The Trinity is just a CONVENTIONAL doctrine, which was even UNKNOWN to Jesus: He always stated to be ONLY with the Father. Contrary to that doctrine no third "helper-Godperson" exists: it was not understood that the Holy SPIRIT is none other than the "Father who is a SPIRIT" ("God is a spirit" Jn. 4:23,24). You could figure it out from the verse on the TWO BLASPHEMIES. Of course the second blasphemy was directed to the Father by Jesus. That "SPIRIT, who is the Father" was called "Holy Spirit" by Him on that occasion. ONLY the "FATHER WHO IS A SPIRIT" - called either "Holy Father" or "Holy Spirit" - is with Jesus.
Thank you for this insightful discussion. I really enjoyed it, and I know that God is revealing more and more about the subjects of reconciliation and atonement all the time. I am currently uploading a book that I wrote titled "Reconciled For Atonement" to youtube. It will be complete soon along with a book review. God bless you, and thanks again.
I'm alive and much of what I am about to relate can be proven. I spent four days in a coma. Although i can't prove I was conscious, but in another realm, the entire time, I did receive a promise that when I had a need, I'd receive what was needed, but only when it was needed. I had no job, nor insurance, so when I regained consciousness, I received a phone call from the billing dept asking how I was to pay the bill for four days of intensive care. I was angry at being asked such, for I'd just came out of a coma. I slammed the phone down. Two hours later the phone rang again. The same voice told me I need not worry about the bill, for it had been paid. I still do not know who paid it, but it wasn't anyone I knew, for I've asked. Later, when health problems, in conjunction with the long-hours jobs I had due to lack of education, caused me to go into another coma, the doctor said my present types of jobs would kill eventually me. Within a year, I was on a program wherein my college (UGA, AJC, 1991), books, medical supplies, and living quarters were paid for. While in college, I began praying for a Christian wife. I met and fell in love with an atheist from Beijing. I didn't push religion, but because her mom had committed suicide due to the Cultural Revolution a couple of earlier (which caused her to pr and ask if God existed, to get her to America, for her father lived in DC as an exchange scientist, she was searching and really didn't need prompting. Therefore, I married a Christian, just as I'd asked. I could go on and on. We've been married thirty-one years. There is plenty of evidence, as well as many people who can corroborate what I've told you. Miracles are, indeed, real, and their source is not of this world.
An enjoyable conversation. I related to Dr Johnson's approach, and to his identification of "very old friends" in early Fathers and older theologians. I do have reservations about his view of Holy Saturday as Christ experiencing separation from the Father. It seems more Scriptural and traditional to view it as the time of Christ's preaching the Gospel to the dead of what He accomplished for them on the cross (remember His words "It is finished"). Certainly, to be in a disembodied state in the waiting room or prison was to share something of the experience of the dead who were at a distance from heavenly blessedness with God. However, Christ, as God incarnate, was never spiritually separate from the Father. He preached his victory and liberation to those in Abraham's bosom. To those in prison, He preached His victory, and , no doubt, liberation if they welcomed His Gospel.
I have confronted Dr. Keener with several questions concerning the absurdities that would be involved if atheists were to seriously "investigate" any of the modern-day miracle claims Keener speaks of in his Miracles book. Unless he comes up with some miraculous answers, he is going to have to admit that thorough comprehensive investigation of any modern-day miracle claim, being impossible for the average atheist, thus provides them with rational excuse to avoid investigating them. Zero investigation is less likely to mislead than a half-assed investigation. And if we combine with Keener's miracles, the advice of J. Warner Wallace (i.e., we should conduct the investigation using the rules of evidence used by American courts), then because the vast majority of eyewitnesses to modern-day miracle claims are either dead or somehow unavailable, J. Warner Wallace would have to agree that atheists have the perfect excuse to avoid bothering with the vast majority of modern-day miracle claims. turchisrong.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-questions-to-dr-craig-keener.html
