P
Pax
Guest
Reformed,
By the way, I agree with everyone else…your comments about the Eucharist were simply offensive.
By the way, I agree with everyone else…your comments about the Eucharist were simply offensive.
- Status
R
Reformed
Guest
Did you determine your physical birth? If you answered no, why do you think you can determine your spiritual birth? Our parents did not determine our physical birth either.
Genesis 20:18
For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Genesis 29:31
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
1 Samuel 1:5
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.[1]
1 Samuel 1:6
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28’For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ - Acts 17
R
Reformed
Guest
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' - Acts 17
R
Reformed
Guest
Do you think you can support your commentary with the Holy Scriptures? If you cannot support your view with the Bible, all you have is personal opinion. You cannot just ignore Scripture.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day…No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:37-39 and 44
Romans 9
God’s Sovereign Choice
9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, [1] my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [2] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel [3] be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.”
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness [4] did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
R
Reformed
Guest
John 1:12-13
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God – to those believing in his name, who – not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but – of God were begotten.
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God – to those believing in his name, who – not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but – of God were begotten.
R
Reformed
Guest
John 2-3
The Wedding at Cana
2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [1] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers [2] and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
The Wedding at Cana
2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. [1] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers [2] and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
R
Reformed
Guest
You Must Be Born Again
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus [3] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [4] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [5] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You [6] must be born again.’ 8 The wind [7] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you [8] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [9] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [10]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world, [11] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” [12]
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus [3] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [4] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [5] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You [6] must be born again.’ 8 The wind [7] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you [8] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [9] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [10]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world, [11] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” [12]
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
R
Ronald_E
Guest
I will go through John with you. Please be patient with me for being slow in the process. I have many commitments and little energy left at the end of the day. My best time is early morning.
I love God’s Word.
R
Ronald_E
Guest
Which part of this would you like to focus on? I love it all.
G
guanophore
Guest
We are created in the image and likeness of God. That means we have the ability to choose. He has created it this way. It is an expression of His sovereignity.
I am surprised you would include this passage to support your point. It is one of the clearest that refutes the error of the Calvanist postion. It is clear from this passage that God created man with the ability to seek Him (even though we are dead in our trespasses and sins). It is also clear that we are made in His image and likeness, that we have within us a created desire to be close to Him.
Actuallly, this is not true. Just because others do not agree with your interpretation of the passages, that does not reduce them to “personal opinion”. You have departed from the Apostolic Tradition, so it seems like only “opinion” to you, but the Revelation of God to the Apostles is not simply “human opinion”.
We do not “ignore” the scripture. We just read it from the perspective of those who wrote it, rather than from a perspective that departed 1500 years later.
Catholics agree that it is by God’s will that we are born from above, and that this happens according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. We see that He has allowed the will of man to operate in this. Perhaps you can explain to me how it is possible for man to reject God’s purpose for himself, unless God allows that?
It seems that your exposure to Roman Catholics has been quite limited. Perhaps, also, they have detected your condescending adn prejudiced attitude, and recoil from that instead?
Indeed, your “perspective” has been made abundantly evident. If this is what “speaking the truth in love” represents, it is a grieviously pathetic state of affairs.
M
Mickey
Guest
You have made analogies of Zombies eating flesh and the Holy Eucharist. You are now saying that Scripture has “too much light for us to handle”.Please read posts 10 to 18 in context. Please focus on posts 16 too. Let’s try to stay within Scriptures and our Bible Study in the gospel of John chapter 1. Remember, it was Monkey who side tracked our study on the Eucharist, not me. If you guys continue to try to go off the chapter subject, I have to assume you are trying to derail our study because Scripture has too much light for you to handle.
You are cruel and uncharitable.
You have ended the Bible study.
M
mercygate
Guest
Hey! I’m still in chapter 1. The word for “among” in the phrase, “dwelt among us” is slippery. Depending on the context it can mean “in,” “among,” or “within.” So when we read this passage, we can read it as “dwelt in us.” It shows the Eucharistic mystery of Christ’s presence both “among” us and “in” us with his sacramental presence. The Incarnation, for Catholics, is forever with us.
G
guanophore
Guest
The others are not “altars”. It is a table, included usually becuase of tradition (custom) that has no sacrifice.
No. On the contrary, that is one reason it is called that.
1 Cor 1:23-25
23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
No. this has very little to do with the basis of the Reformation. It had far more to do with corruption in the clergy, and rebellion of the secular authorities against the teachings of the Church. The forces that drove it had more to do with politics, economy, (power and greed) than how the Bible is read.
You keep saying that you let the Bible speak for itself, then you post your Reformed perceptions of it. I wonder if you even realize that you do this. Then you insult the other Christians that you are supposedly “studying together with” by accusing them of being afraid of the Scriptures. This condescending attitude has colored the majority of your posts.
Jesus is gracious, and allows Mary to choose the time when His public ministry will begin. Who knows how many miracles He has done for her in the years before? Enough so that she can confidently come to Him and know that He will act. They both know that, as soon as He manifests Himself, it will be a straight shot to the cross. The special enjoyment “between me and thee” will be gone, and He will be given to the ministry, and eventually to the world in death. He gives Mary the chance to decide now is the time to let go. She facilitates His manifestation to His disciples. It was all downhill from there.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
G
guanophore
Guest
C’mon mercygate! Reformed has an agenda to keep up with. Get on pace, or you will miss the salvation boat!
M
Mickey
Guest
From Pascha until Ascension you will hear us shouting, “Christos Voskrese!” or Christ is Risen!"
We fast and and observe the Passion of Jesus Christ for 40 days during Great Lent. We celebrate the Risen Christ for 40 days from Pascha until the Ascension. The remainder of the year we are celebrating every aspect of the Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The Crucifix in our Churches sometimes have Jesus Christ on the Cross–sometimes not. Without the Passion, there is no Resurrection.
So please attempt to refrain from your ignorant prejudiced remarks. You are not fooling anyone here.
M
mercygate
Guest
C’mon mercygate! Reformed has an agenda to keep up with. Get on pace, or you will miss the salvation boat!
P
Pax
Guest
It appears that we are arriving at the impasse we left on the other thread concerning free will. Your question has faults in logic especially in light of the statement that you make concerning parents. I will leave it to you to critique your own question. Recognizing the faulty nature of this post “on your own” will help you along in the discussion. I would walk you through this, but I think you need to independently take the intellectual scalpel to your own thinking.
Why did you bother to quote from the Westminster Confession concerning the element of “free will” only to return to the same faulty premise?
R
Reformed
Guest
I too love the gospel of John. Comment on anything that you want to share with us. I sincerely believe that we all know in part and the Spirit illuminates truth to us for our transformation and God’s glory. I am very interested to hear from you. I read your personal information and I am curious how you went from Roman Catholic to Protestant at 18 and back to Roman Catholicism at 58.
P
Pax
Guest
In answer to your question of me, I will simply restate what scripture says and go no further. The passage says it all:
Jn 1:12-13
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Think about what I highlighted versus your contentions concerning free will.
Jn 1:12-13
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Think about what I highlighted versus your contentions concerning free will.
R
Reformed
Guest
You are always welcome to go back to a previous chapter. Let’s say we are on John chapters 1, 2, and 3. I find it very interesting that Roman Catholics find the Eucharist in John chapter 1. I look forward to John chapter 6. I assumed all Christians saw the verse that you have referenced as the incarnation. The very first part of chapter 1 validates and teaches the Trinity too.
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