From: Jan
To: The Path of Truth
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 8:01 AM
Subject: Modalism
Your website contains the statement that, “There is One God, manifest in three offices or roles, but not three persons.” https://www.thepathoftruth.com/teachings/holy-spirit-baptism.htm.
That sounds like Modalism
https://theopedia.com/modalism. “Modalism was the most common Trinitarian error in the history of the church and it continues today.”
https://web.archive.org/web/20120106025953/http://www.basictheology.com/definitions/Modalism/.
According to the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, “The correct teaching of the Trinity is one God in three eternal coexistent persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” https://carm.org/modalism.
Is your group modalistic?
Regards,
Jan
Soli Deo Gloria,
DISCLAIMER: FORWARDING OF LINKS, URLs, QUOTES, CASES, MESSAGES ETC.
DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT AGREEMENT WITH OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONTENTS. READER’S DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
From: Paul Cohen
To: Jan
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: Modalism
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 MKJV).
Hi Jan,
No, we’re not Modalists. The revelation of the Living God isn’t the same as any manmade doctrine coming from the mind of man, be it Modalism or Trinitarianism. No true believer will call themselves by such teachings, not once they’ve been taught of the Lord.
The link you’ve provide from Theopedia says:
“According to Modalism, during the incarnation, Jesus was simply God acting in one mode or role, and the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was God acting in a different mode. Thus, God does not exist as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the same time.”
Contrary to Modalism, God can simultaneously exist in as many modes as He chooses. Yet, contrary to Trinitarianism, He is still One, not two or three entities.
For example, when God came in human form with two angels to visit Abraham in the plains of Mamre (Genesis 18), He was still the Father of Spirits in Heaven. He didn’t take leave of His Spiritual Presence, by which He sustains all things, to manifest Himself in a physical body on earth.
Apparently Modalists believe He did take leave of Heaven, not being able to be in two places at once, while Trinitarians believe it was the pre-incarnate Christ (two separate beings in two places). Both are wrong. It was God, the Everlasting Father, Who is also the Son given unto us (Isaiah 9:6).
If God fills all things, why should it astonish us that He appears as more than one? Isn’t that why He solemnly declared to His people – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV)?
The Theopedia article quoted above is apparently penned by Trinitarians, and concludes:
“The correct teaching of the Trinity is one God in three eternal coexistent persons.”
Yet God never speaks of Himself as three coexistent persons, only as One:
Isaiah 43:10-13,15 MKJV
(10) You are My witnesses, says the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me no God was formed, nor shall there be after Me.
(11) I, I am the LORD; and there is none to save besides Me.
(12) I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you; therefore you are My witnesses, says the LORD, that I am God.
(13) Yea, before the day was, I am He; and no one delivers out of My hand; I will work, and who will reverse it?
(15) I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
Therefore CARM too is wrong about God being three eternal coexistent persons. They err on other important matters as well, and have no right to present themselves as teachers of God. Search for them in: Kirk Cameron – Too Much to Lose.
What do you think, Jan?
Paul Cohen
www.ThePathofTruth.com
From: Jan
To: Paul Cohen
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: Modalism
Hi Paul,
I think you misunderstand both Modalism and The Trinity. I recommend the Attributes of God by J. I. Packer. You may listen to these teachings at https://www.monergism.com/legacy/mt/mp3/attributes-god.
Listen first to the lectures on The Trinity. I can recommend more teachings on this if you so desire.
Regards,
Jan
Soli Deo Gloria,
From: Paul Cohen
To: Jan
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 7:15 PM
Subject: Re[3]: Modalism
Jan, we readily confess we don’t understand the doctrine of “The Trinity.” Do YOU claim to understand it? We’ve yet to meet such a remarkable creature.
As we’ve said, we don’t believe in Modalism as we’ve understood the reports and descriptions of it.
That said, because a system of belief was branded as heresy by opposing powerful religious entities of their day doesn’t make those beliefs wrong. Indeed, one might advisedly check out whether or not there was some truth to that which was condemned.
After all, Jesus Christ and His disciples never performed or advocated physical measures to condemn false teachers. It was only the wicked who killed those who disagreed with them (whether the victims were right or wrong), even as Calvin had Michael Servetus executed at the stake for defending the doctrine of Deuteronomy 6:4. Read The Persecutors and the Persecuted.
Victor
Jan, what are you hoping to accomplish? We know the Lord our God and Who He is. Why should we bother listening to someone who doesn’t?
The problem isn’t that we don’t understand Modalism or Trinitarianism. The problem is that those are theories about God coming from men (like Packer) who don’t know Him. As such, these teachings are all over the place and no one understands them, including those who espouse them. Modalism and Trinitarianism are high-minded nonsense, riddled with irreconcilable contradictions.
The papers in our sections, Jesus Christ Is God and The Trinity, amply prove what I’m saying. Help yourself and read it all, if you’re interested in hearing the truth. Then you can speak for yourself regarding our specific words and teachings, if you have anything to personally ask or offer us. Otherwise, your present approach is devoid of relevance, substance, and meaning.
If you’re not interested in hearing what God has given us, you should consider why not. Why do you argue for inert theory, presenting dead men’s words? Why don’t you have your own oil, and why aren’t you talking about the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ? Glory to Him alone, indeed!
Paul