The Suffering Servant July 4, 2009
Posted by people4people in Didactics.Tags: Christianity, Eternal Life, Jesus Christ, Redemption
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The Suffering Servant
God is a God of Love. He is a Holy God, A God of Justice and order and yet He is a God of Love who’s mercy and Love endure forever. He is slow to anger and yet His wrath is great. In understanding the mission of the Messiah in his first visitation on earth we must understand why He came. The reason for that is that He came to save his people and show the exceeding Glory of God in his Love and Holiness. A people chosen by God beforehand, before anything was even created.
The first man, Adam. Sinned against God when he disobeyed God’s command not to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. God passed a suspended judgement before hand through his word saying that if Adam were to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, he (Adam) would die. And so God gave Adam a statute to follow and Adam disobeyed this by his own will. Thus the suspended judgement which would not be executed if Adam obeyed, came into execution through man’s disobedience. Thus death came through sin. Adam was made perfect and without sin, but when he sinned he became a slave to sin and blemished Himself because he became imperfect and so Adam took on a nature that was aware of good and evil and was now inclined to sinning. This sin nature was passed onto Adam’s children as they inherited this nature from their father Adam as they all are of his bloodline. A bloodline corrupted by sin, this condition affects all mankind even now as all men die.
In order to be kept free from sin in his human body, Messiah had to be conceived completely through the Spirit of God. His body fashioned by the Holy Spirit and his bloodline completely new, so as to be free from the blemished bloodline of Adam. He is the Last Adam, the Son of Man. There were no sperm and egg involved in the conception of Jesus’ body. His conception is utterly miraculous, having been conceived solely by the Spirit of God. As such His body was made Holy. He was blemish-less from conception, unlike other humans who are conceived in sin. His body completely human and His inner person Divine and eternally pre-existing. He must have been fully aware of all things occurring across the universe even as a fetus in Mary’s womb. As a fetus being formed within her womb he was still God though He had taken on flesh. He humbled Himself to the point of taking on the human form from conception and being born into the world as a human child through his own creature and further obeying the Father to the point of death on a cross.
Romans 5:12-14
Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. For sin indeed was in the world before the Law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even as over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
So all humanity is born in sin, and is inclined to sin and is morally depraved from childhood (as is seen in the rebelliousness of even little children). But God in his surpassing excellency and glory shows himself to be merciful and exceedingly so. For in Christ we have been given the free gift of life everlasting.
Romans 5:15-
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Here the entire span of Jesus the Christ’s life on earth is summed up as one act of obedience. That being that the Father gave Him commandment to save his sheep and not lose any. And so in obedience he laid down his life for the sheep. The Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Through this act of obedience grace has been dispensed unto men at Christ’s expense. For he came to save; this is the grace of God. Our salvation came at the expense of his death. It cost Him his life to save us, towards us God’s grace is freely given. But Christ paid the price for it, he had to shed his blood. The blood through which we are redeemed. Grace; God’s goodness at Christ’s expense. This means that every moment of the Christian’s life is time purchased by God for all eternity. That means we are not our own but are Christ’s. For to be saved we are united with Him in his death. In faith in Him we are united with Him so that he bears our sins and dies in our place and baptism is a picture of this, a picture that has its roots in the bathing of the priests in the laver and in ritual cleanings found in Leviticus but has its fulfillment in Christ as does the whole sacrificial system itself. And because we are united with Him in his death, we are united with Him in his resurrection and he has poured in us The Spirit of Holiness and Grace. We too shall be glorified at the time God has chosen; when Christ shall call us up to Himself. And so through the death of Christ we are justified as the full penalty for our sins was born by Christ on the cross by his death. And so we are no longer guilty but are now counted as righteous. But our righteousness is not our own but is Christ’s. His obedience reveals His Righteousness, and the blood of our redemption cleanses us. Through union with Him, his righteousness becomes our righteousness. As such we no longer stand as guilty sinners before God, because of the blood of Christ that has cleansed us from all our sins and covers them; we now stand as saints, holy one’s before God in Christ.
Romans 6:3
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.
Romans 6:5
For if we have been united with him in a death like his we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of death might be brought to nothing.
So through union with Christ redemption is granted and life given unto us. This is the teaching of the Lord’s supper and the communion. He gave his body to be broken for us and through His blood ratified the New Covenant and redeemed us. We have through faith in Him been united with Him, we are made into one body through faith in his sacrifice and through the Holy Spirit are united with Him in his resurrection; the Spirit gives us life. See Romans 8:10-11 on believers having the Spirit of God. Romans 8:15-17 speaks of believers being now adopted son’s of God and fellow heirs with Christ to whom the promises of God belong to as the seed of Abraham. And furthermore the creation which was subjected to futility awaits the manifestation of the sons of God at the return of Christ to reign on earth (see Romans 8:18-23). All these things and more are made possible through the obedience of Christ. He suffered greatly, he was Holy and innocent; God in human flesh. Yet he in grace suffered greatly that we may be saved, sanctified, glorified and live eternally in Him to the Glory of God the Father. These things, the suffering he would endure and the type of death he would have were spoken of before hands by the ancient prophets.
Isaiah cried of the suffering the Christ would endure saying
Isaiah 52:13-Isaiah 53
Behold my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for that which as not been told to them they will see; and that which they have not heard they will understand. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before Him as a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgression; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned -every one- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief, when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
The resounding theme of the passage above is the righteous servant suffering and bearing the guilt and sins of others, finally dying and then resurrecting and interceding on their behalf. God the Son became human in obedience to the will of the Father and as The Son of Man obeyed the Father’s commandment and died fulfilling the will of God. The man, Jesus Christ is the sole mediator, the only way to God the Father. His suffering is a suffering no man can comprehend. Utterly Holy and blameless, God over all yet he gave himself for our sins and suffered and died on our behalf. Those who perish in hell suffer there for their own sins which is Just. Jesus suffered not for his own sins, he had none. He suffered for our sins, and he invites us to join Him in his suffering. He was rejected by men, condemned though innocent, spat on and oppressed. The excellency and surpassing glory of Christ is seen in his life and sacrifice and his power and might are revealed clearly in His resurrection. The suffering servant of The LORD.
Adonai Tzvaot: The Sovereign King July 4, 2009
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The LORD of Heavens Armies
Scripture teaches that YHWH the Creator and King of the Universe is Sovereign over all. The word sovereign is used in reference to leaders, usually monarchs. It speaks of a person who has ultimate and supreme power. All other powers must bow to the higher power. This may seem to be a very human way of describing power and hieirachic authority. However scripture does tell us that Christ is supreme over all authorities, thrones and dominions;visible and invisible.
Colossians 1:16
For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him.
Scripture teaches that through Him all these things were made. He is called the King of the rulers of the earth. As such they must ultimately answer to Him. So whether a nation is a monarchy or democracy its leaders and even its populace will have to answer to the King as will the angelic authorities and rulers of this present evil age. The King will judge all. The Sovereignty of God is not merely political in nature. Indeed the universe is his creation and he rules over it, as such it is a theocracy as God is king over it. God’s sovereignty also speaks of the reality of His Omniscience, Omnipresence and Almighty power. He owns every piece of the universe and is in control of it and always aware of all that is happening in his universe. Amazingly God sees all actions that take place in the universe currently and in the future all at once. That means as the wind blows in India and a comet speeds through space and electrons flow through an electric wire and a man drinks his morning tea and an angel dutifully does His duties and a baby is born, God is aware of all their actions in one instance seeing it all happen. The fact that God is the ultimate ruler of all and King of the nations does not in any way contradict the fact that the nations are in rebellion against Him. But despite this God in his mercy has in abundant love purchased a people for himself from out of all the rebellious nations of the world. This Grace to us was given freely through Christ’ sacrifice, our redemption at the cost of his blood. The Holy and pure for the unholy.
God shows grace to whom He shows grace. The choice is his, no one is deserving of His Grace as all sin. He gives it to whom it pleases Him to give it to. Humanity’s ignorance of the ways of God is ultimately its own fault and as such God could justly have punished us for our sins. But in his mercy according to his own pleasure He chose to save those whom he foreknew before hand, having elected them before they existed. Not because they were deserving but simply to demonstrate His Love as well as His Holiness and hatred of man’s sins. He saved us through Christ. Through Christ’s death on the cross, God demonstrated His Holiness, Justice, Wrath, Love, Mercy, Grace and wisdom and power. Wisdom because salvation through one man’s death on the cross is foolishness to the world and its wisdom. Wisdom also because God hid his plan for ages and through Christ executed it though the world did not understand it though the Law, Prophets and Writings all pointed towards this mystery now revealed.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ , according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about obedience of faith-to the only wise God be glory forever more through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Power because through the blood of Christ, God has reconciled us and all things unto Himself. Justice in that we deserve death and yet Christ took upon Himself our guilt and suffered death on our behalf, showing the severity of our sins against God (and He is God the Son so we sinned against Him also). Wrath in that Jesus absorbed the full cup of God’s wrath on our behalf that we may be justified which also shows God’s justice. Wrath also because the Son will return and in his wrath shall overturn this world order and its rulers and wickedness. Mercy, Love and Grace because Christ gave himself for us though we do not deserve Him, grace for he tasted death on our behalf and has given us life having been raised from the dead. Mercy in that God provided Himself a sacrifice for our sins, Love in that God has shown us that he cares for us deeply through the Son. Holiness in that sin has been condemned on the cross.
We may think of scripture as being ancient writings speaking of distant things. That view is incorrect. Though parts of scripture did address the past specifically, like Nathan’s address to David regarding his adultery. Scripture did address the distant future as well. Much of the Bible is prophetic in nature after all; dealing with issues such as the end of days. And even those parts of scripture that deal with the past are just as relevant today. The word of God is living and active. God’s word is truth. And as such we know that as things stand, the world is currently in an evil age that The Messiah will bring to an end with the establishment of His Divine Rule on Earth so that God’s Kingdom comes on Earth. In Heaven God is the sole Monarch and Ruler of Rulers, so to will it be on earth when Messiah rules. God will be acknowledged as the True Power and Ruler of all, He shall rule from Jerusalem over the nations and they shall pay tribute to Him. Currently the nations do as they please and do not honor God with the worship He deserves. Human’s give themselves rights to freedom of religion and even sexuality and many other things which to God are to God blatant rebellion against His Divine absolute rulership. The King is not treated as a literal King to whom homage must be paid, but simply as a religious side interest for many. Political leaders do not take to heart the examples of Sodom and Gomorra other nations that God destroyed because of their wickedness. That said as christians we are not to coerce any one into believing in Christ, each individual will however be held accountable for his or her actions.
The Most High is completely in control of his universe, we may look at natural disasters and think that it is nature gone wild. That however is not true, nothing happens without God allowing it to happen. Yes even the most gruesome and evil of deeds happen under his watch. Humanity can not however point the finger to God and attempt to find fault in the Holy One. Human acts of wickedness do not just happen, human beings choose to act in certain ways. This means human beings bear responsibility for their actions. And this means sometimes terrible things will happen to people because wicked people exist. If the terrible thing happens, how the victim chooses to handle it can be good or bad also. In the end God will either reward or punish us for our individual deeds. However in the end without the blood of Christ covering a person, eternal punishment is inescapable as all have sinned against the Holy God. That said God is the ultimate authority over all.
The Son is called the firstborn of all creation, this term had for a long time mystified me. The epistle to the Colossians 1:15-17 put it like this.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things were created through hum and for Him, and he is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
It starts by saying He is the image of the invisible God. I take this to speak of The Son’s humanity which makes Him like us as well as visible to us. We must remember that it various theophanies The Son would make himself visible by temporarily taking the human form. Before the incarnation the Christ was still the image of God, by becoming human he became the visible image of the invisible God. As Christ would say “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.” As the Messenger of the Presence of the LORD he is fully deity and is the exact imprint of God the Father. In his humanity he physically made God known to us and taught us. This brings us to the rest of the passage. “The firstborn of all creation.” There are various ways of understanding this, first we could see this as referring to Christ as being before all things in relation to being creator and yet having come forth from the Father though having eternally co-existed with the Father. The other way of understanding this is that the passage could be referring to the humanity of Christ and his position as the “Heir of all things” as the Son of God. God the Son is co-creator and has always been and so He can not be called a creature in His Deity as he has always existed. In his humanity he ca however be called a creature as His human body was conceived through the power of the Spirit of Holiness in the womb of Mary. It is in that instance that the human person who would be named Jesus/ Yeshua as per the command of God passed to Mary and Joseph through the Heavenly messenger Gabriel. As the Son of Man he is the first born of creation and as the Son of Man all things have been put under his feet and He sits in heavenly places. He was able to accomplish redemption and Salvation as well as the reconciliation of all things in himself through His Divine power and also through His humanity. This uniqueness allowed him to do what no being can not, that is to Save humanity showing that He is God and was sent by God and also is man as the Son of David. This could mean that “firstborn” is more about title and status earned through His work which resulted in Him receiving a name above all names. This understanding seems consistent with the first part of the sentence which calls Him the image of the invisible God.
You may ask yourself “what does this have to do with the Sovereignty of God?” It however has a lot to do with the Sovereignty of God.
Philippians 2:9-11
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Now what Jesus did in his ministry all the way up to his work on the cross as well as taking his life back and rising from the dead is something that only God could do. No other being can do what Christ did; he was able to rise from the dead because He is the source of eternal life. He was able to redeem men by his blood because it was blemish-less, his body having been conceived by the Spirit of Holiness. He was able to heal and raise men up from death because He is God and was full without measure of the Spirit of God. All that he did he was able to do because of his power as God and his Holiness in his humanity. As such he earned by His work as the God-man a name above all names. He is shown to be Lord and to be Sovereign over death and sin. He is shown to be above the angels having shown Himself to be more powerful and glorious. He is shown to be Lord over creation in his ministry and ascension to the Highest Heaven and His rulership over all things that have been reconciled in Him. He walks on water, He ascends into the Heavens, He turns water into wine, He is creator with God and One with the Father and the Spirit. He is shown to be Sovereign over all in His power.
God is shown to be Supremely Glorious also in the greatness of his wisdom as has been mentioned already.
Romans 11:33-36
“Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that hr might be repaid? For from him and through Him and to HIm are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
In the above passage Paul gives praise to God, praising His wisdom. Isaiah in Isaiah 40:12-18 likewise praises the greatness of God. God speaks saying
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows hum his counsel? Whom did he consult and who made him understand? Who taught hum the path of justice and taught him knowledge, and showed hum the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop in the bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.”
Clearly God is seen as the source of knowledge, justice and wisdom. The King who is above all nations and all creation. Passages of scripture speak of Him sitting above the circle of the earth. That is that the whole world is as his footstool and the heavens his throne. He is above all and Lord of all. This is seen in various ways, first in God’s majestic power as seen throughout creation. It is also seen in God’s prophetic word. Where before any thing happen God knows it and chooses to reveals certain things to his people, even thousands of years before they take place; and in the fulness of time they are fulfilled according to his word and will. This is seen especially in they mystery of God and Christ now revealed unto us through the coming of Christ and his work on the cross and his resurrection and ascension as well as the spread of the good news. Before it happened the Lord declared it and his word was fulfilled. This shows utter sovereignty over time, over the affairs of humans and even angels. Joshua prayed that God would stop the sun for a day, and the Lord answered Joshua’s prayer and suspended the usual cycle of the sun’s path across the sky. Hezekiah asked for a sign and God had the sun go east wards a few degrees to show the faithfulness of His word. He parted seas, ordered fish to pick up prophets. He caused storms and ordered storms to calm. He used nations to discipline Israel, predicting the rise of various nations hundreds of years before they even became great. Clearly God is supreme over all. He has no equal and can not be compared to any one. As high as the heavens are from the earth so to are his ways above ours.
God says He will be gracious to whom he will be gracious to and will show mercy to whom he will show mercy to. Humanity was initially created upright and holy. But by Adam’s own choice, he sinned against God. And through sin came death, and so death came to all men through sin. And all sin. As the psalmist says “all mankind are liars” and again it is written in scripture “No one does good, not even one” (Psalm 53:3). Now because all sin, no one is worthy of the goodness of God. The best of men have rag’s for righteousness. Deuteronomy states that if one kept the commandments of God, it would be counted as righteousness unto that person. Deuteronomy 6:25 “ And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us” [The emphasis on “all” is mine]. Now because no one does good, and all sin. All break the Law of God and do not keep it whole, keeping all the commandments. Our forefathers rebelled against God at babel and committed apostasy against God by making for themselves other gods. The effects of which have been ignorance of truth. As Romans 1:21-23 says
“ For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
And although the invisible attributes of God like his eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen since the creation of the world, still people chose to suppress the truth of God. Add this and the fact that by their own volition human beings choose to disregard God and even when the Gospel is preached to them chose many times not to believe, it is clear beyond doubt that humans are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies. We choose to live lives offensive to Him, we choose to rebel against Him. We create for ourself laws and cultural norms which many a time clash with His Holy ways. The Law reveals our wretched depravity. When compared to the utter Holiness of God it is seen that human beings are totally depraved! To break one commandment is to break the whole Law! To break the Law is to show sin which is rebellion which shows moral imperfection and depravity. For human beings choose to serve the creature rather than the creator. Whether they are religious or atheist, they all serve the creature. Whether their god is their own belly, ego, intelligence, idols, animals and various demonic spirits which truly are the powers behind all idol worship including the atheistic sort. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. God is the source of all goodness and uprightness and those who reject Him are separated from the source of goodness and so they by this their own choice, God gives them up to their vile affections. All these things are worthy of death, the wages of sin is death. And because all men sin, we are all worthy of death. No human can by self righteousness point the finger as though he does not sin. God alone is the Righteous Judge. Now because no one is worthy of God’s goodness and blessings, God in His Sovereignty can freely choose whom to save according to his pleasure and will. He is glorified in this because he does not have to save any one or in fact bestow any blessings on any one.
The psalmists would beseech God to save them or lead them in his ways of righteousness for His (God’s) Name’s sake. For example the psalm 115 says:
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
So we see that God is good to men not because men deserve it, or because we are so special that should be loved. But for His Glory, that is the goodness of His Name. For the sake of His goodness and steadfast love and faithfulness the psalmist asks God to lead him in his paths of righteousness (psalm 23). When Moses asked to see God’s Glory, God referred to His Glory as His goodness (Exodus 33). So God saves us to show the riches of his mercy, love and graciousness. In His Sovereignty He chooses whom he will save. As Jesus said, “no one can come to me unless the Father draws Him”(John 6:65). So God in his sovereignty chooses who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation. This faith is a gift from God as Paul says in Ephesians. So why does God save some people and not others? Well its God’s Divine choice. No one can say to God why did you save that man and not me if I could not believe in Christ unless you drew me near to Him? But Paul says in Romans 9:20-24
“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder why have you made me like this? Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and make known his power has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy which he has prepared before hand for glory-even us whom he has called, not only from the jews but also from the Gentiles.”
So God gives human beings a volition and choice and though human beings are naturally rebellious towards God and have a nature inclined to sin, they still have a volition. And by this volition they choose to rebel, they choose sin over righteousness. Yes humanity is enslaved to its sin nature but it chooses to follow that nature. Either way, humanity is shown to be in need of a savior. However we can not of our own volition choose to follow God. We fail to do so, we rebel against Him. So He himself draws those whom he wills to himself. To these He chooses to show the riches of his mercy. To the rest he does not draw them, he does seek for all to be saved. But he does also seek for Holiness to be vindicated. His Holiness. And so he gives all men choice and through Christ’s sacrifice His Holiness is vindicated and all those whom God predestined before the foundation of the world are saved in Christ. Those who are not saved are vessels of wrath, they reject Christ by their own volition and so are destined for destruction as we all would. But we who are saved are vessels of mercy. We are saved not because we are deserving but rather for the Glory of The Name of God. He shows Himself to be loving in sending His Son to die for sinners and then redeeming them and glorifying them and bestowing upon them every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. So God displays His Grace and also keeps his word as he said “I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” In not saving some, he shows sin to be exceedingly sinful. He shows spiritual blindness to be exceedingly blind. He shows Himself to be just and Holy. He shows Himself to be Sovereign.
The whole process of salvation declares the power, the might, the wisdom the Glory and honor and sovereignty of God. His working in all history shows this, He is in control.
Ephesians 1:3-11
“Blessed be the God and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In Love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Through Christ we have redemption, through His blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Part of the purpose of the sacrificial system of Israel was to show this. God was teaching that the innocent’s blood would be used to atone the sins of the guilty. Sin demands death as punishment, here God is showing his grace in that he provides a substitutionary atonement. An innocent victim given for the sins of the guilty. What allowed for the sacrifice to cover the sins was the faith of the one offering the sacrifice. God forgave the person because the sacrifice God desired was a humble and contrite heart full of thankfulness as many psalms declared. The sacrifice was a means of fulfilling the requirement of death for sin. However many animals died and because the blood of animals could not truly cover sin. Christ blood provides is the ultimate substitutionary atonement because he was truly Holy and blemish-less and without sin. The body of Christ was broken for us, his blood poured for our sins as the prophets declared before hand. “He himself bore our sins” (Isaiah 53). God chose who would believe in Christ’s sacrifice before hand. And in due time every one whom he has chosen does put their faith in Christ and can not be plucked out of His hand as Christ said.
As Paul says again in Ephesians “for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this not of your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). So we see that in His grace God provides Himself a guilt offering for our sins in Christ, in his grace he gives us the faith to believe in Christ and in his grace he leads us and sanctifies us so that none of his sheep are stolen from Him. It is all the grace of God, his sovereign choice in working out his will. He will create a new heaven and a new earth and has a new redeemed people in Christ. He will restore the Glory of Zion at the return of Messiah. He will judge all unrighteousness and pour out his wrath on the ungodly. All he wills he fulfills. The will of God is unstoppable and unmovable. He works out all things according to the counsel of his will. Raising up nations and empires and bringing them to nothing, saving people. Ordering the motion of the stars, the wind and all the seasons and all things. Through Christ alone are we saved, Him who is Lord over all. To the Glory of God alone, we are saved by faith alone, predestined for good works in Christ, led by the Spirit who illuminates the scriptures which are good breathed and as such sufficient for teaching, reproof, correction and training in godliness. All this made possible by the Sovereign God.
In His body Christ reconciled us and all that was lost through death back unto God. Through Him the redeemed children of God are a first fruits of what is to come, and the creation awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. That is us at the coming of Messiah when we shall appear with Him. All things have been put under his feet, He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth. He is the Lord of all the earth before whom the mountains melt as wax and the hills skip as calves. He is Sovereign in executing salvation which is His. He is Sovereign in all he does, he needs no counselor. In his work on the cross he shamed principalities, he was victorious over death in his resurrection and yet still he shall defeat all his enemies that last being death.
In various times in the scriptures God is called the Lord of Hosts or Lord of Armies. And through out scripture God is seen as leader in military battle. Take for example the exploits of David, the Redemption of Israel from Egypt or the conquest of Canaan where God actively fought on behalf of Israel. At various times striking Israel’s enemies and other times sending legions of angels to do battle as he did in the case when Elisha was surrounded by the armies of Syria. The flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra are all examples of The LORD of the Universe at war with his wicked enemies. And the work of Christ was a fundamental act of war on the part of God. For through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection God defeated death and Christ now has the keys to death and hell, further more he has saved a people from his wrath. And the various acts of war on the part of God are executed in His Sovereignty. The return of Christ at the end of the age is a clear act of war itself where he shall fight on behalf of Israel once again. Destroying her enemies and restoring the Theocratic Rule in Israel and the world over.
Micah 4:1-4
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid
For more the Sovereignty of God feel free to use a concordance to do a more in depth study of the Sovereignty of God. Other readings may include Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin.
More food for thought-Theophanies June 30, 2009
Posted by people4people in 1.Tags: Christ, King, The Lord, Theophanies
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Who did Adam and Eve walk with in the Garden of Eden? They clearly heard Him walking in the Garden. How could God remain God in Heaven on His Throne and yet be able at the same time to walk with Adam and Eve?
Genesis 3:8-9
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Is this He with whom Moses spoke with? Could this be He whom the prophet Samuel spoke with as a youth? The One whom Micaiah saw sat on His Throne? Could this be The Mighty God and Everlasting Father, the prince of Peace? I belive it is the Messianic King Himself before He took on the human form permanently whilst still remaining God Almighty. Go to the texts and judge for yourself.
Theophanies June 25, 2009
Posted by people4people in Didactics.Tags: Christ, God, Messiah, Theophanies
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YHWH Eloheinu
The Trinity, Christology and Pneumology summarized
God
Scripture teaches that “in the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.” He brought light into existence by speech and by his word all things are held together and find their existence. His word framed the universe. From eternity to Eternity He alone is LORD. In six days he made all things and on the seventh He rested. He made angels, men and every creature that exists. All creation belongs to Him, blessed is He.
The Trinity with Focus on Christ
Exodus 3:2-4:17 reveal Moses’ first encounter with The Almighty. “And the Angel of The LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exodus 3:2). The text continues telling of how God spoke to Moses from the fire burning but not consuming the bush in whose midst it (the fire) burned. The Angel who appears to Moses is thus identified by the text (which is authored by Moses by inspiration of God) as God himself. Moses and God continue to speak as God prepares Moses for a mission to the people called the children of Israel. It is in this encounter that God reveals to Moses His Name and a great manner the text also shows that God in this encounter reveals the plurality in which he exists as one. “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said ‘Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13-14).
The Name of God, YHWH. Which means “I AM WHO I AM” has a shortened form revealed to Moses also, Yah which means I AM. The Angel of YHWH bears this very name also. The word angel means messenger. In the texts of the Torah we come to learn that a particular person revealed to us as being the messenger of YHWH bears the very Name of YHWH himself and speaks in the complete authority of YHWH. This messenger is referred to as God himself though He is also The Messenger of God. Other angels are regarded as simply being ministers of God who are employed as messengers, however through out the texts of scripture like Exodus for example One messenger alone bears the very Name and authority of God. We know God is jealous for His Glory and will share his Glory with no one. This creates a paradox here for how can God be One Being and yet reveal in Scripture that He exists in more than one person, specifically 3 persons who are eternally one in being and essence. Take Exodus 13:21-22 and Exodus 14:19-20
Exodus 13:21-22
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”
Exodus 14:19-20
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was cloud and darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
The two passages above are especially important to understanding the christian doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is a term used to explain how God is One and yet at the same time exists as three distinct persons in His unity or oness. We are told in Exodus 13:21-22 that God himself led the people of Israel by pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Exodus 14:19-20 then further tells us that the when the angel who was going before Israel moved from in front of them to behind them, the pillar moved. Exodus 24 then tells us that from the very pillar of fire “The LORD looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptians forces into a panic. It seems that the the Angel who moved from before Israel to behind their host is The LORD himself which supports what Exodus 3 and 4 tell us about the LORD.
The Old Testament tells us very little about the nature of the Trinity. This mystery is only truly expounded on at great length in the New Testament. However it does explain many of the difficult passages of scripture that reveal God as being One and yet three distinct persons. For example when God created man He said “Let us make man in our own image.” Yet singular terms for God are used in the same passages in Genesis such as “He” for example. God alone creates all things and is solely responsible for man’s creation. Yet he speaks in the plural form when regarding to himself creating man. It is only in the New Testament and a few scant passages in the Old Testament when we see God speaking like this. Isaiah 63 has a similar feel where The LORD, The Angel of His Presence and The Holy Spirit are all mentioned within one chapter. The rest of the time in the Old Testament various theophanies or appearings of God reveal his tri-unity. A term that is commonly used instead of Angel of the LORD for the second person of the trinity within the Old Testament period is The Word of The LORD or the Word of God. This person who I take to be the same as the Messenger of the Presence of the LORD or the Messenger/Angel of the LORD.
There is a difference between the word of God which includes all scripture or the oracles of God and statues of God and the person the Word of God. Simply said the Word of God speaks the very words of God because He is One with God and is God himself though He submits Himself to the will of YHWH. He bears the name of God and speaks in His authority, take his appearing to Moses. He spoke from Sinai before all Israel and is the One who Moses talked in the tent of Meeting for example. Exodus 24 for example speaks of God revealing himself to Moses, Aaron and his sons as well as seventy of the elders of Israel. In the passage the people and God confirm what is now known as the Mosaic Covenant. The elders and Moses saw the feet of God and a pavement under it that is likened in its appearance to sapphire and its clarity to the sky. The same sort of picture is painted in the first chapter of Ezekiel. There too the Glory of God is likened to fire. The first chapter of Ezekiel it is said that the Word of the LORD came to Ezekiel. However unlike many other prophets this was not simply the audible voice of God speaking to Ezekiel, it was God appearing to Him and speaking directly to Him.
Ezekiel 1:1-3
“In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of The LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.”
The Prophet and Judge Samuel who judged Israel before Saul ruled as King, had a similar experience when He first received the call to be a prophet in his youth. I will highlight a few scriptures which I perceive to support the theory that the “Word of the LORD” in the Hebrew Scriptures does not only speak of the actual spoken words of God but for God himself also. Let us take for example 1 Samuel 3:1.
It reads “ Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.”
It is interesting that many a time in the scriptures God revealed himself through visions, those who experienced the visions would not only hear the voice of God but also many a time see God. Take Jacob for example who at Bethel had a vision of God. His father Isaac had a similar experience where God confirmed the Covenant he made with Abraham with Isaac also. Solomon also had a vision where God appeared to Him. However at times God would only speak to people (as opposed to appear visibly) in visions as was the case with Nathan when David had it in his heart to built a Temple for the LORD. What makes Samuel an exceptional case is that the appearing of the word of The LORD to Samuel is described in anthropomorphic terms just like when The LORD appeared to Moses and the elders of Israel and also when He appeared to Abraham with two angels at the oaks in Mamre. I’ll highlight two other verses in the third chapter of Samuel which seem clearly to show that the Word of the LORD is many a time God himself and not just the words of his mouth (which endure forever). The LORD had been calling Samuel and Samuel had answered thinking Eli was calling Him. The Text (Samuel 3:10) continues to say “ And the LORD came and stood as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, speak for your servant hears.” The text continues to talk of how Samuel grew before the LORD and he was with Him, Samuel chapter 3 ends with this verse though (Samuel 3:21) “And The LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” This verse seems to clearly show that The LORD revealed himself to Samuel specifically through the word of the LORD, and from Samuel 3:10 it can be deduced that the Word of The LORD stood and called out to Samuel. Could this be the same person who’s feet the elders of Israel, Moses, Aaron and his sons saw? Could this be He who appeared to Moses in the pillar of Fire and He who’s Glory Moses saw from the back at the top of Mt. Sinai? Could this be He with whom Jacob wrestled?
The doctrine of the trinity can as such be seen through out all the scripture, The New Testament writings as well as the Law, Writings and Prophets. I have stressed the fact that the second person of the Trinity (the pre-incarnate Christ) eternally existed with God to show that when He became a man He fully retained His Divinity though did not fully partake of his Divine powers and rights but in obedience lived in the weakness that comes with being human. Showing traits such as hunger and weariness for example.
Isaiah 63 is an interesting passage where The Father, The Angel of the Presence and The Spirit are mentioned within the same text.
Speaking of Israel and her God the text says “ For he said, ‘Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely.’ And he became their Savior. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and he himself fought them” (Isaiah 63:8-10).
You will notice that the first part of the passage above states that The LORD became their (Israel’s) Saviour. The text then continues to say that the Angel of His (The LORD) Presence saved them and in his love and pity he redeemed them and lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Clearly here the messenger of the presence of God is being credited and given Glory by the LORD himself for saving Israel. This must mean that The LORD, The Messenger of His Presence and His Holy Spirit are distinct as persons but are one being called YHWH (Yahweh). For we know that God has stated that He alone is Savior and will give his Glory to no one, he is a jealous God. In Isaiah 43:3 and Isaiah 43:11 God states this very clearly. He alone is savior.
The Trinity with Focus on the Spirit
Now for one to be grieved one must have a personality in order to posses emotion. In Isaiah 63:8-10 The Holy Spirit is t said to have been grieved. The Text does not say The LORD was grieved it says specifically that His Spirit, The Holy Spirit was grieved. This implies individual personality. The Spirit figures heavily in the scripture where he is heavily involved with prophetic inspiration and miracles for example. The LORD is also said to fill all the heavens and the earth and yet to be sat on his Throne in the Heavens. For example Isaiah, Daniel and Micaiah both outline various visions in which God sat on His throne. As such how could He sit in one specific place and yet fill all the Heavens (The Highest Celestial Heaven, Space and the Sky) as well as the earth. To the point where David even talks of how one can not run from the presence of God, on earth in heaven and even in the grave (hell). The answer to this puzzling question is that it is the Holy Spirit who fills all the Heavens and the Earth. He is One with the LORD and as such be referred to by the Holy Name of God hence the LORD fills all the Heavens and the Earth. Furthermore Because The Father, The Word and The Spirit are One as Deuteronomy 6:4 so clearly states we know that The Father is present every where through the Holy Spirit as He is in The Spirit as The Spirit is also in Him. They are intrinsically One. It is through The Spirit that The Father and The Word/The Son search the hearts and minds of men, it is through the power of the Spirit that all things were created.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD your God, The LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
The word translated for one in the text above is the hebrew term echad, which denotes a sort of unity in oness. The same term is used in reference to the houses of Israel and Judah joining together to be one in Ezekiel’s vision of the valley and the dry bones. It can thus be seen to imply both exclusivity as well as unity. There is One God and He is united in His Oness. Using this very concept The Lord Jesus clearly revealed to us the nature of the oness of God in his teachings. Yet the same text also supports the plurality in the oness or a compound unity rather than a complete singularity. To denote a complete singularity the hebrew word yachid would have been employed. However The LORD is revealed as One Being, the Word for God used here in Hebrew is Eloheinu which means our God. Interestingly the word Elohim which also means God is plural meaning gods. And yet it is used through out the Hebrew Scriptures in the singular sense. Revealing that there is only One God but this God is complex in His Nature, He is One Being and yet three persons.
What becomes clear as we go through the Old Testament Scriptures (especially through a new Covenant perspective) is that no human ever saw the Father but that He was revealed through the person of the Word and through His Holy Spirit. This becomes especially clear with the incarnation of the Word. He became flesh and lived as a human just as the scriptures said He would. Isaiah 9, Psalm 110, Psalm 45 and Micah 5 are examples of texts that reveal the Messiah’s humanity and Divinity.
God and man intertwined in Jesus Christ
Now what makes God, God. Is that He has always been God and that he is the sole Divinity from Eternity to Eternity. Now Genesis 1 tells us that in the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth (the universe). Various New Testament texts tell us that Pre-incarnate Messiah was there before any thing existed. He was God then and was there with God also (who is identified as being distinct from Him). Through Him God (the Father) created all things. Now in the same way that God the Father reconciled us unto Himself through the Messiah he also created all things. In the same way that the Messiah will one day speak and raise the dead so in the past He spoke and created all things. The words which He spoke were not His own but the words of God (the Father).
John 1:1-3
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
For the purpose of further exposition on the Divinity of the Messiah and His distinct personhood from God and inseparable and indivisible unity in Being, nature and essence with God the Father and The Spirit. I have quoted from John 1:1-3 and have added the verse numbers to assist our study. In Genesis 1, we learn that in the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. Before He created them, they didn’t exist and so all that fills them did not exist either. This includes all creatures and matter etc from rocks to angels, men and the tiniest of creatures. We learn in Genesis 1 that “The Spirit hovered over the face of the deep.” Then God spoke and created light and subsequently every other thing that is part of His creation. What is interesting is that Genesis 1 speaks of the LORD and His Spirit, and John 1 speaks of God and The Word. John does not call the Word “it” (verse 2) which would be used if he was speaking of simply the words God spoke in the beginning. No Here he is speaking of a person. And when referring to this Divine Person whom John under inspiration of the Holy Spirit calls the Word, John uses the masculine pronoun “He” which denotes personhood. Further more He uses the verb was to communicate the fact that the Word existed with God before any thing was created. Note that the text also says that all things were made through Him and nothing was made except through Him. This means the he Himself like God was uncreated and was with God before creation. Now the employment of the term “was” is of great importance. Every Word of God is pure and as such we must pay attention to all he says even the smallest jots and titles as they are part of the larger context of what God is communicated to us. The term “was” speaks of being and existence. The text does not say, it was there. It says He was there. In Revelation 1:4-5 John names all the persons of the trinity.
Revelation 1:4-5
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his Throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of earth.
Note that in referring to He “who is and who was and who is to come” He is referring to God the Father. He also refers to The Holy Spirit whom he specifically refers to as “the Seven Spirits who are before his Throne.” He also refers to Jesus Christ. Now in referring to God the Father He talks of how He “is” and “was” and “is to come.” This is interesting for it denotes eternality and Being. So when John says of the Word that He was in the beginning with God. He is saying plainly that before anything ever existed, The Word did as God the Father also did and from Genesis 1 which mentions the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the deep we know that The Holy Spirit existed then also with God before any thing ever was. There unity is thus stressed as they share the same name as Jesus clearly points out when he commands his disciples to baptize in The Name of the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit which is none other than the name of YHWH. The name used for all three persons of the Trinity through out the Law, Writings and Prophets.
John the Baptist was the prophet sent to go before the Messiah the LORD to prepare the way for him. He knew this and when Messiah appeared John the Baptist had to say this of Him
“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard yet no one receives His testimony. Who ever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:31-35).
Its worth noting that in Jesus Christ the Divine and the human intertwine. There has been much discussion regarding how exactly the two natures co-exist as one in Christ. Now my opinion is that his humanity regards his body and His Divinity regards His person. By that I mean that all humans have invisible souls within them, rather than have a human soul or spirit the invisible person within the body Jesus being God would be who he was before he became flesh. I believe as Jesus grow he would simply allow himself to grow as a normal human would. Showing growth in wisdom and stature which he intrinsically had within Him yet hid so as to live like a normal person would except without sin. It makes no sense that in becoming human he would take on a human spirit as well. How then would he be called the God who pre-existed? What makes us human is our human body and its nature. That is what the Lord Jesus took on so that He could die on our behalf. Freely giving his life as a ransom for ours on the cross. No one took his life, he laid it down freely. Hunger, weariness and tears are all part and parcel of what it means to be human with or without sin. It is the nature of the human body to show signs of tiredness, if your soul is vexed your body shows it with tears. The Lord Jesus showed all these signs of humanity. Isaiah makes it clear that the son who was to be born would be fully God and yet he would be a man. It is clear thus that even in the womb, The Lord Jesus was omniscient. He did not cease to be God. He can not deny who he is, namely God.
In many other places in the New Testament Jesus makes it clear that all that is the Father’s is His also and that all authority has been given Him, in Heaven and on earth also. John 3:31-55 also speaks of Jesus having the Spirit of God without measure. He has all the Holy Spirit in His entirety. The means that He shares in all the power of the Spirit as well as the knowledge of the Spirit. Hence Jesus searches the hearts and minds of men, he especially demonstrated this power in knowing the thoughts of his enemies when he would encounter them. The Spirit is a person within the Trinity and He is One with Messiah, John makes this clear by showing that Jesus the full measure of the Holy Spirit was in Jesus. Furthermore John talks of how Jesus came from Heaven. John the Baptist’s ministry was to prepare the way of the Lord (this is God himself). Prophecies like those of Isaiah 9 clearly speak of the coming Davidic King as being God himself , calling Him “Mighty God and everlasting God.” John would have known this, His exaltation of Messiah clearly points to this as He clearly says that “He who comes from heaven is above all.” Then further saying that whom God sent utters the words of God. So Jesus came from Heaven, became man and has the full measure of the Holy Spirit and utters the words of God. Clearly he is God. The one who eternally pre-existed. Furthermore Jesus himself in Matthew 24:35 states “Heaven and Earth will pass away but my word will not pass away.” In this text (Matthew 24:35) Jesus identifies the words which he speaks as being his own, John clearly says the words Jesus utters are the words of God. The same text (John 3:31-35) also says Jesus bears witness to what he has seen and heard (from God the Father). He as such is the sole messenger of God that is fully God and utters the words of God in the complete authority of God. He is The Word of The LORD, The LORD’s Messenger made flesh. As John the Baptist says, The Father sent Him to go come from Heaven to earth to fulfill his will.
Up to this point I have tried to use various new testament and old testament texts to show the divinity of the Messiah, the unity of the Godhead and the distinctness of each person of the trinity. I have tried to avoid using credal formulas to point to the triune nature of God. But in order to delve further into the doctrine of the trinity I will have to employ my own formula rather than quoting those from the Nicene Creed for example.
The Father and The Son
Jesus said of His relationship with the Father “I am in the Father and The Father is in me.” Now He does not says that He is the Father made flesh, rather he says he is in the Father and the Father in Him. Showing a mutual indwelling that is part of what makes them one. They share the same nature and essence and are within one another. They are in one another and one. Furthermore when speaking of how the Spirit would indwell believers, Jesus says that the Father and the He himself would make their home in believers. He makes it clear that He would ascend back up to Heaven so how then would he make his home in us? Well is is through the Holy Spirit. He the Father and the Spirit are one. They mutually indwell one another. For it is written that the Spirit came forth from The Father. This means he is in the Father. Further more the Holy Spirit is many a time called the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of the Son, this is the case in Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6, Philippians 1:19 and 1 Peter 1:11. Now this means that The Spirit of The Father is also the Spirit of the Son and yet is a person within the Godhead distinct from both the Father and the Word/Son. Taking this it becomes clear how exactly God is one. The Father is God and so is the Son and the Spirit and they are One. The Father is God and the Son/The Word is his image and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Colosians 1:15, ). Hence He as the Messenger of the Father can speak in the complete authority of the Father as He is exactly like Him. The Spirit of the Father is the Spirit of the Son, The Son is in the Father and the Father is likewise in the Son. The Spirit is the embodiment of their perfect love and they are in Him also. As such when the Spirit speaks He speaks God’s mind perfectly, He gives us what the Son gives Him and the Son has all that the Father has. As such we see that the Trinity is completely and utterly united.
It is worth noting that there has also been much discussion regarding passages of scriptures that speak of how the Son “came forth” from the Father and how he was “in the bosom” of the Father. The testimony of scripture is clear that Christ existed as a person within the Godhead. Fully Divine and eternally co-existing with the Father and the Spirit, indwelling both and mutually in-dwelt by both the Father and the Spirit. So if this is the case what does it mean to say that Christ came forth from the Father and that He was “in” the bosom of the Father? I think the answer to this is in the title given to Jesus. This is that he is the Son of God. Now there is a sort of dual meaning to this, prophecy regarded the Messianic King as the Son of God according to the promise given to David. This makes sense for a number of reasons. First of all the King of Israel ruled as a sort of regent of God, sitting on the Throne of the LORD as Chronicles says. It can thus be seen that the promised King who’s Kingdom would be unending would rule over the nations and Israel as God’s True Representative. Christ perfectly fulfills this role as He is fully God. Before His incarnation is was the perfect representative of God as the Messenger of His Presence; fully bearing God’s Name and authority as His own. Now in his incarnation He has redeemed men and will fulfill of God’s promises to Israel in Himself as he draws all men to himself. In this way he is the perfect witness and representative of the Father and the Spirit bears witness of this having Glorified Him. However there is the other aspect of what it means for Jesus to be the Son of God, this is of course to do with His incarnation itself (being conceived purely from by the Holy Spirit and having no sin in him). This gave Him the ability to be the perfect righteous servant of God, the One who would offer himself as a ransom for men and a guilt offering according to the words of Isaiah 53. The means through which He was conceived and His perfect sacrifice and resurrection made Him the Last Adam; this can be seen in the way He is the Progenitor of the renewed human race just as Adam was the progenitor of all men. But the fullness of what it means for Christ to be the Son of God is found in the truth that he is God the Son. God’s Eternally co-existing and equally Divine Son who became flesh.
Now I don’t see this title as merely something that describes how God chooses to reveal Himself or that He uses for the purpose of a sort of leadership hierarchy within the Trinity. I perceive this to mean that though Christ as a person has eternally co-existed with God and is God, He was in a sense‘hid’ in God the Father’s bosom. not that he had to hide, just that He was in the Father’s bosom. Much the same way a child is in their mother’s womb and yet is a person or how in a much lesser way the writer of Hebrews saw Levi as being in his great grandfather Abraham’s loins. The Word existed as a Divine person within God the Father and the Father and the Spirit were in Him and He was in them both just as He is now, the difference is that His ‘spiritual body form’ if I can call it that, (for example God actually sits on a throne and has a sort of spiritual body) was in The Father. Then at some point in the ancient of ages before the Universe was ever created, he came forth from the Father. This is what He meant when He said it was granted to Him by the Father to have life in himself as the father has life in himself (that life being the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of both the father and Son and is a person within the Godhead also). So The Word/Jesus came forth from the Father and shared completely in the Glory of the Father. He was and is the image of God [I will stress here that that Jesus was not created, he is co-creator with the Father and the Spirit and in fact scripture clearly states that nothing was created except through Him. He did however come forth from God, and was in the bosom of God].
As the image of God, The Christ pre-existed without His human nature. He then became flesh and as such now became the visible image of the invisible God. The fulness of Deity dwelt in the body of Jesus. The One dwelling in the body of Jesus was The Word who united his Divine nature with human flesh, each distinct of course and yet one in Him. Similarly we all have souls and they are some how one with our bodies and yet distinct in nature with the flesh. One is invisible the other is visible. In Jesus, his inward person was (and is) the Divine eternally existing Word. In the person of The Word, the Father revealed Himself. No one has ever seen the Father, but the Son has made him known. Both to the Ancient prophets through various theophanies and to us also through taking the human form permanently for the purpose of our redemption and the Glorification of the Father. The Spirit has always been engaged in the work of making the mind of God known to his people through visions and miraculous work, He has always Glorified the Son and as such Glorified the Father in the Son. This was the case in the rescue of the people of Israel from Egypt for example. The Father who is Sovereign over all rules, through the Spirit and The Son He creates, sustains and fulfills His perfect will. The Persons of the Trinity dwell in a union of complete Love that has always been.
John 1:
No one has seen God, the only God who is at the Father’s side has made him known.
John 6:46
“Not that any one has seen the Father except he who is from God he has seen the Father.”
John 17:4-6
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father glorify me in your own presence with the Glory that I had with you before the world existed. I have manifested your Name to the people you gave me out of the world. Yours they are and you gave them to me and they have kept your word.
To summarize what could end up a very long repetitive chapter. The Father, The Son and the Spirit have always existed as three persons and yet One Being. This is seen clearly in the Father for example as the Son and the Holy Spirit are in Him and yet He is one person within the Trinity. The same is true for the Spirit and the Son, for the Father and the Spirit are present within the Son and the Son and the Father are present within the Spirit. They are inseparable and indivisible in nature and essence. They are three and yet one. The triune nature of God is thus seen in all three persons of the Godhead.
Words explicitly of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
1 Samuel 10:10
2 Samuel 23:2
Zechariah 2:10
Zechariah 2:12
The Deity of the Holy Spirit explored in the Old Testament
Job 33:4
Psalm 104:30
Psalm 139:7
Titles for the Holy Spirit in Scripture:
The Spirit of Grace
The Spirit of Truth
The Holy Spirit
The Spirit
The Spirit of God
The Spirit of Christ
The Seven Spirits
The list above is not complete, but is here as a sort of witness to the main message of what I’m attempting to portray. Namely that the Holy Spirit is Divine and that he has his own distinct personality.
Theophanies/ Christophanies in the Old Testament
Passages person/people to whom God appeared to
Genesis 12:7 God appeared to Abram
Genesis 18:1 God appeared to Abraham
Genesis 26:2 God appeared to Isaac
Genesis 26:24 God appeared to Isaac
Genesis 35:1 God appeared to Jacob
Genesis 35:9 God appeared to Jacob
Genesis 48:3 God appeared to Jacob
Exodus 3:16 God appeared to Moses
Exodus 4:5 God appeared to Moses
Exodus 6:3 God appeared appeared to the patriarchs
Leviticus 6:2 God appeared to Aaron
Leviticus 9:4 God appeared to Aaron
Deuteronomy 31:15 God appeared to Moses and Joshua
1 Kings 3:5 God appeared to Solomon
2 Chronicles 1 God appeared to David
Appearances of the Messenger of the LORD/ Christophanies
Genesis 16:7-14
Genesis 22:9-14
Exodus 3:2
Exodus 23:20-21
Numbers 22:21-35
Judges 2:1-5
Judges 6:11-22
Judges 13:3
Titles for The Word of God/ The Lord Jesus Christ in both the Hebrew and New Testament Scriptures:
The Branch
Son of David
YHWH our Righteousness
The First and the Last
The Son of God
God
The Christ
The Holy One
The Angel of the Presence
The Angel of the LORD
The Chief Shepherd
The Good Shepherd
The Way, the Truth and the Life
The King of Israel
The Great King
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords
The Lord of the Sabbath
The Word of God,
The Word of YHWH
*The Lord of Hosts (having all authority in Heaven and on earth)
The image of God
The Radiance and Brightness of the Glory of God
Titles for the Father in both the Hebrew and New Testament Scriptures:
The Ancient of Days
The Lord
The First and the Last
The one who was and is and is coming
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
The invisible God
God
The King of Kings
Creator
God Most High
The Majesty
The Holy One of Israel (which can be applied to Jesus Christ also)
God Almighty
The Sovereign Lord
The passages above are not meant to be complete lists of theophanies and the various explicit words of the Holy Spirit. They are a sampling. I hope that you may do your own study to make up your own minds. I hope you grab your bible’s and concordances and do loads of praying and reading. My hope is that this leads you to further study and fellowship with God through prayer and meditation on his word.
Many writers classify different roles for the persons of the Godhead. Each person within the Godhead has a distinct work or role that they play within their tri-unity. For example, the Holy Spirit fills all the heavens and earth and searches the hearts and minds of men. However it seems that there is great overlap regarding the roles the persons of the trinity engage in. For example the Father and The Son both search the hearts and minds of men, this however is done through the Holy Spirit. Another example of the distinct work of the persons of the Trinity is the work of sanctification. The Spirit of God is intensely involved in the work of sanctification. He works within human beings to change their desires and ways of life so that they live according to the word of God. In the Spirit they work according the the Law of the Spirit and Life. This however is made possible by the Son who utters the commandments of God which we are to follow and also in his human body ratified the New Covenant, giving himself as a guilt offering for the sins of human beings. So through his sacrifice, resurrection and commandments he makes way for the Spirit to give us life in our mortal bodies and also give us the fruits of the Spirit, and eventually the resurrection body. All these things are done because God the Father wills that they be done. And so the power and Glory is His and He is Glorified in the work of the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father also Glorifies the Son and the Spirit in their work also.
In closing this chapter I will quote from the Epistle of Jude the brother of James.
Jude 1:5-6
Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus who saved a people out of the land of Egypt , afterward destroyed who who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority , but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgement of the great day.
Further Study
For Further study on the issues of the trinity and Christology I suggest you refer to the Nicene Creed, the proceedings of the Chalcedonian Council and the writings of Augustine.
All Glory to God Most High and Jesus His Only begotten Son.
God’s Glory shines always June 17, 2009
Posted by people4people in Notes.Tags: Christianity, God's Glory
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God is Glorified in all He does. He is Glorified in his calling and electing sinners to become saints in Christ. He is Glorified in the ministry of condemnation that he instituted under the Mosaic Covenant as He shows sin to be sin and man to be hopelessly enslaved by it. He is Glorified in His Graciously providing a way for us to be saved namely Christ alone. He will be Glorified when he judges all men, He is Glorified in his Love. He is Glorified in his wrath. Ours is to fear Him, trust in Him and keep his commandments. To show him to be our treasure and to love Him for in this he is glorified.
Food for thought June 17, 2009
Posted by people4people in 1.Tags: Christ, Christianity, Eschatology, Israel, Salvic History, The Church
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Food for thought. Is the salvation of the church is experiencing and the glory she will experience fully in the future really the promise of salvation given to Israel? After all God said he would glorify her. If that is the case then the church is essentially jewish and gentiles are ingrafted into it and receive of the promises and fullness of God’s Grace [that said the church is made up of people from all over the world, but I speak here of her roots]. Not all Israel believes in Messiah, but likewise not all that left Egypt made it into the promised land. So the church is Israel under a new and better covenant, and through this covenant there is now a new man. Made of both Jews and gentiles in Christ for as many as join Him in his death are partakers of his grace, suffering and also will partake of rulership and glory. Because Christ is the true seed of Abraham, born of the stock of David. Those who are joined in his death become one flesh in him and died with Him. They are thus partakers of the promises given to Abraham and are his seed through Christ who lives in them all. For we all died and now it is Christ who lives in us. So now through Christ believers both Jew and Gentile are one man, the seed of Abraham in Christ. This status is earned by Grace and not works, further more the promises of the New Covenant place believers in heavenly places with Christ and make them the recepients of all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies.
Simply put, the apostle’s were commisioned by Christ to spread the Gospel. And He said they would sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. This is the nature of Israel and the church. The promises given to the ethnic people of Israel still stand also, and God in his timing will fullfill them. Examples include the boundaries of the land from the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt, salvation of the remnant, rebuilding of the Temple when Messiah returns, being the head and not the tale as far as nations go etc. These will all be fulfilled, but through Christ also. So that He is Glorified and the Father Glorified in Him. Let us not forget that the first visitation of Christ was in fulfillment to promises made to the ethnic people of Israel. And all that happened and is happening is all according to the word of God.
Iranian Supreme Leader issues probe into Controversial Election Results June 15, 2009
Posted by people4people in Brothers and Sisters.Tags: Eschatology, Iran, News, Random cool stuff
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Unrest in Iran over a controversial election has the Supreme leader of Iran issuing a probe on the elections on account of fraud allegations. The link to the News is below
“Netanyahu bows on Palestinian State” Financial Times June 15, 2009
Posted by people4people in Brothers and Sisters.Tags: Eschatology, Israel, News, Random cool stuff
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Get the article below
Paths June 11, 2009
Posted by people4people in 1.Tags: Christianity, Devotional, Paths, poetry
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I feel like the ropes of the world have entangled themselves on me
Like the ropes used to tie Samson
By you I know I can break them as though they were thread
I feel weak, but you are my Shield and Strength
I’m a youth O’Lord lead my steps
I lack wisdom O’ Lord teach me to fear your Word
I lack understanding teach me to keep your commands
let them lead my steps
My sight is not perfect I trust in you my Guide
In this dark world your word is a lamp to my feet
Place in my heart your word, the love of God
In you I must abide
I feel so lost and aimless, teach me and lead me
People have their dreams for me,
Even still in your Grace reveal your will to your servant
Lord my sin is before me I confess it,
Cleanse me and grant your bondservant a pure heart
I have my dreams, Lord may I not stray from your will for me
Your will and not my own be done
How Gracious you are O’ Sovereign King, you have made me a son
Lord Yeshua You endured the cross for my Salvation and the Glory of Your Father
Hallowed be your Name Eternal Father
You sent your Son to redeem those you predestined for salvation and sonship
Hallowed be your Name Eternal Father
You sent your Son to manifest your righteousness on the cross
Glory to you Lord Yeshua you offered yourself for you loved the world
Glory to your Lord Yeshua you defeated death and justified many
Praise be to the Holy Spirit who cleanses sinners
Doing so according to the riches of mercy obtained through Messiah’s blood
Praise be to the Holy Spirit who seals, sanctifies, teaches and leads the children of God
You are the rock that is higher than I
My Refuge and Strength, truest treasure and most Glorious King
May I pour myself out to you who’s praises I am not worthy to sing!
Heights June 11, 2009
Posted by people4people in 1.Tags: Christianity, God, Heights, Messiah, poetry
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From dust we come and to the dust we return
Like the grass of the field and like mist or vapor
We’re alive for a little while then we end up in the grave yard
Teach me to number my days and Fear your word
Not to walk carelessly but my heart to guard
Within me are conflicted Passions and desires
Daily the flesh attacks me raging within me like fire
Your Word is like a hammer that shatters rocks
Search my heart and smash the evil inside
As your word says all humanity is full of liars
Most Caring Lord Forgive me for my carelss speech
Truly your chastisement is rain to thirsty ground in spring
You afflict me in your grace and my soul sings,
In due time the fruit is seen just as in the fall harvest
My spirit yearns for you and my soul clings to the ground
My flesh flutters trying to break free of the passions to which it is bound
My soul is faint and my heart churns
But your Word steadies me and in me the Fires of your Holy Spirit burns
Living waters spring from within and in you I’m free
Your Word breaks my heart and restores it
Ever morning my mind is renewed in your tender grace
killing sin daily as I walk the path towards Jerusalem’s Glorious Palacial Courts in the North
Singing Joyously as I eagerly await to see your Face
Enthroned in Zion above you are High and Exalted
Looking down on the Heavens as all of heaven exults and the earth sings your praise
Your Majesty shining brighter than the sun
As all of Heaven worships the Lamb, your Son
The Glory and image of God
Yah is salvation, Truly the Lamb reigns as Lord
Lofty and High the King reigns above all nations and kingdoms
The Grand Chief of Israel’s Twelve Tribes
His Love our abode and Home
Adored by angels and praised by men
His Word unfading, His presence emancipating
His Truth cleansing
Its your Spirit that leads us in the ways everlasting
My Strength and my Refuge,
My Counselor and Helper who’s counsel I dare not refuse
The Messiah our horn of Salvation
The Lamb given for our propitiation
The First and the Last who lives Forever
Most Blessed Treasure who’s everlasting goodness we gladly savour
Truly your mercy and Love endures forever
From this day forth I make fully delighting in you my daily endevour
Take me from height to Height as I soar in your Love
Take me to the depths of humility as I search the plains of your Love
Break my soul and make me whole
Most Holy Lord, Let your Marvellous Light shine on all your people!!
