creation instead of the Creator, Romans 1:25.
God is One and is not a human; however, being One, He possesses three persons. They are not three Gods, but One God. They all share in the same essence and, therefore, attributes as One Being. In Isaiah, the prophet is describing a vision in which he sees the seraphim, spirit beings that look like flames of fire, before the throne of God crying out to each other Holy, Holy, Holy, Isaiah 6:3. God does not accept vain repetition as worship, Matthew 6:7; therefore, repeating this phrase has meaning. They are stating that each Person of the Godhead is a separate (holy) Person: three Individuals Who are One Divine Being.
Before God created anything, the Godhead made a plan that involved salvation for humans. Within this plan it was determined that God the Son would wrap Himself in flesh and die on behalf of the sins of men to provide a way of salvation for them. In Hebrew, Israel knows the incarnate One as Yeshua (יְהֹושׁוּעַ); in Greek, the Gentiles came to know God the Son wrapped in flesh by Iesou (Ἰησοῦ), and in English, His name is Jesus. Jesus the Messiah (Christ) is God in the flesh. He is the radiance of the proper opinion and character of the essence of God the Father, for both are One Being, Hebrews 1:3. Jesus is not an angel, nor a created being. Jesus has obtained a name that is better than the angels, for God did not say to any angel, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”, Hebrews 1:5. However when He brought Christ to the world, He stated, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6. God the Son created all things, and was before all things, Colossians 1:16. He is as to character and quality Deity, John 1:1.
God is One Being Who exists in three Persons Who are revealed to us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are One Divine Being, yet wholly individual in their Persons. God the Father expresses to us that God is the source of all things. God the Son manifests God in the flesh so we can perceive the character of God. God the Holy Spirit emphasizes that the essence of God is Spirit. The Holy Spirit is specifically called God in Acts 5:3-4. Although the focus of the Old Testament was God being the source of all things, there are many instances where all three Persons are recognized as God. For example, the LORD on earth raining down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD in heaven, Genesis 19:24. The Spirit of God brooding over the earth after judgment came upon it because of Lucifer’s sin, Genesis 1:2.
Inner Burning (ἐνθύμησις)
Enthumesis (ἐνθύμησις) comes from a word that means inner burning (thumos – θυμος). By adding the preposition in (ἐν), it describes the burning within a person while not retaining the aspect of anger that thumos expresses.
During Christ’s ministry to Israel, a paralyzed man was brought to him. Seeing the man’s faith, Jesus told him to be of good cheer because He has forgiven his sins, Matthew 9:2. Immediately, some of the scribes said among themselves this was blasphemy. However, Jesus intuitively knew their inner burnings and asked them, “Why do you burn malignant evil in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4. Answering the inner burnings of their hearts Jesus states, “Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you or to say rise and walk?” Christ stated that this man’s sins were sent away so they would know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sin, Matthew 9:6.
The Pharisees were firmly against Jesus and took every opportunity they could to speak against Him. After Jesus released a man who was possessed by a demon that was causing him to be blind and mute, the multitude was amazed and questioned if Jesus could be the son of David. The Pharisees responded by claiming that Christ cast out this demon by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Jesus, being aware of their inner burnings, calls them out for their sons’ actions, who were casting out demons. If He is doing it by the authority of Beelzebub, by whose authority are their sons casting them out? However, the reality is that a house that stands against itself falls; therefore, since a demon was cast out, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Matthew 12:22-28.
After hearing that his wife-to-be was pregnant and considering how he was going to respond to this revelation, as Jospeh was burning within himself concerning this matter, an angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph is informed that he should not fear to take Mary as his wife, for she is pregnant with a child from the Holy Spirit and will bring forth a son, who they will call Jesus. This one will fulfill the words spoken to the prophet, “Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.” Matthew 1:20-23.
The Word of God is able to discern between the inner burning (ἐνθύμησις) and intent (ἔννοια) of the heart, Hebrews 4:12. There is nothing within us, even our formulated plans, that is hidden from God. The intent of the mind is different from the inner burnings of the heart. Although inner burning (ἐνθύμησις) is often translated as thoughts, it is not a term that relates to the mind; instead, it is the burning within the heart. This burning is not bad by nature; however, it can produce malignant evil, Matthew 9:4, or cause a person to think that the Divine Nature is likened to silver and gold or some shape or inner burning of men, Acts 17:29. God’s Word is able to discern between what is burning within us and the intent within our minds. When inner burnings are malignantly evil, they do not work out their intent when we are applying the truth. Our High Priest understands our struggle; therefore, we can enter into His rest and come to the throne of grace with confidence. Entering His rest is when we are in a state of ceasing from working for salvation. God’s attitude towards us is that we have a benefit without consideration of merit and, therefore, can come before Him to find mercy when the inner burnings become the intent because we did not apply a proper defense.
Enthumesis (ἐνθύμησις) is not referring to the thoughts or desires within a person; instead, it expresses an inner burning and, therefore, conveys the driving factor for what a person thinks and does.
Sheol (שְׁאֹ֖ול) – Hades (ᾅδης)
Where the worm does not die
Sheol is the Hebrew word that describes the place in the center of the earth where humans who have died reside. Within its compartments are unbelievers and some of the fallen angels who are bound, waiting for final judgment. Prior to the resurrection of Christ, all those who were saved resided in Paradise, which was in the upper chamber of Sheol. Hades is the Greek word for the same place, which comes across into English as hell. However, the English concept only refers to the lowest part of Sheol, where the unsaved humans reside.
Sheol has three chambers. The lowest part is where the fire burns (Deuteronomy 32:22) and the unsaved reside. This is the place where the worm does not die. Worm refers to the sin nature of a human, not a physical worm (Isaiah 66:24). The abyss is the holding area for fallen angels, and within the abyss is a pit for malignantly evil angels. Paradise is the residence of those who were saved before the resurrection of Christ.
During Christ’s earthly ministry to the Jews, the unbelieving ones kept pressing for a sign even though He had given substantial evidence to them that He was the Messiah. In response, Jesus states that no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, Matthew 12:39-40. In Peter’s first address to Israel after the resurrection of Christ, he quotes the prophecies concerning Christ and Hades. King David, who was a prophet of God, knowing that God had sworn to him an oath concerning his throne, wrote about the resurrection of the Messiah, stating that His soul would not be left in Hades, nor would His flesh see corruption. This is a quote from Psalm 16:10 in which Sheol is used. “Because You will not leave my soul to Sheol, nor give your pious one to see corruption.” Jonah cried out from Sheol after three days, Jonah 2:2.
In Luke 16, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, who were fond of money, by recounting the events that happened to a rich and a poor man. The rich man enjoyed life and fared well every day. The poor man sat at his gate, seeking the crumbs from the rich man’s table. At the end of the beggar’s life, he was taken to Paradise; however, when the rich man’s time on earth was through, he was taken to the lower part of Hades. From there, the rich man could see Lazarus, the poor man, resting with Abraham. Crying out, he requested for Abraham to send Lazarus to him with a bit of water to cool his tongue, for he was in torment, Luke 16:24, because this is the place where the worm of the unbelievers, their sin nature, does not die, Isaiah 66:24. Abraham points out there is a chasm between them making it impossible to pass over, Luke 16:26. This is not a parable, which are intended to hide the truth from those who do not believe, Matthew 13:10-11. Christ is speaking of actual events and a real place.
The pit of the abyss, or chasm, is where the demons are released from by Satan during the last few months of the Great Tribulation Period, Revelation 9:1-3. It is from the abyss that a demon is permitted to bring back the man of lawlessness’ soul and spirit to resuscitate him when he is assassinated at the midpoint of the tribulation, Revelation 11:7. Within the pit of the abyss, Satan will be bound for a thousand years during the Millennial Kingdom, Revelation 20:3.
After the resurrection of Christ, He led captivity captive, freeing those in Paradise from Hades and moving it to the edge of the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.
Hades will not prevail against the Church because the saints in Christ will never enter Sheol, Matthew 16:18. When we die, we reside in the presence of the Lord in the third heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God on the throne. 2 Corinthians 5:8; Colossians 3:1.
Sheol and Hades describe the place in the center of the earth where unsaved humans and fallen angels await judgment at the Great White throne when the dispensations of men are finished, and God brings all things into subjection to Christ, creating a new heavens and new earth in which righteousness will settle down and feel at ease, Revelation 20:11; 21:2; 2 Peter 3:13.
The Truth Will Set You Free
In the Gospel of John, the author records a statement from Jesus to the Jews who believed Him. If they abide in His word, they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.
Therefore, Jesus said toward the Jews believing Him, “If you abide in My word, truly you are My disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
The response of the unbelieving Jews was to refute their need for freedom immediately. However, all those who sin are slaves to sin, John 8:33. The sin referred to here is not the acts of sin that a person does. Instead, it is specific to the sin nature of a person. All those doing sin (the act of lawlessness) are slaves to the sin [nature].
As the steward of our dispensation, Paul is given instructions on how to have victory over the sin nature. In Romans chapters six through seven, he writes of his experience with applying the doctrine of the truth in comparison to how the law works against the sin nature. Through this, we clearly understand what Jesus was referring to as the truth. The truth is a specific doctrine that frees a person from slavery to commit sin so that he is able to produce righteousness.
The first aspect of this doctrine is to know. Those who abide, feel at ease, in His word must know it.
Know that we have died with Christ and have been raised to walk in newness of life.
Or do you not know that as many as have been immersed into Christ Jesus, into His death have been immersed? Romans 6:3
Therefore, we have been buried with Him through the immersion into the death, in order that just as Christ was raised out from the dead through the proper opinion of the Father, thus also we in newness of life should walk. Romans 6:4
This knowledge brings the understanding that since Christ’s death is attributed to all who are in the Christ, His resurrection is also imputed to them. The Christ is the new creation God made in raising Jesus, in which Christ is the head and the Church is His body, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:22-23. All who believe the gospel for salvation, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, are immersed into the body of the Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, and, therefore, Christ’s death and resurrection are credited to them. Thus, since we have died with Christ and are raised to walk in newness of life, the sin nature has been rendered ineffective. In Christ, we are no longer bound to obey the sinful desires that plague us. Instead, we have the freedom to act righteously.
experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature]. Romans 6:6
Our next logical step is to take God at His word and reckon Christ’s death and resurrection to ourselves.
Thus also, you should reckon yourselves to be dead. On the one hand [to be dead] to the sin [nature], on the other hand, living ones to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11
Since we have died to our sin nature in Christ and are raised to walk in newness of life, we are to yield our members to righteousness rather than permitting our sin nature to use them as instruments of unrighteousness.
Therefore, stop letting the sin [nature] reign as king in your mortal body unto obedience to its desires. Neither present your members instruments of unrighteousness to the sin [nature], but present yourselves to God as out from the dead being living ones, and your members instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:12-13
Although we are not fully redeemed at this time, therefore, we still struggle with the desire to do wrong, we have a part of us that cannot be corrupted.
Your souls have been purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit in unhypocritical fondness of the brethren, love one another fervently out from a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides into the age. 1 Peter 1:2-3
God’s seed has been placed in us; therefore, we cannot habitually sin.
Everyone born out from God does not habitually sin, because His seed abide in him and he does not have the inherent ability to habitually sin because he is born out from God. 1 John 3:9.
When we apply the truth, we use the part of us that is saved to overcome the sin nature by taking God at His word and walking in the newness of life we have in Christ as we seek to follow the desires from the Holy Spirit, which are in direct contrast to those of the sin nature. We cannot sin when we are doing the desires from the Holy Spirit.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you desire. Galatians 5:16-17
Law does not produce freedom. The sin nature uses law to deceive us and make it impossible to live out the righteousness we have in Christ.
For the sin [nature] taking opportunity through the commandment deceived me and through it [the commandment] it killed. Romans 7:11
Through law we gain the full experiential knowledge of the sin nature.
Therefore, what will we say? Is the law sin? May it never come to be! But the sin [nature] I would not have experientially known except through law, for I would not intuitively known the covetousness, except the law said, “Do not covet.” But the sin [nature] taking the occasion through the commandment, worked out in me all covetousness, for apart from law sin [nature] is dead. Romans 7:7-8
Through grace, we obtained the ability to walk by the Spirit, freeing us from slavery to sin, which law could not do.
I am a wretched man. Who will rescue me out from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord; therefore then, I, myself, on the one hand with the mind, serve to a law of God, on the other hand with the flesh, [serve] to a law of sin. Then now there is no condemnation to the ones in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of the sin [nature] and the death. Romans 7:24-8:2
Know – Reckon – Yield. The truth sets us free to live a life of righteousness in Christ and reject the desires of our sin nature to do wrong.
The Fall of Cain
In Genesis 4:7, God instructs Cain concerning the rules of his household. After God rejected the work of Cain’s hands as an offering, Cain was very angry. In response, God lays out the rule by which Cain is expected to govern his life.
And if you do good, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do good, sin lies at the opening, and its desire is unto you, and you are to rule over it – Genesis 4:7.
This is the first time in Scripture we are introduced to the sin nature. The sin nature describes the human nature bent by Adam’s fall. Through Adam’s trespass and sin, his nature became bent towards doing what is wrong, for although Eve was thoroughly deceived, Adam was not, 1 Timothy 2:14. Adam passed on this bent nature to his offspring, Genesis 5:3. Therefore, even though as humans we now inherently possess the knowledge of good and evil, we are all born with a nature that is separated from God in our spirit and bent towards wrong. However, with this knowledge, we are also to rule over our nature, not permit it to rule over us.
After Cain does not heed God’s instructions and slayed his brother as a sacrifice, he was punished. The works of his hand will no longer produce good, and he is to wander the earth, never possessing a homeland to reside in. In Cain’s response, we again encounter the sin nature when he states, “My perversity is greater than I can bear.”
And Cain said to the LORD, “My perversity is greater than I can bear.” Genesis 4:13.
In Genesis 4:7, the word for sin is in a specific form typically used for a sin offering. However, it is not restricted to only for a sin offering. חַטָּאת (hat-ta) is also used for the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 18:20. When Jacob questioned Laban concerning what sin he had committed against him, חַטָּאת (hat-ta) is used, Genesis 31:36. Since the law had not been implemented at the time God gave instructions to Cain and used this form for sin, we cannot impose the meaning of a sin offering upon it. Until the law, even though sin was in the world, it was not imputed because there was no law, Romans 5:13. Instead, this form is used to emphasize the sinful human nature, which sought to rule over Cain.
עָוֹן (a-won) expressed perversity, which describes an action that is willfully in opposition and resistance to what is right, expected, or reasonable. This is the primary Hebrew word that is used to describe the human nature after the fall of Adam. In Genesis 4:13, some English translations use the word punishment; however, the concept of punishment is expressed in a couple of different ways. Discipline or chastening, Leviticus 26:18. Avenge, Exodus 21:20. Therefore, in Genesis 4:13, Cain is not questioning his punishment but crying out because of his perverse nature that resulted in him killing his brother. Genesis 4:13 does not say, “And Cain said to the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” Genesis 4:13 states, “And Cain said to the LORD, My perversity is greater than I can bear.”
Although we are born spiritually separated from God, which means in our rational we lack understanding concerning spiritual things, when a person yields to their bent nature, as Cain did, their mind becomes corrupted to the point that the conclusions are contrary to the truth, Romans 1:28. When Cain rejected God’s instructions, the result was a determination in his mind that sacrificing his brother because Abel’s works were righteous and his were malignantly evil, 1 John 3:12, was an appropriate response to God’s rejection of his sacrifice.
not as Cain who was out from the malignantly evil one and slayed as a sacrifice his brother. And why did he sacrifice him? Because his works were malignantly evil and his brother’s righteous.
In the same way, the sin nature negatively impacts the minds of those who reject God today, professing themselves to be wise while becoming foolish in their minds, worshiping the creation and changing the incorruptible God into the image of corruptible man. They exchange the truth for Satan’s lie of independence from God, dishonoring their own bodies and going after vile passions, Romans 1:24-27,
Wherefore, God handed them over in the desires of their hearts unto uncleanliness to dishonor their bodies among themselves, whoever exchanged the truth of the God with the lie, and reverenced for themselves and rendered religious service to the creation rather than the Creator, Who is well spoken of into the ages, Amen. Because of this, God handed them over into dishonorable passions, for both the females among them exchanged the natural use unto that which is against the nature. Likewise both also the males sent away the natural use of the female, caused to be kindled in their longing unto others of the same kind, males among males working out for themselves the disgraceful and receiving the recompense that is necessary concerning their wandering among themselves.
and possess a mind in which no value is found, Romans 1:28.
And just as they did not approve worthy to have the God in full experiential knowledge, the God gave them over to an unapproved mind to do what is wrong,
The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans
Nicolaitans is a transliterated word; therefore, there is no English equivalent. We must look back at the original language and translate its meaning into English to understand what it expresses. Nicolaitans (Νικολαΐτης) is a combination of two words: victory (νῖκος) and people (λαός). By compounding these words, they communicate a victory over the people; therefore, it is a person who holds a position of authority over the people.
The concept of the Nicolaitans doctrine comes from the Jews and the priestly structure under the law. From the very beginning of the Church, it is a false doctrine that continually attempts to creep into the local assemblies. The apostle John writes of this doctrine while addressing the first of the seven assemblies in the book of Revelation. Those in Ephesus were indifferent to the Nicolaitans doctrine, even though some attempted to impose it.
But this you have, that you are indifferent to the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also am indifferent to. Revelation 2:3.
In Christ, the distinctions of sex, class, and race have no value; instead, it is the new creation, Galatians 6:15. This new creation is the body of the Christ, in which Christ is the head and the Church is His body, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22-23. Within the body of the Christ, there is no separation based upon any of these statuses, for we are all part of one body, 1 Corinthians 12:13. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is distinct from the Mosaic law, which implemented a priesthood and specific classes of people. However, in the local assemblies of the Church, the Pastors and other leaders are not separated from the congregation.
In its full form, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is found in Catholicism and her daughters. In a more subtle form, it is found within elder-ruled assemblies and those who merchandise the saints.
But I have a few things against you because you have there those grasping hold of the doctrine of Balaam, who taught to Balak to cast a scandal before the sons of Israel, eating things offered to idols and fornicating. Thus, likewise you also have those grasping hold of the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Revelation 2:14-15.
The Nicolaitans doctrine is in direct contrast to the doctrine of the Christ. Any assembly with a board separated from the people and not fully liable to the congregation partakes in this type of false doctrine. The position of a Pastor is not as the head of the Church, for that spot solely belongs to Christ, Ephesians 1:22. Instead, he is an overseer of healthy doctrine so that the assembly comes to a oneness of the faith unto maturity in Christ, 1 Timothy 3:1. He has no authority to lord over the assembly, 1 Peter 5:1-3. A Scriptural assembly structure is managed by deacons appointed by and answering to the congregation, with a pastor serving as an overseer in doctrinal matters, Acts 6:3-4.