E-MAIL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
DAVID L. ODOM
Dear _____,
Yes, I believe when God's Word is discussed in a proper
attitude of true searching for what is right in the sight of God, then He is
pleased with us. But we must have the attitude of wanting to be right with God.
If we say, we will agree to disagree, then we have a problem, I believe!
Remember I Corinthians 1:10-13. We are supposed to see the Bible ALIKE in matters
of doctrine, and even in judgment. We can only accomplish this by God's Word,
and discussing it together.
But people tell us today that we can't do this! They say, 'look at all the
different beliefs people have from the Bible!' So therefore, we have this
doctrine prevalent today which teaches that 'everyone has a right to their own
belief, as long as they are sincere, and it will be accepted by God' The
apostle Paul was very sincere while he was persecuting christians! (Acts
23:1;24:16;26:9) Yet he was dead wrong! And so can we be today, even though we
might be very sincere!
Hello ______, I wanted to reply to you about
your questions to _____ concerning the Godhead. I trust that you are one who is
seeking God's Truth above all else, and will
question all that you have been taught or believed in the past, to make sure
you are believing only His Truth.
>... Thank you for your comments about what
you believe,
>I believe differently, so I will just 'agree to disagree'. :)
______, I believe we must have the attitude of
wanting to be right with God. If we say, we will agree to disagree, then we
have a problem! If we both believe and teach something different, then one of
us is wrong, or perhaps, both of us, but we can't both be right. God is not the
author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33) Remember I Corinthians 1:10 -13. We are
supposed to see the Bible ALIKE in matters of doctrine, and even in judgment.
We can accomplish this by following only God's Word, without adding to it or
taking away from it (Deut. 4:1,2; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 18:19,20).
>... Who is Charles Ryrie?
I believe Charles Ryrie is a denominational person
who has a 'study Bible' out, which is a Bible with commentary and helps. Yes,
you have a point, quoting a human being is not what makes anything right. Only
the Bible is inspired. Charles Ryrie isn't, I'm not, your not, only the
inspired Word of God is what can lead us to Heaven! So we have to take what
Charles Ryrie says, or myself, or you, and go to God's Word to see if we are
teaching what is found therein! If we twist passages to contradict other
Scriptures, then we have a problem, and must try to 'properly' understand what
our Creator is telling us.
>"There is only one God, but in the unity
of the Godhead
>there are three eternal and coequal Persons, the three are
>the same in substance but distinct in subsistence."
>.. What does that mean? Does being the same in substance
>mean that they are all 'God'?
Yes ____, I believe that the Bible shows us that
all three of these beings are 'God' or, the 'Godhead' (Acts 17:29)(also
referred to as 'Divine', and Deity), that shows itself to be one substance
consisting of three beings just as humanity shows itself to be one substance
consisting of many beings.
One problem many have is, when they think of 'God' they think of one 'Being'!
In many places in the Bible the singular is used for God, but there are also
places that the plural is used: Genesis 1:26 ('Us', 'Our', 'image', [not angels
& God], but 'image' singular!), then look closely at verse 27 ('God', 'His',
'He', 'image') I trust that you can clearly see that
God is being spoken of in the singular AND the plural!
I may not be able to fully understand it, but I believe it. I cannot, for the
life of me, comprehend the Universe that God created for us, to declare His
glory unto us, but I certainly believe it, I can see it (well, a small portion
of it), Do you get my point? I can see Genesis 1:26,27, and other passages that
show me what the one true God consists of, and I believe it, even though I
cannot fully comprehend it.
I believe you can see that the Father did not die a physical death upon that
cross! But the Son did. Yet in Hebrews 1:3 we are told that the Son is 'the
very image of His substance' (the impress of His substance)! The true Divinity
of Jesus is pointed out in Colossians 2:9 where we are told that "in Him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily..."
>... What does being distinct (does that mean
different?) in 'subsistence' mean?
I'm not sure what he means here _____, probably
that of an independent entity. Sometimes it is quite difficult to explain the
infinite when we are finite. I just know that I believe the Bible teaching,
whether I can comprehend Deity or not, I must believe it with all of my heart,
because that is what my Creator tells me to do.
I walk by faith (His Word, NOT 'faith only', or 'my faith'; II Cor. 5:7; Acts
6:7; Jude 3), not by sight! The inspired Word of God tells me the way it is,
whether I understand all of the how's, wherefore's, and why's of it all, my responsibility
is to obey my Creator to the best of my ability (Eccl. 12:13,14), that He might
receive all of the glory.
We must not forget Deuteronomy 29:29; "The secret things belong unto
Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our
children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
I pray that these thoughts help you in your
study of God's wonderful Word.
God richly bless you in your endeavor to seek Him above all else.
Your servant in Christ, David
