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THE ONENESS OF GOD
The Bible not only tells us that there is a God but also declares throughout the scriptures (in both the Old and New Testament) who God is, that He is the only God, and that His Name is Jesus.
GOD, ABSOLUTELY & INDIVISIBLY ONE
God is absolutely and indivisibly one. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is the self-revelation of the one God, the incarnation of the full, undivided Godhead.
GOD IS ONE
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: – Deuteronomy 6:4
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. – Galatians 3:20
JESUS IS GOD
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. – Colossians 2:9
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. – John 20:28
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. – I Timothy 3:16
REVEALED, AS THE FATHER, SON & THE HOLY SPIRIT
God has revealed Himself as Father (in parental relationship to humanity), in the Son (in human flesh), and as the Holy Spirit (in spiritual action). The one God existed as Father, Word, and Spirit before His incarnation as Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and while Jesus walked on earth as God Himself incarnate, the Spirit of God continued to be omnipresent. However, the Bible does not teach that there are three distinct centers of consciousness in the Godhead or that Jesus is one of three divine persons.
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. – Isaiah 63:16
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, – Galatians 4:4
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 1:8
JESUS IS TRUE GOD & TRUE MAN
Jesus is true God and true man as one divine-human person. We can distinguish these two aspects of Christ’s identity, but we cannot separate them. The Incarnation joined the fullness of deity to complete humanity.
Jesus possessed all elements of authentic humanity as originally created by God, without sin. Thus we can speak of Jesus as human in body, soul, spirit, mind, and will. According to the flesh, Jesus was the biological descendant of Adam and Eve, Abraham, David, and Mary. We should not speak of two spirits in Jesus, however, but of one Spirit in which deity and humanity are joined.
Christ’s humanity means that everything we humans can say of ourselves, we can say of Jesus in His earthly life, except for sin. In every way that we relate to God, Jesus related to God, except that He did not need to repent or be born again. Thus, when Jesus prayed, submitted His will to the Father, and spoke about God, He simply acted in accordance with His genuine humanity.
AUTHENTIC HUMANITY
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. – Matthew 26:38
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. – Luke 2:40
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. – Luke 22:42
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. – Luke 23:46
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: – Philippians 2:5
BIOLOGICAL DESCENDANT OF ADAM
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. – Genesis 3:15
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; – Romans 1:3
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. – Galatians 3:16
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. – Hebrews 2:14-17
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; – Hebrews 5:7-8
JESUS, THE ONLY SAVIOUR
As Jehovah manifested in the flesh, Jesus is the only Saviour. Thus, Jesus is the only name given for our salvation. The Father was revealed to the world in the name of Jesus, the Son was given the name of Jesus at birth, and the Holy Spirit comes to believers in the name of Jesus. Thus, the apostles correctly fulfilled Christ’s command in Matthew 28:19* to baptize “in the name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” by baptizing all converts with the invocation of the name of Jesus.
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. – Isaiah 45:21-23
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. – Matthew 1:21-23
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. – Acts 4:12
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. – John 5:43
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. – John 14:26
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. – John 17:6
*JESUS NAME BAPTISM
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: – Matthew 28:19