For years I am saying: PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS!!

(Matt. 22:23-33 VS. Ex. 3:6—it doesn’t mention resurrection??

The Bible doesn’t start in THE beginning. Gen. 1:1 begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth, not the beginning of all things.

Was anything before the earth? Yes, "Elohim"—Let US—plural.

Was there a creation after the heavens but before the earth? Job 38:1-7—Laying the "foundation of the Earth," "When the MORNING [break of day—dawn—hence "heavens" are already in existence] STARS [a star, shining, princes, angels/messengers, Rev. 1:20] sang together, and all THE SONS OF GOD shouted for joy."

"Singing?" Yes, GOD taught the angels TO SING! GOD SINGS!

Who are these "sons of God?" Job 1;6—messengers of God, Angels.

How do they differ from US? Angels are created; "Sons and Daughters are BEGOTTEN AND BORN of God (Heb. 1:5 & 10). The angels worship Christ (Verse 6) and they will worship US (Verse 11).

Jesus predated the earth, the angels, and the heavens—He is the Alpha of God; the FIRST; the BEGINNING; the FIRSTFRUITS

THE BIBLE’S GREATEST PARABLE: "We will make humanity in Our Image according to Our Likeness…and creating is God humanity in His Image…" (Gen. 1:26)…nowhere taught in the Church. Christendom’s "Image of God" Adam, SINNED! What kind of a "God-Image" is THAT?

"and it was so," "and it was good,"—But it was NOT SO, Ver 26…

All is out of God… "HEAVENLY" forms and patters (Heb 8:5 & 23)…

Whatever exists in heaven is PERSONIFIED IN JESUS CHRIST!!

Jesus ONLY is in the "Image of God"—"Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express IMAGE of His person [Gk: ‘all the assumed qualities of God’]…" (Heb. 1:3). "…Christ, Who is the IMAGE of God" (II Cor. 4:4). This is why we will be:

"…conformed to the IMAGE of His Son" (Rom. 8:29).

"…changed into the same IMAGE [of Jesus]…" (II Cor. 3:18).

Who is Jesus? What is Jesus? Where did He come from?

What are the First recorded words of Jesus? "Let there be LIGHT"

(Gen. 1:3). Second recorded words? "I must be about My Father’s business" (Lk. 2:49). Can we prove Jesus said: "Let there be light?"

Let’s first clear up Jesus’ name: Is "JESUS" a pagan name? Does it come from the pagan Greek god Zeus—GeeZeus as most of these sacred name societies would have us believe?

Strong’s #2424—Iesous, ee-ay-sooce from Heb: Yehowshuwa, yeh-ho-shoo’-ah, Yehoshua/Joshua

How do we transliterate Yeshua to Iesous (pronounced Ee-ay-sooce) as found in the King James?.

Thee doctrines: [1] Jesus first came into existence as a human, [2] He was created prior to His human birth, [3] He has eternally existed.

Few believe the # 1; most Christians believe # 3.

How could the concept of a "Father & Son" co-exist eternally?

Q: "In the beginning God [Heb: Elohim—plural of El {God}] created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). Is this God the FATHER?

Q: Who then is this, "…in the day that the LORD God [Heb: Yahweh Elohim] made the earth and the heavens (Gen. 2:4)?

Is Elohim: God only? Jesus only? Both? Is Jehovah Elohim: God only, Jesus only? Both? Is Elohim & Jehovah Elohim the same God?

Major Truth: "No man has ever seen God at any time" (John 1:18).

"The FATHER Himself, which has sent Me, has born witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5:37).

"No man has seen God at any time" (I John 4:12).

Who did Abraham entertain (Gen. 18—"three men")? Who is the man/God that Jacob talked with and saw "face to face" (Gen. 32:30)? Same as Gen. 2:23 "Eve from MAN." Jehovah talked through "a man" but Jehovah is not flesh and blood. Jehovah talked through Balaam’s ass, but Jehovah is not a beast. Moses did not and could not see Jehovah "face to face" and live.

"…neither knows any man the FATHER, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him" (Matt. 11:27).

"It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall be all taught of God’ [‘And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord [Jehovah]…’ Isa. 54:13]. "Every man therefore that has heard and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me. Not that any man has seen the Father, save He which is of God, He has seen the Father" (John 6:45-46).

If no one has ever seen or heard the Father, what if anything do we really know about Him?

[1] "These things says the Amen [Jesus] the faithful and True Witness [Jesus] the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. 3:14).

"…the Origin of God’s creation" (James Moffatt).

"…God’s creative Original" (Concordant Literal New Testament).

"…The Chief of the creation of God" (Young’s Translation).

(The Amp lified New Testament).

COMMENT: For sure Jesus was AT the beginning of creation.

Jesus is called "Firstfruits of them than slept" (I Cor. 15:20).

[2] "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8). Some claim this is God the Father.

"Almighty"—Strong’s #G3841 "pantokratōr From G3956 and G2904; the all ruling, that is, God (as absolute and universal sovereign): - Almighty, Omnipotent." Certainly this "Almighty" is God, but is it God the Father of Jesus or is it Jesus Himself?

Here’s the proof: This "Almighty" is the "Alpha & Omega." This "Alpha and Omega" is called "First and Last" in Rev. 1:11 and "First and Last" of 1:17 is the One Who became "DEAD" in verse 18! If Jesus was eternally "Almighty" how could He DIE? Can an eternal God die?

OR, can the title "God" be only applied to One Who is NOT eternal?

1. "Him which is, and which was, and which is to come" Rev. 1:4).

2. "I am alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come" (Re. 1:8).

3. "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Rev. 1:11).

4. "I am the first and the last" (Rev. 1:17)

5. "I am He that lives, and was DEAD; and, behold, I am alive" (Rev. 1:18).

6. "the first and the last, which was DEAD, and is alive" (Rev. 2:8).

7. "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. 4:8).

8. "Oh Lord God Almighty, which art, and was, and are to come" (Rev. 11:17).

9. "Thou art righteous, O Lord, which are, and was, and shall be" (Rev. 16:5).

10. "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev. 21:6).

11. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Rev. 22:13).

COMMENT: If Jesus were "eternal" and "immortal," how could He DIE? I Tim. 6:16—"GOD… Who only has immortality [DEATH=LESS=NESS]." Immortality is not subject to death. NOW Jesus can never die, as NOW HE HAS IMMORTALITY. It is possible to be called "God" and yet not be eternal as we shall see. Jesus was raised "a living SPIRIT" (I Cor. 15:45), yet a "man" (I Tim. 2:5). But neither is He nor will we be "flesh & blood" (I Cor. 15:50)……..

[3] "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM [Gk: ‘I exist’]" (John 8:58). "Ere Abraham came into being, I AM" (Concordant Version). Certainly Jesus existed before all humanity….

…"I AM THAT [WHO] I AM: and He said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM [Heb: ‘to exist’] has sent me unto you" (Ex. 3:13-15) This "God" of verse 13 is "Jehovah Elohim" as proved by verse 15. Jesus Christ IS the "LORD God" of the Old Testament. Elohim = Placer, Arbiter (God of space and force as Yahweh is of time). Greek: "Theos" = Placer.

[4] "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 anything made that was made….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us…the only begotten of the Father…" (John 1:1-3). Actually & literally "God was the Word" (Concordant).

"The Word"—Gk: Logos, Spokesman, "something said, divine expression"

"And GOD said [Heb: amar—"to say, speak, commune, command" Who is the Spokesman for God? Who is the Word of God? Who "said"…]…Let there be light?" JESUS, of course.

[5] How can we be absolutely sure that this is not the Father speaking in Genesis? Answer: "And the Father Himself, which has sent Me, has born witness of Me. Ye have neither herd his voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5:37). Did Moses hear God’s voice? Answer: "Did ever people hear the voice of GOD speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?" (Deut. 4:33). Did Moses see the shape of God? "…you shall SEE MY BACK PARTS…." (Exodus 33:18-23). This is Jesus.

[6] "For by HIM [Jesus] 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" (Col. 1:15-19).

COMMENT: How could the Creator God of the Universe be born as a little baby in a female womb?

"Let this mind be in you, which was [is] also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant [slave], and WAS made in the likeness of men"(Phil. 2:5-7).

mind = the disposition of God Himself

being in the form of God = "being INHERENTLY in form of God"

Gk: hupareh’o = "continually [all along] existent as an innate [‘possessed at birth, inborn, essential, inherent] or essential attribute, exist [the definition of Yahweh]’

equal with God = "same amount or degree" Why? God was IN HIM.

made Himself of no reputation = Gk: keno’o—"to make empty, abase, neutralize" King James Margin: "emptied himself of His privileges."

Truly, GOD BECAME A MAN. "God was the Word…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1 & 14).

[7] "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" (I Cor. 8:6).

COMMENT: See John 20:17—"My Father, your Father; My God, your God." The word "of" in this verse is ek ex and it means—‘origin, from, out of.’ Here is the Concordant Translation "…there is One God, the Father, OUT OF WHOM ALL IS…" If "ALL is out of God," then certainly that includes Jesus. And if Jesus is "out of" the Father, then He did not eternally exist and He is a creation of God the Father just as much as are all the rest of creation.

"BY Whom are all things…" Gk: dia = "the channel of an act, through" All creation is OF God, but THROUGH Jesus and "FOR"

Jesus (Heb. 2:10).

[8] The Prophets: "Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of CHRIST which was in them [the prophets of old]…" (I Pet. 1:12). Some argue that this means "the spirit of ANOINTING was on them, not that Jesus was existed back in those days. Well let’s read the next Scripture:

[9] The Fathers under Moses: "did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock WAS CHRIST" (I Cor. 10:4).

[10] Jesus did not originally come out from Mary: "…believe that I came out from God. "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world…" (John 16:27-28). "…I came out from THEE…" (John 17:8). "…I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, be He SENT ME" (John 8:42). "…because God SENT His only begotten Son into the world…the Father SENT the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (I John 3:8 & 14).

[11] Where was Jesus before His human birth? "For I [Jesus] came down from heaven not to do Mine Own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38). Jesus had a "will" before and after He "came down from heaven."

[12] Was Jesus glorified before He became human? "And now, O Father, glorify You Me with Your Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee BEFORE THE WORLD WAS" (John 17:5).

[13] How long as the Father loved the Son? "…for You loved Me BEFORE the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). Then the Jesus had to EXIST before the foundation of the world.

[14] "GOD…has spoken unto us by His Son…by Whom also He made the worlds [Gk: ‘aions/ages’]" (Heb. 1:1-2).

[15] God calls His Son, "God" "But unto the Son He says, Thy throne O GOD is for ever and ever [eon of the eon] (Heb. 1:8).

COMMENT: JW’s try to make this: "God is thy throne." No, God is speaking about HIS SON, not Himself. The Father is calling His Son, "God."

"…the glorious appearing [the Father is not ‘appearing’] of the great GOD and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

" Now to HIM [Jesus]…present you faultless before the presence of HIS glory [God’]…To the only wise GOD our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever" (Jude 24-25).

"And Thomas answered and said unto Him, my Lord and my GOD." (John 20:28).

[16] John said that Jesus was "before me" (John 1:15) yet John was 6 month older than Jesus (Luke 1:57).

[17] "For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world…" (Heb. 9:26). Jesus clearly existed back then.

[18] Should "only begotten Son" be translated "only begotten GOD" in John 1:18? The Greek "Theos" [God] is in the manuscripts.

a. "God no one has ever seen. The only-begotten GOD Who is in the bosom of the Father, He unfolds Him" (Concordant Literal Version)

b. "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known" (New International Version).

c. "…the only begotten Son, Who is God and close to the Father’s heart…" (The New Testament in the Language of Today By William Beck).

d. "No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son Who is close to the Father’s heart…" (New Revised Standard Version).

e. "No one has seen God at any time: An Only-Begotten God, The One existing in the bosom of the Father, He has interpreted Him" (Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible). Etc.

If Jesus is "God" and His Father is "God," how can we know them apart? Which is which in the Scriptures? What do we really know about God the Father, if Jesus is the God of the Old Testament? Is there one single statement in the entirety of the Bible where God the Father is speaking IN THE FIRST PERSON?

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool" (Psalm 110:1).

VERSUS:

"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit you on My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool" (Matt. 22:44).

VERSUS:

"But to which of the angels said He [but only Jehovah the Word of God ever does the actual speaking, even though it is the Father speaking through Him] at any time, ‘Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your foot stool" (Heb. 1:13).

"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, sit you on my right hand, until I made your foes your footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ" (Acts 2:34-36).

Who is "my Lord" in Psalm 110:1 and in Matt. 22:44 and Heb. 1:13?

We know for sure who "THE LORD" is in Psalm 110:1; He is "Yehovah," for that is what the Hebrew word used. But WHO then is "MY Lord?" It has to be David Himself, for "THE LORD" is doing the speaking in this Psalm, and God the Father does not speak directly to any man at any time (John 5:37), neither does the Father take orders from Yahweh /Jesus His SON!

The name "adonay"— #136 taken from ‘adon,’ is defined by Dr. Strong as: "the Lord (used as a proper name for God ONLY)" And so a couple of hundred times "Adonay" is used exclusively of God Notice Exodus 4:10—"…the LORD O my Lord" (Yahweh O my Adonay). But for sure in Psalm 110:1 "The Yahweh did not say unto my Yahweh." No, Yahweh is speaking to one of less authority than Himself, and Yahweh was Jesus, so Yahweh [LORD/Jesus] is speaking to adon [Lord David].

Adon has prophetic reference to Jesus the Messiah, but not in the O.T. context. David and others refer to themselves in the third person:

"And David spoke unto the Lord the words of this song…He is the tower of salvation for the king [king David] : and shows mercy to his anointed, unto David…." (II Sam. 22:1 & 51). And Psalm 144:Title, and verses 1 & 10. "A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength…It is He that gives salvation unto kings: Who delivers DAVID his servant from the hurtful sword." Remember that the Titles of the Psalms are inspired.

Did "The LORD," however, in fact make all of David’s enemies his footstool? No He didn’t. That privilege would be reserved for God’s Son, Jesus (Heb. 10:12-13). And again: "GOD…has in these last days spoken unto us by HIS SON Whom He has appointed Heir of all things, by Whom also He MADE THE WORLDS [Gk: ‘ages’] …But unto the SON He says…But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on my right hand, until, I make YOUR [Christ’s] enemies YOUR [Christ, not David] "footstool" (Heb. 1:1, 2, 8, 13).

So clearly we have here the enigma solved as to how Christ could be "David’s Son," (by genealogy) and yet David could call Him "Lord." It is Lord JESUS, not the Lord David who will have "all enemies under His [Jesus’] feet" (I Cor. 15:25).

"And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David…" (Luke 1:32). "Jesus Christ the son of David" (Mat. 1:1).

Jesus is both SON AND LORD.

And so Jehovah/Yahweh prophesied of HIS OWN COMING IN THE FLESH to be the Son of God to have all enemies put under His feet. But if Jehovah is the Son OF God, Who IS GOD? And where do we read ANYTHING about Him? Do we know of a single word that came out of the Mouth of God the Father? How can we love Him if we don’t even KNOW Him? Who is the Father and what is He like. Show me a verse in the Bible where the Father of Jesus Christ is speaking?

Here’s another riddle and enigma:

"Jesus said unto him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37).

WHO is this LORD God?

"Now these are the commandments…which the LORD your God commanded…And you shall love the LORD your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deut. 6:1 & 5).

WHO is this LORD God?

Jesus QUOTED this commandment from the Old Testament. If Jesus is Jehovah Elohim when why didn’t He say: "you shall love ME with all your heart, soul and mind? (They would have stoned Him on the spot). Is there any doubt that Jesus has reference to "His FATHER God" when He quoted this greatest of the commandments? Then what about the Old Testament command? Who was THAT "Lord God/Jehovah Elohim" that Israel was to love with all their heart?

THE GOD OF CREATION

Gen. 1:1—"In the beginning GOD [Elohim] created the heavens & earth." Who is this "God?

"God said: "Let there be light!" (Gen. 1:3). "And God said, and God said, and God said……….but no one heard till verse 28—"And blessed them , and God said unto them, ‘Be FRUITFUL…."

Who said it? GOD. Has anyone ever heard the Father? (John 5:39).

How can this be? God speaks through His Son who is HIS WORD! And not only is "the Word God," but "GOD is the Word" IN Jesus.

("God"—Elohim, is used 35 times till Gen. 2:4). Then we read: "…the LORD [Yehwah] God [Elohim] made the heavens & earth." Wait a minute…I thought it was ‘GOD’? Who is this "LORD God?" (Next 20 times we find "LORD God" only, Gen. 2:4 to Gen. 4:1).

"Elohim created the heavens & earth…Yahweh Elohim made the heavens & earth.

"God" = 3,891; "Lord" = 6,749; of these "Lord God" together = 1600 times. (The words God and Lord appear 10,640 times in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures.) Yet few Christians on earth know Who this LORD God/Jehovah Elohim really is.

Are these two ‘Lord God’ the same ‘Lord God?’ Is ‘kurios theos’ the exact same as ‘Yehwah theos?’ or "Yehwah Elohim?"

How many "God’s" are there? ONE GOD THE FATHER

How many "Lords" are there? ONE LORD Jesus Christ

Okay. Now then, WHO are we to worship with all our heart, mind, and soul? Answer: "The Lord [kurios] your GOD [theos].

Okay, but is kurios theos the Father or Jesus?

Everything in Scriptures is presented from Earth’s perspective…

Jehovah/Elohim was the ONLY GOD that anyone on Earth knew of.

Jesus literally had to come and "reveal/unfold" His God Father.

"Elohim created the heavens and the earth," and Elohim is the "us" and "our" of Gen. 1:26

"Yehwah Elohim created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 2:4).

Who is Elohim? He is the plural of "El."

Who is Yehwah--"I AM Who I AM?"

"Yehwah is Elohim IN heaven and UPON the earth"(Deut. 4:39 & John 3:13/Jesus).

"…the LORD He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else" (Deut. 4:39).

[The only God made known to those on Earth]

"And no man has ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, EVEN THE son of man…." (John 3:13)

Verse 31: "He that comes from above is above ALL…He

Verse 32: "…what He has seen and heard" [in HEAVEN]

Verse 34: "…for He Whom GOD HAS SENT" [from heaven]

Verse 35: "The Father loves the Son, and has given ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND."

JESUS HAD TO ALREADY EXIST IN ORDER TO BE ‘SENT’:

"God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh..." (Rom. 8:3) Or, "The Father has sent Me [Jesus]…" John 5:23, 30, 36, 37; 6:39, 44, 57; 8:16, 18, 29, 10:36; 12:49; 14:24; 17:21; 17:24; I John 4:14.

Gk: pempo—‘to dispatch from the point of view of departure’ Or, apostello—‘to set apart, that is properly to send out on a mission’

Children obey parents, not parents their children

One who sends is greater than the one sent (John 13:16).

Jesus has a God (His Father), but His Father does not have a God.

"The Head of Christ is GOD" I Cor. 11:3

Christ is at GOD’S right hand, not God at Christ’s right hand.

Christ gives up the kingdom to His Father. (I Cor. 15:24)

All is subjected to Christ, but NOT THE FATHER (I Cor. 15:27).

"Christ…Who is the Image of God" (II Cor. 4:4 & Col. 1:15). God is not made in the image of Christ.

" Hear O Israel the Yehwah our Elohim is ONE Yehwah" (Deut. 6:14)

"The Yahweh your Elohim, He is Elohim, the faithful El which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments" (Deut. 7:9).

"For the Yehwah your Elohim is Elohim of Elohim and Adon Adon of Adon Adon a great El…"(Deut. 10:17)

"I am the Yahweh, and there is none else, there is NO ELOHIM beside Me" (Isa. 45:5 & 6).

Notice that there is "NO ELOHIM except Yahweh." Then were does Jesus’ Father come in? We know that there is a "God the Father," for Jesus Himself spoke of "God the Father" (John 6:27). And we have this: "God the Father AND the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:7). They are even contrasted "…not as I will, but as THOU" (Matt. 26:39).

ANSWER: God the Father and Jehovah [Jesus] Elohim, ARE ONE GOD. "I and My Father are ONE" (John 10:30). "One" what?

O-N-E G-O-D! "THE Lord [Jehovah]…" Of Psalm 110:1 becomes GOD THE FATHER in Heb. 1:1 & 13. The "God" Who spoke to the fathers was "the LORD THY GOD [Jehovah your Elohim]" Who was Jesus, was also GOD THE FATHER. How so? They are ONE.

"The God OF OUR FATHERS raised up JESUS, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree" (Acts 5:30). But in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ was Jehovah Elohim to the fathers.

THEY ARE ONE: "I and My Father ARE ONE"

Jesus was "Emmanuel" which means "God with us.." (Mat. 1:23).

"…he that has seen Me HAS SEEN THE FATHER…I am in the Father and the Father in Me…Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me…" (John 14:9-11).

Jesus has taught us that when TWO are in spiritual harmony, THEY ARE REALLY ONE (Matt. 19:5).

Marriage is the closest physical analogy of this truth (Eph. 5:28-32).

THE ONE GOD IS CHANGELESS:

"I am the LORD [Jehovah] I change NOT" (Mal. 3:6).

"Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8). But what about the FATHER? Does He change?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS, with Whom is no variableness [‘no variation,’ ASA; ‘never subject to change,’ TCNT] neither shadow of turning [shadow do to a change]" (Jam. 1:17).

UNCHANGEABLENESS speaks of TOTAL PERFECTION. When total perfection is achieved, THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO CHANGE IN THAT WHICH IS ALREADY PERFECT!

"Be ye therefore [Gk: ‘Ye will be’] perfect even as your Father which is in heaven IS PERFECT" (Matt. 5:48).

"…those whom You have given Me, that they may be ONE, AS we are ONE" (John 17:11).

"That they all may be ONE; as You Father, are in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be ONE IN US….that they may be ONE even as We are ONE…that they may be made perfect [future tense—I John 3:2] in ONE…" (John 17:21).

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"There is ONE GOD" (I Cor.8:5); "God is SPIRIT" (John 6:24);

"…by ONE SPIRIT …baptized into one body…" (I Co. 12:13);

"But he that is joined unto the Lord IS ONE SPIRIT" (I Cor. 6:17); "I and My Father are ONE" (John 10:30)

"There is ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE, of your calling; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, Who is ABOVE ALL, and THROUGH ALL, and IN YOU ALL" (Eph. 4:4-6).

HENCE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS, WE KNOW ABOUT HIS FATHER

Jesus spoke the words of His Father and did the works of His Father (John 14:10 & 14:24 & 5:19).

Jesus Christ "declares the FATHER" (John 1:18). And reveals the Father to whomever the Son desires (Matt. 11:27). Jesus was revealing the Father to the disciples His whole ministry, but Phillip missed is: (John 14:9-11). Remember when Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM"? (John 8:58). He was also revealing HIMSELF as the God of the Old Testament.

Jesus Christ IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT! He is THE GOD OF THE BIBLE! Jesus Christ is the ONLY REVELATION OF GOD THAT WE HAVE. Even the Holy Spirit we all have comes from God THROUGH Jesus Christ. Jesus is that Comforter, that Spirit. Our Saviour and our Brother, the Son of God.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also SUFFERED FOR US, leaving us an example, that we should FOLLOW HIS STEPS. Who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in His mouth" (I Pet. 2:21-22)

All that Jesus suffering in the flesh, He volunteered for. His Father set course before Him, but never was God anything but, "well pleased" with His Son. There is some damnable heresy being spread out there that Jesus was "marred" in His Father’s hands, and needed to be crushed to powder and have His WRATH poured out on Him all the days of Jesus’ life, as the Father was NOT pleased with him.

"And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am WELL PLEASED" (Matt. 3:17).

"…This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am WELL PLEASED; hear Him" (Matt. 17:5).

"…Thou art My Beloved Son in Whom I am WELL PLEASED" (Mark 1:11).

"…Thou art My Beloved Son; in Thee I am WELL PLEASED" (Luke 3:22).

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the Excellent Glory, This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am WELL PLEASED" (II Pet. 1:17).

NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION (Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12)

Why would God want to do all these things to His Own Son?

Why would Jesus volunteer to go through all these evils?

ONE REASON ONLY: "L-O-V-E"!

The Church stand: "Jesus died in our place and stead." Somebody had to die, either we or Jesus. We die ANYWAY!

Nonsense: "Jesus didn’t die in our place and stead; Jesus died FOR US"! Yes Jesus died for our sins, but He didn’t need to. God made the rules ("without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins"). That’s God’s rule and He could have done it differently.

How can God show the world that He loves the world?

God could not die. God cannot die. But He formed out of Himself a SON, and He could sacrifice His Son which is worse than dying oneself. GOD DIED FOR HIS CREATION.

That’s how He shows His love. "God so [thus—in this remarkable manner] loves the world that He gave His only begotten Son…" (John 3:16). "While we were yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8).

God didn’t have to sacrifice His Son.

Jesus did not have to die.

And He certainly did not have to die in the MANNER that He did.

".…And now, Father glorify You me with Your Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee BEFORE THE WORLD WAS…that they may behold MY GLORY, WHICH You have given Me: for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:5 & 24).

GLORY: "dignity, honor, praise, glory, worship."

Glorify means to give an highly favorable of someone which is impressed on the senses or the mind. It can be known and SEEN.

He will give US such glory (John 17:22).

Sometime between Jesus’ creation and the physical creation, He learned and experienced a great deal: "And the Lord God [Jehovah/Elohim = Jesus] said [Jesus is the "Word" or "Spokesman" of God] Behold, the man is become as one of US, to KNOW good and evil…" (Gen. 3:22).

HOW did Jesus learn a knowledge of "good AND EVIL" before He created the heavens and the earth?

WE will be like God’s SON JESUS—"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon US, that WE should be called the sons [children] of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what WE SHALL BE, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:1-3).

WHAT? We shall be LIKE the Creator God of the Universe?

We will be "Sons of GOD?" Royalty to end all royalty?

We are not taken in like strangers.

We are not even adopted.

We are BORN INTO THIS VERY FAMILY OF GOD!!!

What is the "greatest love?"

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Who is this "Man" and who are His friends?

"Ye are my friends… I have called you friends…" (Ver 14-15)

Jesus laid down His life for His friends, and the Father gave up His ONLY SON to prove His love for the whole world (John 3:16).

Most people spend most of their life trying to get out of whatever situation they are always finding themselves.

"Life is but a poor actor who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. A tale as told full of sound and fury signifying nothing." "We all live lives of quit desperation" "Life’s a bitch and then you die."

FOLLOW PAUL’S EXAMPLE: "Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content [self-complacent, contented to a fault, eager to please, cheerfully obliging]" (Phil. 4:11).

I am crucified with Christ;: nevertheless I live; get not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Gal. 2:20-21).

EITHER FOR CHRIST OR AGAINST HIM: "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad" (Matt. 12:30).

We have a big and important work to do, BUT I DON’T HAVE MANY HELPERS. Many "talk the talk," but they don’t "walk the walk."

I answer emails for "religious hobbyists" all day long---year after year.

Occasionally, one actually TURNS TO GOD and sees the big picture.

GOD BE WITH YOU ALL,

Ray