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Wesrock
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When what you say is not consistent with Trinitarian Christianity and the doctrine of the Church.
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EndTimes
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Scriptures and the Magisterium are indeed United with God and therefore the Church… !
Is there anything within what I’ve posted of Them which are False?
How about first returning to Jesus’ Words and those of The Church … and at the least - show us that you Understand them ?
Is there anything within what I’ve posted of Them which are False?
How about first returning to Jesus’ Words and those of The Church … and at the least - show us that you Understand them ?
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Wesrock
Guest
I. "I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD"
200 These are the words with which the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed begins. the confession of God’s oneness, which has its roots in the divine revelation of the Old Covenant, is inseparable from the profession of God’s existence and is equally fundamental. God is unique; there is only one God: “The Christian faith confesses that God is one in nature, substance and essence.”
201 To Israel, his chosen, God revealed himself as the only One: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Through the prophets, God calls Israel and all nations to turn to him, the one and only God: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other… . To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. ‘Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength.’”
202 Jesus himself affirms that God is “the one Lord” whom you must love “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength”. At the same time Jesus gives us to understand that he himself is “the Lord”. To confess that Jesus is Lord is distinctive of Christian faith. This is not contrary to belief in the One God. Nor does believing in the Holy Spirit as “Lord and giver of life” introduce any division into the One God:
We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal infinite (immensus) and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.
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Wesrock
Guest
This is false and contrary to Church teaching. They are not two divine beings or two beings.They might be better viewed as Two - United as ONE in Spirit - Via the same Holy Spirit - with an extra focus upon UNITED… as in Two Beings melding together in their Hearts - in spirit.
Also it seems to ignore that the Holy Spirit is as much a person as Father and Son. But that’s not the main issue I’m harping on as I don’t know whether you meant that or not.
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EndTimes
Guest
A journey down the rabbit hole of Semantics whilst avoiding answering my Question to you re:
What Scriptures and Church Magisteriun Themselves - have to say… ?
Trinity refers to Persons… 3 Persons…
Beings works as well - as in, God the Supreme Being…
I’ll ask you again to consider this: for the purpose of showing your Understanding of Jesus and Church
Consider: this portion of Jesus’ Prayer of Petition TO His Father…
I am not myself the source of the words I speak to you: it is the Father who dwells in me doing his own work. […] .The glory which thou gavest me I have given to them, that they may be ONE, as we are ONE; I in them and thou in me, may they be perfectly ONE.
ALONG WITH THIS CHURCH TEACHING from the CCC:
"ONE Body"
790 Believers who respond to God’s word and become members of Christ’s Body, become intimately UNITED with Him
791 The body’s UNITY does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In the building up of Christ’s Body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only ONE SPIRIT who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the Church."
What Scriptures and Church Magisteriun Themselves - have to say… ?
Trinity refers to Persons… 3 Persons…
Beings works as well - as in, God the Supreme Being…
I’ll ask you again to consider this: for the purpose of showing your Understanding of Jesus and Church
Consider: this portion of Jesus’ Prayer of Petition TO His Father…
I am not myself the source of the words I speak to you: it is the Father who dwells in me doing his own work. […] .The glory which thou gavest me I have given to them, that they may be ONE, as we are ONE; I in them and thou in me, may they be perfectly ONE.
ALONG WITH THIS CHURCH TEACHING from the CCC:
"ONE Body"
790 Believers who respond to God’s word and become members of Christ’s Body, become intimately UNITED with Him
791 The body’s UNITY does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In the building up of Christ’s Body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only ONE SPIRIT who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the Church."
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Wesrock
Guest
The words person and being cannot be substituted for each other when discussing the nature of God. As we said earlier, the Church’s teaching on Trinitarianism and also on the dual natures of Jesus Christ is not explicit in scripture. We use the same verses you are using but to different conclusions. The Magisterium is what authoritatively interprets and applies both Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, and it is from both that the Church’s teaching on Trinitarianism was developed. What you are proposing is very similar to the teachings of Arianism, which was explicitly condemned at the councils of Nicea and again at Constantinople.
You still haven’t said what denomination you are. You profess adherence to the Magisterium but I’m not sure you’re actually Catholic.
The 11th Council of Toledo proclaimed, “For, when we say: He who is the Father is not the Son, we refer to the distinction of persons; but when we say: the Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, and the Holy Spirit that which the Father is and the Son is, this clearly refers to the nature or substance”
The Fourth Lateran Council declared, “In God there is only a Trinity since each of the three persons is that reality — that is to say substance, essence or divine nature. This reality neither begets nor is begotten nor proceeds; the Father begets, the Son is begotten and the holy Spirit proceeds. Thus there is a distinction of persons but a unity of nature. Although therefore the Father is one person, the Son another person and the Holy Spirit another person, they are not different realities, but rather that which is the Father is the Son and the Holy Spirit, altogether the same; thus according to the orthodox and catholic faith they are believed to be consubstantial.”
At Nicea the word homoousios rather than homoiousios. A minor difference in spelling, a massive difference in theology. Father and Son are the same Divine Substance or Essence. They are not similar, but the same.
You still haven’t said what denomination you are. You profess adherence to the Magisterium but I’m not sure you’re actually Catholic.
The 11th Council of Toledo proclaimed, “For, when we say: He who is the Father is not the Son, we refer to the distinction of persons; but when we say: the Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, and the Holy Spirit that which the Father is and the Son is, this clearly refers to the nature or substance”
The Fourth Lateran Council declared, “In God there is only a Trinity since each of the three persons is that reality — that is to say substance, essence or divine nature. This reality neither begets nor is begotten nor proceeds; the Father begets, the Son is begotten and the holy Spirit proceeds. Thus there is a distinction of persons but a unity of nature. Although therefore the Father is one person, the Son another person and the Holy Spirit another person, they are not different realities, but rather that which is the Father is the Son and the Holy Spirit, altogether the same; thus according to the orthodox and catholic faith they are believed to be consubstantial.”
At Nicea the word homoousios rather than homoiousios. A minor difference in spelling, a massive difference in theology. Father and Son are the same Divine Substance or Essence. They are not similar, but the same.
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Wesrock
Guest
And as I quoted from CCC 202:
We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal infinite (immensus) and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.
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EndTimes
Guest
In other words,
nothing of which I’ve posted from Scriptures and Church Magisterium - could possibly be False…
Since you’re apparently avoiding commenting UPON Jesus’ Words and those from the Church from your personal Understanding of them - I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps your personal Understanding (which is what this Thread is about) is lacking…
Scriptures and the Magisterium are a Part OF The Church!
Curious if one Knows, and I Quote:
"the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body."
Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, are the very Sources of Church Teachings!
It may appear to some that I toss random selections; I’m not.
They all implicitly connect with the 3 Persons… and therefore are a part of a larger body of Knowledge - to be gleaned from throughout all of Scriptures…
FROM SIMEON PETER, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ
*Grace and peace be yours in fullest measure, *
through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and true religion, enabling us to know the One who called us by his own splendour and might.
FROM PAUL, SERVANT of Christ Jesus, apostle by God’s call, set apart for the service of the Gospel.
**This gospel God announced beforehand in sacred scriptures through his prophets. **
It is about his Son: on the human level he was born of David’s stock, but on the level of the spirit—the Holy Spirit—he was declared Son of God by a mighty act in that he rose from the dead:
nothing of which I’ve posted from Scriptures and Church Magisterium - could possibly be False…
Since you’re apparently avoiding commenting UPON Jesus’ Words and those from the Church from your personal Understanding of them - I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps your personal Understanding (which is what this Thread is about) is lacking…
Scriptures and the Magisterium are a Part OF The Church!
Curious if one Knows, and I Quote:
"the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body."
Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, are the very Sources of Church Teachings!
It may appear to some that I toss random selections; I’m not.
They all implicitly connect with the 3 Persons… and therefore are a part of a larger body of Knowledge - to be gleaned from throughout all of Scriptures…
FROM SIMEON PETER, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ
*Grace and peace be yours in fullest measure, *
through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and true religion, enabling us to know the One who called us by his own splendour and might.
FROM PAUL, SERVANT of Christ Jesus, apostle by God’s call, set apart for the service of the Gospel.
**This gospel God announced beforehand in sacred scriptures through his prophets. **
It is about his Son: on the human level he was born of David’s stock, but on the level of the spirit—the Holy Spirit—he was declared Son of God by a mighty act in that he rose from the dead:
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Wesrock
Guest
I’ve already provided you with my own comments and explicit proclamations of councils, councils which are the Magisterium of the Church in action. Your refusal to tell me what denomination you are is simply causing me to believe you are arguing in bad faith. I’ve definitively shown what the Magisterium teaches. You reject it, so stop saying you follow it and tell me what faith you follow so I know on what level I should be engaging you.
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EndTimes
Guest
Wesrock… Of course I clearly see that that’s basically all you’ve been doing…
Yet that still does not show anyone reading this what degree you understand what my various selections from Scriptures and Church Magisterium are - which directly address God, His Son, and His Spirit… ?
Some others - following this thread - are reading Scriptures and Magisterium pertinent to things I’ve said…
Yet that still does not show anyone reading this what degree you understand what my various selections from Scriptures and Church Magisterium are - which directly address God, His Son, and His Spirit… ?
Some others - following this thread - are reading Scriptures and Magisterium pertinent to things I’ve said…
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Wesrock
Guest
And one of the things you’ve said is directly and explicitly rejected by Nicene Christianity. You said you followed and accepted the Magisterium, so I provided you with teachings of the Magisterium showing your error. If you lied and are arguing in bad faith it is not my error for providing you with what you said was an acceptable source for you. If you are not Catholic or Orthodox and reject Nicene Christianity you should say so so we can find common ground to discuss.Wesrock… Of course I clearly see that that’s basically all you’ve been doing…
Yet that still does not show anyone reading this what degree you understand what my various selections from Scriptures and Church Magisterium are - which directly address God, His Son, and His Spirit… ?
Some others - following this thread - are reading Scriptures and Magisterium pertinent to things I’ve said…
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Fauken
Guest
The wording of this is in fact in violation of Trinitarian theology as held by the Catholic Church and proclaimed as truth by the Magisterium. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Father is God. One God in three persons, all equally God.God, His Son, and His Spirit… ?
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EndTimes
Guest
Still Evading Catholic Church Magisterium and Scriptures - which continues to make we wonder IF you actually accept these Catholic Church Teachings or Not?
I stand with the SOLID Foundations of Catholicism:
Do you actually expect me to answer your questions whilst you continue to dance past mine - ignoring them?
I started this thread. The Onus is upon you to answer my questions to you…
Do you accept this from JESUS and His Church
as Truth or Not ? A Simple yes or no can suffice…
"It is for your good that I am leaving you. If I do not go, your Advocate will not come, whereas if I go, I will send him to you.
When he comes, he will confute the world, and show where wrong and right and judgement lie. He will convict them of wrong, by their refusal to believe in me; he will convince them that right is on my side, by showing that I go to the Father when I pass from your sight; and he will convince them of divine judgement, by showing that the Prince of this world stands condemned.
’There is still much that I could say to you, but the burden would be too great for you now. However, when he comes who is the Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but will tell only what he hears; and he will make known to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, for everything that he makes known to you he will draw from what is mine. All that the Father has is mine, and that is why I said, "Everything that he makes known to you he will draw from what is mine."
AFTER THESE WORDS Jesus looked up to heaven and said:
’Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee. For thou hast made him sovereign over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. This is eternal life: to know thee who alone art truly God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
’I have glorified thee on earth by completing the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in thine own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world began.
’But it is not for these alone (The Apostles) that I pray, but for those also who through their words put their faith in me; may they all be one: as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee […] The glory which thou gavest me I have given to them, that they may be one, as we are one; I in them and thou in me, may they be perfectly one.
"It is for your good that I am leaving you. If I do not go, your Advocate will not come, whereas if I go, I will send him to you.
ALONG WITH THIS CHURCH TEACHING from the CCC:
“ONE BODY”
790 Believers who respond to God’s word and become members of Christ’s Body, become intimately UNITED with Him
791 The body’s UNITY does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In the building up of Christ’s Body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only ONE SPIRIT who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the Church."
I stand with the SOLID Foundations of Catholicism:
Do you actually expect me to answer your questions whilst you continue to dance past mine - ignoring them?
I started this thread. The Onus is upon you to answer my questions to you…
Do you accept this from JESUS and His Church
as Truth or Not ? A Simple yes or no can suffice…
"It is for your good that I am leaving you. If I do not go, your Advocate will not come, whereas if I go, I will send him to you.
When he comes, he will confute the world, and show where wrong and right and judgement lie. He will convict them of wrong, by their refusal to believe in me; he will convince them that right is on my side, by showing that I go to the Father when I pass from your sight; and he will convince them of divine judgement, by showing that the Prince of this world stands condemned.
’There is still much that I could say to you, but the burden would be too great for you now. However, when he comes who is the Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but will tell only what he hears; and he will make known to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, for everything that he makes known to you he will draw from what is mine. All that the Father has is mine, and that is why I said, "Everything that he makes known to you he will draw from what is mine."
AFTER THESE WORDS Jesus looked up to heaven and said:
’Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee. For thou hast made him sovereign over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. This is eternal life: to know thee who alone art truly God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
’I have glorified thee on earth by completing the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in thine own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world began.
’But it is not for these alone (The Apostles) that I pray, but for those also who through their words put their faith in me; may they all be one: as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee […] The glory which thou gavest me I have given to them, that they may be one, as we are one; I in them and thou in me, may they be perfectly one.
"It is for your good that I am leaving you. If I do not go, your Advocate will not come, whereas if I go, I will send him to you.
ALONG WITH THIS CHURCH TEACHING from the CCC:
“ONE BODY”
790 Believers who respond to God’s word and become members of Christ’s Body, become intimately UNITED with Him
791 The body’s UNITY does not do away with the diversity of its members: "In the building up of Christ’s Body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only ONE SPIRIT who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives his different gifts for the welfare of the Church."
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Wesrock
Guest
Yes, of course. Though the Church as the mystical body of Christ isn’t an analogy for the Trinity and the Church along with all mainstream Christianity rejects the notion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being separate beings, as shown in statements from the Catechism and prior Church councils, and your attempt to use the Catechism to show otherwise is disingenuous.Do you accept this from JESUS and His Church
as Truth or Not ? A Simple yes or no can suffice…
Now what denomination are you?
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EndTimes
Guest
Thank You. For anyone’s information (since it’s been introduced into this discussion) one can study the very informative Catholic Church’s Teachings on The Mystical Body of Christ - in Pope Pius XII’s Encyclical, "Mystici Corporis Christi" - Mystici Corporis Christi (June 29, 1943) | PIUS XII
I’ve attempted no such thing as you declare.
As with Scriptures, the CCC is a very important and foundational part OF what the Catholic Church IS!..
Beings? Individuals? PERSONS? Semantics… OK…
Does Persons suit you better? So, How About…
I fully believe that there are 3 Divine Persons in One God… You?
Shall this cradle Catholic - post from the Baltimore Catechism of my youth?
Or, shall you toss another False label upon me?
__
I’ve attempted no such thing as you declare.
As with Scriptures, the CCC is a very important and foundational part OF what the Catholic Church IS!..
Beings? Individuals? PERSONS? Semantics… OK…
Does Persons suit you better? So, How About…
I fully believe that there are 3 Divine Persons in One God… You?
Shall this cradle Catholic - post from the Baltimore Catechism of my youth?
Or, shall you toss another False label upon me?
__
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Fauken
Guest
Those words actually do make a difference. The members of the Trinity are not beings nor individuals. They are not three separate entities. They are one.Beings? Individuals? PERSONS? meh…
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EndTimes
Guest
OK… Yes, PERSONS; if you will. I accept Persons…
That’s how I learned it – and I took liberties… Mea Culpa
Anything Else?
That’s how I learned it – and I took liberties… Mea Culpa
Anything Else?
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EndTimes
Guest
…
Q. 186. How many persons are there in God?
A. In God there are three Divine persons, really distinct, and equal in all things --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Q. 187. What do “divine” and “distinct” mean?
A. “Divine” means pertaining to God, and “distinct” means separate; that is, not confounded or mixed with any other thing.
Q. 188. Is the Father God?
A. The Father is God and the first Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 189. Is the Son God?
A. The Son is God and the second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 190. Is the Holy Ghost God?
A. The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 191. Do “first,” “second,” and “third” with regard to the persons of the Blessed Trinity mean that one person existed before the other or that one is greater than the other?
A. “First,” “second,” and “third” with regard to the persons of the Blessed Trinity do not mean that one person was before the other or that one is greater than the other; for all the persons of the Trinity are eternal and equal in every respect. These numbers are used to mark the distinction between the persons, and they show the order in which the one proceeded from the other.
Q. 192. What do you mean by the Blessed Trinity?
A. By the Blessed Trinity I mean one God in three Divine Persons.
Q. 186. How many persons are there in God?
A. In God there are three Divine persons, really distinct, and equal in all things --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Q. 187. What do “divine” and “distinct” mean?
A. “Divine” means pertaining to God, and “distinct” means separate; that is, not confounded or mixed with any other thing.
Q. 188. Is the Father God?
A. The Father is God and the first Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 189. Is the Son God?
A. The Son is God and the second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 190. Is the Holy Ghost God?
A. The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Q. 191. Do “first,” “second,” and “third” with regard to the persons of the Blessed Trinity mean that one person existed before the other or that one is greater than the other?
A. “First,” “second,” and “third” with regard to the persons of the Blessed Trinity do not mean that one person was before the other or that one is greater than the other; for all the persons of the Trinity are eternal and equal in every respect. These numbers are used to mark the distinction between the persons, and they show the order in which the one proceeded from the other.
Q. 192. What do you mean by the Blessed Trinity?
A. By the Blessed Trinity I mean one God in three Divine Persons.
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Wesrock
Guest
I know it seems like semantics, but this is the difference between the Arian heresy/CoLDS/polytheism and Nicene/Trinitarian Christianity. The Church has formally developed very careful terminology specifically in response to these controversies (over 1500 years ago), and if we use the words “being” and “person” interchangeably in respect to God it leads to vastly different theologies and potential confusion.
I apologize for harping on you. I don’t know your posting history and didn’t know where you were coming from or whether you had an angle, and the way you formulated one of your comments was similar to how LDS discuss the Trinity.
I apologize for harping on you. I don’t know your posting history and didn’t know where you were coming from or whether you had an angle, and the way you formulated one of your comments was similar to how LDS discuss the Trinity.
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EndTimes
Guest
Thanks, Wesrock .
The very last thing that I want to do is drift into Heresy
I’ll return to this tomorrow yet leave you with this
I well know that, “mystery” has always been a common response WRT the mere mention of “Trinity”… in a manner which suggests that that’s all that some can really say about the 3 Persons in one God … and some cannot go any further b/c … It’s a mystery! And as noted, yes, I’ve anticipated that this is a very difficult topic to even dare to address… Again, ie., The Trinity.
To me? I am saying that - drawing upon Scriptures, Etc, it’s not so much of a mystery to me - and of which I’m attempting to convey what I mean by that.
Along with that, I’m also asking if any believe that to the Apostles Post Pentecost. Was “God” simply a 3-Person Mystery and no more? Think on it for a few b4 any perhaps too quick response…
Lastly for Tonight, I’ll never forget and am genuinely concerned as well with the very beginning of Thomas a Kempis’, Imitation of Christ… – for I never want to represent what he wisely says - even to the point of easily dropping this topic with no looking back - And All of which I Ask God for Guidance on this…
…
The Imitation of Christ — Thomas à Kempis
BOOK ONE
THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL
The First Chapter
IMITATING CHRIST AND DESPISING ALL VANITIES ON EARTH
HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord.
By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.
The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.
What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.
Later, Peace in JESUS
_
The very last thing that I want to do is drift into Heresy
I’ll return to this tomorrow yet leave you with this
I well know that, “mystery” has always been a common response WRT the mere mention of “Trinity”… in a manner which suggests that that’s all that some can really say about the 3 Persons in one God … and some cannot go any further b/c … It’s a mystery! And as noted, yes, I’ve anticipated that this is a very difficult topic to even dare to address… Again, ie., The Trinity.
To me? I am saying that - drawing upon Scriptures, Etc, it’s not so much of a mystery to me - and of which I’m attempting to convey what I mean by that.
Along with that, I’m also asking if any believe that to the Apostles Post Pentecost. Was “God” simply a 3-Person Mystery and no more? Think on it for a few b4 any perhaps too quick response…
Lastly for Tonight, I’ll never forget and am genuinely concerned as well with the very beginning of Thomas a Kempis’, Imitation of Christ… – for I never want to represent what he wisely says - even to the point of easily dropping this topic with no looking back - And All of which I Ask God for Guidance on this…
…
The Imitation of Christ — Thomas à Kempis
BOOK ONE
THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL
The First Chapter
IMITATING CHRIST AND DESPISING ALL VANITIES ON EARTH
HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord.
By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.
The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.
What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.
Later, Peace in JESUS
_
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