G
... "as I see it" ...
( Disclaimer: What follows is merely an attempt to describe my conceptualization, reasoning, and understanding of the true nature of God - according to the scriptures - with specific regard to 'identity'. )
Genesis 1:
[SUP]1[/SUP] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The phrase 'In the beginning' is referring to our beginning - 'time and space', as we know it.
It is talking about the beginning of the heaven and the earth - when God created the heaven and the earth.
How did He create it?
He created it "by the Word of His mouth" -- He 'spoke' it into existence.
God said - and it was...
Now -- understand that - because of the true nature of God - the very Word that He speaks is literally 'alive'.
This is because God is 'life'. All life comes from God. All that comes from God is alive.
It is impossible for anything to "come out" from God and not be 'alive'.
This is the true nature of the existence of God.
This 'Word' - that "comes out" from God - that is 'alive' -- is an "extension" of Himself -- the "outward expression" of Himself to His creation.
John 1:
[SUP]1[/SUP] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [SUP]2[/SUP] The same was in the beginning with God.
This "outward expression" of God to His creation -- which "was with God" - which "was God" - which "was in the beginning with God" -- was fully alive, and was fully God.
The Word did not "come into existence" - but, rather - "always was" - because of what is being said in verse 2 -- the Word already "was" at the beginning...
What these verses do not say is - that the 'Word' was 'Almighty God [ the Father ]' - in the "full personification" sense.
The Word was God; however, the Word was not [ "the actual", full, complete, "all-that-He-is" ] 'God the Father' Himself.
In the "full Godship" sense - yes.
In the "full personification" sense - no.
In terms of 'identity', this allows for a separate 'entity' that is [ fully ] God without being [ "the exacting original" ] 'God the Father'.
( "This is vitally important to the plan of salvation, as well as some other things involving the 'eternality' of God. And, not to mention, how He can have a Son without being His own Father..." )
In other words - there IS a separation - such that they are not "exactly identically" the same.
The separation exists in the difference between "God Himself" and "the outward expression of Himself" to His creation. Both are actually God. The difference is a matter of finite identity. The former is the Almighty 'personage' ( 'God the Father' ) - who has never been seen by man. ( Please understand the context -- in the "full personification" sense - not in the "effectual sense" of "the back parts" in Exodus 33:23 -- see John 1:18 below... ) The latter is the Almighty 'manifest' ( 'God the Word' ) - revealed to be seen by man.
God 'unseen' and God 'manifest' -- same God.
God the Father maintains His "rightful just 'private' dignified solemn sacred majestic holy existence"...
God the Word manifests His "rightful just 'public' dignified solemn sacred majestic holy existence"...
Also, the scope of the Word in this context goes beyond the text of the Bible ( which is called "the Word of God" ) - and includes "all things ever shown forth" in the "outward expression" of God to all of His creation.
So then - the Word is "the complete total-sum full living manifestation of the outward expression of God to His creation"...
The phrase 'In the beginning' means the exact same thing as it does in Genesis 1:1 -- and, does not represent the "beginning" of God, the Word, or Jesus.
John 1:
[SUP]3[/SUP] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
God the Word was the "means" or the "mechanism" - through which and by which - God the Father, "by the Word of His mouth", made everything.
It is perfectly legitimate and acceptable to say that God the Father created everything.
It is perfectly legitimate and acceptable to say that God the Word created everything.
Both of these statements are true and in perfect harmony.
John 1:
[SUP]4[/SUP] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[SUP]10[/SUP] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
[SUP]14[/SUP] 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.
[SUP]18[/SUP] No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Jesus was born into the world as a person - body, soul, and spirit. His 'body' was human flesh. His 'soul' was the Word. His 'spirit' was the Holy Spirit.
At His conception, His body was "new"; however, His soul and spirit already existed together before that time - as the Word.
The Word does not have a beginning, and has always been with the Father. ( John 1:1 )
Jesus the person -- the Godhead bodily ( Colossians 2:9 ) -- had a beginning ( through human conception by the Holy Spirit ); however, the Word ( "Jesus the person, minus His body" ) always was...
From verse 14:
The Word ( already existing ) was made ( took on the form of ) flesh ( human conception and birth ).
The sonship of Jesus rests totally in the virgin birth. There is no such thing as 'the Son of God' outside of the bodily existence of Jesus. The Word was not 'the Son of God' before, or outside of, the birth of Jesus --- 'Almighty God' is the Father, 'Jesus Christ' is the Son.
Now -- understand that - after Jesus was raised from the dead, with His 'glorified' body, He ( being God ) could ( I believe ) appear to Abraham, for example, in that very same resurrected body -- because, He could "step inside and outside of time" and "make appearances" whenever He wished.
As for the 'Trinity'...
I believe in "the 'triune' nature" of God. I do not tend to think of Him in the full sense of "three persons" -- because -- a 'person' ( in the full sense ) is generally thought of as having body, soul, and spirit. Of course, God the Father - Who is 'Soul and Spirit' - and has no body - is thought of as a person ( in the full sense ). However, the Holy Spirit is never thought of as having any "part" of a person ( in the full sense ) except 'spirit'. So - while all three might be considered a "person" - strictly by virtue of their 'spirit' ( which happens to be the Holy Spirit for all three ) - each of the three is not a "person" ( in the full sense ) - having body, soul, and spirit.
So then -- whether you want to use the word "person" or not -- there are three, which are the same God:
[TABLE="width: 500, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]God the Word / Jesus
[/TD]
[TD]body, soul, and spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]God the Father[/TD]
[TD]soul and spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]God the Holy Spirit[/TD]
[TD]spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Confusing, isn't it?
( Disclaimer: What follows is merely an attempt to describe my conceptualization, reasoning, and understanding of the true nature of God - according to the scriptures - with specific regard to 'identity'. )
Genesis 1:
[SUP]1[/SUP] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The phrase 'In the beginning' is referring to our beginning - 'time and space', as we know it.
It is talking about the beginning of the heaven and the earth - when God created the heaven and the earth.
How did He create it?
He created it "by the Word of His mouth" -- He 'spoke' it into existence.
God said - and it was...
Now -- understand that - because of the true nature of God - the very Word that He speaks is literally 'alive'.
This is because God is 'life'. All life comes from God. All that comes from God is alive.
It is impossible for anything to "come out" from God and not be 'alive'.
This is the true nature of the existence of God.
This 'Word' - that "comes out" from God - that is 'alive' -- is an "extension" of Himself -- the "outward expression" of Himself to His creation.
John 1:
[SUP]1[/SUP] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [SUP]2[/SUP] The same was in the beginning with God.
This "outward expression" of God to His creation -- which "was with God" - which "was God" - which "was in the beginning with God" -- was fully alive, and was fully God.
The Word did not "come into existence" - but, rather - "always was" - because of what is being said in verse 2 -- the Word already "was" at the beginning...
What these verses do not say is - that the 'Word' was 'Almighty God [ the Father ]' - in the "full personification" sense.
The Word was God; however, the Word was not [ "the actual", full, complete, "all-that-He-is" ] 'God the Father' Himself.
In the "full Godship" sense - yes.
In the "full personification" sense - no.
In terms of 'identity', this allows for a separate 'entity' that is [ fully ] God without being [ "the exacting original" ] 'God the Father'.
( "This is vitally important to the plan of salvation, as well as some other things involving the 'eternality' of God. And, not to mention, how He can have a Son without being His own Father..." )
In other words - there IS a separation - such that they are not "exactly identically" the same.
The separation exists in the difference between "God Himself" and "the outward expression of Himself" to His creation. Both are actually God. The difference is a matter of finite identity. The former is the Almighty 'personage' ( 'God the Father' ) - who has never been seen by man. ( Please understand the context -- in the "full personification" sense - not in the "effectual sense" of "the back parts" in Exodus 33:23 -- see John 1:18 below... ) The latter is the Almighty 'manifest' ( 'God the Word' ) - revealed to be seen by man.
God 'unseen' and God 'manifest' -- same God.
God the Father maintains His "rightful just 'private' dignified solemn sacred majestic holy existence"...
God the Word manifests His "rightful just 'public' dignified solemn sacred majestic holy existence"...
Also, the scope of the Word in this context goes beyond the text of the Bible ( which is called "the Word of God" ) - and includes "all things ever shown forth" in the "outward expression" of God to all of His creation.
So then - the Word is "the complete total-sum full living manifestation of the outward expression of God to His creation"...
The phrase 'In the beginning' means the exact same thing as it does in Genesis 1:1 -- and, does not represent the "beginning" of God, the Word, or Jesus.
John 1:
[SUP]3[/SUP] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
God the Word was the "means" or the "mechanism" - through which and by which - God the Father, "by the Word of His mouth", made everything.
It is perfectly legitimate and acceptable to say that God the Father created everything.
It is perfectly legitimate and acceptable to say that God the Word created everything.
Both of these statements are true and in perfect harmony.
John 1:
[SUP]4[/SUP] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[SUP]10[/SUP] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
[SUP]14[/SUP] 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.
[SUP]18[/SUP] No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Jesus was born into the world as a person - body, soul, and spirit. His 'body' was human flesh. His 'soul' was the Word. His 'spirit' was the Holy Spirit.
At His conception, His body was "new"; however, His soul and spirit already existed together before that time - as the Word.
The Word does not have a beginning, and has always been with the Father. ( John 1:1 )
Jesus the person -- the Godhead bodily ( Colossians 2:9 ) -- had a beginning ( through human conception by the Holy Spirit ); however, the Word ( "Jesus the person, minus His body" ) always was...
From verse 14:
The Word ( already existing ) was made ( took on the form of ) flesh ( human conception and birth ).
The sonship of Jesus rests totally in the virgin birth. There is no such thing as 'the Son of God' outside of the bodily existence of Jesus. The Word was not 'the Son of God' before, or outside of, the birth of Jesus --- 'Almighty God' is the Father, 'Jesus Christ' is the Son.
Now -- understand that - after Jesus was raised from the dead, with His 'glorified' body, He ( being God ) could ( I believe ) appear to Abraham, for example, in that very same resurrected body -- because, He could "step inside and outside of time" and "make appearances" whenever He wished.
As for the 'Trinity'...
I believe in "the 'triune' nature" of God. I do not tend to think of Him in the full sense of "three persons" -- because -- a 'person' ( in the full sense ) is generally thought of as having body, soul, and spirit. Of course, God the Father - Who is 'Soul and Spirit' - and has no body - is thought of as a person ( in the full sense ). However, the Holy Spirit is never thought of as having any "part" of a person ( in the full sense ) except 'spirit'. So - while all three might be considered a "person" - strictly by virtue of their 'spirit' ( which happens to be the Holy Spirit for all three ) - each of the three is not a "person" ( in the full sense ) - having body, soul, and spirit.
So then -- whether you want to use the word "person" or not -- there are three, which are the same God:
[TABLE="width: 500, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]God the Word / Jesus
[/TD]
[TD]body, soul, and spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]God the Father[/TD]
[TD]soul and spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]God the Holy Spirit[/TD]
[TD]spirit[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Confusing, isn't it?
-
1
-
1
- Show all