Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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Christ Is God
Chapter 34 – Christianity!
What is the alternative to Trinitarianism? Christianity!
Trinitarianism – which is the official religion of institutional Christianity – is is actually churchianity. It was formulated and imposed to preserve the church as an institution. To be worthy of its name, however, Christianity must be about Christ – not us.
Trinitarianism or Christ – that is the choice.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Biblically speaking, Christianity is “the Way”! This name is used in the book of Acts five to seven times, depending on how you count them. Here’s an example of Paul using the term.
Acts 24:14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;
The source of this term – “the Way” – is obvious:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus defined the faith He taught in terms of Himself and His Father. Jesus is the Way to the Father.
The first-generation church – the bride of Christ – died giving birth to the kingdom of God. I’ll explain this in the two short books I plan to write next:
- The One True Church
- The Kingdom of God Is Here and Now
For now, let’s recognize that the New Testament carries a tension that must be resolved. That tension can only be fully resolved by believing that the Second Coming occurred when and as Jesus said it would. The tension cannot be resolved by man-made theological philosophies like Trinitarianism.
The tension to which I’m referring is this: The Old Testament consistently and emphatically stated that there was only one true God. Yet the New Testament consistently and emphatically exalts a second figure – Jesus. And exalts Him so much that it becomes increasing hard to distinguish the two.
The Second Coming resolves this tension by revealing Christ to have been God Himself in the flesh. You will see this unfold in the chapters that follow.
Remember that the fulfillment of Psalm 110:1 began this tension by exalting Jesus to a position so close to God – such that we capitalize the nouns and pronouns associated
Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
The word “until” is critical. Paul said that the last enemy to fall would be death.
1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Therefore, “Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet” becomes the same length of time as “until death is abolished.”
This would be the point when the second half of Jesus’ prophecy at His trial would be fulfilled.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Thus it is the Second Coming that resolves the tension.
God’s answers are perfect.
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