JESUS calls US to be
members of His church

The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide.

Ray, -- Thanks for this challenging article. I have never prayed to the Holy Spirit, but have sung to him. I appreciate the work he does in my life.

Of course, God the Father is the directing force. God the Son has now been given all authority. The Spirit is their gift to us. I currently believe that the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all God, not separate gods. The Spirit is God's power. God the Son, was first God the Word. In creation, God the Father willed it to happen, God the Word spoke this will, and God the Holy Spirit executed and empowered the will.

I don't like the explanation of "God in three persons." As I understand it, and I am no Greek scholar, the better English word that would explain this thought would be "personas" rather than "persons." In other words, God wouldn't separate himself into three thrones. It only took one throne before the Word's birth as the Son. Now, until Christ's return, God places that persona, in the person of Jesus Christ, on another throne.

Upon the end of death, time, the earth, and all creation, Christ returns all authority to God. God returns to one throne with all his personas embodied there.

Therefore, when I sing to the Holy Spirit, I am glorifying this empowering work of God in my life. Since the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and God the Son are all personas of the One True God, I am simply glorifying each of these personas, and their role in my life. In other words, I'm worshipping God regardless of the persona I mention.

Of course, we should only pray to God the Father. This is the persona that has directed the creation and order of all things.

Let me end by saying I may discover at a later date on this earth or in Heaven that everything I just stated is wrong. If so, I'm glad that the blood of Jesus will cover my misunderstanding. I'm just trying to serve and worship God to the best of my ability, as are you and others who may find themselves at other understandings of this issue.

The ones in trouble are those who deny the deity of Christ. This is a life and death matter. I'll look for you in Tulsa.

Your brother, -- Rick Prugh -- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Rick,

Good. I'll hope to see you then. Leroy Garrett is the one who caused me to wonder whether there really is a separate "person" who is the Holy Spirit. Seth Wilson long ago pointed out understandably that Jesus did not pray to Himself while on earth -- that there are obviously at least TWO in the "godhead."

In promising that He would SEND the Spirit, Jesus did not make clear (as far as I can see at least) that the Spirit was God the Spirit. The description is the Spirit OF God (just as Jesus is the Son OF God, so that's not really any explanation, I guess). But the parallel is that that which is within us is God's Spirit and/or Christ's Spirit. Intriguing!

But some build a great deal out of Matthew's use of the combined Father-Son-Holy Spirit name in connection with baptism. And then we have those brethren who, because the text always says that baptism was actually performed in the name of JESUS (only) that it's wrong to actually pronounce the names of the three when the baptism is being done.

It is clear that no mention is made in Revelation (about Heaven and eternity) of a separate person or "persona" of God who is the Spirit -- we see only the Father and the Lamb who is the Son and the Word of God. Yet surely we DO see the TWO enthroned in Heaven. Not important, perhaps, but surely an intriguing matter! -- Ray

I didn't ask Rick, but those who have sung a PRAYER surely didn't turn off their praying ability just because it was singing rather than talking, did they? Prayer isn't just talking aloud, I think.

     From: Given O. Blakely <GivenB@aol.com>
Date sent: Thu, 14 May 1998 ~ Subject: THOUGHT -- It Is All In the Son

FRIDAY ~ May 15th, 1998 ~ From The Word of Truth Publication

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
by Brother Given O. Blakely
THE ELECTION OF GRACE

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (KJV). "In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice" (NASB). "So too, At the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (NIV). -- Rom11:5

Devotion 15 of 18 ~ IT IS ALL IN THE SON! ~ Were it possible to remove the Son from the picture, there could be no "election of grace." No one, in any age, could be accepted by God if Jesus did not "lay down His life, a ransom for all." The patriarchs and those under the first covenant were received because of their faith in God, and their anticipation of the coming "Seed," or Messiah.

Salvation is "in Christ." Acceptance is "in Him." That is because of "the election of grace." God charged Jesus with the total responsibility of resolving the human dilemma. He "sent the Son" into the world. Humanity did not ask for God to send His "only begotten Son." It was a divine initiative. The Father commanded Jesus to lay His life down, then take it up again (John 10:18). Jesus spoke ONLY what God told Him to say (John 8:28,38; 12:49).

The Father "honored" the Son by raising Him from the dead and giving Him all authority in heaven and earth (John 8:54; Rom 1:4; Matt 28:18; 1 Pet 3:22). The Father is relying upon the Son to "bring many sons to glory" (Heb 2:10), and if He does not do it, they will not be brought! All the glory of God's house has been placed upon Him, and Him alone (Isa 22:22-24)!

Chosen in Him ~ The "election of grace" becomes effectual exclusively in Jesus Christ. In Him we are chosen, and only in Him! As it is written, "According as He hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Eph 1:4). Jesus is "the elect" One; our election is by virtue of our union with Him.

"Before the foundation of the world," God's consideration was basically of Christ Jesus. It was "in Him" that He determined to bring a vast number of people to Himself out of every kindred, and tribe, and nation! That means the entire Gospel initiative is designed to get people into Christ. God's aim is not to correct social ills, or bring recovery to political structures. His target is not the stability of the home, the school, the city, or the nation. His objective is, and always has been, to provide a way for us to be "in Christ," where His electing grace is realized.

It should not be necessary to say this, but social issues are resolved indirectly (if resolvable) by abiding in and maintaining fellowship with, Jesus Christ.

The saved of the earth are the products of God's own work. We are what we are because of His activity, not our own. We enter into the work, we employ our minds, and engage in labors for our God. However, it is only because of His work that we do so.

When it comes to giving credit, we confess with Paul, "For we are His workmanship ("what He has made us, NRSV), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). On a more personal level, all believers can confess, "I am what I am by the grace of God" (1 Cor 15:10).

Notice the centrality of Christ: our recreation took place "in Him." No one out of Christ is a new creation, and no one in Christ is NOT a new creation. "If ANY MAN be in Christ, he IS a new creature" (2 Cor 5:17). That is another way of looking at "the election of grace." Whatever view we may have of election or predestination, the Lord Jesus Christ had better be at its center. If He is not, then the view is simply wrong.

PRAYER POINT: Father, how I thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. He settled my past, has secured my future, and is stablizing me in this present evil world. I confess I can do nothing without Him, and am nothing apart from Him. ~ In joyful expectation of glory,
~ Brother Given O. Blakely  

To move on to Viewpoint Study #1, click here.
    Additional Comments on Brief Sample Bible Study from Ray Downen. Gluttons for punishment can find some in the following file that's somewhat about this same subject. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.