Yesterday, I came across a FB post from an old buddy I used to go to church with. We were never that tight, but we worked together on a couple of projects for construction. He made a post thinking he’d made a breakthrough in theology about the divinity of Christ because he’s been trying to read directly out of the Greek (even though to my knowledge he does not know Greek). He claimed that Jesus is the Son of God, but is not God Himself. His views aligned closely with Arianism of the 3rd century. I wanted to post my response to Him here in case it helps anyone understand why as Christians we believe that Jesus is the same God and of the substance of the Father and the Holy Spirit. 3 persons, 1 God. 3 persons, 1 substance. 3 roles, 1 God. Let me know what you think or if you’d add any other thoughts. Here’s my response: “I agree the concept of the Trinity is hard to understand. But then if we could understand everything about God, would He really be God? Ha. I do think some Scripture seems to contradict some or your current view. Not at all trying to come at you, but this is a pretty important aspect of our faith so I figured I’d chime in with what I believe is true. Let me share a compilation of Scripture that I think supports the divinity of Christ and shows why most of church history has affirmed it and why the Council of Nicea addressed Arianism head on (a similar view to yours). Take a look at these and let me know what you think. Happy to take the convo offline in PM’s or whatever. “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ Jesus is bothered because Philip asks Jesus to “show us the Father” because He says seeing knowing Him is just like knowing the Father. He says if someone has seen Him, they’ve seen the Father. The Father is “in” Jesus and Jesus is “in” the Father.

I just put together a quick 8-slide TikTok breakdown on the resurrection of Jesus — and I focused it specifically for skeptics. Instead of starting with "the Bible says," I stuck to the minimal facts that the majority of New Testament scholars (including atheists like Bart Ehrman) actually accept: - Jesus really died by crucifixion - His tomb was found empty shortly after - The disciples believed they saw the risen Jesus (in groups, not just alone) - This belief started extremely early — within 1-5 years - Skeptics like Paul and James (Jesus’ brother) suddenly became believers, and the original cowards turned into bold martyrs The big question the slides asks is: What’s the best explanation for all of these facts together? Most natural theories (stolen body, wrong tomb, mass hallucination, etc.) struggle to cover everything at once. The resurrection seems to fit the data surprisingly well. Would love your thoughts: What’s the strongest counter-explanation you’ve heard? Or which of the five facts do you find most surprising? Drop your take below 👇 Let’s discuss respectfully — believers, skeptics, and everyone in between welcome.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." At the time it was written, the word for Scripture is the same word used to describe the OT Scriptures. Therefore, the early apostles recognized the divine authorship of the OT. Jesus also recognized the OT as Scripture having divine authorship in several places in the NT: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." (Matthew 5:17-18) "Scripture cannot be broken." (John 10:35) “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭27‬) "Have you not read that he who created them... said.." (Matthew 19:4-5). Therefore, both the apostles and Jesus Himself recognized, quoted and taught from the OT as divine authored Scripture. What about the New Testament? "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬) “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬)

A while back, I kept hearing people calling mega church pastors "false prophets" or "false teachers". That label gets thrown around a lot in the Christian world. It bothered me because I've attended a "mega church" over the past 15 years. And personally, I've had overwhelmingly positive experiences. I didn't start in mega churches. I had never been a part of a mega church until my mid twenties. Up until then, I had only ever attended a smaller church. I mention that to say I've had both experiences. Now, every church I've attended, small or large, has been imperfect from the minute I walked in the door. It probably got a lot more imperfect after I stayed for a while. Church's definitely have a responsibility to be faithful to Scripture, and we should find one that is. Yet, I have always been more blessed by the churches I've been apart of far more than I have been harmed by them. I also believe God is sovereign. That means if I'm not living in direct disobedience to Him, I have to believe that He placed me into my local church for a purpose and a plan. He certainly has for me. It's often been to work His will in me while also allowing me to be apart of a local body of believers and hopefully serve and contribute. I can look back and see what God did in me in each church I've attended. I can see His hand at work in my own life and the blessings and lessons he brought from those seasons. That's not to say that there are not bad church experiences at times for some people that cause genuine pain. I've had a few of my own. I had an extremely tough church experience in my early twenties. As I look back on it now, I could not be more thankful for that experience, even though it left me feeling very broken at the time. God used it to bring me to a better place. He used it to work His will in me. Now, back to false prophets. I've heard statements like "That guy is a false prophet cause he wears a Rolex". Ok. Could be. Sure. Or somebody just gave him one. I think we have to take a closer look.

The Will, the Human Condition & the Gethsemane Encounter Gethsemane as the Battleground of the Will Gethsemane is not merely an event—it is the spiritual anatomy of surrender. It is where the human will is tested, the soul is pressed, and divine purpose requires a choice. The Garden reveals that even when the spirit is strengthened by God, the will must still choose obedience. Key Scripture: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”—Matthew 26:41 (KJV) This shows that spiritual willingness does not guarantee willful obedience. The will is the place where destiny is accepted or forfeited. The Human Condition & the Pressure of the Cup 1. Jesus’ Humanity Under Extreme Pressure Jesus experiences hematidrosis (sweat like drops of blood), demonstrating the human condition under profound spiritual and emotional weight. Luke 22:44 (KJV)“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Prophetic Insight: When destiny presses you, the soul reveals its limits, but the Spirit reveals its strength. 2. The Will Must Bow Before the Assignment Can Activate The cup represents the cost of obedience. Before Jesus fulfills prophecy through the cross, He fulfills it through submission of the will. Luke 22:42 (KJV) “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Apostolic Acuity: Apostolic assignment is always sealed in the place of decision. The call is divine—but the agreement must be human. EDEN vs. GETHSEMANE TWO GARDENS, TWO WILLS, TWO OUTCOMES In Eden, Adam says, “My will, not Yours.”In Gethsemane, Christ says, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” Eden is the birthplace of rebellion; Gethsemane is the birthplace of obedience. Eden opens the wound; Gethsemane applies the remedy. Eden manifests the infection of self-will; Gethsemane shows the surrender needed to heal it. Theologically, Gethsemane is not merely a scene of Christ’s sorrow—it is the battleground where the human will, weakened by Eden, is redeemed and modeled perfectly in Christ.