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Jesus was a man whose experience was witnessed by others. No words in any book, including the Bible, can capture Him. They are no doubt subject to the first century era, the fallibility of the men who witnessed Him, passed on their experiences by word of mouth and later recorded them in written words. We have their words. Words of men who attempted to record their experience of God. If we want to know Christ, we can only do so beyond the words of written men. Beyond the letter to the living Spirit, a Spirit that we neither solve, nor formulate, but enter into with our own perceptions that are unique to our day. Jesus did not come to seek God in men. He drew men to Himself by dying for them on the Cross, in order that He might be God in them. All charity comes in a focus in Christ, because charity is His life in us. He draws us to Himself, unites us to one another in His Holy Spirit, and raises us up with Himself to union with the Father. (1a) The majority of Christian churches (Christendom), recognize the supreme position that Jesus Christ holds. They acknowledge the role of God that Jesus Christ has. The one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. To him be the honor and might everlasting ,Amen (Tim 6:16). He is the alpha and Omega , the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star (Revelation 22:13,16) (ALL translations show Jesus to be the alpha and omega, except the New World Translation of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) He is also the word , and the word was god (John 1:1) He also stated that He and the father are one and He that has seen me has seen the father, yet separated Himself as an individual. (John 10:30; John 17:21,22; John 14:9) He is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being and he sustains all things by the word of his power (Heb 1:3) Jesus is also the one who is destined to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1) He is also the first and the last and holds the keys of death and of Hades (Rev 1:18) It is only in Jesus name that one can find salvation, not in Jehovah's name. as it states: there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved (Acts 4:12) According to this and additional scriptures, many believe that Jesus Christ is God. Do all of these facts prove or establish that Jesus Christ is God ? A Closer Examination of the Words of Men
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| "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Colossians 1:15 |
For instance, in Gen 41:51-52 Joseph is called the "firstborn" of Manasseh
| "Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim[2] and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." Genesis 41:51-52 |
Ephraim is called the second. But in Jer 31:9 Ephraim is called the "firstborn", showing this title to speak of pre-eminence or importance, not the literal first born of Manasseh.
| They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son." Jeremiah 31: |
It is true this can be applied to Jesus title as "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15, so that Jesus has the title of pre-eminence or first in rank in creation, rather then being the first one to be created as some claim. It is also true, that the Greek word for "creation" is ktisis, and can mean a creature, showing Jesus Christ to have been created or can mean the act of creating, founding, establishing , beginning, former, constructor, etc., showing Jesus to be the former that began the construction of creation, however this is not the same as being the author and designer of it. Both of these thoughts certainly show the plausibility of Jesus Christ as being a created creature and separate from God Almighty, acting as his "master worker" and constructor, thus the "beginner of construction" and the "first of importance in creation."
The Personification of Wisdom
In Proverbs chapter 8 there is a prophecy about wisdom. As the Easton Bible Dictionary states: "Wisdom" in Prov. 1:20; 8:1; 9:1-5 may be regarded not as a mere personification of the attribute of wisdom, but as a divine person, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24).
| "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares." Proverbs 1:20 "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?" Proverbs 8:1 "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed." Proverbs 9:1-5 |
In many bibles this "wisdom" is translated as a she , but if you read the entire chapter it states that this wisdom became God s master worker and the beginning of God's creation , or the "beginning of his way " from times earlier than the earth. (Proverbs 8:22, 30) I can see no other than Jesus Christ fulfilling this role of wisdom. Not only is this same expression in Proverbs 8: 22, beginning of God's creation , used to describe Jesus in Revelation 3:14, but the title of "wisdom" is also applied to "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God", in 1 Corinthians 1:24 and verse 30, Jesus Christ has become to us wisdom. As Jesus stated: "Wisdom is proved righteous by its works." And Jesus disciples or "children" reflect his wisdom by their works" of love and mercy towards all others, thus showing "love of neighbor."
| "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old. Then I was the craftsman
at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence," Proverbs 8:22, 30 "But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 |
(Matt 11:19; Luke 7:35; Matt 22:37-39)
However to state that this "wisdom", Jesus, is simply a creation, can not be entirely accurate, for verses 22 and 24 state that God "produced" and "brought forth" him. This can certainly imply that Jesus was more then an independent creation, but actually "produced" from a part of God, "brought forth" out of him. In this sense Jesus would be the "exact reflection of glory and the exact representation of God's very being", yes, a part of God. Although completely separate, it would be hard to tell apart the difference from Jesus and his Father Jehovah. This would not make Jesus the same individual person as his father, God, for he would be an independent being, however he would still be a part of God, being "brought forth" and "born" from him. This makes Jesus entirely divine and a part of God. In this sense, "the word", Jesus, " was God ... and we had a view of his glory." For this he could rightly say,
| "He that has seen me, has seen the father." John 14:9 |
This would all the more, make him a perfect and equal "ransom sacrifice" as he "emptied himself" of being a powerful spirit being, becoming a weak human, equal to Adam, and taking on a slave's form in the likeness of men." (Matt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:6; Phil 2:7; Heb 1:3; John 14:9)
As shown below, the Hebrew words used in Proverbs 8:22 and 24, in describing "wisdom", Jesus, can be defined as being "born", "brought forth" and "of God originating, creating." This could suggest him as being born from God, thus being a part of him, yet completely separate. It is possible that this can be compared to Eve, who was "taken out of" or "brought out of" of Adam. She was certainly a part of Adam, a rib from his body, yet a completely separate independent person. All humans have procreative powers, giving birth to offspring that come from two DNA genetic codes. But here, Eve was taken directly out of Adam, with the same exact genetic code, but female. Although a completely separate person, she was still a part of Adam. For this God stated that their marriage would make "the two as one flesh."
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STRONG'S CONCORDANCE |
STRONG'S CONCORDANCE |
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chuwl {khool} or chiyl {kheel} #02342 |
qanah {kaw-naw'} #07069 |
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| When [there were] no depths,I was brought forth [02342] ; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water - Pro 8:24 HEBREW | The LORD possessed [07069] me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.- Pro 8:22 HEBREW | ||||
| a primitive root; TWOT - 623; v AV - pain 6, formed 5, bring forth 4, pained 4,
tremble 4, travail 4, dance 2, calve 2, grieved 2, grievous 2, wounded 2, shake 2, misc 23; 62 1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained 1a) (Qal)1a1) to dance 1a2) to twist, writhe 1a3) to whirl, whirl about 1b) (Polel)1b1) to dance 1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth 1b3) to wait anxiously 1c) (Pulal) 1c1) to be made to writhe, be made to bear 1c2) to be brought forth 1d) (Hophal) to be born 1e) (Hithpolel) 1e1) whirling (participle) 1e2) writhing, suffering torture (participle) 1e3) to wait longingly 1f) (Hithpalpel) to be distressed |
a primitive root; TWOT - 2039; v AV - Buy 46, get 15, purchased 5, buyer 3, possessor 3, possessed 2, owner 1, recover 1, redeemed 1, misc 7; 84 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess 1a (Qal) 1a1) to get, acquire, obtain 1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people 1a1a1) possessor 1a1b) of Eve acquiring 1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom 1a2) to buy 1b) (Niphal) to be bought 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess
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STRONGS CONCORDANCE |
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laqach {law-kakh'} #03947 |
| This one will be called woman. Because out of man this one was taken. - Gen 2:23 |
| a primitive root; TWOT - 1124; HEBREW AV - take 747, receive 61, take away 51, fetch 31, bring 25, get 6,take out 6, carry away 5, married 4, buy 3, misc 26; 965 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy,bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of,select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed 1b3) to be taken, brought unto 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be taken from or out of 1c2) to be stolen from 1c3) to be taken captive 1c4) to be taken away, be removed 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto 1d2) to be taken out of 1d3) to be taken away 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to take hold of oneself 1e2) to flash about (of lightning) |
John 1:1 - "The Word Was God".
| "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 |
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The "Word" of God Was Both Man & God |
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Jesus,
as God's very word, his very thought- his wisdom, in the weakness of human form,thus being God himself, yet in
a separate human form that had to rely on the Father for strength and power, having an independence of His own,
able to choose His own direction apart from the Father. It is so like the Father to supply the power of free will
even to his very materialized thought! Only the love, humility and amazing wisdom of God would do such a thing.
Think of what a great and awesome God we have! He is so superior to us and His love is so great that there are
no human words in any language that can be written here to describe Him. We can love Him for this, that we can
do.
Being the "Word of God" goes much further then being just "a god,"
as the Watchtower interprets scripture to conform with their unique and bias theology. Our entire universe is in
reality made up of 
thoughts. Each thought spoken by God became the 7 creative days of life
as we know it. As a thought is verbalized it becomes a word. And in the case of God, his thoughts, his words, becomes
actions of reality. His thoughts are automatic realities. Just as a man who learns to play a complex musical instrument
and can do so without even thinking, his mind and fingers trained to automatically hit the keys in the precise
order, tempo and strength, resulting in the softness, hardness, length, tempo and note of each sound. As we walk,
talk and chew gum at the same time without even thinking to do so, God's thoughts create what he wishes automatically
and even go further to become lasting acts that continually stand, as "God's words endure forever."
God's very thoughts, His wisdom (Prov 8; 1 Cor 1:24), that were spoken as words became reality. This is the case of Jesus. Jesus is the literal reality of God's thoughts and word, His wisdom. God's word is a direct thought of energy from Him, being a direct part of His wisdom. God's Word is God, Jesus is the Word and the Word was God, His very thought and wisdom materialized in the flesh and, out of love, given a free and independent will. God's word is the "exact representation of him who sustains all things by his powerful word," which are in effect, God's words, His thoughts. God's "word," Jesus Christ, is the Word of God, His very thought, His very wisdom, manifest in Human form and now Spirit form, His exact representation. He can not be likened to "a god," but can be likened to God Himself. For this fact, Jesus Christ was both 100% man who "could not do a single thing apart from the Father," and yet he was 100% God, the very thought, wisdom and word of God in human form with a separate identity and free will.
| "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3 |
Jesus, as God's very word, his very thought in the weakness of human form, in reality being God himself, yet in a separate human form that had to rely on the Father for strength and power, having an independence of His own, able to choose His own direction apart from the Father. It is so like the Father to supply the power of free will even to his very materialized thought! Only the love, humility and amazing wisdom of God would do such a thing. Think of what a great and awesome God we have! He is so superior to us and His love is so great that there are no human words in any language that can be written here to describe Him. We can love Him for this, that we can do.
Only One True Almighty God
Many will reason on this, that there can only be one true God, as brought out in many scriptures, such as Isaiah 43:10, and that All other gods must therefore be false.
| "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." Isaiah 43;10 |
But this is not true, for there are many true "gods", but only one true Almighty God, as brought out in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6,
| "For even though there are many who are called "gods" whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many "gods" and many "lords", there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him, and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him." Corinthians 8:5-6 |
Many theologians will argue that this would determine all other Gods as false, But this is not correct for not all other "gods" are false, some are and some are not, however none are the one true Almighty God over all. The fact that the judges of Israel were called "gods" in Psalms 82:6 and John 10:34, shows they were not false "gods", rather they were true "gods" in the sense of having a degree of power, position and authority in the true Jewish faith. It is only those claiming to be, or to receive the worship that belongs to, the one true "Almighty God", that can be labeled as false "gods." (Hebrews 1:3)
| "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence
the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which
you have set in place, What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made
him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works
of your hands; you put everything under his feet:" Psalms 8:2-6 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, I have said you are gods?" John 10:34 |
God Alone Created The Earth And Man Upon It
In Isaiah 44:24 and 45:12-13, it states:
| "I Jehovah am doing everything stretching out the heavens by myself laying out the earth, who was with me?......I myself (alone) have made the earth and have created even man upon it." Isaiah 44:24 and 45:12-12 New World Translation. |
This is true that it was God ALONE and by HIMSELF who did the work in Isaiah 44:24 and 45:12,13, yet this does not mean he did not use his "master worker" of Proverbs chapter 8, his son Jesus, who was "brought forth", "born" from God, to do the creating for him, for Jesus is a divine part of God. Many interpret Genesis 1:26 which states,
| "Let us make man in our image." Genesis 1:26 |
To include both God and his son as the creators. Yet how could that be if it was "God Alone who created the heavens?" Again, Jesus and his Father together are a part of each other, making the Almighty God alone, (both the Father and the Son) as "one" who designed creation and entrusted his power with his son Christ Jesus, "the exact representation of his very being", assigning him the construction work of creation. For this he is called "the beginning of creation." Just as the "father and Jesus are one" in purpose and unity, it was Jehovah alone, who "stretched out the heavens." (John 10:30)
Notice in 1 Chronicles 29:1 that it was king Solomon ALONE, who was chosen to build God's temple,
| "Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God." 1 Chronicles 29:1 (KJV) |
So here God chose Solomon ALONE to build the temple, yet was it him alone who did the actual building ? No, king Solomon had workers help do the building for him. Stones were taken and cut in a different location and then brought to Jerusalem to be constructed. (1 Chronicles 3,4) So just as Isaiah 44:24 states that Jehovah ALONE is the actual creator and author, this does not rule out that he used his son, the "master worker" to do the construction and forming of creation for him.
The One Who Was Pierced-God ? or Jesus?
In Zechariah 12:10, there is a prophecy about the future messiah to be "pierced" and shows Jehovah to be the one speaking and states:
| "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." Zechariah 12:10 |
The New World Translation omits the word "me", so that it says "...they will look upon the one whom they have pierced..." instead of "me, the one they have pierced." Does this prove that Jesus is God Almighty ? In this case, it does not appear so, for this can certainly be compared to Jesus words about actions taken towards humans to be the same as doing them to him "to the extent you did it to one of my brothers, you have done it to me" and after Saul or Apostle Paul persecuted the Christians, Jesus words to him were: "Why are you persecuting me?" Also, Jehovah stated in Zechariah 2:8:
| "Touching you (his people) is touching my eyeball." Zechariah 2:8 |
The point is, actions taken, for, or against, humans are to be the same as doing such to Jesus and Jehovah, just as the action of piercing Jesus is likened to piercing Jehovah. (Matthew 25:40 and Acts 9:4)
I And The Father Are One
As far as John 10:30, where Jesus states
| "I and the father are one" John 10:30 |
In this context and compared to the later chapter 17, the context does not support that Jesus is the Father, for all of Jesus disciples are to be "one" as Jesus states in John 17:21-23:
| "In order that they may all be one, just as you Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me forth; in order that they may be one just as we are one;" John 17:21-22 |
Just as Adam and Eve were "one flesh" and Paul and Apollos were "one", they were one in purpose, not as a literal being. (1 Cor 3:5-9; Matthew 19:4-6)
| "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as
the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither
he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the
man who waters are one, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers;
you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator `made them male and female,' and said, `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:4-6 |
Jesus the I Am
John Spong's words from "Rescuing The Bible From Fundamentalism:"
| "The name of God was in some way related to the verb"to be." This was the
message of Exodus revealed in the call of Moses. God was being, the ground of being, the fullness of being, the
sum of being, being itself. God is. Of this God it could be said that "the eternal and complete 'I' shares,
undergirds, and affirms the eternal and complete world that is." "I Am" was their way of saying
this, of describing the undescribable. "I Am" was God's name. The voice of the burning bush said to Moses,
tell them "I am" sent you. The author of the Fourth Gospel took that story of the name of God and made it another key to this interpretation of Jesus. In the face of the Jewish Christians rejection and excommunication from the synagogues, John portrayed Jesus as part of that very Jewish definition of God. Jesus was to be understood as part of the great "I Am" of God. It was a startling, provocative, polemical claim. Even the translators do not always catch the profundity of this claim, for frequently they would add a subject to that startling verb form even when there was no subject in the Greek text. The best example of this is in the eighth chapter, where John had Jesus say, "when you have lifted up the Son of Man then you will know that I am he" (v.28). What the Greek actually says is "when you have lifted up the Son of Man then you will know that I Am." You will know "I Am" when you see the glorified Christ. The lifting up was not a reference to the cross, as I long thought, but rather it referred to the lifting up to glory. Paul would call that the exaltation; Luke would call it the ascension; John would call it the glorification. Jesus lifted up would reveal the glory of the God, Yahweh. I Am, a glory, John asserted, that Jesus shared before the foundation of the world. In case John's readers missed this point, he reemphasized this insight a few verses later (8:57-59), still in that chapter dedicated to Jesus'identity. Jesus had said to them, "Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he was it and was glad." the religious authorities who heard this were dumbfounded. "Your are not yet fifty years old," they shouted with incredulity "and have you seen Abraham?" To this Jesus responded, "Before Abraham was, I Am." That verse cannot be mistranslated. Jesus' hearers knew it. He had claimed for himself, according to John's text, the sacred name of God. They responded by taking up stones to stone him to death. That was the fitting punishment for blasphemy. but if this claim were true, as John was suggesting, it made the rejection of Jesus and the rejection of those Jews who believed in Jesus nothing less than the rejection of God by the Jews themselves. Those who sought to preserve God from being compromised by a changing revelation of truth in fact were banishing God's truth from their midst. The "I Am" claim for Jesus was carried by this author throughout the entire text of his Gospel. When John portrayed Jesus as the one who could feed a multitude in the wilderness, he had Jesus say, "I am the bread of life" (6:35). When his enemies wanted to debate his origins, John had his Jesus respond by saying, "I am the light of the world" (8:12). To those who might be lost in a human wilderness where no one cared, John's Jesus was made to say, "I am the door of the sheep" (10:7) and "I am the good shepherd" (10:11). To those who were uncertain about their ultimate destiny, John had his Jesus claim, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (14:6). To those who felt a radical sense of disconnectedness when they were banished from the synagogue, John's Jesus was heard to say, "I am the vine . . . Abide in me" (15:5). To those facing the specter of death, the Christ of the Fourth Gospel was pictured as saying, "I am the resurrection" (11:25). "I Am" was the constant claim of the Johannine Christ. The Word who was with God in the beginning, the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us, in the "I Am" sayings of this Gospel laid claim for this Jesus to the very name of God. No other Gospel writer recorded these sayings of Jesus because the Jesus of history obviously did not say them. They would be ludicrous and out of place in Mark, where the divine secret of Jesus' identity was to be preserved until its ultimate revelation in the cross and resurrection of the Christ. Are these sayings then not true? They were and are true to the experience of Christ in the hearts of believers. Christ has been and is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, caring for the alienated, the vine for the rejected, life for the dying. Truth is so much deeper than literal truth. The testimony of faith affirms the profundity of the Fourth Gospel. Requiring that the Fourth Gospel undergo the test of literalism would rob it of that very profundity. Jesus, said this profound piece of Christian writing to those Jewish Christians being banished from the traditions of their own faith because of their openness to Jesus, was himself, part of the secret of divine being incapable of being separated from the God worshiped by the Jews. Over and over Jesus was portrayed as laying claim to the divine name. If you know Jesus, you will know the Father, for the Father and Jesus were one. They were inseparable. To be called into the life of this Christ was to be called into the very being of God. That is the message of the Fourth Gospel. In the midst of a painful religious controversy, the Gospel of John made these bold claims. By exploring the divine power present in Christ, John carried his reader far beneath the level of the literal words and even the historic deeds of Jesus' life. Those who looked only at the literal level would be as absurd as Nicodemus or the Samaritan woman by the well. Jesus was inviting the world to allow the essence of God to be born in them. The Johannine message was not to be literalized, it was to be lived. How can one worship the source of being, the great "I Am," except by having the courage to be the self God created each of us to be? The Christian is the one called so deeply into life, into love, and into being that he or she can say with a Christlike integrity, I AM! This Fourth Gospel, born out of decades of contemplation and meditation on the meaning of Jesus, was at one and the same time the least literal and the most accurate. The way it is used by literalistic Christian people today reveals the most profound biblical ignorance and the least understanding of the depth of Scripture. These things are written, this author said in conclusion, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31). Literalize John and you will lose this Gospel. For that which is literalized becomes nonsense, while truth that is approached through sign and symbol becomes the very doorway into God. It is a pity that those who seek to defend biblical truth so often fail to comprehend its message. |
Only One Is Good - God
Mark 10:17-19 has been used (Matthew 19:16-19) to prove that Jesus was not "good" as God Almighty is, and therefore could not be God or a part of God being made and "brought forth" directly out of him. But how could Jesus not be "good" and yet be the "exact representation and image of God's glory?" For it was Jesus who also stated, "He that has seen me has seen the father." What does the context of Mark chapter 10 show ? What was the context of the man who spoke to Jesus? Was it about the "good" person Jesus? Or was it about the "good" needed to gain everlasting life. Jesus then answered, "it is God who is good, follow his commandments ..." (Heb 1:3; John 14:8)
What does the context of Mark chapter 10 show ?
Mark 10:17-19
| "A man ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees and asked him, Good rabbi, what
must I do to obtain eternal life? Jesus said to him," A. "Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God! You know the commandments - Do not . . . " B. "Why do you call me good? No things are good except God's commandments alone." For you know the commandments - Do not . . . " C. " Why do you ask me what is good? No one is good except God and his commandments. You know his commandments - Do not . . . " |
Does the context show that it is only God who is good and not his son Jesus? Or does the context show that it is only God's commandments alone that are good in order to obtain everlasting life? The fact that Jesus proceeds to list many of God's "good" commandments in order to explain to the man the requirements needed to obtain everlasting life, show the later context to be the true meaning. And these commandments or works or not the sacrifice of preaching or religious organizational activity, but rather mercy shown to other persons, for God wants mercy, not sacrifice.
Who Did Jesus Pray To ?
There are also some very logical questions to ask yourself, that defy the mysteriousness of the belief in a Godhead or Trinity. Who did Jesus pray to, himself or the father? Was it another part of himself of the Godhead ? As brought out before, Jesus was a part of God, being brought forth from him as his exact representation, yet a separate being. For example, when Adam would speak to Eve, he was speaking to a part of himself, the exact DNA used to produce her, a female version of exactly him, a female Adam. For this God would symbolically describe their marriage as "the two would become one flesh." Later Apostle Paul would use this same terminology when speaking about married couples. And for this Jesus could speak to a separate person, God Almighty, the father, and yet still be speaking to a part of his very self, as he spoke right before his death he stated: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me ? (Matthew 27:46)
Does God, the father, need to prove himself loyal ? Does God ever have to learn obedience ? No, but Jesus his son , who was a part of him, did as stated in Phillipians 2:8 and Hebrews chapter 5:8-9
| "He humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes , death on the cross." Phillipians
2:8 "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him." Hebrews 5:8-9 |
Can God be tempted by the Devil ? Does God have to prove his integrity ? If he can not, then why did the Devil try to tempt him, for God, who has the power and authority over all, could have taken all the world's kingdoms or governments at any time. He did not need the Devil to offer them to him. But all of this shows the loyalty, integrity, humility, faithfulness, loving kindness and mercy that Christ Jesus showed. And for this Jesus was "appointed to a superior position", the supreme position of the father, Almighty God.
Jesus gave up his lofty and high position, emptied himself of his power and divinity, solely relying on God for strength. He made himself a common mortal man. Not a rich man, not a powerful man, not a politician, nor an owner of a successful business, nor an influential man of the world, no, Jesus gave it all up and associated with the poor, the weak, the helpless, the sick. A being who was part of God himself, emptied himself more than most people, becoming a poor man. For this he needed total reliance on God with prayer and God's Spirit to strengthen him and do his Father's work.
| "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matthew 8:20 |
Jesus humiliation included taking on our weakness and our ignorance. He had no wisdom of his own, no power, no righteousness. He, like us, had to rely on God, every moment of every day. Each morning he had to abandon his own strength and strategies and offer himself up, confident that his Father's power would lead him into greater works than he could ever envision or accomplish alone.
Prayer, for Jesus, was an expression of deeply felt need. It was the environment in which he lived, the air he breathed. Subject to constant interruption, busy beyond comparison, jostled by friends and foes, hassled and harried, he manage to keep up his communion with God. Every situation was an occasion for prayer. (1)
- Jesus Christ -
Appointed By The Father
To Take His Position, The "Superior Position"
and "Name" Of Almighty God
Everything Subject To Jesus Christ
"The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands." John 3:35
But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. - Hebrews 1:8
Jesus Christ was "obedient as far as death" and for this very reason also
God exalted him to a superior position and kindly
gave him the name , that is above every other name,
so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend
of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground and every tongue should openly acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the father (Phil 2:9) Jehovah appointed Jesus a superior position making him "responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying
him ." (Heb 5:8; Phil 2:10,11) "God exalted
this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand." (Acts 5:31) Notice that God "put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him as head over all things to the church" (Eph
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and
gave him the name that is above every name" Phillipians 2:9-11
1:22)And also "In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject
to him." (Heb 2:8) and "...Christ, who is the head over every power and
authority" (Col 2:10 "...who has gone into heaven and is at God's right
hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." Jehovah also gave Jesus a higher name then himself, making the name of Jesus the only name for
salvation. For it is only in Jesus name that every knee should bend:
| "Jesus name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Acts 4:12 |
This would explain the absence of the tetragramaten in the Christian Greek scriptures. Jesus name would replace the use of Jehovah's name. (Phillipians 2:9) This is not just a high position, but the position of Almighty God himself. Not that Jesus is the same as Jehovah, for they are two separate persons, rather Jehovah has appointed his son, Jesus, to sit on his throne and rule as the Alpha and Omega.
| "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phillipians 2:9-11 "He put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him." Hebrews 2:8 "And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." Colossians 2:8 |
Jesus Rules On God's Throne - (At the Right Hand Of God )
| "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20 |
Jesus is seated at God's "right hand in the heavenly place" (Eph 1:20), either in favor with God or a literal position, yet this does not take away from his superior position as God Almighty, ruling from God's throne. (Hebrews 1:8) This can be confirmed in Psalms 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8, which states: "God is your throne forever and ever." - NWT or "Thy throne O God, is forever and ever." - NASB This is interpreted by many to mean that Jesus is Almighty God, for Jesus is both a part of his father, God and yet at the same time a separate person. Jesus was the one appointed by his father, Jehovah, to rule on his throne, obtaining the superior position of the "Almighty" God, the "Alpha and Omega" and the "I Am", along with the Highest Name, power, glory and authority and worship that goes with it.
Revelation 7:10, states,
| "To our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:10 "But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his slaves will render him sacred service." Revelation 22:3 |
Are these separate thrones ? Or, Do they share the same throne ? The possibility of Jesus being the "one who is seated on the throne", being the one "who was appointed to the superior position" of Almighty God can not be ignored. For he is
| "King of kings and Lord of lords" and "will rule as king forever and ever." 1 Timothy 1:17 |
For Jehovah himself has installed Christ Jesus as his king, "saying I, even I have installed my king. Upon my holy mountain." It is also certainly possible that Jesus is the "King of eternity" and "the only God", spoken of in 1 Tim 1:17, since in the prior verses and context of the entire chapter speak about Christ Jesus. In the same letter of 1 Timothy, 6:15, Jesus is
| "The King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords, the one alone having immortality who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see." 1 Timothy 6:15 |
And for this, Jesus is the one, who is to receive the "honor and might everlasting, Amen." (Rev 1:3; 4:2, 5:13; 15:3; 19:16; 11:15; Psalm 1:6;)
God's Kingdom = Christ's Kingdom
Constantly the "kingdom" is spoken of as "God's kingdom", yet Revelation 11:15 includes Jesus as the ruler of the "kingdom", "the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will rule as king forever." Along with Jesus, he "bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and made them into a 'kingdom and priests to our God and they are to rule as kings (over) (on) the earth." Jesus also calls this "kingdom", "my kingdom", for he is the king and ruler. (Daniel 6:26, 2:44, Luke 17:20; Matt 4:11, John 18:36)
Christians Go To Christ Only For Salvation
Now that Jesus has the "superior position" of God, all Christians, are to go only to him for salvation as brought out in Acts 2:38:
| "Repent and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. Persons would only have to go through Jesus name to be saved. For if you publicly declare that word in your mouth that Jesus is Lord and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom 10:9 |
Notice that along with his name, faith had to be exercised in the heart.
Jesus Christ Is The Alpha and Omega
In "First" chapter of Revelation verses 4-7, it specifically is speaking about Jesus Christ and his second coming. Verse 7, speaks about how "He (Jesus) is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him."
| Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." Revelation 1:7 |
Then in verse 8, it states:
| "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Rev 1:8 |
According to the context, this is Jesus Christ as the "Alpha and Omega." Then in the "last" chapter of Revelation chapter 22 verses 13 and 16 it states:
| "I am the Alpha and the Ome'ga, the first and the last, the beginning and the end; I Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you people of these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star" - (Revelation 22:13,16). |
The context shows it is Jesus speaking in both verses. For in verses 12, 17 and 20 it states
| "I am coming" Rev 22:12,17 |
and in verse 20 it specifically states:
| "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus." Rev 22:20 |
So to interpret the Alpha and Omega in verse 13 as Jehovah, as the New World Translation does, is to miss the context of chapter 22. Jesus, both being a part of God and being appointed in his superior position, can certainly be called Almighty God. For Jehovah, has now stepped down off his throne and appointed Jesus Christ to the "superior position" of his role as the "Almighty", as the "Alpha and Omega" and the "first and the last." In this real sense Jesus is God to all creation. Jesus Christ is "our great God and savior" in Titus 1:13. And it was with "God's own blood" that purchased us in Acts 20:28, for Jesus blood could both legally, and inherently be called God's blood. The New World translation is one of the few bibles that translates many of the above verses differently to support their theology.
Jesus Christ Was Worshipped
Although Jesus taught his followers to pray to the father , through his name (Math 6:10; John 14:14) and not directly to him, it also shows in Heb 1:6, Jesus being worshipped by the angels.
| "Let all the angels of God worship him" Heb 1:6 |
The New World translation, translates the Greek word proskuneo as "obeisance" and this is one of the correct definitions of the word, however, this same Greek word, proskuneo, is also used at Matthew 4:10 and John 4:24 and is translated as "worship" in the New World Translation.
| "It is written, It is the Lord your God you must worship, and it is to him
alone, you must render sacred service." Matthew 4:10 "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." John 4:24 |
These renderings of proskuneo, as "worship" are also correct, as shown below in Strongs Concordance and Vines Expository Dictionary.
| 1."Let all the angels of God worship (obeisance) him" (Heb 1:6) 2."It is written, It is the Lord your God you must worship, and it is to him alone, you must render sacred service." (Matthew 4:10) 3."God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:24) |
|
Strongs Concordance: |
Vines Expository Dictionary |
|
A-1 Verb # 4352 Greek: proskuneo |
A-1 Verb # 4352 Greek: proskuneo |
| AV - worship 60; 60 1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2) among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead
as an expression of profound reverence 3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one)
or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank 3a1) to the Jewish high priests 3a2) to God 3a3) to Christ 3a4) to heavenly beings 3a5) to demons |
"to make obeisance, do reverence to" (from pros, "towards," and kuneo, "to kiss"), is the most frequent word rendered "to worship." It is used of an act of homage or reverence (a) to God, e.g., Matt. 4:10; John 4:21-24; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:10 (2nd part); 22:9; (b) to Christ, e.g., Matt. 2:2,8,11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17; John 9:38; Heb. 1:6, in a quotation from the Sept. of Deut. 32:43, referring to Christ's Second Advent; (c) to a man, Matt. 18:26; (d) to the Dragon, by men, Rev. 13:4; (e) to the Beast, his human instrument, Rev. 13:4,8,12; 14:9,11; (f) the image of the Beast, Rev. 13:15; 14:11; 16:2; (g) to demons, Rev. 9:20; (h) to idols, Acts 7:43. |
This shows that both 'obeisance" and "worship "are correct definitions of the word proskuneo. This also exposes the inconsistency and bias rendering of the Greek word proskuneo, in the New World Translation's treatment of Hebrews 1:6, where they render it as "obeisance", while in Matthew 4:10 and John 4:24, they render it as "worship." Apparently, the "old light" or former belief of the Watchtower Society was that Jesus was worshiped, as shown in the July 15, 1898 edition of the Watchtower Magazine, which states: "We believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshiped, and properly so. It was proper for our Lord to receive worship in view of his having been the only begotten of the Father, and his agent in the creation al all things, including man." Also the older version of the New World Translation, translates Hebrews 1:6 with the word "worship", but later changed this to "obeisance." However this rendering of proskuneo as "obeisance" is not consistent with the rendering in Revelation 5:13-14, which shows the four living creatures and the 24 elders falling down and worshiping, proskuneo, both the "one sitting on the throne and the lamb" (Jehovah and Jesus). So all creation including us would worship both Jesus Christ and his father, Jehovah, through Jesus name.
| "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped." Revelation 5:13-14 |
Jesus Christ - Almighty God To All
Creation,
But Always Under The Subjection of His Father,
YHWH
The only person Jesus has not become the supreme God to is Jehovah himself. Notice 1 Cor 15:27
| "For he 'has put everything under his feet.' Now when it says that 'everything' has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ." 1 Cor 15:27 |
Certainly, the father has always been"greater than his son Jesus," and the son, who obtains the role of Almighty God, is still always under subjection. to his father. Apparently there will even come a time,
| "Until he has put all his enemies under his feet" and "the last enemy to be destroyed is death" when Jesus "hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father" giving up his rulership and authority as God over all creation back to his father, and "when he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all" 1 Cor 15:23-28 |
So there would come a time when Jesus would hand over the kingdom back to his father Jehovah "when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power". It can be likened to the following illustration: It would be as if Queen Elizabeth handed the throne of England over to Prince Charles, and made him King of England. She would still be his mother and the Queen; she would not be any the less; but all authority, honor, power and glory of the monarchy would have been handed over to her son. the subjects would now render him the loyalty and service due the King of England, though they would hold the Queen Mother in no less respect as the mother of the King. So in this respect, all the authority, honor, power, glory and possibly worship would belong to Jesus Christ. (John 14:28)
View of Others In Their Belief Of Jesus
This article conflicts with both the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses and many other
denominations, but certainly not all, for many pastors are flexible in their interpretations humbly submitting
to the Holy Spirit to teach, guide and direct them. Rather then
Jesus having always been the Almighty God, this states that Jesus was "brought
forth" and "born" from God, being a part of him, although a separate creation. He then shared in
all other creation and emptied himself of his divinity to become like Adam. After proving his loyalty and "learning
obedience", he supplied the "ransom sacrifice. For this, Jesus was appointed by Jehovah, to the "superior
position" and role of authority of "Almighty God" himself, along with the name, honor, glory, rulership
and worship that belongs only to Almighty God. This is why there are many scriptures that show Jesus, to be the
same as God. This also conflicts with the Watchtower's interpretation of Jesus being simply a created being, who
then shared in all other creation, and was, and is, the same as the arch angel "Michael" as well as the
king of the kingdom, yet never attains to the "superior position" of authority, glory, name and worship
of God. Each individual must decide for himself.
Traditional View - The trinity doctrine that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the one God, but three persons. Jesus
Christ Had both the nature and divinity to be called both man and God, resulting in Jesus Christ as always being
God Almighty. All creation is subject to him.
Jehovah's Witnesses - Jesus Christ, the son of God, formerly known as, and now again, Michael the Arch Angel, was created
and exalted as King, yet never attains the position and authority of God. All creation, including Jesus Christ,
is subject to the father, Jehovah.
This Web Page - To the extent that the Buddha, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Krishna, Mohammed, Confucius,
Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Genoa, Hildengard of Bingen, Rosa Parks, Florence Nightingale, Mahatma Gandhi,
Martin Buber, Thich Nhat Hahn, Dag Hammarskjold, or any other holy person brings life, love, and being to another,
then to that degree that person is to me the word of God incarnate. No fence can be placed around the Being of
God. The suggestion that Jesus sis of a different kind of substance and therefore different from every other human
being in kind instead of in degree will ultimately have to be abandoned. Then the realization will surely begin
to dawn that to perceive Jesus as different form others only in degree is to open all people to the divine potential
found in the Christ figure. It is to invite all people to step into the power of living fully, loving wastefully,
and having the courage to be all that any one of can be - a self whole, free, real, and expanding, a participant
in a humanity without boundaries. JOHN SHELBY SPONG.
Is this a salvation issue? Does it mean life or death? Many religious persons will say yes, judging and condemning all those who do not agree with their interpretation on this. However, I find this is absolutely Not a salvation issue. The only requirement for everlasting life is for persons to "exercise faith in Christ." What is exercising faith in Christ? Reliance and trust on God to do the works of sacrifice, such as world wide evangelizing, while persons as individuals concentrate on adding to their faith works or mercy, performing acts of love and kindness to fellow neighbors, which has the same value and equals the same thing as believing and having the knowledge that Christ is the messiah, our "chief agent and savior" and that "no one goes to the father except through him." It is showing of "works" of love and mercy, not the "works" of sacrifice, which include the sacrifices of teaching and enforcing the beliefs of unclear doctrinal knowledge, such as the trinity, hellfire, 1914 and many other interpretations of men. God wants "mercy, not sacrifice", for "love is the laws fulfillment" and "love is the perfect bond of union", not the unclear doctrines. And Jesus disciples would only be recognized by "this love among themselves", not the unclear doctrinal knowledge. For "the love of Christ surpasses knowledge. (John 14:6; Acts 5:31; James 2:26; Galatians 2:15,16; Eph 3:19; Heb 13:14-15)
Acknowledging ourselves as sinners and confessing Jesus as the Christ and our personal savior is certainly a requirement. However, confession is not necessarily having or confessing the academic knowledge of Christ, as so many churches teach, but is a faith and reliance a trust in God, allowing him to supply his Spirit within us. Only by having faith in Christ can we obtain God's Spirit. Only with his Spirit can we be showing "works of mercy, not sacrifice" with a continual love of neighbor, each and every day. The love of Christ surpasses (academic) knowledge," which can be obtained by faith and Spirit.
Those who fail to put faith in Christ but live a life of love, even though from the flesh, are not the same as evil people:
| "For whenever people of the nations that do not have the law (of Christ), do by nature the things of the law, these people although not having law, are a law to themselves. The are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts , while their conscience is bearing witness with them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused." This applies both to the Mosaic law and the law of Christ." Romans 2:14-16 |
So those persons who are truly showing "love of neighbor", and "do by nature the things of the law of Christ" and do not have any knowledge of the scriptures or profess a different religion " are demonstrating the law of Christ to be written on their hearts and are in some way being excused" from being evil. These persons are not exercising faith in Christ and do not obtain God's Spirit, however Paul's words, along with God's mercy, suggest, perhaps a second chance to put faith in Christ.
| "For he that loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." For he that knows love knows God, for
"God is love." "This is his commandment, that we (1) have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and (2) be loving one another." And it is by observing this commandment of "love", that we "gain the knowledge that we are in union with him." "For the entire Law stands fulfilled in one saying, namely: You must love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 2:14-15, 28-29; 13:8; Math 9:13, Romans 13:10, Colossians 3:14, John 13:34,35; Eph 3:19 1 John 3:11,23-24; 4:18-21; 1 John 4:1-3)) |
I would also venture to say that any Christian denomination that goes as far as to say that one who does not believe that Jesus is God or in the trinity, does not have everlasting life, is putting sacrifice ahead of mercy. This would also hold true if they enforce the other view of Jesus being the son only and not following that reaps death. To view that persons will not obtain everlasting life because of their individual interpretations on this, is putting sacrifice ahead of mercy and is going against the very teachings of Christ. Christians should not "judge each other" or "look down on your brothers", instead each individual person "will all stand before the judgment seat of God" "So then each of us will render an account of himself to God." We are to follow Christ words to "stop judging that you may not be judged, for with what judgment you are judging, you will be judged" ..... "Hypocrite! first extract the rafter from your own eye and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother's eye." Christians are to put mercy ahead of sacrifice. "For mercy exalts triumphantly over judgment." (James 2:13) (Matthew 9:13, Romans 14:10-12, Matthew 7:1-5)
Any religion that puts works of sacrifice, ritual observances, organizational requirements and doctrinal knowledge ahead of love and mercy, misses the mark of true Christianity, replacing fundamentalism for God's Spirit that comes from outside His Word. for "God takes delight in loving kindness rather then whole burnt offerings." Even putting the knowledge of "faith in Christ" ahead of love and mercy can be labeled as a "worker of lawlessness", for as Jesus stated, many would believe in him and would do works of sacrifice in his name, yet they would fail to perform works of love and mercy, which is the "will of God", and for this he rejected them as "workers of lawlessness." "For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should be loving his brother also." (1 John 4:20:21, Rev 1ses the mark of John's Revelation, the full spectrum of Christ's teaching an
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