The Nature and Person of God

[Guest]

The Nature and Person of God

Written by "whatisthis"

What does Scripture reveal to me about the nature and person of God?

There’s a Biblical rule that applies to study. The rule is:

2Co 13:1 … “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

So I decided to read through two or three plain Scriptures on this topic, just to get started.

Here's something very plain Jesus said:

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Here Paul addresses the believers plainly:

2Co 13:11-14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Peter made these plain remarks:

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

John said this:

1Jn 5:5 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

And Mark tells me this is what God said:

Mar 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Now I want to take a look at the working of this, for me.

The Bible begins with God in action:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Hebrew word is Elohim, (pronounced el-o-heem',) which is plural for God.

Here’s a bit on this taken from Strong’s concordance:

el-o-heem 'Plural gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God

The name God is repeated 27 times. Then comes the name LORD. (The name LORD in all caps is pronounced Jehovah, Yehhovah, or Yahweh in Hebrew.)

Another bit of a Strong’s concordance take on this:

yeh-ho-vaw'(the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah

Now, I have noticed that the word God (it’s Elohim in Hebrew) is repeated 27 times before the name Jehovah appears. Among those twenty-seven mentions of God, there is God’s delighted exclamation in Gen 1:26 “Let us make man…”

Who is God talking to in that glad exclamation? Who else could participate in making man? Angels can’t create! People can’t, and besides, they haven’t been made yet!

Now, here’s another question. Where is the first reference to the name Jehovah given?

The name Jehovah first appears in Gen. 2:4 at the finishing of Creation, right after the setting apart and sanctifying of the seventh day.

Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. (LORD God in Hebrew would be pronounced Jehovah Elohim.)

Who IS Jehovah Elohim?

Jehovah could be translated "eternal existent One, since it means I AM. It means this in a tense that is neither past or future tense, or even only present tense—it’s a word that is grammatically present tense at all times!

This I AM name is a most holy announcement of what God IS for His people. It is always coupled with a statement of what the I AM is manifesting for us. In Genesis 2:4 God had just completed creation. There was the I AM name coupled with Elohim. He had just completely manifested the power of Elohim, God in the plural form.

When God makes special promises, does great things, God signs them with His I AM name.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I AM thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Now let's jump to the first part of John 3:16 and watch God in action again.

“For God so loved the world that He gave…”

Giving is God’s business, a wondrous business Jehovah Elohim (the LORD God) is at all times present to do!

And what is given in John 3:16?

…”so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”

I remember that John already established the status of this Gift in the opening Word of the same book:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jesus is established here as being a Creator.

Compare this with Genesis 1:1

Gen 1:1 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. And God said…

Genesis makes it clear that the Spirit was there at the beginning, brooding over the waters. The Spirit is a Creator too.

When John tells us that the Word was God and was with God and that nothing was made without him, he also tells us that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among men.

That makes me certain it’s Jesus who is being called the Word.

Yes, when Elohim said to Elohim "Let us make man in our own image" all three persons were present, and they were ever-present, they were not going to just make us and go away!

In Genesis, the book of beginnings, as creation is completed, the parameters of time are established, God crowns the week with His total presence and His name. Giver, Spirit, Gift, are all present in ONE Jehovah. This is what has made creation possible. Already a gift is given that makes salvation possible, an answer before a need for a call.

There’s another creative action for which we have more than one person of God present.

In John 3:16 we have the Father, giving us His Son, (who was God and was with God) to die for whosoever (which means me dear friend, me and you!) Nobody is shut out from God’s love. All we have to do is drink the flowing water of life! God has poured it out from a Triple Spring of love!

In the end of the story this factor will have made the judgment fair, too.

What do I mean by saying this factor will have made the judgment fair? Well, this is something that was shared with me in the last couple of weeks by Rodney King, our lay-pastor here. I don't have it in his words, and Rodney has a gift for saying things so clearly and concisely, but let me have a try--because this is good!

Nobody can be condemned accept by two or three witnesses. Here are three texts which state this:

Num 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Hebrews 10:28, 29 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

So that is established. It takes two or three witnesses to condemn murderers. Jesus tells us that Satan is the father of murderers. Satan has been a wanton sneaky killer and destroyer! He has tricked and destroyed and hurt and ruined—and all creation cries out, “When will it stop!”

Only Jehovah is righteous. He IS the Witness needed to stop the murdering. There are three persons in the Godhead to establish all things. The Giver-Father, Helper-Spirit, and Gift-Son. They are inseparably Jehovah.

Jehovah made us. After the fall Jehovah gives us salvation by manifesting Himself in the flesh. In the end Jehovah's pardon is given for the overcomers and Jehovah's condemnation is also given for the arch rebel and any who stubbornly cling to the rebel.

Are there any other gods?

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12"

Many people make much of the fact that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible.

Maybe that’s because the name of God is not “Trinity”. It’s Jehovah. The name Jehovah encompasses this three-in-oneness, but it means much more. There is power in this name!

Einstein is credited with saying that matter could neither be created nor destroyed. If he had qualified that with two words he would have been correct. Matter cannot be created or destroyed by humans.

Jehovah created all things and without Him was not anything made that was made.

There is one other thing Jehovah can do that nobody else is in charge of. Now, it is true that there is a rebel from the angelic circle who has become the source of death and destruction. By man’s own choice to side with that rebel, death and destruction reigned. But in the end death and destruction will be destroyed by the just condemnation of Jehovah. Then all will be peace--

And it is by Jehovah's powerful name authority that all can be peace in my soul right now! God gave His Son to die that I might live--(whosoever, that means me!) I can't bear the ugly results of what the tempter tempted and tricked me into, because death and destruction, once it enters my life, spreads. It makes it’s bearer hurt everything and everyone connected to it. I can’t bear that! There’s only one refuge for me. I don't have to bear the legacy of satanic curse as long as I choose my Redeemer and Friend, Jehovah God to be my keeper! The pain is going to end. It’s a promise. Jehovah overcomes death and destruction with His power to destroy death! “Oh please be on the side of love!” That’s what He’s calling, gently calling, now. He doesn’t want anybody to die! He died to prevent our dying! His death sealed His authority over death. He can and will destroy death.

In the end, the murderer from the beginning will lose. The three Witnesses will condemn him. Jehovah’s banner, over me, is loving, caring protection. To Satan and his host Jehovah’s love will be a consuming fire, and this will be just. To every lost sinner who has accepted grace Jehovah’s love will be what it has become to me. He IS the Shield and glorious hope!

That's only part of what Scripture reveals to me about the nature and person of God there is so much in His name, His works, it's a grace study, isn't it? I am not ready to stop studying the Godhead, there's a warmth and wonder here. I think, actually, what I'm seeing so far is just a scratch and sniff, and there's a sea so wide that only the universe can contain it, the endless universe. But what can be known about God is so very important and exciting! I love studying this!

[pnattmbtc]

Quote:

Einstein is credited with saying that matter could neither be created nor destroyed.

This idea predates Einstein.

Quote:

The law of conservation of energy is an empirical law of physics. It states that the total amount of energy in an isolated system remains constant over time (is said to be conserved over time). A consequence of this law is that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transformed from one state to another. The only thing that can happen to energy in a closed system is that it can change form, for instance chemical energy can become kinetic energy.

Albert Einstein's theory of relativity shows that energy and mass are the same thing, and that neither one appears without the other. Thus in closed systems, both mass and energy are conserved separately, just as was understood in pre-relativistic physics. The new feature of relativistic physics is that "matter" particles (such as those constituting atoms) could be converted to non-matter forms of energy, such as light; or kinetic and potential energy (example: heat). However, this conversion does not affect the total mass of systems, since the latter forms of non-matter energy still retain their mass through any such conversion.(Conservation of Energy, wiki)

[karl]

It seems very plausible to me that God took of His own energy to create matter. The Bible does not say that God created matter out of nothing. It says He created the worlds out of things that do not appear. Energy would qualify.

Another option is that He brought matter from the dimension(s) which He and the angels occupy now, of which we are totally insensate.

[Guest]

Then again, He could have just spoke the word.

Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God...

[phkrause]

Then again, He could have just spoke the word.

Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God...

I agree with Richard on this.

[Guest]

Thank you pk.....

[phkrause]

Thank you pk.....

What I don't understand Richard is, what's so hard about believing that God just spoke and things happened? The only thing I can recall that God didn't speak into being is Man. According to the Bible he formed us or Adam with his own hands. Even when he was here on earth he spoke and things happen, and of course he did use his hands to help some.

[John317]

Quote:

Richard Holbrook:

Here's something very plain Jesus said:

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Here Paul addresses the believers plainly:

2Co 13:11-14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Peter made these plain remarks:

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

John said this:

1Jn 5:5 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

And Mark tells me this is what God said:

Mar 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Now I want to take a look at the working of this, for me.

The Bible begins with God in action:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Hebrew word is Elohim, (pronounced el-o-heem',) which is plural for God.

Here’s a bit on this taken from Strong’s concordance:

el-o-heem 'Plural gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God

Amen!! Your post contains some very important points, Richard.

[Guest]

No John, I didn't write this. My friend "whatisthis" did.

[doug yowell]

No John, I didn't write this. My friend "whatisthis" did.

This should suffice to answer about 25% of the threads here at CA. Great clarity. Thanks for posting this, Richard!!

[pnattmbtc]

It seems very plausible to me that God took of His own energy to create matter. The Bible does not say that God created matter out of nothing. It says He created the worlds out of things that do not appear. Energy would qualify.

Makes sense.

When one creates something, one uses energy to do so. It makes sense that God would use His energy to create.

[teresaq]

Originally Posted By: Richard Holbrook

Then again, He could have just spoke the word.

Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God...

I agree with Richard on this.

A tender spirit, a gentle, winning deportment, may save the erring, and hide a multitude of sins. The revelation of Christ in your own character will have a transforming power upon all with whom you come in contact. Let Christ be daily made manifest in you, and He will reveal through you the creative energy of His words,--a gentle, persuasive, yet mighty influence to re-create other souls in the beauty of the Lord our God.--Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 185. {ChS 241.3}

Many teach that matter possesses vital power,-- that certain properties are imparted to matter, and it is then left to act through its own inherent energy; and that the operations of nature are conducted in harmony with fixed laws, with which God himself cannot interfere. This is false science, and is not sustained by the word of God. Nature is the servant of her Creator. God does not annul his laws, or work contrary to them; but he is continually using them as his instruments. Nature testifies of an intelligence, a presence, an active energy, that works in and through her laws. There is in nature the continual working of the Father and the Son. Christ says, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." [JOHN 5:17.] {CE 194.3}

The Levites, in their hymn recorded by Nehemiah, sung, "Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things therein, . . . and thou preservest them all." [NEH. 9:6.] As regards this world, God's work of creation is completed. For "the works were finished from the foundation of the world." [HEB. 4:3.] But his energy is still exerted in upholding the objects of his creation. It is not because the mechanism that has once been set in motion continues to act by its own inherent energy, that the pulse beats, and breath follows breath; but every breath, every pulsation of the heart is an evidence of the all-pervading care of Him in whom "we live, and move, and have our being." [ACTS 17:28.] It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth produces her bounties, and continues her motion around the sun. The hand of God guides the planets, and keeps them in position in their orderly march through the heavens. He "bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth." [iSA. 40:26.] It is through his power that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear, and the flowers bloom. He "maketh grass to grow upon the mountains," and by him the valleys are made fruitful. All the beasts of the field seek their meat from God, [PS. 147:8; 104:20, 21.] and every living creature, from the smallest insect up to man, is daily dependent upon his providential care. In the beautiful words of the psalmist, "These wait all upon thee. . . . That thou givest them they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good." [PS. 104:27, 28.] His word controls the elements, he covers the heavens with clouds, and prepares rain for the earth. "He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes." "When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures." [PS. 147:16; JER. 10:13.] {CE 195.1}

it would seem to me that we should probably study this out a bit more instead of assuming our limited understanding "knows"...

[Guest]

I do believe there is creative energy in the word of God. It has the power to create worlds, and it has the power to create a new, and clean heart.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power...

Psa 33:9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

[karl]

Speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.

[whatisthis]

Hi all, I am so pleased and a little worried, I'm such an imperfect person, please don't get the wrong idea! It's a topic I've been studying because I needed Him more than air almost--I had a lot of loss and I just couldn't bear losing Him, I just need HIM so, it's a study born of need which turned me full tilt to the topic. I'm so pleased that He let HIM shine and that you are enjoying it. The nature and person of God is a wonderful topic, isn't it!

[whatisthis]

Thanx Richard for posting it for me, I couldn't figure out how to post it myself! I'm definitely only beginning to post a little.

[whatisthis]

The beauty of this is that only a word of hope from HIM, and He heals and changes lives now! I so enjoyed David Gates remarks about unleashing the power in a little crumb of garbage on the platform floor alone would be enough mass, if converted into energy, to destroy any major city. He noted that the mass could not get there, without that much energy at least behind it's coming to be. The God we serve is a mighty God!

[Guest]

Amen

[Aliensanctuary]

Speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.

We can suspect that when Eloheem commanded something to occur, such as the creation of life, or a healing or resurrection, his Seven-fold Spirit carried out the task. Jesus had no power of himself, then, to perform any miracle. He asked the LORD, the LORD heard his request, and the Spirit of the LORD powered the event, including distance healing, mind reading, and predicting the future.

The LORD and the Spirit are One. If, as David said many times in the OT, the LORD is a Rock, then, the Spirit of the LORD connects him to the universe, much as our senses connect our minds to the universe.

[pnattmbtc]

Jesus Christ is the word of God, the thought of God made audible. Scripture speaks of the Spirit of God moving upon the waters upon creation. It appears that:

1)God has a thought.

2)Christ, the word of God, God's thought made audible, speaks the word (the thought of God)

3)The Spirit of God carries out the spoken word.

[pnattmbtc]

The relationship between matter and energy is given by the famous equation E = MC^2, which is to say, mass * the velocity of light squared. The velocity of light squared is an incomprehensibly large number. The mass of the universe is an incomprehensibly large mass. The energy needed to create this is this incomprehensibly large mass multiplied by an even larger incomprehensibly large number. It would take trillions upon trillions upon trillions of the most powerful nuclear bombs imaginable to equal the energy necessary to create the billions of galaxies. "Trillions" is woefully short of the mark here.

How immense God is is so far beyond our ability to comprehend it's unspeakable.

[teresaq]

Jesus Christ is the word of God, the thought of God made audible. Scripture speaks of the Spirit of God moving upon the waters upon creation. It appears that:

1)God has a thought.

2)Christ, the word of God, God's thought made audible, speaks the word (the thought of God)

3)The Spirit of God carries out the spoken word.

ahhh, ok. tho i think God speaks also, i mean it isnt necessarily telecommunication...that they discuss, then carry out..