Philip Tadros

FOREWORD

These two questions are the most frequently asked questions, and are vital truths in the Word of God. There must not be any disagreements because these are the basic principles of true Christianity. The Christian faith is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and He will come again for those who believe on Him and accept Him (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

These questions will be answered as accurate as possible, giving evidence from the Bible, with supporting verses and passages. We really need only one verse regarding a subject, e.g. that the Lord Jesus came in flesh in order to accept the truth of the divine Word of God. The verse that states the truth of God’s Word is in 2 Timothy 3:16, which says, “Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The JN Darby Translation will be used throughout, unless specified otherwise. One thing for you to know, that in the JND Translation, “Jehovah” means “the Lord”. However, these answers, dear reader, do not substitute daily readings and your personal Bible readings and study. God expects you to understand, apply and live by His Word, not commentaries and other books, although it is good to read comments and explanations.

DID JESUS CHRIST COME IN FLESH?

Introduction

            The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth as God, in a real Person with a real human body. Christ also had real human feelings, as we go through the four gospels. For example, the Lord wept at Lazarus’ grave in John 11:35. He also had strong feelings for everyone He spoke to and healed throughout the four gospels. He was also thirsty and asked the Samaritan woman for a drink (John 4:8). If people say He was a spirit, how could He be tired, or thirsty, or, how could He die on the cross to save us? It is the angels that are spirits sent from God to serve His people (Hebrews 1:14). The first epistle of John in Chapter 1 verses 1 to 3 gives one answer regarding whether the Lord came in flesh. “That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life; and the life has been manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and has been manifested to us: that which we have seen and heard we report to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” While we cannot understand how the Lord Jesus came to earth as God and Man at the same time, we MUST accept this blessed fact, and the apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:6-7 how the Lord put on the form of a Man “who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, taking a bondman’s form, taking his place in the likeness of men.”

Test people who profess the name of the Lord

This is also a question that we can ask any person who professes to come and say that they are Christian. By asking this particular question, we can immediately determine whether that person is a true teacher and has true faith, or that the person is a false teacher and does not have God. In the first epistle of John in chapter 4, we are to test every spirit, meaning every person who professes to be of Christ. Verses 1 to 3 tell us,  “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh is of God; and every spirit which does not confess Jesus Christ come in flesh is not of God: and this is that power of the antichrist, of which ye have heard that it comes, and now it is already in the world.” That is the simple scenario. When we ask these people, if they say ‘yes’ with enthusiasm, then they are really of Christ. If the person hesitates or says ‘no’, then they are not of Christ and we are not to have fellowship with them, as 2 John tells us, even though all of their other doctrines are sound and right. A person may not say ‘no’, but he or she may hesitate. They may say, ‘um, uh, well, but He was a Man and He was righteous.” In other words, they deny that Jesus is God and came in flesh. A false teacher will not have the courage to say that the Lord Jesus came in flesh, because they do not accept the apostles’ doctrines that support that the Lord Jesus did come in flesh. Also, they will be popular with the world. 1 John 4:5-6 says, “They are of the world; for this reason they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God; he that knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Warning: Stay away from false teachers

So, what are we to do if a person professes to be of Christ but does not say that He came in flesh? The answer is clear in 2 John verses 10 and 11. “If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and greet him not; for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.” This “doctrine” in verse 10 is that Jesus Christ came in flesh. Greeting that person means saying, “God bless you”, and we wouldn’t want to say that to a false teacher, would we? For if we greet him, we share with him in his evil works – that is a clear-cut statement, that we are forbidden by God to have fellowship with false teachers (see 2 John). While this does not refer to those who are unbelievers and have nothing to do with the Christian profession, it is far worse for one to claim that he is a believer and denies that Jesus Christ came in flesh.

            Furthermore, in the first two epistles of John, we see that these false teachers who do not believe that Jesus Christ came in flesh are deceivers and antichrists. If a person denies that the Lord Jesus came in flesh, they will deny His deity and His Sonship, as well as the Godhead Trinity. 1 John 2:22-23 states that he who denies the Son denies the Father also. “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son has not the Father either.” One might say, “I worship God, but I don’t believe that Jesus Christ is God Himself.” This is what the Pharisees did, and because the Lord Jesus referred to God as His Father, they wanted to kill Him (see John 10:31ff). It is a very serious and false accusation, and also an insult to God the Father, for one to deny that Jesus Christ is not God, or that He did not come in flesh, as the Lord Himself said, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30 NKJV). They have been deceived without realising it; therefore they go out to deceive others as well (2 Tim 3:13; 1 Tim 4:1-2). There is a lot of this type of people in the world today. The Lord Himself warned in Matthew’s gospel that false teachers will arise. Matthew 7:15-16 states, “But beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them.” The apostle Paul also warned the elders at Ephesus that false teachers will arise from among them. “For I know this, that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall rise up men speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30). Paul also warned young Timothy in both 1 and 2 Timothy that false teachers will arise. For references, see 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:5; and 4:3-4. The apostle Peter also warned his readers that false teachers will arise – see 2 Peter 2. Finally, the apostle John warned his readers that false teachers had already come into this world. Have a look at 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1; 2 John verse 7.

            There is no excuse that we, as true believers, should be deceived by these false teachers who have already come into this world. We have the Word of God, and 2 Timothy 3:16 states that, “Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” There is no doubt that we do come across false teachers, but we need to “prove every spirit” (1 John 4:1 JND or “test every spirit” NKJV). Dear reader, let us not mix with religious issues, as they will lead to trouble; “But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety” (2 Tim 2:16). Let us get straight to the point, as the Lord Jesus did with the Samaritan woman at the well when she asked Him where is the best place to worship (see John 4:19-24). Let us also ask everyone who claims to be a believer this ultimate question whether the Lord Jesus came in flesh. By his or her answer, we can be positive that this person is either a believer (of God) or a mere professing Christian (not of God). Read 1 John 4:1-6, where the last sentence in verse 6 says, “From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Conclusion

            So, to conclude this section as an outline, everyone we come across who professes to be a Christian, we can ask then three questions:

1. Do you believe that Jesus Christ came in flesh? If they believe this, we can be sure that they are true believers, as 1 John 4:2 states. However, if they do not believe this, then 1 John 4:3 applies.
2. Do you accept the apostles’ doctrines? These are the words from the apostles Paul, Peter and John that support Jesus Christ came in flesh and that He is the Son of God.
3. Are you popular with the world? If they believe that Jesus Christ came in flesh, the world will not hear them. Have a look at 1 John 4:5-6.

IS GOD THREE OR ONE?

         Having set before us that the Lord Jesus came to earth in flesh, then many people become confused. “How then is God one?” they ask. Don’t we say, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? “Then that’s got to be three!” they argue. But they get this from doing the easy 1+1+1=3 calculation, but it is 1x1x1=1. Again, we will look deep into the Word of God as to the blessed reality of this issue. We do not worship three Gods, but we worship a Triune God, where all these three Persons have a different role in the life of all believers. The Father sent the Son, and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in every true believer. John 20:21-22 states, when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples, “Peace be to you: as the Father sent me forth, I also send you. And having said this, he breathed into them, and says to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.” Also in John 14:26, the Lord Jesus said, “but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you.” Finally, God was manifest in the flesh “And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in the Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among the nations, has been believed on in the world, has been received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). This is one of the many verses in the Word of God that show the Godhead Trinity. Firstly, God here is the Father. Manifest in flesh is God the Son. Finally, been justified in the Spirit, means that the Holy Spirit is a witness. We will look at the connection of these three Persons more closely in relation to this vital question, and a vital truth in Christianity.

The Father sent the Son

            Before I start, there is a very blessed fact that we MUST recognise. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness journey, the Divine Person that they knew as the “Almighty God”, or “Jehovah”, or “the Lord your God”, is in fact Jesus Christ Himself! Little did they realise this. In 1 Corinthians 10:2-4 the apostle Paul wrote, “and all were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of a spiritual rock which followed them: (now the rock was the Christ;).” Also in John 1:1-3 we read, “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 received being through him, and without him not one thing received being which has received being.” Further in John 1:14 we read, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth.”

            I mentioned above that the Father sent the Son. What does that mean? And where can we get this from the Scriptures? First, we must realise that the Son was with the Father in the beginning. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So, in other words, the “Word” refers to no other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He was with God, and He is God.

            Now, we will look at what it means when we say the Father sent the Son. Clearly, it means that God the Father sent His Son into the world to die on the cross for our sins. I am sure that you have memorised John 3:16, which states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.” The Lord Jesus also said to His disciples that He has been sent from His Father (John 5:22-30; 37-38; 14:6-7; 9-21), also saying that He is equal with His Father (John 10:30; 17:11). Also, have a look at Isaiah 48:16, which says, “Come near unto me, hear ye this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I; and now the Lord Jehovah hath sent me, and his Spirit.” This verse is another reference to the Godhead Trinity, meaning that the Son was with the Father from eternity and in the fullness of time, the Father sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit bore witness. See also the baptism of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 3:13-17, where the three Persons are also shown. See in particular verse 16, when after the Lord Jesus was baptised, the Spirit descended like a dove to bear witness, and then in verse 17, the voice of the Father is heard, “and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.”

The Son sent the Holy Spirit

            The next thing to consider is that the Son sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in every true believer. The apostle Paul reminded young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:14, “Keep, by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, the good deposit entrusted.” The Lord Jesus Himself assured His disciples that He would send them a Helper. He said in John 14:26, which is mentioned above. Also, we need to note that the Lord also told His disciples as He was about to ascend into heaven in Acts 1:5, “For John indeed baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit after now not many days.” Again, in the same chapter, verse 8 the Lord Jesus told them, “but ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And then, after He ascended into glory, we see a marvellous scene at the start of Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was now accomplishing, they were all together in one place. And there came suddenly a sound out of heaven as of a violent impetuous blowing, and filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth.” What a wonderful fulfilment of what the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples in the previous chapter, and in John 14:26! See also in John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes forth from with the Father, he shall bear witness concerning me,” another great reference to the Godhead Trinity. Finally, the Lord Jesus told His disciples again in John 16:13, “But when he is come, the Spirit of truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak; and he will announce to you what is coming.” What a great assurance and promise from the Lord, which has already been fulfilled!

            The role of the Holy Spirit, then, has been given to us after we have been redeemed, after we have been saved. The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 1:13-14, “in whom ye also have trusted, having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession to the praise of his glory.” However, we still have the flesh within us, our sinful nature, which I will discuss in another section, but we now have the Spirit. In Galatians 5:19-23, the apostle Paul sets out before us the works of the flesh in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, and clearly, the fruit of the Spirit outweighs the works of the flesh. One last thing, the Holy Spirit guides us to pray. We pray to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit in us. Romans chapter 8 brings before us some of the roles of the Holy Spirit in us. See Romans 8:9, 11, 13-16, 26 for references. The apostle Paul, in the close of his epistles, prays for the believers. For example, see 2 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.” This is also another of the numerous references to the Godhead Trinity. See for example, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2 and Jude 20-21.

The oneness and plurality of God

            We will now consider the oneness and plurality of God, and we will have a look at what the Bible says, not at what other people say or might think. Having referred to the Godhead Trinity, people then become confused as to who is God? Although creation declared that God exists, it does not reveal Him. It told us about His greatness and power (Romans 1:19-20), but that was all. Even Job, the righteous man, the believer, was having a difficult time recognising the Person of God. In Job 36:26, Elihu said, “Lo, God is great, and we comprehend him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.” Zophar, one of Job’s three friends even acknowledged that no one can fully understand God in Job 11:7-8, “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? It is as the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?”

            Therefore, in order for us to know God, He had to reveal Himself, and the revelation is: God is one. Many references in both the Old and New Testaments clearly identify that God is one. I will provide a few references, starting with Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” Also, have a look at Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God.” See also Isaiah 45:21, “Declare and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath caused this to be heard from ancient time? who hath declared it long ago? Is it not I, Jehovah? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour, there is none besides me.” Now we turn to the New Testament, I will also provide a few verses. In  Mark 12:32, a scribe declared, “And the scribe said to him, Right, teacher; thou hast spoken according to the truth. For he is one, and there is none other besides him.” See also Luke 18:19, when the Lord Jesus was addressing the ruler, “But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, God.” Have a look also at Romans 3:30, the apostle Paul speaking, “since indeed it is one God who shall justify the circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith.” Also, in Galatians 3:20, “But a mediator is not of one, but God is one.” Finally, in Ephesians 4:5-6, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.” There are many other references, but you will have them in the concordance of your Bibles, or in centre references when referring to these verses. This is the oneness of God.

            Now, we need to recognise the plurality of God, and references will also be provided. Firstly, consider Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Then, when God wanted to create man, He said in Genesis 1:26, “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 heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth.” The key word is “Us”, which refers to the plurality of God: the Father and the Son. We noticed Isaiah 48:16, which stated that the Son existed with the Father from eternity. Going back to Genesis, let us consider what God said when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and knew good and evil. In Genesis 3:22, “And Jehovah Elohim said, Behold, Man is become as one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever…!” Again, when the people tried to build the tower of Babel to reach to God, He said in Genesis 11:7, “Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” Finally, in Isaiah 6:8, we see a verse which clearly combines the oneness and plurality of God, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” “I” is the singular form, or oneness of God, and “Us” is the plurality of God.

References as a proof of the three Divine Persons

            Having set before us the oneness and plurality of God, we also find references as to the number of the Divine Persons: three. Firstly, we will look at Isaiah 6:3, the cry of the Seraphims, “And one called to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” The word “holy” is repeated three times, simply because firstly, the Father is Holy. In John 17:11, the Lord Jesus prayed, “And I am no longer in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one as we.” Secondly, the Son is Holy. In Revelation 3:7, the Lord Jesus said, “And to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open.” Also, in Luke 1:35 when the angel appeared to Mary concerning the birth of the Lord Jesus, he said, “And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.” Finally, the third “holy” in Isaiah 6:3, the Spirit is Holy. The apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:8, “He therefore that in this disregards his brother, disregards, not man, but God, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you,” and again in Ephesians 1:13, which has been referred above, “in whom ye also have trusted, having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Note that in all these references, the key word is HOLY.

            Let us also consider Numbers 6:24-26, when Aaron blessed the people of Israel, “Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee; Jehovah make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” The reason Aaron said this three times is that it is another reference to the Godhead Trinity. There are many other references, like when Balaam wanted to curse Israel (Numbers 23:4; 23:16; 24:2). Each verse refers to the Triune God. Perhaps a vital verse found in the New Testament, referring to the Triune God, is when the Lord Jesus commanded the disciples to baptise others who believe on the name of the Lord. Have a look at Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Notice here that the Lord Jesus said “name” and not “names” because God is one, not three.

            There are two more portions in the Old Testament that I want to share with you before moving on to the next section. The first portion is in Psalm 2, where we find a reference to the Godhead Trinity. In Psalm 2:6, we see that the Father is speaking, “And I have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness.” Then in verses 7-9, we see the Son speaking, “I will declare the decree: Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; I this day have begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee nations for an inheritance, and for thy possession the ends of the earth: Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter’s vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces.” Finally, in verses 10-12, we see the Holy Spirit speaking, “And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, though his anger burn but a little. Blessed are all who have their trust in him.”

            The second portion is in Isaiah 50, which also involves all three Divine Persons speaking. In verses 1-2, we see the Father speaking, then in verses 3-9 we see the Son speaking, and finally, in verses 10-11 we see the Holy Spirit speaking. We also notice, that in all of these references provided above as to the number of the Divine Persons, the references appear in order, first, the Father, then the Son, and finally, the Holy Spirit.

The Sonship of Christ

            Next, we need to consider the Sonship of the Lord Jesus. Is He the Son of God? A true believer would say, “of course!” Let us have a look at some references. Many people in the New Testament confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Nathanael confessed in John 1:49 that Jesus is the Son of God. His disciple Peter also confessed this when the Lord Jesus asked him what people say about Him. We read of this account in Matthew 16:15-16, “He says to them, But ye, who do ye say that I am? And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We also read of this in Luke 9:20, “And he said to them, But ye, who do ye say that I am? And Peter answering said, The Christ of God.” Also, the disciples, when they were in the boat when the Lord Jesus walked on the water and calmed the storm, they worshipped Him and confessed that He is the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). The Roman centurion also confessed that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God when He was crucified (Matthew 27:54). Finally, the Lord Jesus said that He is the Son of God (John 9:35) and in John 10 the Lord Jesus referred to God as His Father. We also note that the other two Persons in the Godhead Trinity also testified that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Father testified this at the time of the Lord Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17). See 2 Peter 1:17 for another reference. Next, the Holy Spirit testified of Him that He is the Son of God (Mark 1:1) and as we have seen, He said of Himself that He is the Son of God (John 9:35; 10:36). Finally, the demons even declared that He is the Son of God and they were terrified (Matthew 8:29).

            What does Christ’s Sonship mean in true Christianity? Firstly, there is the love of the Father to the Son (John 3:35; 17:25; Colossians 1:13). Secondly, it means equality – the Lord Jesus is equal with the Father. We read in John 3:18 that Christ is “the only-begotten Son of God.” The Jews wanted to kill the Lord Jesus because He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18; 19:7). John 10:30 also reads, “I and My Father are one” (NKJV). We also read in Philippians 2:6, “who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God.” Thirdly, He is the perfect image of God. The Lord Jesus answered Philip, who was having difficulty as to who is the Father. In John 14:9, the Lord answered him, “Jesus says to him, Am I so long a time with you, and thou hast not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou, Shew us the Father?” The apostle Paul supported this fact in Colossians 1:15, “who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation.” Finally, He is the representation of God. The apostle wrote in Hebrews 1:3a, “who being the effulgence of his glory and the expression of his substance.” Christ is the brightness of the Father’s glory. So, we now know the three Divine Persons. But, people have asked, “Will we see the Father or the Holy Spirit?” The answer to this question is, no. Why? Because the Father is invisible (John 5:37, Colossians 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:16) and He is the only source of all things (1 Corinthians 8:6). Furthermore, no one in the Old Testament has seen the Father. Even Moses, when he was in the burning bush, was not able to see God in the Person of the Father (Exodus 3:4-6). However, many Old Testament people saw the Angel of the Lord, who was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Genesis 16:7; Exodus 23:20, 23; Numbers 22:22-35 are some of the many references). In the New Testament, those who saw the Lord Jesus have seen the Father (John 14:9). They saw the Father in Him. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, cannot be seen but all true believers shall know Him (John 14:7, 26; 16:13). But, we will see the Son, the Lord Jesus, because He was seen and looked upon by man (1 John 1:1). Therefore, we will see God, in the blessed Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus’ Deity

            Finally, we need to look at proofs of the Lord Jesus’ deity, now that we know the meaning of His Sonship. The first thing is that Christ is called God, His Divine name. John 1:1 reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 further reads, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth.” Isn’t that a proof that God came in flesh and dwelt among the people? Let us also look at Hebrews 1:8, “but as to the Son, Thy throne, O God, is to the age of the age, and a sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” The name “God” was also given to Him by the apostle Paul in Titus 2:13, “awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Also, in Matthew 1:23 the Lord Jesus is to be called “Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” This was prophesied by the prophet in Isaiah 7:14. Finally, the disciple Thomas called the Lord Jesus “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus Christ is also called the Son of God, and we looked at this earlier. A third Divine name given to Him is “the Lord.” In the Old Testament, Christ was called the Lord. In the New Testament, He is called the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8, James 2:1), the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16), the Lord of all (Acts 10:36), the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5) and also “my Lord” (Luke 1:43; John 20:28; Philippians 3:8).

            There are also three divine characteristics of the Lord Jesus. Firstly, He is omnipotent, the Almighty. He has powers over all things; sickness (John 4:50; 5:8), nature (Matthew 8:23-27); demons (Matthew 8:28-32); supplying all needs (Matthew 14:13-21); over man (Matthew 9:9), and finally, over the most feared enemy: death (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10). Secondly, He is omniscient, All-knowing. He knew names of people without asking them their names, for example, Peter and Zacchaeus (John 1:42; Luke 19:5). As we read throughout the gospel accounts, He knew the hearts of the people, He also knew their infirmities and for how long they had been sick. He also knew the past history of people, also the deceits of the Pharisees and finally, He knows the future and what will take place. Are these not characteristics of God? Finally, the Lord Jesus is omnipresent; He is everywhere (Matthew 18:20; 28:20). Christ is also always the same, never changing. We read in Hebrews 1:11-12, “They shall perish, but thou continuest still; and they all shall grow old as a garment, and as a covering shalt thou roll them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the Same, and thy years shall not fail.” Again we read in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and to the ages to come.” Once again, who can ever have these characteristics but Jesus Christ Himself? He is no other but God.             Dear reader, having set before us these valuable truths, what are we to do? We can do nothing but to serve the living God, who created all things (Genesis 1, John 1, Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1). He is also the life giver (John 3:16; 5:21) and the forgiver of sins (Colossians 3:13) as well as the Saviour (Matthew 1:21). He is the giver of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13; Acts 2:4, 33). But, a solemn warning, that Christ is the Judge to those who reject the gospel of the Lord Jesus. God is the Judge of all (Hebrews 12:23) but He has given judgment to the Son (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:1). Let us also take the warning in Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing falling into the hands of the living God.” Finally, let us take heed of the words of the Lord Jesus is John 8:24, “I said therefore to you, that ye shall die in your sins; for unless ye shall believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” Anyone who does not believe that Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh will die and perish forever. The Lord Jesus asked the man who He healed in John 9:35, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him, he said to him, Thou, dost thou believe on the Son of God?” Dear reader, let us with all enthusiasm, respond like the blind man, “And he said, I believe, Lord: and he did him homage.” I mentioned in the previous answer to the first question, that everyone’s true faith would depend on his or her attitude toward the Lord Jesus. Anyone who does not believe that Jesus Christ came in flesh will die in their sins (John 8:24), because they also will not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or in His deity. He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence in His humility (Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:8), and whoever shall fall upon this stone (reject the gospel of the Lord Jesus), shall be broken, and on whoever this stone shall fall (in the coming day of Judgment) it will grind him to powder (Matthew 21:44). Dear reader, do not be in this situation, and if you have already accepted the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your intelligent service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).