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Introduction

5

1. Christ’s identity is a very important mystery 9

2. Jesus Christ is worthy of worship 13

3. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are extensions of the Lord God

4. It is acceptable to pray to Jesus Christ 29

5. God’s name belongs to Jesus Christ 31

6. God planned to visit planet Earth 37

7. God chose to show himself in Jesus 43

8. Jesus Christ created the universe 47

9. Jesus Christ is God

10. Jesus Christ embraced limitations as a man 55

11. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One God 59

12. As God, Jesus Christ is before and after all 61

13. It was necessary for God to die 65

14. Jesus Christ is the coming King 67

15. No one else is like God

16. Jesus Christ is the One who is holy 75

17. Titles of Jesus Christ proclaim his divinity 77

18. The Holy Spirit is the Living God 81

* * *

INTRODUCTION

Here we will see what the Bible says about the Trinity – the doctrine describing the relationship between God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are not original observations.

Many theologians have interpreted scripture regarding this topic. I have attempted to crystallize the study with only the most minimal amount of commentary. In these pages are many scriptures relating to this subject so you can have greater confidence when talking with those who argue that the Bible teaches Jesus was only a good man.

Many secular and cult voices mislead as they proclaim that the Bible does not say that Jesus is God. Indeed, this phrase is not in the Bible. The issue is deeper than that. Scripture strongly states that the identity of Jesus Christ is a mystery – see chapter 1 – and Jesus himself warned that if you get it wrong, “you will die in your sins. ” (John 8:24).

Mysteries require digging deep to find truth. So here is a deeper study that illuminates the Biblical case for the divinity of Jesus Christ and the divine nature of the Holy Spirit.

As you will see, the Biblical support for the doctrine of the Trinity is actually widespread and strong, but some find it confusing. Generally speaking, the word “Trinity” is used to refer to the relationship between God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Although the word is not found in the Bible, it does occur in many doctrinal statements –

statements that often come with significant variations. Then, as if to add to confusion, there are both religious and secular sources who try to persuade us that scripture does not teach Christ is God. Thus, many struggle to reconcile verses that seem complicated. Thus there is a need for a solid Biblical study that can provide simple clarity.

A common phrase from a hymn describes the Trinity as “God in three persons.” However, like the word “Trinity,” this phrase is also not in the Bible.

On the surface, critics argue suggesting God is three persons seems to contradict Deuteronomy 6:4 which emphatically states, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Yet clearly both the Holy Spirit and the Son have traits we that suggest they are “persons.” Just as clearly, we see they have different missions. Furthermore, the Biblical statement that Jesus is the Son of God, suggests some manner of separateness, as do noted relationships between the Father and the Son.

Another verse sometimes cited in support of the Trinity is I John 5:7 which states, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”

(NKJV). Unfortunately for those who cite it, the earliest manuscripts omit the most persuasive part of the verse.

The NKJV retains the entire verse, but notes the early manuscripts’ omission of it. Some other translations simply don’t include that part of the verse.

This book includes the entire verse in Chapter 11 with the debated portion noted. However, you will see that even without this verse, the Trinity doctrine is well supported in the Bible.

Probably the best way to get past confusion is by looking at the big picture. Many have created analogies to explain the Trinity. Yet the best analogy may come directly from scripture.

Although not surprising to theologians, some Christians find it surprising that both the Old and New Testaments picture Jesus Christ is an extension of God the Father. This image of the Godhead appears in verses where Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are seen as arms of the Lord God. In chapter three, I quote Matthew Henry’s Commentary regarding this conclusion, the chapter also lists other verses to support such an analogy.

Thus the Bible presents a picture of one God with multiple parts and multiple purposes. Thus we have a good and simple analogy to describe the Trinity since it is one that originates in Scripture and is easy to grasp. This book will reference many verses in support of that analogy.

Scripture emphatically tells us there is only one God. Thus while everyone agrees it is not Biblical to think of God as three gods. Yet there are certainly differences between the three revelations God has given us of himselg that make the phrase “God in three persons” acceptable to most theologians.

The Trinity doctrine is all about who God really is. Moses wanted to know what his name was, God 6

had to correct him telling him to focus more on who God is, and less on what to call him. God told him,

“I am who I am!” And thus that became his name!

We now call him “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” which literally means “I am!” But it may be the meaning of the name that is most important, for it tells us God hopes we are more concerned with who he is than what we call him:

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM

WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ (Exodus 3:13-14)

Finally, when scripture tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, many mistakenly think that Jesus is therefore not God. But that is clearly not the message. So here is a fresh look at what scripture teaches, and support for a Biblical model that brings clarity. It may not support every pet analogy or doctrine, but I hope that it does present a scriptural view of the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And hopefully, most who study this book will come away with a better understanding of what the Bible teaches, and greater faith in the One who visited Earth.

* * *

CHAPTER 1

Christ’s identity is a very

important mystery

The God and Savior of Israel hides himself:

“Truly You are God, who hides Yourself, O

God of Israel, the Savior!” [Isaiah 45:15]

How God could appear in the flesh is a great mystery:

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” [I Timothy 3:16]

The mystery of the Father’s relationship to Christ is a treasure. There is a danger that some might rob you by misleading you:

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the 9

knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.” [Colossians 2:2-4]

Christ is mysterious concerning his own identity: Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

[Matthew 16:20]

For Thomas, Christ’s divine identity was a mystery that God revealed to him:

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 16:15-17]

WATCH OUT! Don’t let anyone rationalize away Christ’s divinity:

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to 10

Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. ” [Colossians 2:8-9]

DANGER! You will die in your sins if you believe wrongly concerning Christ’s identity:

“If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” [John 8:24b]

* * *

CHAPTER 2

Jesus Christ is worthy of worship The Son is our judge, and we must honor the Son in the same way that we honor the Father:

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

[John 5:22-23]

Worship the Lord God and serve him only: Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” [Matthew 4:10]

God will not share his glory with anyone else:

“I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.” [Isaiah 42:8]

Jesus is the image of the true God: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [Colossians 1:15]

Do not worship any other God:

“For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” [Exodus 34:14]

God told the angels to worship his firstborn Son:

“For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son?’ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’”

[Hebrews 1:5-6]

The wise men worshiped Jesus, and scripture does not rebuke them:

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him…. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” [Matthew 2:1-2,11a]

When John worshiped an angel, the angel rebuked him and told him to worship God:

“Now I, John, saw and heard these things.

And when I heard and saw, I fell down to 15

worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

[Revelation 22:8-9]

When Cornelius worshiped Peter, he refused to be worshiped:

“As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself am also a man.’”

[Acts 10:25-26]

Jesus did not rebuke the disciples when they worshiped him:

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

[Matthew 28:16-17]

Jesus accepted the worship of a leper:

“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You 16

can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

[Matthew 8:2-3]

Jesus accepted the worship of a ruler:

“While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.’ So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.” [Matthew 9:18-19]

After Peter walked on water, Jesus accepted the worship of the disciples:

“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O

you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” [Mat. 14:31-33]

Jesus accepted the worship of a woman:

“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” [Matthew 15:25]

Jesus did not rebuke the blind man who worshiped him after he was healed. Jesus then implied that the man had also been healed of spiritual blindness: Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

[John 9:38-39]

The disciples worshiped Jesus, and when told to rebuke them he commended them instead:

“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:

‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd,

‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’”

[Luke 19:38-40]

Every knee will bow to Jesus, and every tongue will praise him:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[Philippians 2:9-11]

* * *

CHAPTER 3

Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are extensions of the Lord God

Matthew Henry’s commentary regarding the arm of the Lord and Jesus Christ as it is referenced in Isaiah 51:5 and 53:1. He wrote, “It is added, And on my arm shall they trust, that arm of the Lord which is revealed in Christ.” He continued,

“Observe, God's arm shall judge the people that are impenitent, and yet on his arm shall others trust and be saved by it; for it is to us as we make it, a savior of life or of death.” I believe a good interpretation of God’s arms are any extensions of himself in the world. Other verses also suggest Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are both divine, but here are the two verses in Isaiah Matthew Henry was referring to: God’s arms will judge the world. Distant lands will wait on God, trusting in his arm:

My righteousness is near. My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples.

The coast lands will wait upon Me, and on My arm they will trust. [Isaiah 51:5]

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? [Isaiah 53:1]

Some groundwork for the arms of the Lord is laid by this verse. The Lord God may have arms, yet is still the One and only God in reality and name:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” [Deuteronomy 6:4]

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.

In that day it shall be “The Lord is one,” And His name one. [Zechariah 14:9]

As God’s agent on earth, Jesus Christ could do nothing on his own initiative:

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. [John 5:19]

For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

[John 12:49]

As an agent of the Lord God, the Holy Spirit also does nothing on his own initiative: He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things 22

to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

[John 16:7-15]

The Holy Spirit represents the Son and cries out to the Father:

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” [Galatians 4:6]

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. [John 15:26]

Isaiah foresaw that the identity of the arm of the Lord would not be revealed to everyone. Some today do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ was an extension of God the Father. Although divine, as an ordinary man he would suffer. Some would despise him and many would not honor him:

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it 23

were, our faces from him. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. [Isaiah 53:1-3]

Even though Jesus Christ gave them signs, they still did not recognize him as divine:

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [John 12:37-38]

In this Messianic prophecy, when the Lord God comes with strength, his arm will rule and gather the flock, caring for them like a shepherd: Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him. Behold, his reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. [Isaiah 40:10-11]

God’s voice will be heard with great glory, and his arm will descend with a mighty storm: The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a 24

devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. [Isaiah 30:30]

Likewise, Jesus Christ will be seen with great glory like lightning on the day of the Lord: For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [Matthew 24:27]

The Lord God will be seen with great glory like lightning on the day of the Lord:

Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south. [Zechariah 9:14]

The Lord God is our Comforter, Redeemer, and Savior. He will bare his arm for the world to see: Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. [Isaiah 52:9-10]

The Lord God himself will descend on the day of the Lord with great glory:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [1 Thessalonians 4:16]

Men will see Jesus Christ coming on clouds from heaven on the day of the Lord with great glory: Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [Matthew 24:30]

The arm of the Lord is the One who does great things for God’s people. He gives joy and is our Comforter:

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, and wounded the serpent? Are You not the One who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that made the depths of the sea a road for the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness.

Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. [Isaiah 51:9-12a]

Jesus said the Father would send another Comforter other than himself:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…. 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 14:16,26, KJV]

The Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, and his purpose is to testify of Jesus:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. [John 15:26, KJV]

God’s Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of his Son, who was sent forth from the Father:

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” [Galatians 4:6]

As an extension of the Father’s authority, Jesus Christ will judge:

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. [John 5:22-23]

The title “Branch” for suggests the coming Messiah would be an extension of the Lord God: Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness. A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR

RIGHTEOUSNESS. [ Jeremiah 23:5-6]

‘For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch. For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua, upon the stone are seven eyes.

Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. [Zechariah 3:8-10a]

* * *

CHAPTER 4

It is acceptable to pray to Jesus Christ After Christ ascended into heaven, as the people stoned Stephen, he prayed to God and Jesus:

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” [Acts 7:59]

As the author of the book of Revelation, the apostle John addressed a request directly to Jesus Christ:

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ ‘Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!’” [Revelation 22:20]

The woman at the well was told she should have asked Jesus for living water:

“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,

‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

[John 4:10]

Believe in the name of Jesus, and pray in accordance with his will:

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

[1 John 5:13-15]

When Christ returns we pray directly to the Father:

“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

[John 16:22-23]

Jesus said he would answer prayers:

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

[John 14:13]

* * *

CHAPTER 5

God’s name belongs to Jesus Christ Only God’s name is exalted, yet God gave Jesus the name that is exalted above all others:

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” [Psalms 148:13]

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” [Philippians 2:9]

Jesus Christ has a name that only he knows suggesting he and the Father are One:

“His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.”

[Revelation 19:12]

Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [Ph’p 2:10-11]

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ inherited a more excellent name than the angels:

“Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” [Hebrews 1:4]

Aramaic was the common language when Jesus was born. The name Jesus is based on the Aramaic name Isho and the Hebrew word Yeshua. The people of the day understood it to mean Savior as explained in this verse :

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” [Matthew 1:21]

The Hebrew word Yeshua also means savior in the old testament. Below, the words translated from the word Yeshua are bold. You can therefore substitute Yeshua for the bold words in order to stay true to the original meanings of these Old Testament verses.

For example, this next verse literally says, “God is Yeshua”:

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. ’ [Isaiah 12:2]

And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. [Isaiah 19:20]

For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

[Isaiah 43:3]

They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, [Psalm 106:21]

I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. [Isaiah 43:11]

Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! [Isaiah 45:15]

Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. [Isaiah 45:21b]

All flesh shall know That I, the Lord, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. [Isaiah 49:26b]

You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, And milk the breast of kings; You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. [[Isaiah 60:16]]

For He said, “Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior. [Isaiah 63:8]

“Yet I am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no savior besides Me.

[Hosea 13:4]

The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. [2 Samuel 22:3]

Jesus asked the Pharisees about the prophecy of Christ, “How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?”

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, 34

“How then does David in the Spirit call Him

‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? If David then calls Him

‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

[Matthew 22:41-46]

The large East Gate was once the main entrance to Jerusalem. Long before Christ, Ezekiel prophesied the gate would be shut because “the Lord God of Israel” had “entered by it.” In fulfillment, Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Then, in 1540

AD the Ottomans sealed the gate thinking they could block the Jewish Messiah, but it was too late because Jesus, as God’s Arm, had already passed through. The gate remains sealed today: Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.

[Ezekiel 44:1,2]

* * *

CHAPTER 6

God planned to visit planet Earth God would come to save and perform miracles of healing:

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. for waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

[Isaiah 35:4-6]

A messenger would prepare the way for Lord God himself to come:

Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. [Malachi 3:1]

Before the glory of the Lord would be revealed, a messenger’s voice would cry out:

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” [Isaiah 40:3-5]

John the Baptist would be a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord:

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.” [Luke 1:76]

Quoting Isaiah, we are told John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord God: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight.’ ”[Matthew 3:1-3]

Mark tells us that John the Baptist would prepare the way for Jesus Christ:

As it is written in the prophets: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make his paths straight.”

[Mark 1:2-3]

Before he introduced Jesus, John the Baptist said he was not worthy to loosen his sandals: John came baptizing in the wilderness and….

he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [Mark 1:4-8]

As prophesied, Jesus would be “God with us”: So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” [Matthew 1:23]

Martha believed that Jesus Christ was the one the prophets promised would come:

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” [John 11:27]

The wise men quoted the prophet saying Christ would be the Ruler who would come: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel. [Matthew 2:6]

God is our Redeemer:

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring them all down as fugitives the Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” [Isaiah 43:14-15]

Other than the Lord God, who is Israel’s King and Redeemer, there is no other God:

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.”

[Isaiah 44:6] Also see Isaiah 43:1,15; 44:23,24; 40

47:4; 48:17,20; 49:7,26; 52:9; 54:5,8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16.

God became Israel’s Savior and Redeemer: I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us…. For He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and in His pity He redeemed them. [Isaiah 63:7-9a]

Redemption came through Jesus Christ: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

[Romans 3:23-24]

The Father sent his son as Savior of the world: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

[1 John 4:14]

The Redeemer would come to Israel: The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the Lord. [Isaiah 59:20]

* * *

CHAPTER 7

God chose to show himself in Jesus Christ If you see Jesus Christ, you see God:

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord. [John 12:44]

Jesus is the image of God:

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

[Hebrews 1:3]

Jesus Christ is what we see of an invisible God: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [Colossians 1:15]

God was seen in the flesh and ascended into heaven:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached 43

among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. [1 Timothy 3:16]

The Father raised Jesus from the dead: Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.

[Galatians 1:1]

The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring [f]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. [I Peter 3:18]

Jesus raised himself from the dead: Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. [John 2:19-21]

The one who sees Jesus Christ sees God: And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.

[John 12:45]

Jesus is the express image of God: (He) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.”

[Hebrews 1:2-3a]

* * *

CHAPTER 8

Jesus Christ created the universe God created the heavens and the earth: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1]

God’s own hand made the heavens and the earth:

“Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?

For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord.

[Isaiah 66:1-2a]

Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. [Isaiah 48:13]

We are the work of the Father’s hand: 47

But now, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter, and all we are the work of Your hand. [Isaiah 64:8]

The Lord God’s outstretched arm made the earth and its inhabitants:

I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me. [Jeremiah 27:5]

God’s word is Jesus Christ, and he made everything that exists:

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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. [John 1:1-3]

And the Word became 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. [John 1:14]

As God, Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth:

But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…. Therefore God, Your God, 48

has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.” And, “You Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.”

[Hebrews 1:8-10]

God created the universe through his Son: God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

[Hebrews 1:1-2]

The universe was created by and for God’s Son: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

[Colossians 1:13-17]

God alone created everything without help: Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.” [Isaiah 44:24]

God’s own hand made everything that exists:

“Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool…. For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord.

[Isaiah 66:1-2a]

The Holy Spirit played a role in creation: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 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. [Genesis 1:1-2]

* * *

CHAPTER 9

Jesus Christ is God

More than four centuries before Christ was born, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6]

There is no God other than the Lord God Yahweh:

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.”

[Isaiah 44:6]

There is no God or Savior other than the Lord:

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor 51

shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.”

[Isaiah 43:10-11]

Jesus Christ was the Word, and the Word was God: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became 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. [John 1:1,14]

The Apostle John stated that Jesus made himself equal with God:

“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” [John 5:18]

Thomas called Jesus Christ, “My Lord and my God.” If he had taken God’s name in vain, as skeptics suggest, Christ would have rebuked him for violating the ten commandments. But instead, Jesus commended him for his belief:

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas 52

answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [John 20:27-29]

God refers to Jesus Christ as God: But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.”[Hebrews 1:8-9]

* * *

CHAPTER 10

Jesus Christ was not all there is of God As an arm of the Lord God, and as a man, Jesus Christ could do nothing on his own initiative: Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. [John 5:19]

Jesus Christ was in God’s form, but became a man and servant of God:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. [Philippians 2:5-8]

The whole person is greater than an arm, so the Father is greater than the Son:

You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I. [John 14:28]

Christ was limited in strength. He experienced temptation, hunger, and tiredness as a man: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

[Hebrews 4:15]

Jesus was tired:

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. [John 4:6]

Without a word from the Father, Christ was limited in knowledge:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

[Matthew 24:36]

Jesus sometimes needed to get alone to talk to the Father:

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

[Mark 1:35]

Christ experienced suffering, and became our example of a man committed to God: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return.

When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. [1 Peter 2:21-23]

As God’s arm extended, Jesus Christ is our Mediator between God and man:

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [1 Timothy 2:5-6]

Through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we have access to the Father:

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. [1 Peter 2:18]

Jesus identified as human when he referred to his Father as “My God,” at the time of his ascension into heaven:

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” [John 20:17]

* * *

CHAPTER 11

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One God The three agree as one. This verse is commonly cited, but the italicized portion in parentheses is not found in the earliest manuscripts: For there are three that bear witness in heaven: (the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth:) the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. [I John 5:7-8, NKJV]

All three names carry equal authority: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Matthew 28:19]

The three are interchangeable:

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [Romans 8:9-10]

Also:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. [2 Cor. 13:14]

God’s Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of his Son, who was sent forth from the Father:

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. [1 Cor 12:4-6]

Eternal life is found by knowing God the Father, and Jesus Christ:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. [John 17:3]

* * *

CHAPTER 12

As God, Jesus Christ is before and after all Only God is before and after all, and is the only Savior:

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.

[Isaiah 43:10-11]

The Almighty God is the First and the Last:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

[Revelation 1:8]

Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.’ [Isaiah 41:4]

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and 61

I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.”

[Isaiah 44:6]

“Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.

[Isaiah 48:12]

Jesus Christ, the One who died is the First and the Last:

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,

“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.” [Revelation 1:17-18a]

Saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” [Rev. 1:11]

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life. [Revelation 2:8]

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I 62

will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. [Rev. 21:6]

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

[Revelation 22:13]

* * *

CHAPTER 13

It was necessary for God to die: The Greek word for covenant is diatheke, which means will or testament. The NASB is the translation quoted in this chapter because it is the only popular translation that consistently translates the word diatheke with the same English word covenant. All of the occurrences of the word covenant below are from that same Greek word diatheke.

God promised to make a new will or testament with Israel:

For in finding fault with the people, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will bring about a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not care about them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

[Hebrews 8:8-10, NASB]

Therefore it was necessary for the maker of this will or testament to die:

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant so that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a covenant there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when people are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

[Hebrews 15-17]

* * *

CHAPTER 14

Jesus Christ, is the coming King Rejoice, the Lord God your King will be in your midst. He will bring peace:

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Israel! Rejoice and triumph with all your heart, Daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. You will no longer fear disaster.

[Zephaniah 3:14-15]

Rejoice! The Messiah is the coming King! He will bring peace:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O

daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. [Zechariah 9:9]

The people rejoice as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy: 67

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming sitting on a donkey’s colt.” [John 12:12-14]

Jesus is the prophesied King who would arrive sitting on a donkey:

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” [Matthew 21:5]

The Wise Men called Jesus the King of the Jews: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

[Matthew 2:1-2]

The King is the Son of the Father, and he judges the people:

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [Matthew 25:34]

* * *

CHAPTER 15

No one else is like God

The Holy One has no equal:

“To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

[Isaiah 40:25]

There is no king like the Lord God: Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might). Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

[Jeremiah 10:6-7]

There is no one like the Lord God: Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. [Isaiah 46:9]

The Lord is God and there is no other: 71

I am the Lord, and there is no other. There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. [Isaiah 45:5-6]

There is no Savior other than God:

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.”

[Isaiah 43:10-11]

God treads the winepress alone. Only his arm and wrath help him:

“I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury. Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me. And My own fury, it sustained Me.” [Isaiah 63:3-5]

The Word of God, Jesus Christ, treads the winepress of the wrath of God:

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[Revelation 19:13-15]

* * *

CHAPTER 16

Jesus Christ is the One who is holy The Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer, and is God:

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth. [Isaiah 54:5]

The Lord God is the One who is holy: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. [Isaiah 43:15]

Jesus Christ is true. There is no unrighteousness in him, therefore he is good:

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

[John 7:16-18]

Jesus Christ was without sin, therefore he is good: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

[Hebrews 4:15]

Jesus Christ is the One who is holy, therefore he is good:

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” **

[John 6:68-69, RSV]

** The NKJV translates this as, the Christ, Son of the Living God, but the footnote cites the literal translation, Holy One of God.

If Jesus is good, he must be God, for only God is good:

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

[Luke 18:19]

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?

No one is good but One, that is, God.”

[Matthew 19:17a]

* * *

CHAPTER 17

Titles of Jesus Christ proclaim divinity The Lord God is a Bridegroom to his people: And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

[Isaiah 62:5b]

God is married to his people:

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth. [Isaiah 54:5]

As the Bridegoom’s friend, John the Baptist announced that Jesus was the Bridegroom: You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom.

But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:28-30]

The disciples didn’t fast when Jesus was with them.

But when the Bridegroom returns to heaven, then the disciples will fast:

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. [Mark 2:18-20]

Also, this same account from Luke: Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”

[Luke 5:33-35]

John the Baptist announced that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God:

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples, and looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

[John 1:35-36]

The Lamb of God is the Bridegroom: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” [Revelation 19:7-9]

The Lamb will be the Bridegroom:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.

[Revelation 21:9-11a]

The Lord of Hosts is a “stone of stumbling” and a

“rock of offense”:

The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow, let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.

He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble. They shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.”

[Isaiah 8:13-15]

Jesus Christ is the “stone” that offended the

“builders”:

This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. [Acts 4:11, RSV]

The title “Branch” suggests an extension of God: Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

RIGHTEOUSNESS. [ Jeremiah 23:5-6]

* * *

CHAPTER 18

The Holy Spirit is the Living God These verses counter the arguments of those who claim that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force – a belief promoted by many who argue against the Trinity doctrine. But Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit, like Jesus Christ, is also an arm or extension of God himself.

Isaiah calls the Holy Spirit He and Him: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? [Isaiah 40:13-14]

Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is not independent from God but is an extension of the Father: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. [John 16:13]

The apostle John also refers to the Holy Spirit as He and Him:

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you.

[John 14:16-18]

The comforter is the Lord God who gives joy to his people. No one would say he was just a force: So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? [Isaiah 51:11-12]

The Holy Spirit will teach you:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. [John 14:26]

The Holy Spirit prays for us in sync with God’s will:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit is the mind of God, and it teaches us:

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. [1 Corinthians 2:11-13]

The Holy Spirit reproves, guides, speaks, hears, reveals, and glorifies Christ:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He 83

has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. [John 16:7-15]

The Holy Spirit can be lied to, and is God: But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” [Acts 5:3-4]

The Holy Spirit can express desires: For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. [Acts 15:28]

The Holy Spirit exercises authority: Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. [Acts 16:6-7]

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ, and he lives in God’s people:

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if 85

anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. [Romans 8:9-11]

The Lord God is the Holy Spirit:

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. [2 Corinthians 3:17]

God is Spirit:

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” [John 4:24]

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Revision date 10/4/2023