found 18 items matching Ray Faircloth
Is Jesus the Archangel Michael? [10 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 2.0 (7 votes so far)
Because Michael is “one of the foremost princes” (Dan. 10:13) we can see through the false assumptions that Michael is the only archangel and that he is a completely different creature to other angels.
The Holy Spirit is Not a Person Distinct From The Father [10 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.6 (6 votes so far)
Evidently the holy spirit is not a 3rd person within the formula of a trinity; but rather is God’s own spirit—His mind powerfully expressed into action as outreach to his creation. Since his exaltation to the right hand of God Jesus also expresses his spirit—his mind into action as outreach to his disciples. Because holy spirit means God’s thoughts (and therefore also Jesus’ thoughts)—His mind projected to the receptive human mind, we can say that we have God’s spirit when we are considering the holy Scriptures i.e. when reading/studying them, discussing them or in living our lives in a way that is in harmony with them, including prayer. In this way we are empowered to do God’s will in its many aspects. Also the spirit of God has such power that it brought the universe into being, and will be the power (in Christ’s hands) that brings “the new heavens and earth” into being in the future.
When Did the Son of God Come into Existence? [10 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.6 (6 votes so far)
The vast majority of the Scriptures provide no support at all for a doctrine of literal “pre- existence.” For instance, from the entire Hebrew Scriptures only Genesis 1:26; Proverbs 8:22, 30 and Micah 5:2 have been advanced in any attempt at such proof. Yet in the Christian Greek Scriptures there is no hint of pre-existence in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John or Jude.
The `logos` in John`s Prologue [16 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.9 (7 votes so far)
In his prologue John is demonstrating how God, through Jesus, completes his creation as the New Creation. However, perhaps the most helpful points are the understanding that the term word is inadequate to express the meaning of logos.
Leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses (Truth Matters) [28:06]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 2.5 (9 votes so far)
Ray Faircloth was a Jehovah's Witness (JW) for 36 years and served as both a ministerial servant and as an elder. Over his lengthy sojourn among the JWs, he sometimes came across doctrinal issues which he quietly logged in the back of his mind. He also noticed that the Watchtower Society (the organization name of the JWs) was increasing its control over the people. He observed that more and more in meetings loyalty to God's organization was being emphasized whereas loyalty to Jesus was not really talked about.
Listen in to this show to hear the insider perspective of a committed Jehovah's Witness, who never wanted to leave the fold, but who God led to see that the most fundamental doctrine of the Watchtower--that it was God's one true organization--was baseless. Ray has suffered greatly, and two of his three daughters no longer speak to him (JWs practice an extreme form of shunning). If you would like to contact Ray, especially if you have questions related to JWs, please email him: rcfaircloth@msn.com.
Basic Background of the Trinity [6 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.6 (7 votes so far)
With remarkable brevity and thoroughness Ray Faircloth outlines the major theological positions of early Christianity regarding God and Christ and capably delineates the corresponding modern positions of as well.
Responding To Trinitarian Claims About God [3 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.3 (6 votes so far)
This frequently used Hebrew name for God (elohim) is a plural form. When it refers to the true God, the singular verb is normally used, as here. The plural form indicates majesty; the name stresses God’s sovereignty and incomparability – he is “the God of gods.”
Responding To Trinitarian Claims About Jesus [18 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.6 (6 votes so far)
The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is 3 persons in one nature; but the theory of the hypostatic union states that Jesus was one person with 2 natures – one divine and the other human. This is a contradictory position. If the 3 persons of the Godhead are one nature and Jesus’ 2nd nature, when he was on earth, is combined with it then God has 2 natures. And yet they are supposed to be one nature if Jesus was actually God. This would also mean that the entire Godhead was present on earth when Jesus was on earth.
The Problem of Trinitarian Translation [8 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.6 (6 votes so far)
Does the Bible ever call Jesus God? It turns out that the smattering of texts which trinitarian apologists customarily offer as proof for Jesus' divinity have major manuscript and translation issues. Ray Faircloth takes on a journey to discover what the various alternatives are for understanding classic scriptures such as Isaiah 9.6, 1 John 5.7; John 1.18; Titus 2.13; 2 Peter 1.1, etc.
Is Philippians 2.5-9 about a Pre-Existent Being? [9 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (6 votes so far)
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-9 is best read from a word for word Greek interlinear translation. Because of a docetic and often trinitarian pre-existence bias, our current translations do not accurately express the thoughts of these verses. Of course, some translations are better than others and all render many parts of these texts accurately.
Answering Trinitarian Arguments [16 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
When speaking of Jesus Trinitarians often forget that just as a human principal may use an agent so, too, God often uses agents. In the Bible the human principal/agent relationship can be seen from the account in Luke 7:1-10 concerning the centurion who sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his servant. Yet the parallel account in Matthew 8:5-13 presents the event as if the centurion were personally speaking to Jesus. Furthermore, God is shown to use Aaron as agent
More Inconsistencies In Trinitarianism [7 page]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
Since the 4th century Trinitarians have claimed to be monotheists; yet if they worship God as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit then 3 co-equal Gods are being worshipped, each God being a separate and distinct person. This is tritheism and not biblical monotheism. Yet this anomaly is covered over by stating that it is a mystery.
Jesus Was Not the Agent/Co-Creator of the Genesis Creation [8 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
Evidently Jesus does act as God’s agent, but in producing the New Creation which does not bring about new material things (Please see STUDY 11). In being this agent, Jesus works in harmony with the Father and is therefore also the co-creator of the New Creation by virtue of his sacrifice.
Jesus is the Prototype and Agent of the New Creation [9 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
The first thing to hold in mind is that only Yahweh was the creator of the Physical universe as shown from the Scriptures in the previous study. There are another half dozen Scriptures that also state that only Yahweh was the creator of the universe and dozens more which imply the same. However, a number of Scriptures directly inform us that Jesus is the creator of ‘the new creation’ inasmuch as his sacrifice reconciles humans to God and the new creation is the point of focus in Isaiah 51:16 which the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS) of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Word Biblical Commentary, and the Fausset Commentary all recognize as applying, not to the Genesis creation, but to Messiah and the new heavens and earth.
Jesus Is Not The Almighty God [9 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
...it is evident that the earlier quoted statement by William Barclay was correct when he said: “Nowhere does the New Testament identify Jesus with God.” So the final decision made by Emperor Constantine at the end of the Council of Nicea in A.D 325 established a doctrine of God and Jesus that is completely foreign to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.
What Does Pre-human Existence Really Mean? [10 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
Jehovah’s Witnesses and the various Bible Student groups teach that Jesus, on earth, was fully human and was the equal of the pristine Adam. This teaching means that he was not a hybrid - part human/part spirit creature. Yet these denominations also teach that Jesus had a pre-human existence, having been created as a spirit before the Genesis creation. Then at the time of Jesus’ conception the spirit creature’s life was transferred to Mary’s womb. The Bible Student groups generally do not accept the Jehovah’s Witnesses teaching that Jesus was previously the archangel Michael; but nevertheless they believe that he previously was a spirit person existing in heaven.
John`s Portrait of Jesus [14 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
Although John’s gospel was written last it cannot be maintained, that whilst the other gospels and writings do not speak of pre-existence, that John is providing a new revelation as to who Jesus was. Jesus never changed the Jewish definition of what the Messiah was to be i.e. a descendant of David.
The Only God Is One Person [5 pages]
by Ray Faircloth rated at 1.0 (5 votes so far)
For all the events recorded in the Scriptures there is no indication that some were performed by a Trinitarian version of "God the Father" in contrast to some being performed by other separate parts of God or the full Trinity.
books
These books, written by people from diverse backgrounds, express the simple truth that God is one. Some of them are more scholary while others are more autobiographical. In addition, a few of them are available to read online. If you would like more in depth treatment of christian monotheism, these books are the next step to take. Note: if you know of other books, not listed here, please leave us feedback.