Attributes of LORD - Part 2

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And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  -  Genesis 17:1

The LORD appeared to Abram.  Abram could see him.  Yet:

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  -  1 Timothy 1:17

So who did Abram see?  Abram did not see the only wise God.  He did see the LORD.  Isaac saw the LORD  (Genesis 26:2), as did Moses (Exodus 3:16), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:21), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5).  Either John was incorrect in saying that no man has seen God at any time or the LORD is not the only wise God.

Many argue that LORD is the pre-incarnate manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  However, the LORD states that he knows both good and evil in Genesis 3:22.  If the LORD is the Lord Jesus Christ, then he knows good and evil.  Also, that would make him both the instituter of the law (ministration of death) and the end of the law (Romans 10:4).  It implies that the Lord Jesus Christ is a hypocrite for telling the people of Israel, "Thou shalt not kill." and then saying, "I will kill ..."  The only reasonable alternative is that LORD is neither the only wise God nor is he the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lives in Darkness

He (from the context - LORD) made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.  -  Psalms 18:11

What can I say?  Here in the Bible we see that the LORD has a dark, secret place.  Yet of God, John said, "God is light and in him is no darkness at all."  This should astound the reader.  There is no way to reconcile these two aspects.  The LORD likes dark places, but anywhere that God is then there is no darkness.

The differences above are stark.  They are not subtle.  It amazes me that for the better part of my 30+ yer Christian life.  I didn't see it, or accepted the explanation of the differences without questioning.  I am often reminded of::

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  -  2 Corinthians 11:3

Paul was concerned that people would be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  Seeing these stark contrasts plainly shows the ease of deceiving mankind from the truth.