Regarding your questions, I would define Jesus Christ as being God for the following reasons.

1) The scriptures declare Him as God: And many of these passages have already been provided in this post. John 17.3 is speaking of “the only true God” in contrast to false gods and idols, as is not intended to be in opposition to Jesus Christ. This position is also held by numerous Bible Commentaries. It is also recorded in 1 John 5:20 that Jesus Christ is the “true God”.

2) The “I am”: In John 8:58-59 it reads;
John 8:58-59
58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

The reason the Jews picked up stones to stone him is because they knew he was referring to himself as the God who spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
Exodus 3:14
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

It is this same “I am” that gave Moses the 10 Commandments and said;
Exodus 20:2-3
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

And this is why we can bow down to Jesus Christ and worship him as God without committing idolatry.

3) He created the universe: These verses have also been expounded on and are irrefutable. John Ch.1 is very clear on this. Now then, and unlike some others, I am unwilling to rewrite John 1:1 to say that the Word was “like” God, or the Word was “a god” with a lower case g.

For some reason, the emphatic statements made by John that Jesus Christ created the universe, or “all things’, isn’t a sufficient enough definition of the “true God” for some people, but it works for me.

Sean, I am interested, what is your definition of God?

4) Jesus Christ will be our judge and will determine our eternity: Some to everlasting peace and some to eternal separation. And once again, who, but God, can make that determination? There is no one else.

5) The Father called Jesus God: The writer of Hebrews expounds on this at length and there is no doubt what the intentions of the writer were when quoting the Psalms to support his statements.

In Closing, the Trinitarian teaching has been debated for many years and is difficult for some to accept. However, it is what we believe the scriptures teach and is therefore our conviction. Thank you.

God is 1 not 3

My point here is this. When we get passed the Gospels, we read no mention of a mandated tithe. Paul had ample opportunity, in all of his eptistles, to re-instate an observance of that Old Testament law, but he did not, nor did the other writers. On the contrary, we find evidence to support a different approach to the subject.

In Acts chapter 5:4, in the money for land scandal, perpetrated by Ananias and Sapphira, read how the money belonged to them, and was at their disposal. You would never hear this from a pulpit today. They would say that 90% is yours.

Also, the strongest scriptural support for “freewill giving” is a scripture that was cited by Cappy above. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. It shows us a principle of giving, not a percentage. It shows that if we are stingy, we should not expect to receive financial abundance. It also reveals that giving is now a freewill issue that should not be equated with percentages, but instead determined in ones heart. This giving should be done cheerfully, no doubt worshipfully, so that it is not done “reluctantly” or, very important, not “under compulsion”.

Many times, those of us who practice the New Testament model for giving, and do not cave to the Judaizers of our day, we can feel like second class Christians. The pressure has been so great at times, that you could almost begin to equate tithing with salvation. Don’t worry though, they will stop “just short” of saying that. But you know they want to. I have wrestled with this legalism for years, under guilt.

John Hagee said that there is a wanted poster in heaven with my name and picture on it, with the title “God Robber”. Maybe when I make 1.2 million a year, like him, I can tithe. Talk about “compulsion”. If, Lord willing, I ever start a church, there will be a box at the back for “non-compulsion giving” and if we can’t pay the bills, we close the doors. But I went to a church that had a box at the back, in Mississippi. They had a nice facility, and I beleive they have moved into a new one.

So do I believe in tithing? If you have determined in your heart that you can give 10 percent, then go ahead. Give 50% if you can. Just don’t make it a law for others.
Galatians 2:16 says that” by observing the law no one will be justified”. Furthermore, Gal 5:3-4 says
4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

So I would be very careful Pastor. I would be very careful denominations, how you teach on giving. This is not light stuff. Paul openly rebuked Peter for his alignment with those that were trying to hold to circumcision and the cross at the same time. Our verse in Gal 2:16 was the result of this incident. I could go on and on about this, but I would like to get to the point. Stop teaching tithe as a New Testament law and obligation! When you do, you are entering a dangerous place. I think I should print up some t-shirts for those of us who hold our view. It would be a great way to make a point. The t-shirts will read like this. “I Tithe, I am Circumcised, and I keep the Sabbath”
Myster E

It appears you are trying to truly understand the Creator’s true nature…

Here is Wisdom !!