"There Is One God And One Mediator Between God And Men, The Man Christ Jesus" 
1 Timothy (2:5)

1. Frequently asked Questions About God

 


 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About God

 

 

1. Who Should We Worship And Why?

 

Who Should We Worship

 

First, obtain the best source you have available to rely on, then follow its directions.

1.) GOD – If God told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!

2.) JESUS – If Jesus told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!

3.) ANGEL (of GOD) – If one of GOD’S angels told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!

4.) BIBLE – If the “Word of GOD” (The Holy Bible) told you who to worship – BELIEVE IT!!!

Regardless, they will all be in agreement.

 

 

A Description Of The Word “Worship” Is Necessary:

 

Strong’s Concordance says:

H7812 – worship

A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): – bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
Total KJV occurrences: 171


G4352 – worship

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):

 

Note: The word “homage” can mean: respect, reverence, tribute, give honor. Paul’s writings make it very clear Jesus was given honor, not as God but for being the SON OF GOD, the person who came into existence (here on earth) by the power of God (2 Peter 1:17)

 

 

 

The Jewish People Were Taught to Worship ONLY God

Matt. 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him [<1>Note: Jesus uses the pronoun “him” which refers to God, the pronoun “me” would refer to Jesus] only shalt thou serve.”
Luke 4:8 “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Dt 6:13, 10:20; Jos 24:14; 1Sa 7:3; Ps 83:18)
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Acts 18:13 “Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God
Acts 24:14 “so worship I the God of my fathers…”
I Cor. 14:25 … and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Phil. 3:3 “For we … worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus [<2>We “rejoice in Christ Jesus” but no mention is made of worshiping him. We “worship God.”], and have no confidence in the flesh again:

Rev. 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him … and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
Rev. 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God. [<3>We “have the testimony of Jesus” but we are not told to worship him. We “worship” God.]

Rev. 22:9; “Then saith he unto me …worship God.”

 

 

 

Who In The Bible Worshipped Jesus As God?

Respectfully, NOBODY in the Bible “worshipped” Jesus “as GOD”.

Not once in scripture are Christians instructed or commanded to worship Jesus. Jesus himself taught us to worship only God the Father “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” [Jesus speaking] (Luke 4:8). “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father … for the Father seeketh such to worship him’ [Jesus speaking] (John 4:23). Most of Christianity offers their prayers to Jesus in spite of his clear instructions not to do so. When ye pray say, our Father which art in heaven … Jesus speaking, (Luke 11:2). … your heavenly Father … ask him (v. 13). “Your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. At that day ye shall ask in my name.” (John 16:23, 26). Much of Christianity believes and teaches that Jesus is the creator of the universe, thus robbing God our Father of the glory of who He is and what He has done (Ps. 33:6, 9; Isa. 43:7-15; 14:8, 24; 45:12- 13; 21-22). (Mark 13:19). He said: ”But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female (Mark 10:6). .. .from the beginning of the creation which God created”

There will inevitably be someone who will mention the only passage where Thomas addressed Jesus as “god” (Ref. Misinterpreted Scriptures/John 20:28 – My Lord and my God), and even here the disciples did not believe or “worship” Jesus as being God (John 20:30-31) “30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

Note: I don’t dispute Jesus was “worshipped” (in homage) by many, but Jesus was never worshipped as being GOD. Those who do worship Jesus “today” as God do so because of various man-made conjectures taught by earlier “Religious Leaders”; which is certainly not what Jesus, God, or anyone else in the Bible ever commanded us to believe or teach. – (See: What Are The Biblical Requirements for Salvation?).

 

The difference is:

  • One was worshipped as GOD (the LORD (H3068) = YHWH = Jehovah) the other (Jesus) a man; who was worshipped (or honored) by many titles, the “Christ”, our Master, our teacher, our Lord, our savior, the Son of Man and the Son Of God.
  • The word “worship” doesn’t automatically make that which is said to be worshipped “GOD” (God The Father) because there are many that are called gods; (1Corinthians 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.

The Bible tells us this:

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters:for one is your Master, even Christ” [Jesus speaking](Matt. 23:9-10).

Who is our Father? God! Who is our Master? Christ!

 

 

To Worship (Serve/Honor) God Through Christ?

1 Peter 1: 20 (KJV)

… Christ…20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him (because of Jesus) do believe in God, that raised him (Jesus) up from the dead, and gave him (Jesus) glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

 

Romans 1:9

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

 

John 12:26

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

Remember: When we are serving Christ we are serving (honoring) God – Through Christ!

 

 

 

John 5:23 (KJV)

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

 

1 John 2:22-25 (KJV)

22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

 

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John 4:23-26 (KJV)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

 

 

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-6 (KJV)

1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord (H3068) thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me (referring to the LORD H3068 = YHWH = Jehovah). 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above (i.e., Jesus, angels, etc), or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them (as God): for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ………

 

 

2 Peter 1:17 (KJV)

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

Exodus 34:14 (KJV)

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

 

Matthew 4:10 (KJV)

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 

NOTE: Jesus is not referring to himself but is specifically identifying another personage (“him” the Lord – Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20) who should be worshipped as God.

 

John 5:17-23 (KJV)

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

 

Revelation 3:5-12 (KJV)

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The angel of the church in Philadelphia

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 

Revelation 14:7 (KJV)

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

 

Revelation 22:9 (KJV)

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

 

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John 4:21

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

 

John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

 

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

Revelation 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 

 

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References[+]

2. Why would the body of Jesus not be God’s body? – Romans 9:5

 

The Body of Jesus

God said Jesus was his Son (2 Peter 1:17), unless you call God a liar (Titus 1:2) Jesus’ body would be his own; the Son of God, not the incarnated body of God. Consider the fact that during that period of time, they could actually see Jesus, it couldn’t be God’s body literally because of these passages (John 1:18, 5:37). Either way we have just proven that Jesus was not “totally God”.

The Bible contains 30+ verses in which it calls Jesus the Son of God. In addition, when “God dwelleth in us” (1 John 4:12) we can still see our flesh. God dwelling in flesh doesn’t make a man God, it is our flesh and blood (that has within it the human living soul and spirit of man) that defines man as a “true” human being.

So in (Romans 9:5) was Paul calling Jesus God? (“Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”) NO! Paul was writing about the way God had especially blessed the Jews. The prior verses speak of their great blessings (Romans 8:31-34). They are indeed blessed and a eulogy to God would be appropriate: “God, who is over all, be blessed forever! Amen.” Paul never called Jesus God or thought of Christ as God. The Apostle Paul speaks of God as not only the Father but also the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Here is what Paul says:

(2 Corinthians 11:31) “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.”

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

(Ephesians 3:14-15) “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named”

 

 

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3. If Jesus is God, then where is Jesus “human soul/spirit”?

 


 

 

If Jesus is God

 

First, the Bible does not make this assumption or statement; it states that Jesus is the “Son of God” and “Son of Man” and that his Father is God, of course, to be a son there must be a Father (Father and Son – The Relationship Between Jesus And God).

Second, we never want to lose focus of several fundamental facts:

1.) There is only one God; there is not an assembly of multiple gods that form a godhead unit (Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39, 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 44:6, 45:5-6, 18, 22; Ephesians 4:6)

2.) Christ was a “real” man (See: What Is A Genuine Human?) and yet he is called God’s only “begotten” (born of a woman) Son (The Humanity Of Christ).

 

Now to answer this specific question:

 

 

 

Jesus is in Heaven at the “Right Hand” of God

Most scriptures reflect Jesus as standing or sitting down at the right hand of God. It is irrelevant whether you claim the “right hand” of God is stated as being figurative or literal, either way, it denotes Jesus in a position to someone other than himself. (Acts 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22).

 

(Hebrews 4:14) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

(Hebrews 9:24) “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”

(Romans 8:34) “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

(Hebrews 7:25) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

 

(Revelation 20:6) “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him[Christ] a thousand years.”

 

(Revelation 5:4-7) “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he [Jesus] came and took the book out of the right hand of him [God] that sat upon the throne.”

 

(1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (NLT)) “After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.”

 

 

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4. What are the Attributes of God?

 


The Attributes of God:


 

 

1. Nothing Is Impossible For God

“For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 (See also: Jer 32:17,27; Luke 18:27)

 

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Ref. Mark 14:32-36)

 

Regardless of which religious affiliation or denomination you belong to, there is one undisputed factual truth everyone can agree on which comes from the mouth of Jesus; “with God” all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

This statement makes this God personage the “Almighty” or “omnipotent” (Revelation 19:6). By definition, there can only be one who is “Almighty” or “omnipotent”.

In this passage of Matthew, Jesus is referring to someone other than himself. He is referring to a singular “personage” known as God (singular) of whom “all things” are possible.

In Mark 14:36, Jesus identifies who this God is (the Father). This is pivotal in that this passage distinguishes at least one “undisputed” attribute Jesus claims “God” possesses. According to the Bible, although Jesus was “given” power from God, Jesus was never greater than his Father, who was God (John 5:19, 30, 8:28, 9:33, 13:16; 14:10, 28; 1 Cor 15:24-28).

These passages are probably the single most important distinction that exists between God & man (or any other type of spiritual being)

 

Jesus’ abilities (on earth and in heaven) fit into one of two classifications; either Jesus was:

1. Limited = Not Almighty = not God; or

2. Unlimited = Almighty = God

 

 

2. God Is Almighty

These passages support the position and title of God as being the “Almighty God” (mentioned 3 times) and “God Almighty” (mentioned 11 times)

 

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect.

Genesis 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name, JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

 

NOTE: As the term implies there can only be one who is Almighty, otherwise God is not the Almighty but one of several “mighty” god beings.

 

Revelation 21:22 verifies who holds what title; there is only one Almighty (who is God) and there is only one “Lamb” (symbolically), of God, (who is Jesus).

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the temple of it.”

 

In (John 14:28) Jesus is definitely NOT referring to himself as “the Father” but that he was going to see “the Father” (God). Likewise, Jesus was never claiming to be greater than himself, that would be somewhat ridiculous to suggest such. (See also: John 5:19, 30; 8:28; 10:29, 14:10, 28)

Jesus also acknowledges that he was limited in how much he knew (Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32)

NOTE: These passages above (in sections 1 & 2) are powerful in that they specifically identify what God’s limits are – NONE!!!

 

 

 

 

3. God Is The Father of All Spirits

Equally as important, is the following set of scriptures that identify and distinguishes God from man (or any other being) is that only God is the Father of all spirits; Hebrews 12:9 (See also: Numbers 16:22, 27:16; Job 12:10; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 42:5, 57:16; Zechariah 12:1).

 

Hebrews 12:9 (KJV) “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”

 

This passage is in reference to God (who is called the Father). The problem for Trinitarians is the fact that the other two said personages (Jesus and the Holy Ghost) do not appear to have these capabilities if they are both “equally” God; which are titles never ascribed to Jesus.

 

 


The “Attributes” of a Spirit:


 

A Spirit is regarded as supernatural and is separate from matter. Matter is whatever occupies space and is perceptible to the senses – (man is an example of matter)

Jesus himself confirms this definition to be true: “God is a Spirit” and “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (John 4:24, Luke 24:39)

Supernatural is not explainable by the known forces or laws of nature; specific, of or involving God, ghosts, spirits, etc.

The definition of the word spirit does not provide information as to what it looks like. If a spirit is a supernatural being (something not explainable by the known forces of the laws of nature) then it is possible that a spirit can live inside a human being and not have the physical form of a human being. (John 1:18; John 5:37; 1 John 4:12)

Therefore if a spirit is something that is “not explainable by known forces of the laws of nature” that means a spirit can be in anything and anywhere because it is not bound by the laws of nature.

 

 

4. There Is Only One “God in heaven” & One “God of heaven”

Thus Trinitarians have the dilemma of trying to explain how 3 gods = 1 God when there is only one “personage” who is declared to be “God in heaven” and “God of heaven” which are titles never found in the Bible as being ascribed to Jesus.

 

God in heaven (stated 5 times)

Deuteronomy 4:39 “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath there is none else.”

Matthew 22: 29-30 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (*Jesus is speaking to the Sadducees, the angels did not belong to him they belong to God, who was “in Heaven” )

 

God of heaven (stated 23 times)

Genesis 24:3 “And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:”

Psalms 136:26 “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

 

 

 

 

5. God Is “The Father” (of Jesus and All Men) and He Resides “in Heaven”

 

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

(See also: Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 10:21, 11:2)

 

 

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5. What is man’s relationship with God?

 

A Relationship with God means:

(We are Sons/Children of God)

 

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (Romans 8:14) and children of God because of our faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26). This relationship with God as our Father (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:2; Philemon 1:3) makes us ONE as he was with Christ (John 17:21-22; John 20:17)

 

(Acts 17:29) 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.

 

(1 John 3:1-2) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

6. How was man created in the image of God?

 

Man in the Image of God

 

(Genesis 1:27) “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” 

HOW then was man created in the image of God? This verse can actually be interpreted in several ways.

  1. Man either looks like God in appearance; or
  2. It was the image God had of a man that was actually created.

 

Not only is it possible, but it is more likely than not that God first envisioned the image of what he wanted man to look like.  Because God is a spirit (John 4:24), we know the only way a man can be the image of anything invisible, is figuratively speaking, by reflecting its character, not its physical make-up.

Thus God did make man in his image; it was God’s view (the visualized image) of what he would create. It was God’s THOUGHT (“Logos”) that came into existence. Before God created man, God first created the environment that would be needed to sustain the life of man (Genesis 1:27-30, 2:8-9).

It is logical, through the vision and purpose God had for Jesus (that which God foreknew), that God created the very environment (to sustain man) and the timing and means by which God would introduce Christ into the World.

 

In Genesis 1:26 the words of God said “Let Us” and “in our image”; We note, before we are tempted into making false claims about the existence of multiple god personages, it is impossible to say who the “us” or “our” is in reference to. It is therefore vitally important to consider all related verses in order to ensure that our interpretation continues to remain in line and in harmony with the entire word of GOD.

 

Ex.

John 1:18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

John 5:37 “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” 

 

Most importantly there is no supporting evidence that God was talking to someone by the name of “Jesus Christ” (the “Son of God” / “Son of Man“).

  1. We also know that Jesus never said he was God, nor said he created anything.
  2. We know Jesus said; God was his Father in many passages
  3. We also know that Jesus said his father was greater than he; therefore Jesus is not the Almighty. There is only one Almighty God, who is the father of the spirits of all men (We are not given the specifics as to when spirits were created (angels, Satan, demons, the spirit of man, etc.). We are told that we have a spirit inside the body of man. You can’t actually feel your spirit or see it, yet we believe it to be so. How it was done we don’t know but God is surely capable of doing it.)
  4. We know Jesus is not mentioned in the Old Testament as physically existing (Jesus is said to be the seed of David, and David came years after Adam)

 

See also: (Incarnation vs Omnipresence)

 

 

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7. What Does The Sovereignty Of God Mean?

 

 The Sovereignty Of God

 

We’ve already established that God is omnipotent (Mat 19:26; Luke 1:37; Rev 19:6), so we already know He has absolute power and supreme authority, this is why God is described as being sovereign (English Dictionary: supreme power; autonomy, self-rule, independence; self-governing). His sovereignty describes how He executes His power.

 

The sovereign execution of God’s power is filtered through His infinite knowledge, His perfect love, and His divine Holiness.

We cannot truly grasp God’s sovereignty until we first grasp the fact that God has other attributes equally significant. God is also LovingHoly, and Omniscient. Here’s why this is important to remember:

If God were all-powerful, and that was all, then He could easily become like an evil genie, doing any and everything He wanted just because He could. But because God is also love, He will not do anything that is not motivated by love. His power, therefore, first gets filtered by His love for us.

Because He is also Holy, everything He does, thinks, and speaks, must be right, good, and perfect. So His power also gets filtered through His Holiness.

Finally, He is omniscient. So He is able to take His power and filter it through His knowledge to determine the best way to execute it.

 

 

God Is In Control

You may not understand why God did not do something even though you know He could have (like heal your cancer, or prevent a disaster). Let me try to explain why by exploring a passage in Matthew. Christ when speaking on prayer asks us to pray;  “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10).

If God’s will is “done in earth, as it is in heaven“, was God not “in control” when Satan rebelled and when Adam and Eve disobeyed him?

God is in control, and “in all things [He] works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). This doesn’t mean that all things are good. It just means that God can take all things and work them into something good.

This is why God’s sovereignty is the perfect explanation for, “Why bad things happen to good people?” It is because God’s power is behind the scenes, taking all of the bad things, filtering them through His knowledge, His holiness, and His love, in order to make something beautiful come of it.

Paul clearly says that God ‘worketh all things after the counsel of his own will’ (Eph 1:11).” Yes. But the Bible itself contains many examples of men defying God’s will and disobeying Him. In fact, Ephesians 1:11 doesn’t say that everything that happens is according to God’s will, but according to “the counsel ” of His will. Clearly, the counsel of God’s will has given man the freedom to disobey Him.

 

NOTE:  It is not God’s will (desire) any should perish (John 3:16; 2Peter 3:9) – but it is his desire (will) for man to have a choice (Jos 24:15) – Man is not “forced” to love or serve God. 

 

It is one thing for God, in His sovereignty and without diminishing that sovereignty, to give man the power to rebel against Him. This would open the door for sin as solely man’s responsibility by a free choice. It is something entirely different for God to control everything to such an extent that He must effectively cause the man to sin.
It is a fallacy to imagine that for God to be in control of His universe He must therefore foreordain and initiate everything. Thus He causes sin, then punishes the sinner.

 

 

 

There Are Things A Sovern God Cannot Do

God is infinite in power, so that means there is nothing He can’t do! Oh Really? The very fact that He is infinite in power means He cannot fail!

There are however some things God cannot do, not in spite of who He is, but because of who He is. God cannot lie, cheat, steal, sin, etc.

Because of His absolute holiness, it is impossible for God to do evil, to cause others to do evil, or even to entice anyone into evil: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted, neither tempteth he any man…” (James 1:13-14)

But what about the many places in Scripture where it says God tempted someone or was tempted? For example, “God did tempt Abraham” (Gen 22:1). The Hebrew word there and throughout the Old Testament is nacah, which means to test or prove, as in assaying the purity of a metal. It has nothing to do with tempting to sin. God was testing Abraham’s faith and obedience.

If God cannot be tempted, why is Israel warned, “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God” (Deut 6:16)? We are even told that at Massah, in demanding water, “they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the LORD among us or not?” (Ex 17:7). Later they “tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust… they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Yea…they provoked the most high” (Ps 78:18, 56, 41).

God was not being tempted to do evil, He was being provoked, thus His patience was being tested. Instead of waiting upon Him obediently to meet their needs, His people were demanding that He use His power to give them what they wanted to satisfy their lusts. Their “temptation” of God was a blasphemous challenge forcing Him either to give in to their desire or to punish them for rebellion.

When Jesus was “tempted of the devil” to cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple to prove the promise that angels would bear Him up in their hands, He quoted, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Mat 4:1-11). In other words, Jesus understood that to put ourselves (himself) deliberately in a place where God must act to protect us (him) is tempting God.

James goes on to say, “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” The temptation to evil comes from within.

The man who could not possibly be “tempted” to be dishonest in business may succumb to the temptation to commit adultery and thus be dishonest with his wife. Eve was tempted by her own lust and selfish desire. Even in innocence man could be selfish and disobedient. We see this in young infants who as yet presumably don’t know the difference between right and wrong.

 

Additionally, there are a number of other things which God cannot do. God cannot deny Himself or contradict Himself. He cannot change. In other words, God cannot go back on His Word (Ref: Does God Ever Break His Promise?).

 

 

Obligation Has No Relationship To Grace

God’s omnipotence and sovereignty are irrelevant with regard to forgiveness. 

Christ in the Garden the night before the cross cried out, “O my Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me…” (Mat 26:39). Surely if it had been possible to provide salvation any other way (2Tim 1:9; Rev 13:8), the Father would have allowed Christ to escape the excruciating physical sufferings of the cross and the agony of enduring the penalty His perfect justice (Ro 3:25-28, 16:25) had pronounced upon sin.

Suppose a judge has before him a son, a daughter, or another loved one found guilty of multiple murders by the jury. In spite of his love, the judge must uphold the penalty demanded by the law. Love cannot nullify justice. The only way God could forgive sinners and remain just would be for Christ to pay the penalty for sin (Rom 3:21-28)

 

 

Because Of God’s  Sovereignty, God Does Not Force Anyone To Love Him Or Accept His Gift

There are two other matters of vital importance in relation to man’s salvation that God does not do: He does not force anyone to love Him, and He does not force anyone to accept His gift. By the very nature of love and giving, man must have the power to choose. The reception of God’s love and of the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ can only be by an act of man’s free will.

Giving man the power to make a genuine, independent choice does not diminish God’s control over His universe.

 

NOTE: To bestow upon man the Gift of His love precludes any ability to force that Gift upon any of His creatures. Both love and gifts of any kind must be received. Force perverts the transaction. God does not force anyone to love Him or to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

 

It would be self-contradictory, that Almighty God should create a free agent capable of loving Him, without also being capable of rejecting His love…without free will we could not freely love God. Freedom is a condition of love.”
It is the power of genuine choice from man’s own heart and will which God has sovereignly given him that enables God to love man and for man to receive that love and to love God in return “because he first loved us” (1Jn 4:19). It is impossible that the power of choice could challenge God’s sovereignty since it is God’s sovereignty which has bestowed this gift upon man and set the conditions for both loving and giving.

 

 

Predestination and Foreknowledge

God’s foreknowledge doesn’t make things happen. To know something in advance is not the same as predetermining that it will happen. Nor does God need to predestine something in order to know it will happen.

God Almighty has shared with us some of His foreknowledge. It is called Bible prophecy. Amos 3:7 states: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

Prophecy fulfilled provides us with a great foundation for our faith. In John 14:29 Jesus said, “And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” Revelation 19:10: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

 

There is a vast difference between saying that God fully foresees everything that will happen and allows much that is not His perfect will — in contrast to saying that God predetermines everything that occurs and it is therefore all just as He would have it. The latter view makes a man a mere puppet and God the cause behind all wickedness and sin.

Think of it like this: You are sitting on a hilltop looking down on a two-lane road that curves around the hill. Two cars are going in the same direction, one trying to pass the other. Due to the curve in the road, the passing car doesn’t see that a car is approaching from the opposite direction. From your vantage point, you foreknow there is going to be an accident. You didn’t cause it. You didn’t have anything to do with it. Yet you did foreknow it was going to happen. This illustrates foreknowledge as opposed to predestination. It is in this light that God is able to see the end from the beginning, but he does not control or dictate what your actions are. “God puts before us life and death. It is His will that we choose life, but it is our choice.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 emphasizes that human beings have the power of choice. Moses  said, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live.” God puts before us life, and death. It is His will that we choose life, but it is our choice.

 

 

Are Some Predestinated To Be Saved & Some Predestinated To Be Lost?

There are some who believe God predestinates some people to be saved, and others to be lost. That is not the case.

While denying that a person is predestinated to be saved or lost, we must acknowledge that the Bible does teach predestination but only as according to God’s foreknowledge. Notice Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” The key to understanding predestination according to foreknowledge is as follows:

To begin with, predestination is never for the lost man, to be saved or to be lost; but rather, predestination is for the saved man. God’s plan of Salvation has never changed, it is a personal matter based upon the “whosoever wills.”

As stated before, Predestination is for the saved man and thus He has predestinated certain blessings for those who are going to get saved by faith. In other words, God draws a circle, figuratively speaking, and says that whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will get in that circle. So the believer, upon his faith in Jesus Christ, steps into the circle. Then God says, figuratively speaking, “Whosoever is in that circle by faith, I have predestinated that they shall receive these blessings,” and here they are:

 

1.  “TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.”

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29a). This is one of the blessings God has predestinated for the believer – that the believer is going to be fashioned, made, transformed, transfigured into the likeness of the image of Jesus Christ. The things you might be suffering at this moment are happening to you (Rom 8:28) to make you more like Jesus. And at the rapture, whether we be dead or alive at His coming, we are all going to be changed and be wholly like unto Christ.

 

2.  “UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST.”

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph 1:5). Again we want to state that predestination is the predetermined blessings for the saved man and has nothing to do with salvation. Now, in the above text, we are told that the Christian is predestined unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. It doesn’t say that the sinner was predestinated to become a child of God; no, but rather the saint has been predestinated unto the adoption of children.

To get a better idea of this great truth, it is well to explain the meaning of adoption. In America and England, when we adopt a child, we go by legal means and take a child of another family and get the court to make it our own. But not so with Jewish families, nor with the ancient Roman and Greek families. These adopted their own children. Adoption simply means “to declare as a son,” or “son placed.” The fourth chapter of Galatians clearly defines the meaning of adoption. It is the time appointed by the father when his boy ceases to be considered a child and becomes a recognized son. According to even present-day Jewish custom, it is called BAR MITZVAH – declared to be a Son of the Law, Son of Blessing. The boy becomes of age after his thirteenth birthday, on the day selected by the father. So it is with us: we are children of God, but we are waiting for our BAR MITZVAH, our adoption, the time when our Heavenly Father will declare us of age and place us as Sons before the whole universe: “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY” (Rom 8:23). This is one blessing that God has predestinated for the saved man, for all who are trusting the Lord Jesus Christ – that we all shall be declared to be of age and as His SONS – at the resurrection!

 

3.  “PREDESTINATED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM.”

Here is the third blessing for the child of God – “that which God has predestinated for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith: “Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:11-12). So many fail to read the 12th verse; herein is what God has predestinated – that we should be to the praise of His glory; Nowhere do we find predestination for salvation.

 

 

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8. Does God Ever Break His Promise?

 

Does God Ever Break His Promise?

 

I have been asked, “Does God Ever Break His Promise?”

There are two important rules when dealing with God:  Number one, God cannot lie.  Number two: If you think He did refer to rule number one.

 

 

 

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9. If No Man Has Seen God, Do The Scriptures Contradict?

 

No Man Has Seen God

The Bible tells us that No one has ever seen God (John 1:18, 5:37; 1 John 4:12). God is invisible to us (Colossians 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:17). God dwells in unapproachable light where he cannot be seen (1 Timothy 6:16). However, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that God does not necessarily hide completely from us. There are several individuals throughout the Bible to whom God has shown himself in various, tangible forms – whether showing his backside, veiling his glory in a cloud or a pillar of fire, appearing in the form of an angel or in the “likeness” of a man (i.e., Jesus) See: ( The Difference Between Manifestation And Incarnation). Mortal man has never seen God in his true form, only a comprehensible “likeness” (Numbers 12:8), and we are said to be made in his “likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

 

Now let’s consider several other passages which could potentially appear to be conflicting statements, indicating God was seen by man (Gen 5:22, 24, 6:9, 12:7, 17:1, 18:1; Exodus 6:2-3, 24:9-11; Num 12:6-8; Acts 7:2; John 5:19, 6:46).

One potential source for this idea is found in the statements made about those who walked with God. For example, “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 24) and “Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). But even these passages do not necessarily imply that Enoch and Noah physically took walks with God. The “walk” in these passages should probably be understood in a figurative sense, in other words, Enoch and Noah lived faithful lives.

 

In a similar way, we are told in the New Testament to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). This walking refers to living a life that pleases God (Eph 2:10, 5:2; Col 1:10; 1Th 2:12, 4:1). If used in this sense, Adam and Eve did “walk” with God prior to sin because there was no fracture in their relationship with God. However, most people aren’t thinking of it in the figurative sense because this passage mentions them walking in the cool of the day, so they aren’t thinking of it in the figurative sense.

 

There are some theologians who suggest that the idea of men seeing God or God “walking” refers to a theophany—an appearance of God in a tangible, human form (a man-made theory, one of several; “incarnation” – God became a man literally, or  “theophany” –  the visible appearance of God to man “literally”, both are misleading, non-biblical and should be avoided). Theologians who hold this view often point to Genesis 18, where God is said to “appear” as one of three (seemingly human) visitors to Abraham. But was it actually God himself that was ACTUALLY SEEN with the physical eyes of those to whom he APPEARED? This either proves that the Bible at times contradicts itself or there must be a better, yet sound, biblical-supported explanation in order for the Bible to remain true and yet in harmony.

 

Let’s first remind ourselves that God’s angels are actually God’s “messengers” and are often found speaking for God as if God was speaking himself. When the three angels appeared to Abraham it says: “The LORD appeared to Abraham.” (Genesis18:1). When his grandson, Jacob, wrestled with the angel he said: “I saw God face to face” (Genesis 32:30). And when “the angel of the LORD” spoke to Moses from the burning bush it reads as if it was God himself: “When the LORD saw that he (Moses) had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush” (Exodus 3:4, compare Exodus 3:2)

In Genesis 18:1, the word “APPEARED” does not strictly demand that a person was actually looking at God himself in person literally. This word “RAAH” which in this case was translated as appeared also means to PERCEIVE or to UNDERSTAND. So however this appearance came to Abraham, Abraham rightly PERCEIVED that it was indeed God.

 

NOTE:  If you read Genesis 18:1-2 carefully, the Lord appeared to Abraham, but it clearly does not specify how or in what manner God appeared (possibly Abraham was daydreaming or was it a vision (in his thought), after all, it was in the heat of the day and he was just sitting around in his tent), and THEN Abraham SAW these THREE MEN standing by his tent, again they were what he “perceived” to be men.

2. And he lift up his eyes and LOOKED, and, lo (or perceiving), three men stood by him: and WHEN he SAW them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.

This sounds like God (Yahweh) was having some type of interaction with Abraham (probably from within- in that the Almighty was revealing himself to Abraham). I say this because after this occurred Abraham THEN lifted UP his EYES and this was when Abraham began to LOOK and perceive what HE BELIEVED were three MEN standing before (by) his tent. So Abraham got up and ran to greet these three men PERCEIVING that this was what God wanted him to do.

 

Important Notice: It’s important to note that this “appearance” of the LORD did not follow Abraham out to meet these three men, nor does the Bible indicate Abraham left God (this “appearance” of the LORD) standing alone at his tent when Abraham went out to greet the three men, (That would be a total of  4 men).

In other words, Genesis 18:3-5 appears to be a kind of FLEECE that Abraham puts before the Lord; (in essence he his thinking in his mind) “If you have sent these three men to me let me show my hospitality and if they receive it, then I will know that you Lord have sent them and you have come to your servant Abraham.”

“And they said, So do, as you have said.” Here we can see Abraham getting confirmation that indeed this was a move of God.

 

Other people have also seen angels (most unaware – Heb 13:2) and claimed that they had seen God himself. But Jesus said NO MAN has ever SEEN God. 1 Timothy 6:14-16 teaches us that man CANNOT SEE God. The Bible also teaches us that God is NOT a MAN nor is God the Son of MAN (which totally debunks the false incarnation teachings that God was both “fully” man and “fully” God at the same time). So whatever was seen they were certainly not looking at God in person (nor looking at any “real” humans, for lack of better wording).

So in Genesis 18:1, it is better understood that God was working through this image which appeared as a man (but most likely an angel) and the angel was speaking “in the name of” God (or with the AUTHORITY of God), so this image was called “God”. This is not unusual, the same was true when Jesus was here on Earth (Mt 28:18; John 5:43, 12:49-50, 14:10) (See Also: Understanding The Phrase “In the Name of..”  and In The Name Of).

 

There are other examples.

In the book of Judges 13:20-25, a husband and his wife see an ANGEL of the Lord, but yet they still SAY or claim that they have actually SEEN GOD. However, they did NOT actually SEE Almighty God HIMSELF, but rather they saw an ANGEL OF the Lord God Almighty.

 

20. “For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

21. But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

22. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die because we have SEEN God. 

 

Now if we were to take this verse out of context and the person reading this one verse alone and apart from the rest of God’s word, then certainly one might be convinced that people have actually SEEN God. But when this verse is left in the context of where it is found, it becomes very clear that Manoah nor his wife actually SAW God at all, but rather what they saw was an ANGEL of God.

In Genesis 48:1-4 Jacob tells his son Joseph that the Lord God Almighty APPEARED to him when he was in Luz. And then we read of this appearance in Genesis 28:10-22. It is here we find that the appearance of God to Jacob was actually in a DREAM.

 

10. “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

11. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

12. And he DREAMED, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

13. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you lay, to you will I give it, and to your seed;

14. And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be BLESSED.

15. And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places whither you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.

16. And Jacob AWOKE out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

17. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

18. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

19. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

20. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

21. So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

22. And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that you shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto you.”

 

In other words, the phrase “appeared…” Does not automatically mean that an invisible God literally appeared in a physical form. God can appear to us in a dream, in a vision, by sending an angel, by an audible voice, or by his Holy Spirit abiding within us.

The Hebrew word that is translated as “appeared” is “RAAH” which has a variety of meanings. The root meaning of this Hebrew word is to SEE, either literally or figuratively. This SEEING can be direct, by implication, or by causation. The seeing can be by perceiving, observing, discerning, getting acquainted with, and understanding. Seeing can also be by feeling. Seeing can be by ascertaining; For example, people saw that God was WITH a prophet by the works that were done by his hand, but what they actually SAW was the WORKS of the Lord working through the hands of the prophet of God.

Therefore when the Lord APPEARED to Abraham and THEN AFTER Abraham lifted UP his eyes and LOOKED, then Abraham SAW THREE MEN does not mean without fail that one of these three MEN (or ANGELS) was Almighty God HIMSELF APPEARING as a human being.

 

 

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10. What Does Psalm 82:6 Mean By You Are Gods?

 

Psalm 82:6 “You Are Gods”

Psalm 82:1 reads as follows; “God (H430) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (H430).” The Hebrew word Elohim is most often translated as “god,” but as you can see it can also be translated as “gods“, as is shown here in Psalm 82:1. The Hebrew word Elohim usually refers to the one true God (Deut 4:39, 6:4; Jer 10:10), but it does have other uses.

The word “gods”, as used here in Psalm 82:6, actually refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule, not supernatural beings (gods) in the literal sense.

The use of the word “gods” referring to humans is rare, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). This simply means that Moses, as the messenger of God, was speaking God’s words and would therefore be God’s representative to the king, not that he would be turned into a god literally. The Hebrew word Elohim is translated as “judges” in Exodus (Exodus 22:8,9).

The whole point of Psalm 82 is that our earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice because even judges must stand someday before the Judge. Psalms 82:6-7 NLT warns human magistrates that they, too, must be judged: “I say, You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people. They are to remember that, even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they used that authority.

 

11. Who Is “Him Which Is, And Which Was, And Which Is To Come?”

 

Which Is, And Which Was, And Which Is To Come

 

God the Father, who is also known as Yahweh or Jehovah (LORD in the OT – Ref. The Name of God), is the One, “who is,” because in Exodus 3:14 God says to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.”  which some say is an incomplete translation of the Hebrew wording, “Ehyeh Asshur Ehyeh.”  This Hebrew term is more accurately translated as, “I exist {present tense} as what I AM, and what I have always existed as {in the past tense}, and what I will continue to exist as {in the future}.”

 

This Hebrew phrase matches the Greek equivalent description in Revelation 1:4 perfectly as, “Him who is {in the present} and who was {in the past} and who is to come {in the future}.” (God is a Spirit- John 4:24; I change not– Malachi 3:6)

 

 

In Revelation 1:4, 1:8 & 4:8 John makes perfectly clear that the phrase “which is and which was and which is to come” is attributed solely to God the Almighty, not Jesus Christ, who although is indeed mighty, is certainly not the “Almighty” (John 5:19, 30, 8:28, 14:28, 1Cor 11:3, 1Cor 15:27-28).

 

 

Note:

These passages do not say him “Which is [alive], and which was [dead], and which is to come.”  that would be referring to Jesus (Acts 17:31)

 

 

Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are “before his throne.”

 

 

 

“And From Jesus…

The First Born From The Dead”

 

Revelation 1:5

John goes on in Revelation 1:5 to add another person saying, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” In doing this, John distinguishes Jesus from God spoken of in Revelation 1:4.

Revelation 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

 

Now notice in Revelation 5:6,7:

Revelation 5:6 (ESV) And between the throne (of God) and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing (Jesus Christ), as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 5:7 And he (Jesus Christ) came and took the book out of the right hand of him (God) that sat upon the throne.

 

Therefore the one sitting on the throne is not Jesus, because in Revelation 5:6,7, we find Jesus depicted as the Lamb slain, who is found worthy to take the book from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

 

 

Supporting Scriptures

The Judge:

Acts 10:42 And he (Jesus) commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he (Jesus) which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 17:31 Because he (God) hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man (Jesus) whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he (God) hath raised him (Jesus) from the dead.

Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

 

 

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