AS THE FATHER
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 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. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
This is a most amazing passage of scripture! For herein we have the Son of man – Jesus of Bethlehem – sharing with us his awareness of being the Son of God, and of the increasing relationship he had with the Father. It seemed to be a gradual and ever progressing relationship. For it must be so, as he is the pattern and example for the believers, whom he taught to live daily by faith. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels (for their redemption); but he took on him (the responsibility to redeem) the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
He even said, “I thirst” in order to fulfill the scriptures! John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
The obtaining of our righteousness depended upon his obedience, from baptism, at the beginning of his ministry, unto his crucifixion, at the very end! Matthew 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Here are but a few verses that come to mind concerning this almost hiding of his eternal glory and ‘rationing’ out his deity to his humanity on a daily basis. Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Acts 13:29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
The eternal Son of God, who was one with the Father from all eternity, {Proverbs 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.}, stepped into his humanity and thereby became the Son of man.
And in doing so he did not cease to be what he always had been. He did not change his nature! John 10:30 I and my Father are one. 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Yet he became that which he had not been before! For his same eternal nature came to be manifest in a different manifestation! John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1 Timothy 3:16 states that this mystery of godliness is great. And that he was seen of angels. And the angels had never seen God in this manifestation. Therefore they had to actually be commanded to worship the person of the Son of man! Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
They had always stood before the glory. Isiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
But they had never seen the physical humanity of God! Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The following passages should not just be read with an awareness of the human writer, but with the awareness of the Son of man as he ‘takes inventory’ of his human body within the womb of the virgin. For all scripture speaks of Him! Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Therefore consider the Lord Jesus as you read these and similar passages. Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins (my inward parts): thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Job 10:11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews (muscle tissue). 12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Even his earthly ‘parents’ did not perceive of his spiritual oneness with the Father! Luke 2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Peter was told that it had to be the heavenly Father which reveals this! Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
That is how Simeon, waiting in the temple, knew who he was! Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
And Anna the prophetess knew who he was by an inner revelation. Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And it is by divine revelation that any of us know him to the saving of our souls! Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
For it is the same power of the Father and the Holy Spirit which raised the Lord Jesus from being physically dead, that is necessary to raise the sinner up in salvation from being dead in sin! Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Take time to read the first fourteen verses of the first chapter of the Ephesian letter. In verses one through six we see God the Father’s work in the believer’s salvation. He has chosen us in Christ, before the foundation of the world. And in verse six we are shown that it was done to the praise of the glory of his grace!
Then in verses seven through twelve we see God the Son’s work in our redemption. We only have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins by the work of the Son. And in verse twelve that this was done for the praise of his glory!
And then in verses thirteen and fourteen we see the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation. By Him we are sealed Which is the ernest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The Holy Spirit’s sealing the redeemed in this life is like the house buyer putting down “ernest” money in order to assure the seller that they are obligating themselves to sign the closing papers when all is ready. Therefore, as we are not immediately whisk up to heaven the instant we are justified, we have the Spirit as the ernest of our inheritance until Christ returns to glorify us!
Therefore salvation is a threefold work of the Triune God! John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Jesus Christ and God the Father are one! John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Pastor Gene Breed
October 12, 2018
