The Things of the Kingdom and the Things of the Name

[Resource Manager]

Creed of Pius 4 incorporating Acts of Council of TRENT - 1545-1563

 

1. Holy, Roman Catholic Church, Mother of all Churches.
   
2. God, a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
   
3. Submission to authority of Church, in faith and morals.
   
4. Interpret Holy Scriptures as authorised by Church.
   
5. Seven Sacraments, necessary for Salvation:-
    
   
1. Baptism
   
2. Confirmation
   
3. Eucharist
   
4. Penance
   
5. Extreme Unction
   
6. Orders
   
7. Matrimony

 

[*] Original Sin and Justification from it.

[*] A true propitiatory sacrifice offered in the mass.

[*] Transubstantiation of Eucharistic bread and wine into real body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

[*] Purgatory, for help of souls to heaven by prayers, et cetera, of faithful.

[*] Saints now reigning in heaven with Christ intercede for devotees by prayers to God, and to be invocated.

[*] Relics of Saints to be held in veneration.

[*] Images of Christ, Mary and other Saints to be kept and due honour and veneration to be given them.

[*] Mary, Mother of God, ever virgin.

[*] Power of granting indulgences left by Christ in the Church; use of them most wholesome for Christians.

[*] Embrace apostolical and ecclesiastical traditions and all other observances of the Church.

[*] Promise true obedience to Bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter, Prince of Apostles, Vicar of Jesus Christ.

[*] Undoubtingly receive all delivered, defined and declared about supremacy and infallible teaching of the Roman Pontiff.

 

THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF TRENT WAS CONVENED IN 1545 - TO MEET THE ERRORS OF THE FIRST PROTESTANTS, WHICH WERE THEN SPREADING.

[Resource Manager]

NOSTRADAMUS

 

Nostradamus – His “Prophecy” in Scriptural Perspective

 

• The first principle in interpreting Nostradamus - “Let the wish be father of the thought”!
   
  
• C II,51 –
  
  “The blood of a just one at London will be lacking
  
  
  Burnt by lightning of twenty three near six
  
  
  The ancient lady shall fall from a high place
  
  
  Many of the same sect shall be killed”.
  
   
  
• Erica Cheetham interprets this of the Great Fire of London, 1666AD.

 

Who was Michael de Nostredame?

 

• A medieval Jew, born 1503 A.C. in France, died 1566 A.D., at Salon in France
   
  
• A convert to Catholicism, accepting as truth the Catholics Errors of:
   
  The trinity; immortality of the soul; a supernatural devil; the Kingdom of God, the church.

Rejecting as error the Bible Truths:

 

One God, the Father; man mortal; human nature, the devil; the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Israel restored by Christ.

 

• A claimant of prophetic powers who rejected the promises and prophecies of God -
   
  Nostredame - “The world will be destroyed”
   
  God - “Abraham will inherit the world for ever” Genesis 13:14-17
   
  
• The tainted source of Nostradamus -

“Inspiration” – “occult powers” derived from Jewish superstition and medieval Gentile ignorance -

 

“The wand in the hand is placed in the middle of the tripod’s legs. With water he sprinkles both the hem of his garment and his foot. A voice, fear; he trembles in his robes.

Divine

splendour; the

god

sits nearby”. C I, 2.

 

But God Forbids this Ignorant Superstition

 

Deuteronomy 18:9-14;

Acts 8:9-13; 8:18

Acts 13:6-11;

Acts 19:18-20;

Isaiah 8:19-20

 

• How Erica “dredged up” Hitler, Mussolini and the Pope out of the Danube!
   
  
• C V, 29 -
  
  “Liberty will not be recovered,
  
  
  A black, proud, villainous one will occupy it:
  
  
  When the matter of the bridge will be opened,
  
  
  Of the Danube, the Republic of Venice vexed”.
  
   
  
• Erica Cheetham interprets “Pont” (bridge) as Pope, and “Hister” (Danube) as Hitler, and Black = Fascisti = Blackshirts!

[Resource Manager]

GOD IN MANIFESTATION

 

GOD

 

How to Keep God Foremost in Our Life

 

The Most High, Most Holy God

 

Isaiah 40:21-22 “... He sits on the circle of the earth… the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers… He stretches out the heavens as a curtain… as a tent to dwell in”.

 

1 Timothy 6:16 “... dwelling in light which no man can approach ... whom no man hath seen, nor can see”.

 

Isaiah 57:15 “... the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit”.

 

Leviticus 10:3 “... I will be sanctified in those who come nigh me”.

 

Are We Forgetful Hearers?

 

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” James 1:25

 

“I declare unto you the gospel... by which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you” 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

 

“Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as to sons” - Hebrews 12:5

 

“He that lacketh these (virtues) is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” - 2 Peter 1:9

 

Who God is

 

God expounds himself in a name in Exodus 3:15 -

 

“... Y A H W E H - E L O H I M

 

he who will become - mighty ones - of your fathers, mighty ones of Abraham, mighty ones of Isaac, and mighty ones of Jacob... this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations”.

 

It is His name so that whenever we address Him we must for courtesy’s sake use it.

 

As a memorial He intends it to be a constant reminder of Him.

 

By making it His name He has ensured it will be an unfailing and effective reminder.

[Resource Manager]

But a reminder of what?

 

He

- God, the Father -

source

and centre of all (Romans 11:33-36)

 

will become

- to indicate a God of purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11), bringing forth a family (Galatians 3:26)

 

mighty ones

- a multitude of children of God

made strong

by faith (Romans 1:16; 1 John 5:1-5)

 

of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

- drawn from all nations by faith (Romans 4:11-12),

selected

according to God’s grace (Romans 9:6-8)

 

The Real Meaning of Yahweh

 

Yahweh is third person, singular, future time of “Havah”.

 

“Havah” is used in Genesis 27:29; Exodus 3:15; Job 37:6; Isaiah 16:4; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Nehemiah 6:6; Ecclesiastes 2:22.

 

“Havah” is the ancient form of “Hayah” meaning “to become” and so, “to be”. It is used thousands of times with these meanings throughout the Old Testament.

 

As Yahweh is third person, singular, future time of “havah”, so “EYEH” is first person, singular, future of “Hawah” and “Hayah”.

 

“EYEH” - I will become, I will be note 2 Samuel 7:14 and compare with Hebrews 1:5.

 

The sense in which Yahweh will become is established in Genesis 18:18; 32:10; 48:19; Isaiah 60:22 - and note Exodus 2:10.

[Resource Manager]

Yahweh the Eternal Memorial

 

“Thou Yahweh shalt endure for ever and thy memorial unto all generations” (Psalm 102:12; 135:13)

 

“Yahweh is His memorial” (Hosea 12:5)

 

“Many generations abundantly utter the memorial of thy great goodness” (Psalm 145:7)

 

“The desire of our soul is to thy name and to thy memorial” (Isaiah 26:8)

 

“Rejoice in Yahweh ye righteous; and give thanks for the memorial of His holiness” (Psalm 97:12)

 

“He has made His wonderful works a memorial” (Psalm 111:4)

 

“The righteous shall be an everlasting memorial” (Psalm 112:6)

 

 

The Name of God as a Way of Life for Us

• ­ We are redeemed to show God’s virtues - 1 Peter 2:9
  
• ­ Called to imitate God’s ways - Ephesians 5:1
  
• ­ Recreated in God’s image - Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:8-10
  
• ­ So Christ dwells in us - Ephesians 3:14-17
  
• ­ Made one with God as Christ is - John 17:17-23
  
• ­ Rewarded with Divine nature - 2 Peter 1:2-4
  

[Resource Manager]

What God Do You Worship?

 

All we learn of the Truth of the Bible, all we learn of Jesus Christ, is intended to lead us to God, to show us what sort of person He is and how we can be brought into fellowship with Him, as members of His family.

 

This session is designed therefore to explain what the Bible reveals of God and of how we can become related to Him.

 

One God, The Father

 

God has always existed, and will always exist. Although we cannot understand how this can be, because our minds are finite so we can only understand finite things, we are nonetheless surrounded by infinity. We do not understand the infinity of space, but the fact of it is obvious and undeniable, so we all accept it despite our lack of understanding.

 

So with God, the evidence of His existence is all around us, and can be accepted by anyone who accepts facts, even though we do not understand how He exists eternally.

 

The Infinite Creator

 

Our God is revealed as the infinite creator in Isaiah 40:

 

“It is he... that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in” (verse 22)

 

This shows God not only as infinite, completely without limits, but greater than that, beyond infinity so He can, as it were, look at infinity from the outside. God numbers the illimitable stars and has named each, and sustains each orb in its existence by His great power:

 

“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth” (verses 25-26)

 

And God himself is beyond weariness and weakness. Like His existence, His power is limitless:

 

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding” (verse 28)

 

This is the limitless, eternal God who reveals Himself to us in the Bible. He wishes to bring us close to Himself, to give us the power to become His children, so that first of all we can be morally strengthened to please Him, then physically transformed to life for ever with Him:

 

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength... they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (verses 29,31)

[Resource Manager]

Source of Life

 

God has life in Himself (John 5:26) as an inherent property of His nature. So He alone has underived immortality:

 

“The blest and only Potentate (sovereign of all), the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; who only hath immortality” (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

 

The Bible describes God’s physical nature as “spirit”:

 

“God is

spirit

: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)

 

By spirit, the Bible means the substance of God’s personal being, as distinct from flesh (the physical substance of mankind and animals - Isaiah 31:3).

 

Boundless Wisdom, Righteousness and Love

 

Spread through the whole breadth of the Bible is continuous exposition of the mental and moral “nature” of God. The great variety of narrative, history, doctrine, prophecy, warning and exhortation all display to us how God thinks and acts.

 

In two splendid epitomes God has summarised the two great facets of His mental and moral nature.

 

The first shows Him to be wise, and pure and righteous without the shadow of any foolishness or impurity:

 

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that

God is light

, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5)

 

Light is a constant Bible metaphor for wisdom, purity and righteousness. It is used in contrast to the “darkness” of mankind’s ways, foolishness, sin, injustice. Compare the exposition of God’s wisdom and goodness in Romans 11:33-36.

 

By contrast to us, God’s mental nature is unalloyed wisdom and justice. The second of these summaries shows God’s moral nature dominated by love:

 

“We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him” (1 John 4:16)

 

The emotion which has impelled God to offer to become a “Father” to us is love, which this passage shows to define His moral nature. By His love, He seeks to spark in us a response, so that we become drawn to Him by mutual affinity.

 

Since “light” and “love” define God’s mental and moral nature they also define the qualities of mind essential in us to become His children.

 

The first essential in seeking the wisdom and love that unite us to God is to get to know Him - and to know Him as He really is.

[Resource Manager]

The Father Alone is God

 

The truth about God has been lost to most of Christendom by the introduction of the doctrine of the Trinity into “Christianity” in the fourth century A.D. The Trinity is not a Bible doctrine. In fact it originated in Babylon some 2,000 years before Christ, and was grafted onto “Christianity” by the Catholic Church. Jesus Christ himself teaches that the Father is the only God and that neither Christ himself nor any other is part of the Godhead. In John 17 Jesus says:

 

“This is life eternal, that they (my disciples) might know thee (Father) the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (verse 3)

 

Jesus’ words are emphatic and clear - though godhead may be claimed for others, even for himself, such claims are false - the Father is the only true God.

 

Consequently the Bible frequently shows the Father to be the God of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as to us. For example:

 

“I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God” (John 20:17)

 

“Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:3)

 

Again, the Father is distinguished from Jesus and all others as the only God in 1 Corinthians 8:

 

“We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but

one

. For though there be that are

called

gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many, and lords many),

 

“But to us there is but

one God

,

the Father

, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him”

(verses 4-6)

 

The force of this statement is that it is made as a refutation of assertions that there are other gods than the Father. It is therefore a deliberate exclusion of all others (including Jesus Christ and the holy spirit) from a part in the Godhead. We will consider Jesus Christ as a manifestation of God in the next section. The relationship of Christ to God is explained in 1 Timothy 2:

 

“There is

one God

and one mediator

between

God and man, the

man

Christ Jesus” verse 5)

 

Even now, in his position of highest exaltation in heaven, Jesus Christ is man and acts between God and man as mediator to God most holy.

 

What makes Mediatorship between God and man essential is the fact that the most holy and pure God cannot and will not allow sinful, unholy man into His presence. Consequently, if Jesus were himself part of the Godhead, he would be invalidated from being mediator. It is only because he is man and at the same time, sinless and holy, that he can be our mediator to God most holy.

 

We conclude that the Father is the only true God, the infinite creator and source of all existing things.

[Resource Manager]

JESUS CHRIST, SON AND MANIFESTATION OF GOD

 

Jesus of Nazareth was:

 

“a

man

approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you” (Acts 2:22)

 

The Only Begotten Son

 

But he was more than merely man. He was God’s only begotten son. The angel of God showed this before his birth to Mary, his mother:

 

“Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the

Son of the Highest

: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David ...

 

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost (Spirit) shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the

Son of God

” (Luke 1:31-35)

 

So Jesus is God’s son - not “God the Son”, a phrase nowhere found or hinted at in Scripture. As son of God, he is neither co-equal nor co-eternal with the Father. His existence began at his birth some 2,000 years ago.

 

But being son of God, the mental and moral family likeness to his Father is evident in Jesus, as we would expect.

 

“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 1:14)

 

Mental and Moral Image of God

 

So close is and was this mental and moral likeness to his Father that Jesus is called:

 

“The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature... For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians 1:15,19)

 

Being the image of God in character, it is clear he is not God, but a manifestation who shows us God’s thoughts and ways - which we could not otherwise see.

 

Jesus is shown to us as being in character in the form of God:

 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the

form

of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Better translated - Considered not equality with God a thing to be grasped - Revised version and Revised Standard Version) but made himself of no reputation... and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross... Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (Philippians 2:5-9)

 

This passage is the climax of an exhortation by the Apostle Paul for us to avoid an attitude of pride and selfishness. And to enforce the exhortation strongly, he illustrated that Jesus himself achieved his reward and exaltation by showing just such a character - humble and unselfish.

 

He was in the form of God, that is, he showed in his character all the virtues of God, yet he did not seek to usurp the reverence due to God - but rather emptied out pride and became humble as a servant (Philippians 2:7). And Jesus perfected his work of service in obeying God right up to death on the cross. Christ’s relationship to God is clearly shown here - he was in God’s form mentally and morally - that is a copy of God’s character. And he was obedient to God as a servant and son.

[Resource Manager]

Of One Mind with God

 

The likeness of Christ as son of God to his Father in character and virtue is illustrated in his own words in John 10:30-36:

 

“I and my Father are one” (verse 30)

 

The Jews misunderstood this. They thought he was claiming to be God, just as Trinitarians today misunderstand him (verses 31-33). So Jesus makes clear that the unity he means is a mental, moral unity, a likeness of character founded on his complete absorption of the word of God - and that a similar oneness of mind with God is for others beside him, at least in measure (verses 34-36).

 

So Christ shows the source of the doctrine and power he possessed to have been his Father (John 7:16; 8:28-29, 38, 42).

 

The Word Made Flesh

 

Christ’s character and his whole way of life were formed by God’s word. So complete was its effect on his mind that he is described as the “word made flesh” (John 1:14). This means that the mind of his Father exhibited in the Bible was so indelibly engraved in Jesus’ heart that all his thoughts and actions were generated by his Father’s will. The book of Hebrews confirms this:

 

“Lo, I come to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7)

 

God’s will for Christ was that God should perfect in him an unblemished character by His word and strength and then Christ should lay down his life as a sacrifice, crucified to save all who believe in him.

 

Jesus espoused this purpose with all his heart, and in love for God and us, gave himself wholly to God to perform that work in him:

 

“Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

 

He is shown to be son and servant of God - not part of the Godhead - and to have given to God the obedience his position as son and servant required.

 

God Manifest in Flesh

 

This great Bible doctrine of God manifest (or shown forth) in flesh is summarised in 1 Timothy 3:

 

“Without controversy great is the mystery (or secret) of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...” (verse 16)

 

Here is God’s explanation of how Jesus’ perfect life and character came to be. He was a man, human flesh, and subject to the same weakness and temptation as we are. But God showed himself in Jesus - he formed Jesus’ character and virtues in him by the indwelling of His word.

 

This is said to us to show us how we may “know how we ought to behave ourselves in the house of God” (verse 15). In fact God seeks to manifest himself in us as he did in Christ.

[Resource Manager]

The Relationship of Jesus To His Father

 

ON THOMAS’ STATEMENT - John 20: 28

 

The basis of understanding this is in John 10:27-36.

 

A quote from Psalm 82:6 is made by Jesus. The Psalm shows that the judges of Israel are called “gods” (Elohim) on the basis that the word of God came unto them.

 

Ephesians 1:3 God was the God of Jesus as well as his Father (cp. .John 20:17).

 

John 17:1-3 v3 is the key to life eternal. THE FATHER IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD - Jesus excludes himself = he is the servant of God (e.g. Isaiah 52:13; 53:9-11).

 

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 - there is only one true God.

 

1 Timothy 2:3 - the reason for this title is in v4, note v5 this was written approximately A.D.65 - 30 years after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Jesus is still called man - therefore he is not God. But, further as a mediator he is drawn from mankind. He can only be a mediator if he is not God.

 

John 17:5 is to be understood that the Father’s purpose of glory was known to the Father before the world was and He foresaw His son at the head of this glorified family, see vv2l-22.

 

(Why we do not have a paid ministry:

 

Acts 20:28-34; 1 Peter 5:2-3; 2 Peter 2:1-3 (feigned = counterfeit) - i.e. they buy you and do it with counterfeit currency.)

 

Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:24; 9:52; James 2:25 - angels translated as messengers.

 

 

 

Homework: On God manifestation John 6:27-29,51,63 – read the whole chapter

[Resource Manager]

John 3

 

John 3:2 - Nicodemus is implying that they could not understand what Jesus was saying.

 

John 3:3 - Jesus uses “see” in 2 senses.

 

John 3:4 - the problem was they took literally figures of speech and they took as figurative what he spoke literally.

 

John 3:13 - is one of the heavenly things - i.e. if you look at it from a human viewpoint you’ll get it wrong. If you look at it from a Divine viewpoint you’ll get it right. “The son of man” is the subject of the verse - he ascended, came down from and is in heaven. God speaks of all these things as having occurred because He has foreseen these things. Jesus’ life was of spirit. His character developed by the Spirit and after resurrection changed to Spirit nature (cp. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

 

(John 20:21-28 Thomas convinced of the corporeal resurrection of Jesus; Mark 16:9-14 cp. Luke 24:13,29-3l.)

 

Christ was in heaven in outlook cp. Ephesians 1:1-2,3. We too are to be in “heaven”, Ephesians 2:4-6; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 6:19-21 cp. Isaiah 55:8-11 conveys several of the ideas of John 3.

 

John 6

 

John 6:38 - Jesus is subject to the will of a greater One.

 

John 6:39 - His works are of the Father’s will.

 

John 6:44 - Except you have an influence from heaven you will never understand me.

 

John 6:46 - Jesus has totally and clearly perceived the Father’s character.

 

John 6:51 - Where was the flesh made? On earth of course. There it cannot mean the actual descent of a being from heaven, but the creation of a being upon earth.

 

John 6:60 - cp. John 3:13 see the Son of Man go back - as spirit the descent occurred he went back as a spirit man.

 

John 6:63 - Confirms that it is the spirit descending and giving life which is the vital point, not the flesh.

[Resource Manager]

ONE GOD IN MANY SONS

 

God has declared from the beginning that it is His purpose to fill this earth with His glory (Numbers 14:21). The way He does this is by showing forth Himself in those who obey the gospel.

 

Re-created in God’s Spiritual Likeness

 

In fact God redeems us in Christ so we can show forth His virtues:

 

“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises (correctly as in the margin – the virtues) of him who have called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” 1 Peter 2:9

 

God’s virtues are not natural to us. We must learn them from His word, which re-create our minds in Rio likeness in a spiritual re-birth (1 Peter 1:23).

 

His exhortation to us is to become imitators of Him as children do their parents (Ephesians 5:1). We can do this by observing His ways of thought and action as the Bible shows us them, and then doing as we see Him do.

 

Both the letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians show that the effect of our belief in the gospel is to create in us a new mental and moral outlook, which forms our characters into the image of God’s own: -

 

“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” Ephesians 4:23-24

 

“Ye have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” Colossians 3:10

 

This is what God wishes for us, so that He can adopt us as His own children, to save us from death and draw us into eternal happiness and fellowship with Himself and Christ.

[Resource Manager]

Christ Dwells in Our Hearts

 

Christ is the manifestation of God to us, so God wants to see in our hearts the image of Christ. Paul prays that God may grant us:

 

“to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…” Ephesians 3:16-17

 

This key Scriptural statement focuses attention on the only means by which the image of Christ and God may be formed in our hearts - by belief of the gospel.

 

By faith our ways of thought and action can be greatly changed so we behave as Christ did, and please God as he did.

 

The change will bring us close to God and create a unity of mind with him similar to that attained in Christ. Christ prayed for those who believe in him:

 

“that they all may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they all may be one in us... and the glory which thou hast given me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one” John 17:21-23

 

This unity of mind, heart and character, imperfect as it may be in these days of weakness, gives us access to a source of strength, happiness and security that nothing else can offer, and no one can take away, if we remain faithful.

 

God is pleased to see in us His own image and will crown it with a fitting reward. He will endow those, whose lives have shown Him forth, with His own divine and immortal nature. The Apostle Peter says:

 

“His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might

be partakers of the divine nature

, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” 2 Peter 1:3-4

 

The First Steps

 

Your first steps to realising this glorious destiny, offered through the grace of the loving God, are:

1. To accept His call made to you in the gospel,

 

2. Believe the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,

 

3. Be baptised into Jesus Christ to obtain forgiveness of sins,

 

4. In a life of faith and obedience to God, let God show Himself in you in every thought and act.

[Resource Manager]

Jesus Christ – The Son and Manifestation of God – Part 1

 

Reading: John 6:27-65

 

In natural things a father and son are alike in many ways but nonetheless are different individuals one being older than the other by very reason of their relationship as father and son. This is the relationship that exists between God - His son.

 

Philippians 2:6 Jesus is in the form of God as any son is in the form of his father, which presupposes the existence of the father before the son.

 

Luke 1:35 Jesus was both son of God and son of Mary. That which was born was human and dependent for its very existence upon a mother and father. There could be no existence before its conception. v32 “He shall be called the Son of the Highest” is suggestive that the fact needs proof. He was human which would otherwise be seen to be an impossibility but was revealed by God to be true.

 

John 1:15 “…preferred (Philippians 2:9 - exalted because he was death, v8) before me; for he was before me”.

 

V30 Talking about the man who was before him which is proof that it is not talking about a pre-existent part of the Godhead but that rather this was a part of God’s plan and was foreknown of Him, Romans 8: 2 9.

 

John 6 the exposition of John 1:15, 30.

 

v32 - he was the bread, which came from heaven; v38 he came down from heaven; v51 he equates the bread with his flesh - which he says came from heaven.

 

If therefore it is insisted that this preaches his pre-existence then he existed in flesh in heaven - this could not be because his flesh was the product of his conception in his mother’s womb. It is evident then that he meant other than his literal pre-existence in heaven.

 

Such passages are understood then that his existence prior to his conception was as a part of God’s plan and purpose - he pre-existed only in the foreknowledge of God and not in a literal existence before conception. See Romans 4:17

[Resource Manager]

Jesus Christ – Son and Manifestation of God – Part 2

 

Reading: Colossians 1

 

The principle at the heart of this subject (1 Timothy 3:14-16) in a context of how the members of the household of God should behave. Note the correct punctuation in vvl5-16

 

“...how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the ecclesia of the living God. The pillar and ground of the truth and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest…”

 

Manifestation means showing forth. Jesus Christ in his life and behaviour showed the character of God.

 

Colossians 1:13 darkness - the ignorance that is in the world uninfluenced by God. v15 “image” means likeness in the same way that a photograph is the likeness of the person photographed. It is not the original.

 

Colossians 2:9 the Godhead was “dwelling” in Christ which in Greek language clearly indicates he was not himself a part of the Godhead. He was the “house” and not the “resident”. The word “Godhead” means the qualities of God - the qualities of God that dwell in Christ were those of character. When the Lord Jesus Christ was immortalised he possessed the spirit qualities bodily. This still differentiates between God and Jesus. The angels possess these qualities as will the immortalized saints, see Ephesians 3:19.

 

Things about Christ making it impossible:-

 

1 Peter 1:20 - “foreordained” i.e. under God’s control

Romans 1:1-2 - “Jesus promised before” ... Father had him in control - a time at which he didn’t exist

Luke 1:35 - “conceived”

Galatians 4:4 - “made of a woman”

Romans 1:3 - “made of David’s seed”

Acts 10:38 - given Holy Spirit by God

John 6:27 - “sealed” by the Father

Matthew 28:18 - “given all power” by God

1 Peter 2:4 - chosen by God

Acts 2:24 - “raised” from the dead

John 5:26 - “given life” by God

Acts 2:33 - “exalted” by God

Acts 3:13 - “glorified” by God

1 Peter 1:21 - “given glory” and honour by God

Philippians 2:9 - given the name of God by God

Acts 4:11 - made cornerstone

1 Corinthians 1:30 - made by God wisdom…

 

John 1:1 A strange beginning - it must have been expected to be understood by the readers. The book was written for believers. The word “word” is “logos”. Its use will demonstrate its meaning:

 

Acts 15:7 - “the word (logos) of the gospel”

Ephesians 1:13 - “the word (logos) of the truth, the gospel”

Colossians 1:5 - “the word (logos) of the truth, the gospel”

Titus 1:3 - “manifest the word through preaching”

 

These are expressions that the reader would readily understand by the use of this word.

 

See Acts 8:4 “preaching the word”. “Preaching” means “preach the gospel” - thus the identity of the word and the gospel. Thus John 1:1 will be understood as ...

 

“In the beginning was the gospel”.

 

“The word was God” is a metaphor. Other examples of metaphor are John 1:8; 5:35; Jude 12, 13. John 1:1 - Whatever the word was... it was with God, two different things emphasized by its repetition in v2.

[Resource Manager]

The Name of Manifestation

 

Reading: Exodus 3

 

Ephesians 4:1 - the call to be brethren of Christ, children of God, examples to the world of what God would have us to be, e.g. vv17-24 (v22 exhortation - put off the way we lived before we entered into Christ - old ways were corrupt simply because they were impelled by the lusts in our mind), v23 be renewed in the disposition of our mind, v24 a new way of behaviour - “after God” – “patterned on”, “like” (now no longer like Adam, but like God) -the new man has been recreated - they now have one name common to them all, Revelation 3:11-12, the family name - thy new name. Jesus’ old name was Yahoshua, his new name is Yahweh (Philippians 2:9, 11). It is his obedience to God that proves his sonship (Hebrews 5:8-9; John 1:14 the only begotten stands unique and alone, see v12; and relate to Revelation 14:1). The name describes for us a changed way of life.

 

Exodus 3:13 - they would ask what was God’s name. What can you tell us that will show us what He is like? (is the idea) The nations’ gods’ names bespoke their identity, i.e. Baal = lord, Milchom = king etc,

 

v14 I AM THAT I AM (one statement of the name).

 

v15 THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, THE GOD OF JACOB (is a restatement of the name). “LORD” in capital letters is YAHWEH but only one word in this statement - three words making up the name, YAHWEH ELOHIM of ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB (elements). The rest of the Scriptures use each of the elements as abbreviations of the total name.

 

Yahweh = He will become; Elohim = mighty ones.

 

Abraham, Isaac (selected over Ishmael) and Jacob (selected over Esau). The name of God works by selecting from among mankind. “He will become mighty ones selected from Abraham’s seed” (Romans 9 - selection).

 

Exodus 3:12 - “I will be” is wrongly translated “I am” in v14. “I will become who I will become” - this is a description of what God is like. As soon as they heard that they knew what God was like.

 

Genesis 18:16-18 - “Abraham shall become” - by having a son and becoming a father. Yahweh’s name therefore indicates His intention to have a family. Genesis 32:10 “I have become” - a family now grown into two companies. Genesis 48:19 - “he also shall become a people... become a multitude of nations”.

 

Exodus 2:9-10 - “became her son” by adoption (cp. John 1:12 a commentary on the name of Yahweh) . He takes that name because he is a father who has sons and daughters. We are to be mental and moral reflections of our Father - a family in His own likeness.

 

Colossians 3:7-10 (cp. Ephesians 4) “image” interprets the ideas of Ephesians 4. Jesus in his life, death and resurrection proved that the Father had a son. Both statements in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 are quoting Genesis 1:26-27, image - family likeness between God and His children.

 

1 John 4:8-16; 3:1,2 (there is a greater sonship to come). Galatians 3:7-9, 26-29 the importance of likeness, descendants described as seed (they come from it) cp. Genesis 1:11-12. Galatians 3:16 is the application of v29, Abraham’s SEED. People of Abraham’s kind by faith - of one kind of seed only that which is characterized by Christ (cp. Romans 4:11-18) Through His word we think the way God thinks, we live as God’s children.

[Resource Manager]

THE ANGELS – GOD’S INSTRUMENTS OF MANIFESTATION

 

Their nature, relationship to the Father and an indication of our hope.

 

Ephesians 3:14-16 - From the Father the whole family is named - in heaven as well as earth cp. Job 38:7 - the angels are God’s sons, shining glorious people.

 

What are angels? The real meaning of the word ‘angel’ is shown in James 2:25 “messengers” = Gk angelos (usually rendered angels). So this is precisely what the word means. Same in the Old Testament.

 

1 Samuel 25:14 - Hebrew ‘messengers’ (Malak - cp. OLD TESTAMENT Book Malachi) - see Malachi 3:1 cp. Matthew 11:10. The word therefore describes their work rather than what they are by nature. Luke 7:24 – “messengers” of John (Gk angelos).

 

Jesus himself sent out angelos (human “messengers”) Luke 9:52. In Luke 1:19 Gabriel was a messenger sent forth to speak to Zechariah, then to Mary, v26.

 

They are God’s messengers to us. We can be thankful that God has opened a means of contact for mankind. Genesis 18:1-5 - they are in their form as men - that Abraham thought they were men is clear, as Hebrews 13:1-2 establishes. Rather than they looking like us, we look like them, Genesis 1:26-27 (God = Elohim and speaks of the angels). v26 is God in manifestation; v27 God as the author of the creative power. We are in the form of God, as the angels also (James 3:9).

 

God cannot be seen by man until he receives a change in nature, 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Revelation 21:1-4 - these verses have their fulfilment at the end of the Millennium. Matthew 18:10 - angels do look upon their Father. Ultimately if we are faithful the same privilege will be ours, Matthew 5:8. There cannot be a greater blessing than this.

[Resource Manager]

Their Function Described

 

Hebrews 1:4 - Christ is greater than the angels; v5 they are sons of God in a similar sense to the way we become sons of God. Jesus is the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON; v7 His angels are spirit beings - immortal, powerful, glorious; v14 they are preparing us for the salvation God desires to bestow upon His children who are responding to His work.

 

See also Psalm 103:20-21 - mighty in strength, doing according to His word in which they rejoice. Psalm 104:3-4 (“wind” in v3 = spirit” v4) - the basis of Paul’s comment in Hebrews 1. To minister in aid and protect (flame of fire) cp. 2 Kings 6:9-17 - a visible sign of their function as an army to protect Elisha.

 

Proverbs 15:3 - a description of the angels, cp. 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 show that angels are present as Yahweh’s eyes. Truly God does have OMNISCIENT COGNISANCE but His angels are where his servants are. As messengers they engage also in communication to God as well. If your heart is toward God trouble may come upon you but will NOT overwhelm you. Psalm 34:1-9, 15, 19, 22 - progression of ideas, v7 the principle. (Cp. Elisha’s deliverance, 2 Kings 6). What God did to Sodom was just. God did it for Lot’s sake, for Abraham’s sake and for our sake.

 

Genesis 11:11-13, 24-29 - the angelic help Jacob received.

 

Genesis 32:1-2 - supported by seeing God’s army camp and his own, v3 messengers (malak); v9 his prayer. God gave his answer in a contest. vv24-29 Jacob’s changed name to Israel - if he prevails with angels need he fear men. v30 God is seen in others who manifest Him – angels yes and ourselves if we will let Him, cp. Hosea 12:4-6.

 

Angels’ names express:

 

(1) their function, and

(2) the aspect of God which they manifest.

[Resource Manager]

Angels in Daniel

 

Daniel 3:19-25 (a son of the gods) - the angel of God had preserved His servants v28, (as in Psalm 34:7).

 

Daniel 6:19-22 - shows similarly an angel of God preserving Daniel. In serving God we will be saved if we are faithful - the angels work on our behalf if it is to our eternal benefit.

 

Another aspect of the work is shown in Daniel 9:20-23.

 

Daniel 10:2-3, 10-13 - shows that the angels - manipulate circumstances, v20-21

 

1 Timothy 6:15-16 - A principle which can and should be applied.

 

Genesis 32:30 - what Jacob saw was a manifestation of God – true of others as it is of angels, 1 John 1:1-2.

 

What God is, He has made His angelic children. Exodus 33:17-23. God is again showing Himself through an intermediary.

 

Genesis 18:17-22 - shows an angel revealing God. Also

 

Genesis 22:11-15 - the angel speaks in the name of Yahweh as a promise.

 

Where did the angels come from?

 

Genesis 3:22 tells us something of their origin. The angels have also been put in circumstances of trial. Before their immortality they were put to the test. But now they are beyond the power of death, Luke 20:33-36.

 

2 Peter 2:4 - these cannot be “the spirit beings, the angels of God”, as God’s angels are deathless, they cannot sin. There is an allusion to the mythology of Tartarus - a comparison with Numbers 16 shows it very likely to be Korah, Dathan and Abiram who by an earthquake were cast down alive into the pit, compare Jude 6.

 

Very shortly we will meet our angel, Matthew 18:10-11.

[Resource Manager]

THE TRINITY UNSCRIPTURAL

 

The Only True God The Father

 

John 17:3:

 

“This in life eternal, that they know thee (Father) the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (RSV)

 

“Only”: Denies Godhead to any but the Father

 

“True”: Categorises claims of Godhead for any beside the Father as being false

 

“And”: Implies Jesus is a distinct and separate being from God

 

“Sent”: Identifies Jesus Christ as servant (Isaiah 49:1-9) and son (2 Samuel 7:14), subordinate to God (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

 

1 Corinthians 8:4-6:

 

“There is no God but one...

 

“For us (Christians) there is one God, the Father...

 

“And one Lord, Jesus Christ...” (RSV)

 

“No God but one”: There is only one God, “The Father”, in the Universe

 

“And”: Implies Jesus in a distinct and separate being from God

 

“One Lord”: Declares Jesus Christ to be the only master, beside God, whom Christians acknowledge

[Resource Manager]

Jesus is “Lord”: Because -

 

God, His Father, raised him from death and made him “Lord” - Acts 2:31-36

 

This “Lord”, Master, Ruler:

• ­ Was crucified - 1 Corinthians 2:8
  
• ­ Died - 1 Corinthians 11:26
  
• ­ Was raised by God - 1 Peter 1:3
  

Because of those things -

• ­ He is “Lord” both of dead and living – Romans 14:9
  

Therefore:

• ­ Jesus’ bearing the Father’s name is NOT evidence that he, the son, is God
  

Consequently:

• The Father remains God to Jesus - Ephesians 1:3
  
• ­ Jesus received his Father’s name as his reward for obedience and sacrifice Philippians 2:8-9
  

So that:

• ­ Worship addressed to Jesus glorifies the Father - Philippians 2: 10-11
  
• ­ The Father’s name is to Jesus a new name - Revelation 3:12
  

Therefore:

• ­ Jesus’ bearing the Father’s name is NOT evidence that he, the son, is God
  

Consequently:

• The Father always remains God to Jesus - 2 Corinthians 11:31
  
• ­ Jesus came in his Father’s name - John 5:43
  
• ­ Jesus revealed his Father’s name - John 17:6,26
  
• ­ Jesus did his works in his Father’s name - John 10:25
  
• ­ Jesus kept his disciples in his Fathers name - John 17:12
  

[Resource Manager]

And Because:

• ­ All the Father’s family is named from him - Ephesians 3:14-15
  

Therefore:

• ­ Jesus’ bearing his Father’s name is NOT evidence that he, the son, is God
  

Consequently:

• ­ The Father always remains God to Jesus - John 20:17
  
• ­ All God’s family is named from him - Ephesians 3:14-15
  
• ­ All believers are called to bear the Father’s name - Acts 15:14-17
  
• ­ All believers do bear the Father’s name - Revelation 14:1
  
• ­ Jesus keeps them in the Father’s name - John 17:12
  

Then:

• ­ Jesus shares the Father’s name in common with many who are not God
  

Therefore:

• ­ Jesus’ bearing the Father’s name is NOT evidence that he, the son, is God
  

Consequently:

• ­ The Father always remains God to Jesus - Romans 15:5-7
  

[Resource Manager]

The Word was God – What Word?

 

The word “WORD” is a general term.

 

Yet, without introduction or explanation, John opens his book by using it as a particular term, “THE WORD”.

 

This is only valid communication if the recipients of the book already knew the precise sense John intended for the term, and if subsequent users also have the information available to them which enables them to reach the same certainty. The NEW TESTAMENT makes clear that they did, and we also do.

 

Constant usage from Pentecost A.D. 33 onward settles what the apostles taught as the particular meaning of “THE WORD”.

 

“Many of those who heard THE WORD (of the gospel) believed” - Acts 4:4

 

“Give ourselves... to the ministry of THE WORD (of the gospel)” - Acts 6:4

 

“Those... went everywhere preaching THE WORD (of the gospel)” - Acts 8:4

 

“THE WORD (of the gospel) which God sent preaching peace” - Acts 10:36

 

“When they had preached THE WORD (of the gospel) in Perga” - Acts 14:25

 

“The gentiles should hear THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL and believe” - Acts 15:7

 

“If you hold fast THAT WORD (of the gospel) which I preached” - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

 

“By THE WORD of the truth (of the gospel)” - 2 Corinthians 6:7

 

“You heard THE WORD of truth, THE GOSPEL of your salvation” - Ephesians 1:13

 

“Furtherance of THE GOSPEL... to speak THE WORD without fear” - Philippians 1:12,14

 

“You heard before in THE WORD of the truth of THE GOSPEL” - Colossians 1:5

 

“Having received THE WORD (of the gospel) and doctrine” - 1 Thessalonians 1:6

 

“Those who labour in THE WORD (of the gospel) and doctrine” - 1 Timothy 5:17

 

“Preach THE WORD (of the gospel) be ready” - 2 Timothy 4:2

 

“In due time manifested HIS WORD (the gospel) through preaching” – Titus 1:3

 

“He brought us forth by THE WORD of the truth (the gospel)” – James 1:18

 

“In the beginning was THE WORD (of the gospel)… with God” – John 1:1

[Resource Manager]

Philippians Chapter 2 – The Vital Terms

 

“Morphe” Philippians 2:6 “the FORM of God”; Philippians 2:7 “the FORM of a slave”

 

Liddell & Scott, Greek-English lexicon:

 

“Form, shape… fine form, beautiful form or shape… figure… a person... fashion, appearance… the outward form or semblance, as opposed to the “Eidos” or true form… kind, sort… gesture... the mere form, outline”

 

The Bible itself:

 

Mark 16:12:

 

“After that he appeared in another form (Morphe) unto two of them, as they walked and went into the country”

 

Luke 24:15-16, 31:

 

“Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But

their eyes were kept

from recognising him… and

their eyes were opened

and they recognised him” (RSV)

 

Morphe has to do with the external features perceived by an observer, not with “inner reality” or the like.

 

In Philippians 2, Morphe refers to Jesus’ conduct and way of life, which were seen to be like God’s as regards holiness, love and such virtues, and like a slave’s in humility.

 

The Trinitarian definitions of “Morphe”: “Essence, true nature, inner reality” are not sustained by the evidence.

 

“Huparcho” Philippians 2:6 “BEING in the form of God”

 

Liddell & Scott, Greek-English lexicon:

 

“To begin, start, to make a beginning of… to begin to be, come into being, arise, spring up... to be there, be at hand, be ready... (simply) to be, to be (of a good natural disposition), there is, the fact, is that, to exist really (opposed to semblance - PHAINOMAI), to exist now (opposed to being or existing before PROGENESTHAI)... to be such, to be so and so... to be possible, to lie under, to be taken for granted... to belong to, be property of, to be on (one or other) side... (participle) (one’s) property, all that is at one’s command, present advantages, one’s means, the circumstances, natural parts, talents... to belong... to rule in subordination to another, be lieutenant (to someone)”.

 

From this comprehensive survey by Liddell & Scott, it is evident that the Trinitarian claim that “HUPARCHO” means “BEING ORIGINALLY (before birth, before the incarnation)”, is special reading.

 

The Biblical usage that follows confirms this.

 

“Schema” Philippians 2:8 “being found in FASHION as a man”

 

Liddell & Scott, Greek-English lexicon:

 

“Like Latin “HABITUS”, the form, shape, frame, outward appearance, the figure, person... form, figure (as opposed to the reality), a mere outside, a mere show, pretence… bearing, look, air, mein, stateliness, dignity, pomp, gestures… manner, way, conformation, posture, position... a character (assumed (Latin) “PERSONA”, “PARTES”)... the state, nature, constitution (of a thing)... species, kinds (of diseases)... (dancing) steps, a dance (in logic) the figure (of a syllogism)... sketch, outline, plan, scheme (a mathematical) form, diagram.”

 

The Bible itself:

 

1 Corinthians 7:31 - “For the form of this world is passing away”.

 

Where the “SCHEMA” is that “found” by an observer, it has to do with external features discernible by the senses. Here it refers to birth, development, wants and their satisfaction, experience of weariness and sickness, ageing and the like, which are characteristic of man, as distinct from God.