by Andy Yparraguirre and Belo Alvaran

We are now in the middle of our final exam!  How are you doing?

We need to be reminded brethren that the Church of God is a school and we members are all examinees.  In his co-worker letter of November 30, 1981, Mr. Armstrong wrote:

“Remember, dear brethren, we’re in the FINAL EXAM period of the END TIME before the end of this world, and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in…POWER AND GLORY to usher in the happy and peaceful WORLD TOMORROW! Pray continually and fervently, and step up your reading and study of God’s Word, the Bible.”

You might ask, if we are taking the final exam, what are the questions?  In this article, we invite you to find the questions and supply the answer as well.

Mr. Armstrong, our first teacher, wrote on pp. 44-45 of his Mystery of the Ages that the doctrine of Trinity is FALSE. He said:

“THE FALSE TRINITY TEACHING does limit God to three Persons. But God is not limited. As God repeatedly reveals, his purpose is to REPRODUCE HIMSELF into what well may become billions of God persons. 

Mr. Joseph Tkach, Jr., our second teacher, has a different point of view.  He wrote this in his Transformed by Truth:

“The Bible insists there is but one God but makes it equally clear that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God. That means the Trinity MUST BE TRUE.” (End of quotes)

So we have two teachers, one says the trinity is false, the other says it is true.  Our examination therefore is “TRUE or FALSE”. 

So, now, we can ask the first question:  

QUESTION NO. 1:  Is the Doctrine of the Trinity True of False?

Before answering the question, we should read the instructions:

2The 2:15 (KJV, Paul speaking to the Thessalonian converts)) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 

Darby’s Translation is clearer:

2The 2:15 (DBY) So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which you have been taught, whether by word or by our letter.

Christ reiterated the same instruction:

Reve 3:11 (KJV, Christ speaking) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have (been taught), that no man takes your crown. 

This was the “tradition” or “instruction” which we have been taught by our first teacher Mr. Amrstrong, quoted from pp. 44-45 of Mystery of the Ages:

“Thus, as we read further, in Colossians 1, beginning verse 12, 

“(Colo 1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which had… translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son … who is the image (i.e., likeness, Gene 1:26) of the invisible God [same appearance, form and shape and character] … for by him (the Son) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him (the Son), and for him (the Father): and he (the Father) is before all things, and by him (the Son) all things consist” (verses 12-13, 15-17).

“(Colo 1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which had… translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son … who is the image (i.e., likeness, Gene 1:26) of the invisible God [same appearance, form and shape and character] … for by him (the Son) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him (the Son), and for him (the Father): and he (the Father) is before all things, and by him (the Son) all things consist” (verses 12-13, 15-17).

“…No third Person is mentioned — no “Ghost.”…

“IT IS THE FALSE TRINITY TEACHING THAT LIMITS GOD, denies God’s purpose and has palpably deceived the whole Christian world.” (End of quotes)

The answer therefore to the first question is: the Doctrine of Trinity is FALSE.

But, how can we be sure which one is right – Mr. Armstrong or Dr. Tkach?  

Well, we should ask first, who is our teacher and who is our examiner?  

When we were young, (we refer to those who were called during the 70s and 80s) God sent us a teacher, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.  Many of us took our Bible Correspondence Course while in school. But now, we are mostly senior citizens.  

Eccl 12:1 (KJV) Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth (not in our senior years), while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;

Now that most of us are senior citizens, will God send us a grade school teacher in the person of Mr. Tkach to re-start our education all over again?  

Gala 4:1 (KJV, Paul speaking to the Galatians who were descendants of Reuben) Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a CHILD (not senior citizen), differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under TUTORS and governors UNTIL THE TIME APPOINTED OF THE FATHER. 3 

Note that our tutors have tenure and God the Father appoints them.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements (Gr. rudiments, basic principles) of the world.

It is a basic principle that children must be taught!

Deut 11:19 (KJV) And you shall teach them (laws of God) your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

We are children of God and we are his heirs.  Did God send us the wrong teacher when we were young?  Would God do that to his children? Of course not!  

Our first teacher must be right!  The Doctrine of Trinity is FALSE!  

We need to rely on God.  

Hebr 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of [our] FAITH without wavering; (for he (God) [is] faithful that promised;)

This exam therefore is not only to test our knowledge, but to try our FAITH in God as well.  

Luke 18:8 (KJV, Christ speaking) …[W]hen the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Our answer should be yes!  We DO have faith in God and in his Son!

Image source: Wikipedia