October 2008 Newsletter - Questions & Answers
Featured Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
How does God’s Name differ from His many titles?
ANSWER:
“Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are just TITLES. They are not names. That is why we baptize in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for that is a name, not a title. It is the name of those TITLES, just like you take a new born baby who is a son and name him. Baby is what it is, son is the title, then you name him, John Henry Brown. You just don't baptize in 'Jesus Name'. There are thousands of Jesuses in the world and have been even before Jesus, our Saviour. But there is only one of them born the Christ, "Lord Jesus Christ.”
“People talk about Jesus being the Eternal Son of God. Now isn't that a contradiction? Whoever heard of a 'Son' being eternal? Sons have beginnings, but that which is eternal never had a beginning. He is the Eternal God (Jehovah) manifested in the flesh.”
“In St. John's Gospel it says, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
“He was the True and Faithful Witness to the Father's eternal Word. He was a Prophet and could say what the Father bade Him say. He said, "My Father is in Me". That is what Jesus the tabernacle said, "My Father is in Me.”
“God has many TITLES: 'Our Righteousness', and 'Our Peace', and 'Ever Present', and 'Father', and 'Son', and 'Holy Ghost'; but He has only one human name and that name is Jesus.”
“Don't be confused because he has three offices or that He has a threefold manifestation. On earth He was a Prophet; in heaven He is the Priest; and coming back to earth, He is King of Kings. "He That Was"--That is Jesus, the Prophet. "He That Is"--That is He, the High Priest, making intercession--One Who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. "Which Is to Come"--That is the coming King. On earth He was the Word--the Prophet. Moses said of Him, "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet like unto me, and it will come to pass if they don't hear the words of that Prophet they will be cut off from amongst the people.”
“Notice these facts about Jesus. On earth He was Prophet, Lamb, and Son. This did not make Him three. These were but manifestations or offices of the One person, Jesus.”
“Now there is a very favorite portion of Scripture that the trinitarians think prove their point of more than one actual person in the Godhead.”
“It is Revelation 5:6-8, "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as It had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
“And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him That sat upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.”
“Indeed these verses, if isolated, would seem to prove their point. You notice, I said, these ISOLATED verses.”
“However, read Revelation 4:2-3 and 9-11, "And immediately I was in the Spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and ONE sat on the throne. And He That sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him That sat on the throne, Who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him That sat on the throne, and worship Him That liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
“Carefully note in verse two it says, "ONE" (not two or three but ONE) sat on the throne. In verse three it says, "HE" (NOT they) was to look upon as a jasper stone. In verse nine it says that the beasts gave honour to "HIM" (not them). In verse ten it says that the elders fell down before "HIM" (not them). In verse eleven it says that they cried, Thou art worthy O LORD" (not Lords). Also in verse eleven it says this ONE on the throne was the "Creator", Which is Jesus (John 1:3), Which is Jehovah-Spirit-God of the Old Testament (Genesis 1:1).”
“But let us not stop there. Read now in Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”
“Also read Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“Notice that according to Jesus, Himself, Who wrote the Revelation, He is set down WITH the Father. The Spirit in Paul (Which Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, for That is the Spirit of Prophecy whereby the Word comes) says He is set down at the RIGHT HAND of God. But when John looked he saw only "ONE" upon the throne. And it was not until Revelation 5:6-8 (which follows Revelation 4:2-3 in sequence of time) that we see the "Lamb" taking the book from "HIM" That sat on the throne, as indicated in Revelation 4:2-3 and 9-10. What is it? It is the mystery of "ONE GOD." He (Jesus), came out from God, became manifested in flesh, died and rose again, and returned to the "Bosom of the Father." As John said, "The only begotten Son Which is IN the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18. It was now time for God (Messiah) to come back to claim His bride and then present Himself (make Himself known) to Israel. Thus we see God again stepping forth to assume a physical relationship to man as the "Son of David, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and Bridegroom of the Gentile Bride." It is NOT "Two" Gods, but simply ONE GOD manifesting His mighty triune offices and TITLES.” [An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages 65-1207]
[Answers provided by Bro. Ken Andes, Minister, Lynden, Washington]