- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,784
Dear povawiqe,
[Jhn 3:13 KJV] 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
Knowing the above verse is Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, how then can He also be in heaven at the same time?
[Jhn 6:46 KJV] 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
[Jhn 14:9 KJV] 9 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?
This is why many believe in the Second of the Godhead who is Jesus Christ. God the Father being the first, and the third of the Godhead is God the Holy Spirit.
Much of the difficulty with this is that Jesus is also the Son of Man. Understanding that the incarnate God was necessary as the Son of Man to be the perfect Sacrifice, helps clear up any ambiguity.
However, I'm also sure you can break down in the Greek Son of God. Son is relational, while God is divinity. So, there is only one God, in three persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Understanding why Jesus had no issue with being equal to the Father, which the Jews saw this in Him as well and tried to kill Him for it was something that provided me additional clarity. If the Jews of the day saw Him as saying & believing Himself to be so, why would/should I be hesitant in accepting Him that way as well? I understand where you are at, because I stood there as well, and is not something I could grasp quickly over any particular posting/readings/prayers/meditating on His Word etc. It took me many years to be at peace with this understanding.
[Jhn 5:18 KJV] 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
However, it was necessary for Him to become less as well, however not as you believe Him to be as a Created being.
[Phl 2:6-8 KJV] 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
How great is the Love of God!!!
Here is the issue with what you have said. You leave out what is most important and provides the context! "Begotten"! Not created! Now where you received the "first born of creation" from also requires context.
[Col 1:15 KJV] 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
The context being found in v16, 17, which is below my side note.
Side note because of v15: Leaving out v16 & 17 you'd have to consider the context of "every creature". Meaning you make Him not only not equal to God, but the first of every creature, and just man, and surely not the Creator. If this is what you believe this to be true, then sadly there is very little else we can or will agree with.
[Col 1:16-17 KJV] 16 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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Additionally I don't see where He was created before all things, just that He existed as did God the Father. The implication above is that He created them and why He created them and that they exist with His approval only.
Note: Consider the future tense of [Psa 89:27 KJV] 27 Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
I'm sorry to say that you assume much more than I can, by not acknowledging our Lord's Divinity and seeing Him as only a creation.
I probably will not reply to your justification to what I have written above. Why you may ask? Because, it will not be anything that I haven't heard/read before, and have found it to be a fruitless discussion here on TJ. Why I have shared what I did in this post is so that you might know where I'm coming from. Also, I hope you may also realize that this is not all that I have considered as it pertains to Scripture on this subject, with consideration to what you have shared.
Still, because you believe as you do, and I as I do, I still hold nothing against you, and will pray for you. Not that you would change your mind, but rather that He would keep you covered, and secure in His embrace.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><
[Jhn 3:13 KJV] 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
Knowing the above verse is Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, how then can He also be in heaven at the same time?
[Jhn 6:46 KJV] 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
[Jhn 14:9 KJV] 9 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?
This is why many believe in the Second of the Godhead who is Jesus Christ. God the Father being the first, and the third of the Godhead is God the Holy Spirit.
Much of the difficulty with this is that Jesus is also the Son of Man. Understanding that the incarnate God was necessary as the Son of Man to be the perfect Sacrifice, helps clear up any ambiguity.
However, I'm also sure you can break down in the Greek Son of God. Son is relational, while God is divinity. So, there is only one God, in three persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Understanding why Jesus had no issue with being equal to the Father, which the Jews saw this in Him as well and tried to kill Him for it was something that provided me additional clarity. If the Jews of the day saw Him as saying & believing Himself to be so, why would/should I be hesitant in accepting Him that way as well? I understand where you are at, because I stood there as well, and is not something I could grasp quickly over any particular posting/readings/prayers/meditating on His Word etc. It took me many years to be at peace with this understanding.
[Jhn 5:18 KJV] 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
However, it was necessary for Him to become less as well, however not as you believe Him to be as a Created being.
[Phl 2:6-8 KJV] 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
How great is the Love of God!!!
The Messiah is restricted because he himself is created, which is why he is called "son of God". A son comes after a father, not before a father, nor at the same time as a father, and the time the Messiah came into existence was in the beginning of creation, which is why the scriptures call him the "firstborn of creation" and also the "only son of God", because he was the only soul brought into existence directly by the Father, whereas everyone else, man, animals, and angels, were all brought into existence through the Messiah, which is why the scriptures also declare, "through him all came to be".
Here is the issue with what you have said. You leave out what is most important and provides the context! "Begotten"! Not created! Now where you received the "first born of creation" from also requires context.
[Col 1:15 KJV] 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
The context being found in v16, 17, which is below my side note.
Side note because of v15: Leaving out v16 & 17 you'd have to consider the context of "every creature". Meaning you make Him not only not equal to God, but the first of every creature, and just man, and surely not the Creator. If this is what you believe this to be true, then sadly there is very little else we can or will agree with.
[Col 1:16-17 KJV] 16 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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Additionally I don't see where He was created before all things, just that He existed as did God the Father. The implication above is that He created them and why He created them and that they exist with His approval only.
Note: Consider the future tense of [Psa 89:27 KJV] 27 Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
I'm sorry to say that you assume much more than I can, by not acknowledging our Lord's Divinity and seeing Him as only a creation.
I probably will not reply to your justification to what I have written above. Why you may ask? Because, it will not be anything that I haven't heard/read before, and have found it to be a fruitless discussion here on TJ. Why I have shared what I did in this post is so that you might know where I'm coming from. Also, I hope you may also realize that this is not all that I have considered as it pertains to Scripture on this subject, with consideration to what you have shared.
Still, because you believe as you do, and I as I do, I still hold nothing against you, and will pray for you. Not that you would change your mind, but rather that He would keep you covered, and secure in His embrace.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><