Who is God? Part 2

        The Messenger of the Covenant

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 
too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler
in Israel. His goings forth are from
long ago, from the days of eternity."
Micah 5:2 NASB 

     Continuing with the topic of the angel of the LORD, I would like to take a look at The exodus of Israel out of Egypt. In the previous post I briefly mentioned the account of the burning bush found in Exodus 3. In the other appearances of the angel of the LORD that I referred to, the angel appeared as a man. In this instant He appears in the flame (Exodus 3:2). As Moses goes to investigate the burning bush he is commanded not to come near, but to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:4-5).

     The purpose of the angel's appearance to Moses was to inform Him that He the LORD, had seen the affliction of the Israelites and was about to deliver them from their bondage (Exodus 3:6-8). notice especially verse 8 that speaks of the land God would bring them to. The land of the Hittites, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite. This comes up again a few chapters later.

     As the Israelites leave Egypt the angel of the LORD leads them out in a pillar of cloud by day, and by a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21-22, 14:19). Now we get to Mount Sinai, and the giving of the law,
     And the LORD told Moses, "Behold, I shall come to you in a thick cloud..." (Exodus 19:9).
     Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently ( Exodus 19:18).

     It is here that the LORD makes a covenant with the people, giving them His law to obey, and promising them that if they obeyed Him and kept His covenant they would be His own possession among all the people of the earth. God called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and it is here that He declares He will send His angel to go before them,

     Behold I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before Him and obey His voice; do not be rebellious toward Him, for He will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in Him.  But if you will truly obey His voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. Exodus 23:20-23 NASB

     Again we see reference to what the angel of the LORD told Moses previously. Another interesting thing is that we see that The LORD has put His name in the angel. This angel is divine, bearing the name Jehovah, The I Am Who I Am.  This is the LORD Jehovah promising to send His angel to go before them and bring them into the promised land. This is similar to what we read when Lot was fleeing Sodom, The LORD poured out brimstone and fire from the LORD in heaven. Notice in this passage the instances where I and his are interchanged. In fact Acts 7:38 records that it was the angel of the LORD on the mountain speaking to Moses. What is God trying to reveal to us about Himself?

     We read in Isaiah 63 that The LORD became Israel's Savior, and the angel of His presence saved them (Isaiah 63:9-14). Another interesting discovery is that of the presence of the Holy Spirit here as well,
     But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10), and speaking of the parting of the Red Sea, Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them (Isaiah 63:11)? Now we see another aspect of God as well. Something we will pursue more in another post.

     In wrapping this post up lets take a look at Malachi 3:1 where we read,

     "Behold, I am going to send My messenger and he will clear the way before Me. And the LORD, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold He is coming," says the LORD of hosts  (NASB).

     The new testament applies this prophecy of a forerunner to John the Baptist, who was the one to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1-11, John 1:6-13, 15-18). The messenger, or angel of the covenant is none other than Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God who was there at the exodus, at the Red sea, who gave the law on Sinai, and led the children of Israel through the wilderness 40 years. He is the one who called to Moses out of the bush, and then called him up the mountain. Moses spoke with Him face to face, and now we read in the New Testament that in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells (Col 1:19).

   

     

   

   

Who is God? Part 1

     Who is God? How is God defined? What is He like? These questions are vital to our knowledge of the one true God, yet in our finite minds we struggle to grasp the answers. Man, in his attempts to explain God falls into the trap of making a little god, a god who is like him, a god of his own invention. We need God to reveal Himself to us, if we are to know Him in spirit and truth ( John 4:23).

     God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind, starting at the very beginning. We read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  God reveals Himself as creator, in the very beginning. If God was there to create all of this, then who created God? If something greater than God created God first, then God ceases to be God. 

     The Hebrew word for God in Gen 1:1 is translated Elohim. The interesting thing about this word for God is that is is in the plural. This does not necessarily mean multiple Gods were there to create the world. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read that the "LORD is our God, the LORD is one." The word one carries the meaning of first, standing alone, and also that of unity. So we can say that the LORD God alone is God. There is no other God beside Him (Exodus 20:3). LORD is a translation of the word JEHOVAH  meaning the eternal always existing one. So we see that God has always existed from eternity past. There was no one else who created Him. But what about the plurality hinted at by the title Elohim?

     If we read a little farther in the account of creation we come to an interesting verse. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping  that creeps upon the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Gen 1:26-27). Here God reveals a little more to us.

     The plurality of God comes out in this verse. God says, "Let us" and, "Our image". If there is only one God, and no other, and He alone created the universe, what does this mean? Then we read that God created man in His image, in the image of God he created Them. 

     We see both plural and singular in these verses, referring to God, and also to the man He created, giving a hint of the unity of God, and also that of man. Just as mankind is a singular being yet made up of many, God also is a singular being, yet composed of a plurality. We see that man was created, a male and female, and in the image and likeness of God. People have contemplated what is meant by the image and likeness of God. Obviously we were not created to be God, we are not divine, but we have a body, soul, and spirit. We have been created with an intelligence, to reason, moral beings with the ability to make choices. We have within us a spirit that departs when this body wears out and passes away. God Himself has breathed into us the breath of life (Gen 2:7).

     John tell us that God is spirit (John 4:24), but what about a body? He also writes that no man has seen God (John 1:18, 6:46). Does the Old Testament record any instances of God appearing to men in a body? And if so, how do we reconcile this?

     Lets take a look at the life of Abraham, as there are several times that the LORD appeared to him recorded in the book of Genesis. Genesis 17:1 When he was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and established a covenant with him. In Genesis 18:1 the LORD appears again with two other men (angels). He comes to tell Abraham that Sarah his wife would bear him a son a year from now. The chapter goes on to tell of God's displeasure with Sodom and Gomorrah, and its coming destruction. Genesis 18:22, the two men leave and go towards Sodom while Abraham is left standing before the LORD. In this section of scripture we read of Abraham's interceding for Sodom, where his nephew Lot had settled (Gen 18:23-33). Abraham is standing face to face with the LORD talking to Him. He knows who He is as he calls Him LORD several times.

The chapter ends with the LORD departing, and then we have the events of Chapter 19 dealing with Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels go to get Lot and his family out before the city is destroyed. We get to the point where the angels are leading Lot out, and he protests saying the mountains are too far away. He looks at a small town and asks if he can flee there. up until now we see the two angels mentioned. Now the LORD suddenly speaks to Lot. "Hurry escape there, for I can not do anything until you arrive there." (Gen 19:22). Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven (Gen 19:24). 

     That is an amazing passage of scripture. You have the LORD telling Lot That He cannot do anything until Lot is safe in Zoar. Next we see The LORD (on the earth) raining down fire and brimstone from the LORD (in heaven). This is JEHOVAH in both places. Once again a hint at plurality within the being of God. Again to be clear, I am not saying there are two Gods, or three Gods. The scriptures are clear that the LORD God is one, and I firmly believe that. Yet here we see The LORD on earth at the same time the LORD is in heaven.

     Jacob wrestled with a man until daybreak and would not let him go until he was blessed.(Gen 32:2-29). Listen to what Jacob says next, So Jacob named the place Peniel for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved (Gen 32:30).

     The angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Immediately we are told that this is God. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush (Exodus 3:4). The chapter goes on to record God's call to Moses, referring to the being in the burning bush as God in several places. When Moses asks God who sent Him, The angel of the LORD replies I Am who I Am (Exodus 3:14-15). It is here that we are first introduced to the sacred name of God, YAHWEH, also translated JEHOVAH, which we have already established that it means the eternal one. Exodus 33:11 records that God spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

     The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:11-22, and to Sampson's parents in Judges 13:2-23. In both instances Gideon, and Manoah and his wife understood that they had seen God (Judges 6:22, 13:22). In fact, When asked by Manoah what His name was, The angel of the LORD replied, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" (Judges 13:18) Compare this with Isaiah's messianic prophecy.

     For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7). 

     This prophecy we find fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This adds and interesting element to the concept of the angel of the LORD. John tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-2). This is the beginning of John's gospel where he sets the foundation of who Jesus is, the eternal Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He is the only begotten of the Father, sent by the Father, yet divine as the Father is divine. This explains the creation account where we see the plurality in Genesis 1:26-27. Jesus was there as God, with God. Colossians 1:13-16 also tell us that the Son of God is the image of the invisible God, and all things have been created by Him, and for Him. So was the angel of the LORD as found in the OLD Testament the preincarnate Christ?

     John said no man has seen God at any time, yet the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father has explained Him (John 1:18). Jesus stated to His disciples in John 14:7-11 that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. He speaks of a unity I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Yet we also see that the Father is speaking from Heaven, while Jesus was on the earth (Matt 3:16-17, 17:1-5). This is in keeping with what we saw in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah.

     This is only scratching the surface, and I will post more on this. I would also like to take a look at the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) in a future post as well.

     

The Vindication of the Resurrection

     Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, and was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:3-4 NASB). 

     And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory (1Timothy 3:16 NASB). 

     Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was often assailed by the religious leaders of His day. Filled with doubt and hatred, they demanded a sign from Him to prove Himself (Matt 16:1). Jesus told them they would receive no sign but that of the sign of Jonah (Matt 16:4). 

     Today there are those who do not believe as well. They may consider Jesus as a real historical figure, a good man, a teacher, but they doubt His deity. They do not believe in His power to save. Just like the Pharisees of old, there are many who reject the claims of our Lord. 
     
     However, in spite of all of this, Jesus, who was unjustly accused and turned over to the Romans to be brutally crucified, was gloriously raised from the dead, as a stunning proof to the validity of His claims! Now if He was never raised, and was still in the tomb today, our faith is worthless (1 Cor 15:14, 17). But Jesus who took on flesh (John 1:14), emptied Himself taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7), is risen, and now is highly exalted and worthy of honor. Every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). 

     He has conquered death, so that gives us great hope and encouragement as well. Since He is risen, we too will be resurrected and stand before Him in worship (1Cor 15:20-26, 50-58).

The Son of Man, and the Ancient of Days

Mark 14:60-63 gives us an account of Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin. We read the similar accounts in Matthew 26:62-66, and Luke 22:66-71. In these accounts He is asked by the High priest, and the others, if He is the Christ, the Son of God, to which He replies, "Yes I  Am."  He tells them that they will see Him seated at the right hand of the power of God, and that He will come on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. This was enough for them, and they tore their clothes and cried out for His death. Lets look at the implications of what Jesus said.

• First of all He plainly states That He is the Christ, the Son of God. Its that plain for anyone who would doubt that Jesus ever claimed to be God. His testimony is recorded in the Gospel accounts and I have just provided you with three witnesses. 
• To sit at the right hand of God is another claim to His deity. This was an allusion to Psalm 110:1, a Prophetic Psalm of David pointing to The Messiah, the Son of God, and His eventual Kingdom. Now He waits until the consummation of the ages when He will come and establish His rule for ever. His accusers knew what He meant by what He said. He declared Himself to be the divine Son of God.
• When He states that He will come upon the clouds with power and great glory, the high priest and the others would have immediately known that He was referring to the passage in Daniel 7: 9-14. I kept looking until thrones were set up and the Ancient of days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousand upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. 
•  Read Revelation 1:12-16. And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.; and in the middle of the lampstands one like a Son of Man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 

There can be no doubt, Jesus is the living Son of God. He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, The One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen and Amen (Rev 1:8). Right now Jesus is seated at the Father's right hand. This is a place of honor and glory reserved for no one else but the Son of God. He will come again! The kingdoms of this world will all come to naught, ending with the final Anti-Christ kingdom. Jesus will come and rule. He will receive the honor and glory and worship that belong only to God. Jesus is more than a man, more than a teacher, and so much more than a prophet. He is very God come in the flesh, crucified, risen, and coming again.

The Son of Man

Jesus most often referred to Himself as the Son of Man. There are numerous occasions found in all four gospel accounts where He takes this name for Himself. Today there are individuals who look at this fact and claim that Jesus was not divine, and that be referring to Himself in this way is proof that He was only a man. let's look at a few of these verses and see for ourselves.

• John 1:51. Jesus told Nathaniel that he would see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. This would be a reference to Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven (Gen 28:12-13). 
• Matt 9:2-8. The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins. When Jesus perceived that the Pharisees were grumbling among themselves saying, "Who can forgive sins but God alone", He proved His authority by raising up the sick man. (see also Mark 2:3-12, Luke 5:18-26).
• Mark 2:28. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. In James 4:11-12 we read that we as human beings are to be obedient to the law, and not judges of it. there is only one lawgiver! Jesus claimed to be Lord of the Sabbath (The one with the authority over the law).
• Mark 8:38. The Son of Man will come with the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
• Matt 24:30 He will come in the clouds of Heaven with great power and glory. (See also Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, 36).
• Luke 22:69-70. Seated at the Fathers right hand in the place of authority. This is a statement that would have left no doubt in the minds of His audience of what He was claiming, as seen by the reaction of His accusers in Matthew 26:64-65.
• John 5:25-29. Judgement will be given to the Son. We will all stand before Him to answer for our lives some day! He will judge the world. Notice also that in these verses the title Son of God, and Son of Man are both applied to Jesus. 

These verses bring out some pretty impressive statements about Jesus the Son of Man. Power and glory are applied to Him that no mere man deserves. Surely this Man is the Son of God (Matt 27:54).

There is yet more to say about this topic however, and we will look deeper into it in another post.

Did Jesus Claim To Be Divine?

In discussing the deity of Christ, the question is often raised, "Where in the gospels does Jesus Himself claim to be God?" While there are many passages such as John 1:1-5, 14-18, that are often quoted in defense of Christ's divinity, lets look at what Jesus says about Himself in several instances recorded in the gospels.

The first we will explore is found in John 8:31-59. Jesus is instructing the Jews who had believed in Him. As He is discussing slavery to sin, and the fact that He can set them free, they claim that they are Abrahams' children, and have never been in bondage. This leads up to the statement Christ makes that is a plain reference to His deity.

"Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."

So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you

seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, 

before Abraham was born, I Am."

Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus

hid Himself and went out of the temple.

John 8:56-59 NASB

Why did the people react that way? What did Jesus say to them that made them want to stone Him? In another instance found in John 5:17-18, they Jewish leaders were seeking to kill Jesus because he had called God His own Father, thus making Himself out to be God. Their reaction was the same as the reaction of the people in the passage in John chapter 8. They understood the claim of Jesus, that He was declaring Himself to be God. In their eyes this was blasphemy, and worthy of death.

In the account of the burning bush found in Exodus chapter three, we read where God appeared to Moses, and commissioned him to go and lead the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. When Moses inquired whom he should say sent him, God replied, "I AM WHO I AM.  Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you (Exodus 3:14)." There was no mistake to those who heard Jesus make this claim. He was clear in His statement. By taking this title to Himself, He declared Himself to be the eternal, always existing, living God.

Next look at John 10:30-39. Jesus makes the claim, "I and the Father are one." Again we see the Jews pick up stones to stone Him, for making Himself, a mere man, to be God. Instead of telling them that they misunderstood Him, or something to that effect, Jesus goes on to further prove His point.

Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID YOU ARE GODS'? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me, but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father (John 10:34-38)."

Again the people understood fully what Jesus meant, and sought to lay hands upon Him. He was claiming to be God, and the mighty works He did, the miracles and healings were proof enough of His divine nature, even if they did not believe His claim itself. 

This is an issue of vital importance to our faith. Do we believe that Jesus was a good man, a great example, a prophet, maybe even a savior, but less than God? If so do we believe in the same Jesus that the Bible portrays? I will look at this topic further in future posts.