Saturday, October 10, 2015

The Godhead Explained and Understood!

  Grace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. 
     If you have a desire to know about the Godhead then I pray this will bless you as it has blessed me.  There is nothing so wonderful than the study of the Godhead.  It is both complex and simple at the same time.  It slowly unfolds and continues to unfold with no end.  Nonetheless God is so good that He who seeks Him will be found of Him and those who desire to know more God will give to them. 
     I want to believe that I am a simple person who tries to analyze every aspect of study and tries to  figure out how and what is the best way to explain a subject.  I believe the following analogy as revealed to me by God gives me a picture of the Godhead.  From this analogy I will work this study.  This analogy was presented to me only after I had extensively mauled over this subject.  Like I said I pray this blesses you as it has blessed me. 

Imagine an ocean.  One of the things that makes an Ocean is Water.  As a matter of fact if you remove the water from the Ocean it ceases to become an Ocean.  If I were to dip my hands into the ocean and take some of the water I could say I have water but I could not say I have the Ocean.  Now imagine putting the water into a red cup.  Even though the cup has water in it, it does not become the Ocean either.  It is only a cup of water.  Yet the water in the cup and the water in the Ocean are the same.  Now imagine the cup becoming transparent.  You are now able to see the water that is in the cup clearly.  Now take this cup and place this cup of water into the Ocean.  You would no longer say you have a cup of water in the ocean.  You would only say you have a cup in the Ocean.  The water that is in the cup would become part of the ocean.  The cup meanwhile would be distinct.  The cup being clear would blend into the ocean but it would still be there.  Now if I wanted to get some of the water from the Ocean I would have to use the clear cup.  When I drink from the cup, I have the water in me.  I do not have the cup in me and I do not have the ocean in me, I only have the water.
 

In this analogy I used water.  Water is the analogy for God.    We know that God is Spirit and that He created the heavens and the earth.  When God speaks imagine the water leaving the ocean and pouring out.  The water leaving the ocean is still God but it is His Spirit, the Word, the Spirit of God that creates.   

Genesis 1:1-2  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  (2)  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

John 4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Psalms 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Job 33:4  The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

2 Corinthians 3:15-17  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  (17)  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
We do not know so much how the Spirit of the Lord is but we can see that the Spirit of the Lord is the Lord and that it is separate and yet Himself.  In the illustration I presented, the Water is God and yet His Spirit or the Spirit of God is also God.  In the next few pages you will see this revelation slowly unfold.
  

God the Father

God is identified as the Father in many places.  We do not really see this until the New Testament.  We see just a handful of times when God is called the Father in the Old Testament and over 300 times in the New Testament.  Here is a few versus that we see God being called the Father in the New Testament.

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

John 12:28  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

If you remember in the illustration.  If the water is God, then the Ocean is God in Heaven as the Father.  When we reference God the Father it is very evident that God is the Father and ALWAYS refers to God in Heaven.  NEVER at any time is God referred to as the Father in humanity or in the incarnation.   Just as if I can not take some water from the Ocean and say it is the ocean.  At the same time the water in the Ocean is what makes it an ocean.  God cannot be called the Father in the Body of Jesus Christ because God referenced as the Father is ONLY a reference to Him in Heaven.  When referring to God outside of heaven He is referred to as the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit, etc.

God is also referenced to as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  When God overshadowed Mary He was the Holy Ghost because the conception occurred on earth. 

Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Ephesians_1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Colosians_1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Hebrews 1:5-6  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  (6)  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

So we see in what we read, God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Father filled Mary with His Spirit.  Since the Holy Spirit is God what is said is accurate.  There is not two spirits but 1 Spirit.  Called the Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth.  Remember the analogy, the water is God, God is Spirit and the water in the Ocean is the Father in heaven.  When you take the water from the ocean, the water is no longer the ocean but still water.  The process was described in the following:

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:”

   This is a direct correlation to what happened.  God poured his Spirit upon Mary as He overshadowed Her from above.  The picture can be seen and imagined as if an ocean was above you and the shadow of this ocean was overshadowing you.  Then the ocean pours the water that is in it upon you and fills you.  This is what happened at the conception of the Son of God.  The Father in Heaven pour His Spirit upon Mary as to have her conceive a child.  It is still God and Father but it is His Spirit.  They are one and the same.  Same water but two different places.  That is why it states that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and that which is conceived of her is of the Holy Ghost.  They are not two persons but 1.  Jesus did not have 2 Fathers but 1.  They are both correct because it is 1 spirit in different places and references:

We see also see this separation at the Baptism of Jesus:

Matthew 3:16-17  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:  (17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

God the Father in Heaven sent His Spirit to descend upon Jesus.  Notice it does not say the Father descended.  In the analogy imagine the ocean pouring down, the water pouring down from the ocean is not the Ocean yet it is still water.  It is not an unfathomable that God could be in more than one place and that He could be in Heaven and on Earth and In the Son of God.  Nevertheless, when referring to God in Heaven He is always the Father.  When referring to God’s presences in the earthly, He is either the Holy Ghost, etc. or in the Flesh as the Son of God but never the Father.  

The Son of God

When God takes on Flesh He becomes the Son of God.  God in the flesh is always the Son of God.  In the illustration the water that is taken out of the ocean and placed into the red cup would represent God being in the flesh.  When the scriptures refers to God in Heaven He is the Father and when it refers to God in the Flesh He is the Son of God. 

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1 Corinthians 15:46-47  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  (47)  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Romans 9:5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Colossians 1:15-19  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  (19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

    So we see that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, the image of God.  While the Spirit that was in Jesus Christ is God his body was not.  In the illustration the red cup is not the water and the water is not the red cup.  So also it is with the Son of God, the body is not God and God is not the body of Jesus.  This makes sense since when Jesus Christ died, God did not die only the body.  Nowhere in scripture does it ever indicate that God died for you.  It always refers the death to the Son, Christ or Jesus only.  With that said because the body of Jesus was God in the Flesh He was still 100% man and 100% God. 
      Just because Jesus Christ was 100% God it did not make Him the Father.  If you remember in the illustration, just because the red cup had water it did not make it the ocean.  In the same token the water that is in the ocean and that is in the cup is the same.  This is indicated in the following scriptures:

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

John 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

The water which is God is the Father and the Son.  When seeing God in the Flesh you see what is of the Father in the Son.  The water is both in the ocean and when you look into what is in the cup you see what is in the ocean.

This is one of the greatest mysteries and yet we see it in our life and in the scriptures.  In the illustration the red cup becomes clear.  This represents the glorification of Jesus Christ after he was risen.  When the clear cup of water is placed back into the ocean that which is in the cup becomes one with the ocean.   This represents Jesus Christ being glorified and ascending into heaven and merging with the Father.  Even though Jesus is merged with the Father there is still the cup.  This is clearly seen in the following texts:     

Revelation 5:6-7  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  (7)  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Revelation 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 7:9-10  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  (10)  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Revelation 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 1:8-18  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  (9)  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  (10)  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  (11)  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.  (12)  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  (13)  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  (14)  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  (15)  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  (16)  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  (17)  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:  (18)  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

When we pray we pray to Our Father, God in Heaven.  In Heaven the Father and the glorified and risen Christ are one and the same.  While we see the Lamb on the throne which is in Heaven, that which is in Him, is and is of the Father.   There is not 2 Alpha and Omega’s.  There is not 2 First and Last’s.  There is not 2 Almighty’s, There is only 1.  What John is seeing is God in His Glory and the Glorified Son of God.  One Spirit, One God in two different manifestations.  Just as the cup is in the ocean, 1 cup, 1 ocean but same water.  The water in the cup and the water in the ocean is the same.  The cup merging from the ocean filled with the water is the Lamb.  The ocean that holds and keeps the cup is the Father. 

This is a beautiful picture of the unity and yet separation of manifestations of God in Heaven. 
 
The Comforter
 
When we refer to God in humanity we see Him as the Comforter “Para-kletos”.  He is also called the Holy Ghost, Spirit of God, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth, The Spirit, His Spirit, the Spirit of His Son, and other titles.  He is never referred to as the Son of God in the flesh.  In the illustration it is the water poured from the ocean and that is in the cup.  The comforter is not the ocean neither is He the cup but He is what the ocean and the cup have.  Just as if I were to take my hands and dip it into the ocean to draw some water.  I would not have the ocean in my hands, I would have the water.  If I were to also take water out of the cup.  I would not have the cup in my hands but the water.  The water in my hands from the cup and the water in my hands from the ocean is the same water. 

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

It is very clear that the Holy Spirit is God.  If we were to look at the Holy Spirit in the illustration we would see a wonderful thing.  The water is God, the Ocean is the Father and the Cup is Jesus.  Imagine taking the ocean and being able to pour the water that is in the ocean, out.  This is what you will find the Holy Spirit is.  It is the Father pouring His Spirit upon humanity.  The water in the ocean and the water being poured out is the same water but identified differently.  It is not 2 spirits or 2 persons, it is 1.    

The Comforter and the Son
 
So far we have learned that God who is Spirit in Heaven is the Father, God who is the Spirit in the Flesh is Jesus Christ and God who is Spirit being poured out upon humanity is the Comforter, etc.  When we come to understand that it is all 1 and the same Spirit we can understand why the scriptures seem to interchange identities. 

God in Heaven is the Father.  God in the Flesh is the Son of God.  God in Humanity is the Comforter.  Comforter in humanity comes from heaven and is given to us by Jesus Christ that dwells in heaven.  The Comforter that dwelt in Jesus Christ, now dwells in us. 

The water in a large mass is the Ocean.  Water in a cup is a cup of water.  Water in humanity is water.  Water in humanity is being poured out by the Ocean using the Cup that now dwells in the Ocean.  The same water that is poured on us is the same water that was in the cup.      

Here is a fantastic text that illustrates the unity and yet separation of the Father, the Son of God Flesh and the Comforter the Holy Spirit that dwelt in Christ. 

Romans 8:9-11  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

We also see,

Galation_1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

These texts declare says:  1 – The Spirit of God dwells in you.   2-  The Spirit of Christ is in us.  3-  That the same Spirit raised up Christ (The Body) dwells in us.  4- We know that the Comforter dwells in us.  Do we then have 3 spirits living in us?   NO!
This makes absolutely no sense unless you apply the Godhead and the separation between the Body and Spirit of the Son of God.  We also see the Spirit that dwelt in Christ is the Comforter, the Holy Spirit and are one and the same. 

Here is an accurate Paraphrase using this theology.  The Holy Spirit dwells in you, He who does not have the Holy Spirit does not have God.  If the Holy Spirit is in you, your body is dead because of sin and you have life and righteousness.  If the Holy Spirit that raised up the Body of Jesus from the dead lives in you than God the Father who raised the body of Jesus Christ from the dead will also give your body life by the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.  
 
Here is another:

Romans 8:14-15  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

And

Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Here is more text to show the interchanging:

1 Peter 1:10-12  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, ...(11b) when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, (THE BODY) and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

2 Peter 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  

Notice how the Spirit of Christ was in them and how the Holy Ghost moved them.  This is the same Spirit.  The Spirit moved them to write in reference to God becoming flesh and dying on the cross.

In conclusion, The illustration that the theology of the Godhead as described above gives us a great glimpse of the who God is and explains to us how Jesus could be God, the Sprit of God is God and how and why God is called the Father.  In the illustration we see water which is represented as God, the Ocean as the Father, the water pouring form the ocean as the Spirit of God and the Cup which represents the body of Jesus.  The glass which represents the risen Christ.

We see clearly in scripture God who is Spirit in heaven as the Father pours Himself on the earth as the Spirit of God and this God conceives a Son, named Jesus.  Jesus is the Son of God.  The body of Jesus did not have the Spirit of God but rather the Spirit of God took on flesh as the Son of God.    His flesh is human but that which is in the flesh is the Spirit of  God.  This is why Jesus Christ is 100% Human and 100% God.  Jesus is the Christ promised by God to come and save humanity.  It is God himself in the flesh.  This is why God declares:

Isaiah 43:10-11  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  (11)  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

That is why Jesus is not a god but God himself.  He is not a savior but THE SAVIOUR.  He is God in the Flesh.  When Jesus Christ dies His body is glorified.  He is changed and ascends into heaven.  In heaven Jesus Christ becomes one with the Father.   The Spirit that is in Christ merges with the God in heaven.  Yet, the glorified body of Jesus Christ is still present.  When we look into heaven we see the Glory of God and the Lamb seated in the midst, in power and authority.  When referencing Christ it states He is seated at the right hand of God and never right hand of the Father.  The Father and Jesus Christ is no longer different.    When Jesus is seen in heaven He is seen in the glorified body of Jesus Christ as God, the Almighty. 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

There is Only 1 and that is why this scripture makes sense:

Ephesians 4:4-6  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  (5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

ON EARTH - There is the Church, The Spirit of God and the Salvation we have. 

IN FAITH - There is the Lord Jesus Christ and Faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism in Him.

IN HEAVEN - There is One God and creator of all, who is all powerful, all present and all knowing.

SUB NOTES

Colossians 1:15-19  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  (19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Colossians 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

This text is a wonderful and yet complex text without understanding the Godhead.  Jesus who is the image of the Invisible God is the Christ the Spirit of God in the Flesh.  The flesh of the Son of God was the first born by God and not made or created as other creatures.  For by, The Spirit of God in flesh, all things made.  For Him and through Him.  He is before all things and by him all things consist.  He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the first who was born to be resurrected, and by His bodily life and resurrection he is made first.  For it pleased God that in the Son of God (The Flesh) that all the fullness of God dwells. 

There is a great interchange between the pre-incarnation of God and the Life, death and resurrection of the Body of Jesus Christ.  We know God the Father created all things and yet it says that Jesus Christ created all things.  Who is correct?  Both.  Jesus Christ prior to his incarnation was the Spirit of God, it was the Spirit of God poured down from heaven described as the “Word” by John that created all.  “The Word was God and the Word was made Flesh.”  It is obvious that the Son of God who was born could not have created everything prior to His birth unless He was something prior to Him being the Son of God.  What God was in the flesh was the His Spirit as Jesus.  That is why in Him all things consist = All things are held together.    

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