In the beginning, around 10,000 BC, when religions sprouted all across the globe among primitive people, they believed in many gods. By 4000 BC there was one tribe that believed that there was only one God -the Hebrews. Monos (one) God (Theos) remained the glue that held the Hebrews together and still holds them together today.
When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment? "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." (Mar 12:29). Jesus was a Hebrew and worshiped One and only one God.
When Jesus rose from the dead and met Mary Magdalene he said
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. If Jesus was God, he would not say I am going to God. God can't have a God.
Peter wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our master Jesus the anointed one." (1Pe 1:3)
Paul who was chosen to explain the difficult parts of the Gospel never said God is three in one. He never used the word trinity.
In fact just the opposite, Paul wrote,
"But for us, "There is only one God, the Father." (1 Cor. 8:6) Eph 4:6 There is One God and Father of all
Look at 1 Cor 15:22-28
1Co 15:22-28 "For as in Adam all die, so also in the anointed one will all be made alive. However, this will happen to each person in the proper order: first the anointed one, then those who belong to the anointed one when he comes. Then the end will come, when he/Jesus hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he/the Father has done away with every ruler and every authority and power. For he/Jesus must rule until God puts all his enemies under his/Jesus's feet. The last enemy to be done away with is death, for "God has put everything under his/Jesus's feet." Now when he says, "Everything has been put under him/Jesus," this clearly excludes the one who put everything under him/God. But when everything has been put under him, then the Son himself will also become subject to the one who put everything under him/God, so that God may be all in all."
In First Corinthians 15 we see Jesus handing the kingdom over to the Father and bowing/submitting/kneeling before the father handing him his crown and all the power the father had given him.
Did Paul see Jesus as God or as a man? Look what he wrote in
- 1Ti 2:5 There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and human beings-a human, the anointed one, Jesus.
- 1Ti 6:15 God is the blessed and only ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him.
In Eph 1:20-22 when he/God raised him/Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm. He is now far above every ruler, authority, power, dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. God has put everything under his/Jesus's feet and has made him the head of everything for the good of the church.
Jesus now rules as the High Priest. But if Jesus was God, we would not need a high priest or a mediator.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
If Jesus was God incarnate, there is no way he could have been tempted. God cannot sin.
Heb 10:12-14 But this man/Jesus, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
- 1Co 8:4 there is only one God.
- Rom 3:30 there is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith
John 17:3 This is eternal life: to know you, the only (monos) true God (theos), and Jesus the anointed one, whom you sent (apostello =commissioned as an apostle to deliver a message). Knowing the Monos Theos is easy if you read the scriptures with an open mind/heart "For us there is one God, the father".
Knowing the anointed one is also easy if you read the scriptures He is the Messiah, the man mediator, now raised to be the High Priest in the heavenly temple.
Act 5:31 Him/Jesus hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Notice Jesus is only a Prince. He is not a king. God is the King of Kings.
1 Ti 6:15 God is the monos/only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Sample prayer, Father thank you for helping me see the difference between you and Jesus. I will only worship you and I will honor Jesus. You have given him all authority and so I will obey him in everything. Amen