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Questions and answers on the Godhead: Difference between revisions

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Questions and answers on the Godhead (view source)

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|'''What must we do?'''
|'''What must we do?'''
||''Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:'' (I Peter 1:22)
||''Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.'' (Acts 16:31)
 
''Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:'' (I Peter 1:22)


''Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.'' (II Corinthians 4:10)
''Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.'' (II Corinthians 4:10)
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===Why is the Old Testament Important?===
===Why is the Old Testament Important?===
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|''God,...spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,'' (Hebrews 1:1)
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Christianity began as a Jewish sect, and the entire New Testament was written by Jewish Christians.  The Jewish scriptures (the Old Testament) were very important to these early Christians, because it was the Word of God spoken to the prophets. By the third century Christianity had become a predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) religion.  As a result, the importance of the Old Testament was minimized, and a Greek interpretation of the New Testament became popular at the expense of Jewish Christians.
Christianity began as a Jewish sect, and the entire New Testament was written by Jewish Christians.  The Jewish scriptures (the Old Testament) were very important to these early Christians, because it was the Word of God spoken to the prophets. By the third century Christianity had become a predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) religion.  As a result, the importance of the Old Testament was minimized, and a Greek interpretation of the New Testament became popular at the expense of Jewish Christians.


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In order to "know the LORD" (Hosea 2:20), you must begin with a Jewish understanding of the Old Testament: a belief in one God.   
In order to "know the LORD" (Hosea 2:20), you must begin with a Jewish understanding of the Old Testament: a belief in one God.   
{|style="background-color:#cedff2; border:1px #a3b0bf solid; text-align:center; width:800px;"
|''Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:'' (Deuteronomy 6:4)
''God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,'' (Hebrews 1:1)
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===Step 3: How the woman was made.===
===How was the first woman made?===
After man was created, God formed a woman from the rib of man (Genesis 2:22). The woman then had a separate body, spirit and soul, and was capable of making decisions independent from man.  Both men and women are also capable of making decisions independent from God.   
After man was created, God formed a woman from the rib of man (Genesis 2:22). The woman then had a separate body, spirit and soul, and was capable of making decisions independent from man.  Both men and women are also capable of making decisions independent from God.   


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===Step 4: What it means to be a son of man===
===What does it mean to be a son of man?===
A child can only come after a man knows a woman (Hebrew interpretation).  While the first man and woman were created, the rest of the human race have been formed in the womb and brought forth in pain.  Regardless of whether it is a natural or a cesarean birth, a child experiences three distinct changes during birth:
A child can only come after a man knows a woman (Hebrew interpretation).  While the first man and woman were created, the rest of the human race have been formed in the womb and brought forth in pain.  Regardless of whether it is a natural or a cesarean birth, a child experiences three distinct changes during birth:


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===Step 5: What it means to be a son of God===
===What does it mean to be a son of God?===
Because God is a Spirit (John 4:24), someone who is a child of God must be so in spirit. The scriptures say ''"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"'' (Romans 8:14), and ''"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:"'' (I John 5:1a).  Someone who is born of God is set in the image of the creator (Colossians 3:10), and is identified by his or her obedience to the Word of God (I John 3:24).
Because God is a Spirit (John 4:24), someone who is a child of God must be so in spirit. The scriptures say ''"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"'' (Romans 8:14), and ''"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:"'' (I John 5:1a).  Someone who is born of God is set in the image of the creator (Colossians 3:10), and is identified by his or her obedience to the Word of God (I John 3:24).


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===Step 6: Life in Heaven===
===What about life in Heaven?===
Death does not end our existence.  The scriptures say that ''"There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."'' (I Corinthians 15:44).  Like a natural body, a spiritual body is a temple for the spirit but is not the spirit itself.  For example, Angels have spiritual bodies but are not formless beings (Daniel 8:15).   
Death does not end our existence.  The scriptures say that ''"There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."'' (I Corinthians 15:44).  Like a natural body, a spiritual body is a temple for the spirit but is not the spirit itself.  For example, Angels have spiritual bodies but are not formless beings (Daniel 8:15).   


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===Step 7: Of Angels and People===
===Is the temple the only Old Testament comparison to man?===
The prophet Ezekiel saw a visions of angels descending from heaven with the likeness of man (Ezekiel 1:5).  Beside each of these angels was a wheel in a wheel, (Ezekiel 1:16) and the spirit of the angels was found in the wheels (Ezekiel 1:20).  This vision may sound cryptic, but the angel had the likeness of a man: Body (angel), spirit (wheel), and soul (wheel in a wheel).   
No. The prophet Ezekiel saw a visions of angels descending from heaven with the likeness of man (Ezekiel 1:5).  Beside each of these angels was a wheel in a wheel, (Ezekiel 1:16) and the spirit of the angels was found in the wheels (Ezekiel 1:20).  This vision may sound cryptic, but the angel had the likeness of a man: Body (angel), spirit (wheel), and soul (wheel in a wheel).   


The body contains senses to contact the physical world (see, taste, feel, hear, smell), and its purpose is to perform the will of the spirit (James 2:26).  The spirit contains senses to interact with other beings (reason, affection, imagination, consience, memory), and its purpose is expression (I Corinthians 14:14, Isaiah 11:2).  The soul contains the a single sense to enable it to contact God: faith, which is the ability to believe (Hebrews 10:39, Habakkuk 2:4).  Faith is what ties us to God or separates us from God.  No other creature on earth has this ability.         
The purpose of the body is to perform the will of the spirit (James 2:26).  The purpose of the spirit is expression (I Corinthians 14:14, Isaiah 11:2).  The gate to the soul is faith, which is the ability to believe (Hebrews 10:39, Habakkuk 2:4).  Faith is what ties us to God or separates us from God.  No other creature on earth has this ability.         




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<div style="font-size:120%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">'''Why did Jesus say "before Abraham was, I am", and "glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." if he as a son was begotten, rather than being an eternal son?</div>
Jesus was simply God (Soul and Spirit) in flesh, born of a woman.  God had entered flesh before, but never as the son of God.  Here are two examples:


#When King Nebuchadnezzar threw three Hebrews into a furnace, he saw four "men" walking around, and declared that the fourth man was ''"like the Son of God"'' (Daniel 3:25).  This man was not the Son of God, but was "like" the Son of God.  In other words, this was God (Soul and Spirit) in a created body not made of a woman.  
==='''Is there such a thing as eternal sonship?===
#Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, ate bread and drank wine with Abraham, just like Jesus had communion with his disciples (Genesis 14:18).  The scriptures also say that Melchizedek was made ''"like unto the Son of God"'' and was without beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3)  Melchizedek was also God (Soul and Spirit) in a created body not made of a woman.
Every son has a beginning.  Jesus could not be a son without being born, just as he could not be a saviour without dying.  A son has no knowledge of his father's experiences, and Jesus had no understanding of God at his birth, but ''"increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."'' (Luke 2:52) 
 
 
==='''Why did Jesus say "before Abraham was, I am", if he was not the eternal son?</div>
God made Jesus ''"both Lord and Christ"'' (Acts 2:36).  "Lord" refers to the word "[[Jehovah]]", which is the self-existent one.  Jesus was Jehovah in flesh, born of a woman. "Christ" is the Greek word for [[Messiah]], which means "anointed" [[Messiah]] by God.  There are examples in the Bible of when God had entered flesh before, but never as the son of God.  Here are two examples:


When Jesus said "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) and referred to the glory he had with the Father "before the world was" (John 17:5), he was revealing that he was the possessor of the soul and spirit of God.  Jesus' body was the temple of God (John 2:19) made of a woman, but Jesus was the invisible God, [[Jehovah]], of the Old Testament.  His body was irrelevant to his existence, but relevant to the process of our redemption.  
#When King Nebuchadnezzar threw three Hebrews into a furnace, he saw four "men" walking around, and declared that the fourth man was ''"like the Son of God"'' (Daniel 3:25).  This man was "like" the Son of God as he was God in the flesh, but he was not the Son of God as he was not born of a woman. 
#Melchizedek ate bread and drank wine with Abraham, just like Jesus had communion with his disciples (Genesis 14:18).  The Bible says that  Melchizedek was made ''"like unto the Son of God"'' and was without beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3).  Melchizedek was also God in flesh, but he was not the Son of God as he was not born of a woman.  


Those who believe are also called the temple of the living God (II Corinthians 6:16).  Just as the Woman was from the flesh of Man, those who believe are from the Spirit of God, and are eternal.     
When Jesus said "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) and referred to the glory he had with the Father "before the world was" (John 17:5), he was revealing that he was the possessor of the soul and spirit of God.  Jesus' body was the temple of God (John 2:19) made of a woman, but inside he was the invisible God, [[Jehovah]], of the Old Testament.  His body was irrelevant to his existence, but relevant to the process of our redemption.  Those who believe are also called the temple of the living God (II Corinthians 6:16).  Just as the Woman was from the flesh of Man, those who believe are from the Spirit of God, and are eternal.     




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<div style="font-size:120%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">'''If Jesus was the possessor of the Soul and Spirit of God, how could the Holy Spirit descend from heaven, and how could God speak from heaven if he was already in Jesus</div>
==='''How could God speak from heaven, if he was not another "person"?</div>
Jesus, born of a woman, was subject to gravity, death, and time.  God (Soul and Spirit) is not subject to any of these things.  In fact, on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit anointed 120 disciples (Acts 2:4), and later that same day 3,000 people were baptized (Acts 2:41).  The Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at his baptism was the adoption anointing from the Father, just like the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the adoption anointing.
Jesus, born of a woman, was subject to gravity, death, and time.  God is not subject to any of these things.  If the Spirit of God can continue to work outside of your frame of existence, and you are a son of God, then there is no reason why the Spirit of God would be restricted from working outside of Jesus' body while Jesus was on earth.


Also, if the Spirit of God can continue to work outside of your frame of existence, and you are a son of God, then there is no reason why the Spirit of God would be restricted from working outside of Jesus' body while Jesus was on earth. 


 
==='''If the Son had a beginning, does he also have an end?'''===
<div style="font-size:120%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">'''Is there such a thing as eternal sonship?</div>
The body of Jesus was formed in Mary's womb, and the body of Jesus died on a cross and was placed in a tomb.  The Son of man was born, and the Son of Man died. The Spirit of Jesus, however, is the eternal Holy Spirit, also known as the Word, which was with God and was God in the beginning (John 1:1).
No.  Think about it naturally: every son has a beginning.  There was no Son of God before Jesus was born, just as God was not a creator before he created anything, and was not a Saviour before he saved anything.


Just like a son has no knowledge of his father's experiences, Jesus had no understanding of God at his birth, but ''"increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."'' (Luke 2:52)  The Bible records that God made Jesus, who was crucified, ''"both Lord and Christ"'' (Acts 2:36).  Before creation, God was known as "[[Jehovah]]", which is the self-existent one.  This name was considered so Holy that it was pronounced "LORD" by the Children of Israel.  Jesus was Jehovah, the self-existent one, born of a woman. "Christ" is the Messiah, the promised Saviour. When Jesus was on earth he was the anointed.  Now, in heaven, he is the anointer as he is made a "quickening spirit".   
When Jesus rose from the dead he proved that God's life in the Spirit of his Son is eternal, and is not subject to death. Jesus then ascended into heaven, was glorified, and returned to the earth to minister to his disciples (John 20:16-17, John 20:27).  When Jesus returned he was no longer confined to the laws of nature, but was able to appear and disappear at will as the Son of God.  All of the functions of his natural body - memory, sight, taste, mass, etc... - existed and restricted only on command.   


After Jesus was glorified, God had every right to call his physical appearance the Son of God.  This is why when God met Saul on the road to Damascus he appeared as a great light (Acts 9:3-4), similar to his appearance to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), and said "I am Jesus" (Acts 9:5).  This same God appeared as 120 tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3) and was known as the spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20), the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4), and the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19).
Jesus prophesied that he had come from the Father and would go back to the Father (John 16:28).  Paul writes that ''"when all things shall be subdued unto him,"'' (including death) ''"then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him , that God may be all in all."'' (I Corinthians 15:28).  Jesus became the Saviour by submitting his spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke 23:46) - and Paul's writing prophecies of another submission which will produce an even greater result.  
 
 
<div style="font-size:120%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">'''If the Son of God had a beginning, does he also have an end?'''</div>
The body of Jesus was formed in Mary's womb, and the body of Jesus died on a cross and was placed in a tomb.   
 
The Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit, also known as the Word, which was with God and was God in the beginning (John 1:1) - this is eternal, and cannot change.  
   
   
When Jesus rose from the dead he proved that God's life in the Spirit of his Son is eternal, and is not subject to death. Jesus then ascended into heaven, was glorified, and returned to the earth to minister to his disciples (John 20:16-17, John 20:27).  When Jesus returned in his glorified body he was no longer confined to the laws of nature but was able to appear and disappear at will as the Son of God.  All of the functions of his natural body - memory, sight, taste, mass, etc... - existed and restricted only on command. 


Jesus prophesied that he had come from the Father and would go back to the Father (John 16:28).  Paul writes that ''"when all things shall be subdued unto him,"'' (including death) ''"then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him , that God may be all in all."'' (I Corinthians 15:28).  Jesus became the Saviour by submitting his spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke 23:46) - and Paul's writing prophecies of a another time of submission which will produce an even greater result. 
==='''What does "adoption" mean in the Bible?===
 
 
<div style="font-size:120%; padding:1px; margin:1px;">'''What does "adoption" mean in the Bible?</div>
In Western society, adoption is the process of legally claiming an orphan or another person's child as your own child.  In Eastern society, adoption also means the process whereby a son comes to power with his father over his inheritance (Galatians 4:1-2).  If a son did not prove himself to be of sound judgment, his inheritance was instead given to a faithful servant (Proverbs 17:2).   
In Western society, adoption is the process of legally claiming an orphan or another person's child as your own child.  In Eastern society, adoption also means the process whereby a son comes to power with his father over his inheritance (Galatians 4:1-2).  If a son did not prove himself to be of sound judgment, his inheritance was instead given to a faithful servant (Proverbs 17:2).   


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*Bible Studies on the Godhead by: [[Jesus on the Godhead|Jesus]], [[Paul on the Godhead|Paul]], [[Irenaeus on the Godhead|Irenaeus]], [[William Branham on the Godhead|William Branham]]
*Bible Studies on the Godhead by: [[Jesus on the Godhead|Jesus]], [[Paul on the Godhead|Paul]], [[Irenaeus on the Godhead|Irenaeus]], [[William Branham on the Godhead|William Branham]]
*Suggested Reading: '''[http://www.thefreeword.com/books/7857-L.pdf The Sermon "Questions and Answers on Hebrews #2" by William Branham]'''.
*Suggested Reading: '''[http://www.thefreeword.com/books/7857-L.pdf The Sermon "Questions and Answers on Hebrews #2" by William Branham]'''.
''Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:'' (Deuteronomy 6:4)


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