Colossians 1 study

Colossians 1:1-29 (KJV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Verses 1 and 2, Paul gives his customary greeting to the Congregation. Note how Paul always gives the greeting of peace from Two divine beings, the Father and Son. Paul calls the Father "God" (the Supreme Divinity, God) Jesus Christ "the Lord" (Master, Supreme in authority, God). Paul also shows the interconnectedness of the Father and Son and states that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

The word Apostle in greek is rendered "apostolos" (Greek Strongs 652) and means "messenger, a delegate, one sent forth with orders, apostle".

Paul states that he is a delegate and messenger of Jesus Christ by the will of God who is the Father. This denotes the Source/Channel relationship that the Father and Son have. According to Romans 8:28-30, it is the Father that predestinates and ordains us to be conformed to the image of His Son. The Father pre appointed Paul to be an apostle of His Son Jesus Christ. When we are disciples of Jesus, it is due the Father's will for our lives. The Father draws men and women to His Son. When we become born again, it is due to the Father's calling and choosing us.

Verse 3, Paul makes a declarative statement that God is indeed the Father of Jesus Christ. This can only be taken in a real and literal sense (begotten). Not one verse in the bible supports a metaphorical Sonship for Christ. Over and over again the truth of Christ literal Sonship is affirmed. Also, when the word God is used in the highest sense it is used in refrence to the Father.

Verse 4, Paul commends the Congregation at Colossae as he has heard the reports of their faith in Christ and their love towards all the saints. This is should be the desire of all Congregations, that is to be known for their love of the saints and not just the saints in their Congregation but all saints. It's not about how many prophecy conferences we have or how many entertaining "church" programs we have, but it's about our faith in the Son of God and the love we have towards the brethren. Many professed Christians today are more about busying themselves in the programs and agenda's of the "church" then they are about deeply loving their brothers and sisters in the faith.

Verse 5, Paul states that hope for Christians is in heaven. He also says that they (saints at Colossae) have heard this before in the word of truth in the gospel. This is a very important truth, we should not gloss over it. Many today in Christendom believe that the hope for Christians is in an earthly millennium kingdom rather than paradise which is above. The bible is clear in the new testament that the hope for Christians after Christ returns is heavenly not earthly. Our eventual hope is in Eden restored (New earth), however that is not be until we reign with Christ for a thousand years in heaven. Paul states this concept of a heavenly hope is part of the gospel. Those teaching a earthly millennium are in contrary to the word of truth.

Verse 6, Paul tells the Congregation at Colossae that this gospel has borne has gone into all the world and had brought forth fruit in all the world including in them. The grace of God is always found in truth. Many pulpit preachers teach a false grace which is not according to the word of God. The Congregation at Colossae received the grace of God through the gospel which went forth unto all the world. It was the word of truth that allowed the Colossians to know the grace of God. Grace is interconnected with truth and truth is found in God's word. Anytime you hear a concept of grace that is not aligned with God's word, you then have a false concept of grace. Most churches teach a version of grace that is more akin to the world than the word.

Verse 7-8, Paul makes mention of a fellow minister who testified of the Colossians love. Only by having the indwelling Jehovah (Spirit) can we exhibit that perfect love for our brethren.

Verse 9, Paul and his fellow workers prayed constantly for the Colossians. We are not just to pray for our brethren when they are struggling to stay to faithful but also when they are walking faithfully. Remember, the enemy of souls will resort to all sorts of craftiness to get faithful followers of Christ fallen. When are brethren are being solid in their walk they need our prayers just as much as when they are faltering. Paul's prayer for these faithful brethren is to be filled with the knowledge of the Father's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

The Father's will is what all Christians should desire. Why is this? Because as Christians we follow Christ and He sought His Father's will not His own.

John 5:30 (KJV)

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.

In order to be disciples of Christ we have to be like Him and seek the Father's will not our own. Isn't that what the "Our Father" prayer is about?

Galatians 4:6 (KJV)

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

When we have the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to us from the Father, it causes us to cry out to the Father saying "Abba" (Daddy) in a childlike manner as He truly is our Father.

Having the Spirit of Christ causes us to seek the Father's will for our lives.

Verse 10 of Colossians, Paul's prayer for the Colossians to be filled with the wisdom of God is so that they walk worthy of Christ unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God the Father. Many today in Christendom, including pastors, are minimizing the importance of studying the word, gaining knowledge and understanding doctrine yet Paul contradicts these false notions. Paul prayed constantly for the Colossians to increase in the wisdom and knowledge of God who is the Father. One of the primary ways to do this is by studying and meditating on the word of God.

The pulpit preachers that minimize the importance of this are either knowingly or unknowingly doing the work of the enemy. Many professed Christians have time for everything under the sun yet rarely open the bible or if they do, it's for a short space of time. Christians that fail to devote themselves to the study of God's word will be held accountable. There really is no excuse. Many pew sitting Christians are following their Pastor's lead and railing against those who dive in to God's word. These lukewarm professed Christians label those dedicated to the study of God's word as "legalists" and fundamentalists".

Verse 11, Paul's prayer and desire for the Colossians is to be filled with all might according to the glorious power of the Father. Having the Spirit of the Father means having patience, joy and longsuffering.

Verse 12 and 13, we are to give thanks to the Father as it is Him that made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. This light is the Son of God.   It is the Father that bestowed grace on us to accept His Son as our Saviour. It is the Father who delivered us from the power of the devil, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. The work of salvation begins with the Source who is the Father and the Son is the channel by which we obtain salvation. The Father delivers us to His Son. This is proven over and over again in scripture. Jesus isn't an independent God but rather God's very own obedient Son who receives all things from His Father.

The Father translated us into His Son's kingdom which is the born again experience.

The word translated in the greek is rendered "methistemi" (Greek Strongs 3179) and means "of change of situation and place, to remove from the office of a steward, to depart from life, to die, transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another, remove, put out, turn away, translate".

The Father removed us from the kingdom of this world (darkness) and brought us to another place which is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ His Son.  This harmonizes with Romans 8:28-30 as it is God (the Father) who foreordained and predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. Again the work begins with the Father and brings us to His Son.

Also, notice the term of endearment used for in relation to Jesus being the Father's Son:

"hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."

This term of endearmeant denotes a literal and true Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and His Son Jesus. Most professed Christians deny this literal Father-Son relationship and they say that the terms "Father" and "Son" are just metaphors. This teaching of a metaphorical Father-Son relationship is the spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:18-26)

Veree 14, in Jesus blood we have redemption.

Redemption in the greek is rendered "apolutrosis" (Strongs 629) and means "a releasing effected by payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom".

Jesus blood ransomed us and liberated us. His body and was the payment to receive eternal life and rescue us from darkness. This was the Father's will that Jesus submitted to at the garden of Gethsemane.

Luke 22:42 (KJV)

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Because of Jesus obedience to His Father we now have the forgiveness of sins.

Verse 15, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The Father is invisible to mankind as due to our fallen nature we cannot see the Father and live. Jesus said no man has seen the Father. However, the Father does have a form and shape as is proven by scripture. Jesus is the image of the Father. The word image in the greek is rendered "eikon" (Strongs 1504) and means "a likeness i.e. statue, profile, a likeness, representation, resemblance, image."

Jesus is the representation of the Father and the exact (express) representation of Him. That's why He said when we have seen Him we have seen the Father. That's why we can rightfully call Jesus God and Jehovah. Jesus inherited His Father's divine attributes (Godship) and Jesus also inherited His Father's name (Jehovah).

Jesus is the firstborn of every creature. This is literal as scripture proves that Jesus was begotten (born, brought forth) from the Father in the ages of eternity before anything else came into existence (John 3:16, Revelation 3:14, John 1:1, Proverbs 8:22-31).

The word "firstborn" is rendered in the greek "prototokos" (Strongs 4416) and means "firstbegotten, first-born."

Any other understanding that strays from the literal meaning of this passage is grasping at straws to prove man made doctrines (trinity).

Verse 16, For by Christ all things were created. The word "by" in the greek (Strongs 1722) is rendered "en" and means "through, in, among". This is important to understand as many today are denying that the Father is the creator. This scripture proves that everything was created "Through" Christ meaning that there a Source of creation that preceded it going "through" Christ. Christ was the channel (by, through) of creation and someone else was the Source. From scripture we know that to be the Father (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

The heavens and earth with all power, principalities and dominions were created by and for the Son of God. The Father put all things under the Son's authority  (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) until the end of the millennium.

Verse 17, this verse confirms Christ preexistence and His rulership over all creation and also that He truly is the firstbegotten (first born) of the Father. Jesus is the literal firstborn of every creature. By (through) Jesus all things consist. Jesus was the channel by which the Father created heaven and earth and everything else.

Verse 18, Jesus is the head of the Christian Congregation. Any man who tries to claim this position is antichrist. Only Jesus can rightfully make claim to this position. The Christian Congregation is made up of anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Christ is the firstborn from the dead in that He is the first of a series of saints which have and will rise from the dead to glorification. The first were the ones who came out of their graves and rose from the dead after Christ resurrection. The next ones will be those who have done good to eternal life in the special resurrection just before the second advent. The last ones the great multitude at the second advent of Christ.

Jesus has the preeminence (to be first in rank). Jesus has rulership over all things as He is first in rank. His death and resurrection gave Jesus back this position if authority.

John 17:5 (KJV)

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

The verse above proves Christ preexistence and also that He had an exalted position with the Father and ruled with the Father sharing in His very glory.

Verse 19 of Colossians 1, for it pleased the Father that in Christ, all the fullness which is a refrence to Divinity, should dwell.

Fullness in the greek is rendered "plemora" and means "repletion or completion, what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), what is filled, which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fufilling, full, fullness".

Christ has full divinity and divinity is complete in Him. If we have seen Christ we have seen the Father as Christ has the fullness of the Father in Him. This fullness is in divinity. Christ lacks no divine attribute. Christ lacks no divine power yet He still submits to the Father as the Father has headship over Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3).

Verse 20 -22, through the blood of Christ's cross, He reconciled all things unto himself whether they be things in heaven or in earth. At one time we were all enemies of God, however when we confessed that Jesus is truly the Son of God we then were reconciled to the Father. This work of reconciliation took place at the cross. In Christ body of flesh and shedding of blood through death, He is able to present us as holy and unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of the Father. Through the blood of Christ shed at the cross we are reconciled both to the Father and Son. Read these below passages that back up the last two sentences.

Jude 24-25 (KJV)

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Christ presents us as faultless before the Father's presence according to Jude 24-25. We know that the only wise God is the Father as Jesus himself said that the Father is the one true God (John 17;3, 1 Timothy 6:16). Does this mean that Jesus isn't wise? Of course not!! Scripture says that Jesus is the wisdom of God (Proverbs 8:22-31, 1 Corinthians 18:23-24). The Father is the source of all wisdom and Jehoshua is the manifestation and channel of the Father's wisdom.

1 John 1:3 (KJV)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Father calls and chooses us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-32). God reconciles us to himself through His Son. When we are reconciled to God the Father, we are also reconciled to His Son Jesus Christ. We cannot separate the Father and Son. God showed His love to us by risking eternal loss in sending us His only begotten Son to die for us. Jesus showed His love for us by emptying Himself in coming down to earth and by denying Himself and going to the cross so that we can be reconciled to the Father and Himself. The result of being reconciled to God and Christ is having fellowship with them both and the end result is eternal life (John 17:3).

In order to have eternal life you must have fellowship with both the Father and Son.

Verse 23 follows the sentiment expressed in verses 20-22 and Paul makes a condition of being presented unblameable by Christ to the Father as he says "if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". We are not allowed to fall away from the faith of the gospel and still think that we will be presented faultless before the Father's presence. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6-8 (KJV)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Those who don't diligently seek Jehovah God show their lack of faith. Many have fallen away from the faith and they don't even know it. Those who truly have faith diligently seek the Father as they truly that he rewards those who seek Him. The hope of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God and that His earthly ministry was true, that He died on the cross shedding His blood for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead,  presented the first fruits unto God in heaven and then ascended up to the right hand of the Majesty on high after 40 days spending time with His brethren here on earth. This is the gospel that was preached unto all the world in the time of the apostolic congregation.

Paul declares his ministerial office as He was made a minister by the Son of God directly (Acts 9).

Verse 24, Paul gives us an example of what it is to be a true minister of the gospel as he suffers for the Congregation's sake. Notice that Paul wasn't a taker but a giver. Paul risked often for the gospel's sake and for the sake of the Christian Congregation. Also, Paul rejoiced in his sufferings for Christ. Paul will be a witness against those Pastor's and theologians who are fleecing the sheep and taking from them and getting rich off the gospel.

Verse 25, Paul was made a minister according to the administration (dispensation) of Jehovah. It was the Father through His Son Jesus Christ that called Paul to a minister. Many Pastor's and theologians today have not been called by God and many are hirelings (doing it for a paycheck) and many are outright wolves (doing it to fleece souls of eternal life). Many Pastor's today are simply doing it because they grew up in the church and/or following in the family occupation.

Verse 26-27, the mystery which hath been hid from ages up until the time of the Son of God, is that Christ was and is in the true believer in God. In the old covenant times, it was the Spirit of Christ that was in the patriarchs and prophets. This was hid from the saints of old as the Son of God hadn't been fully revealed yet. There were glimpes of the truth that God had a divine Son but hadn't been fully manifest. It wasn't until the time of Christ's earthly ministry that it was fully revealed that God had a divine begotten Son.

 1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV)

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The Spirit of Christ was in Noah when he preached the message of repentance unto the disobedient people before the flood came.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God and Christ. The Spirit of Christ was in the men of old who prophesied, the text above says they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost are one and the same. Ephesians 4:4-6 says there is only One Spirit.

1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV)

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets who testified beforehand the sufferings of the Son of God and the glory that should follow. This mystery of God (Christ in them) was not fully revealed to the prophets but was manifested to the apostles who then preached unto all the world with the Holy Ghost which was sent down from heaven. Part of this mystery of God was that He has a Son. Again, there were glimpes of God having a divine Son in the old covenant times but it wasn't fully revealed until his earthly life. The Father affirmed the Sonship of Christ at His baptism. The Jews knew that there was a Messiah to come and many even believed this to be a Divine Son however this wasn't fully manifested until the time of Jesus earthly life.

Back to Colossians 1:27, Christ in us is the hope of glory. Christ can only be in us if we abide in Him and obey His commandments. Christ will then dwell in the believer and it is this that will keep us from falling (Jude 24-25). Only by Christ living in us, will see the glory of heaven and dwell forever with the Father and Son. When Christ lives in us we have a hope that without Him we can never have. It's Christ living in us that allows us to overcome until the end so that we receive the crown of life. Christ in us allows us to overcome temptation and to endure hardship. Christ in us gives us a hope beyond this life and it gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Verse 28, we are to preach and teach Christ to every man in the wisdom of God which is found in His word. Only by preaching Christ in the wisdom of God can we present everyman perfect in the Son of God. Most Pastor's today are not preaching the real Jesus Christ as they are not preaching Christ according to the word of God. They are intermingling the philosophies of this world in their preaching of Christ resulting in them preaching a false Christ. These false pulpit preachers make their proselytes twice the sons of hell by giving them a counterfeit Jesus.

Matthew 23:15 (KJV)

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Verse 29, Paul labours for the gospel according to the working of Christ. Paul followed the example of the Son of God. Paul also told the Congregation's to follow his example as he followed Christ. Paul then said that Christ worked mightily in Him and remember in verse 27 he said that Christ in us is the hope of glory. We can only labour for the gospel according to the working of Christ if we have the Spirit of Christ not the spirit of another.

Psalm 19

Psalm 19:1-14 (ASV)

The works and the Word of God.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech,
And night unto night showeth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
And his circuit unto the ends of it;
And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul:
The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever:
The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Clear thou me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me:
Then shall I be upright,
And I shall be clear from great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in thy sight,
O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.

Verse 1-5, The atheist has all the evidence he needs, the heavens declare the glory of Jah. The stars, the sun and the moon show the craftmanship of the Father and Son. The work of the Father's hands go throughout all the earth. He placed everything in the firmament of space perfectly. He set these things in the firmament to be a tabernacle for the sun.

When the Sun of Righteousness, Jehovah Jesus Christ, comes out His Chamber (the Most holy place) it's as the light that shines from the sun. The Sun of Righteousness will bring healing in His wings for those that fear the name of Jehovah. The firmament is the tabernacle of the sun and as the brightness of the sun leaves the tabernacle of the firmament to shine it's light on the earth, the Son of God will leave His tabernacle in heaven to shine the glory of the Father upon the earth. This will be when the day of atonement (judgment hour) is over.

Verse 6, the eyes of Jehovah go throughout all the earth, the Father and Son are everywhere present by their representative the Holy Spirit. Nothing is hid from Jehovah's presence.

Verse 7, the law of Jehovah is perfect and restores the soul. Man's wisdom denigrates Jehovah's Royal Law and minimizes it's importance, however the word of the psalmist exalts the law of God and says it's "PERFECT". The testimony (commandments) of Jehovah is "SURE", they are unmovable, fixed, solid as a rock. Man can attempt to change them but Jah's word Stands "STILL".

The wisdom of man is foolishness and makes learned and wise men foolish. The law and the testimony of Jehovah make the simple wise.  The simple man who loves God's law confounds the learned philosopher of this age.

Verse 8, The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. Truly those who are sons and daughters of God rejoice at the reading and hearing of Jehovah's precepts. His law is to bring gladness to our hearts. The unregenerated bristle at the hearing and reading of the law of Jehovah. We know we are in right communion with the Father when we are glad at the hearing of His law.

Verse 9, the fear of Jehovah is clean and it is the beginning of wisdom. When we fear God it shows we have a clean heart. This clean heart can only be given to us by the new birth experience. Even Jesus had the fear of His Father Jehovah (Isaiah 11).

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The fear of God leads one to keep His commandments.

Many people don't like to talk about the fear of God but the text here says that the fear of Jehovah is clean (pure). The  ordinances of Jehovah are true and righteous altogether.

Romans 3:4 (KJV)

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Man in his arrogance has thought to change the law of God. This has most notably manifested itself in the Churches of Christendom. In Daniel 7:25, we read

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."

Jehovah's law is eternal and stands upright. His law is a law of love (1 John 5:2). In fact according to verse 10, we are to desire the ordinances of Jehovah more than riches of gold and silver. We are to desire them more than position in this life. How many in Christendom today can say this about themselves? Most Christians make every excuse in the world to not keep Jehovah's commandments and statutes.

Verse 11, the law serves as a warning to us as keeping it brings blessings and not keeping it brings curses. There are rewards for those who keep the law of God. The ultimate reward is everlasting life and eating of the tree of life (Revelation 22:14).

Verse 12 and 13, our sins are blotted out in the most holy place as we go to the Father in the name of Jesus. Christ is our High Preist and mediator and blots out the record of our sins as He advocates for us to the Father. Christ can keep us from falling (Jude 24).

Verse 14 and 15, our prayer should be to have a pure heart before our God and to mediate on His law. Our words need to be edifying in order to be acceptable before Jah. Our words need to express God's love. A right spirit within us should be our desire, the heart of a child should be in us. Let's be like little children in our innocence and simplicity in the things of God. Lets think on lovely things.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Jehovah is our Rock and Redeemer, attributes also attributed to His Son Jehoshua as the Son's name means "The Salvation of Jehovah". The Father is the source of Salvation and the Son is the channel by which Salvation comes.

The Foundation of Christianity part 3

Verse 38, Jesus gives a stern rebuke to the Jews as he tells them that they do not have the Father's word abiding in them as they have rejected the very one that the Father sent. The same is still true today, those who reject Jesus have not the Father's word abiding in them. Rejecting the Son of God is antichrist.

Verse 39, the scriptures affirm Jesus as the "Christ" and if the Jews would have had the Father's Spirit in them, they would have discerned that Jesus was the fufillment of the prophesied Messiah.

Verse 40, in order to have eternal life we need to come to Jesus. There is no other way to the Father. Jesus is the only door and gate to the Father.

Verse 41, Jesus receives honour from the Father who is the one true God. He doesn't need validation from men including religious leaders.

Verse 42-43, Jesus tells the Jews that they don't have the love of God in them, this He knows because they rejected the very one sent by God. Jesus came in His Father's name "Jehovah" and was not received by the unbelieving Jews. Just like many religious people today who reject the Jesus (Son of God) of the bible the Jews rejected our Saviour. And just like the religious of today who accept another Jesus and false teachers who come in their own name due to their popularity, the Jews would accept others who came in their own name due to fame.

Verse 44, the Jews received honour from one another based on outward merits and positions of esteem. The same is true today as religious people are more impressed with outward merits and outward accomplishments and being esteemed by the world. Jesus plainly says that it is being honoured by Jehovah that matters and it is the only honour we should seek.

Acts 9:18-20 (KJV)

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

This passage from Acts 9 follows Paul's heavenly vision of Jesus Christ. Post resurrection, very few have had the pleasure of direct visions of Christ. Paul is one of them.

In verse 18, we see that scales fell from Paul's eyes, previous to this Paul was not only temporarily physically blinded but he had been spiritually blinded as well as he persecuted "the way". Notice that once Paul received his sight he was baptized. Remember the requirement for baptismnis confession that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37, 1 John 4:15) and repentance from sins. Paul must have done both before being baptized.

Verse 19, Paul is strengthed and also fellowshiped with the disciples at Damascus. Paul was anointed for the ministry straight away and was anointed by Christ. Many men and women go to seminaries to learn more about the bible and yet they come out more confused. They end up complicating and making void the word of God. Seminaries are man's way of estimating someone being anointed. Jehovah's way is different. Remember, the Holy Spirit is our teacher not man. We can learn from man but ultimately it's the Holy Spirit that guides us into all truth. Only God and His Son can anoint someone to preach the gospel, seminaries are a tradition of man.

Verse 20, Paul's first sermon was preaching that Christ is the Son of God. This is the result of being anointed by Jesus to preach the gospel. The evidence of being anointed by Jesus is preaching that He is the Son of God. When men and women attend seminary and get their degrees they come out preaching another Jesus, a trinity or tri theistic Jesus who is one third of a trinity god. Why is this? Because they still have scales upon their eyes. They need a fresh revelation from Jesus Christ in order to know His true identity. Many will not have the scales removed because they trust in their religious education rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul said to follow his example as he follows Christ. Paul did not teach a trinity Jesus but he taught that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

Entrance into the Kingdom of Jehovah necessitates a confession that Jesus is truly the Son of God. Unfortunately most denominations don't require this of potential converts and instead baptize them into a denomination and confessing that God is a trinity along with other man made requirements. Would the apostle Paul approve of modern Christendom's denial of Christ's literal Sonship? Would Paul approve of the false heretical teaching that Jesus Sonship is metaphorical? I can confidently say "No", Paul didn't preach that Jesus is the eternal Almighty God but rather that He is the Son of the eternal Almighty God.

Do you trust the words of Paul who had a direct revelation of Jesus or the words of men and women who have gained their education about Christ at spiritually dead seminaries?

I'll go with Paul and believe and preach that Jesus truly is the Son of God!!

Matthew 26:62-64 (KJV)

62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

The above passage gives us a clear picture of what the controversy was between the unbelieving Jews and Jesus.  This was the night before the trial before the Sanhedrin.

In verse 62, the high priest questions Jesus on what it was that he was accused of. There were witnesses that were accusing Jesus of something. What was that something? Verse 63 tells us!

Verse 63, the high priest then demands (adjures) an answer from Jesus regarding the accusations made against Him. Notice the words of the High Priest "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of the living God."

First, I want to give a definition for the word "adjure", by knowing this it will help realize how binding Jesus statement is when He affirms the high priest's accusation against Him.

The greek word for "adjure" is "exorkizo" (strongs 1844) and means "to extract an oath, to force an oath, to adjure".

So the high priest was trying to extract an oath from Jesus.

How does Jesus respond to the high priest's attempt at forcing an oath out of Jesus? Jesus words below:

"Thou hast said"

The greek word for "said" is "epo" (strongs 2036) and means "say, speak, command, tell".

Jesus can't lie so clearly He affirmed the accusation made against Him that He is the Son of the living God. Jesus didn't fall into the trap of making an oath but rather simply said "Thou hast said". Jesus agreed with the accusation against Him. Today, many theologians and pastors are doing the same thing as the unbelieving Jews in rejecting the Sonship of Christ.

These men are either knowingly or unknowingly calling Jesus a liar as He confirmed that He is the Son of the living God. From this passage we see that the controversy during Jesus earthly life was whether He was the Christ and the Son of the living God or if he was a false teacher. Jesus being the living God was not even a point of contention as both Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders agreed that there was only one God (Mark 12:28-34).

John 10:29-36 (KJV)

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 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.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

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?

Verse 29, Jesus affirms that the Father gave him the sheep (followers of Jesus). Notice Jesus clear words right here that destroy the trinity doctrine: "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all"

The greek word for "greater than" is "meizon" (strongs 3187) and means "larger (literally or figuratively, specially, in age): - elder, greater(-est), more.

Jesus makes a clear declaration that the Father is oldest being in the universe and the most powerful (greater than all). Jesus includes Himself in this as He used the word "all".

The word for "all" in the greek is "pas" and means "all, any, every, the whole:-all (manner of, means), always, any (one)  as many as, every (one, way), daily, + ever, as many as, + no (thing), thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever."

When Jesus says the Father is greater (older and more powerful) than all, He means it and is in included in this statement.

Verse 30, Jesus tells the Jews that He and the Father are one. We know this verse speaks to the oneness of the Father and Son in every way except of course them being "one being". They are one is Spirit, purpose and unity. Even in our worship they are one as we are to honour the Son as we honour the Father.

Verse 31-33, This is where the Jews picked up stones as they believed Jesus was making himself God. Jesus responds  by telling them that He showed them good works from His Father. Remember, Jesus can do nothing without the Father as what He sees the Father do and say, He then does and says (John 5:30, John 5:19). Remember, Jesus is the Word of God not the Word of Himself. The Father was/is the source of what the Son says and does.

Verse 34-35, look at Jesus words here "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"

This reference by Jesus is from Psalms 82:6 which reads:
 "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."

This  scripture is in refrence to the rulers and judges of Israel. The word for "gods" here in the Psalm is the Hebrew word "elohim" and means "gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God. occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, exceeding, God (gods)(-dess,-ly), (very), great, judges, mighty."

The word God/god either in the greek or Hebrew isn't always a refrence to the Almighty God. It can also be used for Human rulers as in the judges of Israel or even of false gods and even satan. It can be used for angels as well. Elohim can simply mean "Mighty One". The Father is the Almighty Elohim, so when it is used regarding others it is in respect to their position rather than an identity of being "Almighty God".

When Elohim is used for Jesus, it is in respect to His literal Sonship (John 20:28-31). There should be no objection to calling Jesus God/Elohim as even human magistrates were called elohim/gods. For human rulers elohim is an honorary title, for Jesus it's who He is as the literal Son of Jehovah God.

Jesus is telling the Jews if the scripture cannot be broken, meaning it stands, then it is acceptable to call those by whom the word of God came "gods". How much more can we call Jesus God, being that not only is the Word of God coming to the Jews through Him, but He is the Word of God and as we see in verse 36, Jesus is the Son of God.

Verse 36, Jesus clarifies His identity to the offended Jews as He says "Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"

Look at the clear statement of Jesus, even though it is very appropriate to call Jesus God, He makes the clarification that He is the Son of God. So many in Christendom fail to qoute verse 36 when talking about this series of scriptures in John 10. The love qouting verse 33 but almost never qoute verse 36. This passage teaches that it is very appropriate to call Jesus God as His Godship is tied to His literal Sonship and the scripture cannot be broken.

When we call Jesus God it is not merely an honourary title nor is it a declaration that He is the Almighty living God, but rather that He truly is the Divine Son of God.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (KJV)

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul tells the Corinthians that every man needs to take heed how they build the foundation of the Church. This means we are to make sure that we build the proper foundation and not a faulty one. Remember Peter's confession that Jesus is the Son of the living God? It was this confession that Jesus said was the rock (foundation) that the Church would be built upon. Also, Paul's first sermon after his Damascus road experience was that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 9).

In context, the above passage is in reference to laying upon the foundation (Christ) faulty or righteous works. These works will be tried in this judgment hour. Remember though, we need to have the proper foundation in order to support our works. In verse 11, Paul makes it clear that Christ is the foundation of the Church and that no other foundation can be laid. Many denominations say Christ is their foundation but we have to remember that it is Christ's identity that is the foundation of the Church. Peter made the beautiful confession, that Jesus affirmed, that Christ is the Son of the living God. Jesus identity is key in Him being the foundation of the Church.

While other denominations preach another Jesus, the true Church preaches that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the Jesus that is the foundation of the Church that will go through to the end (Matthew 16:13-20).

Luke 4:40-41 (KJV)

40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Even the demons confessed the Sonship of Christ. Jesus silenced them and the scripture says they knew "that he was the Christ".

John 19:5-7 (KJV)

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

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.

This passage is very key in determining whether Christ claimed a metaphorical Sonship or a literal Sonship. Remember,  the Jews believed they were sons of God in a metaphorical sense so for Jesus to claim a Sonship of God in a metaphorical sense would not have been unusual among the Jews. The Jews considered the claim of Christ's Sonship to be blasphemy (John 10:36). They clearly understood this to be a Divine Sonship as they were ready to stone Jesus for making himself God (John 10:33).

The Jews referred to their law for justification that Christ should be crucified due to His claim that He was the Son of God.

Mark 14:61-62 (KJV)

61 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?

62 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.

Jesus claimed that He was the Son of God not God Almighty himself as some denominations teach. How can he be the Son of himself? It was His Sonship that made Him Divine. It was also His claim of literal Sonship that raised ire of the Jews. The Jews looked at this claim of literal Sonship as a violation of their law due to their belief in One God knowing that the claim of being this One God's literal Son made the Son divine as well. Look at Jesus words in John 10:34-36:

 "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Jesus staked His rightful claim to Divinity as men who were entrusted with the word of God could rightly be called "gods", how much more could Jesus be rightly called God? What Jesus God was being the literal Son of God. Men who bring the word of God could at most be called metaphorical gods however Jesus is not a god in a metaphorical sense but rather He is God in infinity (substance, nature, DNA).

The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.” (Ellen White UL 367 )

 Ellen White made the clear distinction between God and Christ while affirming the Divinity of the only begotten Son. This statement above harmonizes with the bible. Jesus is Divine like the Father, yet is not God Almighty but rather the Son of God Almighty.

John 11:1-4 (KJV)

11 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

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.

Verse 4, Jesus makes the declaration that He is the Son of God and that He and God (His Father) will be glorified in the miracle that will raise Lazarus from the dead. Notice that Jesus makes the distinction between Himself and God and stating that He is God's Son. When Jesus is glorified, the Father receives this glory as well.

When we glorify Christ or when He is glorified through the ministry of the Church, the glory also goes the Father. Just as when a human son is given honour, his Father also is honored. What Father doesn't feel honoured when his Son is honored? This is rhetorical of course as we know Father's love to see honour and glory bestowed upon their sons.

When the Church does a great work in the name of Christ and glorifies Him in doing so, the Father also is glorified. The Father and Son are inseparable. We are to honour the Son as we honour the Father.

1 John 3:8 (KJV)

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.

Here is another scripture affirming the Sonship of Christ. Pay attention to the way this is worded. John says:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested"

The verbiage here indicates that before Christ was manifested here on earth that He was already the Son of God. The were hints that God had a divine Son in the old testament but it was Jesus first advent that manifested him as being the Son of God. So from this passage we see that Jesus was the Son of God prior to being manifested here on earth.

1 John 4:7-15 (KJV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

This is one of the most beautiful passages in scripture as it talks about the love of Jehovah. While many Christians speak of God's love and tell others that God loves them, they often fail to explain why God loves us and what is the most powerful evidence of His love.

Because most denominations deny the literal Sonship of Christ they almost never give the most important evidence of Jehovah's love for us. In verse 9, the apostle John says that the love of God was manifested toward us because He sent us His only begotten Son that we might have everlasting life. This is powerful and the power of this verse is lost on many Christians and I truly believe it is the reason we see such a struggle in evangelism efforts here in the U.S. to win souls.

Because most professed Christians deny the literal Sonship of Christ they cannot properly convey the power of this verse. Most Christians believe the Sonship of Christ is a metaphor and thereby sap the power away from this verse. Ask yourself the question, "what would reveal to the sinner the love of God more fully, a real Son sacrificed by a real Father dying for their sins or a metaphorical Son sent by a role playing Father to die for their sins?"

The answer to this should be obvious, If I were to give up my very own son in order to save the life of another, that person would without doubt know that I love them. However, if I were to send one of my friends to sacrifice their life for another, then that person may perhaps know that I love them but wouldn't be 100 percent sure. In an age of coldness the sinner needs to know that there is a love out there for them that is unequivocally sure. This is what will move them to repentance.

By God sending His only begotten Son to die for our transgressions that we might live through him is the strongest evidence of God's love. The passage by sending another God but rather the only begotten Son. The phrae "only begotten" comes from the greek word "monogenes" (strongs 3439) and means "only born, i.e. sole: - only (begotten child)." The word monogenes comes from  "monos" and "ginomai". For this study we will only address the word "ginomai" as monos simply means "only, sole, single".

The word "begotten" comes from the Greek word "ginomai" (Strongs 1096) and means "to cause to be (generate), to come into being, to become, arise, be assembled, be brought to pass, come to pass.

Scripture is crystal clear that at some point Jesus came into being and was generated (begotten) from the Father. That is why He is called the only begotten Son of God. It is not just a title nor a role play but it is who Jesus is in identity. Scripture clearly teaches the preexistence of Christ so Jesus was begotten (generated) from the Father in ages of eternity (Micah 5:2).

Once we understand the truth of Christ literal Sonship then we can properly show the sinner the depth of Jehovah's love for them. This is something everyone can relate to as we are all either parents or children of parents.

Verse 10, again John shows the evidence of Jehovah's love for us. It wasn't our love for God that brought us to the cross but rather His love for us. His love was demonstrated toward us by sending His literal Son to be the mercyseat for our sins. This was as much a sacrifice for the Father as it was for Jesus. They both demonstrated their love for us by denying themselves in order to save man from death so that he would have eternal life. They both gave up something precious and risked eternal loss for the sake of the world and to see man healed and restored.

One of the results of denying the literal Sonship of Christ is that the Father's sacrifice has been made null and void. All the credit goes to Jesus because they say He is the Almighty God and He as God Almighty came down here and died for us. They reduce the Father to just having an advisory role in the plan of salvation. This is the lie of satan. The Father gave His precious Son up for our salvation. This must have been heart wrenching for Him to risk the loss of Hos dear Son. The Father gave up the very one that was in His bosom. He sacrificed His literal Son and if we have children we can relate to this in how heart wrenching it would be for us to do this.

The Father and Son both paid a heavy price for us and it was their love for us that they did this. Denying the literal Father-Son relationship reduces the Father's role significantly in the plan of salvation. The Father sent His true Son to reconcile us, He did not send a role playing Son. This must have hurt the Father's heart as He loves His dear Son. Don't believe Satan's lie that Jesus isn't a real Son and that Jehovah isn't a real Father.

Verses 11-12, we are told by John that if God loved us so much by giving us His only begotten Son then we ought to love one another. We have no excuse not to love one another when we have freely accepted Jehovah's free gift of grace and love, His Son Jesus Christ. We cannot accept the beautiful love of the Father and be selfish and not extend love to pur fellow brothers and sisters.

We are made in the image of the Father and Son, so when we look at each other we are seeing an image of God and Christ. Being that we have not visibly seen the Father and Son, we prove our love for them when we love one another who we do see. The bible gives us a big "if", only if we love one another does Jehovah dwell in us. How does the Father dwell in us? By His Holy Spirit! The Father and Son are both in the most holy place right now so they dwell in us by the agency of their Holy Spirit. The indwelling Jehovah. When the Father dwells in us His love is perfected in us. This is how we become perfect by His love dwelling in us not by outward forms and ordinances.

Verse 13 clearly says that Jehovah gives us of His Spirit so clearly the Holy Spirit is not another being but rather the actual Spirit of the Father. It's by having the Father's Spirit that we are able to love one another and it is by loving one another that proves that we dwell in Him and He dwells in us.

Verse 14-15, these two verses are a statement of faith by the beloved apostle John. John says that He and the other apostles have seen with their own eyes and testify (bear witness, bear record, give testimony, give a good report, greek word 3140 "martureo") that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Do you believe the clear word of God through Jesus beloved disciple John or do you believe the false Pastor's and theologians of Christendom who deny the literal Sonship of Christ? John is making the declaration of the Father-Son relationship and the Father sending His Son to the world.

In verse 15, John simplifies the basis of how one attains salvation and what the evidence of having God dwelling in someone is.

"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."

There is no way around it, if you don't confess that Jesus is the Son of God, the Father doesn't dwell in you. This means you don't have the Holy Spirit in you. This is not talking some metaphorical Sonship but rather a true literal begotten Sonship. It is not confessing that Jesus is "God the Son" but rather "the Son of God".

Do you want to put your salvation in the hands of highly educated theologians and pastors or will you trust the inspired word's of scripture given to us in this passage by Jesus beloved disciple John?

Jesus truly is the Son of God!

1 John 5:18-21 (KJV)

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

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.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Above is another powerful passage about the Sonship of Christ.

Verses 20, John says here that the Son of God came to give them an understanding of Him that is true. Notice that even after the ascension of Christ His identity is as the Son of God. Never once in scripture is Christ referred to as "God the Son". This is important because it's about Jesus true identity. Taking away the true Sonship of Christ is antichrist. Jesus being "the Son of God" is His very divine identity as a true Son begotten of the Father. Jesus Sonship is connected to His divinity. The term "God the Son" is simply a title that hides Christ identity as God’s only begotten Son.

How could Christ come to give us a perfect understanding of Him that is true? Because Christ is one with His Father in spirit and is the express image of Him in likeness and character. Obviously from this passage "him that is true" is the Father. Christ came to reveal the character of His Father. Jesus himself said that the Father is the one true God (John 17:3). The Father is the "Him that is true" in this verse. This is important to understand and remember.

As Christians we are in Him (The Father) that is true. Remember, Christ came to reconcile us back to the Father (Ephesians 2:16). Jesus even prayed that we would be one in Him and the Father (John 17:21). The blessing is that we have the Father dwelling in us if we confess that Jesus is His Son and by this confession we also dwell in the Father (1 John 4:15-16). We are also in the Son of "Him that is true" which of course is the Father.

"This is the true God and eternal life"

John 17:3 (KJV)

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The last sentence in verse 20 is a clear reference to the Father as it harmonizes with Jesus very own words in John 17:3. Jesus and John his beloved disciple both state that eternal life is in knowing that the Father is the one true God. Pastor's and theologians who contradict this by teaching that the one true God is a trinity are calling Jesus and his beloved disciple liars. This is dangerous ground to be on especially in the judgement hour. Look at the below warning in verse 21:

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen"

Any worship outside of the Father through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ is idolatry and any concept of the identity of the one true God as anything other than the Father is an idol. These are John's words. Men like Doug Batchelor, David Asserick, Jerry Moon and Angel Rodriguez who deny the literal Sonship of Christ will not be with you in the judgement. Do not take these men's words as authoritative, scripture alone is to be our guide. Jesus never taught that God is a trinity and He never said that His Sonship was metaphorical.

Let Jehovah be true and every man a liar! Repent from worshipping the strange god of Babylon (the triune god) and denying the literal Sonship of Christ and come to the sanctuary to have your sins washed away. Our Saviour Jehovah Jesus Christ is just and willing to forgive. The trinity is a idol and we need to keep ourselves from it. Let all Jehovah's people say Amen!!

1 John 5:1 (KJV)

5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

In the scripture above, we see that belief in Jesus as the Christ (anointed one of Jehovah) is born of God (born again). We cannot love God without loving Jesus. In this passage, God is called "Him that begat", the word begat comes from the Greek word "gennao" (Strongs 1080) which means "to procreate, to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring."

Clearly from the above meaning of the word "begat", it means an actual procreation or bringing forth of the one being "begotten". We can say for certain that the Father procreated and brought forth in the begotten sense, meaning from His own substance, the Son. Of course it has to be the Son because in the next verse it says we are to love not only He who begat but also He that is begotten of Him.

The word "begotten" comes from the same Greek word that "begat" comes from which is "gennao" (Strongs 1080). Of course as the one begotten from Him who begat, the meaning of "Gennao" in application to Jesus means that He was "conceived, pro created in the begotten sense, generated and brought forth from Him that begat which is the Father.

There is no room for confusion here, the Father begat the Son. There are those who spiritualize this concept away, which are the traditional Nicene trinitarian's by saying Christ being begotten of the Father is an eternal generation of the Father communicating His Divine essence to the Son. They say Christ never had a beginning and therefore mysticize the Sonship of Christ.

The other end of the spectrum are the non Nicene trinitarian's which are really Tri Theists, who rationalize the concept of Christ being begotten from the Father and say that the Sonship of Christ is metaphorical and that it only applies to His earthly life. This is the rationalistic approach. It is actually an antichrist teaching which denies the Father and the Son (2 John 2:18-26).

Both approaches make of none effect the word of God. I would love to say that the literal Sonship of Christ isn't an important salvation issue and that believing in an metaphorical or mystical Sonship is okay but what does the beloved disciple John say:

1 John 2:18-26 (KJV)

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and THAT NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.

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

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

24 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.

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

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Verse 21 says it all, no matter if truth is wrapped up in a lie, it is not of the truth!! Eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son, not in knowing three gods or a three in one god!

The Foundation of Christianity part 2

Proverbs 8:22-31 (DNKJB)

22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

This passage offers a glimpse of the preexistence of Christ with His Father Jehovah prior to the creation of the heavens and earth.

Verse 22, the word "possessed" comes from the hebrew (strongs 7069) word "qanah" which means "to erect, i.e. create by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own: - attain, buy (-er), get, possess, purchase, recover, redeem.

"Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way"

The early Church as well as many of the reformers and the general Protestant churches believed this passage to be about Christ. Ellen White also believed this. With Christ speaking as wisdom, He states that Jehovah possessed (erected, created in the begotten sense, as noted in several passages in the newtestament) Him in the beginning of his way. This clearly teaches that Christ had a beginning as a personality. In the beginning the Word was with God (John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:13-16, Revelation 3:14).

The bible clearly teaches the preexistence of Christ and that He was begotten of the Father in eternity past. What the bible does not specify is exactly how and when in eternity this took place. This is not for us to know, however we do have an example in the bible of one being coming out from another's substance and that is Eve coming out from Adam. It is interesting to note that Jehovah told His Son "Let us make man in our image" before creating Adam and Eve. Eve coming out from Adam's substance could have been a human example of Jesus being begotten from the Father's substance.

Verse 23, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was". The phrase "Set up" comes from the Hebrew word "nacak" (Hebrew Strongs 5258) which means "to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy to anoint a king: - cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up).

Christ as wisdom says He was poured out from the times of eternity (everlasting), see Micah 5:2. What was Christ poured out from? Well from verse 22 and several new testament passages, we know that Christ was poured out from the Father. This confirms that Christ was begotten from the Father's substance and not just created out of nothing.

Verse 24-29, before there were the depths of waters, mountains, the earth in general, the heavens, the clouds, appointing of the foundations of the earth and sea boundaries etc. , Christ was brought forth. The phrase "brought forth" comes from the Hebrew word "chuwl" which means "to twist or whirl, to writhe in pain, bear, bring forth, form".

Christ was brought forth (formed) from the Father. The word "from" is important here as this denotes that Christ came from the Father's substance and was not created independent of it. Christ came out from and was formed by the Father.

Verse 30, the phrase "brought up" comes from the Hebrew word "amown (Hebrew Strongs 526) and means "skilled, i.e. an architect: - one brought up". This passage could also be rendered "Then I was by him as a master craftsman: and I was daily his delight".

Wisdom here is described as a skilled architect, a master craftsman. This indicates that this passage is about a person and not a mere attribute of the mind (wisdom).

Remember that Christ is called the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24 (KJV)

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

We see from the above passage that Christ is called the power and wisdom of God.

Here are some new testament passages regarding Christ coming forth, out from the Father.

John 16:27-28 (KJV)

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

John 3:16 (KJV)

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.

Hebrews 1:3-5 (KJV)

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, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Colossians 1:15 (KJV)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

1 John 4:9 (KJV)

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1 John 5:1 (KJV)

5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

It is clear from scripture that Jesus is the true literal preexistent divine Son of God.  If Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity, then His identity is central to that foundation. Today's Churches rarely teach and preach the Sonship of Christ. By doing this they are laying a foundation not built on truth but rather a foundation built on sand.

 1 John 5:5 (KJV)

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Why do we even wonder why the denominations of Christendom are fallen and when I say "denominations" I include all of them without exception.  There is a solution though and there is hope. Of course, the solution to this problem will not be popular and it will require that these denominations pick up their cross and be reproached by the rest of Christendom.

So what is the solution?

The answer is simple and yet not understood by the mass of Churches throughout Christendom.

Come back to the apostolic belief that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of Jehovah God. It's the Christian that believes this that will overcome the world. The Churches who refuse to come back to this foundational truth will continue to apostasize and lead their flocks to take the mark of the beast.

1 John 1:1-3 (KJV)

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;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Verses 1, John is making a definitive  statement concerning the foundational truth of the Christian faith. He states that this foundational truth was heard, seen and handled by himself and the other apostles. They handled the Word of life which is Christ Jesus.

Verse 2, John the beloved disciple of Jesus again emphasizes that him and the apostles have seen and they bear witness of the life that was manifested to them. This life is Jesus and He is eternal life.

John also makes a refrence to Christ preexistence as he says "shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father". So Christ was with the Father prior to be manifested to the apostles. A clear statement of Christ preexistence.

Verse 3, John again makes a declaration of his and the apostles eyewitness account of Jesus. He also says they heard first hand the things Jesus taught. He is declaring this to the recepients of his letter which are fellow Christians. This declaration is a binding statement of faith. John is making this declaration so that these fellow Christians can bear witness in their spirits of what he is saying, so that they can have fellowship with John. Look at the next statement from John the beloved disciple of Jesus:

 "and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

This is huge, John is making it clear that he and the apostles fellowship was with two divine beings, the Father and the Son. There is nothing to indicate in this passage that John is describing a role playing relationship of Father-Son but a real one. John is telling his audience that if they want to have fellowship with him, that they need to bear witness to his declaration concerning Christ. What was his declaration concerning Christ? That he is the Word of life, that he is eternal life and that he was with the Father prior to his incarnation. John then offers the sweet hand of fellowship to his readers. John then makes a statement of faith that him and the apostles fellowship was/is with the Father and Son. No trinity, no tri theistic god but rather a real Father and real Son.

The first step for John's audience was to believe his testimony concerning Christ. The next step would be that they would have fellowship with John and the other believers. This fellowship with John would then mean they also have fellowship with the Father and Son as those are the two Divine beings John and other true Christians had fellowship with.

 1 John 1:4-7 (KJV)

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 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.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 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.

Continuing in this passage of 1 John chapter 1 we see that John is telling his readers these things so that there joy may be full. The truth about the Father and Son relationship between Jesus and Jehovah should bring us joy. This joy is something a role playing Father-Son relationship can't fully bring. Verse 5 and 6 declare that if we have fellowship with the Father then we will walk in the light and not in darkness. If walk in the light then we will have fellowship with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. If we walk in the light the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us. Notice how in verse 7 John says "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Do you see how again John emphasizes Christ Sonship? The Sonship of Christ was a vitally important truth in John's eyes. He leaves no doubt as to Christ identity. He also leaves no doubt that this is not a metaphorical Sonship but rather a real one.

John 11:21-27 (KJV)

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Verse 21-22, Martha verbalizes her faith in Christ. She believed that if Jesus had been present, her brother would not have died. Even though her brother ended up dying she had faith that whatever Jesus asked the Father it would be granted to him. Martha's faith is an example for us as believers. She didn't doubt Christ even though her brother, whom she loved, died.

Verse 23-24, Jesus tells Martha that Lazarus will rise again. Martha knew that the resurrection of the faithful dead was at the last day and stated her confidence in that. A secret return (rapture) of Jesus prior to the end of all things was a foreign concept to Martha and the Jewish people. Martha shows her faith here by verbalizing her confidence of her brother's eventual resurrection even if it wasn't gonna happen at that specific time. This is an example to us that even if our requests aren't given to us when we desire, we are still to have faith in Christ without wavering.

Verse 25-27, Jesus speaks of his coming resurrection and declares that those who believe in him will live even though they are dead. Jesus is eternal life and those who confess that He is the Son of God have God dwelling in them (1 John 4:15). If we die in Christ, even though we fall asleep we will live again at the first resurrection. We truly won't die but only fall asleep temporarily.  Only those who believe in the resurrection of Christ and that eternal life can only be found in him will live, hence Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Jesus asks Martha "Believest thou this?"

Look at Martha's response here, if only Christians could have the same faith as Martha. Martha responds "Yea Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

This is the same confession that Peter gave in Matthew 16:13-20. This is the same confession that Paul preached in the synagogues in Acts chapter 9 after his Damascus road experience.

Many Christians today lack the faith of Martha. How is this? Because their confession of Christ is not that He is the Son of God, but rather the second member of a trinity god denoting a metaphorical Sonship. Martha made it clear,  her belief in Christ was that he was the Son of God in identity not the eternal Almighty God or "God the Son". Martha and the Jews must have known that the coming Messiah was going to be God's Son as she stated "thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

The whole new testament affirms the literal Sonship of Christ and it is this knowledge of who Jesus is that is the foundation of the Christian Church. Will Martha, Peter, Paul and others be a witness against those who deny the literal Sonship of Christ? Don't risk it, but rather confess that Jesus is the Son of God!

John 5:17-44King James Version (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.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 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.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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.

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

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.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honour from men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 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.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

The above passage is one of the most powerful there is in regards to the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Verse 17-18, After Jesus tells the Jews that both He and the Father work on the Sabbath to serve and heal man, the Jews were even more aroused to harm Jesus because not only had He violated the Sabbath in their opinion, but He had made himself eqaul with God by stating that God was His Father. This passage is very revealing in that the Jews had an understanding that the coming Messiah would be God's Son and this Sonship would make the Messiah equal with the Father. Remember, the Jews considered themselves son's of God so if Jesus claim of Sonship was only metaphorical they would not have been offended at His claim of Sonship. They properly understood Jesus claim of Sonship as literal hence the statement that they took this as making himself equal with God. The Jews who claimed an adopted Sonship didn't consider themselves eqaul with God.

How is Jesus eqaul with God when other scriptures state that He is subject to God?
Because Jesus is the literal Son of God. His nature (DNA) is fully Divine as much as the Father's nature is. Jesus is equal in divinity to the Father. However in position of headship and authority, Jesus is subject to the Father. A human father begets a human son. God begat a divine Son. God could only beget from his own substance another divine being. A human father will always (in ideal situations-providing health and life circumstances) have headship over his son no matter how old his son gets and no matter how successful his son gets. The son gives his Father this respect and preference. A human father doesn't consider his son less than him just because he is older and has headship over him. A human Father esteems his son eqaul to himself as his son is a part of himself in DNA.

It pleases a human father to esteem his son as eqaul to himself. This doesn't mean the father doesn't have authority or headship over his son it just means that the father knows his son is eqaul to him as a person. Apply this same understanding to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. It pleases the Father to consider Jesus eqaul with himself as they are both made of the same divine substance. They could only be made of the same substance if they are a true Father and Son. It pleases Jesus to be subject to the Father in authority and headship just as it pleases a human son to give his father preference no matter how successful and old the son becomes.

Verses 19-20, Just as a human son learns from his father's example, Jesus learns from His Father. Jesus examples everything His Father does. Jesus explains his complete dependence on the Father. Jesus speaks of the Father's love for him and refers to himself as "the Son" denoting a real Sonship not a metaphorical one. Everything Jesus has done and still does he learned from the Father. Jesus is not an independent God as some doctrines teach but is dependent completely on the Father for everything.

Verse 21-23, Just as the Father raises the dead so does Jesus. The Father committed all judgment to the Son. We are to honour (revere, honour, value) the Son just as we honour the Father. Some denominations teach that we are not to worship Jesus and only worship the Father. This is absolutely false! The statement that "all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father" clearly teaches that we are to worship Jesus as we also worship the Father. We worship Jesus as the divine Son of God and we worship the Father as the Almighty God. Any worship we give the Son goes to the Father. We can even worship Jesus as our God because He is just that, our Jehovah and our God as Thomas confessed. Even the Father calls Jesus God. Of course, we know the relationship between Jesus and Jehovah and that the Father is the eternal Almighty God and Jesus is the Son of the eternal Almighty God. We should be able to call Jesus God without apology or explanation. We don't honour the Son any less than the Father. Jesus is not a lessor God as some denominations teach but Jesus is fully God and eqaul in divinity with the Father. Jesus was worshipped even as a baby. Angels worship him. What makes us think that we are exempt from worshipping Jesus? Only satan desires to have people think we can't worship Jesus.

If we fail to honour the Son just as equally as we honour the Father then ultimately we don't honour the Father. Jesus was sent by the Father to the earth. He didn't come independently.

Verse 24, Jesus states that those who hear his words and believe on the Father have everlasting life. Jesus didn't speak his own words but was given a commandment from the Father to speak. This shows the oneness of the Father and Son and that they are in complete unity with each other. You can't have one without the other.

Verse 25, the dead in Christ will hear His voice at the second advent. This shows that when we die we fall asleep and are in the grave awaiting the return of Jesus. Our souls do not fly away to heaven at death otherwise the statement, "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", makes no sense at all, how do the dead in Christ hear Jesus voice if they are already in heaven with him? This would mean they have split personalities, one in heaven as a disembodied soul and one in the grave as a dead soul.

Also, notice that when Jesus returns at His second advent he identifies himself as "the Son of God". Jesus is never called "God the Son" in the bible. This statement by Jesus also confirms that His identity as the "Son of God" is not a temporary identity that was for his earthly life, but that this is His permanent identity due to the truth that His Sonship is a literal one. Jesus was the Son of God before his incarnation, He was the Son of God during his earthly life and He is the Son of God now and He will be the Son of God when he returns for His saints and He will always be the Son of God.

Verse 26, the Father has life in himself, this is because He is self existent and fully divine and relies on nothing outside of himself but His own life and so gives all life to others. This same self existent life was given to His Son Jesus when he begat him in the ages of eternity. The Son of God possesses the same self existence of the divine nature as the Father. This was given to the Son from the Father when he was begotten from Him in the ages of eternity. The Father begat the Son in the fullness of the divine nature.

Verse 27, the Father has given the Son authority to execute all judgment. The Son having lived as a man in the flesh was tempted in all points like us and thereby can sympathize with our plight. However, the Son also overcame sin and was the spotless Lamb of God. This is why all judgment has been committed to him as he knows what we go through and our struggles so he is just and faithful to forgive. Jesus knows that if we abide in him just as he abode in the Father that we also can overcome sin. Just because Jesus sympathizes with our situation doesn't mean we will get a free pass to live in sin. He expects us to war against the flesh which can only be done by having his Spirit in us which is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). When Jesus returns to tread the winepress of his Father's wrath it will be done in justice as the Son of God has experienced what humans have and knew their struggles but also knew they could have overcome. There will be no excuse!

Verse 28-29, again Jesus tells us that the righteous dead will hear His voice at His second advent. This statement here is a clear refutation that when we die we go right to heaven. How will the dead in Christ hear Jesus voice from the grave if they are already in heaven? The hope of early Christians was always the resurrection not going to heaven right away as disembodied souls. Jesus mentions the two resurrections, one to immortal life and one to damnation which is eternal destruction. These two resurrections are a thousand years apart as revealed in the book of the apocalypse (Revelation 20:4-10). There also will be a special resurrection prior to these two resurrections that will also bring forth those who have died under the three angels messages and those who pierced the Son of God.

Verse 30, Jesus tells the Jews that he has total reliance on the Father. Jesus has always sought the will of the Father and learns everything from Him whether by word or action. This is no triune god my friends, this is a real Father-Son relationship. Jesus and the Father are one in every way except of course in "being". Just as a human son, in an ideal relationship, learns everything from his father even up until the day his father passes on so the Son of God learns everything from His Father, the one true God.  Jesus words are God's thoughts made audible. Whatever Jesus executes in action is due to the will of the Father. Remember, Jesus abides in the Father and the Father in him. They are one in Spirit. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to him by the Father (Revelation 1:1). Remember also, the counsel of peace is between both the Father and Son (Zechariah 6:13). Trying to seperate the Father from the Son is unscriptural, what I mean by seperating them is making the Son as a lessor God. Also, trying to confound them into one being is false as is saying that the Son is co eqaul in authority with the Father.

The Son is equal with the Father in divinity however he is subject to the Father in authority. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 makes it clear that the Father put all things under the Son however the Father himself is excepted from this. There is a perfect order with the Father and the Son as it is in an earthly Father-Son relationship. The Father and Son in heaven have a perfect theocratic order and they have a perfect love for each other and it pleases the Son to be subject to the Father and it pleases the Father that the Son is eqaul in divinity with Him. The Father sent His Son as the perfect representation of Himself. Only a true Son of God could perfectly represent the Father in heaven.

Verse 31-32, Jesus declares the truth of the Father's witness. Jesus said that he doesn't witness of himself. Jesus said that if he did witness of himself it wouldn't be true. Jesus knew the witness of himself was true, because it was the Father who bore witness of him.

John 17:3 (KJV)

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

It was the only true God that bore witness of Jesus.

1 John 5:20 (KJV)

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.

Again, it is the Father that is true. All truth comes from the source, which is the Father. When the Father bears witness of anything we know it's the truth because the Father is true and the source of all truth. We know Jesusis the true witness as His Father bore witness of him. Twice the Father audibly declared Jesus to be His Son. The Father is incapable of lying. Do we believe the one that is true or do we believe men, Pastor's and theologians who are very capable of lying?

Matthew 3:17 (KJV)

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:4-6 (KJV)

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Here it is the declaration twice from the Father about Jesus Christ. This declaration is clearly in regards to Jesus being His Son. This is the witness of the Father in regards to Jesus.

Verse 33-36, John the Baptist bore witness of Jesus and it was the truth. However, Jesus didn't need the witness of John but John bore witness of Jesus that man might be saved. John was a shining light that pointed to a greater light which is the Son of God. The works that Jesus did were given to him by the Father. Remember, Jesus could fo nothing of himself. These works bore witness that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was sent by the Father.

Verse 37, the Father sent Jesus and bore witness of him. The Father's witness was that Jesus is His Son. According to Jesus, the Father has a shape. This contradicts the false trinity doctrine that teaches that the Father has no shape or body parts and is invisible even in heaven.  Jesus says that they have also not heard the Father's voice in addition to not seeing His shape. The "Jehovah" who appeared in the old testament was the preexistent Messiah. Remember, Jesus is the Word of God so when the Father spoke in the old testament it was through His Word Jehoshua.