WHO EXACTLY IS JESUS

WHO EXACTLY WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH?

God the Father, or God the Son?

Within the realm of Christianity, there are two main views concerning God. The Trinitarian point of view believes that there is One God in three persons, and three persons in One God; all being truly distinct from one another; co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent. “The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion— the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another.” - (The dogma of the Trinity - Catholic Encyclopedia online @ www. newadvent. org).

The Oneness, or Apostolic point of view is that there is One God and Father of all. God, who is a Spirit, overshadowed Mary and she conceived Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to the world as The Son of God. Jesus became the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Jesus still abides with us, comforts us, and empowers us today through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit. These are not three separate and distinct persons, but rather three expressions of the One God of the bible. He is Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in regeneration.

It is important to note that the New Testament church began in approximately 33AD. The dogma of The Trinity was not officially developed as doctrine until 325AD, and later revised in 381AD. (See New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1977, vol. 13, pg. 1021 & American Encyclopedia Dictionary, pg 4189) It is also important to note that neither Jesus, the prophets, nor the apostles ever mentioned the terms, “The Trinity”, “One God in three persons”, “God the Son”, or “God the Holy Ghost”. Jewish believers and early Christians were Monotheistic: they believed in One God who cannot be divided and cannot have and equal:

Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: KJV

Isaiah 46: 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? KJV (See Isaiah 42:

Ephesians 4: 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all…

In short, the Trinitarian belief is that God (the Father) was a SEPARATE PERSON apart from Christ; sending the Son down to earth. The Apostolic belief is that God was IN CHRIST, reconciling the world to himself. While both viewpoints believe Jesus to be the Son of God, Trinitarians believe He was "God the Son" in human flesh. The Apostolic belief is that Jesus was the revelation of God the Father in human flesh. God Himself came down to dwell among men in the person of Jesus Christ.

If Jesus was "God the Son" manifest in the flesh ... then the Trinity doctrine is correct - case closed.

However, if Jesus was God the Father manifest in the flesh, then the Oneness doctrine stands and remains in line with the monotheistic teaching throughout the scripture that God is One.

Let's put the Bible to the test:

In the Scriptures, when the word, "God," is mentioned, it speaks of the Father. For example, John 3:16 could have easily said "For the Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." That being said, If you read the following scriptures substituting “the Father” for “God”, it may make easier to understand who Jesus was.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

1 Timothy 3: 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. KJV

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. KJV

Acts 20:28 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. KJV

The Father was with us, The Father was manifest in the flesh, The Father laid down His life and purchased the church with His own blood. This was only made possible when the Eternal, Immortal, Invisible Spirit (the Father) revealed Himself in flesh to us at Bethlehem.

God was the Word. God is love. It is He and He alone that came down to His people. He who created the world stepped into the world He created. It is the greatest love story ever told.

1John 14:9 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. KJV

And the Word (God) was made flesh and dwelt among us...(See John 1: 1, 10, 14)

1 Timothy 3:16 "... God was manifest in the flesh ..."

The Son of God is none other than the manifestation, revelation, or personification of the one eternal Spirit of God in human flesh. He is the image of the invisible God. When you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father.

(See Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:8-11)

This is the reason the apostles baptized in the singular name of Jesus Christ after receiving the commission of Matthew 28:19. It is a revelation that will change your whole life! I ask you to sincerely pray about it. The term, "God the Son" is simply a man-made invention for the purpose of preserving the doctrine of The Trinity. But it is an unknown term to the Old or New Testament.