In order to understand the dual nature of God as both Spiritual and Flesh, one would have to understand the oneness of God. In I Corintians we can again prove that Jesus Christ is the one and only Lord God Almighty.
I Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Translation: Grace be unto you, and peace from God who is our Father in his Spirit form and from his manifestation as the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh.
I Corinthians 1:6-31
Under what name were you baptized? This is another occasion wherein Paul admonishes the saints to speak the same things. The Church had started to be divided because some of the saints were talking about whose teaching and whose discipleship they were under. Paul let them understand that Christ is not divided, and he, Paul, was not crucified for them. Verse 13-15. Paul lets them know that they were not baptized in the name of Paul.
This lets us know that the baptisms were carried out in a person’s name. Therefore, Paul is giving us an indication that the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the one who was crucified for their sins (Acts 2:38).
Jesus will destroy the wisdom of the wise. How will Jesus destroy the wisdom of the wise?We have theologians, writers, unbelievers and disputers who will try to use the wisdom of this world to prove that Jesus is not the only God. They will for example, use the Trinitarian doctrine to try to prove that there are three persons in God and that Jesus Christ is just one of them.
Paul says in II Thessalonians 2:9-11 that Satan will deceived them because they would not believe. God will send them strong delusions so that they will believe a lie rather than the truth. God will take the knowledge of all these brilliant theologians, scholars, professors, preachers and evangelists who don’t believe Jesus is the only God and show them how foolish they are. These “so called,” brilliant minds will try to explain who Jesus is and how to be born again. Not realizing that their teachings are the complete opposite to the teaching of Paul and the apostles.
In Romans 16:17-18, Paul warns us to avoid them because they don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ. They will have great speeches which will satisfy themselves. These same speeches will also deceive simple people. In II Timothy 4:10, Paul wrote to Timothy that there would come a time when they won’t endure sound doctrine and they will turn away from the truth and will believe fables. The Trinitarian doctrine is a doctrine of fables. It is not a sound doctrine, its not in the Bible, it can’t be explained and it can’t be understood. This doctrine is not a cohesive doctrine. The foundation of the Trinitarian doctrine is that there are three persons that make one. It’s incomprehensible how scholars can believe in such a doctrine because it’s definitely not true. Simple logic tells us that three persons can’t be one God. There is only one God and one Person in the Godhead – period. (Hebrews 1:3). How many times must God say it? When will we believe God’s report?
Look at Deuteronomy 6:4, Luke 2:11, Hebrews 1:3. Do you see one Lord and one Person? Why is it that scholars and theologians will try to develop their own method of salvation, using a Trinitarian formula in speech and baptism? They will tell you, all you have to do is to say, “Lord Jesus come into my life,” and you are saved. They don’t say anything about repentance, baptism in Jesus name for remission of sins, nor the reception of the Holy Spirit according to the first act of salvation in Acts 2:38. They will baptize in the titles of God and not his name because they don’t know him. – Matthew 28:19. God’s method of salvation is foolishness to them.
They have perverted the gospel and the foundation which is based on the name of Jesus Christ “The Rock of our salvation.” Jesus Christ is the only God and the only name whereby we must be saved. Again, to them, Jesus being the only God and that you must be baptized in his name is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:20, 2:14).
In the end, Jesus will destroy the wisdom of the wise and prudent and make them look like fools. He will prove that there is one God and that he is that one God and his name is Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour (Isaiah 43:10-13). If Jesus Christ has to prove the gospel to you at his coming, how will you explain your unbelief at the time of his visitation?
The wisdom of this world doesn’t know God, therefore, he will tell them who he is by the foolishness of preaching and it will please the Lord to save them that believe. Why is preaching foolishness? (I Corinthians 2:7). It’s foolish because believers already know and understand that salvation is in Jesus name and that Jesus is the only true God. (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14, I Timothy 3:16, I John 5:20, Jude 25, Revelation 1:8, 22:13). Preaching is for sinners to come to Christ and he will save them if they believe. On the other hand, if you don’t believe, preaching won’t help you. We should always understand that the wisdom of God is a mystery.
I Corinthians. 2:7-16
The wisdom of God is a mystery. The mystery of God that is referred to in these passages is the mystery that Jesus Christ is God himself who walked on this earth. If Satan and his princes of this world would have had the full ramifications of God’s plan of salvation, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (II Corinthians 5:19).
God has given us the revelation and mystery of Jesus Christ by his Spirit because the natural man can’t understand how Jesus can be the God in heaven, the same God on earth, the same God who was crucified, the same God who was received back up into Glory, and the same God who came back down in the form of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Christ). Three manifestations of the one God – Jesus Christ – I Timothy 3:16. The only way a man can learn and understand this mystery is by God’s Spirit. Apollos was taught the mystery of God by his relationship with Paul.
I Corinthians. 3:7-8
The relationship of Paul and Apollos. According to the scriptures, Apollos was an exciting preacher who was talented and highly educated. However, he only knew what John had taught him. In John’s teachings, Apollos knew that God (The Christ) would come in the flesh according to the Old Testament scriptures (Isaiah 40:3). Apollos and John taught repentance and baptism to prepare the people for the arrival of the Kingdom of God.
When Apollos met Aquila and Priscilla, they taught him a better way of understanding the scriptures based on the teachings of Paul, which was repentance, baptism in Jesus name for remission of sins, and reception of the Holy Spirit. I’m sure that Apollos searched the scriptures to see if this teaching lined up with the Word of God (Acts 18:24, 25). Once Apollos was convinced that Paul, Aquila and Priscilla were correct, he started preaching and teaching the more perfect way (Acts 2:38). According to the Bible, Apollos didn’t try to prove Paul wrong. He just searched the scriptures to prove him right. Apollos was so excited about his new found knowledge that he started to preach publicly that Jesus was The Christ (God)(Acts 18:27, 28).
When the scriptures say, “The Christ,” it means the anointed flesh of God (The one and only God himself). “The Christ” and God are used interchangeably in the scriptures. The Jews and all the apostles knew according to Jewish teachings that there is only one God. Therefore, they knew that Jesus had to be God “The Christ,” the same God in the Old Testament who would come in the flesh (Isaiah 40:3, 43:10-12, I Corinthians 10:4, John 1:1, 3, 10,14). They easily received the understanding of “The Christ” because their understanding came from the Spirit of God that dwelt in them.
I Corinthians 3:16-23
The Spirit of God dwells in you. This scripture proves that the Spirit of God that dwells in us and gives us the understanding of the mystery of God is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Look at how the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ are used interchangeably in this scripture. The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit that dwells in our bodies. Yet this scripture says the Spirit of God dwells in our bodies. The Spirit of Christ is Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God is Jesus Christ. One God, one name, same Spirit (I Corinthians 6:17). We should not glory in the wisdom and traditions of men because they are foolishness to God. The craftiness and foolishness of man tells us there are three persons in one God – this is vain and unwise counsel (Colossians 1:14-19, 2:8-10). There is only one God and one Lord – Deuteronomy 6:4, Luke 2:11. Jesus Christ is God’s body and he is one Person and one Lord (verse 23, Colossians 1:14-19, 2:9). We should follow the doctrine of the apostles.
I Corinthians 4:16
We should follow the doctrine of the apostles (Acts 2:42). Paul had told the saints on many occasions that they should not stray from the faith. They should follow him. The gospel that Paul preached was that Jesus is God, “The Christ,” the Son of God that was promised. He taught the method of salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ. According to the apostles doctrine, the application of the death, burial, resurrection and the blood of Jesus Christ is through repentance, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the promise and this is the born again scripture (Acts 2:38) that validates the teachings of Paul and the apostles. Paul understood the operation of the Spirit and he understood how God raised up the Lord.
I Corinthians 6:14
God raised up the Lord - Look at this: The Spirit of God/Spirit of Christ will raise the Lord and will also raise us up by his own power (I Corinthians 6:17). This scripture is complex to an unbeliever because they will see two separate persons. What you see is that God the Father will raise the Son. This is true but these are not two separate persons. Let’s look at this from a believer’s perspective. Christ will raise himself up (John 2:19). The Spirit of Christ which is God, will raise up the flesh of Christ which is God’s flesh. This is the operation of two manifestations (Spirit and flesh), yet one God. Jesus Christ is the one God who will perform this one operation through the Spirit of Christ (God) (Romans 8:9,10,11). The Spirit of Christ, used interchangeably with the Spirit of God, dwells in us. This is the short version. The Spirit of Christ which is the Spirit of God will raise up the body of Christ and the bodies of believers who have died in Christ. This is also proof positive that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ.
Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the one God in his Spirit form who raised his natural body, flesh, in the resurrection. This miracle is the operation of one God.
I Corinthians 8:6-7
There is one God. The Old Testament and the New Testament proclaims the oneness of God. Jesus Christ is the Father and the one mighty God who visited the earth in the flesh (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:10, 14, John 14:9). Jesus Christ created all things in heaven and earth, and he and he alone is God (John 1:10, Colossians 1:14-19). How is it that all men won’t believe the revelation of these things based on the scriptures?
If one would only believe in the name and doctrine of Christ, then they would be saved. Believers will repent, get baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sins, for a good conscience toward God, then receive the Holy Spirit (I Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38). In the Revised Standard Version and the Twentieth Century New Testament Version of the Bible, good conscience is translated as “clear conscience” toward God.
Remember, salvation is built on the name of Jesus Christ, the Rock, by baptism which gives us a clear conscience toward God (Acts 4:12, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Colossians 3:17). Jesus Christ is the rock of Israel and the Rock of our salvation.
I Corinthians 10:1-4
Jesus is the Rock (God) of Israel. The first thing we must understand is that God is the Rock of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:1-4). Let’s look at II Samuel 22:2-3. God is our rock, our salvation and our Saviour. Wait a minute, our Saviour? How many saviours do we have? Isn’t Jesus Christ our Saviour (Luke 2:11)? God is the rock of our salvation (II Samuel 22:47). Guess what? That’s right. According to the New Testament, Jesus is the rock of our salvation. Look at this: (II Samuel 22:32). For who is God, save the Lord? And who is a rock, save our God? How can the Bible be more explicit than this? These scriptures show us without a doubt that God is our rock and that rock is our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Psalms 18:2, God again explains to us that he is our rock, deliverer and the horn of our salvation. Look at Psalms 18:31. God tells us again the same thing that he said in II Samuel 22:32. For who is God save the Lord? And who is a rock save our God? Who is God save the Lord. One Lord = Jesus Christ = Jesus is Lord God Almighty. (Acts 10:36, Revelation 1:8,11, 22:13).
Now that we have established that God is the rock, let’s get an understanding through the scriptures that Jesus is that Rock and that Jesus is the only God. Look at this scripture: (I Corinthians 10:4). “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Guess what? Christ had not been born yet. God is letting us know through Paul that the name of his Spirit is Jesus Christ (the Rock of our salvation). In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus gives Peter the keys to lay the foundation of salvation on his name which is the Rock. Let’s look at Acts 2:38. The foundation of salvation is laid on the Rock – Jesus Christ. How was the name and Rock, Jesus Christ, used in salvation?
The name and Rock were used by the baptism in Jesus name for remission of sins. The name of Jesus Christ is the Rock of our salvation. Upon this Rock Jesus built the Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Why would God say that the gates of hell would not prevail? In my mind, God knew in his infinite wisdom that Satan would try to destroy the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The true gospel message is wrapped up in Acts 2:38 and God will not allow Satan to destroy it.
Therefore to understand what God is saying and how the message of salvation is built on a rock, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the same God and the same Rock who talked to Moses, the prophets, and Paul on Damascus Road (Luke 24:27). He is our refuse, the horn of our salvation and our Saviour. Jesus Christ is the one who followed the children of Israel out of Egypt, in his Spirit form, as the Father (I Corinthians 10:4). Therefore, salvation is built on the power of Jesus name by baptism. Jesus Christ is the one God of our salvation and The Rock of Israel.
This scripture in Corinthians is so plain that sometimes I wonder, how many scriptures does God need for one to believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only true God of heaven and earth.
Look at this: John 13:19, 20. Jesus says, whomsoever I send, in my Spirit form as the Father, receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth the God that sent me. Jesus is saying I’m God and I sent myself, in the flesh, as the Son of God. And whosoever receives the Son, receives the Father also (I John 2:21-23). Why? Because the Father is in the body of Jesus (Colossians 1:14-19, 2:9). If you receive the Son, you will receive the Father because Jesus is the Father (Isaiah 9:6, John 14:9). There is only one Spirit and one body.
I Corinthians 12:13
One Spirit and One body. Just in case someone would want to believe that there is more than one Spirit, this scripture will set the record straight. There is only one Spirit for salvation. After we are baptized in his name (one body), we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of Christ (one Spirit, one name). Look at Acts 2:38 to see how God carries out this mysterious operation for the salvation of mankind, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. All people and all nations must be baptized into the body of Christ in water and receive the Spirit of Christ to receive salvation (to be born again). Compare this understanding with John 3:5.
Also notice how these born again scriptures are interconnected and have the same meanings. Paul continued his teachings of the Deity of Christ in II Corinthians.
This is an edited excerpt from my book, "Understanding the Trinity, Three Persons vs Three Manifestations. To order call 1888-280-7715.
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