The Holy Spirit 1 John 5

The Holy Spirit 1 John 5: There is only One God: this was pronounced as the Shema by the Jews and confirmed by Jesus. In the church Fathers and Restoration Movement leaders the Godhead is never separated into three, separated persons (peoples). Rather, the word "trinity" defines how the invisible, incomprehensible God manifests Himself to the human mind as Father, Son and Spirit. See more on the Holy Spirit Mind Connection.

By analogy as given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2, I am body, soul and spirit but I am not triplets.

Skip introduction and go to First John Chapter 5

Introduction for First John Chapter Five

Paul Tillich notes that before the 19th century the idea of a separated Godhead would have been heresy. In the Restoration Movement, as far as I can discover, this surfaced in the church of Christ by H. Leo Boles and the Gospel Advocate in about 1942.

Unity is possible with minimalism but when professionals muddy the ground we grow with the times. According to John Mark Hicks.

Second, building on that minimalism, we have practiced a de facto Christological diversity. We have embraced vague Christologies because we sought unity in the light of the single fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Christological reflection was unnecessary except to establish this common ground and condemn speculations.

Third, our Christological minimalism has expanded in this century.

While leaders in the first decades of the 19th century sought common ground in biblical facts rather than speculative theories (e.g., Unitarians vs. Trinitarians),

early 20th century leaders reacted against modernist and cultic Christologies that threatened that common ground (e.g., modernist/fundamentalist controversy; the rise of the Jehovah's Witnesses).

Fourth, we have shifted from an emphasis rooted on a

common factual confession that Jesus is the Christ

to a Trinitarian emphasis on his deity.

Trinitarianism has been (re)born among us. An incarnational theology, represented by Max Lucado in particular, dominates the current climate in our churches. Interestingly, this renewal has primarily developed along ethical and devotional/spiritual lines

That is interesting because the trinity of persons originally developed along pagan Greek lines.

God manifests in the personae of Father, Son and Spirit:

Spirit	Personae
	Father as Word
God or Spirit Being	Incarnate Word or Son
	Revealed Word or Spirit

And the Word as Son IS God. In the church fathers (even those who used the word "trinity") God is the Father of the thought, blows His breath or Spirit through His double-edged swords (mouth) and speaks the Word as Son:

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The same "spirit of Christ" operated in the physical world at all times:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pe 1:11

To keep from getting totally off base by some proof texts about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament it is important first to look at the definition in Hebrew and Greek of both Spirit and Mind:

The Spirit in Hebrew:

Ruwach (h7307) roo'-akh, roo'-akh; from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, ...

by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (includ. its expression and functions), mind

The Mind or Heart in Hebrew is:

Leb (h3820) nooce; prob. from the base of 1097; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by impl. meaning: - mind, understanding, wisdom.

The Spirit in Greek:

Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc.,

Or it speaks of God who is pure or holy Spirit:

or (superhuman) an angel, doemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Comp. 5590.

The Mind in Greek:

Mind (g3563) nooce; prob. from the base of 1097; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by impl. meaning: understanding. Comp. 5590.

Paul defines the Holy Spirit as the Mind of Christ in 1 Corinthians 2.

When the Tabernacle Craftsmen were filled with the Spirit it was by the knowledge of some skill:

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,Ex.31:3

One of the ways to understand "Spirit" is to grasp the nature of what would rest upon Jesus. Assuredly, the Holy Spirit as a third member of the God "family" did not rest upon Jesus. Rather, the Dove or Rock Pigeon was a symbol of the messenger of God.

All of the manifestations or voices were for the benefit of those who were witnesses as a testimony: they did not teach that God as Spirit is a Dove.

Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. John 12:30

This is the nature of the Spirit of the Lord which would rest upon Jesus Christ:

AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isa 11:1

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isa 11:2

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isa 11:3

God as Spirit meets us in our spirit or mind (nous) which is the holy place (naos) for the Christian worship.

Walter Scott and the other RM leaders agree with the almost-universal early view: In Christian Baptist, Feb 1827, he defines Spirit According to the Greek language

"Again--Some will say, What does the expression Holy Spirit mean? Well, in scripture

it stands first for God the Holy Spirit,

and secondly for the holy mind or spirit of a believer--

or illustration, take Peter's words to Ananias, "Why has Satan tempted you to lie to the Holy Spirit; you have not lied to men, but to God," (the Holy Spirit.)

And the Saviour says, How much more will your heavenly Father give a holy spirit (as it should be translated) to those that ask him. Again--Praying in a holy spirit. Again--Paul says he approved himself God's servant "by knowledge, by long sufferings, by kindness, by a holy spirit'" by a mind innocent of the love of gain, or commerce, or sensuality.

"How then the expression stands for both God the Holy Spirit, and for a believer's spirit made holy by him.

"I shall now answer, from scripture, the following questions.--When do we know that we are born of the Spirit?

I answer, when we know that our spirits are holy.

But it will be asked again, when do we know this?

I reply, when we behold our minds producing the fruits of a holy spirit.

But what are the fruits of a holy spirit? Paul says they are joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, temperance, against such there is no (written) law.

Therefore, a Holy Spirit is either God or it is having the mental disposition of the Mind of the Spirit God. The Greek mind understood a holy spirit or an unholy spirit as the mental disposition of the person.

"But an old Hubris tends to bring forth in evil men, sooner or later, at the fated hour of birth, a young Hubris and that irresistible, unconquerable, unholy spirit, Recklessness, and for the household black Curses, which resemble their parents. (Aeschylus Agamemnon 765)

The Spirit in First John 1(Text in Blue)

THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 1 John 1:1

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) 1 John 1:2

Look again at the table to see that there is never any "personal" relationship with the Spirit because the Spirit is the "mental disposition" of God which is Incarnated in the Written Words of Christ:

Spirit	Personae
	Father as Word
God or Spirit Being	Incarnate Word or Son

Therefore, John agrees:

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,

> that ye also may have fellowship with us:

> and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Rather than a direct fellowship of "seeing and hearing" Christ put His Spirit into inspired words confirmed by eye witnesses. If this is not adequate then we reject the method God has chosen for us.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Joy is a fruit of the spirit or mind. John instills joy by speaking as an eyewitness and ear witness.

Paul notes that God manifested Himself as Father and Son where the Son abandons His Rights:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Ph.2:6

Or, in the Living Bible we see God putting off His Majesty and Glory like garments and leaving them on the Throne.

who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, Ph 2:6LIV

but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. Ph 2:7LIV

And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross. Ph 2:8LIV

The Spirit in First John 5 (Text in Red)

WHOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1 John 5:1

Whosoever loveth is born of God. This does not mean that by loving something or someone this is a one-step plan of salvation. In the same way, belief or total faith proves that we have been born of God each time we are asked to believe Him or Obey Him:

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1 John 2

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 3

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 4

In the Great Commission Jesus demanded

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mk 16:15

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mk 16:16

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Being baptized is more than a proof that we have faith. Rather, baptism is our setting our seal that Jesus is God Incarnate and has the power to forgive sins:

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. John 3: 33

In discussing John's baptism, the key sin was failing to justify God by rejecting His counsel for their lives.

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against (for) themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30

Jesus was also baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" includes the idea of obeying and of "fully preaching" baptism as the time and place where we ask God for a clear conscience or consciousness (a holy spirit).

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Ac.8:38

Jesus also came by blood. This does not mean amniotic fluid but rather of the shedding of blood.

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness,

because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:6

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

Again, this chart shows that the invisible, incomprehensible God not three gods or three persons, but God is Spirit but is complex. He can think or plan, He can Speak and He can communicate within Himself.

Spirit	Personae
	Father
God or Spirit Being	Word
	Spirit

God laid aside His "clothing" of glory and majesty and came to earth to tabernacle in "a body prepared for me." That Who sends is father; that Whom is sent is Son.

However, that Whom is sent (Son) is above all: He is full Deity:

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. John 3:31

And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. John 3: 32

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. John 3: 33

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:

for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John 3: 34

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3: 35

If you don't believe that the Son is above all things and speaks the Spirit Word without measure then you don't believe in the Father Who is the Source of all knowledge.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;

but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

The Son as Full Deity (Col 2:9) speaks the Spirit Word without limits or reservations.

If you believe that another "person" of the God family named The Holy Spirit speaks to you directly then you charge that the Son did not and could not Speak without measure.

Therefore, John says that the wrath of God abides on you, Jesus says that you are of the Devil and Paul says that you are Antichrist.

In the Spirit Realm when God Speaks He is the Word. When He took on the form of the man Jesus He was the Incarnate Word. When Jesus spoke and led the writers into all truth, that record became the Revealed Word in which Christ put His own power as God:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 1 Peter 1:24

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:25

Faithful believers in One, Holy Spirit God and not a Lucado or Shelly family of gods can stll use the above Scriptures to show that the "Spirti" Scripture speaks of is the "Spirit of God" or the "Mind of Christ" which is contained in the Word of Christ:

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness,

because the Spirit is truth. 1 John 5:6

God is pure or Holy Spirit. That is, He does not have "body parts" which are not Spirit. As God relates to the World He reveals Himself as Spirit in Words. Therefore, His Word is Spirit and Life.

God provided three means and witnesses in the physical world which are both means and signs that we love and have faith in the invisible, Spirit God.

When Christ returned as the "Arm" of God and sat down He left three witnesses or signs of His abiding Spirit presence:

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:8

If the SPIRIT to us is not the same as THE WORD then the Words of Christ do not bear witness. Jesus the Word returns as Spirit Comforter and bears witness through His Word:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14: 17

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14: 18

If God can Incarnate His Spirit or Mind in a human body cursed upon a tree then why is it that He DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY to Incarnate His Mind in His Words?

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Co.3:18

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;

but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor 4:2

If the holy spirit "person" literally lived in and guided us "beyond the sacred page" then Peter totally misunderstood:

Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things alway in remembrance. 2 Peter 1:15

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1: 16

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2 Peter 1: 17

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1: 18

Preparing for one of those "teaching" passages twisted to become "singing" passages, Paul agreed:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 4:14

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4:15

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1: 19

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation . 2 Peter 1: 20

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1: 21

Because the Spirit of Christ was the Spirit of the Prophets (1 Pe 1:11), whatever Jesus spoke or revealed through the Apostles is not subject to private interpretation.

Epilusis (g1955) ep-il'-oo-sis; from 1956; explanation, i.e. application: - interpretation.

Epiluo (g1956) ep-ee-loo'-o; from 1909 and 3089; to solve further, i.e. (fig.) to explain, decide: - determine, expound.

If you deny this then you deny that Christ came in the flesh in any effective way and are therefore antichrist.

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:23

The Word or Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God when we believe and obey whatever that Spirit word asks us to believe or do. Therefore,

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 1 John 5:9

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 1 John 5: 10

If we refuse to believe in and appropriate the water, blood and Spirit then we do not Justify God but rather make Him into a liar:

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against (for) themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30

Rather than having to shed our own blood, we appropriate the blood of Christ at baptism because we believe His commands and promises connected with water baptism.

Peter showed how the witness is connected to obedience:

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,

but the answer (request for) of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21

The gift of the Spirit is the gift of the Mind of Christ. This is a clear moral conscience as a witness that we are children, but it is also the ability to discern the Spirit in the Words of Christ:

Suneidesis (g4893) soon-i'-day-sis; from a prol. form of 4894; co- perception, i.e. moral consciousness; - conscience.

Suneido (g4894) soon-i'-do; from 4862 and 1492; to see completely; used (like its prim.) only in two past tenses, respectively mean. to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or clandestinely informed of: - consider, know, be privy, be ware of.

Therefore, the Spirit of God is the Mind of Christ. It is revealed to us in His Words which He demands is "Spirit" and "Life."

The Spirit or Mind of Christ makes us love the Lord and His total Word. That spirit does not give us information beyond the Word. And if we go charismatic and "feel" something in our flesh it is not a holy spirit but an unholy spirit attacking all of our nerve endings.

John continues:

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5: 11

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5: 12

In Galatians the "promise of the Spirit" is the promise which the Spirit of Christ made:

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put (clothed with) on Christ. Gal 3:27

John insists that the witness of the Spirit or Word is based on what has been or will be written under inspiration. Without his written word they would not have the witness of the Spirit (Word) to their spirit (mind):

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God:

that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5: 13

Faith grows as we speak and sing the revealed Word as Paul insisted in all of the "singing" passages.

The reason for insisting on teaching the Word "as it has been taught" is that false prophets are hoovering around like hungry flies trying to steal the Word our of our ears:

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 1 John 5: 19

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,

that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 5: 20

Understanding is quite identical to the human spiritual grasp of Spirit truth:

Dianoi (g1271) dee-an'-oy-ah; from 1223 and 3563; deep thought, prop. the faculty (mind or its disposition), by impl. its exercise: - imagination, mind, understanding.

Spirit is: Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc.,

We noted of 1 Peter 3:21 above that it is at baptism where we ask Christ for a clear conscience (consciousness) or a clear understanding which is the gift of A holy spirit.

The operative "worship" word in the New Testament is "giving heed to Christ through His Word" or as Paul told Timothy "give attendance to the reading of the word, to doctrine (teaching) and to exhortation."

This total devotion to the Word as it was in the Synagogue keeps the church from "branching out" under false teachers who believe that they have the personal, separated Holy Spirit living in their carnal body and giving them further revelation.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21

An idol is an image or any form, appearance, fashion, shape, sight or anything which stands between the worshiper (in the spirit) and God.

This would include theatrical preaching where the "image" can not possibly be anything but the performer. "Musical worship teams" are absolutely "idols standing in the holy place" and some claim that "we are the mediators between man and God." Dr. Rubel Shelly claims that the "musical team can help lead you into the presence of God." This claims, consistent with Post Modern thought, that they are the "christs" for their congregation.

However, worship cannot be recognized any other place, according to Jesus, than in the spirit (mind as PLACE) and in truth which is giving heed to the Word which is Spirit and Life.

The Spirit or Mind or mental disposition of God grows in our own spirit only by teaching or preaching to one another with the Biblical text and leaving the "singing and melody" in the heart where Scripture puts it.

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