In Revelation 14:7 we are told to “worship Him”. But there seems to be many understandings concerning who God is. In this study we look to the Bible to find the truth concerning the identity of our creator, and we also examine many misconceptions concerning Him.
1. What knowledge is essential to salvation?
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)
Answer: It is essential knowledge to know God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus is the only thing that can make us like God in character. Knowledge of God and Jesus are eternal Life.
2. Who is our God?
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6)
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)
Answer: God is the Father, Jesus, when telling us about our God, referred to His God as our God, His Father and our Father. Our God is the Father of Jesus Christ. God and Jesus are referred to in as distinct “personalities” and “individuals”.
3. What message calls us to Repentance and to worship of God?
“Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7)
Answer: The first angels message of Revelation 14 is a call to worship God.
4. Is our God’s identity a “mystery” or “unknown”?
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1:17)
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:22-24)
“For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you…we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:23, 28)
Answer: God is not a mystery to us. He has given us a revelation and knowledge of Himself. We are to worship God the Father in spirit and truth. The woman at the well did not know what she worshipped. But Jesus revealed it to her. The men in Athens were told that He was Paul’s Father, and Paul was His son or offspring. The message to “Fear God…worship Him” refers us to “the Father”.
5. Who is Jesus? What is to be our confession regarding His identity?
Son of God:
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in 
God.” (1 John 4:15)
Lord:
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
Answer:
Jesus is the son of God (the Father).
Jesus is Lord (to the glory of God the Father).
God again is the Father.
6. What was Jesus? What were his two forms and natures?
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the word was made flesh.” (John 1:1, 14)
Answer:
- God
The bible calls Jesus “the Word.”
The bible says “the Word” was with God.
The bible says “the word” was “in the form of God.” (John 1:1, Phi 2:6)
“Made higher than angels” (Heb 1:4)
- Flesh
The bible says the word took “the form of man. (Phi 2:7, 8)
“The word was made flesh” (John 1:14)
“Made Lower than angels” (Heb 2:7)
Jesus was God in respect to his nature or form, that is what he was, but with respect to his identity, he is known as the son of God, and our Lord. Jesus gave up his divine form as God in order to become a man.
7. Jesus promised us a special gift. What is it?
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16, 17)
Note:
- Jesus promised us that he would send the Holy Spirit
- The world cannot see him
- The world cannot know him
- The disciples knew him because he was dwelling with them
8. Who was dwelling with them and to be “in” them? Who was their comforter?
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
Answer: The very next verse concerning the comforter Jesus said he was the one that would dwell in them. That he was the one who would not leave us comfortless.
The greek word for “comforter” is “parakletos”. It is used in the bible 5 times. It is 
translated “comforter” 4 times, and 1 time it is translated “advocate”. In 1 John 2:1 regarding the “parakletos” we are told that “we have an advocate (parakletos/comforter) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
9. The world cannot see him (the comforter). Who again is Jesus referring to that “the world cannot see.”(John 14:16)?
“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also…Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” (John 14:19, 22)
Answer: The world cannot see the comforter. In the context, Jesus is the one “the world” cannot see or know.
10. Didn’t Jesus say he would send “another comforter”? Doesn’t that imply that it is someone different than Jesus?
“And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” (1 Samuel 10:6)
Answer: In the Greek Old Testament, the same word is used for “another” referring to Saul being “turned into another man.” Th
e term “another” implies “another of the same”. For instance, “Would you like another glass of water?” Saul was still Saul. You would realize that the “water” was still “water”, just as the Holy Spirit is still the Holy Spirit, or the comforter is still Jesus.
11. What is the Holy Spirit?
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Romans 11:34)
“Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” (Isaiah 40:13)
Answer: The term “mind” and “spirit” are interchangeable words. The bible does not define just what the spirit is. We are told by Jesus it is like the wind, we know there is wind, we know how to utilize it, but beyond that “who can know it.” (John 3) A few things we should consider about spirits. The Bible mentions several different types of Spirit. We read about “foul spirit,” “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “humble spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “broken spirit,” “haughty spirit,” “faithful spirit,” “good spirit.” All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them.
Points to consider:
The Father has a spirit, the Son has a spirit. Does the Holy Spirit have a spirit?
The Father has a name. His name is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”. The son has a name. His name is “Yahshua” or “Jesus”. What is the name of the Holy Spirit?
So what is the spirit? If I said to you “Hi, nice to meet you, I’d like you to meet my spirit, he is standing over there, let me get him for you”. Would you think that maybe I had an incorrect understanding of my spirit? Of course you would. My spirit is not someone else separate and distinct from me. My spirit is me, it’s my personality, my mind, my character; it is Christ in me by his spirit.
12. Can the spirit be grieved or troubled?
“I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.” (Daniel 7:15)
“And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8)
“And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to 
know the dream.” (Daniel 2:3)
Answer:
The spirit inside of us can be grieved, troubled, and also perceive things. Just as God’s Spirit can be grieved.
13. Who is on the Throne in Heaven?
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)
Answer: God has a throne, Jesus has a throne, but the Holy Spirit if it is a third divine individual is not on the throne. Why not? Because the idea that the Holy Spirit is a third part of a three in one God, a very common teaching is not biblical. Jesus is God’s Son, and God is His Father and our Father. Knowing our God as a Father and what He gave to this world will only help you to love Him as a giver of good gifts that much more. (See 1 John 4:9)
14. How many in the flesh have seen God’s face?
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18)
“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” (John 5:37)
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)
Answer: Many men have seen Christ. Christ is the image of God. No man has seen the Father. (See also 1 Tim 6:16, 1 John 4:12) God is not visible to mortals. One glimpse of His glory would destroy us. No man has seen God at any time.
15. How many beings are to be exalted?
“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” (John 5:23)
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
Answer: The bible speaks many times about honoring and worshiping the Father and the Son. But nowhere does it teach that we are to worship the Holy Spirit. By confessing Christ is Lord, we are doing so and worshipping or glorifying our “One God and Father”. (Eph 4:6) Thus we honor both the Father and Son. God and Christ.
16. Who was involved in the plan of redemption?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6:13)
Answer: The counsel was devised between BOTH the Father and the Son before another being was created. The possibility of sin had to be accounted for in order to create beings with free will. That counsel is the everlasting covenant between the Father and Son.
17. Who was involved in the creation?
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” (Ephesians 3:9)
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)
Answer: God created all things by Jesus. God is the Father, therefore God the Father (singular) said to His Son “Let us make man in our image”. God the Father created man by Jesus Christ. “One God the Father OF WHOM ARE ALL THINGS.” (1 Cor 8:6) That would include humanity. And He created all things by our “One Lord Jesus Christ” His Son and our brother.
Some say Genesis 1:26 refers to three beings as God, but the title “God” is referring to God the Father talking to His only begotten Son. God is not referred to as Christ here, and Christ is not God here either in respect to “personality” and “individuality”.
18. Who is our fellowship with?
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)
Answer: John knew only of the Father and His Son Jesus and He invites us to have fellowship with the Father and Son. Surely he wouldn’t leave out the Holy Spirit if it was a third divine being.
19. The Greetings in the New Testament? Who is mentioned?
“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Galatians 1:3)
“… Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Colossians 1:2)
Answer: Within the first few verses of almost every book of the New Testament you find God the Father mentioned and Jesus Christ. There is no mention of any third divine being in any of the greetings whether it be Paul, Peter, James, John, or Jude.
Never do we find greetings from “God the Father and God the Son” in scripture either.
20. When Jesus mentions those who hate him. Who else does he mention that they hate?
“He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.” (John 15:23, 24)
Answer: If the spirit is a divine being why would Jesus leave him out here? If there was a third being, wouldn’t the Jews hate all three of them? Why does he only mention “both me and my father”?
21. Who does Paul call to witness his solemn charge to Timothy?
“I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:21)
Answer: God is mentioned, Christ and the elect angels even, but yet again there is no mention of a third divine being.
22. What does the bible mention of the Holy Spirit’s love for us?
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
Answer: Interestingly, the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit purchased us with his own blood. The bible teaches us that we have “One Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 8:6) and “The Lord is that spirit” (2 Cor 3:17). Christ is that spirit and he shed his own blood to purchase us at the cross of calvary.
23. What does the devil want us to deny?
“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3)
Answer: The devil wants us to deny that Christ is truly the Son of God.
24. Why does he want this point regarding Christ’s identity and the Father’s identity to be misunderstood?
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Answer: The devil is very hostile towards God and always misrepresenting God as some monstrosity similar to himself and wants us to misunderstand who God is because this is how God expressed His love to humanity.
By beholding God in the right light as well as the Son we will be restored to His image. The devil wants us to believe that God is unfair.
25. Did God give a real Son? Did God pretend, act, or lie when He said that He gave his only begotten son to the world?
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10)
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)
“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3)
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:4-6)
Answer: God really must have had a son to give because He tells us that denying Christ is His Son makes God the Father a liar and destroys His character. Christ is a literal son of God “in truth”. This was not just an act. If the word of God says it we need to believe it. The antichrist is a liar and denies the Father and Son we are told.
26. When was Christ begotten of God?
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:” (Proverbs 8:22-25)
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
Answer: Christ was born before anything was created. He the only begotten(brought forth) before anything made was made.
In Micah 5:2 The Hebrew word for “goings forth” translates to “origins” in many bibles. His origin was in eternity.
This implies that Christ had a beginning in eternity. Eternity is not explainable by the human mind. Therefore all we can know is that God said He had a son, and we can believe it, because the word says so.
27. What is the Godhead?
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20)
“For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” (Colossians 1:19)
Answer: The bible uses the word Godhead 3 times. Each time it is used, a different greek word is used for it. The bible says in Romans that it is “his… Godhead” which implies that “the Godhead” belongs to someone. In Romans 1 and verse 7 it tells us that it is God the Father’s Godhead.
The term “Godhead” also translates to “Divinity”. For instance, God the Father’s divinity is clearly understood by the things made. Romans 1:20 says “eternal power and Godhead” in the King James version, however, in other versions it translates to “his eternal power and divine nature”.
His divinity or divine nature is IN His son. The Godhead is IN His Son, and in the Father. There are none “in the Godhead”. Because the Godhead is not a membership club as some have come to believe. Nor is the Godhead another term for God, although it is referring to his nature. There are manifestations “of the Godhead”. That term is only used 3 times in the Bible and never used to refer to God as three persons. To believe that Godhead means three persons in one is to believe something that is not in the scriptures.
God the Father is the fullness of the Godhead, invisible to mortal sight. No man has seen God at anytime. (John 1:18) The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifest. He hath made manifest the Father’s divine nature. (John 1:18, Col 2:9)
The Holy Spirit is the fullness and power in the Godhead, His divinity, His Spirit, His presence in all believers throughout the universe. And is even seen in the creation. (Romans 1:20)
28. Do you want to accept your calling to “Fear God…worship Him… and Give glory to Him.” (Rev 14:7) by giving honor to his only begotten son and receiving the precious gift of the Holy Spirit?
Answer:
Thought Questions:
1. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7) Doesn’t this verse prove a Trinity?
When reading 1 John 5:7 we need to be careful not to add to the word of God.
The verse does not say: “there are three that bear record in heaven GOD the Father, God the Word, and God the Holy Ghost, and these three are ONE GOD” I just added the word “God” into the verse 4 times. We are not to add to the word things that aren’t there. The verse says that the Father bears record, the Son bears record and the word bears record. That there are three that bear record. So how are they one? Well, in the record they bear. Notice verse 10 tells us about the record….
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10)
1. The record that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost bear is that “God gave of his Son”
2. The term “God” is actually used in this verse and it refers to the Father. God the Father gave His Son right?
3. If we deny God gave His Son we make Him a liar.
It is really interesting to note that in 1 John 2:22 we are told who is a liar: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)
The Bible says God gave his only begotten son. A son that we are told in John 8:42 “proceeded forth and came from God”. A son that in Proverbs 8:22-30 was with the Father “in the beginning” and it reads that he was “brought forth… before the worlds were made…”, and it also says he “was daily his delight.” That is what our Father had to give. A real and beloved son. Truly a son in whom the Father was well pleased. The term “brought forth” means “begotten” or “birthed”.
The term begotten is derived from the greek mono-genes which in english translates to only genetic or only begotten. In other words God’s ONLY GENETIC son. The Bible talks of the angels being created sons, it talks of us being adopted sons, but Christ is the only begotten Son of God, the only one brought forth of God. He is not created.
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)
Now, why is the point of God giving His real son so important? This is the expression of the Father’s love to humanity. Not only will we have a deeper understanding of God’s love for us and our value to Him. But, furthermore we can have confidence that His words are true and our Father didn’t lie.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
If the devil can blind us from seeing that God had a real son, then he can blind us from seeing how much the Father really had to give. And finally he can blind us from seeing how much the Father loves us. This wasn’t just three persons in heaven all deciding to take roles. Nor was it the Father just acting as though he gave a son. Nor was it Jesus talking to himself in prayer, etc.. To say that God didn’t really have a son to give, but just a partner, or friend can destroy the true love of the Father as well as the Father’s good word to us. Again we read in 1 John 5:10:
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10)
The Catholic Church says, “The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church.” — (Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p. 11)
Your base is your foundation, and this is the base or foundation of Catholicism. Upon the Trinity are based all other teachings of the church. If you build on sand, the structure might fall as was the case with the tower of Babel. Christ when speaking of the foundation of the church made it clear that he was the son of God.
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18)
2. The Bible says “God is a Spirit” doesn’t this mean that God is a Trinity?
No. The context talks about the Father. It says “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) His nature is “spirit.” The “Him” is the Father. It says that the “true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)
“Him” is a singular word, and Jesus was talking about “the Father” in the context. So “God” is “the Father”.
3. Doesn’t it refer to the Spirit as a ‘he’ in John 16:13, 14 and refer to someone other than Christ?
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13, 14)
Clearly in this passage Jesus is speaking of someone else other than himself when he says “he shall glorify me”. This verse is also referring to “the spirit of truth”. So who is that “spirit of truth” that will not testify of himself, but shall speak of Christ?
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6)
Looking carefully at this verse it tells us that the “spirit of truth” is known by those who are of God. And it is contrasted with the “spirit of error”. In John 16:13, 14 “the Spirit of truth” is called “he” 7 times. Therefore John is saying that this “Spirit of truth” is a “he”. Who is the “he” John is talking about? Let’s look at verse 2 of the same passage and who “the spirit of truth” is.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
So it is a “he”. The “Spirit of truth” which is interchanged with “the Spirit of God” is “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”. We can see that people are referred to as “spirits” by John. Now let’s read John 16 again understanding this concept.
“Howbeit when he [Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh], the Spirit of truth (1 John 4:6), is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13, 14)
Christ is speaking of someone else in this verse. Unlike in John 14:17,18 when he says: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
Who else can be referred to by John as “he, the spirit of truth”?
“And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:7, 14)
Now angels are ministering spirits, holy spirits, spirits of truth who are sent in Jesus name to “show you things to come.” (John 16:14) In fact let’s look at who John receives testimony from in the book of Revelation showing him things to come.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (Revelation 1:1)
Notice the order of this message how is it passed on here.
1.From God
2.To Jesus
3.By his Angel
4.To his servant John and his other servants
So, here we have a ministering spirit[angel] giving the message to John. The spirit of truth is come to “show you things to come” (John 16:13, Rev 1:1) and “he does not speak of himself” (John 16:13, Rev 1:1) but he is giving the “Revelation of Jesus Christ”. Every message to the seven churches is Christ speaking through the angel to the church. In the same sense He is speaking to John “by his angel” showing John things to come.
4. Doesn’t Matthew 28:19 teach a Trinity?
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matt 28:19)
The term “God” is not used in this verse. The word “God” is used 4, 473 times in the Bible yet not once in the entire book does the Bible ever use the term “God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” together. Nor does it use the term “God the Son” nor the term “God the Holy Ghost”. These terms are all not in the Bible. Where do they come from? “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)
5. Does the Bible teach that men never received the Promise of the Holy Spirit until Jesus was glorified? (John 7:39)
No. That is a misunderstanding of the context of this verse. The Bible talks of many of the prophets having the Holy Spirit. “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1 Peter 1:11)
Many had the same spirit. The Spirit of prophecy. (John 16:13) Though the Spirit was poured out in large measure at Pentecost. The disciples were the subject of John 7:39. And they were not to receive it until they asked. Jesus told the disciples to ask several times through John 14-16 and finally in the end of the chapter says: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24) So what was the problem? The disciples were still lacking faith. And had yet to truly ask. This came when they put aside their differences at Pentecost. But this in no way is saying that they didn’t have the Holy Spirit until Pentecost. It is however talking about a special outpouring.
6. Jesus said he was the “I AM” which claimed to be “God” in the burning bush to Moses. Doesn’t that prove that Jesus is identified as God here?
It is important to understand that Jesus said “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)
Jesus came in His Father’s name, not His own name. This is important to remember. Many are receiving a Jesus who came in his own name.
In 1 Timothy 2:5 we are told that “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” And this is the concept we see when Jesus came to Moses in the book of Exodus. We read in the book that a “messenger” is in the bush. The Hebrew word “Malak” can be translated “messenger” or “angel”. This messenger is none other than Christ himself, mediating between Moses and God.
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” (Exodus 3:2)
Notice who is in the bush? The angel. But read on… Who is the messenger mediating for? The Father. Christ is the mediator between man and God.
“And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” (Exodus 3:4)
Jesus is in the bush. But he is a mediator. Just as when we speak a different language then someone else. We need someone to mediate or give them our words in their language. This is what the Father was doing through Jesus. And that is why Jesus came as the “I AM”. He came in His Father’s name. Be careful that you aren’t receiving “another Jesus” who came in his own name. (John 5:43)
QUIZ QUESTIONS
- How Many Gods are there (1)
_____ 1
_____ 2
_____ 3 - Knowledge of God is (1)
_____ Not important.
_____ A secondary issue.
_____ Important to your salvation and reception of eternal life. - God is the (1)
_____ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
_____ Father and Son
_____ Father
_____ Flying Spaghetti Monster - Christ is to God (1)
_____ A co-eternal partner or brother
_____ The Son of God
_____ The Second Member of the Trinity - According to scripture the Godhead is (1)
_____ A Three in one God.
_____ A Hit Song from the 80’s.
_____ The Divinity of the Father. - The Holy Spirit is…
_____ Gabriel.
_____ The Spirit, life, character and mind of God.
_____ A third divine being. - The Devil wants us to deny Christ is the Son of God.
_____ Yes.
_____ No. - We are told to confess that Jesus identity is (2)
_____ Lord.
_____ Son of God.
_____ God.
_____ Superman. - Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7 use the word “God”.
_____ True.
_____ False. - The Bible says we give glory to God by… (2)
_____ Confessing Jesus is God.
_____ Confessing Jesus is Lord.
_____ Driving a nice car. - The Spirit of Truth is…(1)
_____ A gray haired old man.
_____ Every Spirit that confesseth that Christ is come in the flesh.
_____ Every Spirit that attends Sunday School - The word “begotten” means.
_____ Very Special.
_____ Only Genetic.
_____ Partner. - The throne of God has how many beings sitting on it. (1)
_____ 1
_____ 2
_____ 3 - The Central Doctrine of the Catholic Church is the Trinity. (1)
_____ Yes.
_____ No. - Will you decide to worship the true God, and give glory to Him by confessing that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of your life?
_____ Yes.
_____ No.
