Studies In Scripture » Deity of Jesus

The Father Manifested

Randy A. Brown — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:45:32 +0000

1 John 3:1-6 is an interesting passage. It reveals that the Father was manifested as our Savior.

1Jo 3:1-6 KJV Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

This passage consistently refers to the Father as ‘He’ and ‘Him’ with no subject change. There is no change of antecedent. Each pronoun is referring to the Father.

In verse 1 the Father bestowed love upon us, and because of that we are called the sons of God. The world does not know us because it did not know the Father. There is no subject change. Verse 1 starts talking about the Father and continues talking about the Father.

1Jo 3:1 KJV Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

‘Him’ refers to the Father. Notice there is no other antecedent. Jesus is the one that came into the world and the world did not know him.

Joh 1:10-11 KJV ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

The next verse continues with the same antecedent.

1Jo 3:2 KJV Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The subject continues with no subject change. ‘Him’ refers to the Father. Again, there is no other antecedent- no other possible pronoun for ‘Him’ to refer to. We know that Jesus is the one that will appear.

Rev 1:7 KJV Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The passage continues with no change of antecedent.

1Jo 3:3 KJV And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The next verse continues with the same anticendent.

1Jo 3:5 KJV And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

‘He’ still refers to the Father, but we know that Jesus is the one that was manifest to take away our sins.

Joh 1:29 KJV The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Jo 3:6 KJV Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

When was the Father manifested? In Jesus. Jesus is God the Father manifest in flesh to save us from our sins.

Did God Forsake Jesus on the Cross?

Randy A. Brown — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:35:45 +0000

Just before his death, Jesus asked:

Mat 27:46 KJV And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Did God really forsake Jesus just as he was giving his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world? Does this verse prove a separation between the Father and the Son? Did God leave Jesus on the cross just before he died? Did the Father separate Himself from the Son?

Some have said that the Spirit of God left Jesus. This is not possible because Jesus is God manifest in flesh.

1Ti 3:16 KJV And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: 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.

Others have said that the Father left the Son. This would either mean that they are separate entities or that the Deity came out of the humanity and left the man Christ alone on the cross. The Scriptures tell us that God was in Christ during reconciliation.

2Co 5:19 KJV To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

God did not forsake Jesus when he was on the cross because Jesus was God. Jesus was God manifest in flesh to become the sacrifice for our sins. This does not mean that the Father suffered the pain of death because God is a Spirit and cannot die.

I have heard some say that God died on the cross. Jesus did not die as God. Jesus died as a man. If God could die in His deity He would not be God.

The Spirit of God did not leave the body of Jesus and allow him to die on the cross alone. It was not one person within the Godhead forsaking another person within the Godhead. This would have required each person to be a separate individual, either making each one 1/3 of God, or making three Gods. God could not have separated Himself from Jesus because Jesus was God.

Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world. For the first time, Jesus, a sinless man, felt what it was like to feel the judgment of God for sin. He felt sinful. He felt forsaken. Jesus did not sin, but he did feel the sins of the world. He took our place and felt our sin.

We have all sinned.

Rom 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The penalty for sin is death.

Rom 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus took our place and suffered the death that we deserve for sin.

Rom 5:6-9 KJV ⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Jesus, as a sinless man, freely took upon himself the sins of the world. He felt the judgment for sin so we don’t have to. Jesus died on the cross so we could have the free gift of salvation by the grace of God. He provided a way for salvation by buying it with his own blood.

Our Creator

Randy A. Brown — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:15:18 +0000

The scriptures tell us that God created all things. We are the special creation of God. Some verses say Jesus created all things, while other verses say the Father is the creator of all things. Is this two ‘persons’ that are creating the universe together? Is this a contradiction? If this is not a contradiction in Scripture, then this brings us to this question: who is our Creator?

Creation is not the cooperative work of a group of ‘people’. The Scriptures are clear there is only one Creator- Jehovah our LORD.

Isaiah 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?

The Bible describes the one Creator as Jesus.

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16-17 ¹⁶ For by him 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, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

How is Jesus the Creator?

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Notice this verse doesn’t say the Son created. It says that God created by the Son. This verse makes a distinction between God and the Son of God. God created with the Son in view (Bernard, 1994, p. 55). Jesus did not create as the Son of God. The Son wasn’t born until Bethlehem.

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

This verse shows us that the Father is the Creator, and then explains that Jesus is the Creator. Jesus is the Creator as God. From his Deity, he is the Creator of all things. Jesus did not create from his sonship- his humanity. Jesus is the Creator from his Deity, as God. The one who was later manifest in flesh is the Creator.

Jesus is the Creator because he is Jehovah, the one God manifest in flesh.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: 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.

The Creator, the one true God, was manifest in flesh to become our redeemer. As our God, He is the Creator that would manifest himself in flesh to become our Savior. He did not create as the Savior- as the Son of God. He created as God. Jesus Christ is our God, our Savior, our Redeemer, our LORD, our Mediator, our Comforter, and our Father. All of this is possible because He was first our Creator.

References

Bernard, David K. (1994). Oneness view of Jesus Christ, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

One Throne in Heaven

Randy A. Brown — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:40:09 +0000

Whom will we see in heaven? Will we see one, or three? Will we see one throne, or three? If we say there in one throne, then who is sitting on the throne? Is Jesus sitting on the right hand of God? If we say there are three thrones, would that be a tritheistic view of God?. How many thrones are there and who is sitting on the throne? Many do not have a clear understanding of how we will see God in heaven. What do the Scriptures say?

In the book of Revelation John shows us the scene of one throne and one sitting on the throne.

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

The book of Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Alpha, Omega, beginning, ending, Almighty, etc.

Revelation 1:7-8 ⁷ Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. ⁸ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:17-18 ¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: ¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

In Revelation 21, the one sitting on the throne is called Alpha, Omega, beginning, ending, and God.

Revelation 21:5-7 ⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. ⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

We see in the first chapter of Revelation that Jesus is the Alpha, Omega, beginning, ending, one which was, which is, and which is to come, Almighty, the first, and the last. The one sitting on the one throne in heave is making these same claims, using the same descriptive terms. The one sitting on the one throne is Jesus.

How can Jesus be sitting on the throne if he is the lamb standing before the throne? The lamb slain standing before the throne is a popular argument that is often used to show that Jesus is not the one sitting on the throne.

Revelation 5:6-7 ⁶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. ⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

If this verse is to be taken literally, then Jesus is separate from God, and he is an actual slain lamb in heaven. This verse is actually symbolic of the atonement, showing that Jesus was slain for our sins. Jesus was only slain in his humanity. It doesn’t mean that Jesus wasn’t God, or that he was separate from the one of the throne. Verse 6 shows that the lamb actually came from the midst of the throne.

We see this again in Revelation 7:17:

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The one sitting on the throne is the lamb. Our Father became our redeemer.

Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The throne is called the throne of God and of the lamb.

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Notice the singular pronouns. This continues in the next verse.

Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

These verses refer to God and the lamb as ‘he’. Jesus is God manifest in flesh.

Jesus is God and the lamb.

In heaven, we will see one sitting on the throne- Jesus. In Jesus we will see all the fullness of the Godhead.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

When we see Jesus we will see the Father.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Isn’t Jesus sitting on the right hand of God? If we look at the right hand of God as literal we run into several problems in scripture.

Some verses say that Jesus is sitting, while others say that he is standing.

Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Acts 7:55-56 ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

This interpretation would make Jesus separate from God, making two beings, and making Jesus not God.

If we take these verses literal, then we have Jesus literally sitting or standing ON God’s right hand. If we take these verses literal, then we must take other verses literal that speak of Jesus and God, which means that Jesus is IN the bosom of the Father.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Looking at the books of Psalms, we see David with God AT his right hand.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

It is clear from their contexts that all of these verses are figurative.

To show three thrones in heaven is tritheism- the belief in three gods. The idea of three thrones contradicts Scripture, as Revelation 4:2 is clear there is one throne. Also, to say that there is one throne begs the question, who is sitting on the throne?

We see from Scripture that Jesus, our Father and Redeemer, is the one God sitting on the one throne in heaven. There is one throne, and one sitting on the throne- Jesus, the Alpha, Omega, beginning, ending, first, last, who was, is, and is to come, the Almighty.

The Father Sent the Son

Randy A. Brown — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:17:36 +0000

The Father sent the Son into the world to become the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Does this mean that Jesus pre-existed in heaven as the Son of God? Many have seen the fact that Jesus was sent by the Father as proof of multiple ‘persons’ within the Godhead. Does this make Jesus a ‘member’ of the Godhead?

It is true that Jesus was sent, but in order to understand what this means we must understand how Jesus was sent, from where, and when. The Book of John tells us that the Son was sent into the world as the Savior.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Having two natures, Jesus could speak as God or as man. Jesus was not speaking as God. Jesus was speaking from his humanity. He was speaking as a man about his priesthood and mission. This does not mean that he pre-existed as a man.

Being sent does not imply pre-existence. John the Baptist was also sent.

John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Jesus sends us into the world in the same way that he was sent.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Neither of these accounts requires the one being send to pre-exist. We were not sent from heaven into the world to spread the Gospel, yet we were sent in the same way that Jesus was sent into the world.

The Father sent the Son into the world as the Savior, but he wasn’t begotten until he was born in Bethlehem.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

The Son pre-existed only in the plan of God as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The Son of God wasn’t slain before he was born in Bethlehem.

Being sent shows the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was not sent as God. Jesus was God, but he wasn’t send by another God. He was God manifest in flesh.

Jesus pre-existed as God. Not as the Son of God which didn’t exist until he was born in Bethlehem, but as the one God that created all things. Being sent into the world doesn’t make Jesus a member of the Godhead. The Godhead was in Jesus.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The Father sent the Son into the world to become the ultimate sacrifice for sin. This means that God was manifest in flesh to shed His blood for us, purchasing our salvation with His own blood. This in no way supports that idea that the Son of God pre-existed the incarnation as the Son. We were also sent into the world to spread the Gospel, yet this doesn’t require us to pre-exist. We were sent when God chose us for His purpose. Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, yet he wasn’t born until Bethlehem. Before Bethlehem, the Son of God was in God’s plan for our redemption.

Our Abode

Randy A. Brown — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:24:18 +0000

In John 14:23, Jesus is speaking of himself and the Father and uses the terms ‘we’ and ‘our’. These terms have led many to use John 14:23 to support the idea of the trinity. Jesus’ use of the word ‘we’ has been used to proclaim multiple ‘persons’ within the Godhead. Does this verse intend to describe the interworkings of the Godhead? Was Jesus claiming that the Godhead is made up of ‘persons’? What did he mean by ‘abode’? Who is the ‘we’ and ‘our’ he’s referring to?

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

In John 14:23 Jesus reveals that he and the Father will come unto us and make an abode with us. Jesus was not trying to describe the Godhead. If he were trying to describe a trinity he would have included the Holy Ghost. This verse describes the union of the Father and the Son in the life of the believer. This verse actually describes what the Holy Ghost is- a union of the Spirit of God and the characteristics of the quickening spirit of Jesus imparted unto us to lead and guide us into righteousness.

The human spirit of Jesus was made a quickening spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

A quickening spirit is a saving spirit. The Greek word for quickening is zoopoieo.

2227 zoopoieo {dzo-op-oy-eh’-o} Meaning: 1) to produce alive, begat or bear living young 2) to cause to live, make alive, give life 2a) by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate 2b) to restore to life 2c) to give increase of life: thus of physical life 2d) of the spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life 3) metaph., of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing

‘Our abode’ is a description of believers being filled with the Holy Ghost. In order for us to be filled with the Spirit of God we need a buffer. If the pure, holy Spirit of God dwelled in us without a buffer we would be destroyed.

If Jesus was trying to teach multiple ‘persons’ within the Godhead he most definitely would have included the third member, the Holy Ghost. Instead, he claimed that it was the Father and himself that would dwell in the believer, completely ignoring the Holy Ghost altogether. This is a problem for the Trinitarian view.

If Jesus was trying to portray a triune God, then he is claiming that two of the three ‘persons’ are indwelling the believer, requiring each of the three ‘persons’ to have his own spirit to indwell with, which means Jesus is talking about two or more divine Spirits. There is only one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Placing John 14:23 in its proper context it is clear it is not referring to persons within the Godhead.

Jesus explained who the Comforter is.

John 14:16-18 ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Jesus is the Comforter. He said that he would send the Comforter, but then concluded that he was the Comforter. Why didn’t he just say that they already had the Comforter since he was already with them? He wasn’t with them in the form of the Comforter. He was with them as God manifest in flesh to become the sacrifice for sin, but in order to become the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, he would have to resurrect and ascend to heaven in order to become a quickening spirit. This is why he would send the Comforter. He would return in another form.

When we receive his spirit, the Holy Ghost, he will abide with us and we will abide with him.

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father dwelling in us.

Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

The Holy Ghost is the spirit of Christ in us.

Romans 8:8-11 ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

When we receive the Holy Ghost, we are receiving the Spirit that was in Jesus. We are not only receiving the pure, holy, Spirit of God, but we are also receiving the characteristics of the quickening spirit of Jesus from his humanity. This does not mean that we receive two Spirits. We receive the Spirit of God that is buffered with the characteristics of the redeeming, saving, Spirit of Jesus. In Jesus, the Father and the Son are fused into one. Jesus is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily- God manifest in flesh.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

We cannot have the Father without the Son or the Son without the Father. In Jesus, the Deity of God was permanently fused with humanity. The Spirit of God and the human spirit of Jesus are fused together, never to separate.

The Spirit of God that dwells in us includes the redemptive work of Jesus. Before the redemptive work of Jesus the Holy Spirit of God would destroy us the first time we were not perfect. God could not dwell in our human bodies without a buffer- a mediator. You can’t put new wine in old bottles.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

This does not mean that we have two Spirits within us when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We do not literally have the human spirit of Jesus in us. We have the characteristics of the Divine and human Spirit of Jesus within us. We receive the characteristics of the Father and the perfect attributes of the Son, who was made a saving spirit.

When Jesus said ‘our abode’ he was referring to the Comforter that the Father would send. Jesus is the Comforter.

This Comforter, the Holy Ghost, gives us strength and power to be overcomers. Through the incarnation, Jesus was God and man fused. This fusion makes available to us the Divine qualities of the Father and the overcoming characteristics of the Son. Through this abode, we are born of the Spirit and we gain power and strength to live for God.

The Prayers of Jesus Christ

Randy A. Brown — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:56:41 +0000

Many see the prayers of Jesus as proof of a distinction of persons within the Godhead. This leads to many questions. Do the prayers of Jesus prove that there are multiple ‘persons’ within the Godhead? When Jesus prayed, did he pray as God or as man? Did he pray from his Deity or his humanity? How did Jesus Pray?

In order to understand how Jesus prayed it is important to understand that Jesus had two natures- he was both God and man.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

When Jesus prayed, he did not pray as God; he prayed as the Son of God. In other words, he prayed as a man. As a man, Jesus prayed to the Father just like everyone else.

Jesus could not pray as God. If he was praying as God, then we have one God praying to another, which is polytheism (the belief in many gods). Jesus could not have prayed as God because there is only one God and He doesn’t need to pray. There is only one God and He has no one He can pray to.

To say Jesus prayed as the second member of the Godhead doesn’t follow logic. If Jesus was praying as the second ‘person’ within the Godhead then he was subordinate to the Father in his Deity, which shows a separation between the Father and Son, making two Gods. This means that the ‘persons’ within the Godhead are not co-equal. Also, Jesus never prayed to the Holy Ghost, which means he had respect to one ‘person’ over another.

Jesus prayed from his human nature to God. Jesus only needed to pray from his humanity. From his Deity he had no one to pray to, because there is none beside him.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Isaiah 45:5-6 ⁵ I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

There is only one God.

Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Jesus was the one God manifest in flesh.

John 14:8-9 ⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. ⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

As a man Jesus submitted his will to the will of God.

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Jesus only needed to pray in the days of his flesh.

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

As a human Jesus was obedient to God.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Even though Jesus was man and Jesus was God, this doesn’t mean that Jesus prayed to himself. The Son of God did not pray to the Son of God. God did not pray to God. Jesus prayed as the Son of God to the only God in heaven. Jesus had two natures- humanity and Deity. This means that Jesus was both God and man- two complete natures. To say that Jesus prayed to himself implies that he only had one nature and that he prayed from that nature to that nature, and this is clearly against scripture. Jesus prayed from his human nature to God just like we do. Since he was God manifest in flesh, Jesus prayed from his human nature to his Divine nature. This does not mean that Jesus prayed to himself. Jesus did not pray from his humanity to his humanity or from his Deity to his Deity. To say that Jesus prayed from his Deity makes more than one Deity. It also makes his Deity subordinate to the Father, destroying co-equality and contradicting scripture that says there is one God. He could not pray from his humanity to his humanity because it is wrong to pray to anyone but God.

To say Jesus prayed to ‘himself’ implies the ‘same self’. Jesus had two natures fused together. He was not two ‘persons’. There is a distinction between the Father and the Son. The distinction is between humanity and Divinity, not between ‘persons’ within the Godhead. The human nature of Jesus is distinct from his Divine nature.

Jesus had to pray from his humanity. Jesus praying from his humanity does not require the Godhead to be made up of ‘persons’. It just requires Jesus to have a human nature, which we see in scripture.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

From his human nature Jesus was born, grew, was anointed as a priest, ate, slept, prayed, wept, and died on the cross.

Multiple ‘persons’ within the Godhead are not necessary to explain the prayers of Jesus. There is nothing difficult about Jesus praying as a man to God. To say that Jesus prayed to himself is a logical fallacy. Jesus had a dual nature- he was both God and man. Jesus prayed from his humanity to Deity. Jesus prayed as a man to God.

Ancient of Days

Randy A. Brown — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:39:10 +0000

The book of Daniel shows us a scene in heaven with God sitting on the throne. Daniel sees God in a vision and gives a very specific description: a garment as white as snow, hair like pure wool, a throne like fire, and wheels burning like fire. Daniel also sees one like the son of man coming to the Ancient of Days. Who is this sitting on the throne in heaven and who is the one like the son of man?

The key verses in the passage of Daniel 7:9-28 are 9, 13, and 22.

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

The Ancient of Days has a very familiar description. This description can be seen again in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:12-18 ¹² And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; ¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. ¹⁴ His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; ¹⁵ And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. ¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: ¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

In the book of Revelation Jesus is given the very same description as the Ancient of Days in the book of Daniel.

In Daniel, the Ancient of Days is described as the judge. In the New Testament, Jesus is the judge.

Matthew 25:31-32 ³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: ³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

In Revelation, Jesus is the one seen sitting on the throne.

Compare with Revelation 1:8, 17, 18.

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Daniel shows that the antichrist makes war until the arrival of the Ancient of Days.

Daniel 7:21-22 ²¹ I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; ²² Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

In Revelation we see that it is Jesus that arrives to fight the antichrist.

Revelation 19:11-21 ¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ¹⁸ That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. ¹⁹ And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰ And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹ And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

It is clear from these comparisons that Jesus is the Ancient of Days in the book of Daniel.

If Jesus is the Ancient of Days, then who is the son of man?

The Son of Man, the human manifestation of Jesus, didn’t exist until he was born in Bethlehem. Furthermore, Daniel does not say ‘the Son of Man”.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

This verse describes ‘one like the son of man’. The NIV says ‘a son of man’.

Daniel 7:13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. NIV

There is nothing in this passage that suggests this is anything other than a human representative of mankind. In the Old Testament the phrase ‘son of man’ was used to refer to either an individual or mankind in general.

Ezekiel 2:1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 80:17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Isaiah 51:12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

The phrase ‘son of man’ in Daniel 7 could be referring to the church. If this passage is referring to Jesus, then it is referring to Jesus prophetically in his redeeming role as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, just as we see in Revelation.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The phrase ‘son of man’ in Daniel 7 could refer to the church, or prophetically to the redeeming role of Jesus as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Regardless of the interpretation of the ‘son of man’, Jesus is the Ancient of Days. We see clearly from comparing the descriptions of the Ancient of Days in Daniel and Jesus in Revelation that they are one in the same. Jesus is the Ancient of Days, the one on the throne, our judge, our redeemer.

All the Fullness

Randy A. Brown — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:42:58 +0000

Colossians 2:9 teaches that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily. Does this mean that all of God is in Jesus? What about God’s omnipresence? Does this mean that God did not live in heaven when Jesus was on Earth? Ephesians 3:19 says that Christians are filled with all the fullness of God. Is this the same as all the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Jesus bodily? What is ‘all the fullness’ of the Godhead?

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The fullness of God referes to His attributes, power, and character (Bernard, 2001, p. 216). The term ‘all the fullness of the Godhead’ doesn’t refer to all of God. For example, it doesn’t refer to the omnipresence of God. It would be impossible for the omnipresence of God to dwell in one place. The omnipresence of God still filled the universe while God was manifest in flesh. All the fullness of the Godhead refers to the diety of Jesus. Anything we can find in scripture about the diety of Jesus is included in the fullness of the Godhead since all the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus bodily.

Jesus is the Word made flesh.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Word, Logos in Greek, is God’s thoughts, plan, mind, reasoning, center of concousness, central point that God works from, talk from, and sits on the throne. The Word is all the fullness of the Godhead. Jesus is the Word made flesh- all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus is all that we need.

Colossians 2:10 tells us that we are complete in Jesus.

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Jesus is all that we need. We are complete in Jesus because He is all the fullness of God. This means that all of the attributes of God, His power, strength, character, etc, are all in Jesus. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, and Word are all in Jesus. Not as ‘persons’, because God is not made up of persons, but as attributes of the one God. Jesus is not God the Son manifest in flesh. Jesus is God manifest in flesh.

Colosians 2:9 and 1 Timothy 3:16 explain Colosians 2:2.

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

The mystery of God is that God was manifest in flesh. Colosians 2:9 explains the deity of Jesus, that he is the fullness of God manifest in flesh. God was made incarnate. In other words, Jesus is the incarnation of God. Not a second person within the Godhead. If Jesus was the second person within the Godhead he could not have been all the fullness of God and all the fullness of the Godhead could not dwell in Jesus because this would mean that Jesus is three ‘persons’ manifest in flesh.

Colosians 1:19 tells us that the Father was pleased that all the fullness of the Godhead dwelled in Jesus.

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

If all the fullness refers to ‘persons’ then the other two persons should have also been pleased.

These verses are clearly talking about the deity of Jesus, but this doesn’t mean that the omnipresence of God was placed into the body of Jesus. The omnipresence of God will always be omnipresent, but the attributes of God’s character was in Jesus because Jesus is God manifest in flesh.

Ephesians 3:19 is a little different in that it does not refer to the fullness of the Godhead.

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We have the fullness of God in us because we have Christ in us because he is the fullness of God (Bernard, 2001, p. 219). This does not make us God manifest in flesh. The Spirit of God does dwell in us, but we are not God. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He was God. We have God in us. We cannot claim that when you have seen us you have seen the Father. Jesus could say this because he was the Father manifest in flesh.

Jesus is all the fullness of the Godhead incarnate. He is all that we need. He’s our Creator, our Savior, our Father. Jesus is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

References

Bernard, David K. (2001). Oneness of God, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

1 John 3:1-8

Randy A. Brown — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:47:36 +0000

1 John 3:1-8 is an interesting passage. It is usually glossed over without stopping long enough to determine what the passage is about. It talks about the love the Father has given us. It talks about us being the sons of God. It talks about Jesus coming again. Also mentions the law, defines sin, and that Jesus was manifest to take our sins away. There is one important point that most people don’t even notice: the passage starts talking about the Father, but never changes the subject. This passage reveals who the Father is.

The Father revealed.

1 John 3:1-8 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. ⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The key to understanding this passage is to know who each pronoun is referring to. Let’s take this passage one subject at a time.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

This is plainly talking about the Father.

1 John 3:1 therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

There is no subject change. This is still talking about the Father.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:

There is still no subject change. The Father is still the subject.

1 John 3:2 but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

There is still no subject change. Who shall appear? The Father. Who shall we be like? The Father. Who shall we see as he is? The Father.

But isn’t it Jesus that will appear?

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The subject still does not change. This passage is still talking about the Father. Who is pure? The Father.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

This is a good definition of sin. Sin is to go against the law of God.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins;

The Father is still the subject. Who was manifested? The Father.

1 John 3:5 and in him is no sin.

In whom is no sin? The Father.

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

The him in this verse is still the Father.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Again, no subject change. The he is the Father.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

This verse shows that the one that was manifested was the Son of God. Compare verse 8 with the rest of the passage and it becomes clear that the Father was manifest in flesh to become our savior.

Read the passage again and pay close attention to the pronouns.

1 John 3:1-8 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. ⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

God was manifest in flesh as our savior. Even more specific, the Father was manifest in flesh as our savior. This passage shows the fulfillment of the claims of God from the book of Isaiah, that he would become our savior.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 43:10-11 ¹⁰ Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

1 John 3:1-8 reveals that the Father was manifest in flesh, showing us that the Deity of Jesus is the Father. The Father was manifest in flesh, in the Son, to become the sacrifice for our sins. The Father became our redeemer, our savior, just like he said he would in the book of Isaiah. The Father and the Son are two natures of Jesus- Deity and humanity. The Father was manifested in Jesus. 1 John 3:1-8 shows us that Jesus is God, the only one God, manifest in flesh.