Written By: Bro. Jason
IN the Beginning
‘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. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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 1:1-14
GREAT is the mystery
“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.” 1 Timothy 3:16
The oneness of God and his identity were even a mystery in the time that Jesus walked the earth. It can be seen throughout the scriptures were those who followed Jesus did not all fully understand his true identity as the Almighty God; The Great I AM.
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 14:9
THE oneness of God
The oneness of God is undisputable throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament. There is not one mention of the word trinity (the state of being three), nor is a plurality of the nature of God ever expressed in the Bible. The “One True God” is all knowing, all seeing, all reaching, all encompassing and all powerful in his omnipresence and omnipotence. (See Jeremiah 23:24, 32:27) If this was not so he would not be God. In other words God does not need to be three separate natures, persons, or deities, he is the I AM; he is who he is. Man has tried to put God in a box of human logic and satan has used this to cripple our understanding of who he is.
Just as a man can be a father, a son and a husband at the same time, he is still one man and signs his name the same for he has but one name. It is quite simple if we believe God’s Word, God is ONE.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” Deuteronomy 6:4
‘Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? ‘ Malachi 2:10
‘And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ‘ Mark 12:29
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: Mark 12:32
‘Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. ‘ Romans 3:30
‘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. ‘ 1 Corinthians 8:6
‘And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. ‘ Revelation 4:2
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:5-6
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” 1 John 5:7-8
“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.” Galatians 3:20
‘For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Timothy 2:5
“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” Zechariah 14:9
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19
GOD is ONE!
GOD’s name revealed
The God who speaks to us in the Old Testament as I AM is revealed to us in the
New Testament as the Lord Jesus Christ. God came down to earth in humility, robed himself in flesh and dwelt among us as a man in humanity. Being both fully man and fully God. He revealed himself to us, showed us how we should live, he took on the weight of our sins, paid the price for them and rent the vail that was between us and him. He lived a sinless life, to be the spotless lamb so that he could lay down his life on a cross to pay the wage for our sins. He did all this so we might have salvation, eternal life and an intimate relationship with him.
‘Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. ‘ John 8:19
Jesus spoke in parables (See Matthew 13:10-13) to ensure only those with the desire to know and seek him would have understanding and this also attributes to the understanding of who he is. We must seek him and get to know who he is by reading his Word. Let us look to the scriptures…
[Below the corresponding scriptures from the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) are paired with corresponding numbers Ex: [(1):(1)]
God is the I AM (OT)
(1) “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14
(2) “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Isaiah 52:6
(3) “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:10-11
(4) “Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?” Isaiah 43:13
(5) “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22
(6) “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23
(7) “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.” Isaiah 48:12
Jesus is the I AM (NT)
(1) “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” John 5:46
(2) “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
(2)(3) “They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” John 18:5-6 (Note: “he” is italicized because it was added to help the flow of the text by the translator)
(4) “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28
(5) “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Colossians 2:14
(6) “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
(7) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…” Revelation 1:11
JESUS is the Almighty God; The Great I AM!
The Old Testament prophesied it, Jesus fulfilled and proclaimed it, and his disciples professed it:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
‘And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. ‘ Leviticus 26:11-12
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:15-17
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:5,16
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
‘To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ‘
2 Corinthians 5:19
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. John 5:43
I and my Father are one. John 10:30
“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.” John 8:24
‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ‘ Titus 2:13
‘Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: ‘ 2 Peter 1:1
‘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. ‘ 1 John 5:20
‘Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ‘ John 20:27-28
‘Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. ‘ Luke 8:39
We had the eminence honor of actually meeting our God in the flesh and he gave us his name; Jesus Christ! HIS NAME IS JESUS!!!
WHY is knowing that Jesus is God important?
The Apostle Paul said it best in his letter to the Colossians:
“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 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: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” Colossians 2:1-12
All PRINCIPALITY and POWER are in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST! The saving power is in the name of Jesus, our salvation is only through him and the power of his name. The name of our God!
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:“ Matthew 28:18-19
What is the NAME?
“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.” Acts 2:38 (Also see John 3:3,5)
Jesus said in (Matthew 16:18-19) that Peter (Petros: {greek}-meaning rock) was the rock that he would establish his church on and give the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Peter gave us the keys and made it clear to us that the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is Jesus Christ because these three are ONE!
Our salvation is in Jesus Christ alone, the name of the ONE TRUE GOD and we must obey Acts 2:38!
‘And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it.’ Isaiah 22:22-25
‘And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.‘ Revelation 3:7-8
House of Refuge First Pentecostal Church Beaufort, SC 