Colossians
2:8-9
"Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world (that
which is strictly materialistic or the external of the priesthood
under Judaism and todays false doctrines of men claiming what is not
ours to claim), and not after Christ (this
is our only right by inheritance, a restored one to His Sonship).
For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily."
I
have to constantly remember that when Christ made His appearance
among men back there in Bethlehem He never stopped being God. Because
He was God, He was able to limit His powers, He didn’t abuse them
like we would, He never stopped being God. In fact we looked at
that several sections back, so just turn the page back to Colossians
chapter 1:15. The reason Paul keeps repeating this all the time
is to drive the fact home as to Who Jesus Christ is. He is the
Visible Manifestation of the Godhead, all three, the Elohim.
This is why I have carried forward with each section this heading.
Remember Jesus said that He had revealed the Father to the disciples
in a manner NO one else could or did. That is also why what Paul brings to
bear in 2Timothy 3:13 when he warnings Timothy is so important. Here
is what it says: “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.” Why because they will oppose those
of verse 13 which states this: “all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Are we living a godly Life in
Christ, is my question? Or are we rather living as a false prophet,
an anti-christ, or are we allowing our natural propencities of Satan
dominate us and thereby living as Satan? Only we as individuals can
answer these questions. Do
we believe this Gospel for our Salvation, or the worlds distorted
veiw which opposes God at every turn and in so many ways?
Colossians
1:15
"Who
(speaking
of God the Son in verse 13)
is the image of the invisible God,…" (the Godhead
known as Elohim)
Then
to show who He really was we go on into verse 16 and it shows us that
He was the Creator of everything. He’s the God of Genesis 1:1, the
Light of verse 3 from Whom Life was infused into a dead, lifelessness
planet surrounded by choas and darkness. Even though it may have had
some kind of life forms on it before that period in eternity. This is
what John in his synoptic gospel is saying in chapter 1.
Colossians
1:16
"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:"
Coming
back to Colossians chapter 2, and verse 9.
Colossians
2:9
"For
in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
I
know this is hard for many to comprehend, I know it is, it was for me
also. Let’s take the time to look at John’s synoptic gospel
chapter 14 to follow up on this. This is a passage of Scripture I've
used before, because it just says it all. I don’t mind when people
have a little trouble comprehending this because the twelve disciples
couldn’t either, nor does the men of degrees nor the philosophers.
It’s epitomized here when Philip says, "show us the
Father" Let’s start with verse 7. Here Jesus is
speaking to the twelve.
John
14:7-8
"If
ye had known me, (If you really know who I am) ye
should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him,
and have seen him. (Do you see that? That’s a hard pill for
any to swallow, it was for the twelve.) Philip saith unto him,
Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us."
We
want to remember that these people were just as ordinary as we are.
These men had the same thoughts, they had the same questions that we
do. They had the same veil that covered their hearts eyes and ears as
we all start with, makes no difference where we were brought up or
our religious beliefs and educational background. We all have a veil
of stupor that keeps the secret of God from our understanding. And if
you find that you are one of these kind of people seek God and ask
Him how to foresake this condition of soul. I could in all likelihood
tell you but I have found out that it is better that the LORD led us
and use His words rather than repeat another mans prayer. Because
this prayer belongs to that person and is not ours, but their's. Look
at Jesus' answer to Philip.
John
14:9
"Jesus
saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, (three
years now) and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath (already) seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father?"
They
had seen the Father. How did they see Him? Because in Christ Jesus
dwelt the Godhead bodily (as the Spirit of Holiness and the Spirit of
Godliness). So always remember that when Scripture speaks of the LORD
– let me give a good example. Come back with me to Acts chapter 16.
This is a good verse to use periodically anyway, and I haven’t now
for sometime. In fact I’ll just use several Scriptures as we can
also go back to Matthew 16. In fact let’s just start with Matthew
chapter 16 so that you can see that all the persons of the Godhead
can be referred to synonymously.
Here
in Matthew the setting is Jesus and the twelve clear up in northern
Israel at the headwaters of the Jordan river. They’re going to be
making their way down to Jerusalem for the last Passover, His New
Covenant meal and His crucifixion, which is its sealing and He asks
the question up there in verse 13. "Whom do men say that I
the Son of man am?" They said – and remember they had
been with Him for three years, and seen miracles upon miracles and
also remember the Bible gives us only a little sample of all the
miracles that Jesus performed. He must have performed miracles by the
dozens everyday because the last verse of John’s gospel states –
John
21:25
"And
there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they
should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself
could not contain the books that should be written."
Even
if that were a play on words it just simply tells us that we only are
told a sampling of the ones that He performed. Look at how the
disciples answered Him in verse 14.
Matthew
16:14-16
"And
they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias;
(Elijah) and
others, Jeremias, (Jeremiah)
or one of the of the prophets. (See they
had all kinds of ideas except the right one, that He was the Messiah)
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I
am?" (And Simon Peter answers with
the right answer in verse 16.) And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God."
Here’s
the verse I want you to see.
Matthew
16:17
"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."
In
our line of thinking, Who was the One that should have given Peter
that kind of knowledge? The Holy Spirit. Isn’t that right? It’s
the Holy Spirit Who gives us knowledge in these things, but here it’s
the Father. I'm sure it was the Spirit that accomplished it. Let’s
go to Acts chapter 16, and I’ll begin with verse 14. Here of course
we find Paul and Silas at Philippi.
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