God Was In Christ, Reconciling The World Unto Himself -- Part 1619

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature -- old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:17-20)

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Who was/is the "He" herein? This is the question that the modern day religious community wants to negate, or confuse by introducing a "false" teaching of God as three persons, rather than the established doctrine of Christ, as attested to in the scriptures. (Hebrews 6:1-2) These attempt to explain away scriptures such as -- Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, and that He -- the Lord came forth as a mighty man -- instead posing a series of questions intended to confuse and rile up the people as did the religious authorities in His day did when they attempted to kill Jesus for suggesting that He and His Father are ONE! (I Timothy 3:16; John 10:30; Isaiah 42:13) 

Nevertheless, the dayspring from on high visited His people. And on this point, the Word of God is clear. There is ONE Lord God and His Spirit moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning. (Genesis 1:1-2; Acts 1:2-3) The same Spirit -- the Holy Ghost who overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son brought our world into being. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:21-23) The same Spirit who said, "And I looked and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold; therefore, Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me." (Isaiah 63:5)

Yes, God became our Saviour according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses for He said, "Surely they are My people, children [that] will not lie; so He was their Saviour." (Isaiah 63:8)

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6) 

This is why in Hebrews, when referring to the meat and no longer believers drinking only the milk the scripture informs us -- "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection ..." (Hebrews 6:1-2) 

Because in order to move onto perfection, we need to understand in "whom" we have salvation. It is critical for us to understand that the fullness of the Godhead was in Christ. (Colossians 2:9; John 1:14; Colossians 1:19) Not another G/god but rather this same JESUS who was the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible, and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created BY HIM AND FOR HIM ... AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST." (Colossians 1:12-19)

And in case there is any doubt as to who is being referenced here, this same He in this scriptural passage in Colossians "IS the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in all [things] He might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Again, His Name is Jesus ... Emmanuel, being interpreted -- God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) 

This same message is repeated throughout the volume of the book, which Jesus said, "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!" (Hebrews 10:7-8; Psalms 40:7)

Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) told the crowd of 3,000 souls that this SAME Jesus whom ye have crucified is BOTH Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36) 

God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16) 

The Lord come forth as a mighty man (Isaiah 42:13) 

After His kindness and love, God became our Saviour (Titus 3:4-7) 

Acts 1:2-3 further clarifies how Jesus after He was taken up, THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. By this time, Jesus had already told His disciples that you would "see" Me no more but that He -- Jesus -- would never leave them [us] nor forsake them [us]. Jesus said, "It is expedient 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 ... and when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment -- of righteousness because ye see Me no more ..." (John 16:7-14)

The last to see Jesus clearly identified in I Corinthians 15:1-8. 

The disciples came to know who Jesus was -- Jesus having told them -- "I and My Father are ONE!" (John 10:30; John 14:6-12) And when Philip asked Jesus to shew them the Father and it would suffice them, Jesus said unto them, " ...he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." (John 14:6-9) As we can see, these came to understand that Jesus was not only the Son but the Father also. Indeed, as Jesus said, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him and HAVE SEEN HIM." (John 14:7) 

Further, Jesus told them "the Comforter [which is] the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My Name" -- the Name of Jesus -- "He shall teach you all things and bring things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) Jesus said these things being "yet" present with His disciples. (John 14:25) 

The first commandment confirmed by Jesus to one of the scribes, perceiving that Jesus had answered them well says it all -- "Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is ONE LORD!" (Mark 12:28-31; Deuteronomy 6:4-5) 

But the wolves in sheep's clothing keep trying to lead believers in Jesus by faith astray from the truth of the good news gospel. Thus, the issue we face today (as was ironically the very same issue in 325 AD when the argument made by the false church even then was whether to accept that Jesus the Christ was in fact God manifest in the flesh) is the man-made false trinity doctrine of a triune g/God -- God in three persons theology. But by even suggesting that Almighty God is a person, and that this One God -- "the Creator and Preserver of all things, infinite in being and perfection exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are of one substance and equal in power and glory" [as most statements of faith allude] is in and of itself a mockery to the God we serve. 

How can I say this? Because false teachings such as the trinity denies the very essence of our Lord God who came forth as a mighty man to redeem us from our sins. (Isaiah 42:13; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; Acts 2:36) It is almost like satan was when he was stuck on the "Son" even while Jesus was saying to him, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God!" (Matthew 4:7)

What is written matters, and as a believer we shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Him only shall thou serve. (Matthew 4:4-10)

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4)

The same Almighty God who repeatedly proclaimed in prophecy that there is only ONE GOD and there is no Saviour beside Him. (Isaiah 43:10-12; Isaiah 45:5-6; Isaiah 45:12; Isaiah 45:14-18; Isaiah 45:22-23; Isaiah 46:5, 9-10; Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 59:16)

"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

"I am the Lord; that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; BEFORE they spring forth I tell you of them -- sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth ..." (Isaiah 42:8-9)

"To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal?" saith the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)

"... the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken [it]." (Isaiah 40:5)

"Behold, the Lord God will come with strong [hand], and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward [is] with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry [them] In His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young ... who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or [being] His counsellor hath taught Him?

Isaiah wrote: Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then said I, "Here am I; send Me." (Isaiah 6:8; 9:6) "And there shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse, a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ... " (Isaiah 11:1-2)

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth -- for [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and man -- the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:3-6)

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Jesus - Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, (Revelation 1:8, 11)

Don't be taken in by the lies of this world -- because He Himself has already proclaimed His free gift of salvation unto the end of the world -- for one and all to behold. Take hold of the truth as He proclaimed - the Word made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-14) Study His Word to show thyself approved -- for we shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them ... and it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while thy are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23-24)

We are all destined to see His glory .... and shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:23)

However, for now, we need to recognize that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.

"O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou are potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand." (Isaiah 64:8)

Let him/her with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.