Did You Know?
By J. G. BowPassing by the Unitarian church in this city, I saw this question on the bulletin board in the church yard: “Did you know that Emerson, Longfellow, Holmes and Lowell were Unitarians?”
We answer: “Yes, according to their teaching and testimony, they were Unitarians.”
We would like to ask all people who would be influenced by their concealed infidelity: “Did you know that Peter and Paul and John and Jesus, were not Unitarians?”
According to teaching and testimony, they were not Unitarians. Just two points, two essential truths, plainly, positively and fully revealed in the teaching of our divine Lord, and these divinely inspired writers, but denied by Unitarians, namely the Trinity, and Future Punishment.
First, the Trinity: The Divinity of the Holy Spirit. “But Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost.” “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” Acts 5:3,4. Here, Peter calls the Holy Spirit God. Peter said of Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” John 16:16. He said, “Thou hast the words of Eternal life.” John 6:68.
Peter said of eternal punishment: They “shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2 Peter 2:12. “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness.” 2 Peter 2:13. “To whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.” 2 Peter 2:17.
Paul said of the Divinity of Christ: “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16. “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Philippians 2:6. He said of the wicked: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the glory of his power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9.
John said of Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1, and in John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” etc.
John related that Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28. Here, Jesus allowed himself to be called God.
John said of Jesus: “In the beginning with the Word, and John wrote of the wicked: “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.” Revelation 14:11. “Was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15. “shall have their part in the lake of fire, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.
Jesus said: “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30.
His prayer for all believers was that “They may be one as we are one.” John 17:11, 17:22.
Every time he claimed God as his Father, He claimed equality with God. John 5:18.
As to the doctrine of future punishment, Jesus said: “It is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that the whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29, 30.
He said: “Fear Him which after He hath killed, hath power to cast into hell.” Luke 12:5.
He said of the wicked: “These shall go away into everlasting punishment.” Matthew 25:46.
Evidently, Peter and Paul, and John and Jesus were not Unitarians. Whose example and teaching do you think it safest to follow?
==================== Originally published in the Western Recorder, May 10, 1917; republished by the J.H. Spencer Historical Society. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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