Lesson 11 Flashcards
State the basic views on the Godhead associated with Arius
Equated the Logos with the Son and with Christ. He taught that Christ is a created being - a divine being but not of the same essence as the Father and not co-equal with the Father (Christ is a demigod). In effect, he taught a new form of polytheism
What was the threefold significance of the Council of Nicea?
a) It is a rejection of Arianism.
b) It is the first official declaration incompatible with modalism (Oneness).
c) It is the first official declaration supporting trinitarianism
What was the significance of the Council of Constantinople of 381?
Was the first to state unequivocally that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were three separate persons of God, co-equal, co-eternal, and of co-essence
How does trinitarianism detract from the full deity of Christ?
It detracts from the fulness of Christ’s deity as described in the Bible. As a practical matter, trinitariansim denies that the fulness of the Godhead is in Jesus because it denies that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit
What is the Oneness response to the following trinitarian belief?
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) are the three persons in the Godhead. They are distinct persons, and they are co-equal, co-eternal, and of co-essence.”
a) There is one God with no essential divisions in His nature. He is not a plurality of persons, but He does have a plurality of manifestations, roles, titles, attributes, or relationships to man. Furthermore, these are not limited to three.
b) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are different designations for the one God. God is the Father. God is the Holy Spirit. The Son is God manifest in the flesh. The term Son always refers to the incarnation, and never to deity apart from humanity
What is the Oneness response to the following trinitarian belief?
“The Son is eternal. God the Son has existed from all eternity. The Son is eternally begotten by the Father.”
The Son is begotten, not eternal. The Son of God existed from all eternity only as a plan in the mind of God. The Son of God came into actual (substantial) existence at the incarnation, at which time the Son was conceived (begotten) by the Spirit of God
Briefly explain the proper approach in witnessing to others about the Oneness doctrine
a) We should not condemn, antagonise, or stereotype them
b) We must lead others to this truth in order to restore apostolic doctrine and power
Explain the importance and significance of the Oneness doctrine for our lives
The whole Bible teaches Oneness and emphasises it. Jesus stressed how important it is for us to understand who He really is - the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Oneness determines the formula for water baptism - in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). Oneness teaches us how important the baptism of the Holy Ghost really is. Since there is only one Spirit of God, and since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, Oneness shows us that we receive Christ into our lives when we are filled or baptised with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)
