Mystery of mysteries –
One day a little Babe was born in a very rude and obscure place in a small and humble city. His expected arrival was not announced to the world. His mother was not widely known.
Finding no room in the crowded inn, the lowly couple retreated to a stable and there in the dark hours of the night, while the city was sleeping, the little stranger arrived.
No one suspected anything out of the ordinary, but the birth of that little Babe set all the bells of heaven to ringing. A bright new star appeared in the heavens. An angel hastened to a group of shepherds to announce the glad tidings of great joy while the illuminating light of heaven encircled the astonished shepherds, dispelling the darkness of the night. Suddenly, the lone angel was joined by a whole multitude of the heavenly host chanting the joyful refrain, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.”
When the angels had gone, the shepherds sped to Bethlehem to see the new-born Babe. From the far distant East came wise men with costly gifts to present to Him. Soon, all Jerusalem was stirred. Even the king was troubled. The birth of that humble Child had moved heaven and earth.
Who could He be? Why all this commotion about His birth? It was a mystery, a great mystery, but that newborn Babe was none other than the mighty God, the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, who was born of a virgin and came into the world in the likeness of man to dwell among us. “They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).
The angel announced unmistakably who He was. Said the angel, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Many times in the Old Testament God is spoken of as the LORD God, the LORD Jehovah, the LORD thy God, etc. And now, the angel announces that the Babe of Bethlehem is Christ the LORD.
Since both the Old Testament and New Testament emphatically declare that there is only one Lord, then it is very evident that the Lord Jesus of the New Testament and the Lord God of the Old Testament is the same Lord.
The following scriptures taken from the Old and New Testaments will prove conclusively that the Lord God of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament.
The Lord God created heaven and earth – Isaiah 42:5. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
The Lord Jesus created heaven and earth – John 1:10, Colossians 1:16. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The Lord God is the only savior – Isaiah 43:10,11. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
The Lord Jesus is the only savior – Titus 1:4. To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
The Lord God is the First and the Last – Isaiah 44:6. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
The Lord Jesus is the First and the Last – Revelation 2:8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
The Lord God said, “I am He” – Isaiah 43:10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
The Lord Jesus said, “I am He” – John 8:24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The Lord God will reign forever – Psalms 146:10. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
The Lord Jesus will reign forever – Luke 1:33. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
The Lord God is King of Israel – Isaiah 43:15. I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
The Lord Jesus is King of Israel – Matthew 27:37. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The Lord God is Lord alone – Nehemiah 9:6,7. Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;
Jesus is Lord – Acts 9:5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
The Lord God is Almighty – Genesis 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
The Lord Jesus is Almighty – Revelation 1:8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Other scriptures that prove beyond the shadow of any doubt that the Babe of Bethlehem was the Lord God Almighty:
The Child-a Son-shall be called the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father –Isaiah 9:6. 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
He who was born in Bethlehem was from everlasting – Micah 5:2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Jesus lived before Abraham – John 8:56, 58. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Thomas acknowledged Jesus to be God – John 20:28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Now that it has been fully established by Scripture that Jesus is God, the next step is to treat the Sonship.
When Did The Sonship Begin?
Was Jesus a Son in eternity with God before His birth in Bethlehem? If so, when did He become a Son? Was He as old as the Father? Who was His mother? What became of His body when He was born in Bethlehem? Was He born twice – once in eternity and again in Bethlehem? Did He have two Fathers and two mothers?
Oh, no! That is not the right understanding of God and the Son. In eternity, God was an invisible Spirit without flesh and bones, who alone created the heavens and the earth.
Isaiah 37:16 O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 4:24 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.
Job 9:8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
He declared Himself that there was no one else with Him and that He created the earth by Himself. Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me. Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
There is no Savior, He said, but Himself. Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
It was He, the only Lord God and only Savior who came into the world in the form of man to become man’s salvation. His name was called Jesus, which means, “Jehovah has become salvation.”
That is when the Sonship began, when God became a man – the Babe of Bethlehem – a Lamb of sacrifice for sin. It was God in the flesh who died for the sins of the world. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
There was no Son before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, although He who became a Son existed as the invisible Spirit from everlasting.
Jesus Was Both God And Man
Jesus was a man, a perfect man. As a man He slept, He ate and He grew weary. But all of His mighty works prove that He was more than a man. What man other than He could raise the dead, walk on the water, open blind eyes, multiply bread and fish, etc.?
He was God and man united in one image. That is the reason He could say to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). And did not He say, “I and my Father are ONE.” And did not He also say, “If ye believe not that I am he (speaking of the Father) ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24,27)?
Indeed, it was a marvelous mystery but Jesus was the God-man. His birth was not after the fashion of ordinary man. He had no earthly father. His Father was the Holy Ghost and His mother was the virgin Mary. Therefore, He was both God and man.
As a man He ate; as God He multiplied bread and fish. As a man He slept in the boat; as God He arose and calmed the stormy waves. As a man He prayed at the grave of Lazarus; as God He raised Lazarus from he dead. As a man He died; as God He raised Himself from the dead (“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” John 2:19). He was God and man – Father and Son – Spirit and flesh – in ONE IMAGE.
Therefore, when God said, “Let us make man in our image” (not images), He was speaking of the two-fold relationship of the Father and Son in one-image. We read: “So God (by Himself) created man in HIS OWN IMAGE” (not images). Genesis 1:26, 27 says: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” What, then is God’s image? Jesus is the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE GOD. Colossians 1:15 says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”
The children of Israel had never seen their God. He was always invisible to them. But when Jesus came, the invisible God was made visible. At the same time God was manifest in the flesh on earth, he remained Spirit in heaven. For that reason Jesus could speak of the Father that “dwelleth in me,” and also speak of the Father “in heaven.”
Right Hand
Jesus at the right hand of God does not mean that God and Jesus are two persons sitting side by side on a throne in Heaven, both of them sitting there stationary for enturies. That is a ridiculous and unscriptural idea of God. A preacher once said that Jesus had stood up only one time since He ascended to Heaven and that was when He stood up to welcome Stephen, because Stephen saw Him “standing” at the right hand of God.
But that is not the meaning of the right hand. The right hand is a symbolic term which means power and authority. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.” When God became Incarnate Man on earth, He did all of His mighty works through the power and authority of that man. And now that Jesus has ascended to heaven, He has all power in Heaven. Matthew 28:18 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Therefore, Jesus at the right hand of God means that Jesus has all power. It means that Jesus is the power of God. “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).
It must be remembered that the Lord Jesus Christ is more than a man. He is both God and man. He is God manifest in the flesh. “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).
Notice a few symbolic uses of “right hand” in connection with power:
My right hand hath spanned the heavens – Isaiah 48:13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
The Lord is at the right hand to the poor – Psalms 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
God led the children of Israel by the right hand of Moses – Isaiah 63:12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
The Lord was on David’s right hand – Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not a third, separate and distinct person from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is God. In John 4:24 we read, “God is a SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” And God is HOLY. Therefore, God is the HOLY SPIRIT. No further evidence is needed to prove that the Holy Ghost is God, than the scriptural fact that the Holy Ghost is the Father of Jesus. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with the child of the Holy Ghost. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18, 20). It must be remembered that Jesus Christ is Incarnate God.
Jesus Is The Holy Spirit
Jesus called His disciples together one day and told them He was soon going away but that He would send another Comforter who would abide with them forever. Who then is this other Comforter? What is His name? Is He someone else other than Jesus? If the Comforter is someone else, then Jesus is not here; He is not in us. But Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.”
Jesus did not leave His disciples in the dark. He told them very plainly who the other Comforter is. Said He, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18). And He further told them that the other Comforter was He who was dwelling with them, and would be in them when He came again. He was WITH them in the flesh and went away to Heaven in flesh, but He came back in Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to be IN them. So, we may rightfully sing, “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart.” Therefore, the name of the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, is Jesus. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). There is no other name.
The Trinity Theory
Through the confusion of the Dark Ages and the traditions of men, the vision of the greatness and the glory and the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ has become dimmed. He who said, “I am the First and the Last” has been relegated to second place.
After a raging discussion of centuries concerning the Godhead, a doctrine was finally agreed upon known as the doctrine of the Trinity, namely: That God consists of three separate and distinct Persons, thus, placing Jesus Christ, who is declared to be Lord of all, as the second Person.
God, no doubt, has winked at the ignorance of the people as they have piously chanted hymns to the “Blessed Holy Trinity-God in three Persons.” But now the mists are being cleared away and the doctrine as taught by the Apostles is again being revealed, that Jesus Christ is God, the Spirit manifest in the flesh – not three Persons, but One.
This Trinity doctrine is man’s feeble attempt to solve the great mystery of the Incarnate God, but in thus disposing of the mystery they have only added absurdity to mystery.
If the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three, separate Persons, then each Christian has three Persons in him. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” 2 Corinthians 6:16. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5. “What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
If there are three Persons, each raised Jesus from the dead, “But God raised him from the dead” (Acts 13:30). “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).
If Christ and God are two Persons, there are two separate churches because the Church is called the Church of God and also called the Church of Christ. If the Holy Ghost and God are two separate persons then Jesus had two Fathers. God is His Father and the Holy Ghost is His Father. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18). “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Moreover, Jesus Himself is called The everlasting Father. “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).
If there are three separate distinct Persons each called God, then there are three separate Gods, or else each one of the three is one-third of God. If there are three Persons, co-equal, then Isaiah had a false vision when he said, “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? Saith the HOLY ONE,” Isaiah 40:25.
If there are three separate, distinct persons, there should be three separate, distinct names, whereas there is only ONE name. Father is not a proper name. Son is not a proper name. Holy Spirit is not a proper name. Peter was not so mistaken after all, as many people think, when he inspiringly said on the Day of Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 2:38).
Human intelligence can never fathom the mystery of Jesus Christ. Nothing short of divine illumination of the Scriptures can reveal Him as He is. He is hidden in the Scriptures from carnal view but the illuminating light of the Holy Spirit places a halo of glory around His Majestic Being and brings Him to view as the GREAT I AM, The Everlasting Father, The only wise God our Savior, The Creator of heaven and earth, etc. “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16).
Jesus Christ puzzled the world in the days of His flesh, and he puzzles them now. The Jews rejected Him because, “He being a man, made Himself God” (John 10:33). They were continually asking then, “Who art thou? Whom makest thou thyself? What manner of man is this? Whence hath this man this wisdom? Art thou then the Son of God? Art Thou the King of the Jews? Whence art thou? How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And still today the world is puzzled. No wonder. He is so great and so marvelous. The name of Jesus excels all other names. No tongueof man has ever proclaimed His worth.
Anti-Christ
The Devil has done his best to conceal the identity of Jesus Christ—to hide Him from the people and so well will he have succeeded until at that end of the age the entire world will reject Jesus Christ and will worship the Anti-Christ as God (all except those whose names are written in the Book of Life).
John warned of this when he said, “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of Anti-Christ.” 1 Timothy 3:16 says God was manifest in the flesh, and 1 John 4:2 says Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Harmonizing these two scriptures we find that Jesus Christ was God who came in the flesh, and to attempt to place Him on a lower plane than the Mighty God and Lord of all is to join ranks with the Anti-Christ forces.
In Jesus Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
For in him (Jesus Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9
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