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Jesus the Son of God, Part 2

by Phillip Hayes

Originally published in the "Trumpet Messenger" (No.84), a monthly publication by World Outreach For Christ, Inc., P.O. Box 350, Pleasant Hill, TN 38578.  HTML reproduction by Phil Maxwell and published at the internet home of ScatteredSheep.com, a ministry of Simple Truth Ministries, Kansas City, Missouri (USA), and presented here with permission of the author.  May be reproduced for non-profit purposes according to the terms and conditions stated at www.scatteredsheep.com/copy-it-right.htm.

Look at the Gospel of John a moment:

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. [John 1:1-2]

Look closely now. The word "Word" in this test is the Greek work "logos" (Strong's 3056), which means thought, and also, divine expression. Now, a word is a thought expressed! And this thought was made flesh, or expressed in flesh.......

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]

Again, please look at the witness the scripture is giving! Plainly: "The Word was God and the Word was made flesh, and we beheld his glory AS.....................THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER." How did the Disciples behold Him? As the only Begotten of the Father! Remember our other scripture? "God was in Christ." And then John says the following about the Only Begotten:

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

While in the Gospel of John, let's look a little further and see how John recorded we should believe on Christ.

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.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [John 3:16-18]

Here find those words again, "The only begotten." And here we also find the scriptures plainly revealing whom we should believe on and just what we should believe concerning Him. What should we believe to be saved? Simply, that Jesus is the Son of God, and if we will believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God we will not be condemned! John 3:36 says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Did you know that Jesus Himself did not know everything?

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [Mark 13:32]

Did you know that Jesus said He could do nothing himself? Look at the Record:

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. [John 5:19]

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.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. [John 5:30-31]

"I can of my own self do nothing!" "I seek not my own will!" What is Jesus saying here? Clearly, Jesus is stating, without the Spirit of God that was in Him, He would not be able to do ANYTHING! Also, He is clearly stating here and in many other places that He had His Own will.

Further, Jesus stated that He had a witness that was greater than the witness John gave of Him.

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.

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. [John 5:36-37]

Obviously, if there was not any distinction between the Father and the Son, there would be no witness.

The scriptures also plainly declare that God cannot be tempted. But Hebrews 4:15 states, "Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." To further prove that Jesus had His own will; please recall for a moment His experience at the mount of Olives where "In agony He prayed earnestly; and his sweat was as it were drops of blood falling to the ground." His prayer was, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." [See Luke 22:39-44]. Although there are many more scriptures, one more should be sufficient:

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. [John 6:38-40]

Not only did Jesus have His own will, He also had a soul! Read on:

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. [Matthew 26:38]

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. [Acts 2:27, 31, 32]

Before we move along, here is one more witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. [John 6:68-69]

Dear reader, are you sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, or have you been taught to believe otherwise? Have you been taught that Jesus was His own Father? Or perhaps that He is God the Son, instead of the Son of God?

Years ago, a Jesus Only brother that was close to me, and had been a Christian for over twenty years, told me, "No where in the Bible does Jesus ever say He was the Son of God!" Well, I was very young in the Lord at the time and even though the statement did disturb me somewhat, I filed it back in my mind, and thought that I would check it out later. I did, and to my surprise I found the following statements by Jesus:

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. [John 9:35-38]

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?

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father [is] in me, and I in him. [John 10:36-38]

When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. [John 11:4]

Well, we have thus far heard from God the Father, Jesus Himself, His Disciples, and John the Baptist concerning just Who He is. But did you know that the Devils also testified of Christ's Sonship? Read on.........

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. [Mark 3:11]

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. [Mark 5:7]

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. [Luke 4:41]

Nothing could be any clearer than what we have thus far seen recorded in the Bible! From all accounts: His miraculous birth, John the Baptist's witness, the Father's witness, and many others including Christ's own statements concerning who He is, we have to conclude that the Gospel writers clear intent was to prove that JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.

Most of us have accepted as fact what the church and ministers have preached for years. I know most of you have heard preachers preach with quite a bit of excitement "how Jesus went down to hell, kicked the gates of hell down, snatched the keys of hell out of the devil's hand, and let the prisoners go free!" I challenge you to find this in the Bible! The devil is NOT in Hell and has NEVER been in Hell! But many times we accept what is said because it sounds good, and seems to be anointed!

Well, this is the same concerning our subject! A lot of men and women have preached a lot of doctrine that sounded good, and it seemed to be anointed.....but, when examined in light of the Scriptures they were wrong.

Let's look at a few key scriptures used by many to " prove" that Jesus is not the Son of God, but the Father......however, we will look a little closer and see what the scriptures say, and leave out man's interpretation.....

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

I and my Father are one. [John 10:29-30]

"I and my Father are one!" Jesus said it! But, does this statement mean that Jesus is saying He is the Father as many claim? Certainly, I can say that my wife and I are one, because Jesus said, "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and, they twain shall be one flesh," but that would not mean that I am my wife!

Let's go back to the tenth chapter of John and we will see the scriptures interpret themselves.....

I and my Father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

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

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.

Jesus answered them, 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?

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. [John 10:30-38]

Now, when you read the entire passage you get a full revelation of what Jesus said. What was His testimony.... "I said, I am the Son of God." "And believe that the Father is in me, and I in him." Clearly, Jesus was not saying He was the Father, but that He was IN Him and He was IN the Father!

To further define the type of oneness Jesus was referring to in this passage, I want to show you one more scripture that states boldly that we also are one with the Father IN THE SAME WAY that Jesus and the Father are one!

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. [John 17:11]

" AS WE ARE ONE!" Our Lord's prayer was that we should enjoy the SAME oneness with the Father that He enjoyed!

It should be conclusive to all that the "I and my Father are one" statement has been used out of context to preach the Godhead. Again, man's interpretation has made the scriptures say something they do not say.

Let's look at another set of scriptures used to promote the Jesus Only doctrine:

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? [John 14:8-9]

Here again we see Jesus stating a glorious truth that has been misused and abused throughout the ages. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." It is incredible that so many use this statement to preach that Jesus is the Father, and never consider the next four verses! Remember our previous scriptures where we found that Jesus said, "He could of his own self do nothing," and, "the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do, also doeth the Son likewise." Also in John 5:37 Jesus said, "And the Father himself, which sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." Now, children of God, the scriptures do not contradict themselves! The Apostle John said in 1John 4:12, "No man hath seen God at any time." But Jesus did say, "When you have seen me, you have seen the Father!"

The answer....God is A SPIRIT, HE IS INVISIBLE! Colossians 1:15 says, "Who is the image of the invisible God." The man Jesus, a visible person, expressed God the Father fully in the flesh. "For God was manifested in the flesh." And again, Jesus does not leave us guessing concerning His statement, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." The next four verses, (John 14:10-13), defines the statement:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [John 14:10-13]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of God's children would let the scriptures speak for themselves! Believe me, there would be no confusion! Read John 14:8-13 again. Now in all honesty, how can anyone use those verses to preach that Jesus is the Father? Are they not clearly teaching that Jesus is the Son of God, and the Father was in Him; that it was the Father that was doing the works. Seeing Jesus do the works of God was seeing the Father in action.

Let me conclude our examination of the Lord's two statements that have been so misused: ("I and my Father are one," and "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father") with this passage of scripture that states boldly that our Lord's prayer was that every believer would have the SAME glory that the Father had given Him, and that we should all be one in the SAME way as He and the Father are one. Read it carefully:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. [John 17:20-23]

It should be noted here that true oneness is not a Godhead doctrine, but rather true oneness is God IN us! The teachings of Jesus concerning His relationship with the Father is His insistence throughout His ministry that the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. He never taught that He was the Father.

I should cover one more set of scriptures concerning the Jesus-Only doctrine before we continue. Many use John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

After quoting this verse they will leave out verses 25, 26, 28, and 29 and quote verse 27, "They understood not that he spake to them of the Father."

Their interpretation of these two verses put together is clear: "See," they say, "Jesus is saying He is the Father, and if you don't believe that, you will die in your sins." But what about those other verses?

Well, one thing we have already learned is that you should never take a verse of scripture out of context to prove a doctrine! Let's look at all those verses together, and I believe you will see an entirely different message that the one that is promoted by the Jesus Only folk.

[Verse 24] "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

[Verse 25] "Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning." (We have already studied and found who he said he was...the Son of God).

[Verse 26] "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him."

[Verse 27] "They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." (This verse, of course, is following verse 26 where Jesus stated that "he that sent me is true" and "I speak of those things which I have heard of him." After this John wrote, "They understood not that he spake of the Father." No reasonable thinking person would ascribe this statement in verse 27 to what Jesus said back in verse 24!)

[Verse 28] "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things."

[Verse 29] "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do alway those things that please him." (Verse 28 and 29 continues to verify that Jesus did nothing of Himself, that He was taught of the Father, that the Father sent Him, and was with Him.) Isn't it amazing how easily the scriptures are used out of context to prove erroneous teachings?! You don't have to be deceived children! I am showing you how to rightly divide the Word of Truth!

After the resurrection, but before Jesus was glorified, He appeared to Mary Magdalene and said these words, "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." [John 20:17] Oh, children of God, how I wish that you could see this marvelous relationship of Jesus and the Father! Because if you could possibly perceive this glorious relationship, you might begin to glimpse what our Lord has truly done for us; for the knowledge of the Son of God will bring you unto a perfect man. Glory!

After His ascension to the Father our Lord had this glorious testimony, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Glory to God, the Father has empowered the Son with all authority and power, and He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet............( more about this later)

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