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Jesus the Son of God, Part 3

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.

As you know Jesus sent His disciples into all the world to preach His glorious Gospel. "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." [John 20:21] As they went forth their message was Jesus Christ. As we journey through the Book of Acts and the epistles, you will find as I have found that they did not preach Trinity, Twoness, Oneness or Jesus Only, they preached God was manifested in the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Look at their message, listen to their preaching about Jesus Christ in Acts:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: [Acts 2:22]

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. [Acts 2:32-33] (Bold emphasis mine).

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. [Acts 2:36]

This is the Gospel message the Apostles preached in the beginning! Let's continue...

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [Acts 2:37-39]

Why baptism in Jesus' name? Jesus was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. Giving a lamb as an offering to God goes back to the beginning. The Lamb of God that was to come is perfectly typed in the book of Genesis when Abel (who was the keeper of sheep) brought the firstlings of his flock (a lamb) for the first offering to the Lord ever recorded. And there was the passover lamb in the time of Moses. Always a lamb! All pointing to the Lamb of God that would take away the sin of the world. God had spoken, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." [Hebrews 9:22] Jesus, the Lamb of God shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary to take away the sin of every man, woman, boy, and girl that would ever be born. John said, "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Praise the Lord. You are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sin! God the Father DID NOT die for you, Jesus died for you! God is a Spirit that cannot die!

Let's continue with the Gospel message that the Apostles preached and compare it with the message modern Pentecostals preach today...Remember in the beginning I told you that the Trinity and Oneness proponents each teach that you must believe their doctrines in order to be saved?! Well, the Word of God is going to prove all men liars and god to be true. Are you willing to accept just what the Apostles taught? If you are, then I believe you will have no trouble accepting what I have said and what I am about to show you.

Let's go directly to the Word and read together exactly what was taught in the beginning as the prerequisite for one to be saved.....Do you remember in the scriptures where Philip had a tremendous revival in Samaria? While in Samaria, Philip cast out devils, healed the sick, wrought many signs and miracles. Many believed the preaching of Philip and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Later, the Apostles came down from Jerusalem and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. During this time an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip to go to Gaza. There Philip saw an Ethiopian sitting in a chariot. Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading, and he answered that he could not unless some man helped him. I know you have read this account in Acts chapter 8. Please note that Philip preached the same Gospel as the Apostles. There was no division! An angel of God directed him to the Ethiopian to preach the gospel. Now let's read exactly what Philip preached that this Ethiopian must believe to be saved:

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. [Acts 8:35]

(His message from Isaiah was Jesus, but who did Philip preach Jesus was?)

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [Verse 36]

(Now look at that moment... There should be no doubt here, Philip preached water baptism when he preached Jesus to this man).

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.

(Believe what dear ones? That Jesus is part of some Trinity? Or perhaps that Jesus is God the Father? No, no! Philip didn't preach any of these doctrines. His Gospel was from Heaven, not man.)

And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [Verse 37]

Plain and simple! Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and further that he must believe this with all thine heart to be baptized!

"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" is the confession of faith that will save a man's soul! No other confession will suffice; believing in Trinity, Oneness, or Jesus-Only will never save a man's soul, because none of these are the Apostle's doctrine!

What about Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles? What did he preach concerning Jesus Christ? The answer is the same as all the others...

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

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. [Acts 9:19-20]

Let's look at the Apostle Paul's Gospel message to the people of Athens:

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? [Acts 17:18-19]

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; [Acts 17: 22-25]

And now Paul begins to preach to them about the Godhead and of the man that God has ordained who He will judge the world by...

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and mans device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. [Acts 17:29-32]

THAT MAN is of course our Lord Jesus Christ.

And all the others were established in the same doctrine. Read on:

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; [2Corinthians 1:19-21]

The Apostle John wrote, "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." [1John 4:15] And again, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" [1John 5:5] This is the message from the beginning! This is the message from the beginning! This is the Apostle's doctrine! Wake up friends, the message is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!

There is abundantly more to be found in the scriptures that give clear evidence that you must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in order to be saved! Here are just a few more:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [1John 4:3]

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. [1John 5:10-13]

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. [1John 5:20]

Praise the Lord! "And we know that the Son of God is come!" The Apostle closes by saying, "This is the true God and eternal life." Jesus is the only ordained place of worship! Because the only place you will find God is in Christ! Therefore, there is no other to worship than Christ, for the fulness of the Godhead is in Him!

Our worship must be directed to Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God!

The book of Hebrews says this concerning the worship of the Son of God:

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
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. [Hebrews 1:6-8]

From the beginning of His miraculous birth wise men have sought to worship Him:

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. [Matthew 2:2]

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. [Matthew 2:11]

After the resurrection, our Lord opened the understanding of the scriptures to the Apostles. After this the scripture says:

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: [Luke 24:52]

Matthew recorded the disciples worship of Jesus this way:

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. [Matthew 28:9]

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. [Matthew 28:16-17]

Before we move along, let me show you one more set of scriptures that should be sufficient proof to anyone that the Father's will is that Jesus is to be worshipped:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Philippians 2:10-11]

Friends, there is nothing clearer than the fact that all the Holy Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God! Paul said in Romans, "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:" [Romans 1:3-4]

What has caused man to stray from this awesome truth? The answer is mans seemingly unquenchable thirst to pervert! For some reason man cannot accept the Word of God as it is stated. They feel they must interpret what needs no interpretation!

Man's interpretation of the scriptures has brought all the division! We all have the same Bible, we say we believe in the same God, yet we are divided into thousands perhaps millions of ineffective little groups holding on to our interpretation of the Bible instead of simply believing what it plainly states.

The Godhead has probably brought more division than anything else. Yet, when you look at the scriptures supporting the various positions you find that most if not all were taken out of context, as we have previously demonstrated, to prove what they think is right.

Now let us approach what the Bible teaches concerning the relationship of Jesus Christ and the Godhead.

A large Oneness denomination has a tract entitled, "Is Jesus Christ in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Him?" An interesting question, and the answer to this question should satisfy all true seekers as to the truth concerning Jesus and the Godhead.

I asked a Oneness brother not long ago what did he and his organization believe, is Jesus in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Him? His answer was, "Oh, we teach that Jesus IS NOT in the Godhead, that the Godhead is IN Him." I said, "then you believe that Jesus is not God, but that God is in Him?" He quickly replied, "Oh no, I believe Jesus is God!" Well, I could see that this conversation wasn't going to go anywhere for it was clear to me that this brother along with countless others have little idea what they believe, let alone how to convey their belief!

As I looked at the question on that Oneness tract I realized that they were promoting a thought that they actually didn't believe. For I knew that for the most part many of the Oneness brethren had drifted into the Jesus-Only philosophy, and in fact, did not believe that the godhead was in Jesus but rather that Jesus is the Godhead.

But, no matter what anyone believes or teaches, the Word is the FINAL AUTHORITY. So, what does the Bible teach about the Godhead, is it in Christ or is Christ in the Godhead?

As we continue our search of the scriptures we will find that there are NO PERSONS in the Godhead! The Truth we shall find that is abundantly clear is that God is a Spirit; (as the wind, breath; invisible), not a person; (physical, presence, countenance, face, outward appearance, substance, a human being).

The Apostle Paul made it abundantly clear in his writing just what his beliefs were concerning the Father and the Son.

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. [1Corinthians 8:6]

There is but one God! "Hear O'Israel, the Lord they God is one Lord." That is the commandment to all generations. Not two God's, or three God's, just One!

The Bible teaches us plainly that God was manifested in the flesh, not incarnated, as we have already discussed. Yet, many Oneness believers use that very same scripture to prove their doctrine that Jesus is the Father. Let's look at it again: "And 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." [1Timothy 3:16] Now there is no question about it, Paul is referring to the manifestation of God in Jesus Christ. But, by no stretch of the imagination could anyone conclude from this scripture that it is saying that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the Father! 2Corinthians 5:19 says, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." Look at the word "in" for both are saying virtually the same, "God was manifested in the flesh," "God was in Christ reconciling the world." Neither scripture implies an incarnation! Both are teaching the same, God IN Christ!

Let's look at another scripture many use to prove their doctrine:

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: [Colossians 2:9-10]

Children of God, nothing could be more simple to understand. The fulness of the Godhead is where? The scripture says, "IN HIM dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." It doesn't say that Jesus is any part of the Godhead! How can He be when there is only one God? Do you know what the word Godhead means? It means, "That which is Divine, the Divinity, the state of being God, GOD." It simply means God!

This scripture does not say that Jesus is the Father! It says the same as every scripture you will find pertaining to our subject that God the Father was in Christ!

Remember when we discussed Jesus' statement, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father?" Lets look at how the Apostle Paul no doubt alluded to this revelation.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [Colossians 1:13-15]

As we have concluded, God is an invisible Spirit, but Christ was a man, born of a virgin, in whom the Father was fully manifested. This scripture further states that Jesus was the firstborn of every creature. God is not a creature (a creation) neither was God born, but Jesus was the first man born of God and He became the firstborn of God and He became the firstborn of the new creation of God.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [Colossians 1:19]

There it is again! In Him! It pleased the Father (God) the IN Jesus Christ ALL THE FULNESS of God should dwell! Again, this verse is not promoting or supporting any of the Godhead theories being promoted today! This verse supports all the other scriptures in their plain declaration that God the Father was IN Christ.

GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
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;
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; [Hebrews 1:1-3]

A beautiful scripture! God has spoken by His Son! This is Jesus in the glory of the Father! The man Christ Jesus fully manifested the image and glory of the invisible God that no man has seen! Jesus is the person (physical presence, outward appearance ) of God! There are NO PERSONS in the Godhead! There is One God, the Father, who is an invisible Spirit that fills ALL things! And Jesus is the man, the Son of the Living God that God dwelt in fully. The simplicity of the truth is just awesome!

God has exalted Christ! The scripture says that God gave him a name above every name!

Where for God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Not many Jesus-Only preachers will quote the next verse....

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Philippians 2:9-11]

Yes, Jesus gave all the glory to the Father as He ministered in the days of His flesh. And the Father crowned Him with all His glory because Jesus: Philippians 2:6-8

Oh yes, Jesus suffered, He wept, and He learned obedience!

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; [Hebrews 5:8-9]

Some of you may be surprised that Jesus was not born perfect, nor was He born the author of eternal salvation. The Word of God says plainly that He was MADE perfect and that He BECAME the author!

Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. [Hebrews 5:10]

Not much is preached concerning the priesthood of Christ, but the writer of Hebrews testified of His priesthood in Hebrews 4:14

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."

Jesus, the Son of God is the message clearly revealed over and over, throughout the New Testament.

Well, I don't know who you are waiting on to come back for the church, but I'm waiting on the same One Paul said he was waiting on in Thessalonians:

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. [1Thessalonians 1:10]

Now, Jesus has all power in heaven and in earth. God gave it to Him, I know you believe that. But, did you know that in the end after all adversaries have been put under Him, Jesus will deliver up the kingdom (church) to the Father and will once again become subject to God that gave Him all power? Let's read about it.

From 1Corinthians 15:23-25 and verse 28:

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christs at his coming.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

"For he must reign till...." His reign over the kingdom of God is for a specific time. Now I know this is deep! Verse 28 sums up what will happen at the end.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. [1Corinthians 15:28]

Yes, the Only Begotten Son of God will again be subject to the Father. Throughout the ages our Lord has brought many sons into His glory and He will freely share all that is His. And although they are adopted sons, the heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, they will inherit the fulness of the promise, and they along with their Elder Brother will rule and reign for eternity. God will truly be all in all in the fulness!

I know we could get into quite a discussion concerning these few verses and the deep revelation they contain that points to the glory that will soon be revealed, but our present attention to these verses is the plain teaching that Jesus will once again become subject to the Father that put all things under him. This is a glorious truth that proves without a shadow of doubt that there is the Father who is God, and the Son who is the Son of God.

Although there are countless other scriptures concerning our subject, there is one that concerns me very much and I hope also concerns you. It is found in 1John chapter 2, verses 22 through 24:

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

I must ask each reader, do you deny the existence of the Father and the Son? If you don't believe in the Father and the Son, the scripture says you are a liar and an antichrist.

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

Again, I must ask you, do you acknowledge the Father, but deny the existence of the Son? Oh dear reader please consider what the scripture says. I you deny the existence of the Son of God you can never have the Father, but if you will simply acknowledge (fully acquaint, recognize) that Jesus is the Son of God, you will have the Father also! No Godhead mumbo jumbo doctrines to believe! If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God you have the Father! It is impossible to not have Him when you believe on Christ. Why? Because the Father is in the Son. Glory to God!

There is no escaping the truth! The true light shines once again as the prophet foretold, "There shall be light in the evening time." Praise the Lord!

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.

What was said from the beginning concerning the Father and the Son? Simply, God was in Christ!

In closing I would like to ask another question. Why did the writers of every epistle in the New Testament acknowledge the Father and the Son and make a clear distinction between the two if they believed they were the one and the same? Let's look at just a few opening remarks in the epistles:

[Romans 1:7] To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[1Corinthians 1:3] Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2Corinthians 1:2-3] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

[Galatians 1:3] Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

[Ephesians 1:2-3] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

[Ephesians 3:14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

[Philippians 1:2] Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Colossians 1:2-3] ...Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

[1Thessalonians 1:1] PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2John 1:3] Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Need I go on? Read them for yourselves, the Father and the Son are preached throughout the epistles of the Apostles, this cannot be denied!

I will close asking you to believe on Christ as the scripture saith! At the close of John's Gospel he said these words that I feel is most appropriate for this message, and I quote:

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." [John 20:31]

My prayer for you all is found in Colossians chapter two, verses two and three, where the Apostle Paul said,

"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

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