In Christian doctrine, the concept of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit appears confusing and unimaginable. It appears to be beyond ordinary human comprehension. Other faiths have derided this doctrine based on the same seeming confusion. Under the tutorship of the Holy Spirit, we in humility want to dilate on this subject from the point of view of the Holy Spirit.
What the Holy Spirit said about Jesus
Peter speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit said that Jesus is the Christ, Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29. Martha, convinced by the Holy Spirit also said in John 11:27 that I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God. John 20:31 says that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:15 that we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. It is therefore not in dispute that Jesus is God’s ordained Saviour and redeemer of the world.
1 John 5:1 also says that every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. These revelations by the Holy Spirit espouse the fact that what God and Jesus said are true and consistent that Jesus is the Son of God and God is the Father of Jesus in heaven. So why and how come this controversy of scripture among faiths? Jesus said, flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven, Matthew 16:17. If we are to be children of God, we must accept Jesus as the only way.
Why we interchange Jesus with God
This started when with mischief the scribes, Pharisees and other religious leaders in the days of Jesus Christ falsely accused Jesus as saying that he said he is God or equal with God. In John 10:33 Jesus was accused of making himself God though he said he was the Son of God. Similar accusations were leveled against him in Mark 2: 5-7 because he forgave the sin of a paralyzed person that he healed which authority they believed only God should exercise. This was a grand scheme to find religious grounds to crucify Jesus through religious incitement.
The other reason is that Jesus also spoke often in parables and the people did not always understand him. Jesus said in Mark 4:11 that to you have been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables. Instances include Jesus’ saying that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Matthew 28:18; that I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you, Luke 10:19; that the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, John 5:22; that no one comes to the Father but by me, John 14:6; and that every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me, John 6:45.
These statements were inconceivable to the ordinary mind as it is today if we are not led by the Holy Spirit. The statements referred to above never meant or suggested that Jesus was saying he was God or equal with God except for his reference to the power and authority which the Father in heaven, God Almighty had given to him to exercise without any reservation or restraint in order for his purpose.
For other statements Jesus said that I and the Father are one, John 10:30. Jesus further said that no one has ever seen God; the only Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known, John 1:18. Jesus said that not that anyone has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father, John 6:46. Jesus also said he who has seen me has seen the Father, John 14:9. Jesus also said that believe me that I am in the father and the Father in me, John 10:37.
The unity of Jesus with God
All these statements rather suggested intimacy with God and not to usurp God’s position as God. Jesus meant that he and the Father are inseparable because he dwells in the Father, bears his image and has his firm authority to act as would be necessary. For this reason, God dwells in him. Jesus never suggested that he was God but that he was a reflection of God’s image ordained to carry out his mandate of salvation with God’s full authority and power drawn from God’s capacity. He meant that God had ratified his mission for salvation, works, teachings, relationships and utterances from heaven with God’s divine grace, mercy and love.
John 1:11 says that he came to his own home and his own people received him not. This is consistent with the creation story that he was part of creation with God the Father yet when he came to earth, mankind rejected him. Jesus did not say he alone created the world. Also, John 1:1-3 states that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and he was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
Unfortunately, the aforesaid cannot attribute any meaning from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that he meant to say that he is God. Jesus was only saying that he was an inseparable or indispensable part of God at creation by God’s design. Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28 that come to me all who labour and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest. Jesus also said in Matthew 10:40 that he who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. These demonstrate the nature and extent of Jesus’ authority.
These confirm the fact that God the Father Almighty had given Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour all the powers in heaven and earth to act in his stead in his exalted position regarding what the Father wanted of him yet he always deferred to the Father who was and is and shall be the source of Jesus’ authority. It is by this authority that Jesus said all powers in heaven and earth have been given to me, Matthew 28:18. By that exalted position, God permitted Jesus to receive his honour and glory in God’s authority. God is pleased and satisfied if we offer thanks or glorify him or honour him through Jesus.
We are instructed by the Holy Spirit to ask ourselves, who is Jesus to us?
Prayer
Father, we appreciate you for all your gifts of kindness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give us wisdom and understanding to appreciate you better now that we have known who you are through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!!
