Hebrews 1 study

Jesus eqaulity with the Father and superiority over angels.

Hebrews 1:1-14 (KJV)

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

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?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Verses 1 and 2, the Father has in these last days spoken to us through his Son. Jesus is the Word of God. Even in the old testament, Jesus was the conduit in which the Father spoke to the prophets. It was the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) that spoke through the prophets. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

Jehovah God has appointed his only begotten Son heir of all things. Jesus is a true Son and it's his Divine Sonship that allows him to he the heir of all things.

Verse 3, Jesus is the brightness of the Father's glory. He is the exact representation of God the Father. Express Image in the greek is "charakter" and means "the exact expression of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e. a facsimile"

Notice the verbiage "in every respect". This means Christ is equally divine as much as the Father is. The teaching that Jesus is a lessor God is not taught in scripture. The word Brightness in the greek is "apaugasma" and means "reflected brightness, shining forth, of a light coming from a luminous body, effulgence, brightness". The same majesty, divinity that the Father has is shared by the Son.

Jesus is the Word of God and it is by his word that he upholds all things. Jesus words are the Father's thoughts made audible. Jesus is Jehovah and he causes to become by the word of his mouth. The Father is the original Jehovah and He causes to become and his Son is the "by whom" (1 Corinthians 8:6) he causes all things to become.

Jesus purged our sins at the cross and rose from the grave and ascended up to glory to sit down at the right hand of the Almighty Jehovah God.

Verse 4, "Being Made", What does this mean concerning Jesus? Was our Jehovah created? Certainly not! Let's what the phrase "Being Made" means. The greek word for "made" is "ginomai" and means "to become i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being, to come to pass, to be made".

The meaning of this word Ginomai is the same meaning of "hayah" (Hebrews Strongs 1961) and means "to become, to come to pass, come to exist, to come about, to come into being, to be instituted, to be established".

Here we see in verse 4 that Jesus came into existence and was caused to be. "Hayah" is the root word for Jehovah and remember that Jehovah is the Father's divine name. So we se that Jehovah which means "Causes to become" made Jesus and caused him to become. Remember "made" here in this passage doesn't mean created but rather "brought into existence" in the sense of being begotten "born, brought forth, came out from" as we will see in verse 5 and 6. Begotten doesn't mean created out of nothing but rather born out of something that exists.

When did Jesus coming into existence take place? We know it wasn't at his birth in Bethlehem, because in context of this passage it says he was made so much better than the angels and when we has born in Bethlehem he was made lower than the angels. Was it when he was resurrected? This would deny his preexistence which is clearly taught from the bible. Also, verse 4 says he inherited a more excellent name than the angels. This couldn't be due to his Resurrection as Jesus was already given the name Jehovah long before his earthly birth or ascension to heaven. Remember in John 8:58, Jesus claimed his preexistence and divinity by identifying himself with the "I am" (Jehovah). So this inheritance of the name that is more excellent than the angels, has to be when Christ was begotten from the Father in the ages of eternity. Just as a human son inherits his Father's name, God's Son inherits His name which is Jehovah.

Verse 5, Some say this scripture appiles to the resurrection and/or ascension of Christ to heaven. However, that means that Christ was not really a Son and the Father not really a Father prior to the resurrection of Christ. This would then mean that they were just role playing the relationship during Christ earthly life and Jehovah only became Christ Father in an adoptive sense after his death. The whole controversy surrounding Christ during his earthly ministry was claim of Sonship and the Jews understood this claim to be a Divine Sonship not an adopted one. So if Jesus and Jehovah were Father and Son during Jesus earthly ministry and Jesus is preexistent like the bible clearly teaches then the words of the Father "And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son" must be attributed to when Jesus was begotten from the Father. Since the bible teaches that Jesus is preexistent then that means Jesus was begotten in eternity and became the Son. If Jesus is preexistent and wasn't begotten from the Father as some teach, then that means we have two God's which the bible clearly doesn't teach. However, if Jesus was begotten of the Father in eternity then we still have one God who is the Father and the truth of Jesus preexistence and divinity still holds up.

Verse 6, the Father brought the firstbegotten into the world. Notice that Jesus was the firstbegotten before being brought into the world. So Firstbegotten here is in refrence to his preexistent birth not his earthly birth. Firstbegotten (Prototokos in the greek) means first born. This harmonizes with Colossians 1:15 where it says that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. Jehovah's firstborn (firstbegotten) Son was brought into the world. We see that prior to being brought into the world, Jesus was already the firstbegotten of God. When Jesus was born into the world it was the second time he was born, the first time was in the ages of eternity and the second time was on earth. The angels rejoiced when Jesus was born here on earth. Here in Luke we see the angels worshipping Jehovah at the birth of Jesus.

Luke 2:13-14 (KJV)

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Did you know that Jesus was even worshipped as a baby?

Matthew 2:9-11 (KJV)

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The word in the greek for worshipped is "proskuneo" and means "prostate oneself in homage, (do reverence to, adore); - worship"

This is amazing when you think about it. Often times people wrestle with the question, is it okay to worship Jesus? I think this among many other scriptures clearly gives the answer as an "yes".

If Jesus were to appear to me, I would fall down and worship him and say "my Jehovah and my God". Of course, that's if I could even muster the words to do so.

Verse 7, this is qouted from Psalms 104:4, Jehovah God makes his angels powerful comparable to the wind (spirits) and lightning (fire). This verse shows the superiority of Christ who is God's Son, over the angels.

Verse 8, Jehovah God calls His Son Jesus "God". This statement right here should tell us that we should never have a problem calling Jesus "God". We should never feel like we have to qualify it. The Son is God yet distinct from the Father, who is the covenant Jehovah of the Mediator, anointed. The verbal form of Messiah, meaning Jehovah gave him the graces of the Holy Spirit to fufill His mission (Isaiah 11:2; 61:1). The Father and the Son cooperate to save sinners via the agency of their Holy Spirit which is the indwelling Jehovah (Father and Son). This is one of the most explicit statements in the bible declaring the deity of Christ. Citing Psalm 45:6-7, The Messianic psalm exalts the Davidic throne. "for ever and ever". Christ's Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom and not transient in nature as the ministration of the angels (Acts 15:16).
Jesus Christ was enthroned as King upon his ascension to Heaven.

Verse 9, Jesus overcame the flesh and even though he had the capability to sin was sinless and perfect. Jesus was the Lamb without spot as that was the only way he could be a perfect ransom sacrifice for us. Jesus life on earth demonstrated righteousness and hate for iniquity (transgression of the law). Those today who say we don't need to keep the commandments of Jehovah are basically saying that we don't need to have the righteousness of Christ. The bible is clear that God's true Church in the last days will have the Faith of Jesus. Faith without works is dead and it was by faith that the heroes of old obeyed Jehovah (Hebrews 11).

Verse 10, Jehovah is the maker of heaven and earth, they are the works of His hands. Jehovah created everything through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

Verse 11, one day we will have a new heaven and new earth (restored Eden) once the millennium concludes. We see the earth and heavens (sky, space) waxing old before our eyes but one day all be restored to it's intended perfection. However, Jehovah God will remain forever as will His Son Jesus Christ.

Verse 12, this scripture alludes to the end of days (second advent) and the end of the millennium when all things will be made new and the full conclusion of this system of things takes place.

Verse 13, Here we see the marked distinction between angels and Christ. The angels were never promised this and Jehovah God says to His Son "Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool". God's Son is given preeminence in the glorious Kingdom of Jehovah. The Father promises to subdue His dear Son's enemies whether in the salvation of souls or judgment.

Verse 14, the angels are ministering spirits, and they are sent to minister to the saints of the Most High who are joint heirs with Christ unto salvation in the Kingdom of Jehovah God. Just as the angels ministered to Christ, they also minister to the Christian Congregation so that we remain faithful to the Father and His Son. The angels attend to our spiritual needs just as they did Christ during his life here on earth.

Hebrews 9 study

Hebrews 9:1-28 (KJV)

1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

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

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Verse 1-5, the first covenant was based on an earthly sanctuary that ordinances of divine service. We see a description of the instruments within the sanctuary such as the table of shewbread,  candlestick and if couse the altar of incense. This was the first apartment of the Sanctuary. The second apartment was the most holy place which had the ark of the covenant which contained Aaron's rod, the pot of manna and the tables of the testimony  (10 Commandments). The cherubims overshadowed the mercy seat which was the lid of the ark overlaid with gold.

Verse 6, the first ministration of the sanctuary was in the holy place which is the first apartment. This was done throughout the year.

Verse 7, the High Priest could go into the most holy place once a year on the day of atonement with blood to offer for the sins of himself and the Congregation.

Verse 8, the Holy Spirit signified (declare,  make plain, shew) that the earthly sanctuary was a type or picture of true salvation and Christ ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. The earthly tabernacle and preistly ordinances were not able to give perfect access to Jehovah in the Holy of Holies. The earthly tabernacle veiled the Congregation from unbroken communion with Jehovah.

Verse 9-10, the earthly sanctuary and it's service was a figure of the heavenly sanctuary and the Melchesidek preisthood of Jesus Christ. These gifts and offerings could not make the conscience washed. The carnal ordinances of the earthly sanctuary service was imposed on the Congregation of Israel until the time of Reformation. Jesus was a reformer and became our High Preist in the heavenly sanctuary putting an end to the earthly temple service and earthly preisthood.

Verse 11-14, Jesus Christ became our High Preist once he entered into the Holy place not made with hands. The Sanctuary in heaven is the original one and it was pitched by Jehovah. Christ offers the perfect ministration for us whereas the earthly preist couldn't. Christ ministration washes our conscience clean. Christ obtained eternal redemption for us by giving his own blood thereby ratifying the new covenant. The blood of animals sanctified to the purifying of the flesh but the blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies us to the purifying of not only our flesh but also our conscience.

It was the blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit, which is Jehovah's representative in which he is everywhere present, that our Saviour was able to offer himself up as a spotless lamb on the cross of calvary. This work of redemption is able to purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God who according to scripture is the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6, John 17:3, Ephesians 4:4-6). Jesus did not offer himself on the cross so that we can worship a false trinity god but so that we can worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.

Verse 15, Jesus death on the cross ratified the New covenant. It was the shedding of blood that made the New covenant absolute. This work of redemption nailed our debt to the cross due to our transgressions of the law. The handwriting of ordinances "handwritten record of debts" was nailed at the cross. This ransom sacrifice was/is a work of reconciliation to those who are called by the Father and receive the gospel message which is the confession that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15). Those called by Jehovah receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Verse 16-19, Jesus had to die for the New covenant to be ratified/initiated just as the shedding of goats and calves and the sprinkling of their blood upon the people and the book ratified/initiated the old covenant. This was needed in order for the New covenant to be in force, meaning the shedding of the spotless Lamb's blood. This brought in force the Jehoshua covenant. He was the once and for all time sacrifice and now He is our High Preist in the heavenly sanctuary. Just as Moss spoke all the precepts of Jehovah to the Congregation of Israel before initiating the old covenant, Jesus spoke commandments given to him by Jehovah to his apostles and other followers. These commandments were an encapsulated and magnified version of the law.

Verse 20, Jehovah commanded obedience to the law as he enjoined (Greek Strongs 1781, "entellomai, which means "to command, give charge, enjoin, to order"), the people of Israel to the Mosaic law.

Verse 21, the earthly sanctuary underwent a purification when it was inaugurated.

Verse 22-23, the remission of sins, the typological day of atonement is fufilled by Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is the second function of his work. This sanctuary ministry includes a work of judgment and remission of sins. The once and for all time sacrifice of Jesus offered on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary was much better than the animal sacrifices which can not wipe clean the conscience of man. These animal sacrifices needed to be offered continually. Our Saviour ended this sacrifical system and was our one time ransom sacrifice. When guilty sinners come to the cross in repentance and are baptized for the remission of sins, they are purified with Christ's blood and enter in the Holy place.

Verse 24, the sanctuary that Jehovah instructed Moses to build on earth was a copy of the original in heaven. The Sanctuary that Christ entered in on our on behalf, after our High Priest,  is the original sanctuary. The heavenly sanctuary was what the earthly sanctuary was patterned after. Christ mediates for us in the presence of Jehovah God. There is no longer a need for an earthly mediator not that we have our advocate at the Father's right hand.

Verse 25 and 26, unlike the ceremonial system, Jesus only had to offer himself up once as a sacrifice for our sins. There is no longer a need for blood to be shed, either of an animal or by our Saviour shedding his blood a second time. Jesus death on the cross initiated the New covenant. The new covenant is the law in our minds and hearts (Hebrews 8:8-12, 10:16-17, Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Verse 27, we are appointed to die once and then after this the judgment. All of us will die the natural death, unless of course we are among the 144,000 saints who get translated. We will then be judged in the heavenly court. This judgment will take place during our death sleep. This pre advent judgment will determine our fitness to be part of the first resurrection. Those who are not judged fit for the first resurrection will then a second phase of judgment during the thousand year period. This second phase of judgment will vindicate Jehovah's character as well as mete the punishment for the deeds done in the body as every man will be judged according to his works.

Verse 28, this verse speaks of Christ's two advents, the first one He came to be poured out as a offering for our sins as he bore them that we may have the opportunity for eternal life (Isaiah 53). The second advent will be where Christ comes to tread the wrath of Jehovah God Almighty on the wicked and aslo salvation unto those living Saints who are looking up to heaven for their redemption. He came the firsttime as a sin bearer, he will come the second time as a conquering King.

The Divinity of Christ, a most precious truth!

The Divinity of Christ should be most precious to us a people. We should defend it to the uttermost. John in Chapter 1 verifies the Divinity of our Saviour "and the Word was God".

The Father himself calls His dear Son "God" in the book of Hebrews "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever: a scepter of Righteousness".

The once doubting Thomas calls Jesus "My Lord (Jehovah) and my God". Jesus doesn't correct Thomas but rather commends this confession "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed".

John ties in Christ Divinity to his Sonship in verse 31 of Chapter 20.

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ (anointed one of Jehovah God), the Son of God; (Jehovah) and that believing ye might have life through his name."

John 20:27-29 (KJV)

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Jehovah and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

"Jesus, in his treatment of Thomas, gave his followers a lesson regarding the manner in which they should treat those who have doubts upon religious truth, and who make those doubts prominent. He did not overwhelm Thomas with words of reproach, nor did he enter into a controversy with him; but, with marked condescension and tenderness, he revealed himself unto the doubting one. Thomas had taken a most unreasonable position, in dictating the only conditions of his faith; but Jesus, by his generous love and consideration, broke down all the barriers he had raised. Persistent controversy will seldom weaken unbelief, but rather put it upon self-defense, where it will find new support and excuse. Jesus, revealed in his love and mercy as the crucified Saviour, will wring from many once unwilling lips the acknowledgment of Thomas, “My Lord, and my God.” [3SP 222.1, EGW]

THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD

Jesus means in Hebrew: "Jehovah saves." At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission. Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, "will save his people from their sins". In Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men.

In the history of salvation God was not content to deliver Israel "out of the house of bondage" by bringing them out of Egypt. He also saves them from their sin. Because sin is always an offence against God, only he can forgive it. For this reason Israel, becoming more and more aware of the universality of sin, will no longer be able to seek salvation except by invoking the name of the Redeemer God.

The name "Jesus" signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. It is the divine name that alone brings salvation, and henceforth all can invoke his name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation, so that "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The name of the Savior God was invoked only once in the year by the high priest in atonement for the sins of Israel, after he had sprinkled the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies with the sacrificial blood. The mercy seat was the place of God's presence. When Paul speaks of Jesus whom "God put forward as an expiation by his blood", he means that in Christ's humanity "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself."

Jesus' Resurrection glorifies the name of the Savior God, for from that time on it is the name of Jesus that fully manifests the supreme power of the "name which is above every name". The evil spirits fear his name; in his name his disciples perform miracles, for the Father grants all they ask in this name.

The name of Jesus is at the heart of Christian prayer. All liturgical prayers conclude with the words "through our Jehovah Jesus Christ". Jehovah Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Many Christians, such as many of the martyrs, have died with the one word "Jesus" on their lips.

The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that "Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel those consecrated to God for a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings, for priests and, in rare instances, for prophets. This had to be the case all the more so for the Messiah whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom definitively. It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of Jehovah at once as king and priest, and also as prophet. Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king.

To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ Jehovah." From the beginning he was "the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world", conceived as "holy" in Mary's virginal womb. God called Joseph to "take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit", so that Jesus, "who is called Christ", should be born of Joseph's spouse into the messianic lineage of David.

Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission, "for the name 'Christ' implies 'he who anointed', 'he who was anointed' and 'the very anointing with which he was anointed'. The one who anointed is the Father, the one who was anointed is His Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah. His eternal messianic consecration was revealed during the time of his earthly life at the moment of his baptism by John, when "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power", "that he might be revealed to Israel" as its Messiah. His works and words will manifest him as "the Holy One of God".

Many Jews and even certain Gentiles who shared their hope recognized in Jesus the fundamental attributes of the messianic "Son of David", promised by God to Israel. Jesus accepted his rightful title of Messiah, though with some reserve because it was understood by some of his contemporaries in too human a sense, as essentially political.

 Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of Man. He unveiled the authentic content of his messianic kingship both in the transcendent identity of the Son of Man "who came down from heaven", and in his redemptive mission as the suffering Servant: "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Hence the true meaning of his kingship is revealed only when he is raised high on the cross. Only after his Resurrection will Peter be able to proclaim Jesus' messianic kingship to the People of God: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Jehovah and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

THE ONLY SON OF GOD
In the Old Testament, "son of God" is a title given to the angels, the Chosen People, the children of Israel, and their kings. It signifies an adoptive sonship that establishes a relationship of particular intimacy between God and his creature. When the promised Messiah-King is called "Son of God", it means that he was more than human and that we was the literal Son of God. Those who called Jesus "Son of God", as the Messiah of Israel, were revealed this precious truth by the Father.

Such is the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", for Jesus responds solemnly: "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Similarly Paul will write, regarding his conversion on the road to Damascus, "When he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles. . ." "And in the synagogues immediately [Paul] proclaimed Jesus, saying, 'He is the Son of God.'" From the beginning this acknowledgment of Christ's divine sonship will be the center of the apostolic faith, first professed by Peter as the Christian Congregation's foundation.

Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah's divine Sonship because Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To his accusers' question before the Sanhedrin, "Are you the Son of God, then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am." Well before this, Jesus referred to himself as "the Son" who knows the Father, as distinct from the "servants" God had earlier sent to his people; he is superior even to the angels. He distinguished his Sonship from that of his disciples by never saying "our Father", except to command them: "You, then, pray like this: 'Our Father'", and he emphasized this distinction, saying "my Father and your Father".

The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his "beloved Son". Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God", and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence and literal Sonship. He asks for faith in "the name of the only Son of God". In the centurion's exclamation before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God", that Christian confession is already heard. Only by the revelation of the Father can the believer understand Jesus as the Son of God in it's literal and full meaning.

After his Resurrection, Jesus' divine sonship becomes manifest in the power of his glorified humanity. He was "designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead". The apostles can confess: "We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

 In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the ineffable Hebrew name YHWH, by which God revealed himself to Moses, is transliterated  as "Jehovah". From then on, "Jehovah" becomes the more usual name by which to indicate the divinity of Israel's God. The New Testament uses this full sense of the title "Jehovah" both for the Father and for Jesus, who is thereby recognized as God Himself.

Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the Pharisees about the meaning of Psalm 110, but also in an explicit way when he addresses his apostles. Throughout his public life, he demonstrated his divine sovereignty by works of power over nature, illnesses, demons, death and sin.

Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as "Jehovah". This name testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach him for help and healing. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, "Jehovah" expresses the recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus. In the encounter with the risen Jesus, this divine name becomes adoration: "My Jehovah and my God!" It thus takes on a connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian tradition: "It is Jehovah!"

By attributing to Jesus the divine name "Jehovah", the first confessions of the Christian Congregation's faith affirm from the beginning that the power, honor and glory due to God the Father are due also to Jesus, because "he was in the form of God", and the Father manifested the sovereignty of Jesus by raising him from the dead and exalting him into his glory.

From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and Jehovah Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord".67 "The Christian Congregation . . . believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in it's Jehovah and Master."

Christian prayer is characterized by the name "Jehovah", whether in the invitation to prayer ("Jehovah" be with you"), its conclusion ("through Christ our Jehovah") or the exclamation full of trust and hope: Maran atha ("Our Jehovah, come!") or Marana tha ("Come, Jehovah!") - "Amen Come Jehovah Jesus!"

The name Jesus means "Jehovah saves". The child born of the Virgin Mary is called Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:21): "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

The title "Christ" means "Anointed One" (Messiah). Jesus is the Christ, for "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power" (Acts 10:38). He was the one "who is to come" (Lk 7:19), the object of "the hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20).

The identity of Jesus as the "Son of God" signifies the literal and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father: he is the only Son of the Father (cf. Jn 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18); he is God himself (cf. Jn 1:1). To be a Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (cf. Acts 8:37; 1 Jn 2:23).

The name "Jehovah" indicates divine sovereignty. To confess or invoke Jesus as Jehovah is to believe in his divinity. "No one can say 'Jesus is Jehovah' except by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Cor 12:3).

The living and true God is the Father not a trinity!

According to this passage, who is the living and true God? Is it a trinity or the Father?

We see that Jesus is the Son of the living and true God. So is Jesus the Son of the trinity or the Father? I think the answer is obvious. Thank Jehovah for his perfect word as he reveals who he is and refutes the traditions of men (Trinity).

God the Father raised Jesus from the dead not a trinity (verse 10).

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 (KJV)

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Are you called?

In order to come to Christ, God's Son, you have to be called by the Father. Jehovah God foreknew those and predestinated those who would be conformed to the image of his only begotten Son. Image means "likeness, representation". It is those who have been called by the Father that love the Father. When we accept the Father's Messiah Jehoshua, we were drawn to him by the Father. The Father called us according to his purpose and no one else's including our own. In order to truly be born again you must have been called by the Father and drawn by the Father to his Son. While many in the world of Christendom have been converted superficially it's the true children of Jehovah that have actually been called. Many pulpit preachers preach the sinners prayer and altar call as a method of salvation and play heart warming music to get a response from the audience but unless the potential convert is actually called by God then it is in vain. The sinners prayer and altar call is foreign to scripture. In and of itself there is nothing wrong with them but they also lead to many false conversions. A true convert will not need an altar call or sinners prayer but only to confess that Jesus is the Son of God  (1 John 4:15) and repent and be baptized  (Acts 7:38).

Only those who have been conformed to the image (Likeness, representation) of the Son of God have truly been called by the Father.

Romans 8:28-29 (KJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Jehovah to the glory of God the Father!

Isaiah 45:22-25 (ASV)

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. 23 By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Only in Jehovah, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all they that were incensed against him shall be put to shame. 25 In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Jehovah in verse 22 makes the clear statement that he is God and there is none else. How do we know that this Jehovah is the Father? Because in John 17:3 Jesus says that his Father is the one true God.

Verse 23, Jehovah declares in Righteousness that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is God and give account to Him. This is the Father's declaration.

Verse 24 and 25, our strength and righteousness come from Jehovah and we will declare this truth, however those who go against our Great God will be ashamed.

Romans 14:11 (DNKJB)

11 For it is written, As I live, saith Jehovah, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Paul refrences Isaiah 45:23 and this is clearly about the Father as in verse 12 Paul says:

"So then every one of us should give account of himself to God."

We will give an account to Jehovah and confess to Him. All will acknowledge Jehovah as the one true God, either in this life or on the day of judgment.

However, note that there is a mediator in the judgement process. In verse 10 of Romans 11, Paul says that "for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

The Father has committed judgment to the Son. Our confession of sins is to the Father in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. We confess to Jehovah in the name of Jesus Christ our High Preist.

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What name did the Father give the Son that is above every name? He gave the Son the name Jehovah, as it's the Son's by inheritance as being the literal Son of Jehovah God. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Jehovah to the glory of God the Father. Jesus name means "Salvation of Jehovah", Jehoshua is the hebrew name for Jesus. So within the name of Jesus is the Divine name of his Father Jehovah. In the old testament we see that there are two Jehovah's, the Father and the Son. Genesis 19:24 attests to this as two Jehovah's take part in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha. In Genesis 18, Jehovah appears face to face with Moses along with two angels. This could only be the Son as no man had seen the Father nor heard his voice according to John 5:37. Remember, Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God  (Colossians 1:15). God is invisible to us humans as we cannot see him and live. Jesus as the Angel of Jehovah  also uttered the words "I AM THAT I AM". This was the Father speaking through his Son. So the Father is stating that he is the Great "I AM" and that is his name. In John 8:58, Jesus tells the Jews "Before Abraham was I am". Upon hearing this they picked up stones to cast at Jesus. What is the significance of this statement by Jesus.

The word "was" comes from the Greek "ginomai" amd means,  "to come into existence." The word "am" comes from the Greek "eimi" and means, "to exist". The Greek literally reads, "Before Abraham 'came into existence' I existed."

This beautiful statement by Jesus means two things in my view, it confirms his preexistence and also his inherited right to the Divine name "Jehovah". This inheritance is due to his literal begotten Sonship.

Papyrus 46 which are some ancient greek manuscripts of the new testament preserve the Divine name of God in hebrew with brackets over it. The name for God "yod, hay, waw, hay" known as the Tetragrammaton is often applied to Jesus in these manuscripts as opposed to "Lord" How this reads in these manuscripts rendered in our English would be "Jehovah Jesus Christ" instead of "Lord Jesus Christ".

This is significant as this confirms that the Divine name applies to Jesus just as much as it does the Father. This is because as the literal Son of Jehovah, Jesus inherits the name by birthright. My son is no less a "Rodriguez" than me just because he is younger than me and was begotten from my DNA. It is not just an honorary title for him nor an adopted title, it is who he is by DNA.

John 5:23-24 (KJV)

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.

In Philippians 2:11, the confession of Jesus being Jehovah is to glory of God the Father. Many get confused as to which name we call on for salvation and to whom will we confess as there seems to be a contradiction in Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:10-11. Once passage seems to indicate that we confess and bow to the Father and the other that we bow and confess to his Son. How do we reconcile this? It's actually very simple and the above passage in John 5 clarifies this dilemma:

 "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father."

When we give worship to the Son it goes to the Father. When we bow and confess to Jesus Christ that he indeed is Jehovah it will be to the Father's glory as if we bowed and confessed to Him. See there is no contradiction between Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:10-11. In verse 9 of Philippians it says that the Father has given the Messiah the name that is above every name and this name is Jehovah Jesus Christ. Jehovah is the Divine name of the Father "I AM" and Jehoshua has the Divine name within it and means "Salvation of Jehovah" as Jesus is the Son of Jehovah that brings his Father's salvation to men and women. Remember, Jesus is the Word of God and the mediator between man and God. Everything the Father does is through his Son. All our worship to the Father goes through his Son. This is why we will bow and confess to Jesus as this worship will go to the Father ultimately. So there is no contradiction at all, remember Jesus said that him and his Father are one. Not one in substance as in consubstantiality although they are of the same substance. They are in Spirit and purpose. They have an intimate Father-Son relationship.

There are three extremes, the trinitarian view that makes the Father and Son one being and the Untitarian and Jehovah Witness view that make an artificial distinction between the Father and Son. The tri theist view that makes Jesus a seperate but equal God which leads to polytheism. The JW view makes Jesus a lessor God. The Unitarian view strips Jesus of his Divinity.  Us Non trinitarian SDA's have the biblical view, which is that Jesus is God due to his literal Sonship making him equal in nature with the Father and that he has privy to all the counsels of the Father. Jesus is not a lessor God nor a separate God but is the true Son of the Almighty Jehovah making him equal as even the Jews understood this concept of Sonship equating equalness with the Father. The Father is the head of his Son in authority and precedes him in age but in Divine nature they are equal.

Romans 10:8-13 (KJV)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

For Salvation we confess that Jehovah Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15) and believe "commit to"  in our heart that Jehovah God the Father raised him from the dead. Our heart works in conjunction with our confession. Confessing without belief is dead. True belief is making a commitment to what we confess in.

Whosoever believeth on Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ will not be ashamed. You cannot have one without the other. There is no way to the Father but by his Son. The beloved disciple John says that denial of either Father or Son is antichrist  (1 John 2:18-26).

Joel 2:32 (ASV)

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.

Whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah will be delivered/saved. This applies to the Father and the Son as they both bear the name "Jehovah".

Any worship, confession that we give/make to the Son goes to the Father. We must always acknowledge both. When we confess that Jesus is Jehovah it is to the glory of God the Father. When we bow to Jesus it's the same as bowing to the Father. Babylon wants to obscure the precious truth of the Father and Son by either making them the same being (consubstantiality) or devaluing Christ divinity. Either extreme is error. All will know at our Saviour's second advent and on judgement day that he is truly Divine and is the literal Son of the Most High God.