Who is God? If you ask ten people, you can get
ten different answers. How we define God is a foundation of how we define
ourselves. This isn’t a complete definition by any means of who God is
because I don’t believe that any web page could fully describe Him. However
we have a foundation from which we can understand the core of who God is. My
source of understanding comes from the Bible and without this foundation of
God defining for me who He is I would probably have ten different answers
myself.
Every person falls into one of two camps, either humankind and the
universe in which we live were created by a Creator or random chance and
evolution from one kind to another brought us to the point we are at today.
While this is a big debate in the world today, this page focuses on the
belief in a Creator and is my answer to who God is.
For those who are in the evolution camp, I encourage you to examine the
page focused on that debate and the reasons I do not hold this belief -
Creation vs.
Evolution. For those who believe in a Creator yet debate who this is or
why I hold the Bible as a valid source for defining who God is, please
examine the page focused on The Bible: Trusting the Source.
From the Biblical perspective defining who God is can be somewhat
confusing at first because He has revealed Himself in three ways, but
ultimately God defines Himself as simply - Love. Being created in God’s
image, we can associate with God by the way He has presented Himself to us.
The question is, why not just show Himself outright to us rather than
through the thousands of years of glimpses? This brings us to the
fundamental problem facing humanity, the fall.
Originally God created man and woman and they were in direct relationship
with their Creator and knew Him face to face. In the beginning they were
innocent, not knowing the difference between good and evil. Good is defined
by the characteristics of the Creator. It is the Creator who designed the
creation for His purposes just like a watchmaker designs a watch to tell
time. Evil is simply defined as that which is not good. This is why God,
being good, cannot be evil because evil is whatever is not of God. So it is
that sin is transgression from God’s ways of love, in our fallen state, we
enact evil when we are in opposition to God.
Not knowing good from evil, Adam and Eve had no separation from God. God
did not want mindless servant robots out of His creation, and so we were
created with free will, the choice to obey God or not and with that the
responsibility for the consequences of our choices. God warned them of one
fruit in the garden of Eden that they were not to eat from and told them the
consequences of doing so would be death, this was the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil. When deceived into eating it when the serpent called God’s
Word into question, Eve and then Adam both ate and their eyes were opened.
From this choice they and all their offspring then have been suffering the
consequences of using their free will to disobey God’s warning. They sinned
and from that point humanity has been separated from their Creator by their
sin.
This is all important because our choice to align ourselves with God or
not determines our
eternal destination. Who we are is not defined by our
physical bodies, but rather by our spirits dwelling within these “temples,” or bodies. What kind of spirit, or person, we are is expressed to the world
through the use of our bodies for communication with each other. Who we are
does not die with our bodies, rather it is either reunited with God forever
or it is not. That is completely up to each of us individually.
So who is God, how does He define and reveal himself to us? This is important in
determining whether you want to be with Him forever or not.
There are some who willingly desire to be separate from Him because He has
standards, but I want to share Biblically just what those standards are and
how they express God’s heart of Love. One example is the Law, which I call
shadows of Love. So
who is God? Let’s take Him at His Word.
The Holy Trinity?
This concept is much debated amongst Christians to the point of
division many times. It is my desire here to share the scriptures
God has used to define the reality of who He is and share my
perspective on their meaning. As this is a charged topic among the
Christian community I will post the scriptures that have led me to
the conclusions I have in hopes of bringing the clarity God’s Word
has revealed to me for those who may not yet understand. As stated
earlier, I don’t claim to know everything about God, but I look
forward to learning more daily.
Throughout scripture there are three distinct characters
referenced in relation to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In
addition there are many clear statements that God is One. How can
this apparent contradiction be reconciled? I believe the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob chose to reveal Himself in this way to
express His nature of love and to do so in a way we could relate to
from our own life experiences in our families.
I will first go through each of the identities separately and
then address how there are three distinct “Godheads” yet there is
only One God.
YAHWEH is the giver of power and light as the Father is head of the house,
so our heavenly Father is the head of all that is. Just as an earthly father
gives to his son what he has, so our heavenly Father has given all to His
only begotten Son. In fact, our relationship with the Father is only through
our relationship with His Son until that time we are all together in heaven.
John 3:16-19 For God
[the Father]
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, [Yeshua]
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light
is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Luke 11:11-13 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a
stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
John 14:6,7 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have
known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
The name יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua) appears multiple times in Ezra and Nehemiah and
once in each of the books of Chronicles. In the English, you can usually
find it as “Jeshua.” To arrive at the correct pronunciation, however, you
have to accept the Masoretic vowel pointings.
The name begins with a י (yud), which carries with it the sound of our
English “Y.” The vowel point associated with the yud is the ֵ (tsere), which
makes the vowel sound “eh” in sephardic/modern Hebrew (“ey” in
Ashkenaz). So the first sound is יֵ “yeh.”
The second letter is the שׁ (shin), which makes the
“sh” sound. The שׁ is
followed by a ו (vav) with the וּ (shuruk) pointing, which makes an
“oo” sound. (The ו alone makes a “v” sound, but when it appears as וּ the ו
functions as a vowel.) Together, יֵשׁוּ makes the sound
“yeh-shoo.”
The final letter is the ע (ayin). By itself, the ע is a silent letter,
however, it appears as עַ with the ַ (patakh) vowel pointing, which adds the
“ah” sound to the letter.
Together, the three syllables of יֵשׁוּעַ are pronounced
“yeh-shoo-ah.” We
transliterate this in English as “Yeshua.” In Hebrew Yeshua means
both “Salvation,” and the concatenated form of Yahoshua, the “LORD who is
Salvation.”
The name is equivalent to Joshua
and there’s an interesting parallel
Chuck Missler
gets into regarding the Joshua that conquered Jericho and Canaan. Also read
MY KING
by Chuck Missler.
The Names of Jesus
What Has He Done?
Yeshua: Creator of the Universe
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing
made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the
light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the
darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear
witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He
was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world. He was in the world, and the world was
made by him, and the world knew him not. He came
unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This passage clarifies that the Word (logos) was with God
and was God. Logos in Greek means something said, including the
thought - also reasoning or motive. We know that in the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth speaking them into
existence. It is clear from the passage above that Yeshua created
the world into which He came to save the lost. This passage equates
the Word of God with the Creator of the world and with Yeshua, the
only begotten Son of God.
God’s intentions and motives existed prior to and outside of His
creation, with a particular plan and design for that creation. The
physical Bible didn’t yet exist, but God’s design that the Bible
relays always did. That ultimate design was the creation of man in
His image, the redemption of man who applied their free will to
follow after His Spirit, and the expression of His character in the
selfless sacrifice of His only begotten Son for the redemption of
man. This Son, Yeshua existed prior to being born of a virgin by the
Holy Spirit.
John
17:1-8 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son,
that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power
over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as
thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do. And now,
O Father, glorify thou me with
thine own self with
the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out
of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they
have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto
them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received
them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they
have believed that thou didst send me.
Matthew 1:20-23 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. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for
he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,
God with us.
Yeshua came almost 2,000 years ago the first time,
exactly as prophesied, to take the sins of the world on himself as
the perfect and sinless sacrifice. He showed the greatest love by giving
His life for His friends. He
has given His life willingly so that you and I can be forgiven of our sins
and spend eternity in His presence, the only place where love and life exist. Luke 24:34-47
Fingerprints of
prophetic fulfillment
Fingerprints identify each particular person by the unique
pattern on the tips of the finger. Old Testament prophecies work as
fingerprints because they were written long before their
fulfillment. In the case of Christ, these prophecies were written of
Him and hundreds were fulfilled by Him in His first coming. There
are hundreds more yet to be fulfilled by Him in the end times. The
fulfillment of these prophecies by Yeshua identify Him as the
promised Messiah written of by the prophets of the Old Testament. If
fulfillment in the past points to future fulfillment coming to pass,
we can expect the same precision.
At the same time, those prophecies already fulfilled identify
Yeshua as the Messiah. Given the importance of this, I wish to cover
some of those fulfilled prophecies here. That one man could fulfill
hundreds of diverse prophecies is a testimony to Him being who He
says He is. Many of these prophecies, such as the location of His
birth, were outside of His control as just a man and when put
together define Him as prophesied, matching the fingerprint defined
by the prophets hundreds and thousands of years before. But He is
not just a man as I pray this website will assist in discovering if
you have not already. Most importantly, read the Bible and discover
the details from His Word for yourself. Acts 17:11
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Before He left, Yeshua promised that He would come again to gather
those that love Him to Himself. Israel is the apple (lens)
of God’s eye and also the key to understanding God’s prophetic plans
that He told us He would let us know about. Our understanding was only
sealed up to the end, and while we don’t know the day or hour of His
coming, God promised we would not be in darkness about it.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
John 16:1-11 These things
[John
15] have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you
out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will
think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you,
because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told
you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither
goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled
your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I
go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they
believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me
no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
This is the
importance of understanding Bible prophecy, because we’re waiting for His
return! He’s given us detailed information in the Bible about these coming
times, and I believe we’re the generation to see it come to pass! If you are
interested in learning more about how God has written these things into His
Word, visit my Watchman Bible
Study Guide. Start with the definitions and work into the other Bible
studies. I solid foundation in the Word is necessary and a willingness to drop
all pre-conceived notions for a Bible-based and interpreted look at Bible
prophecy.
1) Coming With Sudden Destruction To Gather His Bride
Matthew 24:36-39 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels
of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days
that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.
The flood was the destruction of God’s wrath that came suddenly and
unexpectedly. When Christ first comes, it is with sudden destruction
beginning the
day of the Lord and bringing the
wrath of God on the children of disobedience that dwell on the face
of the earth.
Ephesians 5:1-8
Just like at the time of Noah and of Lot,
Luke 17:26-33, the majority of the
world will be completely caught off-guard by the sudden destruction that
comes with Christ.
But we are not children of darkness, but of light and God promised
that He would tell His friends, those that obey Him, what He is doing.
John 15:13-16
For these,
His bride, He is coming again to gather us and we will escape the
wrath because we are not children of disobedience.
Luke 17:34-37 And just as God told
Abraham in
Genesis 18:17-33 that He will not send
His wrath on the righteous, neither will the day of the Lord come before
He gathers His bride from the earth. Since it is coming on all them that
dwell on the whole earth, the righteous (made so only by accepting
the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross for the remission of sins) must
be removed prior to it’s arrival.
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this
life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a
snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole
earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of man.
Revelation 7:9-17 points out this very
group in heaven standing before the throne and before the Lamb before
the wrath of God begins in
Revelation 8 with the trumpets. That
this wrath is for the children of disobedience and the seat of the
antichrist,
Revelation 16, then it follows that
this cannot be when Christ returns in glory at Armageddon because that
is what ends the 3½-year reign of the antichrist for whom God’s wrath is
for.
2) Coming In Glory To Take The Kingdoms Of Earth Followed By His
Wife
Revelation 19:7-14 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed
in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the
righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed
are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And
he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at
his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white
horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame
of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name
written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And
the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Here we can see that the bride of Christ, now the wife, is returning
with Christ following the marriage of the Lamb. I also believe that the
angels will be returning with them as well. The wife is given to wear a
particular attire signifying the righteousness of the saints that is
seen on the army returning with Christ.
So the bride of Christ, who is not appointed to God’s wrath “coming
on all them that dwell on the whole earth,”
escapes earth at the harpazo to attend the marriage of the Lamb in
heaven while God’s wrath is poured out on those who refused to
humble themselves and accept Yeshua’s sacrifice to save them too from
their sins. Christ is only going to marry those who love Him and show it
by their obedience.
John 14,15
Once the marriage and wrath are over Christ, followed by His wife and
10s of thousands of His angels, will return in glory and Yeshua Himself
will defeat the armies at Har Megiddo gathered at the
6th bowl.
After that point the dead in Christ from after the resurrection/harpazo
of the bride of Christ will be resurrected, this is the
first resurrection.
Click image for Bible study
on the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls
Are Father and Son separate?
1 Corinthians 8:5,6 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.
John 3:16-19
For God [the Father]
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
[Yeshua] that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 8:49-58 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but
I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek
not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews
unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets;
and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art
thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead:
whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is
nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not,
I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 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.
John 10:27-38 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto
them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. Then the
Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works
have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The
Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy;
and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is
it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto
whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him,
whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest;
because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe
me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may
know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Acts 17:22-31 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I
perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and
beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN
GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made
the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,
dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands,
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all
things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the
bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might
feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in
him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring
of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that
man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that
he hath raised him from the dead.
Should we worship Yeshua?
Matthew 18:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus
had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.
In the Greek, the word worship is proskuneō, meaning
prostrate oneself in homage (doreverence
to, adore). It is clear that Yeshua didn’t stop those worshipping
Him. Indeed it is His sacrifice that has saved us from eternal separation
from God and Himself. Personally I believe that deserves our reverence and
adoration prostrate before Him. Who He is is one in the same with Who our
heavenly Father is. Everything that we have is because Yeshua made it and
has been given all power over it. I don’t worship Yeshua over the Father,
but rather as part of worshipping my heavenly Father, who sent His only Son
to save me and whose Son chose to make that sacrifice for my sake and yours.
Do you have doubts as to Yeshua being who He said He was? If
you’re truly interested in the answers, I would recommend reading
Lee Strobel’s book, The Case For Christ. He has also produced
a DVD,
which you can
purchase here, addressing the contents of the book, which is his research as
an atheist who came to accept Christ. There are also some more videos of Lee Strobel
discussing the facts in the book
here.
The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is the Spirit of God, His character that
indwells all those who believe and accept Yeshua’s sacrifice and turn from
their sins toward God.
Matthew 1:20-23 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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all
this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a
son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us.
Luke 3:21-23 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus
also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost
descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from
heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph,...
John 14:25-31 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
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. Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go
away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I
said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have
told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might
believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world
cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the
Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go
hence.
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with
fire:
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. And there appeared
unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth[speaks
evil against]against the Holy Ghost it
shall not be forgiven.
The Holy Spirit does the following in scripture:
relays to us God’s Word 1 Thessalonians 1:5
baptizes us Matthew 3:11
|
Mark 1:8
|
Luke 3:16 |
John 1:33 |
Acts 1:5 |
Acts 10:38 |
Acts 11:16
seals us Ephesians 1:13
| Ephesians 4:30 |
Romans 15:16
comforts us John 14:26
|
Acts 9:31
renews us Titus 3:5
shows God’s love in our hearts Romans 5:5
brings us joy Romans 14:17 |
1 Thessalonians 1:6
brings us hope Romans 15:13
speak for/through us Mark 13:11
|
Luke 12:12 |
Acts 1:16 |
Acts 21:11 |
Acts 28:25 |
2 Peter 1:21 |
Jude 1:20
in other languages Acts 2:4
speaks to us 2 Corinthians 13:14
reveals to us Luke 2:26
|
Acts 7:55 |
1 Corinthians 2:13 |
1 Corinthians 12:3 |
Hebrews 3:7
sends us Acts 13:4
guides us Acts 16:6 |
Acts 20:28 |
1 Peter 1:12
gives us gifts Hebrews 2:4
approves us as ministers of God 2 Corinthians 6:6
witness with us Acts 5:32 |
Romans 9:1 |
Hebrews 10:15
Hebrews 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by
his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the
worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance
obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said
he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I
will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he
bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the
angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels
spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the
sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;
therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast
laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as
doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be
changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which
of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine
enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to
minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The New Testament has all through it the idea of anointing
with oil.
Mark 6:13 - Apostles anointing sick with oil and they’re healed
Luke 7:38 - Woman anoints Yeshua’s feet with oil when disciples
failed to anoint His head.
Luke 7:46 Christ told her, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace.”
John 12:3 - Mary anoints the feet of Yeshua with oil.
Then there’s also the anointing of the Holy Ghost, or Holy
Spirit.
Luke 4:18 - Yeshua anointed by Holy Ghost
Acts 10:38 - Yeshua anointed by Holy Ghost
Hebrews 1:9 - Yeshua anointed by Holy Ghost
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 - After Pentecost, the apostles anointed by
Holy Ghost
I believe this is apparent in the kingdom parable of the 10
virgins.
Matthew
25:1-10 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten
virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that
were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
[Didn’t have the Holy Spirit] But the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the
bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at
midnight there was a cry made, [1
Thessalonians 4:16-18]
Behold, the
bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those
virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto
the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But
the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:
but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in
with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the
day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Breaking down purchasing or bartering, we
give what is of value to someone else and in turn they give us what we value.
I believe we “buy” the oil through offering what God wants, a relationship
with Him. In return, we gain the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit. Like
I pointed out before, if we love Yeshua, then we must obey Him. If we don’t
obey, then we don’t really love Him. To remain in His love, we must remain in
His ways which He explained to us in the Bible.
We cannot give the Holy Spirit (oil) to anyone else. It is gained through a
personal relationship with Christ. If someone asks me for the Holy Spirit, I
must direct them to Christ who will give the Holy Spirit to them. If they’re
unwilling to go to the source and trade their obedience for His Holy Spirit,
then they will not get the oil for their lamps. In that same way, they will
not have flame and their lamps will not produce light. It’s interesting given that
the Word is a lamp unto our feet.
Psalm 119:97-105 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou
through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they
are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for
thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil
way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments:
for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get
understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Deuteronomy 6:1-5 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments,
which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the
land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,
to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou,
and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days
may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it
may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of
thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and
honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might.
The question arises after seeing how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are
identified distinctly in scripture, how can God be One? Yeshua is God in
Spirit and Truth, yes. What does that mean? Scripture is clear that the Son
and Father are two distinct entities. However it is also clear, as Yeshua
said, that if you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father.
Isaiah 9:6,7 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 calledWonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of
David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and
with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them
me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
1 John 5:1-13 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and
every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is
the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth
that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and
blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is
truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,
the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of
his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he
believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the
record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
It should be noted that the underlined section above does
not appear in the NIV. Understand the differences of the modern
translations and what else is missing from them at:
trusting the
source, the Bible. Since this is the origin of what we believe,
we must first trust the Word of God. After my research into the Bible
versions I have come to the personal conclusion that the KJV is the most
reliable for the reasons laid out in the link above.
We know who someone is by the way that they act, what
someone believes and what someone does defines that person. God is no
different, God is defined by His actions and His Word. He defines
Himself for us from the history of His interaction with mankind as laid
out in the Bible. These are His actions and the Spirit of God is
described in great detail for us.
It’s also important to understand the difference between the spiritual and the
material, this is the meat and milk of the Word.
Thought is the voice
of the spirit realm. When we receive in God’s Word by
reading the Bible, we gain insight into our real existence as spiritual beings
dwelling in temples of flesh. In this way, we can see how the Spirit of God is
always the same and is One. Manifest in the flesh by Yeshua, it is the full thoughts of
God, the wholeness of Him, and direct connection with the Father. What the
Father is, Yeshua is. We have the Holy Spirit that dwells within us when
we allow Him to. This is our Comforter, who teaches us and instructs us
in all things God has said, our conscience of sorts.
So the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in the same in thought,
action and deed. Yeshua said in seeing Him we saw the Father because He
only did His Father’s work. He was in all ways the same as His heavenly
Father except that He is a distinct entity apart from His Father. A good
analogy is a CD-ROM. You can have two physically different discs, but if
you put the exact same information on both, how are they different
except that there are two? Regardless of which one you place in the
computer, you will get the exact same result, they are one in the same
yet distinct.
The Spirit of God is love and He is the connection to God we have
when we listen and obey.
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let
no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this
world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in
their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are
your’s; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or
death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s; And ye are
Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
God’s Law was given as a physical demonstration of a spiritual
principle, Love. If you read the 10 Commandments for instance, they give
actions we should not do,
shadows of Love. All of these physical acts point to spiritual principles.
Until we read these ideas in a Book, all we have is personal experience in a
physical world where the spiritual cannot be perceived with our physical
senses.
As Yeshua said, all the Law of the prophets rest on just two, love God,
and love your neighbors as yourselves, Matthew 22:36-40, The Golden Rule.
Matthew 7:12 We were created for communion with each other. The
enemy introduces experiences and ideas, thoughts, into our life that degrades
that communication and creates division. The enemy is at enmity with God as is
the flesh with the spirit. I would recommend reading
Deadly Emotions: Understand the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection That Can Heal or
Destroy You, by Don Colbert, M.D. It brings to light the modern look
at our spiritual connection to our physical temples. It shows that the
less we imitate how the Bible says to live, the more diseases we manifest
through our outward bodies.
I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in
1998. While my attitude facing death was not one of fear, my actual
relationship with Christ was not very focused on Him, but more myself. I
wasn’t reading His Word and went with what I knew from Sunday School. As
strong as that was, I wasn’t in a relationship with Him. When I began to
understand His Word, (because I asked for help with that... I needed it), I could better
begin to see the reality of the spiritual and adjust my life to more match
what I read in His Word. It’s a never-ending process it seems as we always
fall short, myself included.
Romans 7 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that
the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman
which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he
liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her
husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another
man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she
is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be
married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead
to the law by the body of Christ; that
ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the
dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the
flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our
members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered
from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the
letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust,
except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion
by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For
without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but
when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment,
which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking
occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin,
that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good;
that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we
know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For
that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I
hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the
law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that
which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the
evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is
no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law,
that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in
the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that
I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve
the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Yeshua never sinned, although tempted as we are. Sin is transgression of the Law through
disobedience. He was the only one without blemish that could take on our sins
and He died on the cross to take the sins of those who would
believe in Him. If you don’t know anything about Him,
read the New Testament. Start at the beginning and head to the end. That is
the best way to learn who He is. In this way, you make His Words your thoughts.
When you accept them, you invite Him into your spirit when you ask and obey.
If you don’t have the desire to read the Bible, ask God for the desire, I did
that too.
Request a greater hunger for His Word. It truly is an adventure, which I hope
you will see from this website. You haven’t even imagined what is coming and
the presence of God for eternity!
1 Corinthians 2:9-13 But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For
what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
Think all this is nonsense? There’s a
passage about you in scripture too! 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 Do you trust your own knowledge and understanding in the face of
Absolute Truth? There is only one truth in all matters. The rest are lies or
stories made up. History only happened one way, we may not always know the truth
of what happened though. With hundreds of fulfilled prophecies written in the
Bible and proven to have been written before their fulfillment, the Bible is
also the most accurate Book with not one single error. (Supposed
Bible Contradictions answered:
1 |
2
| 3
| 4) I trust that the Bible is God’s Word given to us to guide us to follow
His ways because in the end, all those without Christ covering their sins will
be held accountable for those sins according to God’s Law, which is eternal.
Therefore, we should take eternity into consideration when trying to make
accurate choices about where we choose to spend it. With God, who is love, or
away from God’s love completely. An absence of His love is exactly opposite of
everything love is. It is hell.
The choice is yours where you want to go, obey the Creator’s laws or be
separated from His dwelling-place, heaven and His love. God loves you and wants
you to choose Him.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The following fictitious conversation sums up the point I hold
regarding the existence of evil, where it came from and God’s role.
A university professor challenged his students with this question:
Did God
create everything that exists?
A student bravely replied “Yes, he did!”
“God created everything?” the professor asked.
“Yes sir,” the student replied.
The professor answered, “If God created everything, then God
created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that
our works define who we are, then God is evil.”
The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he
had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said, “Can I ask you a
question professor?”
“Of course,” replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, “Professor does cold exist?”
The professor replied “Of course it exists. Have you never been
cold?”
The students snickered at the young man’s question. The young man replied,
“In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what
we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat.
Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and
heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.
Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat. Cold does not
exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.
The student continued. “Professor, does darkness exist?”
The professor responded, “Of course it does.”
The student replied, “Once again you are wrong sir. Darkness does not exist
either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not
darkness. In fact we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many
colors and study the various wavelengths of each color.
You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into
a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a
certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn’t
this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what
happens when there is no light present.”
Finally the young man asked the professor. “Sir, does evil exist?”
Now uncertain, the professor responded, “Of course as I have already
said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man’s
inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence we
see everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else
but evil.”
To this the student replied, “Evil does not exist sir, or at
least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of
God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created
to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the
result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in
his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or
the darkness that comes when there is no light.”
Be not overcome
of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
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