| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Dwight Mckinney" |
| Date: |
23 Nov 2003 12:55:17 AM |
| Object: |
THE FATHER AND THE SON |
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"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
The Father and the Son
John David Clark, Sr.
"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom =
to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all =
authority and power. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then =
shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under =
him, that God may be all in all." - 1Cor.15:24,28
The apostle John wrote the words, "In the beginning was the Word, =
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God", John was confessing a =
newly revealed truth. In this opening verse of his gospel, John was =
proclaiming the existence of two divine persons who somehow were one, =
and, at the same time, were with each other.
Verses existed in the Old Testament which indicated that God had a =
Son (e.g. Prov.30:4); however, during the time those Scriptures were =
written, God did not allow even the men who wrote them to understand the =
mystery of His Son, who was with Him in heaven. On the other hand, the =
earliest church preached Christ everywhere they went, with only the Old =
Testament writings as a Bible, for their eyes had been opened to the =
meaning of the ancient Scriptures. They saw the Son of God in every book =
Moses wrote, though Moses himself did not see.
None of the wise men and prophets of Israel saw the truth =
concerning the Son, "for [scriptural] prophecy never came by the will of =
man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Spirit" =
(2Pet. 1:21; Mt.13:16-17). Strange as it may seem, God spoke of His Son =
through the ancient holy men, but He would not allow them to understand =
the meaning of their own words (1Pet.1:9-12). John's message of two =
divine persons was not new to the Scriptures. What was new was that John =
understood what he was writing, whereas the old covenant men of God were =
"kept in the dark" concerning their own prophecies of the Son of God!
An excellent example of this mysterious inspiration can be found =
in Proverbs 8. In the remarkably prophetic chapter, Christ, the "wisdom =
of God", speaks of the beginning of his life with Jehovah the Father: =
The Lord created me in the very beginning of His way, long before His =
works. I was made in eternity, at the first, before the world began. In =
John's Revelation, Jesus reaffirmed this testimony of his own creation =
by calling himself "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev.3: 14). =
Not only is he the beginning, Christ is also the ending. In his own =
words, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and =
the last" (Rev. 22:13). In other words, the first and the last thing =
which the Father created was the Son. Everything else was created by the =
Son (Jn.1:3). The heavens and the earth, angels, men, beasts, fowl, sea =
creatures, - everything, everywhere - was created by the Son for the =
praise and glory of his Father. It was the Father speaking to the Son in =
Genesis 1:26, when He said, "Let us make man in our image". The "us" in =
this verse from Genesis is not a reference to a "trinity" of divine =
persons. There is no such thing. This is simply the Father making known =
His will to His Son, who then created man - according to the will of =
God, his Father. Empowered by his Father, the Son of God created =
everything, except himself.
Ignorant of the meaning of his own words, King David continued his =
glorious testimony of God's Son in Prov- erbs 8: When He appointed the =
foundations of the earth, then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him. =
And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him. Imagine! Prior =
to the creation of anything else, Christ was ecstatic with joy, just to =
live in the presence of his Father! In this same chapter, wisdom =
declares himself to have been "brought forth" before the oceans and =
mountains were created. He also tells us that "When He prepared the =
heavens, I was there." Before anything existed, the Father created for =
Himself a Son (Jn.17:5), who then created everything else (Col.1:16-17). =
All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that =
honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him - =
Jesus, in John 5:23.=20
Centuries before it took place, the Son spoke through Isaiah =
concerning both his close, dependent relationship with the Father and =
his future sufferings on earth: "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this. I =
have not spoken in secret from the beginning. From the time that it was, =
there am I. And now the Lord God [the Father] and His Spirit, hath sent =
me.... The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I =
should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.... The =
Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious.... I gave my =
back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I =
hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Isa.48:16; 50:4-6).=20
The books of the prophets are replete with such examples of the =
truth concerning the Father and the Son (read Isaiah 53), truth which =
was hidden from the very ones who proclaimed it. One may learn much =
about parents by observing their children. Especially is this the case =
with the Son of God. Jesus said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Fa- =
ther." Amen. Anyone who has seen or known Jesus has seen the Father, =
because the Son is "the Amen; the true and faithful witness" (Rev.3:14). =
My sons are like me in many respects, but Jesus is much more like his =
Father than my sons are like me. As testimony to this, Hebrews says that =
Jesus is "the express image" of the Father's person (Heb.1:3). =
Incredibly, this phrase, and others like it, have been misconstrued by =
some to mean that Jesus is the Father Himself! Pray, child of God, to =
avoid this grievous error, for "he is antichrist, that denieth the =
Father and the Son" (1Jn.2:22).=20
So, while some teach that there are "three Gods in one", others =
say that Jesus is the only God there is, but the truth lies between =
these two errors. The Father created the Son, "the firstborn of every =
creature", and the Son created all other things. This is easily =
understood and clearly proclaimed in the Scriptures. Neither the =
doctrine of the "holy trinity" nor the doctrine of "Jesus only" is true. =
There are in heaven two persons who are worthy to receive worship: The =
Father and the Son.
Jesus did say, "I and my Father are one" (Jn.10:30), but the issue =
is, "how are they one?" The answer is found in Jesus' prayer to his =
Father, just hours before his crucifix- ion. In that compassionate =
prayer for his followers, Jesus pleaded with the Father "that they may =
be one as we are" (Jn.17:11). So, the question is, "How are believers =
`one' in Christ?" For in the same way that we are "one" in Christ, the =
Father and the Son are also "one".
Surely, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is clear to see =
that this unity is in spirit, not in body. If Jesus were the Father =
Himself, and we are to be made one as he is one with the Father, then =
all believers must become the same person. This is nonsense. When =
believers are made one as Christ and his Father are one, we are united =
in spirit and mind, not in person. You are you, and I am I. We will =
never become one person, and neither will the Father and the Son. =
Nevertheless, in Christ, believers may be "likeminded, having the same =
love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Phip. 2:2).
Jesus is not the Father. But he walked so meekly, doing the =
Father's will, that anyone who saw Jesus was seeing the heart of God in =
action (Jn.14:7). Jesus showed us the Father (Jn.14:8-9). To know Jesus =
is to know the Father because Jesus does only what pleases the Father. =
Jesus and his Father are of the same mind, the same judgment, the same =
love and purpose. This is the unity that Jesus prayed would be given to =
us, and it must grieve him deeply to see the church so completely =
divided and confused by the doctrines of Christianity! If there is any =
prayer we can pray that must be acceptable with God, surely it is that =
all His children walk together in the unity of the Spirit and strive =
together for "the faith that was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude =
3).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus =
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions =
among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and =
in the same judgment." - Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:10
What a powerful witness it would be to the world, if the saints =
were united, as Jesus is united with the Father! For all who would ever =
believe in him, Jesus prayed "that they all may be one. As Thou Father =
art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the =
world may believe that Thou hast sent me" (Jn.17:21). But, how can the =
world believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father, when those who =
belong to him preach con- flicting doctrines and practice differing ways =
of worship?
There was never a misunderstanding between Jesus and the Father. =
There was never a quarrel over doctrine or position, no suspicion or =
gossip. They were in perfect accord as to faith and purpose, and Jesus =
suffered and died to make that peaceful communion with the Father =
available to us - not a oneness in person, but in spirit! We will never =
be united bodily into one person. But through Christ, we can be =
"partakers of the divine nature.... likeminded, having the same love, =
being of one accord, of one mind". By the precious holy Spirit, we can =
know the Father, and live according to His will, as Jesus did, without =
ever a cross word between us! We can do it, in Christ! We can do it! O =
God! Let it be!=20
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell =
together in unity!" - David, in Psalms 133:1
The Father has a body. God's Son also has a body. They can look at =
each other, just as you and I can. The Father did not take on a fleshly =
body and die on the cross. The Son of God did. The Son, after his Father =
raised him from the dead, ascended and sat down at his Father's right =
hand. They are two persons, one greater than the other (Jn.14:28), one =
more knowledgeable than the other (Mt.24:36), one worshipped by and =
feared by the other (Heb.5:1-8), one sanctified and sent into the world =
by the other (Jn.10:36), as said the Spirit of Christ through the =
prophet, "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is =
written of me) to do Thy will, O God" (Ps.40:6-9). One was the =
Husbandman; the other was the Vine (Jn.15:1). One was teacher; the other =
was taught (Jn.8:40). One was, and is, kept alive by the other (Jn.5:26; =
6:57). In all things, the Son is subservient to the Father, for, though =
all power in heaven and in earth has been given to the Son, it is =
obvious that He who gave the Son that power did not submit Himself to =
him (1Cor.15:27-28). Every knee shall bow (Phip.2:10), except the knee =
of the Father. He will not bow to His own Son. Quite the contrary, for =
in the end, "shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all =
things under him, that God may be all in all."
The truth is easily explained and understood. Even proponents of =
the doctrine of "three Gods in one" admit that it can neither be =
explained nor understood, yet they maintain that only those who =
subscribe to their faith are true believers in Christ. On the other =
hand, there are those who condemn anyone who refuses to believe that =
Jesus is himself the Father. Is this what Jesus suffered for? To leave =
us in the hands of men who can neither explain nor understand what they =
themselves say, but who denounce as heretics all who do not believe =
them? I think not. Let us then be thankful for the simple truth of the =
gospel, and let us honor both the Father and His Son!=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
The Couch Is Empty
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord,
Where once we watched his face,
so full of holy Spirit,
radiating love and grace.
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord
. Though others come and go,
we miss his humble presence,
and the wisdom he bestowed.
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord.
'Twill never be the same.
We loved to hear his witness
and his prayers in Jesus' name.
Dear Lord, the couch is empty,
Still, we hear the words he said.
His guidance still instructs us,
Just as if he were not dead.
Yes, Lord, the couch is empty.
This used to be his home.
He's found a place with Jesus,
Now an heir of heaven's throne!
by Sandy Sasser
In Loving Memory Of George C. Clark, Sr.
One of God's faithful servants.
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
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<DIV>
<P>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
<TD width=3D550 bgColor=3D#000000 height=3D35><IMG height=3D35=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
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width=3D550 border=3D0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER></FONT>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/reli58.gif"=20
width=3D150 align=3Dleft vspace=3D5 border=3D1> <!-- ******** END =
OF HEADER *************** --><A name=3Dtop></A>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H1>The Father and the Son</H1></CENTER></FONT>
<P>
<CENTER>Jo
n David Clark, Sr.</CENTER>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT size=3D4><B><I>"Then cometh the end, when he shall =
have=20
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall =
have put=20
down all rule and all authority and power. And when all things =
shall be=20
subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto =
Him that=20
put all things under him, that God may be all in all." -=20
1Cor.15:24,28</CENTER></B></I>
<P>The apostle John wrote the words, <B><I>"In the beginning was =
the Word,=20
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"</B></I>, John was =
confessing a newly revealed truth. In this opening verse of his =
gospel,=20
John was proclaiming the existence of two divine persons who =
somehow were=20
one, and, at the same time, were with each other.
<P>Verses existed in the Old Testament which indicated that God =
had a Son=20
(e.g. Prov.30:4); however, during the time those Scriptures were =
written,=20
God did not allow even the men who wrote them to understand the =
mystery of=20
His Son, who was with Him in heaven. On the other hand, the =
earliest=20
church preached Christ everywhere they went, with only the Old =
Testament=20
writings as a Bible, for their eyes had been opened to the meaning =
of the=20
ancient Scriptures. They saw the Son of God in every book Moses =
wrote,=20
though Moses himself did not see.
<P>None of the wise men and prophets of Israel saw the truth =
concerning=20
the Son, <B><I>"for [scriptural] prophecy never came by the will =
of man,=20
but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Spirit" =
(2Pet.=20
1:21; Mt.13:16-17).</B></I> Strange as it may seem, God spoke of =
His Son=20
through the ancient holy men, but He would not allow them to =
understand=20
the meaning of their own words (1Pet.1:9-12). John's message of =
two divine=20
persons was not new to the Scriptures. What was new was that John=20
understood what he was writing, whereas the old covenant men of =
God were=20
"kept in the dark" concerning their own prophecies of the Son of =
God!
<P>An excellent example of this mysterious inspiration can be =
found in=20
Proverbs 8. In the remarkably prophetic chapter, Christ, the =
"wisdom of=20
God", speaks of the beginning of his life with Jehovah the Father: =
The=20
Lord created me in the very beginning of His way, long before His =
works. I=20
was made in eternity, at the first, before the world began. In =
John's=20
Revelation, Jesus reaffirmed this testimony of his own creation by =
calling=20
himself <B><I>"the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev.3: 14).=20
</B></I>Not only is he the beginning, Christ is also the ending. =
In his=20
own words,<B><I> "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, =
the=20
first and the last" (Rev. 22:13).</B></I> In other words, the =
first and=20
the last thing which the Father created was the Son. Everything =
else was=20
created by the Son (Jn.1:3). The heavens and the earth, angels, =
men,=20
beasts, fowl, sea creatures, - everything, everywhere - was =
created by the=20
Son for the praise and glory of his Father. It was the Father =
speaking to=20
the Son in Genesis 1:26, when He said, <B><I>"Let us make man in =
our=20
image". </B></I>The "us" in this verse from Genesis is not a =
reference to=20
a "trinity" of divine persons. There is no such thing. This is =
simply the=20
Father making known His will to His Son, who then created man - =
according=20
to the will of God, his Father. Empowered by his Father, the Son =
of God=20
created everything, except himself.
<P>Ignorant of the meaning of his own words, King David continued =
his=20
glorious testimony of God's Son in Prov- erbs 8: When He appointed =
the=20
foundations of the earth, then I was by Him, as one brought up =
with Him.=20
And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him. Imagine! =
Prior=20
to the creation of anything else, Christ was ecstatic with joy, =
just to=20
live in the presence of his Father! In this same chapter, wisdom =
declares=20
himself to have been "brought forth" before the oceans and =
mountains were=20
created. He also tells us that <B><I>"When He prepared the =
heavens, I was=20
there." </B></I>Before anything existed, the Father created for =
Himself a=20
Son (Jn.17:5), who then created everything else (Col.1:16-17). All =
men=20
should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that =
honoreth not=20
the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him - Jesus, in =
John 5:23.=20
<P>Centuries before it took place, the Son spoke through Isaiah =
concerning=20
both his close, dependent relationship with the Father and his =
future=20
sufferings on earth: <B><I>"Come ye near unto me, hear ye this. I =
have not=20
spoken in secret from the beginning. From the time that it was, =
there am=20
I. And now the Lord God [the Father] and His Spirit, hath sent =
me.... The=20
Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should =
know how=20
to speak a word in season to him that is weary.... The Lord God =
hath=20
opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious.... I gave my back to =
the=20
smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid =
not my=20
face from shame and spitting. (Isa.48:16; 50:4-6). </B></I>
<P>The books of the prophets are replete with such examples of the =
truth=20
concerning the Father and the Son (read Isaiah 53), truth which =
was hidden=20
from the very ones who proclaimed it. One may learn much about =
parents by=20
observing their children. Especially is this the case with the Son =
of God.=20
Jesus said, <B><I>"He that hath seen me hath seen the Fa- =
ther."</B></I>=20
Amen. Anyone who has seen or known Jesus has seen the Father, =
because the=20
Son is <B><I>"the Amen; the true and faithful witness" (Rev.3:14). =
</B></I>My sons are like me in many respects, but Jesus is much =
more like=20
his Father than my sons are like me. As testimony to this, Hebrews =
says=20
that Jesus is "the express image" of the Father's person =
(Heb.1:3).=20
Incredibly, this phrase, and others like it, have been =
misconstrued by=20
some to mean that Jesus is the Father Himself! Pray, child of God, =
to=20
avoid this grievous error, for <B><I>"he is antichrist, that =
denieth the=20
Father and the Son" (1Jn.2:22).</B></I>=20
<P>So, while some teach that there are "three Gods in one", others =
say=20
that Jesus is the only God there is, but the truth lies between =
these two=20
errors. The Father created the Son, "the firstborn of every =
creature", and=20
the Son created all other things. This is easily understood and =
clearly=20
proclaimed in the Scriptures. Neither the doctrine of the "holy =
trinity"=20
nor the doctrine of "Jesus only" is true. There are in heaven two =
persons=20
who are worthy to receive worship: The Father and the Son.
<P>Jesus did say, <B><I>"I and my Father are one" =
(Jn.10:30)</B></I>, but=20
the issue is, "how are they one?" The answer is found in Jesus' =
prayer to=20
his Father, just hours before his crucifix- ion. In that =
compassionate=20
prayer for his followers, Jesus pleaded with the Father<B><I> =
"that they=20
may be one as we are" (Jn.17:11). </B></I>So, the question is, =
"How are=20
believers `one' in Christ?" For in the same way that we are "one" =
in=20
Christ, the Father and the Son are also "one".
<P>Surely, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is clear to =
see that=20
this unity is in spirit, not in body. If Jesus were the Father =
Himself,=20
and we are to be made one as he is one with the Father, then all =
believers=20
must become the same person. This is nonsense. When believers are =
made one=20
as Christ and his Father are one, we are united in spirit and =
mind, not in=20
person. You are you, and I am I. We will never become one person, =
and=20
neither will the Father and the Son. Nevertheless, in Christ, =
believers=20
may be <B><I>"likeminded, having the same love, being of one =
accord, of=20
one mind" (Phip. 2:2).</B></I>
<P>Jesus is not the Father. But he walked so meekly, doing the =
Father's=20
will, that anyone who saw Jesus was seeing the heart of God in =
action=20
(Jn.14:7). Jesus showed us the Father (Jn.14:8-9). To know Jesus =
is to=20
know the Father because Jesus does only what pleases the Father. =
Jesus and=20
his Father are of the same mind, the same judgment, the same love =
and=20
purpose. This is the unity that Jesus prayed would be given to us, =
and it=20
must grieve him deeply to see the church so completely divided and =
confused by the doctrines of Christianity! If there is any prayer =
we can=20
pray that must be acceptable with God, surely it is that all His =
children=20
walk together in the unity of the Spirit and strive together for=20
<B><I>"the faith that was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude=20
3).</B></I>
<P>
<CENTER><B><I>"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our =
Lord Jesus=20
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no =
divisions=20
among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same =
mind and=20
in the same judgment." - Paul, in 1 Corinthians =
1:10</B></I></CENTER>
<P>What a powerful witness it would be to the world, if the saints =
were=20
united, as Jesus is united with the Father! For all who would ever =
believe=20
in him, Jesus prayed <B><I>"that they all may be one. As Thou =
Father art=20
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the =
world may=20
believe that Thou hast sent me" (Jn.17:21). </B></I>But, how can =
the world=20
believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father, when those who =
belong to=20
him preach con- flicting doctrines and practice differing ways of =
worship?
<P>There was never a misunderstanding between Jesus and the =
Father. There=20
was never a quarrel over doctrine or position, no suspicion or =
gossip.=20
They were in perfect accord as to faith and purpose, and Jesus =
suffered=20
and died to make that peaceful communion with the Father available =
to us -=20
not a oneness in person, but in spirit! We will never be united =
bodily=20
into one person. But through Christ, we can be "partakers of the =
divine=20
nature.... likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, =
of one=20
mind". By the precious holy Spirit, we can know the Father, and =
live=20
according to His will, as Jesus did, without ever a cross word =
between us!=20
We can do it, in Christ! We can do it! O God! Let it be!=20
<P>
<CENTER><B><I>"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for =
brethren to=20
dwell together in unity!" - David, in Psalms 133:1</B></I>
<P></CENTER>
<P>The Father has a body. God's Son also has a body. They can look =
at each=20
other, just as you and I can. The Father did not take on a fleshly =
body=20
and die on the cross. The Son of God did. The Son, after his =
Father raised=20
him from the dead, ascended and sat down at his Father's right =
hand. They=20
are two persons, one greater than the other (Jn.14:28), one more=20
knowledgeable than the other (Mt.24:36), one worshipped by and =
feared by=20
the other (Heb.5:1-8), one sanctified and sent into the world by =
the other=20
(Jn.10:36), as said the Spirit of Christ through the prophet, =
<B><I>"Then=20
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) =
to do=20
Thy will, O God" (Ps.40:6-9). </B></I>One was the Husbandman; the =
other=20
was the Vine (Jn.15:1). One was teacher; the other was taught =
(Jn.8:40).=20
One was, and is, kept alive by the other (Jn.5:26; 6:57). In all =
things,=20
the Son is subservient to the Father, for, though all power in =
heaven and=20
in earth has been given to the Son, it is obvious that He who gave =
the Son=20
that power did not submit Himself to him (1Cor.15:27-28). Every =
knee shall=20
bow (Phip.2:10), except the knee of the Father. He will not bow to =
His own=20
Son. Quite the contrary, for in the end, <B><I>"shall the Son also =
himself=20
be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that God may be =
all in=20
all."</B></I>
<P>The truth is easily explained and understood. Even proponents =
of the=20
doctrine of "three Gods in one" admit that it can neither be =
explained nor=20
understood, yet they maintain that only those who subscribe to =
their faith=20
are true believers in Christ. On the other hand, there are those =
who=20
condemn anyone who refuses to believe that Jesus is himself the =
Father. Is=20
this what Jesus suffered for? To leave us in the hands of men who =
can=20
neither explain nor understand what they themselves say, but who =
denounce=20
as heretics all who do not believe them? I think not. Let us then =
be=20
thankful for the simple truth of the gospel, and let us honor both =
the=20
Father and His Son!=20
<P>
<P>
<HR>
<P>
<CENTER>
<H3>The Couch Is Empty</H3></CENTER>
<P>
<CENTER>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord,<BR>Where once we watched =
his=20
face,<BR>so full of holy Spirit,<BR>radiating love and grace.
<P>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord<BR>. Though others come and =
go,<BR>we=20
miss his humble presence,<BR>and the wisdom he bestowed.
<P>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord.<BR>'Twill never be the =
same.<BR>We=20
loved to hear his witness<BR>and his prayers in Jesus' name.
<P>Dear Lord, the couch is empty,<BR>Still, we hear the words he=20
said.<BR>His guidance still instructs us,<BR>Just as if he were =
not dead.
<P>Yes, Lord, the couch is empty.<BR>This used to be his =
home.<BR>He's=20
found a place with Jesus,<BR>Now an heir of heaven's throne!
<P>by Sandy Sasser<BR>In Loving Memory Of George C. Clark, =
Sr.<BR>One of=20
God's faithful servants.</CENTER>
<P><! -- ************ BOTTOM HEADER *********** -->
<P><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D2><I><A=20
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Here,<BR>and you can E-mail them to: =
GSAVELLI@aol.com</A></I></FONT>=20
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| User: "Libertarius" |
|
| Title: Re: THE FATHER AND THE SON -- PAGAN CONCEPT |
24 Nov 2003 04:08:44 PM |
|
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Dwight Mckinney wrote:
"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
[Image]
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
[Image] The Father and the Son
John David Clark, Sr.
"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority
and power. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the
Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that
God may be all in all." - 1Cor.15:24,28
The apostle John wrote the words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God", John was confessing a newly
revealed truth. In this opening verse of his gospel, John was proclaiming
the existence of two divine persons who somehow were one, and, at the same
time, were with each other.
===>That was no great "discovery".
Heraclitus of Ephesus was the original proponent of the LOGOS
theory, i.e. that all things in NATURE are proseeding acccroding to
"LOGOS", by which he simply meant LAWS OF NATURE.
Later philosophers PERSONIFIED that "LOGOS" as some sort of
divine being. E.g. the Platonist Jewish philosopher Philo of
Alexandria, who tried to synthesize Judaism with Greek philosphy,
and claimed that the "LOGOS" was a second deity. Saul/Paul and the
author of the Johannine Gospel simply went one step further and
identified their new deity, "CHRISTOS", with that "LOGOS". This
is the origin of the Johannine preamble.
Verses existed in the Old Testament which indicated that God had a Son
(e.g. Prov.30:4);
===>FALSE!
There is NOTHING about such a "son" ANYWEHER in the
Hebrew literature. If anything, Proverbs talks about a FEMALE
COMPANION, HOKHMA ("Wisdom") as the co-creator of the
world with YHWH.
A god having babies from human females is a PAGAN idea, smuggled
into Christianity by Saul/Paul and his converts to the new mystery
religion worshiping "Christos".
Libertarius
===================
however, during the time those Scriptures were written, God did not allow
even the men who wrote them to understand the mystery of His Son, who was
with Him in heaven. On the other hand, the earliest church preached Christ
everywhere they went, with only the Old Testament writings as a Bible, for
their eyes had been opened to the meaning of the ancient Scriptures. They
saw the Son of God in every book Moses wrote, though Moses himself did not
see.
None of the wise men and prophets of Israel saw the truth concerning the
Son, "for [scriptural] prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy
men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Spirit" (2Pet. 1:21;
Mt.13:16-17). Strange as it may seem, God spoke of His Son through the
ancient holy men, but He would not allow them to understand the meaning of
their own words (1Pet.1:9-12). John's message of two divine persons was
not new to the Scriptures. What was new was that John understood what he
was writing, whereas the old covenant men of God were "kept in the dark"
concerning their own prophecies of the Son of God!
An excellent example of this mysterious inspiration can be found in
Proverbs 8. In the remarkably prophetic chapter, Christ, the "wisdom of
God", speaks of the beginning of his life with Jehovah the Father: The
Lord created me in the very beginning of His way, long before His works. I
was made in eternity, at the first, before the world began. In John's
Revelation, Jesus reaffirmed this testimony of his own creation by calling
himself "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev.3: 14). Not only is he
the beginning, Christ is also the ending. In his own words, "I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Rev.
22:13). In other words, the first and the last thing which the Father
created was the Son. Everything else was created by the Son (Jn.1:3). The
heavens and the earth, angels, men, beasts, fowl, sea creatures, -
everything, everywhere - was created by the Son for the praise and glory
of his Father. It was the Father speaking to the Son in Genesis 1:26, when
He said, "Let us make man in our image". The "us" in this verse from
Genesis is not a reference to a "trinity" of divine persons. There is no
such thing. This is simply the Father making known His will to His Son,
who then created man - according to the will of God, his Father. Empowered
by his Father, the Son of God created everything, except himself.
Ignorant of the meaning of his own words, King David continued his
glorious testimony of God's Son in Prov- erbs 8: When He appointed the
foundations of the earth, then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him.
And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him. Imagine! Prior
to the creation of anything else, Christ was ecstatic with joy, just to
live in the presence of his Father! In this same chapter, wisdom declares
himself to have been "brought forth" before the oceans and mountains were
created. He also tells us that "When He prepared the heavens, I was
there." Before anything existed, the Father created for Himself a Son
(Jn.17:5), who then created everything else (Col.1:16-17). All men should
honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son
honoreth not the Father which hath sent him - Jesus, in John 5:23.
Centuries before it took place, the Son spoke through Isaiah concerning
both his close, dependent relationship with the Father and his future
sufferings on earth: "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this. I have not
spoken in secret from the beginning. From the time that it was, there am
I. And now the Lord God [the Father] and His Spirit, hath sent me.... The
Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how
to speak a word in season to him that is weary.... The Lord God hath
opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious.... I gave my back to the
smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my
face from shame and spitting. (Isa.48:16; 50:4-6).
The books of the prophets are replete with such examples of the truth
concerning the Father and the Son (read Isaiah 53), truth which was hidden
from the very ones who proclaimed it. One may learn much about parents by
observing their children. Especially is this the case with the Son of God.
Jesus said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Fa- ther." Amen. Anyone
who has seen or known Jesus has seen the Father, because the Son is "the
Amen; the true and faithful witness" (Rev.3:14). My sons are like me in
many respects, but Jesus is much more like his Father than my sons are
like me. As testimony to this, Hebrews says that Jesus is "the express
image" of the Father's person (Heb.1:3). Incredibly, this phrase, and
others like it, have been misconstrued by some to mean that Jesus is the
Father Himself! Pray, child of God, to avoid this grievous error, for "he
is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1Jn.2:22).
So, while some teach that there are "three Gods in one", others say that
Jesus is the only God there is, but the truth lies between these two
errors. The Father created the Son, "the firstborn of every creature", and
the Son created all other things. This is easily understood and clearly
proclaimed in the Scriptures. Neither the doctrine of the "holy trinity"
nor the doctrine of "Jesus only" is true. There are in heaven two persons
who are worthy to receive worship: The Father and the Son.
Jesus did say, "I and my Father are one" (Jn.10:30), but the issue is,
"how are they one?" The answer is found in Jesus' prayer to his Father,
just hours before his crucifix- ion. In that compassionate prayer for his
followers, Jesus pleaded with the Father "that they may be one as we are"
(Jn.17:11). So, the question is, "How are believers `one' in Christ?" For
in the same way that we are "one" in Christ, the Father and the Son are
also "one".
Surely, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is clear to see that
this unity is in spirit, not in body. If Jesus were the Father Himself,
and we are to be made one as he is one with the Father, then all believers
must become the same person. This is nonsense. When believers are made one
as Christ and his Father are one, we are united in spirit and mind, not in
person. You are you, and I am I. We will never become one person, and
neither will the Father and the Son. Nevertheless, in Christ, believers
may be "likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind" (Phip. 2:2).
Jesus is not the Father. But he walked so meekly, doing the Father's will,
that anyone who saw Jesus was seeing the heart of God in action (Jn.14:7).
Jesus showed us the Father (Jn.14:8-9). To know Jesus is to know the
Father because Jesus does only what pleases the Father. Jesus and his
Father are of the same mind, the same judgment, the same love and purpose.
This is the unity that Jesus prayed would be given to us, and it must
grieve him deeply to see the church so completely divided and confused by
the doctrines of Christianity! If there is any prayer we can pray that
must be acceptable with God, surely it is that all His children walk
together in the unity of the Spirit and strive together for "the faith
that was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but
that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment." - Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:10
What a powerful witness it would be to the world, if the saints were
united, as Jesus is united with the Father! For all who would ever believe
in him, Jesus prayed "that they all may be one. As Thou Father art in me,
and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe
that Thou hast sent me" (Jn.17:21). But, how can the world believe that
Jesus is the only way to the Father, when those who belong to him preach
con- flicting doctrines and practice differing ways of worship?
There was never a misunderstanding between Jesus and the Father. There was
never a quarrel over doctrine or position, no suspicion or gossip. They
were in perfect accord as to faith and purpose, and Jesus suffered and
died to make that peaceful communion with the Father available to us - not
a oneness in person, but in spirit! We will never be united bodily into
one person. But through Christ, we can be "partakers of the divine
nature.... likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind". By the precious holy Spirit, we can know the Father, and live
according to His will, as Jesus did, without ever a cross word between us!
We can do it, in Christ! We can do it! O God! Let it be!
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity!" - David, in Psalms 133:1
The Father has a body. God's Son also has a body. They can look at each
other, just as you and I can. The Father did not take on a fleshly body
and die on the cross. The Son of God did. The Son, after his Father raised
him from the dead, ascended and sat down at his Father's right hand. They
are two persons, one greater than the other (Jn.14:28), one more
knowledgeable than the other (Mt.24:36), one worshipped by and feared by
the other (Heb.5:1-8), one sanctified and sent into the world by the other
(Jn.10:36), as said the Spirit of Christ through the prophet, "Then said
I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do Thy
will, O God" (Ps.40:6-9). One was the Husbandman; the other was the Vine
(Jn.15:1). One was teacher; the other was taught (Jn.8:40). One was, and
is, kept alive by the other (Jn.5:26; 6:57). In all things, the Son is
subservient to the Father, for, though all power in heaven and in earth
has been given to the Son, it is obvious that He who gave the Son that
power did not submit Himself to him (1Cor.15:27-28). Every knee shall bow
(Phip.2:10), except the knee of the Father. He will not bow to His own
Son. Quite the contrary, for in the end, "shall the Son also himself be
subject unto Him that put all things under him, that God may be all in
all."
The truth is easily explained and understood. Even proponents of the
doctrine of "three Gods in one" admit that it can neither be explained nor
understood, yet they maintain that only those who subscribe to their faith
are true believers in Christ. On the other hand, there are those who
condemn anyone who refuses to believe that Jesus is himself the Father. Is
this what Jesus suffered for? To leave us in the hands of men who can
neither explain nor understand what they themselves say, but who denounce
as heretics all who do not believe them? I think not. Let us then be
thankful for the simple truth of the gospel, and let us honor both the
Father and His Son!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Couch Is Empty
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord,
Where once we watched his face,
so full of holy Spirit,
radiating love and grace.
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord
. Though others come and go,
we miss his humble presence,
and the wisdom he bestowed.
The couch is empty, oh dear Lord.
'Twill never be the same.
We loved to hear his witness
and his prayers in Jesus' name.
Dear Lord, the couch is empty,
Still, we hear the words he said.
His guidance still instructs us,
Just as if he were not dead.
Yes, Lord, the couch is empty.
This used to be his home.
He's found a place with Jesus,
Now an heir of heaven's throne!
by Sandy Sasser
In Loving Memory Of George C. Clark, Sr.
One of God's faithful servants.
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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<center><font face="verdana"><font size=-2>PO Box 2392
Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752
Fax: 1-650-757-5750</font></font>
<br><font face="verdana"><font size=-2>Webpage: <A HREF="http://www.isaiah58.com">http://www.isaiah58.com</A>
E-Mail: </font></font></center>
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<center>
<h1>
<font color="#800080">The Father and the Son</font></h1>
/center>
<center>John David Clark, Sr.
<p><b><i><font size=+1>"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered
up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all
rule and all authority and power. And when all things shall be subdued
unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put
all things under him, that God may be all in all." - 1Cor.15:24,28</font></i></b></center>
<p><font size=+1>The apostle John wrote the words, <b><i>"In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"</i></b>,
John was confessing a newly revealed truth. In this opening verse of his
gospel, John was proclaiming the existence of two divine persons who somehow
were one, and, at the same time, were with each other. </font><font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>===>That was no great "discovery".</font>
<br><font size=+1>Heraclitus of Ephesus was the original proponent of the
LOGOS</font>
<br><font size=+1>theory, i.e. that all things in NATURE are proseeding
acccroding to</font>
<br><font size=+1>"LOGOS", by which he simply meant LAWS OF NATURE.</font>
<br><font size=+1>Later philosophers PERSONIFIED that "LOGOS" as some sort
of</font>
<br><font size=+1>divine being. E.g. the Platonist Jewish philosopher Philo
of</font>
<br><font size=+1>Alexandria, who tried to synthesize Judaism with Greek
philosphy,</font>
<br><font size=+1>and claimed that the "LOGOS" was a second deity. Saul/Paul
and the</font>
<br><font size=+1>author of the Johannine Gospel simply went one step further
and</font>
<br><font size=+1>identified their new deity, "CHRISTOS", with that "LOGOS".
This </font>
<br><font size=+1>is the origin of the Johannine preamble.</font>
<br><font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>Verses existed in the Old Testament which indicated that
God had a Son (e.g. Prov.30:4); </font><font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>===>FALSE!</font>
<br><font size=+1>There is NOTHING about such a "son" ANYWEHER in the</font>
<br><font size=+1>Hebrew literature. If anything, Proverbs talks about
a FEMALE </font>
<br><font size=+1>COMPANION, HOKHMA ("Wisdom") as the co-creator of the</font>
<br><font size=+1>world with YHWH.</font><font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>A god having babies from human females is a PAGAN idea,
smuggled</font>
<br><font size=+1>into Christianity by Saul/Paul and his converts to the
new mystery</font>
<br><font size=+1>religion worshiping "Christos".</font><font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>
Libertarius</font>
<br><font size=+1>===================</font>
<br><font size=+1></font>
<br><font size=+1></font>
<br><font size=+1></font>
<br><font size=+1></font> <font size=+1></font>
<p><font size=+1>however, during the time those Scriptures were written,
God did not allow even the men who wrote them to understand the mystery
of His Son, who was with Him in heaven. On the other hand, the earliest
church preached Christ everywhere they went, with only the Old Testament
writings as a Bible, for their eyes had been opened to the meaning of the
ancient Scriptures. They saw the Son of God in every book Moses wrote,
though Moses himself did not see. </font>
<p><font size=+1>None of the wise men and prophets of Israel saw the truth
concerning the Son, <b><i>"for [scriptural] prophecy never came by the
will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Spirit"
(2Pet. 1:21; Mt.13:16-17).</i></b> Strange as it may seem, God spoke of
His Son through the ancient holy men, but He would not allow them to understand
the meaning of their own words (1Pet.1:9-12). John's message of two divine
persons was not new to the Scriptures. What was new was that John understood
what he was writing, whereas the old covenant men of God were "kept in
the dark" concerning their own prophecies of the Son of God! </font>
<p><font size=+1>An excellent example of this mysterious inspiration can
be found in Proverbs 8. In the remarkably prophetic chapter, Christ, the
"wisdom of God", speaks of the beginning of his life with Jehovah the Father:
The Lord created me in the very beginning of His way, long before His works.
I was made in eternity, at the first, before the world began. In John's
Revelation, Jesus reaffirmed this testimony of his own creation by calling
himself <b><i>"the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev.3: 14). </i></b>Not
only is he the beginning, Christ is also the ending. In his own words,<b><i>
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last"
(Rev. 22:13).</i></b> In other words, the first and the last thing which
the Father created was the Son. Everything else was created by the Son
(Jn.1:3). The heavens and the earth, angels, men, beasts, fowl, sea creatures,
- everything, everywhere - was created by the Son for the praise and glory
of his Father. It was the Father speaking to the Son in Genesis 1:26, when
He said, <b><i>"Let us make man in our image". </i></b>The "us" in this
verse from Genesis is not a reference to a "trinity" of divine persons.
There is no such thing. This is simply the Father making known His will
to His Son, who then created man - according to the will of God, his Father.
Empowered by his Father, the Son of God created everything, except himself. </font>
<p><font size=+1>Ignorant of the meaning of his own words, King David continued
his glorious testimony of God's Son in Prov- erbs 8: When He appointed
the foundations of the earth, then I was by Him, as one brought up with
Him. And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him. Imagine!
Prior to the creation of anything else, Christ was ecstatic with joy, just
to live in the presence of his Father! In this same chapter, wisdom declares
himself to have been "brought forth" before the oceans and mountains were
created. He also tells us that <b><i>"When He prepared the heavens, I was
there." </i></b>Before anything existed, the Father created for Himself
a Son (Jn.17:5), who then created everything else (Col.1:16-17). All men
should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not
the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him - Jesus, in John 5:23. </font>
<p><font size=+1>Centuries before it took place, the Son spoke through
Isaiah concerning both his close, dependent relationship with the Father
and his future sufferings on earth: <b><i>"Come ye near unto me, hear ye
this. I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. From the time that
it was, there am I. And now the Lord God [the Father] and His Spirit, hath
sent me.... The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that
I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.... The
Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious.... I gave my back
to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid
not my face from shame and spitting. (Isa.48:16; 50:4-6). </i></b></font>
<p><font size=+1>The books of the prophets are replete with such examples
of the truth concerning the Father and the Son (read Isaiah 53), truth
which was hidden from the very ones who proclaimed it. One may learn much
about parents by observing their children. Especially is this the case
with the Son of God. Jesus said, <b><i>"He that hath seen me hath seen
the Fa- ther."</i></b> Amen. Anyone who has seen or known Jesus has seen
the Father, because the Son is <b><i>"the Amen; the true and faithful witness"
(Rev.3:14). </i></b>My sons are like me in many respects, but Jesus is
much more like his Father than my sons are like me. As testimony to this,
Hebrews says that Jesus is "the express image" of the Father's person (Heb.1:3).
Incredibly, this phrase, and others like it, have been misconstrued by
some to mean that Jesus is the Father Himself! Pray, child of God, to avoid
this grievous error, for <b><i>"he is antichrist, that denieth the Father
and the Son" (1Jn.2:22).</i></b></font>
<p><font size=+1>So, while some teach that there are "three Gods in one",
others say that Jesus is the only God there is, but the truth lies between
these two errors. The Father created the Son, "the firstborn of every creature",
and the Son created all other things. This is easily understood and clearly
proclaimed in the Scriptures. Neither the doctrine of the "holy trinity"
nor the doctrine of "Jesus only" is true. There are in heaven two persons
who are worthy to receive worship: The Father and the Son. </font>
<p><font size=+1>Jesus did say, <b><i>"I and my Father are one" (Jn.10:30)</i></b>,
but the issue is, "how are they one?" The answer is found in Jesus' prayer
to his Father, just hours before his crucifix- ion. In that compassionate
prayer for his followers, Jesus pleaded with the Father<b><i> "that they
may be one as we are" (Jn.17:11). </i></b>So, the question is, "How are
believers `one' in Christ?" For in the same way that we are "one" in Christ,
the Father and the Son are also "one". </font>
<p><font size=+1>Surely, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is
clear to see that this unity is in spirit, not in body. If Jesus were the
Father Himself, and we are to be made one as he is one with the Father,
then all believers must become the same person. This is nonsense. When
believers are made one as Christ and his Father are one, we are united
in spirit and mind, not in person. You are you, and I am I. We will never
become one person, and neither will the Father and the Son. Nevertheless,
in Christ, believers may be <b><i>"likeminded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind" (Phip. 2:2).</i></b></font>
<p><font size=+1>Jesus is not the Father. But he walked so meekly, doing
the Father's will, that anyone who saw Jesus was seeing the heart of God
in action (Jn.14:7). Jesus showed us the Father (Jn.14:8-9). To know Jesus
is to know the Father because Jesus does only what pleases the Father.
Jesus and his Father are of the same mind, the same judgment, the same
love and purpose. This is the unity that Jesus prayed would be given to
us, and it must grieve him deeply to see the church so completely divided
and confused by the doctrines of Christianity! If there is any prayer we
can pray that must be acceptable with God, surely it is that all His children
walk together in the unity of the Spirit and strive together for <b><i>"the
faith that was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).</i></b></font>
<center>
<p><b><i><font size=+1>"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be
no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment." - Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:10</font></i></b></center>
<p><font size=+1>What a powerful witness it would be to the world, if the
saints were united, as Jesus is united with the Father! For all who would
ever believe in him, Jesus prayed <b><i>"that they all may be one. As Thou
Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that
the world may believe that Thou hast sent me" (Jn.17:21). </i></b>But,
how can the world believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father, when
those who belong to him preach con- flicting doctrines and practice differing
ways of worship? </font>
<p><font size=+1>There was never a misunderstanding between Jesus and the
Father. There was never a quarrel over doctrine or position, no suspicion
or gossip. They were in perfect accord as to faith and purpose, and Jesus
suffered and died to make that peaceful communion with the Father available
to us - not a oneness in person, but in spirit! We will never be united
bodily into one person. But through Christ, we can be "partakers of the
divine nature.... likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind". By the precious holy Spirit, we can know the Father, and
live according to His will, as Jesus did, without ever a cross word between
us! We can do it, in Christ! We can do it! O God! Let it be! </font>
<center>
<p><b><i><font size=+1>"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity!" - David, in Psalms 133:1</font></i></b></center>
<p><font size=+1>The Father has a body. God's Son also has a body. They
can look at each other, just as you and I can. The Father did not take
on a fleshly body and die on the cross. The Son of God did. The Son, after
his Father raised him from the dead, ascended and sat down at his Father's
right hand. They are two persons, one greater than the other (Jn.14:28),
one more knowledgeable than the other (Mt.24:36), one worshipped by and
feared by the other (Heb.5:1-8), one sanctified and sent into the world
by the other (Jn.10:36), as said the Spirit of Christ through the prophet,
<b><i>"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written
of me) to do Thy will, O God" (Ps.40:6-9). </i></b>One was the Husbandman;
the other was the Vine (Jn.15:1). One was teacher; the other was taught
(Jn.8:40). One was, and is, kept alive by the other (Jn.5:26; 6:57). In
all things, the Son is subservient to the Father, for, though all power
in heaven and in earth has been given to the Son, it is obvious that He
who gave the Son that power did not submit Himself to him (1Cor.15:27-28).
Every knee shall bow (Phip.2:10), except the knee of the Father. He will
not bow to His own Son. Quite the contrary, for in the end, <b><i>"shall
the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him,
that God may be all in all."</i></b></font>
<p><font size=+1>The truth is easily explained and understood. Even proponents
of the doctrine of "three Gods in one" admit that it can neither be explained
nor understood, yet they maintain that only those who subscribe to their
faith are true believers in Christ. On the other hand, there are those
who condemn anyone who refuses to believe that Jesus is himself the Father.
Is this what Jesus suffered for? To leave us in the hands of men who can
neither explain nor understand what they themselves say, but who denounce
as heretics all who do not believe them? I think not. Let us then be thankful
for the simple truth of the gospel, and let us honor both the Father and
His Son! </font>
<p>
<hr>
<center>
<h3>
<font size=+1>The Couch Is Empty</font></h3></center>
<center><font size=+1>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord,</font>
<br><font size=+1>Where once we watched his face,</font>
<br><font size=+1>so full of holy Spirit,</font>
<br><font size=+1>radiating love and grace. </font>
<p><font size=+1>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord</font>
<br><font size=+1>. Though others come and go,</font>
<br><font size=+1>we miss his humble presence,</font>
<br><font size=+1>and the wisdom he bestowed. </font>
<p><font size=+1>The couch is empty, oh dear Lord.</font>
<br><font size=+1>'Twill never be the same.</font>
<br><font size=+1>We loved to hear his witness</font>
<br><font size=+1>and his prayers in Jesus' name. </font>
<p><font size=+1>Dear Lord, the couch is empty,</font>
<br><font size=+1>Still, we hear the words he said.</font>
<br><font size=+1>His guidance still instructs us,</font>
<br><font size=+1>Just as if he were not dead. </font>
<p><font size=+1>Yes, Lord, the couch is empty.</font>
<br><font size=+1>This used to be his home.</font>
<br><font size=+1>He's found a place with Jesus,</font>
<br><font size=+1>Now an heir of heaven's throne! </font>
<p><font size=+1>by Sandy Sasser</font>
<br><font size=+1>In Loving Memory Of George C. Clark, Sr.</font>
<br><font size=+1>One of God's faithful servants.</font></center>
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