2 Corinthians 5:19 - …God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
God is trying everything he can to save mankind. He gave up his Son as the Lamb, sacrificed for our sins. He has offered us reconciliation if only we will accept it, so that our sins would no longer be counted against us. Man would not listen to the prophets of old that He spoke through. They even killed them and in most cases turned to worship false gods. So God had to give us His only begotten Son, and use him to speak through. What a sacrifice that He made, but most the churches don’t believe Christ is the literal Son of God. Because they have made him into another god being, one of three in their triune god. Or another manifestation or person that is God that makes up three, but tells you there is one god. One god in three persons. But the Bible doesn’t say that or teach that. This is another gospel. You have to use human construction and some gymnastic twisting to come up with that besides a total lack of studying.
For those that might be wondering at this point, we are not addressing when or how Christ was begotten or that topic. But yes, Christ had a beginning sometime in eternity. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who was crucified, that God raised from the dead, is the name under Heaven given among men where there is no other way to salvation among men, but through him, the Christ. (Acts 4:10-12)
Think about these things when you read John's "Prologue." The apostles referred to the beginning of Christianity, the beginning of the Gospel, as "the beginning."
Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Luke 1:1-2 - Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, v2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
1 John 1:1 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; v5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 2:7 - Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. v14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. v24 Let 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.
Jesus said that he is “the light of the world” in John 8:12, just as God the Father is light, the Father was abiding in Jesus doing the works. (John 14:10). And Jesus declared that we too are “the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14).
Matthew 5:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. v15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. v16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Again, God working through Christ.
Acts 2:22 - Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Jesus proclaimed the Father so that we might know the Father and have life.
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. v7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 17:3-4 - And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. v4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Him that is true, is the true God of which eternal life begins. And that is in God, the Father.
The Word that Jesus expressed was God, as in God the Father. God the Father shined His light by means of His Son, Jesus Christ through flesh, who denied himself to do the will of the Father. Previously those that abided in darkness and refused the light, God was still trying to reach first by John the Baptist, THEN by His only begotten Son. John was setup to prepare a way for the Son.
John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 12:46 - I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
This light that John recorded of Jesus, is the declaration of the light that is the Father. The Word
was with God in the beginning. It is through the mouth of God, the breath of God, the Spirit of God that everything came to be through the Father's word, which includes all of Creation.
The True Light, the Father who enlightens every man, was coming into the world. John came to prepare His way. He came to his own but His own did not receive Him. The Father who is Light shined in the darkness but the darkness did not receive Him. In this way, the Father was in the world and even though the world was made through Him, the world did not know Him. Even His own chosen people denied Him and went chasing after other representations of God, false gods and idolatry. The Old Testament is full of these accounts, over and over. Jesus, a man of flesh, the Son of Man, came that we might know Him, the Father, who was declared by means of this man of flesh who denied himself and only did His Father's will. The Word became flesh because he kept his Father's Word. That fleshly Word declared the Father. The Word proclaimed, declared by that flesh was GOD, as in God our Father.
Since the beginning, God has existed. His vocalization of creation is His word. This word was of God and from God, and God was the word. This is easy to understand if you let go of any preconceptions that have been drummed into us. If you fully understand, you will also completely understand why John wrote the following:
1 John 4:2 - Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
Yet, not every man has that knowledge. For they “will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
John wasn’t a Trinitarian. And he did not teach that Jesus was God. He did not have a personality complex or confusion on whom God is. He actually taught us 18 times that Jesus was the Son of God. I am not denying the divinity of Christ here. I am only setting the record straight. The personality of Christ is that he is the Son of God and the Son of man. Not a god the son.
What was the witness of John?
There is no writer from the Bible greater in the knowledge or first-hand account of Christ than John as recorded in the Bible.
John 1:34 - And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:49 - Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:2 - The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God would have to have a Son, sometime before mankind in order to send him into the world as an attempt to save it. But not everybody that claims to be a Christian believes this. They hold onto another gospel, making him part of the trinity god, triune god, etc. If Christ was co-equal and co-eternal, then we would have twins instead of a Father and Son. Now throw in a third divine being that is not the Father’s Spirit, making it a separate entity and now you have triplets! Yes, triplets. That is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ.
John 3:18 - 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.
John 3:35-36 - The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:18 - 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.
Something to note here that is often missed, especially among Trinitarian believers. In John 5:18, Jesus is not making himself of any reputation here. He is not claiming that he is equal to God. He has identified who his Father is, and the Jews put that equation together that NOW he is making himself equal to God. It’s interesting how Christians today get all upset if you point out somehow that Jesus isn’t God. It’s not just his divine nature we are discussing because we believe that, but his personality as god the son, part of the trinity god, three in one equation of god.
We live in a Trinitarian world. All the Bible translations have this influence. Even William Tyndale was a Trinitarian, upon whom the King James would get its New Testament inspiration from. (Tyndale’s New Testament). After all, the pure roots of Christianity became controlled by Rome and encapsulated it, mixing it with paganism. Through one way or another, the Trinitarian Bible Society and modern Academia has their fingerprints and influence on the majority of publications and Bibles.
So whether you are a Trinitarian, or a Trinitarian convert to becoming a non-Trinitarian, your mode of thought and reasoning is fixed upon this history of how to look at specific Scriptures. This document is NOT meant to line up with your denominationalism or church. It is the Bible, and just the Bible without any care in the world of what others might think. Although very few might think like this, there are people out there in a very small minority that have struggled with John 1 and come to the realization it is not what we have been told.
I want to look at a very popular text that has a forced-upon-fitment of how you MUST consider it and nothing else matters. Only the way or version of what all of Christendom says about this text is how you must believe. But wait a minute. What if you were never a Trinitarian and have a completely different scope on things? Before we venture into this, we must build a base on who God is, and His act of creation, because it involves that. I would say that once you see the act of creation unfolding in the Scriptures, it just might start to remove the colored lenses in the glasses that most people are using to view things by.
Lets start out with creation and the account of it in Genesis chapter 1. In the first book of Genesis, God was speaking throughout His creation. “God said” can be found ten times, and “God called” can be found three times. Both of these words deal with the mouth, or verbalization of the action. The speech of God from his mouth is creating the action of creation.
Genesis 1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:5 - And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:6 - And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Genesis 1:8 - And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Genesis 1:9 - And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Genesis 1:10 – And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:14 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Genesis 1:20 - And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
Genesis 1:24 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:29 - And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
A very popular verse often quoted and misapplied from Genesis 1 is found in verse 2. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
What is the Spirit of God? Strong’s Concordance tells us the Hebrew word and the Greek word translated as spirit in the Bible have the same meaning. The Hebrew word רוּח† “ruach” means “breath, wind, spirit.” This is the same word translated as spirit in Genesis 1:2. If God “said” or God “called” as a method of creation, then breath would align with this very well. It has to do with the mouth of God producing or speaking what was taking place in creation. Sort of like a verbalization.
And this can be summed up and confirmed with Psalms 33:6 – “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” He speaks and things come to be, they come into existence. His word is His power and authority instilling the beginning of creation.
Now, since we live in a Trinitarian world, a fair question would be to ask, WHO is God? What is missing from Genesis 1 and 2 is a description that God is made up of three persons. Also not illustrated or taught is a god the son or god the holy spirit (lower case lettering use on purpose). The Bible strongly shows Him as a Spirit being and that this is ONE being. And while it also says that he is a jealous God, a consuming fire, he is also love. And, He is also Holy.
John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Deuteronomy 4:24 - For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
1 John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Leviticus 11:45 - For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
But is the Bible explicit about who is God.
Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
Mark 12:29 - And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.
Exodus 20:2-3 - I am the LORD thy God….Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
How many Gods is there again?
Ephesians 4:6 - One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God.
James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God.
Jeremiah 10:10 - But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king.
1 Corinthians 8:4 - …there is none other God but one.
James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
In Genesis 1, does it imply or say that God is a three in one God, or three persons, or divisible by anything other than one? Does is say God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit? No! Only church creeds come up with such things. You would have to add human construction to the Bible with gymnastic twisting, and in a few places, we are instructed against doing that.
Proverbs 30:6 – “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Some common versions say, “Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.” That is a pretty stern warning.
So far we don’t see the orthodox or traditional belief within Christianity of God being three persons or a division of God into anything dealing with three here. What is missing is a plurality of anything here. However, the theologians will bring up the word “Elohim” which is Hebrew for God. And they will tell you that this means God is a plurality. They say it has to be applied that, God is plural in number. There is a place in the Bible where Elohim is used for a plurality. And when it does this, it can be dealing with FALSE gods. But this word is even used to call Moses a god (over Pharoah). And also Pharoah as a god as well as judges and rulers in the Bible. And when you apply the word Elohim to the one God of the Bible, it is reflecting His “divine majesty and power.” Just ask someone with a Hebrew faith background.
Who is the Creator? Let’s look at a number of Scriptures that are pretty clear and concise about this.
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 14:19 - And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Genesis 14:22 - And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Exodus 20:11 - For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 31:17 - It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
2 Kings 19:15 - And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
2 Chronicles 2:12 - Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
Ezra 5:11 - And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
Psalm 115:15 - Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2 - My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 - Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 134:3 -The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Psalm 146:5-6 – Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
Isaiah 37:16 - O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Isaiah 44:24 - Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah 45:12, 18 - I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. v18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Isaiah 51:15 – But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared; the LORD of hosts is his name.
Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” The power of God’s word can be sent and returns to God, fulfilling what He planned or expressed in its purpose.
Jonah 1:9 – And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
So far we have seen clear concise evidence about who the Creator is. But there is a verse in the King James version that tries to say that Jesus is the creator in Ephesians 3:9. What do we do about that?
In the KJV it reads, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”
If we go beyond the KJV and its supporters of like publications, we see that the words “by Jesus Christ” or “through Jesus Christ” look suspicious. I cannot find an explanation that is black and white in a “thus sayeth the LORD” other than to consider where is the weight of evidence. In review of 29 translations of the Bible, 21 of them leave those words out. Why? Because it matches up with the totality of what Scripture says. Four of the eight that support it are different versions of the KJV. (New, 2000, American and the regular KJV). We have shown that and will quite possibly be showing more of that. This writer uses the KJV almost exclusively, but I at least have some common sense to know that some verses have been played with by zealous translators or scribes.
I can hear some say now thinking the Bible is totally without errors, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:16. My question is, what came second, the Scripture or the translator? Therein lies the problem.
Here are just some examples of Ephesians 3:9 in other translations. There are plenty more.
New International Version - and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
New Living Translation - I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
English Standard Version - and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
Berean Study Bible - and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Berean Literal Bible - and to enlighten all what is the administration of the mystery having been hidden from the ages in God, the One having created all things,
New American Standard Bible - and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
Christian Standard Bible - and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
Contemporary English Version - God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind.
Good News Translation - and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages,
Holman Christian Standard Bible - and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
International Standard Version - and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.
NET Bible - and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan--a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.
New Heart English Bible - and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;
Aramaic Bible in Plain English - And that I may enlighten every person by the administration of the mystery which was hidden from the world in God The Creator of all,
GOD'S WORD® Translation - He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past.
New American Standard 1977 - and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;
American Standard Version - and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;
Douay-Rheims Bible - And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:
Darby Bible Translation - and to enlighten all [with the knowledge of] what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things,
English Revised Version - and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which from all ages hath been hid in God who created all things;
Weymouth New Testament - and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things—
So far when we look at all the references of who the LORD is in the Hebrew, Strong’s concordance shows us (#3068) יְהוָֹה the proper name of the God of Israel, which is commonly spelled today as YHWH or YAHWEH. The transliteration from Strong’s shows, Yhvh. But there is no letter “v” in the Hebrew. If you think that the LORD or YAHWEH has anything to do with three, take a visit to a local Jewish temple and ask the Rabbi about the modern Christian version of God, or about a trinity god. There is no telling what his response might be, but what is on his mind is for you to never mention a strange god again in his presence, and especially in their place of worship. You see, they believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the god of Rome.
Now we will continue with more Scriptures, but these are from the New Testament.
Matthew 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.
Luke 10:21 - In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Here we even have the confirmation from Jesus’ own lips in the previous two verses.
Acts 4:24 - And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts 14:15 - And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Acts 17:24 - 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;
Ephesians 3:14-15 – For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
Revelation 4:11 – Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 14:7 - 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.
Are you starting to see and understand that there is ONE when it comes to the point of creation? One who is ultimately over all of creation. In that last verse from Revelation, are the words “him” and “his,” singular as in one individual? Because what I see missing is “them” and “their,” if God is suppose to be a plurality of persons or gods.
Now, using the BIBLE ONLY, we are going to address the main topic and reason for this discussion.
Traditional Christian thought and teaching from theologians is that, John 1:1 is the central text in their belief that Jesus is God, in connection with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together as one God. As the Logos as it is taught, Jesus Christ is this word and additional god in the text. But that is called theology.
New Testament writer John was a Jew, a non-trinitarian, and his views were shaped by a Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew noun, “davar” (Strong’s Hebrew #1696) is translated as “word.” And in all of its usages like this, it is never referring to a distinct person alongside YAHWEH. It instead states, “a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue:—answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter.
John’s witness of Jesus was very specific and he wasn’t teaching a second creator at the very beginning or that Jesus was that “word” in the first few verses of his prologue. It is early influencers and translators who would put their spin on this since John’s time, and therein lies the problem.
In John’s prologue, he is personifying the “word” in this passage. It is common in sections of Jewish poetry for God’s attributes and characteristics to be given personality without suggesting, teaching or implying it is an actual separate person.
Why do boat owners or sailors often name their vessels after females? Usually they go as far as addressing the vessel with feminine pronouns. Nobody would consider that the boat is an actual female person. It would be an equivalent error to assume or think that the personified “logos” is an actual person alongside God “in the beginning” while creating. God’s creative and personified speech was in the beginning, calling out the action of creation in Genesis 1.
“Nowhere either in the Bible or in the extra-canonical literature of the Jews is the word of God a personal agent or on the way to become such.” – James Dunn, “Logos in Pre-Christian Thought”, Christology in the Making, Second Edition, 1996.
Many people will claim that Jesus is self-existent, yet confuse people in their descriptions of:
“The paradox that the Logos is God and yet is in some sense distinguishable from God is maintained in the body of the Gospel. That God as he acts and as he is revealed does not “exhaust” God as he is, is reflected in sayings attributed to Jesus: “I and the Father are one” and also “the Father is greater than I.” The Logos is God active in creation, revelation, and redemption. Jesus Christ not only gives God’s Word to us humans; he is the Word. The Logos is God, begotten and therefore distinguishable from the Father, but, being God, of the same substance (essence). This was decreed at the First Council of Constantinople (381 AD).” – Wikipedia, Logos (Christianity)
Here is a point to ponder in regards to “the beginning” in John 1. This beginning is no different than Genesis 1’s beginning. King James Version: v1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In [the] beginning was the Word,
Ἐν (En) ἀρχῇ (archē) ἦν (ēn) ὁ (ho) Λόγος (Logos)
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and the Word was with God,
καὶ (kai) ὁ (ho) Λόγος (Logos) ἦν (ēn) πρὸς (pros) Θεόν (Theon)
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and the Word was God.
καὶ (kai) ὁ (ho) Λόγος (Logos) ἦν (ēn) Θεὸς (Theos)
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The W in “word” is capitalized, quite possible to gain notoriety for divinity sake.
Strong’s Concordance 2316 theós (of unknown origin) – properly, God, the Creator and owner of all things (John 1:3; Genesis 1 - 3).
We see that the word “God” is the THE CREATOR and owner of all things in verse 1. Now lets look at the word, “WORD.”
WORD: Λόγος (Logos) 3056 lógos (from 3004 / légō, "speaking to a conclusion") – a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying; a statement, communication, word (as embodying an idea), a speech.
[3056 (lógos) is a common term (used 330 times in the NT) with regards to a person sharing a message (discourse, "communication-speech"). 3056 (lógos) is a broad term meaning "reasoning expressed by words."]
Logos is in no way an actual person or being unless you are adding to the Bible. John 1 is in line with Genesis 1 and is a reference to the creation by YAHWEH.
We are analyzing the word, “WORD” in John 1. Christendom pounds into us from a Trinitarian standpoint that this is Christ. They say Christ is the logos. That comes from “theology.” But that is not what Strong’s says. It is what Jesuit academia teaches. The same place they get their Sunday sacredness and trinity god.
As we have seen, we have many Scriptures attesting to the fact that the word is simply what comes out of the mouth expressing one’s thoughts, plans, purposes. We can see there is only ONE in the action of creation.
From previous Scriptures, we have seen WHO is the Creator, and how Creation took place. Christ isn’t in the picture until verse 14 in John 1. Looking at the Greek in the Strong’s concordance, we see that the word, “WORD” is dealing with speech, communication, verbalization, expression of thought, a saying. And this was with God and was part of God Himself in the beginning. And it is through this, that Creation was formed. Who is the LORD of heaven and earth? It is clear and does not give us an inkling of anyone or anything else.
Jesus only claimed to be the Son of God and that YAHWEH was his God and Father. He never claimed that his identity was “God” or a god. Nor did he claim he created anything. I am not taking away from Jesus’ Son-ship, because he was begotten from the Father sometime before the worlds were. And because of this, he has His Father’s divine nature. Refer to Colossians 2:9. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” This would be God’s eternal power and divine nature (depends on translations used) according to Acts 17:29 and Romans 1:20.
So while he has “God nature,” his personality or identity according to the Bible without adding
to it is, he is the “Son of God” and because of his incarnation, the “Son of man.”
If we look at a reference found in Proverbs 8, Christ is illustrated here in the middle of wisdom. We see him as a witness for the description of creation taking place. But it does not detail that he was a part of that particular action, but a WITNESS. Please read it carefully.
“v22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. v23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. v24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. v25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: v26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. v27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: v28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: v29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: v30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.”
So with these things in mind, to start out John 1, verses 1 through 5 can only be speaking about God or Elohim the Father. With that context, now re-read the verses and see for yourself. Because the normal thought process comes to us from the Trinitarian mindset and translators. We are only using the Bible here, no outside influences.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. v2 The same was in the beginning with God. v3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. v4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. v5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The Father is the source of all things. In Him, all life is sustained. In this life is the light of men. But they did not comprehend it. They were in darkness. So a man named John, also known as the Baptist, was used by God to bear witness of the Light who is the Father. That all men through John might believe. John was sent to bear witness of this Light. Even thou the Father was the Creator, and the world was made by Him, the world did not know Him. But those that would know him became sons of God.
John the Baptist prepared the way for the God of Israel. We see that as recorded in the book of Luke.
Luke 1:16-17 - And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. v17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:76 - And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Would these verses be referring to “our God” as in “the Lord OUR God the Lord is one? Wouldn’t that be the God of Jesus Christ? Jesus himself came in the name of God, in the name of the Father.
Acts 2:22 - Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
John was preparing the way for the God of Israel, the Father of Jesus. Because the God of Israel was about to do miracles, wonders and signs through Jesus as recorded in Acts 2. Trinitarians and even non-Trinitarian converts grasp these next verses and even the ones before it as Jesus. But that is just not so.
John 1:6 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. v7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. v8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. v9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. v10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. v11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. v12 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: v13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The True Light, God the Father, was in the world and the world did not know Him. He wasn’t physically on foot on the earth, but through His Spirit looking to abide with His people. He came to His own, His own possession, the people of Israel, the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And his own, especially the religious leaders did not receive Him. To those who did receive Him, He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
There is one Creator unless you allow the Trinitarian translators to corrupt your mind. Where is the weight of evidence? Not by taking Ephesians 3:9 in the King James Bible version vs twenty-something other translations that say otherwise. They state that God created all things, as in by himself, period! And the weight of evidence in over forty separate Scriptures points us to the Father as the Creator besides.
The world did not know the God of Israel and that is why he was working through the prophets. And then when that didn’t work, God would have to send His own Son and work through him. I repeat, the world did not know the Father! Even His own within the Israel system did not receive him. And even today, the majority of so-called Christians don’t know the Father. And most that claim to follow Christ follow a different gospel.
Galatians 1:8-9 – But though we, or any angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. v9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Who are those that are the Father’s own?
Deuteronomy 7:6 - For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Psalm 135:4 - For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
These special people, this peculiar treasure is the God of Israel’s own possession.
John 17:25 - O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Jesus confirms in his prayer in John 17, that the world did not know His Righteous Father. Jesus came to make the Father known. The world did not know Him as most people deny Him. And especially today when they splinter the Father into a plurality of persons, or argue over whether Jesus is God, or the Holy Spirit is God, etc. For the sake of setting the record straight by this writer, Jesus has Divine nature because he was begotten of the Father. But his personality places him as the Son of man, and the Son of God, but not god the son. This is deadly important because Christ is not another god, not a second person of the trinity. It is because of his Son-ship that he came out from the Father sometime in eternity, that he has this Godly Divine nature, but his personality is not God, but the Son of God. Some might say it’s just semantics, but I would like to adhere to what the Bible says without adding assumptions and concepts. Because that is how we arrive at error in having man’s creedal doctrines. And when it comes to the Holy Spirit, it is already the Spirit of the Father. And no, this Spirit is not some kind of a force or impersonal force as told in lies by Trinitarians about their counterparts. Without getting too far into the nature of the Spirit, it is the personal presence, personality and power of God. So it cannot be a separate divine being from the Father. Hopefully this eliminates you wondering where this writer stands. Let us continue…
1 John 3:1 - 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.
The world did not know God, so He sent His Son.
John 12:44-45, 49 - Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. v45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. v49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 14:9-10 - Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? v10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
The Father was in the world. He was now working through Jesus. Where was the Father? In
Heaven, abiding in Jesus doing the works. And in believers as well through His Spirit.
John the Baptist prepared the way for the God of Israel, the God of Jesus, and every other Israelite. He prepared the way for the Father because He was here, in the world, abiding in Jesus. The Father was here, and that was who John was paving the way for, not paving the way for Jesus. He prepared the way for the Father who would speak His words to Israel through Jesus, and did his mighty works before Israel through Jesus. He came unto His own, to the people of Israel and they did not receive Him. The Father is light, and the light shined into the darkness, but the darkness did not accept Him. There is only one God. And this is Jesus Christ’s God. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I imagine you’ve been biting your lip up until now, waiting for me to bring up John 1:14:
“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. v15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. v16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. v17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. v18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
And so the Word spoke (God the Father), and verbalized His thought. And when the word became flesh, this action is expressed as the power of the Most High overshadowing Mary, and she conceived what would be the “word-made-flesh.” NOW we have the beginning of the Son of man, Jesus Christ. Now the Word as Jesus Christ arrives in John 1:14, not previously as the Trinitarian world would have us believe. NOW we are talking about the usage and applying the word, “word” to Jesus.
Jesus expressed and declared the Father who is Light.
John 1:18 - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1 John 1:5-7 - This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. v6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: v7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
God is the Light, not Jesus. Jesus, a man of flesh (human nature) that tells you the Father abiding in him is who did the works.
John 14:10 - Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
The God that Jesus proclaimed (which was the original word), was God the Father. The Light which shined into the darkness, was the Father as expressed through that flesh in word and deed (actions). The True Light coming into the world was the Father who Jesus declared. God the Father proclaimed Himself and His will by means of that human body prepared for as Jesus of Nazareth, His Son. The Word declared, expressed, and proclaimed was God, as in the Father.
John 12:44-48 - Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. v45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. v46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. v47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. v48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Christ, now as the express image of the Father’s glory, is the mouth piece to reconcile the world unto the Father. The Father was speaking through Christ. Jesus speaks what he hears from the Father.
John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 7:17-18 - If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. v18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
John 8:28 - Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 12:49-50 - For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. v50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
John 14:10 - Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:24 - He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 17:8 - 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.
Christ was the brightness of His Father’s glory:
Hebrews 1:3 - Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…
John 5:25-27, 30 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. v26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; v27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. v30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 6:27 - Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
John 6:29 - Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:69 - And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 7:17 - If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
John 8:40 - But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8:42 - Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:54 - 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:
John 9:35 - Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
John 10:33, 36 - 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. v36 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?
The Jews were making a false accusation against Christ claiming he is God. He associated God the Father as his Father, and that he was the Son of God. But not the personality of God himself. For those that might struggle with this statement, lets look at a parallel of Adam and Eve. Adam has human nature and his personality is called Adam. Eve has human nature but she is not Adam. God the Father (YAHWEH) is THE GOD HEAD. He is THE GOD NATURE. Christ is a divine being (God nature some would refer to this as) but he is not the Father, who is known as YAHWEH. In Hebrew, Jesus would be Yahshua (or other similar spelling choices). So just like Eve is not Adam, Jesus (Yahshua) is not the Father (YAHWEH). Eve has human nature, but her personality is not Adam. Jesus has Divine nature, but his personality is not YAHWEH. Not understanding this correctly is how we end up with false doctrines of things like a god the son which in those words are not found in Scripture, but are then building blocks for idol worship under a trinity doctrine. It’s also how we end up with trying to explain two gods. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The Divine Nature of the Father is found in His Son.
Now for more quotes from John about who Jesus was:
John 11:4 - When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:27 - She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 13:3 - Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
John 13:31 - Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
John 16:27 - For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
John 16:30 - Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
John 17:3 - And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Your eternal life is dependent upon knowing two individuals. God the Father who is the ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, the Son of God who God hath sent. Jesus makes a point here in describing the Father as the ONLY true God. Why? Because there were plenty of false gods in his time just like there is today. John 17:3 is part of a prayer from Jesus to his Father.
John 19:7 - The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
John 20:31 - 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.
1 John 3:8 - He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 4:15 - Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 5:5 - Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:10 - 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.
1 John 5:12 -He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 - 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.
1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
“Him that is true” in the above Scripture is none other than God the Father. But many trinitarians will say this is Jesus. How can it be Jesus when it follows up with “even in his Son Jesus Christ.” ?? Is the first person of the trinity the same as the second person of the trinity; Jesus Christ? I think not!
Revelation 2:18 – And unto the angel of the church in Thyatire write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.
If the extensive lists of Scripture becomes tiring, it is because of all the errors that have been taught for so long. To eradicate error, it can take a lot of extra effort. One thing is for certain here, John did not teach that Jesus is God, as in God in personality. And Jesus did not teach that he is God either. Nor did he teach a trinity god, or that he was the second person of the trinity god. However, this writer is not stealing the divine nature (often referred to as God nature) that was given Christ sometime in eternity when he was begotten of the Father. How or why does Christ have divine nature? It is because of his true Son-ship, that he came out from the Father, truly begotten.
While a few of these verses might have been shared before, lets look at the next group as a totality on the topic of….
Who did Jesus claim to be?
High priest asked and Jesus answered: Mark 14:61-62 - But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? v62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Chief Priests, elders, scribes, council asked and Jesus answered:
Luke 22:66-70 - And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, v67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: v68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. v69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. v70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
John 10:36 - 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?
Here we have Jesus answering back to the Jewish leaders making false claims against him that he made himself God (John 10:33). For this they accused him of blasphemy. People today make the same claim on him. Yet Jesus answered and said that he is “the Son of God.” It would be this very statement that the Jewish leaders would use against him then to convince Pilate to put Jesus up for crucifixion in John 19:7.
John 19:7 – The Jews answered him, We have a law and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
Jesus said and referred to himself as: Matthew 16:20 – Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Mark 2:10 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mark 14:41 - And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Luke 9:22 - Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Luke 9:26 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:43-44 - And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, v44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Luke 9:55-56 - But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. v56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:28 - Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 10:36 - 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?
Jesus said: Matthew 4:5 – Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, v6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. v7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. v8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; v9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. v10 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.
Matthew 22:37-38 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. v38 This is the first and great commandment.
John 3:10, 13-18 - Jesus answered and said unto him…. v13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. v14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: v15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. v16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. v17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. v18 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.
John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus came in the name of the Father, the only God.
John 5:43-44 - I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. v44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Jesus said in John 13:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
John 12:44 - Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
Notice what John 1:12 is about. “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.”
God the Father sent Jesus to represent Him, to act on His behalf, and indeed to be a representation of the Father. Jesus did not speak from himself but the Father abiding in Jesus did the works (John 14:10) and God did mighty works through the man Jesus (Acts 2:22). Because Jesus represented the Father, and did not seek his own will but only the Father’s will, he was not representing himself but the Father. And to believe in Jesus was to believe in the Father who sent him. He spoke the Father’s words. Likewise, to honor Jesus was to honor the Father who sent him as His representative.
Christ came to do the will of the Father.
He was representing his Father. He spoke what he heard from the Father.
Matthew 12:50 –For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
John 4:34 – Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 5:30 - I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 6:38-40 - For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. v39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. v40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 7:16-18 – Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
v17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. v18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
John 8:28 - Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 12:47-50 - And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. v48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. v49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. v50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
John 14:10, 24 - Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. v24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 17:8, 21-24 - 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. v21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. v22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: v23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. v24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Jesus represented the Father by being a representation of the Father. The Father made Himself known through the man Jesus by speaking His words and doing His works through Jesus and revealing who He, the Father is to the world, through His name.
John 17:11 - And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Again, Christ did not come in his own name, but the name of the Father, doing the Father’s will. We go back to John 1:11-12. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. v12 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:”
John 13:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
John 17:8 - 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.
These are the disciples that Jesus had sent, who received Jesus, and as a result, received the Father. Jesus declared the Father’s name unto them in John 17:26 - And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17:6 - 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.
Jesus says to the Father, “They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.”
John 6:44-45 - 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. v45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
To believe in Jesus was not to believe in Jesus, but in the name of the Father who sent him, who spoke his words through him, and did His works through Jesus. The name is far more than some letters of the true name YHWH, it is the character. Jesus made the Father’s name known. Do we have the name or character of the Father? God expressed His love for the world by sending His only begotten Son into the world to save mankind. Jesus came in the name of the Father who sent him and he did not seek his own will but only the Father’s. Because he represented the Father, to receive him was to receive the Father. The words that Jesus spoke was not from himself, but from the Father abiding in him. By doing the Father’s will, Jesus was able to manifest the Father’s love for the world. God the Father sent His Son to proclaim his word, and the word he proclaimed was the expression of God Himself. The word was God. The Word Jesus made known to the world was God the Father Himself. His Name. The Fathers Name. His character.
The essence of God’s character was given to Jesus, as in the name of the Father. By the words spoken and the works done by the Father through Jesus and made known who He is, known to those that would receive Him. And this is why Jesus stated, I have made your name known to them. Yes, Jesus made the name of the Father known to the world. God is love, and he made God’s love known to the world. The essence of who the Father is.