Is Jesus God?
One God or Three?
(Incomplete)

The debate between Judaism and Christianity over the nature of God is stronger than ever. However there is a renewed compulsion to resolve this impasse. Coming from both sides, there seems to be a growing sense that we are supposed to be one people. That our faith systems can be resolved into one and the same. In our study for truth many of us have found a consistent trend - that the historical conflicts and contradictions appear not be based on Scripture, but rather on human fabrications and misunderstandings. It only makes sense, the God we see in Scripture is a consummate designer with a plan full of wonder and irony. What at first appears to be conflict or disaster, resolves into purpose and greater splendor. This is not an exercise in compromise, it is an exercise in truth. Truth is absolute, when we arrive are truth we will all arrive at the same point God's faithful, Jewish and Christian, have a growing love and respect for each other and a longing to break down those walls that divide us. Many sense a prophetic purpose in all this. But God is faithful, even in this difficult issue of the identity of God there seems to be a solution. See if you don't agree?

Judaism says there is only ONE God, not three God's as Christianity claims. Christianity says Jesus was the Messiah, God incarnate, and that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person in the Godhead.

God the Father: Torah clearly and purposefully encourages the concept of God as Father. By definition, a father must have a son. There could be two ways of conceptualizing fatherhood; 1) to beget and 2) to found or create. Abraham is the father of the household of the faithful. But he is also the father of a begotten son Isaac. We might say that God is the Father of ALL mankind, but nowhere does it say that. Nowhere does the Torah specifically say that God did NOT beget a son. The begetting Father is NOT a concept foreign to Torah

Saying God has a son is NOT saying God is NOT one!

The Torah establishes the concept of the compound unity. The ultimate example of this is the marriage relationship. The Torah purposefully calls, obviously wanting us the comprehend the man and woman as ONE. It would not be against Torah to extend this concept to God. A compound unity must have a single point of authority - not two. Two personalities but not two authorities. In fact a proper exercise of this compound oneness is the ultimate example of love and relational oneness. It is profoundly attractive.

Right from the second verse, the Torah reveals a force acting distinct, yet in harmony, with God. This concept continues throughout Scripture. The activity of the Spirit is often referred to in all Jewish writings including the Talmud. To personify this 'Spirit' as part of the Oneness of God would not be contrary to Scripture. The direct refutation of a distinct Spirit comes only as a reaction to the Christian concept of the Trinity. The Spirits activity are consistent with the work of a feminine entity, and the Spirit, particularly the Sheckinah are presented by Judaism as feminine. The Spirit could indeed be the 'wife' of God, distinct yet One.

Here are two questions:

"Is saying a king has a wife, saying there are two kings in the kingdom?

"Is saying a king has a son, saying there are two kings in the kingdom?

The obvious answer to both is NO. If we substitute the word God for king, we ask, "Is saying God has a son saying there are two Gods in the kingdom? No! Therefore, when rightly understood, Jesus IS NOT GOD.

5. God's throne is Heaven. Heaven was created. How could the eternal, timeless, limitless God dwell within creation? The God of heaven was 'created' for us, for creation, he most certainly transcends heaven and creation. The highest God we know is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. These qualities are obvious qualities of the Father God not the "I AM"

Deu 32:9 For the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.

Judaism vs. Christianity - the degree to which they are different, is the degree to which they are wrong!