GOD MANIFESTED AS THE SON IN REDEMPTION A blood sacrifice without sin must be made for the redemption of man. Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Heb. 9:22. So by his plan (Word), God, the invisible Spirit, made Himself a body born of the virgin Mary, and dwelt among us. "And the Word (which was God) was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." John 1:14. This body was the only begotten Son or image of God. Paul said that the Son is the image (body) of the invisible God. Col. 1:13-15. The Sonship was planned from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8) and prophesied as early as Gen. 3:15. Hundreds of years later Isaiah prophesied, "...Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel... which being interpreted is GOD WITH US." Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty GOD, The everlasting FATHER, The Prince of Peace." Is. 9:6. To Joseph the angel said," ...thou shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sin... and he called His name JESUS." Matt. 1:21-25.
Fosset's Bible Encyclopedia declares that Jesus means Jehovah-Salvation, or Jehovah is become Saviour. The name Jesus was not revealed until God made Himself a body. Until then He was called Jehovah. For example:
Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord provides. Gen. 22:14
Jehovah-Rapha - The Lord that healeth. Exod. 15:26
Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord is our banner. Exod. 17:15
Jehovah-Shalom - The Lord is our peace. Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Ra-ah - The Lord is my shepherd. Ps. 23
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness. Jer. 23:6
Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord is present. Ezek. 48:35When God made Himself a body to redeem man from sin, He then was called JESUS - Jehovah-Salvation.The angel announced, "For unto you is born this day... a Saviour, which is CHRIST THE LORD." Luke 2:11. Through out the Old Testament God is also called the Lord. Compare the following:
The Lord God is the Creator. Is.42:5
The Lord Jesus is the Creator. John 1:3, 10The Lord God said, "I am He." Is. 43:10
The Lord Jesus said, I am He." John 8:24The Lord God is the only Saviour. Is. 43:10, 11
The Lord Jesus is the Saviour. Titus 1:4.The Lord God shall reign forever. Ps. 146:10
The Lord Jesus shall reign forever. Luke 1:33The Lord God is the King of Israel. Is. 43:15
The Lord Jesus is the King of Israel. Matt. 27:37The Lord God is the First and the Last. Is. 44:6
The Lord Jesus is the First and the Last. Rev. 1:8The Lord God is Almighty. Gen. 17:1
The Lord Jesus is Almighty. Rev. 1:8There is only one Lord. Eph 4:5. When Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus, he cried, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I AM JESUS." Acts 9:5. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord God Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament! Jesus confirmed that He was not a separate Person, but God manifested in the flesh. Jesus said unto Philip, "...He that hath seen me hath seen the Father... The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the father that DWELLETH IN ME, He doeth the works... Believe me that I am in the Father, and the FATHER IN ME..." John 14:9-11. Jesus simply stated, "I and My Father are ONE (not two)." John 10:30.Jesus emphasized the importance of His identity as He taught the people in the temple. He said, "...For if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins... They understood not that He spake to them of the FATHER." John 8:24-27. When Jesus was baptized by John in Jordan River, the voice of God spoke, "This is my beloved Son, IN WHOM I am well pleased. "Matt. 3:17. Notice, God said, "IN WHOM" - not with whom! "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself..." 2Cor 5:19.
As Stephen was facing death, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55. The term "right hand" does not form a part of another Person or Deity. It is symbolic of the power and authority of God. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18. Paul said that Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. 1Cor. 1:24. Note the following symbolical uses of the term "right hand" as correlated to power and authority:
My right hand hath spanned the heavens. Is. 48:13
The Lord is at the right hand of the poor. Ps. 109:31
God led Israel by the right hand of Moses. Is. 63:12
The Lord was at David's right hand. Ps.16:8The question may be asked, "Is Jesus in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Jesus?" If the Godhead is in Jesus, there can only be one person. The Bible clearly states, "For IN HIM (Christ) DWELLETH all the FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER." Col. 2:9-10. So there is only ONE PERSON in which the Godhead is manifested, because the GOD HEAD IS IN JESUS! In Jesus Christ, two wills or natures are portrayed: a human will and a Divine will. He was man (flesh) and He was God (Spirit). As man He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father... not as I WILL, but as THOU WILT." Matt. 26:39. Also He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt. 27:46. Certainly these Scriptures do not imply that Jesus Christ is a separate Person or Deity with the Father. For deity does not pray to Deity! Furthermore, Deity cannot die! So as man, Jesus Christ prayed in His human nature to His Divine nature. Because, in His human nature, the flesh did not want to die, but He knew the will of the Spirit must be done.
Also at Calvary He cried out in His human nature to His Divine nature; and when the Spirit left the body, He fulfilled His human role of death. As man, He was hungry, He slept, He became weary, He wept, He increased in wisdom and stature, He prayed, and He died. (See Matt. 4:2, Matt. 8:24, John 4:6, John 11:35, Matt. 26:39, Luke 2:52, Matt. 27:50.) As God, He healed the sick, He cast out devils. He raised the dead. He calmed the sea. He forgave sins. He answered prayer, and He arose from the grave. (See Matt. 4:23, Luke 8:35, John 11:43, Mark 4:39, Mark 2:5, John 14:14, John 2:19-21.) Jesus Christ said, "I can of mine own self (human nature) do nothing ...(John 5:30) ...but the FATHER that DWELLETH IN ME (Divine nature), HE doeth the works (John 14:10)." As man, He even expressed His limited knowledge (Mark 13:32); but as God, He knew all things (John 21:17). Compare the following titles which also portray the dual nature of Jesus Christ:
DIVINE HUMAN Everlasting Father - Is. 9:6 Son of Man - Luke 9:22 Chief Shepherd - 1Pet. 5:4 Lamb - 1Pet 1:19 King of Kings - Rev. 17:14 Servant - Phil. 2:7 Lord God - John 20:28 High Priest - Heb. 2:17 The Almighty - Rev. 1:8 Mediator - 1Tim. 2:5 "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1Tim. 3:16. How clearly brought out is this glorious truth that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh. He became Spirit in body to bring redemption to man.
ONE GOD LINKS God as the Father in Creation
God as the Holy Spirit in Emanation
