Wednesday Night Bible Study

Praise the Lord everyone. We greet you tonight in that wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That high and holy name that is above every name. And I'm so glad we know that name. And may I say, we're so pleased to see each one of you uh with us tonight for Bible study. We had a great weekend this past weekend. I'm still rejoicing over the great word we heard and and the great spirit of God that we felt in our midst. It's such a refreshing place and time to to come and and uh not only we do hear the word of God, but to feel that great uh spirit of fellowship and and worship. No wonder the Bible says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." I I have given my take on that uh some time ago. Um, I got to thinking, you know, the years ago they didn't have loudspeakers and radios and so forth and but if uh some important person was going to be in town, the runner would go ahead and would yell, "Behold, he's he comes. Behold." And and well, that's what we say when we talk about behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It's something for us to raise our voice and to call attention to. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. We're going to continue our study. We are studying common questions concerning the apostolic doctrine and we'll review a little bit. Uh but as we go on there they're there different questions that are often asked concerning the oneness of the the godhead. And in fact, I've I've got a uh one chapter in in the book of common questions concerning apostolic doctrine. Uh and what is what is oneness? And the oneness belief is often uh we're said that we believe that Jesus is his own father. Well, to put it very simple and very plain, uh the father, son, holy ghost, God almighty was the father in creation and to create and to save man, he wrapped himself in human flesh a and died on the cross, came back as a holy spirit. He told his disciples in the 14th chapter of St. John, he he said you you see the spirit and I'm with you now, but I'm going to be in you. Well, he couldn't be in us as a as a human being, but he returned as the Holy Spirit when he went back to heaven and he came back to us as the the Holy Spirit. Um Jesus asserts his omniresence in John 3:13 where he said, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven." And if you notice the wording of this, there's got to be something very special about about this one could be said of nobody else. for it says um no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven. Now this is Jesus talking now and uh no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the son of man which is in heaven. He left no doubt that he could be on earth and in heaven at the same time. Unless Jesus claimed omniresence falsely, there should be no problem accepting him him bodily being baptized and at the same time speaking from heaven. The invisible God made visible by the image of the person Jesus was being baptized while the invisible but audible voice of this great omnipresent God spoke out of heaven saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The only bodily form ascribed to the Holy Ghost in the Bible is a dove. And I know of no Bible scholar who believes that the Holy Spirit is a dove. The dove from uh from form which was used by God to accommodate the human mind and to complement his sacred this sacred occasion. The Holy Ghost has been represented by a bird, by rushing mighty wind, tongues of fire, and the agent of God used to overshadow the Virgin Mary and father the Christ child. So it should be quite clear that the baptism of Jesus uh presents no problem to the belief in the oneness of the godhead. On the other hand, a trinitarian view would uh find himself in an unenviable position explaining how the third person in the godhead would be a bird. The third person it was he came in the the spirit of God descending in a bodily shape of a dove as just to represent the a dove is not the holy ghost. Question who is the father of Jesus? The wonders proponents have been labeled as Jesus only and accused of believing that Jesus is his own father. However, the scriptural account makes it plain. First Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." The key word is man. The flesh was the son, the spirit was the father. John 10 and30 Jesus said, "I and my father are one." John 14:9 Jesus said unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philillip? He that hath seen me hath seen the father?" And how sayest thou then, "Show us the father." Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph before she they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. When Joseph determined to put Mary away, an angel appeared unto him in a dream, and said, Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Now, we're talking about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The angel said to Joseph, "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife." and she was found with child. And he would put her away privately. But the angel said, "Don't you fear to take her as your wife, for the thing that's conceived in her," now notice what it says. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Well, John 3:16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, thus showing that God was the father of Jesus. The infallible word could not possibly present such a glaring discrepancy as to have two persons, the father of Jesus. The Holy Ghost is called the comforter and the spirit of truth. Uh the the the Holy Ghost is called the comforter and the spirit of truth. John 14:16-1 17. That's exactly who he is. The spirit of God, but not a separate person. In Carl Broomck's book, God in three persons, on page 79, he gives his trinitarian explanation of the Holy Ghost overshadowing Mary. The humanity of Jesus Christ did originate at Nazareth. This humanity in order to be genuine humanity must have had its beginning through the mingling together of human seed both male and female. The one who is always called the father of Jesus both in eternity and in time. God the father by sovereign act. God the Father created the male seed and the Holy Spirit deposited that seed in the womb of Mary. As the doctor or veterinarian who presides in an instance of artificial incimination today is an agent but not the actual father of the child. Who is this con uh who is this thus conceived? So the Holy Ghost was the immediate agent of the Godhead who presided at the conception of the humanity of Jesus. But as the entire New Testament bears witness, this ministry of the Holy Spirit did not make him the father of Jesus Christ. Broombach boldly states in chapter one page 15 that the intentions of his book was to deal the death blow to this error that has ins snared many honest sincere heart. I hard, now this is my quote now. I hardly think that the specious explanation that Jesus was born as the result of artificial incimination will intelligently refute the doctrine of the oneness. In fairness to our trinitarian friends, I think I should quote from Dr. W. A Creswell, past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and his book entitled Expository Sermons on Revelation, he wrote, "In the providence of God in the fullness of time." Now, this is Dr. WA. Creswell, past president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He said, "In the providence of God, in the fullness of time, the Lord God descended from heaven, wrapped himself in human flesh, in the womb of a virgin girl, offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins, in the body God prepared for him, in whose blood atonement our iniquities and transgressions are washed away." I have to say, "Amen." Dr. Creswell. He goes on to say, "Who is that exalted person high and lifted up?" John the Apostle says, I'm still quoting from WA Crestwell. Now, uh, who is ex who is this exalted person high and lifted up? John the Apostle says, Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord Jesus and spake of him. This is confirmed in the words of Jesus himself who said, "I and my father are one. The father and the son are one in the mystery of the trinity." There are not none. I I I get I get tickled and and get thrilled when I when I read the educated uh explanation of great theologians. And great theologians I you'd have to consider WA Creswell as one. He said the father and the son are one in the mystery of the trinity. There are not two or three immutable eternal infinite omniscent omnip omnipotent gods. When we arrive in glory and mingle with the saints on those golden streets of that celestial city, we shall see one Lord God, Jesus Jehovah Christ. The only God there is is the Lord God our father. The only God we shall ever see is the Lord God Christ our savior. The only God we shall ever feel is the Lord God, the Holy Spirit, who lived in our hearts, and in whose power we shall be raised from among the dead. Did you give the Lord a big hand? And what what a great explanation from a trinitarian. But we continue. There is no attributes. There are no perfections of the Lord God. And we're still quoting from Dr. Creswell. There are no attributes. There are no perfections of the holy of the Lord God Jehovah, but that they are also attributes and perfections of the Lord Christ himself. Let us speak of his immutability, the immutability, the unchangingness of the Lord God is also ascribed to our Lord Christ. We read in Hebrews 1 20 and 21, "Thou Lord Christ in the beginning hath laid Glory I don't don't get too excited to hear an apostolic preacher read this and affirm this, but it it it really thrills me when I read what a so-called trinitarian is explaining, a theologian." We read in Hebrews 1:201, "Thou Lord Christ, in the beginning has laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest, and they all shall wax old as doth a garment, and a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Oh, praise God. Aren't you thrilled at what he really is to us? Praise God. Question is, is Jesus the Holy Ghost? Remember, we're dealing out weeness apostolic, we've we've heard the oneness message so much that uh most of us uh unless we encounter someone that challenges our belief, uh we just take this all for granted. But I'm writing this book. I wrote this book many years ago realizing that there were those who needed to read this that did not believe in the oneness of the Godhead. And I wrote it in question and answer form. And here's the next question. Is Jesus the Holy Ghost? Now if there's three separate and distinct now separate and distinct mean not one not two but three separate and distinct individuals each having his own cognition his own thoughts his own will three separate and distinct okay is Jesus the Holy Ghost Ephesians 4 4-6 there is one body and one spirit Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through through all and in you all. Paul explicitly Paul explicitly proclaimed the oneness of God. One body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, one God and Father of all. Considering the fact there is but one Spirit, let us examine the words of Jesus in John 14:15-18. If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him. For he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. We're talking about Jesus, the one God, the mighty God, the one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Give the Lord a hand. Clap. Oh, hallelujah. You'll have to have to kind of bear with me. I get I get misty eyed when I talk about these great things. Jesus was preparing his faithful followers for his soon death and subsequent departure back to heaven. He was assuring them that though he was going to be gone as far his bodily presence was concerned, he was going to be a comforter that he may abide with you forever. Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because as heth him not, neither knoweth him. Carefully note this next statement. Quote, "But ye know him, for he," Now, who are we talking about? We're talking about the Spirit of truth. The world can't see him. The world don't know him. But notice what he said. But he said, "You know him, but you know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you." At this point in time, Jesus was with them, but he was soon to be in them as the Holy Ghost, the comforter. Verse 18, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name. John 14:26. Now, he just said the Holy Ghost, the comforter of the Father, will send in my name. John 14:26 Jesus said the Father would send the comforter. John 15:26 Jesus said, "But when the Comforter has come, whom I send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedth from the Father, he shall testify of me, and ye also shall be witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning." You notice the interchangeable uh way of talking about the Holy Ghost, the father and the spirit. Now he he is the Holy Ghost. The bodily form of God was Jesus Christ, the fleshly man that was born of the Virgin Mary. That was the fleshly embodiment of God. When Jesus said, "I and my father are one." When you've seen me, you've seen the father. You've seen the fleshly embodiment of God. But you don't see the eternal spirit. How and why could they bear witness? Because they had been with the physical Jesus. And now they're going to experience the supernatural indwelling of the same Jesus as spirit by the magnificent miracle of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is beautifully stated in Colossians 1:26:27. Colossians 1:26. even the mystery which has been hid from the ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of his glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. How could Christ be in us? He could not be in us in the physical form. So there had to be a transformation from the physical to the spiritual. Let us further explore explore the words of Jesus concerning his bodily departure. John 16 and6 Jesus said but because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. When he had told him he was leaving them, he said, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. Now you see the mystery made manifest is Christ in you, the hope of glory. I have a a very earthy little illustration I give sometimes in teaching this. Many years ago, I remember living way back in the in the country. We didn't have cars and just the about the only real uh celebration we kids had was Christmas time. A and um we we were told Santa Claus was going to come. If we be good little boys and girls, Santa Claus will come. Well, we'll always gather and sometimes uh time for Santa Claus to come. Daddy would dis disappear. I'll be I'll see y'all later, but I' I've got some things to tend to. And my daddy would disappear and and in just a little while Santa Claus would come and he would have a sack full of apples and oranges and a few little toys and things and and and he'd have a beard and he'd all be and he would make us all happy and a little while he he'd take off and he'd leave. As I began to get a little older, I began to notice that when Santa Claus came, had a little red suit and white beard and but he had on my daddy's shoes. As I got a little older, I begin to think about that. Now, daddy don't have a beard and daddy don't have a red suit like that, but Santa Claus sure got daddy's shoes on. And after a while, it began to dawn on me that daddy and Santa Claus was one and the same. I don't mean to liken Jesus to to Santa Claus or anything like that whatsoever. But what I am here to tell you that when Jesus said as long as I'm with you, I can't be with you. But I'm going away. And said when I tell you I'm leaving, sorrow is filled your but said don't be. Said it's expedient for you that I go away. If I don't go away, the comforter can't come. That's a clue right there of who the Holy Ghost is. How and why Jesus could bear witness because they had been in the they had they had been with the physical Jesus. And now they're going to experience the supernatural indwelling of the same Jesus as spirit by the magnificent miracle of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Even the mystery which hath been hid from the ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to the saints. Colossians 1:26 27. to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of his mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory. How could Christ be in you? He could not be in us physically and but he had to be transformed from the physical to spiritual. Let us further explore the words of Jesus concerning the physical spirit. Let us further explore the words of Jesus concerning his bodily departure. John 16:6. But because I have said these things unto you, sorrowath filled your heart. I know I'm being a little repetitious now, but let me do go ahead. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. If I go not away, the comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. Now we see the mystery made manifest of Christ in you. So now the one thing u is 1 Timothy 3:16 without controversy without argument great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh. God was justified in the spirit. God was seen of angels and God was received back up in the glory. Now, I'm adding the word God here, but it says, "Great is the mystery of godliness. For God was manifested in the flesh. He's seen of angels, preaching of the Gentile, justified in the spirit, and received back into glory." That was none other than Jesus Christ. All right, let us go on. The expediency of Christ leaving in order for the Holy Ghost to come should give us a clue as to the identity of the Holy Ghost. Let us remember the faithful words of Jesus in the great commission. Lo, I am with you always. And now he prepares his followers for his leading. Has he failed to keep his word? A thousand times? No. He is opening their understanding to the glorious truth that the man Christ Jesus was going away to be replaced by the comforter the Holy Ghost who is Christ in you the hope of glory. The term spirit of God spirit of Christ are used synonymously in Romans 8:9. But ye but ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit. If so be that the spirit of God dwelleth in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. We find the similarity of the interchangeable terms used in reference to God and the Holy Ghost in Acts 5 3 and 4. But Peter said to Ananas, "Why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, while it remained, was it not thine own, and after it was so? Was it not in thine own power? Thou not lied unto men, but unto God." In verse nine of the same chapter, the wife of Ananas repeatedly and the same lie to Peter and was rebuked thusly. Then Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord?" Here we have the term spirit of the Lord. If we keep in mind Ephesians 4:4, there is one body and one spirit. It is imperative for the sake of scriptural consistency that we reconcile these references to the spirit, the spirit of God, the spirit of Jesus. We're talking it's all one and the same because there is but one God who was manifest as the father in creation, as the son in redemption, and as the holy spirit in the church. The prophecy concerning the coming era in which the Holy Ghost would be poured out upon all flesh as stated in Joel 2:28 has God using the possessive term, I will pour out my spirit. However, John the Baptist in his forerunner message of Jesus said in Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Now th this synonyomy of persons and terms as related to the godhead is further exemplified by the following scriptures. Luke 24:49 and behold I Jesus send the promise of our father upon you. John 15:26, "But the comforter, but when the comforters come, whom I, Jesus, will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedth from the Father shall testify of me." Now, when you study this subject and you begin to put all of these scriptures together uh of of the Holy Ghost, Jesus, the Father, and the Son, and you you begin to see them speaking as one. John 14:17, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he, Jesus, dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I Jesus will come to you. 2 Corinthians 3:17. Now the Lord is that spirit. Acts 95. And Saul he said, "Who art thy Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." It's hard for thee to kick against the priests. Now you notice what we have done. But I'm going a little bit fast for you to digest everything. But what we're coming right down to is Jesus is claiming to be that spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. So we've got the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost all wrapped up in one, the Lord Jesus Christ. Question, if Jesus is God, who raised Jesus from the dead? One preacher told me that the world was without a God for three days if Jesus was God. Well, the answer to that, if Jesus is God, who raised Jesus from the dead? Romans 8:11. But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he shall raise up Christ from the dead. He that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you. He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by the spirit that dwelleth in you. That same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same spirit that's going to raise you and me from the dead when that day comes. It is evident that Jesus was raised from the dead by the spirit. The same Holy Ghost which shall one day raise us up from the ranks of the dead is the same power which brought Christ forth from the grave. But as we look further in the scriptures, we see where God was said to have raised Jesus from the dead. Colossians 2:12, buried with him in baptism, wherein also you're risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who raised him from the dead. Now, who raised Jesus from the dead? So far, we have the scriptural evidence of Jesus being raised from the dead by the spirit and by God. But if we go even further, we see Jesus himself plainly proclaiming he would raise himself from the dead. St. John 2:19 through 21. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then said he Then said that the Jews, "40 and six years was this temple and building, and will thou raise it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." Also John 10:17 and 18. Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again. Can somebody say amen? Are are you getting bored? Are you are you getting get getting I don't want I'm I'm shooting like a a saw off shotgun scattering so fast but I hope you are comprehending what I am reading. This is from the book I wrote common questions concerning apostolic doctrine. The preceding verses which have Jesus and the father and the holy ghost all attributive attributively raising Jesus from the dead harmonizes beautifully in the glowing fact that there is but one God, the eternal spirit, who in the fullness of time was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of the angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world received up into glory. This Jesus whom the world knew only as Bethlehem's baby and the carpenter's son was actually he who was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. Hallelujah. Jesus God and man fused but not confused. deity and humanity miraculously mingled. For in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. As man he hungered. As God he multiplied loaves and fishes. As man he slept in a boat on a tempestuous sea. As God he arose and calmed the storm. As man he prayed. As God he answered prayer. As man he died. As God, he arose from the dead. To borrow from the words of Dr. Creswell, the son is not just another man sent here to teach us new ethics as some super Socrates. Nor was his death that of a distinguished martyr. In the providence of God, in the fullness of time, the Lord God descended from heaven, wrapped himself in human flesh, in the womb of a virgin girl, offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. In the body God prepared for him, in whose blood and atonement our iniquities and transgressions are washed away. God bless you. Would you stand to your feet with us right now? We'll be taking up the lion and the lamb in our next session. And we're going to we're we're showing that Jesus is God. Jesus is the only God. Jesus is the mighty God. Father, we thank you tonight for your blessings, for your love. We're thankful, oh God, that you're so great and so mighty that you could be the eternal spirit. You can wrap yourself in human flesh and become a man as we and give your life for our sins. And yet you can take that life back up and return as the spirit of God. I pray Lord that this word will sink into our hearts and that we'll be thrilled with the joy of knowing who you really are. Lord, dismiss us from this place but not from your presence. All this we ask in Jesus name. Amen. Shake hands and be friendly. You're dismissed in Jesus' name.