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The Godhead, a Closer Look – audio
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Continued from “The Godhead”
I. DIFFERENCES.
A. Authority.
1. All authority belongs to the Father.
a) Wait a second… Didn’t Jesus say that all authority belonged to Him. Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
(1) Note carefully, that Jesus said that all authority had been GIVEN to Him.
(2) Who did the giving?
(3) The answer is: the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
(4) This passage teaches that the One who put all things under Jesus’ feet (The Father) is not, Himself, under Jesus’ feet (Or authority).
(5) Or, in other words, the one who bestows authority on another is not Himself under that authority.
b) Before His incarnation, Jesus was on an equal footing in terms of authority with the Father.
(1) Philippians 2:5-6. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God
(2) John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(3) Nowhere in the Old Testament do we see any hint of Jesus being in subjection to the Father.
c) However, that all changed when Jesus put on flesh. Philippians 2:7-8. But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
(1) Notice that it was a voluntary submission to the Father.
(2) Jesus willingly gave up equality with the Father to become a man.
d) Hence, the statement by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:3. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
(1) Man being the head of woman does not imply that…
(a) The woman is not human.
(b) The woman is inferior to the man.
(2) In the same way, the Father being the Head of Christ does not imply that…
(a) Jesus is not God.
(b) Jesus is inferior to the Father in any way.
e) This relationship is further illustrated by Jesus’ position at the Father’s right hand.
(1) Acts 7:55-56. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
(2) Hebrews 1:3. Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
(3) Philippians 2:9-11. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
f) In saying that Jesus is subject to the Father, we are not degrading Him in any way.
(1) Indeed, we are really glorifying Him as He deserves to be glorified.
(2) What an amazing thing He did when He took on flesh!
(3) What a sacrifice He made for us.
(4) 2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
(5) 2 Corinthians 9:15. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. (With the exception noted above.)
a) All of the physical creation is under His authority. Colossians 1:15-18. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
b) The angels are under Jesus’ authority.
(1) Hebrews 1:6-7. But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
(2) Hebrews 1:13. But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
3. The Holy Spirit is under the authority of both the Father and the Son.
a) While the Scriptures do not come right out and say it, several passages in the New Testament imply this fact.
b) If all authority in HEAVEN and earth was given to Jesus, and only the Father is excepted, then the Holy Spirit is under the authority of Jesus.
c) Notice the following passages:
(1) John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
(2) John 15:26. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
(3) John 16:13-15. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
B. Roles played in the past.
1. In creation. Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
a) God created the heavens and the earth.
b) But is this God, the Father, God, the Son, or God the Holy Spirit.
c) As a matter of fact, it was all three of Them.
(1) The Father made all things through Jesus. Ephesians 3:9. And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ (Also see Colossians 1:15-18)
(2) The Holy Spirit was there as well. Genesis 1:2. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
d) It has been said that, in regard to their roles: The Father wills it; the Son accomplishes it; and the Holy Spirit creates order.
2. In the scheme of redemption. 1 Peter 1:2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
a) The Father wills it. 1 Timothy 2:3-4. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(1) It was the Father who sent Jesus. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(2) It was the Father who sent the Holy Spirit. John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
b) The Son brings it into being. Hebrews 1:3. Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
c) The Holy Spirit created order.
(1) 2 Peter 1:19-21. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
(2) 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Content by Ralph Price
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The Godhead – audio
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Continued in “The Godhead – A Closer Look”
Text: Romans 1:18-20
Introduction
1. What does the term “Godhead” mean?
2. Is there one God or two or three?
3. If there are three Persons of the Godhead, what is our relationship to each One?
4. Do we pray to all three or just one or two?
5. Did the Father die for our sins or did Jesus?
6. We all need to have an adequate understanding of the Godhead.
7. It deals with the very nature of the God that we all serve.
8. While it is fundamental and essential, that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily easy to grasp.
9. As with any Biblical topic, when studying about the Godhead we must be sure to look at all of the relevant passages.
10. We must make sure not to have “made up our minds” ahead of time.
11. We must be aware that there are many false teachings in regard to the Godhead floating around out there.
12. My goal is not to look at each of these false theories but to see what the truth is as revealed by the word of God.
Body
I. A DEFINITION
A. Godhead – Theiotes – divinity or divine nature.
1. Divinity – the quality of being divine.
2. Divine – being a deity.
3. Deity – Supreme being.
B. The word “Godhead” is used three times in the Scriptures.
1. Romans 1:20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
a) Referring to the divine nature of the Creator.
b) His limitless power and infinite wisdom that are demonstrated in His creation.
2. Acts 17:29. Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
a) Obviously, the NKJV renders the word “Divine Nature” here. Which is the true meaning.
b) It could also be translated “the Deity.”
c) A perfect way to distinguish between the one True God and the conflicting gods of paganism.
3. Colossians 2:9. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
a) The Divine Nature is manifest in Jesus Christ.
b) Here, the term means “deity” or “divinity.”
II. WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE GODHEAD, WE MUST REALIZE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE DISTINCT BEINGS.
A. We see this first illustrated for us in Genesis 1.
1. In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew word for “God” is “Elohim.”
a) “Elohim” comes from the Hebrew root meaning “strength” or “power.”
b) The “im” on the end makes it plural.
c) However, all of the verbs in the text are singular.
d) Thus, “Elohim” is a plural noun with a singular nature.
e) The Godhead is made up of three beings with a singular nature!
2. Genesis 1:26. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
a) Who was God talking to?
b) Here we have one member of the Godhead talking to the other two.
c) The Holy Spirit was present at the creation. Genesis 1:2. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
d) Jesus was present at the creation. John 1:1-3. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
B. The following passages show that the Godhead is made up of three distinct beings.
1. Matthew 3:16-17. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
2. John 14:16-17. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
4. Romans 15:30. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.
5. 1 Peter 1:2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
III. JESUS IS PART OF THE GODHEAD.
A. Matthew 1:22-23. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
B. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
C. John 8:58. Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
1. One of the names for God in the Old Testament was “Yahweh.”
2. In the Hebrew it was “YHVH” also known as the tetragrammaton.
3. It is the word translated “LORD” in the Old Testament.
4. It is the word from which we get “Jehovah.”
5. It simply means “to be.”
6. It is used to portray the eternal nature of God.
7. Exodus 3:14-15. And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
8. In John 8:58, Jesus identifies Himself as Jehovah!
9. Isaiah 40:3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ” Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
a) This passage is referring to John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus.
b) Matthew 3:3.
10. Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
D. Philippians 2:5-6. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD.
A. Acts 5:3-4. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
B. The Holy Spirit is not an “it” but an “He.”
1. John 15:26. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
2. He is not some nebulous energy sent out from the Father.
3. He is not puppet controlled by misguided men on earth.
4. He is not some mysterious mystical force that is totally incomprehensible to the human mind.
V. WHAT ABOUT PASSAGES THAT TEACH THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD?
A. There are many passages that point out that there is only one God.
1. Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
2. Isaiah 45:5. I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
3. 1 Timothy 2:5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
B. As we have already seen, the Godhead is made up of three beings who are of one Divine Nature.
1. One can not throw out the doctrine of the Godhead and still have a Bible that makes any sense.
2. It is plain that the Bible teaches that there are three Persons in the Godhead.
3. Therefore, the passages that refer to there being only one God are referring to their Divine Nature or Deity.
C. Three everyday examples.
1. The Cleveland Browns are one team.
a) That team is made up of different people.
b) Yet they are all Browns.
c) They are all one team.
d) “Godhead” is much like a team name.
2. Marriage.
a) Made up of two individuals.
b) Yet they are described by God as one flesh. Genesis 2:24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
c) Two individuals but one flesh.
3. An egg.
a) When we think of an egg, we think of a shell.
b) But the egg is actually composed of the shell, the yoke, and the whites.
c) But it is still one egg.
d) Without the yolk or the whites, it would not be a complete egg.
Conclusion
1. The Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. All three persons of the Godhead want YOU to be saved.
3. All three have worked toward that end.
4. Are you saved?
Continued in “The Godhead – A Closer Look”
Delivered on: December 9, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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God, the Holy Spirit – The “Third Person” of the Godhead
God, the Holy Spirit – The “Third Person” of the Godhead
As the “third” member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is no less important, nor is He of lesser stature than the Father and the Son. Within the context of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit seems to play the role of Designer to the Father’s Architect and the Son’s Builder. In the creation, for example, the Holy Spirit was present, but His role is not as clearly defined as those of the Father and the Son (Genesis 1:2). As Job’s friend, Bildad, put it, “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens” (Job 26:13). Perhaps the Father commanded the raw materials of the universe into existence, the Son built the universe out of those raw materials and the Holy Spirit arranged the universe into the forms that we know today.
Much is said about the Holy Spirit “dwelling” in the hearts of Christians, and much of what is said does not jibe with the Biblical model. It is certain that the Bible says that the Holy Spirit dwells in Christians (1 Corinthians 3:16), but did you know that the Bible also says that the Father and the Son do the same thing (1 John 4:12; John 6:56)? Did you know that the Bible also says that each member of the Godhead dwells in the other (John 14:10; Colossians 2:9), and we dwell in them (John 6:56)? I have never heard anyone try to argue that Christians literally and bodily dwell in the Lord, yet I am constantly hearing people make claims like that about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Christians. Did you know that the Bible says that the Word of God dwells in Christians (Colossians 3:16)? Of course, it does not do so literally, but in a figurative sense. The more of God’s Word that I know, the more of God’s Word dwells inside me (Psalm 119:11). I am persuaded that it works the same way with the indwelling of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The more of God’s Word that I know, the more of God dwells inside me.
Let us not suffer confusion to reign in our understanding of the Holy Spirit of God! The Word of God can tell us all that we need to know about Him, if we will just open our Bibles and our minds.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Holy Spirit – The Source of Inspiration
The Bible is not merely the product of ancient near eastern wisdom (2 Peter 1:20). The Scriptures came directly from the mind of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The wisdom of God was transmitted to Earth via the Holy Spirit, who inspired the men who wrote the Bible (2 Peter 1:21).
The Spirit of God did not dictate to the writers of the Bible, nor did He put suggestions into their heads and then remove His influence. The writers of the Bible wrote precisely what the Holy Spirit wanted them to write, and they did so in a style that was uniquely their own. Evidence of this concept is seen in First Corinthians 1:14-17, wherein Paul’s inability to remember who he baptized in Corinth is used to make the point that it does not matter who baptizes you, only that you are baptized. The Spirit could easily have supplied Paul with the names of every person he baptized while he was in the city of Corinth, but that would not have helped in making the salient point. The Holy Spirit wanted Paul to write about his inability to remember, so that the brethren in the church in Corinth would understand what He wanted them to understand.
The Word of God is also the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to convert lost souls. “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). It is through the Bible that the Spirit of God has His greatest impact upon the world. It is a precision instrument, which can prick the hearts of men and change their lives forever (Hebrews 4:12). Study your Bible and let the Holy Spirit change your life!
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” – 2 Peter 1:21
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Holy Spirit – The Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit seems to be the only member of the Godhead that has no proper name. Unlike Jehovah and Jesus, the Holy Spirit is known by a more informal designation. But, just like the other two members of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit’s name is also a descriptive term. For the most part, He is called, the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit, or the Spirit of God, or some other variation of these terms (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:4,30). In the King James Version of the Bible, the word, Ghost is frequently substituted for Spirit. This is because of the close association between the two words, which was especially strong when the KJV was translated. We must not, however, make the mistake of thinking that the Holy Spirit behaves anything like a ghost, as people typically think of ghosts today.
The Greek and Hebrew words, which are translated “spirit,” in the Bible, literally mean, “a breath” or “a blast of air.” These words, however, must not be understood in a literal sense. In John 3, Jesus contrasted “the wind” and “the Spirit” (John 3:5-8). Some argue that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a breath of air, and that the term does not refer to a person, but to the influence of God. We may know that this argument is false, because of the evidence provided by the Scriptures concerning the nature of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has all the attributes of an individual person. He has a mind (Romans 8:27). He has a will (Acts 16:7; 21:11-14). He can speak (1 Timothy 4:1). He searches (1 Corinthians 2:10). He helps (Romans 8:26). He strives (Genesis 6:3). He loves (Romans 15:30). He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3-4). The Holy Spirit is not merely an extension of God, or a part of God’s character. He is God. He has divine authority and He acts in full cooperation with the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstood of all the members of the Godhead. Most people have no trouble conceiving of the Biblical model for the Father and for the Son, but many in the religious world are unwilling to accept the Biblical description of the Holy Spirit. This is perplexing, since the Holy Spirit is responsible for inspiring the men who wrote the Bible (2 Peter 1:21). Nevertheless, misunderstandings abound, concerning the Holy Spirit. We owe it to Him to study our Bibles and sort through the confusion to attain understanding.
“…grieve not the holy Spirit of God…” – Ephesians 4:30
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Son – The “Second Person” of the Godhead
A popular misconception about Jesus Christ is that He is the complete embodiment of the Godhead and that the Father and the Holy Spirit are manifested in Him. This view denies the Biblical doctrine of the Godhead by arguing that there is only one person, rather than three, which occupies the state, office, or quality of being God. Typically, this is called the “Oneness Doctrine.”
Advocates of this teaching cite Colossians 2:9 as proof of their argument. The passage says, concerning Jesus, “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The assertion made is that this verse is saying that Jesus is the literal embodiment of the Godhead and that the Godhead begins and ends with Him. But, this conclusion is not supported by the Scriptural evidence. The context in which Colossians 2:9 appears is a defense against Gnosticism, which denies the divinity of Jesus. Paul argued that Jesus is every bit as divine as the other members of the Godhead.
Another so-called proof text of the Oneness Doctrine is John 15:9, in which Jesus says, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Again, the assertion is that Jesus affirmed that He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all rolled up in one being. But, that does not fit in with the rest of the Scriptures. It is much more reasonable to conclude that Jesus affirmed His equality with the Father, in this passage (Philippians 2:5-6).
Passages like the record of the baptism of Jesus Christ are endlessly frustrating for those who teach the Oneness Doctrine. In Matthew 3:13-17, we see Jesus being baptized, the Holy Spirit lighting upon Him, and the Father speaking His approval of Jesus from Heaven. This event could not possibly have taken place, as it is described, if the Oneness Doctrine is true.
The fact that there are three beings in the Godhead does not mean that we worship more than one God. As the ancient Hebrews understood it, “The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Son – “Only Begotten”
Many modern critics of the Bible assert that Jesus was merely a man who was chosen by God to be the Messiah. Even in ancient times, people were confused about the nature of the Christ. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1-2). But, Jesus was not just an ordinary human being who was chosen by God to be the Messiah. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
There is a sense in which every human being is a child of God (Romans 8:16). There is a special sense in which every Christian is a spiritual child of God (Ephesians 1:5). But Jesus is the “only begotten” Son of God—and that makes Him unique (John 1:14). The English term, “only begotten” is the translation of a Greek term that is pronounced, “monogenes” and which literally means, “only one of a kind” and “of begetting children.” This describes the unique status of Jesus, as being both God and man at the same time. The Father and the Holy Spirit do not fit this description and neither does any human or angelic being. That is why only Jesus could be the Messiah. He is both human and divine, making Him the perfect Mediator to bridge the gap between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 1 John 2:1). The virgin birth of Christ made Him our Savior (Matthew 1:24-25).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Son – The Name of Jesus
When the prophet Isaiah wrote about the name of the Messiah, he listed several terms, which describe many of the characteristics of His nature. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Prior to His incarnation, however, He was simply known as the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…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” (John 1:1, 14).
When He was born into this world, He was given the name, Jesus (Matthew 1:24-25). This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Joshua. Both of these names literally mean, Savior (Luke 2:11). Christ is not His last name, but rather His title (Matthew 1:16). This is the Greek form of Messiah. Both of these names literally mean, Anointed and they bear reference to His divinity and to His authority, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Luke 1:32-33). While He lived on Earth, He frequently called Himself the Son of God. This term was an affirmation of His divinity. “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Also, He frequently called Himself the Son of Man. This term was an affirmation of His humanity. “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” (1 Timothy 3:16).
Most of the time, the New Testament simply calls Him the Lord, which can be problematic, since God, the Father is also called “the Lord” in Scripture. It was a term of respect, which was used by His own disciples (Acts 1:6). Also, they called Him Master and Rabbi or Teacher (John 13:13; John 3:2). To His apostles, Jesus was their Lord and Master, but He was not unapproachable. They could come to Him with any question and they could count on Him to respond with wise counsel. Our relationship with Jesus ought to be the same. His word still speaks to us today (John 12:48).
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” – Philippians 2:10
Content by Russell Kline
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God, the Father – The “First Person” of the Godhead
One of the most commonly held misconceptions about God, the Father is that many people think of Him as the “Head” of the Godhead. But, there is no such thing as a hierarchy in the Godhead. Jesus often spoke of the unity of the Godhead, when He made statements like, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). In John 14:8-12, Jesus spoke to His disciples about His equality with the Father, saying, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me.” John 5:18 adds this footnote: “he…said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”
It is true that the Bible says that Jesus yielded His will to the Father’s (Hebrews 5:8-9), but one must consider the fact that the Christ is both human and divine. It was the Lord’s humanity that had to be obedient to the Father. It does not mean that Jesus is, in any way, inferior to the Father.
The same may be said about the Holy Spirit. In Acts 5:1-11, the story of Ananias and Sapphira is meant to show us that lying to the Holy Ghost is just as wicked and sinful as lying to the Father. Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3-4). Here, the Holy Spirit is likened unto God, the Father, as an equal. There is no hierarchy in their relationship.
The concept of three beings that share the office of “God” is difficult us, in the modern world, to understand. In the ancient world, most civilizations were governed by kings and queens in a monarchal system. Sometimes, two or more rulers would form a “co-regency,” meaning that they would share power over the land. This happened a few times in Israel and Judah, usually when one king was very old, he would name a successor and the two would reign simultaneously for a while. There would be only one throne, but two would share the office of “king.” The Godhead works in a similar way. There is only one God, but there are three beings who share the office.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7
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God, the Father – The Object of Our Devotion
In John 4:23-24, the Scriptures make it clear that God, the Father, is the one to whom we express our devotion, in worship. Certainly, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are part of our worship services, but it is the Father who is meant to receive our adoration (1 Corinthians 11:23-29; John 16:13). Of course, this implies that our worship must not be directed toward anyone other than God. We must not worship angels (Colossians 2:18), neither must we worship other human beings, no matter how important they may be (Acts 10: 25-26).
The Father’s role in worship is similar to the role He plays in our prayers. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father (Luke 11:2). Our prayers are offered to God by the authority of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray (John 16:23). Even the Holy Spirit is involved in the prayers we offer, giving us help in times of need (Romans 8:26). In like manner, the implication of this teaching is that our prayers must not be directed toward anyone other than God. We do not pray to angels, nor do we pray to departed “saints.”
The Father’s role within the Godhead has been described as being that of “architect.” He spoke, and the universe came into being (Psalm 33:8-9). He conceived the church in His mind, as a part of the scheme of redemption (Ephesians 3:10-11). His mind is the wellspring from which everything that exists ultimately came (Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:25). He is worthy of our praise and devotion, for there is none other that is like unto Him. “Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah.” (Psalm 150:6; ASV).
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” – John 4:23
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God, the Father – The Name of the Lord
Most of the time, He is simply called, “God” (Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14). This is one reason why some people see Him as the “Chairman” of the Godhead. But, this view is mistaken, since all the members of the Godhead are co-equal with each other (John 17:20-21).
Also, He is known as, “the Father” (Ephesians 4:6; John 14:8-9). This term is indicative of the parental relationship that God has with us (Hebrews 12:5-13). The concept of God, as our Heavenly Father is meant to reinforce the fact that He loves us supremely (1 John 4:8; John 3:16).
In the King James Version of the Bible, He is frequently called, “the Lord.” The vast majority of the examples of this are found in the Old Testament. This can be a bit confusing, since Jesus is frequently called, “the Lord” in the New Testament.
In the American Standard Version, and in most modern versions of the Bible, He is called, “Jehovah.” Some versions use the word, “Yahweh,” instead of “Jehovah.” This is an attempt to transliterate the Hebrew word, “Yehovah,” which is the Jewish name for God. As it says in the rendering of Psalm 83:18 ASV, “That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth.” Originally, the word was simply, “Yhwh,” before vowels were added to the written Hebrew language.
No matter how it is translated, “Yehovah” usually refers to God, the Father. In Deuteronomy 6:4, it is used to describe the concept of the Godhead. There, the text says, “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” In this passage, we see the two most commonly used Hebrew words for God: “Yehovah” and “Elohiym.” “Elohiym” is the most commonly used Hebrew word for God, and the interesting thing about it is that it is a plural word. It appears in Genesis 1:26, where the text says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Clearly, the ancient Hebrews understood the concept of a plurality of beings, which share “the state, or office, or quality of being God!”
Throughout the Bible, we are presented with a clear picture of divinity as three beings who are, in fact, ONE GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4). A study of name of God helps us to understand this important principle.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” – Deuteronomy 6:4
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