THE GODHEAD

 

 

  I.   Introduction

In  this teaching we will discuss the much misunderstood doctrine of the Godhead. Just who are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? What is their relationship to each other and to mankind? Are they actually separate and distinct personalities? These are some of the questions that I will answer in this teaching. I must admit to being taken completely by surprise by the amount of confusion and division within the Church on this topic. However, a careful perusal of the Scriptures will clearly show the correct way to view the One that we call God. As always in my teachings I will take no prejudicial stance, but will limit myself to only that which is  revealed to me by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. If any of my own “interpretations” are given, they will be so indicated.

       Within the Church there are basically two camps on the issue of Who or what God is or isn’t; The so-called Trinitarians and the so-called Oneness Pentecostals. The  essential question to be asked from the positions of both camps is this. Is the Godhead represented as three as one, or is it one as three? Well it will turn out that the classic positions of both camps are incorrect, for they have sought to use human reasoning to understand that which is unfathomable, and thereby fitting it into the confines of the limitations of human intellect. In defense of their positions, both sides have used the same Bible, and pointed to and mangled the same scriptures in a vain attempt to support their view , while at the same time disparaging the opposition. In this teaching no attempt will be made to convince either side, but I will simply reveal what it is that may be known of the Divine Nature.  My strong recommendation is for the reader to make a valiant effort to suspend any preconceived notions as to the Godhead, and let the unfolding of these scriptures “speak” for themselves. If you can do this, then you will be surprised at the clarity with which these simple doctrines reveal themselves. Finally my goal here is to continue to accomplish in the Body of Christ today that which was begun by the Lord Jesus and our beloved brother Paul two millennia ago. Namely to reveal to you THE UNKNOWN GOD. ( John 1:18, Acts 17:22-23). Now on that thought, let us begin by asking this question. What is it that may be known of God? Romans 1:18-19 tells us that whatever that might be, God has clearly revealed it to us by the things that He has created, which themselves declare His Glory.

               

 

II.  The Godhead:

The essential question to be answered in understanding the Godhead is this. How do we fathom something that at no time has been seen, and what frame of reference do we find adequate to describe that, which is not perceptible to the senses?

Col. 1:15

John 1:18

 

We must then look to those things which are perceptible and bear witness to the Divine Nature

(Godhead), namely;

1.  Christ Jesus

2.  Creation

3.  Man

 

Before proceeding on I think that it would be quite useful to define what we actually mean when we use the term “Godhead”. We find that this word occurs three times in the bible. The references and their Greek meanings are given below.

 

Acts 17:29       2304    Theios ( Thi’-os)                       Godlike, Divine, Godhead

Rom. 1:20        2305    Theiotes (Thi-ot’ace)                Divinity, Godhead        

Col. 2:9            2320    Theotes (Theh-ot’-ace) Divinity, Godhead

 

 

 

The word is best defined as meaning, that which manifests, exemplifies, and portrays attributes universally understood to be indicative of the Divine Nature.

( Easy definition: Those things that show Godness)

 

The cast of characters involved in portraying this Divine Nature are several. Chief among  them            is  the Lord Jesus Christ. At no time has anyone seen God (The Father) but His Divine Nature has been revealed to us by His Son, who is the beginning of the Creation of God.

1st Tim. 3:16

Col. 2:9-10

Rev. 3:14

Col 1:15

Heb. 1:1-2

Eph 3:8-9

 

III.   The Role of Jesus in Creation                                                                                                          In beginning (God) The Father created (bara) the heavens and the earth ( by and through the Son and the Holy Spirit). These descriptors of agency are never used of the Father , showing Him to be the Head and Director of all the things that are done by or through the other two.

Then strangely, we find that the earth was without form and void. A quick look at the Hebrew will give us some insight here. The verb which is translated as was is  Hayah(1961), which literally means “to breathe” - to exist, to be, to become, to happen, as in Gen. 19:26 where Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt. With this in mind, it makes much more sense to render this verb in Gen 1:2 as the earth became without form and void. This is much more in keeping with what we know of the attributes of God, in that He would not create something de-novo, which was formless and dark. So then it is logical to assume that something happened to the earth post creation that resulted in its departure from the glorious state that it originally  exemplified. Much speculation has abounded on this topic, and it’s a pretty safe bet that Lucifer had something to do with it, but since that is another matter entirely, I will defer that discussion for another time. Next in Genesis 1:3, we find a most interesting statement.

Then God said, “ Let there be Light, and there was Light. There was much, much more to this simple transaction than meets the eye, This is not a statement concerning natural light for that did not occur until day 4 of creation. But it is here that Spiritual light entered into the earth realm, in the form of the Son of God. ( proof of this assertion will be offered shortly) At this point He began a mission which likely is to last 7000 years or 1 week of millennia..  He was commissioned by the Father to do two things:

 

     To provide a people for the Father, that He could be their God.( John 12:31-32)

     To put underfoot (destroy) every enemy of the kingdom.( 1st Cor. 15:20-26)

 

After giving the Son of God power of attorney or authority which; although limited, was sufficient to accomplish the task, He(the Father) excepted Himself.(This was a necessary step in order for the Father to avoid being, Himself, subject to the Son). Thereafter with few exceptions, the Father has had no further dealings in the affairs of men, but has relegated this duty to His Son. This lasted from Adam until the day of Pentecost, when mankind received the right to enter into fellowship with the eternal Father. This relationship  occurred through our elder Brother, the only begotten Son, by Whom, we cry out with the spirit of adoption, Abba Father.  This fulfilled part 1 of His commission from God.  Part 2 will be accomplished at the conclusion of the 7000 years when the last enemy, death, is put underfoot.1ST Cor. 15:20-28.( Note: The 7000 year time frame is a reasonable speculation on the part of the author.)So then it was left to the Son of God to represent the Diving Nature (Godhead) on the earth. Since  at no time has anyone seen God, it was the role of the Son to bear His image and to declare Him to the world. John 1:18.  This mystery is to be revealed in stages with each manifestation revealing more of the Divine Nature culminating ultimately in the complete unveiling of the Father, with Whom we now have fellowship. (1Tim. 3:16) This unveiling  process began on day 1 of the dispensation of man, when it was the Son of God who worked the heavens and earth to make them habitable. It climaxed on day 6 when He began to fulfill His number 1 objective by making man in the image and likeness of God (the Father). Having completed this task, He rested on the 7th day. (This was wise since there were 7000 more years of hard work ahead.)

 

Proof that Jesus is the Light of GEN 1: 3

 

1. It is not natural or celestial light from the sun since this does not occur until day 4  so then, it must be Spiritual Light.

2. 2 Cor. 4:1-6

3. John 1:1-3

 

It is clear that since at the beginning, the Father was still “THE UNKNOWN GOD,” and the Son was not yet revealed, nor the Holy Spirit given, that it was not possible to distinguish between members of the Godhead in the old testament.  So consequently, the same descriptive terms were used interchangeably to depict both Father and Son.

 

In the Hebrew of the old testament, there are at least 6 terms that when translated indicate Deity.

·        YAHWEH - He who is ( self existent one) translated THE LORD

·        ADONAI - Lord

·        ELOHIM - Plural noun; meaning objects of worship

·        EL - singular ; Mighty One

·        ELAH - an object of worship

·        ELOAH - object of worship

 

In the old testament, in any given scripture, any of these words may be used to refer to either the Father or the Son. However, since I have already established that the job of reclaiming the earth fell to the Son and the Father being excepted ( for it is unlawful for the servant to be pre-eminent over the master), most references to the Godhead are speaking of the Son.  So then, whenever one of the aforementioned 6 words are used, unless it is clear from the context  (meaning there is clear reference to both), you may safely assume that the God being referred to is the Son.  The Jews did not deal with the Father, but their God is the Son.  We only see the Father in action in matters limited to the following.

·        Judgement ( Wrath ) Gen 19:24

·        Adjudicating Celestial disputes

                        A - Zech 3:2

                        B - Jude v. 9

·        Bearing witness to the commission of the Son

                        A- By Prophecy

·        Psalm 110:1

·        Isaiah 42:1-9

·        Psalm 45:6-7

·        Psalm 2:7-8

                        B - Directly

·        Matt 3:16-17  “This is my beloved Son”

·        John 12:27-32 “ I have both glorified it & will…”

·        Mark 9:2-8  “ This is My beloved Son, hear Him”

·        2nd Pet 1:16-18 “ This is My beloved Son, hear Him”

 

By contrast in the new testament, we see an unveiling of the Son of God so therefore there is only one word translated God ( Theos)and this word always refers to the Father. ( In every book of the N.T. God the Father is identified as separate and distinct from Jesus the Son.) Note: Look at the greetings of all of the epistles

 

             It was necessary for the Son to be separated out from the Father theologically since the only way to know He who is unknowable, is to perceive Him who comes in the image of the unknowable, but yet is clearly visible. This process occurred in the new covenant with the revelation of the Son of God as such.

John14:7-11

John 1:18

John 6:44-46

After the revelation of the Son of God, it was then possible to distinguish between the Father and the Son, which the New Testament does effortlessly.

           

IV  Proof that Jesus is the God of the Jews

 

       There is a rather tragic irony here seeing as how the Jews rejected the same one whom they had always known and accepted as Jehovah, because they did not recognize Him when He came as the Son of God. They were unable to resolve between the individual members of the Godhead, which was due more to the hardness of their hearts than to their ignorance. They failed to perceive that the God that they rejected as the Son, was  indeed the same Deity that was known to their fathers as Jehovah. The key to understanding who the Son is, is to differentiate who He is to the Father from who He is to us. To the Father  He has always been the only begotten Son, but to us  He has been or will be manifested in at least five different ways. These will be discussed in greater detail later on. For now allow me to convince you that the One that we know as Jehovah from the old testament, is indeed none other than the Son of God. Consider the following:

 

1.  The Son of God was in the beginning with the Father and was the agent of the creation.  He was Yahweh ( He who exists) long before He became Emmanuel.  He was glorified with the Father from the beginning.

                  John 1:1-5

            2.   Melchizedek - This was the Son of God

·        Gen 14:18

·        Psalm 110:1-4

·        Heb 5:1-44

·        Heb 6:17 - 7:2.

 

·        The Angel of the Lord - was the Son of God.

·        Exod. 3:1-6 - The Bush Dweller (Deut 33:16 -Confirms the identity of the bush dweller as Yahweh)

B.    Zech 3:1-6 - Identifies the Angel of the Lord as Yahweh

C.    Gen 16:69-13  - The Angel speaks to Abraham

D.    Gen 22:11-12 - Abraham’s “ sacrifice” of Isaac to the Angel of the Lord

E.     Gen 22:15 - The Angel of the Lord swears by Himself

F.     Gen 31:11-13 - The Angel of the Lord claims to e God

G.    Gen 48:16 - The Angel the “Redeemer”

H.    Exod 13:21 - The Lord who was the Angel of God going before Israel in the cloud Exod 14:19   

I.       Judges 2:1-4 - The Angel of the Lord  identified as Yahweh ( I swore to your fathers)

J.      Judges 6:11-23 - Gideon sees the Angel of the Lord face to face and lives

K.   Judges 13:1-25 - Samson is born v. 18 My name is Wonderful

L.     Psalm 34:7 -  The Angel of the Lord encamps about all those who fear Him & He delivers them

M.  Hosea 12:2-4 - The Angel that Jacob struggles with was Elohim

 

The Angel of the Lord speaks in the first person and with authority when dealing with the affairs of men. 

            Ex: (I will do this and that)

            Gen 16:10

            Zech 1:12,3:4

 

           

 

Divine characteristics of the Angel of the Lord: The following scriptures prove that the Angel of the Lord cannot be an ordinary angelic  being since He exhibits behavior that is characteristic of Deity.

 

            Psalm 34:7                   To be feared

            Psalm 34:7                   Claims to be the Deliverer

            Exod. 3:1-6                  His name is Yahweh

            Gen 48:16                    Redeemer

            Gen 22:15                    Swears by Himself

            Gen 22:11-12               Receives sacrifices

            saiah 37:.36                  Destroyer of men

 

            People who marveled at seeing The Angel of the Lord (God) and not dying: In all three of these instances, those who encountered the Angel of the Lord face to face acknowledged Him as God. They marveled that they did not die having seen His face.

1.     Gen 32:30              Jacob

2.     Judges 6:22-23       Gideon

3.     Judges 13:21-23     Manoah

4.     The I AM   Exod. 3:13-14

                        John 8:31-59

                        John 13:19

 

V.     The Son of God - What may be Known:

         In order to fully understand the role of the Son of God in the Godhead, we must realize that His operational capacity changed according to His dispensation. As previously stated, The Son of God has manifested or will manifest Himself to the earth realm in five different ways. I will discuss them in sequence from past to future. Bear in mind that these manifestations are from the perspective of mankind. ( See figure 1)

 

A.                The Word, The Light God (Eternity pastà day one of creation)

                        He was the Word and the Light                         John 1:1-5

                        He was the only begotten of the Father  John 1:l4,18  Psalm 2:7

                        He was glorified with the Father                        John 17:5, Phil 2:5-7

                        Through Him, creation exists                             Rev 3:14

B.    Yahweh ( the Angel of the Lord, Melchizedek, I AM) (day one àvirgin birth)

·        He was the God of the Jews - previously discussed

·        Sent to put evil underfoot and to gather a people holy unto the Father

·        Limited in authority                                                                                        Zech 3:1-2

                                      Gen 19:24 

                              Heb. 1:1-4

           

           

C.    The Lamb -  the birth of Jesus(Yeshua) à Golgotha

·        The Deliverer of Israel        Luke 1:67-74

·        A Light to the gentiles         Isa 42:6, Eph 2:11-13, Luke 2:29-32, Acts 9:15

·        Emptied of His Deity           Heb 2:5-18, Phil 2:5-8 reputation gr. def(2758 - kenoo) to make empty, to abase, to neutralize, void

Rom 8:3

John 17:5

Heb 10:5-7

·        Anointed by God to preach and to heal       Luke 4:16-21

·        Tested, refined and perfected Heb2:17,4:14-15, Luke 4:1-13

·        Became a curse for us - being rejected by all, both man and God

                                    ( Isa 53:3, Matt 21:42, Luke 17:25 - MAN)

( Matt 26:36-46,  27:45-46, Isa 53:11 - GOD)

·        Suffer and die

                                    Acts 26:19-23

Heb 13:9-12

Mark 9:11-12

 

 

D.    The High Priest – (the Resurrection àthe Return to the Mount of Olives)

·        Offer up the blood before the Father as an eternal propitiation for sin

                                                Heb 7:21 - 8:6

                                                Heb 3:1-2

                                                Heb 4:14-15

                                                Heb 9:11-15

 

E.     The King – (the Mount of Olives -à Eternity future)

·        Returns to earth to battle terrestrial enemies

                                                Acts 1:9-11

                                                Luke 21:25-28

                                                Rev 19:11-21

·        Return to earth to battle celestial enemies

                                                Rev 20:1 - 3 

                                                Mark 13:24-27

·        Execute Judgement

                                                John 9:39

                                                John 5:22 - 30

                                                Rev 20:11-15

 

·        Rule for 1000 years with the saints

                                                1ST Cor 15;25

                                                2ND Cor 2:12

                                                      Rev 5:9-10

THE GODHEAD

 

 

 

God the Father

 

Son of God

(7)

 

Resurrection
 

 

 

 

 

The Word

The Light

Melchizedek, Elohim,

Yahweh, Angel of the Lord

The Lamb

(6)