#2: The Godhead (Part 2 of 2)

Now let's speak about the dynamics of the Godhead.

God is interesting because He is three in one_[1]. There are three persons, each who carry the same divine nature and mission. They are equal in power and strength and divinity. They have a harmony of purpose -- all votes are unanimous. Though they all have almighty power, they defer to one another. They allow the other(s) to give them commands_[2]. It is a harmonious union, one without flaw.

Wile there are three persons to the Godhead, God emphasized strongly to the children of Israel: "The LORD our God is one LORD."_[3] There was to be no mistake -- God is one. Israel was not to be as the heathens around them_[4]. They were not to have a Baal for rain and an Asherah for fertility; they were not to pray to a Poseidon for the stilling of the waters and then to an Apollo for healing. NO: they were to have one God over all. He proves His all-encompassing power in the Egyptian plagues by overthrowing all that to them was dear_[5]. He wanted to show His people that God is ONE.

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In the same way, God has made His people to be individuals that operate as one body -- a perfect harmony, if you would. He has ordained this is marriage and in His church.

1. In a marital relationship, the two become one flesh_[6]. This is true physically, emotionally, and psychologically. They are not to lose their individuality; they are not to be swallowed up into the personality of another. But each is to love the other with so much love and heart-felt desire that they are willing to humble themselves and defer to the will of the other party, so long as it does not conflict with the will of God in any way_[7]. The wife is to submit to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife unconditionally_[8]. The divine parallel to this is Jesus as the husband and the church as His bride. Jesus, being higher than us, is to be submitted to: we are to humble our selves and our wills before Him_[9]. Yet, though above us, Christ does not shame us; He loves us unconditionally_[10].
2. While speaking of the church, let us remember that we are all the bride of Christ_[11]. But God does not advocate the having of multiple wives; we, as the body of Christ, are to be one_[12]. Though we are each unique in our talents, gifts, personalities, and backgrounds, we all are members of the body. The body has many parts -- sometimes two of each part. There are arms and legs that aid the church in moving forward. There are ears and eyes that work as watchmen. There is the mouth that speaks words of truth. But all of these parts do not operate on their own. We must also remember the workers behind the scenes -- those who act as the muscles, and tendons, and nerves, and cells. Most importantly of all is the brain, and that is Jesus Christ. He operates the controls; He is the reason why we can move at all; and without Him, we are nothing. Working together, each doing our individual part and each working towards the same goal, we can accomplish the work that God has for us to do.

Scriptural References:

1. Notice the plurality in Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 11:5-7
2. John 14:10, 13, 16, 24, 26, 28, 31; John 15:8-10, 26; John 16:7, 13-15, 25-28; John 17:1-2, 4-5, 21
3. Deuteronomy 6:4
4. Deuteronomy 12:29-32; Deuteronomy 18:9; Jeremiah 10:2-4
5. Exodus 7-10
6. Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:31
7. 1 Peter 5:5; Ephesians 5:21; Acts 4:19
8. Ephesians 5:22, 25, 28-29, 33; Colossians 3:18-19
9. Ephesians 5:23-24; James 4:7
10. John 15:13; Ephesians 5:23-27
11. Revelation 19:7-9; 21:9-11; Ephesians 5:30-32
12. Ephesians 4:4-7; 1 Corinthians 12

#2: The Godhead (Part 1 of 2)

God, being the theme of the Bible, will be spoken of the most, right?

This is an interesting topic because defining God is a difficult task. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever..."_[1] God has not revealed to us everything about Himself. For us to attempt to analyze and dissect God is not only inappropriate, but dangerous. Easily, skeptics are made as people attempt to prove that which does not have "sufficient evidence" in the eyes of man. What we need to do is take God at His word; we ought to believe, for His Word is unfailing.

God has revealed Himself through His acts of creation, justice, mercy, and love. We may see God's character of the perfection outlined in the undeviating symmetry of a leaf of flower. His creativity and artistic expression may be marked in the various colors and textures that flood our earth. The mother's love displays the love and care of heaven_[2]. Within the moral laws of ancient Israel, it may be seen that justice is mandated for every wrong. Repudiation, redemption, restoration can and must be acquired_[3]. We see in the history of man how God shows love, mercy, justice, and order in the individual lives of His people. We see that He does not change -- He is the same yesterday, today, and forever_[4]. All these we can learn by observation. Jesus often pointed to things in nature and in everyday life to show His hearers who God is_[5].

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One of the most important revelations of God is His many names. In that part of the world -- The Middle East and Asia -- names carry significant meaning. So the names of the God must be important_[6]. They indicate His power, His status, His sovereignty, and His love.

Though He is all-powerful, God has allowed us to maintain freedom of choice. We as individuals may choose to rebel or to submit. God has a path outlined for us_[7]; but we still choose if we will take it.

So how do we account for His foreknowledge? Let's just say that He read the book before the movie came out. He read that He would plead with us, and He read whether or not we would listen. He knows the end from the beginning (which means that He knows everything from the beginning of the world to the end and eternity, and that He knew all of it at the beginning)_[8]; but He does not take the liberty of changing it to suit Him. He does not violate our free choice.


Scriptural References:

1. Deuteronomy 29:29
2. Isaiah 66:12-13
3. Leviticus 14 & 25
4. Hebrews 13:8
5. See Matthew 6:24-34; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 15; John 3:5-8
6. Psalm 148:13
7. Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:3-6; Jeremiah 1:5
8. Isaiah 46:9-11

#1: The Word of God

The Bible is a revelation -- it reveals things about history; it reveals things about God; and it reveals things about ourselves on a personal level.

However, the central theme of the Holy Scriptures is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. As the Savior of earth from sin and Restorer of mankind, He is the most important part of the whole book. He is, in fact, the living Word made flesh to dwell among mankind_[1].

In doing this, God displayed His awesome enduring love in spite of man's rebellion₂. Jesus, being God, is love_[3]; making the principle theme LOVE.

To write the Bible, God essentially used ghost writers -- forty of them! Over a period of about fifteen hundred years from start to finish, God had His Word written. Scribes, shepherds,apostles: these were chosen to be God's messengers.

All were inspired by the Holy Spirit_[4]. As He moved on their hearts, they wrote. As the thoughts of God entered the minds of the writers, they transcribed it. Of course, each writer was different in both personality and perspective. As a result, they each had a different style. No writer was like the other. Each was special, bringing variety and color to the Divine Compilation_[5].

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One of the highest claims on the accuracy and authority of the Scriptures is the fulfillment of prophecy. Prophecy may be defined as "history revealed in advanced". That means it is going to happen exactly the way God said it would_[6].

In addition, some of the writers indicate that God spoke directly to them_[7]. Here are the statistics for the following phrases as found in the King James version of the Bible:

• "Thus saith the Lord": 413 verses
• "The word of the Lord came": 90 verses
• "God spake": 12 verses
• "In a vision": 8 verses
• "By revelation": 2 verses

The Bible is eternal, infallible, and coherent. God does not change; therefore His Word cannot change. God is the beginning and the end; He is from everlasting to everlasting_[8]. His Word, then, lasts forever and fails not_[9].

That being said, the Bible cannot speak against itself. Each verse stands in perfect unity with the others. Together, the entire Word of God -- the entire Old Testament with the entire New -- harmonize to reveal the Author and His will for mankind.

Scripture References:

1. John 1:14
2. Romans 5:7-8
3. John 1:1-2; 1 John 4:8
4. 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
5. Galatians 2:6-9
6. Isaiah 55:10-11
7. 2 Peter 1:15-18
8. Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:8; Psalm 90:2
9. Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:7-8; Matthew 5:17-18