By Brilliant Pongo
When one speaks of God, it is generally the supreme Governor of the universe, who is referred to; that is, Elohim. Then there is Jesus Christ who is also a God. Jesus works under the direction of Elohim and is in complete harmony with him.
Many of the things that the scripture says were done by God were actually done by the Lord (Jesus). Thus the bible says, “God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen.1:1), however, we know from the holy scriptures that it was actually the Lord (Jesus) who was the creator (John 1: 3, 10) or as Paul said, God created all things by Christ Jesus (Eph. 3: 9).
The Holy Spirit is also a member of the Godhead. Three personages composing the great council of the universe have revealed themselves to man: – God the eternal father; – his son, Jesus Christ; and – the Holy Spirit.
That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man. God the Father and His son Jesus Christ have been manifested by voice, sight, or otherwise at various occasions, as at the baptism of Jesus.
On the Saviour’s baptism, John recognised the sign of the Holy Spirit; he saw before him in a tabernacle of flesh the Christ, unto whom he had administered the holy ordinance; and he heard the voice of the Father.
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matt 3: 16, 17); also see Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3:21, 22).
The three personages of the Godhead (Holy Trinity) were present, manifesting themselves each in a different way, and each distinct from the others. Later the Saviour promised His disciples that the Comforter (John 14: 26; 15: 26) who is the Holy Ghost, should be sent unto them by His Father; here again are the three members of the Godhead separately defined. Stephen, at the time of his martyrdom, was blessed with the power of heavenly vision, and he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55, 56).
There are a few statements in the Bible that perhaps have been misunderstood and have led to a misconception of the personality and form of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Brief consideration might be given to some of them: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1: 18).
“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1. John 4:12). It is thus plain that man can only see God when “quickened by the Spirit of God”: this apparently is what John had in mind in the following statement:
“It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” (John 6:45-46).
Paul spoke of God as an “invisible God”: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” (Colossians 1:14-15).
Further study of Paul’s teachings indicates that he had the same understanding as John; that while God is invisible to men generally, he is not invisible to the prophets, for he indicated that Moses saw the invisible God. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27).
John also referred to God as a spirit, which is confusing to some: “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).
This should not be confusing, since we are all spirits clothed with bodies of flesh and bones. John says we are to “worship him in spirit and in truth”. He would not, however, imply that our spirits should leave our bodies so that we can worship him “in spirit”.
Paul declared: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We are spirits in the same sense that John had in mind when he said, ” God is a spirit.” There has been much misunderstanding regarding the oft-repeated statement that Jesus and his Father are one. A careful reading of the 17th chapter of John should clarify this matter fully.
As Jesus was about to be offered up, he prayed unto his Father and thanked him for his apostles, saying, “that they may be one, as we are”. (John 17:11). Then he added: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21).
Now it is very apparent that Jesus was not speaking of oneness of personage, but oneness of purpose, for he further prayed that they might be with him, which would be unnecessary if the oneness referred to was of personage instead of purpose.
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24).
Again it is evident that the oneness referred to has no reference to oneness of personage, for if Jesus and his Father were one in person, how absurd to think that Jesus would pray unto himself, or that he would love himself before the foundation of the world.
He said: “And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true GOD, and Jesus Christ, Whom thou hast sent.” (John 7:3). I hope that this will help you, my brothers and sisters, to understand the scriptures, which are often misunderstood concerning the personality of the Godhead.
