In your mind you are asking, what teaching are you talking about? Of course, you have a need and a right to ask such a question. To answer your question, I am talking about what you hear on Sunday morning and Sunday night? In other words, do you believe what the preacher preaches?
The preacher is preaching that God exists, and that this God is the one revealed in the Bible, and that he is first revealed to us in the Hebrew word “el-o-heem” which is a plural word. The first first verse of the Bible reveals God to us, but it is not one member of the Godhead. The plural nature of the “el-o-heem” is seen in verse 26, which reads: “And God (el-o-heem’) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:….” All one has to do is notice the plural pronouns, “us” and “our” to see the plural nature of this one God. Yet these pronouns also reveal the one “image,” and the one “likeness” of the Godhead. Jesus in the New Testament identifies the three members of the one Godhead in these words: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). Of course, this was not the case in the Genesis’ revelation. The term “Son” is a new relationship between the first and the second member of the Godhead in the New Testament; though prophesied in the Old Testament.
It is most interesting how Jesus put to silence the Pharisees, who he asked, “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?” (Matt. 22:42). It did not take them long to answer, “The Son of David” (verse 42). Were they correct? Yes, but they were missing a very important point; so Jesus said unto them: “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?” (verse 43 – 44). What is the mystery? Listen to Jesus as he followed up with this question: “If David then called him Lord, how is he his son?” (verse 45). The Pharisees knew the verse from Psalms, which reads: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,” but they did not understand the words, or they did not want to understand! It may be that they were willingly ignorant; in that had they answered correctly, they would have condemned themselves! It is here that Matthew writes: “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (verse 46). What were the Pharisees missing as they read the words in the Psalms? They were missing that David’s “son” through the flesh would also be God dwelling in this flesh; the second member of the Godhead; thus, he would also be David’s Lord. David revealed a great truth, though totally missed, willingly or out of ignorance, by the Pharisees: the dual nature of Jesus.
Now, had we been able to ask those Pharisees, do you believe the teaching? They would have answered, “No!” Why did they not believe the teaching? The teaching did not fit into their thinking; therefore, they did not believe the teaching! Yet, the teaching is truth! It was taught by Jesus, the only begotten Son of God! If we ever hope to be sanctified, it will be through believing and obeying the truth! Hear Jesus on this subject as he prayed to this Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Now someone objects, you do not have to obey; for there is nothing that we can do to bring about our own salvation! Well, hear the apostle of Christ: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth …” (1 Pet. 1:22). Did you know the word translated “purified” in this text is the Greek “hagnizo;” which is the same word translated “sanctify” in Jesus’ statement in John 17:17? So what is the point? Peter wrote that those, to whom he wrote, had “sanctified” themselves by obeying the truth. Do you believe the teaching that we are “sanctified,” “purified,” by obeying the truth?
So, you are still hung up on the idea of having to obey, as this means you are doing “works,” and no one is saved by works. Could it be that you are wrong about works and salvation? Is obeying a work? If so, then, works are necessary to one’s salvation! Obeying is necessary, and if obeying is a work, then, works are necessary. Read these words: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). What was that? Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him! Do you believe the teaching?
— Frank R. Williams