The number three has great significance in Scripture. It is popular now, as it has been since the beginning of the Church – to de-Deify Jesus Christ. Most scholars would trace the identifiable  source to Arius, (the father of Arianism) a leader in the church at Alexandria, Egypt, 318 A.D. In terms of prophetic church ages, this corresponds with the “Church at Pergamos.” (Revelation 2: 12-17) It was the church that was “married,” or settled down, to the faith; also identified as being worldly, and imperial. [300-500 A.D.]

A brilliant and articulate speaker, Arius taught that Jesus Christ was neither God nor man, but rather, a demi-god. A created being, halfway between God and man. Many cults are based on this premise, but they never support their claims with Scripture, instead relying on “new” prophecies, visions and revelations. This question was settled not by scholars and clergy at the Council of Nicea. It was through the testimony of an African hermit that all doubts were assuaged.

After listening to Arius, who was uncommonly persuasive, the “African sprang to his feet, clad chiefly in tiger’s skin. This latter he tore from his back, disclosing great scars (the result of having been thrown into the arena among the wild beasts, and his back dreadfully disfigured by their claws), crying dramatically,

These are the brand marks of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I cannot hear this blasphemy.

Then he proceeded to give so stirring an address, setting forth so clearly the truth as to Christ’s eternal deity, that the majority of the council realized in a moment that it was indeed the voice of the Spirit of God.” (H.A. Ironsides)

A close study of Scripture will show, that God repeats ideas and principles – in various ways – to better reveal Himself to us.

The Identities of the Godhead

• Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:19)
• For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1John 5:7)
• The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. (2Cor. 13:14)

Jesus lay in the tomb for three days and three nights, in all four Gospels and prophesied in Psalms 69; 22; and Exodus 12; and 20.

Jesus raised three people from the dead: the widow’s son (Luke 7: 11-18); Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5: 22-24, 35-43); and Lazarus ( John 11: 1-44).

Jesus’ three closest apostles were Peter, James, and John.

And below, you see illustrated, all three Persons of the Godhead are manifested to eyewitnesses at the same time. . .

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him; And lo a Voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17

We must resist the efforts of the cults, the emergent church, and New Age Religion to remove Jesus from the throne. . .

The four indicators of a cult:

1. Add to God’s Word with new Scripture
2. Subtract from Jesus
3. Multiply the requirements for salvation
4. Divide their followers loyalty

The Five Fundamentals of the Faith:

1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
2. The virgin birth and full Deity of Jesus Christ
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4. Christ’s atoning vicarious death for the sins of the world
5. The literal second coming of Jesus Christ

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1