|
What About… GOD?
This study I am undertaking with you, will cover the aspects and attributes, that God would have us know concerning Himself, including an attempt at a logical, but scriptural explanation of the Trinity or Godhead. There is probably no one, on this earth, who truly understands all the depth and breadth of what we Christians call the Trinity. Since I have been taught by some very intelligent people who have gone on to be with the Lord, I will now, humbly and prayerfully, undertake this task, and give it my all, and with the nudging of the Holy Spirit, I will try to explain this very vast subject in lay terms that even the uncalled ones of this world can understand. I will state this, though, going out the gate, that if you are seeking a “cliff note” version, explaining God, then you may as well stop now, for exploring the characteristics and attributes of God is no small undertaking. However, if you are really interested in knowing more about this God that you are seeking, or are already in a relationship with, then your perseverance will pay off. My intention for this study is for it to be more of a reference available, that you can go to, over and over, than for it to be a quick read. The references I will use in this journey, will be my Dake Annotated Reference Bible, and Dr. Gene Scott’s book, “Titles of the Triune God”. The resources available to you though, are readily available, with just simple internet searches. The picture above was sent to me by: www.operationjesuspictures.com The original painting was completed using the Shroud of Turin as a reference. No artist is stated. I think it is,.. Awesome
“For GOD, to be GOD, has NO NEEDS” “The Toughest Bully, with the Biggest Stick, Gets to be GOD” (a couple of my favorite Dr. Scott quotes, I think he is quoting G. Campbell Morgan or C. S. Lewis in the first one though)
The Bible does not try to explain GOD. He just IS. When Moses asked God who it was that he should tell the Israelites that sent him, God said I AM, THAT I AM. Tell them that, the “I AM” has sent you. The Israelites knew the term, ”I AM”, and would recognize Moses when delivering a message from their, “I AM”. So how are we supposed to come to know and understand this GOD that desires our companionship for eternity? Notice I said “desires”, not “needs”. The way God has provided for us to know Him, is revealed through the various names that have been used to describe God, over the ages. There are many names for God, for we could never express all that God is to man, all he does for, and the extents of God’s Grace towards man, with only one or even just a few names. There are twenty-five names and titles for God, seventy-four for Jesus, and sixteen for the Holy Spirit. In order to get a fuller, more complete picture of each name, you have to go back to the source, the original Hebrew or Greek, where often the meaning is far deeper, more complex, and sometimes it gives you a somewhat different picture than the English translation would. Here then, is a complete listing of God’s names with their definitions. What I will be giving is only a brief explanation, for I could probably devote a single study for each name, but this will give the reader a great overview and picture, of what God intends for us to know about Himself.
1: Elohim: The first and most frequently word used for God in our Bible. It occurs 2550 times in the Old Testament. It means simply, GOD. Supreme, Eternal, Almighty, Creator of the Universe, the Putter forth of Power, an “absolute, unqualified, and unlimited energy” as G. Campbell Morgan put it. Elohim is a plural form of Divinity, which encompasses the Trinity of the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. For it was the Word of God, Jesus, that spoke the universe into existence and the Holy Spirit that expresses God’s power on the earth through believers in this day of Grace. The first and primary thing we should know about God is that he is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. We can take our rest in the knowledge that God is in Control.
2: Jehovah-”YHWH”-”Yahweh”, ”The Lord”: Second only to Elohim in its use, The name, Jehovah is sacred to the Jews, personal in nature, not to be pronounced, and is descriptive of God’s relationship to man. Elohim sees God as the Almighty, whereas Jehovah describes the eternal nature of God. From everlasting to everlasting, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The “I AM, THAT I AM”, always in constant existence. Jehovah and Elohim are one and the same, for they are used together several times in Genesis. Elohim describes his power, and Jehovah describes his character. The name Jehovah, used with other names, then describe the various characteristics of God in how he wants to relate to man. A: Jehovah-Sabaoth: “The Lord of Hosts”-meaning, “The Most High” of all the hosts of heaven. Not just God, but the God of all the gods, and all the hosts, or spiritual beings of the “universe of the universes”. He is, “The MAN”; The Biggest, “baddest” bully, with the biggest “baddest” stick of Power, he is Jehovah-Sabaoth. (Poor English intentional) B: Jehovah-Jireh: “The Lord will Provide”– Showing us his constant provision. He allows all good things and every provision we have comes from him. Abraham called the place where God provided a ram as a substitute offering for Isaac, Jehovah-Jireh, thanking God for his provision and grace. We also can see the amazing gift of grace given to us, and recognize his constant provision for our needs as our God Jehovah-Jireh. C: Jehovah-Rapha: “The Lord that Healeth”– God wants for us to be healed, and his healing aspects come to us as Jehovah-Rapha. When we trust in Jesus stripes, for by his stripes are we healed, and in faith claim that promise, which is represented by the bread aspect of Communion, Jehovah-Rapha is released to work. D: Jehovah-Nissi: “The Lord my Banner”– This name was given to a monument erected to commemorate the Israelites victory over the Amalekites, where Aaron and Hur had to support the arms of Moses, as he held up the Staff of God, which when held high, gave the victory to Israel. He became their, “Banner”, a “Standard”, or “Ensign” to be held high, led around in front of their army. A God they could lift up high with pride, fighting ever more bravely knowing that their “Jehovah-Nissi” is the one true God who gives the Victory. Lift Him up today as your “Banner”, your “Standard”, with pride in your, “Jehovah-Nissi”, and behold what bearing your banner yields. E: Jehovah-M’qaddishkhem: “The Lord that Sanctifieth”-probably the least known name of God, because it is not transliterated in our English versions of scripture. It’s first appearance in Exodus 31:13, was GOD’s reiteration of the command to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath is God’s claim on the lives of man. We all should “set apart” or sanctify at least one day a week to rest from work and focus on God and his gracious blessings he bestows on us all. This is not only God’s requirement, but a blessing for us as well, for it allows us to “Recharge” our Faith batteries. Jesus went further and even stated that we should be in a “Sabbathing” state of mind at all times. If we took on, that outlook and walk, it would not matter if we kept any certain day, for all would be, “in the Father’s service”. F: Jehovah-Shalom: “The Lord Send Peace”– Gideon first used this name for God in Judges 6:24, here you have Gideon, being approached by the “Angel of Jehovah”, who told him that his task was to free his people from their yoke. This angel not only spoke as he was “Jehovah”, but devoured Gideon’s meal as an offering to God, being cleverly disguised by Gideon as a meal to see who this stranger was. It was no other than the pre-incarnate Word of God, Jesus himself, who immediately vanished. Gideon cried out to God and was reassured by the words, “Peace be unto you, fear not, you will not die”. He immediately built an altar and called it Jehovah-Shalom. In our day, we can live with a peace that truly passes all understanding. In Christ, we can experience Jehovah-Shalom even in the midst of our worst times, and be able to persevere through them. For just as a body builder has to push himself to get results, how else can we increase our faith unless we encounter ever increasing ways to exorcise it. G: Jehovah-Rohi: “The Lord is my Shepherd”– Just as David looked at himself as the shepherd, and thought about his responsibilities and desires towards his sheep, he then saw God just as vested in his well being. God is to us, as a shepherd is to his flock. He cares for those in the fold, and goes after those who have gone astray. He also continues until they are found, or they die in their iniquity. God rejoices, and indeed there is rejoicing in heaven, when a son or daughter returns to the fold. And, by the “Fold”, I am not talking about any particular church or even building, but when they return to their senses and “repent”, which means, “To Turn From, To”, like an about face, and they continue their walk of faith, with Jesus in their sights, and as their constant goal. H: Jehovah-Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness”– He is our righteousness. We are not and can not be righteous in ourselves. “There is none righteous, no not one” We had to have someone come in and pay the price to redeem us, becoming righteousness for us as we “faithe”, (a new verb) in his completed work. He is our Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Definitely a “Messianic” title, pointing to the coming redeemer, or in our case, the sent redeemer. This also confirms the unity between God and Jesus. I: Jehovah-Shammah: “The Lord is There”– Denoting the constant abiding presence of God, now and for eternity. Anytime you call, He is there. Anytime you turn to God, He turns towards you. Anytime you seek God, you will find Him. His constancy and unending presence is who we know as Jehovah-Shammah.
3: Adonai: “Lord”- This name of God, probably best known to the Jews because they often submitted it for Jehovah, which they deemed too ”Holy” to speak or use. This name denotes authority, but also a loving relationship is involved. The plural version, “Adonai” is only used of God, but the singular version, “Adon”, is used of men, but only in a servant-master type connotation. Not only do we use this word, as we are submitting to his authority, but it is our privilege, even our duty to regard Him as “My Lord and my God”.
4: Several descriptive titles describing God’s might and power especially relating to God’s protection of his chosen people. These can be grouped together. A: Rock: “Tsur” - Denoting God’s strength and his unchangeableness. Jesus is our Rock. B: Fortress: “Metsudah” - a military metaphor describing God’s likeness to a mountain “Stronghold”, a place of refuge. A place for us to run to for safety. C: Shield: “Magen”, Buckler: “Tsinnah”, and Sword: “Chereb” - Shield and Buckler, both a small and large shield, denotes God’s complete protection for those who trust in Him, And the Sword representing God’s ready defense of His people. New testament believers, take on this “Whole Body of Armor”, and walk daily in it by using our “Sword of Faith”, which is the Word of God. D: Mighty One: “Abhir, Gibbor” - Describing God’s abiding strength, might, and everlasting desire to be that to His people. Not just His “Omnipotence”, but his might on behalf of his people. E: Strength: “Netsach” - Eminence and Duration. This word denotes God’s changelessness. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He can not and will not change his mind. It may sometimes appear, as if He did, but it is man who changes, not God. F: Jealous: “Kanna” - Given as a command for Israel to worship one God, and only Him. The original meaning however changes somewhat the sinister meaning that “jealous” has come to mean. The word “Zealous”, is more correct in it’s meaning. It signifies God’s righteous “Zeal” and impressed on the people that they were to call Him and only Him as their God. G: El-Elohe-Israel: “God is the God of Israel” - A wonderful proclamation by Jacob/Israel declaring his God to be the one true God. Even the Muslims can’t deny that the God of Israel, is the same God they worship. They just put their trust in the wrong man, who never claimed divinity upon himself as Jesus the Christ did. Muhammad only claimed visions from Allah, who is the same God as the God of Abraham. As we follow in Israel’s footsteps and proclaim El-Elohe-Israel as our God, ourselves as men and women of God, giving our lives to his service, we then proclaim to the world El-Elohe-Israel as Jacob did and was blessed for it. H: El-Bethel: God commanded Jacob to return to Bethel, where he first met God, and upon returning Jacob realized even deeper the understanding that his God was God, and that to those who seek God are aware of His presence, and indeed the very wilderness becomes the “House of God”, their refuge and sanctuary. No matter where we are in our walk, even lost and backslidden, we can always return to El-Bethel, our “House of God” and find that place of safety and security in the midst of life’s turmoil.
5: El Shaddai—”God Almighty”: Another composite name describing one of many attributes of God, like the facets on a diamond, God’s revealing himself through Elohim and Jehovah followed by words describing one particular aspect of His character. Translated “God Almighty”, El Shaddai is in reality a much more impressive and tender word. We know that Elohim or El, means “The Mighty One”. So what then does “Shaddai” mean? This very old word, so old in fact that it’s meaning is obscure. Hebrew scholars call it “Strong or Mighty”, which was adopted by the translators rendering the word, God Almighty. Other speculations link it to the Greek word, “Shadad”, “To Devastate”, or the Akkadian word, “Shadu”, “He of the Mountain”. These definitions have no merit though, and the simplest most appropriate view would be to use the base root word, ”Shad” which simply means a woman’s breast. Hence the translation would be “The Almighty-Breasted One”. Here God is seen as a mother providing sustenance to her children. He is our all-sufficient one, the one we can run to for safety, comfort and nourishment. So together the words not only indicate God’s might and power, but also his loving tenderness. His care and sustenance is readily available to all his children at their request.
6: El-Elyon: “The Most High God” - Practically synonymous with El-Shaddai, but whereas as El-Shaddai is quite different than, “God Almighty”, El-Elyon, is rightly translated, for it deems God as the “High Over All”. Just as Psalm 91, links El-Shaddai to El-Elyon, they are one and the same God. To the child of God, Jesus is our El-Elyon, whom we can trust, and know that He is able to work together all things for our good, whether we can immediately see the results or not.
7: El-Olam: “The Everlasting God” - While this translation conveys the eternal nature of God, the Hebrew word contains much more than one word can describe. It is translated several ways in the Old Testament, such as; “everlasting”, “evermore”, “old”, “old time”, “ancient time”, “beginning of the world”, “continuance”, and most frequently, “ever”. God is from everlasting to everlasting. God foreknew us “In Christ”, “Before the Foundations of the World”. We were called out, as children of God before the world existed. Our El-Olam, called us out, and claimed us as his own before He created the universe.
8: “El-Roi”: “Thou God Seest Me” - Literally, “A God of Seeing”, denoting not only his ability to see us, in a deep manner, somewhat like on the movie “Avatar’s”, there was a sense of “I see you”, seeing not just visually but connecting with them spiritually, but also showing us that God allows ways for us to see Him in return. Even in the little things of life, we can see and know God’s Workings. Seek him as El-Roi, and live in the unity and in the unilateral knowing, which is brought to the table by Him.
9: “Abba”: “Father” - Our most precious name for God, for it wasn’t until Jesus’ incarnation, that the meaning to us became clear. He is our Father, someone who when we ask for bread, would certainly give us bread, not a serpent. Jesus himself taught us to pray to “Our Father..” When we are “Born Again” or “Born of the Spirit”, our second birth, we are then seen by God as he sees His son, Jesus. That is why we can be still in this sinful body of death, yet when God looks at us he sees “Jesus”. He puts on the, ”Spectacles of Christ”, as Dr. Scott put it, and sees us already “In Christ” and sinless. We have, dwelling in us, the earnest of our inheritance in the person of the Holy Spirit. Yes the old nature will always be with us in this life, but we have the assurance that our father will bring us to completion. Our “Abba’s” utmost desire, is that we overcome this world, and ready ourselves for our future place with Him throughout eternity.
Next in this study we will get into the names of Jesus the Christ, used in the Old and New Testaments, that declare His person to us. I will first elaborate, just a bit, on just who this Jesus was, and who he was before he was incarnated as the Christ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word Was God… John 1:1. Jesus is the Visible manifestation of the Invisible God.
JESUS, as The WORD of GOD, spoke the universe into existence. Whenever God speaks directly to man, all throughout history, it is in the person we came to know as Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Christ of GOD, the Word of GOD. It may have been in the person of Melchizedek, who was “without number of days”, and “without father or mother”, and was clearly a type of Christ. Or the Word of God, speaking to Abraham. He was the “Angel of Jehovah”, or even described as the Angel of the Lord, like to Gideon, but clearly God is speaking, not a messenger or normal angel. It is even possible Jesus appeared as other famous, and not so famous, religious leaders across the world that existed before “The Word” became incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem. I believe that Jesus has come to this earth and taught men many times, yet being known by different names. Since his incarnation as the Christ, however, our way back to unity with God, became a single slender path, with all other paths leading to destruction. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. And, ”No one, comes to father but through him..” He appears unto men as Jesus, even today, for He has appeared unto me. When He appears now though, since His incarnation as the Christ, His appearance is in the form of His exalted self, Jesus the Christ of Nazareth.
When Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer, you know..”Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”, it should have been named the “Sinner’s Prayer”, for Jesus himself never prayed this prayer. He said, “When ye pray…” His prayer came later. John, Chap. 17 encompasses what should be called “The Lord’s Prayer”. In this chapter we can glean a deeper understanding of the Godhead, and of our relationship with this amazing Trinity, than we ever could in the traditional “Lord’s Prayer”. And that’s taking nothing from the value of our traditional Lords Prayer. The “Sinners Prayer”, just comes at God from our perspective, whereas the true, “Lords Prayer”, gives you a perspective from Their point of view, or what is most important to Them. Sin, our needs, and dealing with that, is more important to us, but unity with the Godhead, and our worship of Him, is more important to God, than it is dealing with our petty sins. This is why Jesus would have us praise God first, “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name..”, then get to, “forgive us our trespasses..”. Most of us, myself included, approach God primarily on the basis of our needs. The need to be forgiven, the needs of the physical, emotional, or spiritual nature that we all have, tend to be our focus when approaching God. “GOD HELP ME”; GOD, however, knows our needs, every one of them, and would gladly fulfill them, our approach needs to be one of Praise, Worship, and Honor, FIRST, and then get around to our needs. God will start working wonders in people’s lives if they only did this simple thing, myself included. One of my favorite passages, concerning the promise of eternal life for all believers is in verses 2 and 3, “..as thou has given him (Jesus-himself) power over all flesh, that he (Jesus) should give eternal life to as many as thou (GOD) hast given him, and this is life eternal, that they (Believers) might know thee, the only True GOD, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” In verse 4 Jesus says “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”, v.5 “and now, O Father, glorify thou me with the glory which I had with thee, before the world was”. Jesus gave up a, “Glorious Exaltation” in heaven, submitting himself to be born into sinful flesh, fulfilling GOD’s requirements, he is now ready to “Go Home”. In John 17:21, Jesus is praying for his followers and for all those who would believe in Jesus through their testimony. “that they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in they, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me…” v.23 “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”..and in v.25 “..the world hath not known thee, but I have known Thee..” Plainly stating a personal foreknowledge of God in times past, in the “beginning”. Our minds can’t even conceive, the Glory, and Honor, and Power, in which Jesus now exudes, sitting there next to His Father. Much less do we understand the Honor, Power, and Glory, that all true believers in Jesus will inherit. We are destined to “Shine like the stars” and our appearance will be “like unto the angels”.
The preceding verses show that Jesus was indwelt by GOD the Father, and that the believers are indwelt by Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, hence, All Believers are indwelt by GOD, and are also “In God” as a collective whole. Then in verse 26 he states, “..I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare that the Love wherewith thou hast loved me (in giving him the Holy Spirit), may be in them, and I in them.” Not only was the Holy Spirit our Comforter given to us as the earnest of our inheritance, but Jesus also received it at His baptism, when John saw the spirit descend on him like a dove. This is when Jesus “Stepped into his role as the Messiah”, so to speak. Also notice that after the word, “declare”, I didn’t use the word “it”. It is in italics and added by the translators. Jesus wasn’t indicating that he would declare God’s name again, that would have been redundant. He was declaring that God would “indwell” us with his “Love”, the Holy Spirit, just as He, God the Father, gave it to himself, Jesus the Son. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that Jesus was already the incarnate Christ even at birth, but just as God gives us free will and the ability to choose what path to take, Jesus of Nazareth was given a choice. He could have lived his life, married, gotten old and died. He then would have returned to the, “Glory” which he had before, and everything would be back to what it was when He left heaven. Jesus the Christ, however, chose to take the path foretold by the prophets, and fulfill His mission to die as “Payment in Full”, for the “Sin Debt” that is owed God, by everyone, that has ever lived, on this earth.
“Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is GOD.” Matt.19:17 When Jesus spoke these words, he wasn’t telling them that He wasn’t “Good”. He was telling them that if they had recognized that He was Good, then they must also recognize that He is God. Jesus knew that he had fulfilled God’s law, even when the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t think so. and openly accused him of breaking it. Since he did fulfill it, he could truthfully be called “Good”, and being himself the visual representation of God in flesh, he could also be called GOD.
The name given to Jesus at his birth, “Immanuel”, “God with us”, declares his Deity, therefore all the names for God actually belong to Him. He has many names spoken of him prophetically, that are specific to Him as the Messiah or the Christ. Lets take a look then, at the Names and Titles of our Lord Jesus Christ, given to him prophetically in the Old Testament.
1: “Shiloh”: “He whose right it is” - Worthy is the Lamb, the only one worthy to open the seal. The only one capable, in fact the only one, whose right it was, because he came from the line of Judah. It is Jesus alone, who had the right to come to earth to sacrifice himself, as an atonement for the sins of the whole earth, past, present, and future.
2: Prophet and Priest: Moses further revealed his “messianic type”, by becoming both Prophet and Priest to the Israelites. Jesus dual role of Prophet and Priest, is reflected in Moses testimony that God would “raise up unto thee, a prophet... like unto me..”Deut. 18:15-19. He also performed priestly tasks, Exod. 24:3-8.
3: The Branch: “Tsemach”, literally a “shoot or sprout”, a tender twig. Isaiah 4:2 calls him the “Branch of Jehovah”, one called not only in the service of Jehovah, but being “of that branch”, or Jehovah himself. Isaiah 11:1 Pulls in the Davidic promises, saying “ a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots”. Jesus is prophesied several times as the “Branch”, and he has fulfilled them all. He is that branch of God’s Grace, grafted onto this earthly existence of humanity, sent to redeem all those of this earth, that His Father preordained would be saved. He prayed, “I in Thee, and they in Me...”
4: Immanuel: “God With Us” - Isaiah 7:14; This title proclaims his Deity as the incarnate Son of God, born of a virgin that was impregnated by God Himself. He was the “Only Begotten Son”, God incarnate, taking on human flesh. Although many men were and are named Immanuel and Jesus, mainly as a testimony to God, it was not until the Christ Himself came, born of a woman, yet very God indeed, that this prophecy was fulfilled.
5: Wonderful Counsellor: Just as Jesus is wonderful in who He is, what he accomplished, and his unknowable majesty, He is also the great counselor, Himself needing none. He imparts His counsel to those who seek it, and he is the Fount of all Wisdom and Knowledge.
6: The Mighty God: “El Gibbor” He who assumes the frailty of humanity, yet is still Very much God. This Jesus, with the might of Elohim, yet the simple body of a man, came to earth and submitted to the trial and crucifixion, when at any instant, he could have called in “Twelve Legions of Angels”, but he didn’t. A legion is equal to 6,000, so 12 legions would be 72,000 angels on call at any moment. But this Jesus allowed men, to humiliate, torture, and kill himself, for it was in that way, and that way alone, that the price had be paid.
7: The Everlasting Father: Literally, “The Father of Eternity”, another title exclaiming the Deity of the Christ, of his being the “Father” of all creation, as He spoke these worlds into existence.
8: The Prince of Peace: Israel looked forward to their “Messiah”, that would bring them victory over their enemies, hence giving them peace. This is now a true desire of every believer. We can rest now in that “Peace that passes all understanding”, He is our Peace now, but this title will find it’s final fulfillment only when Jesus returns, and reigns as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Only then will he truly be that “Prince of Peace”, and then this world will finally find that “Peace” that always seems to evade us.
9: Servant of Jehovah: Isa. 42:1; Jesus became that “Suffering Servant”, submitting to being born into a body of sin, yet fulfilling His Father’s every command. He had to humble himself, leaving his glory, his co-equal, GOD, and took upon himself the form of a servant. But we must also be reminded that just as he came as a “Babe in a Manger”, he will come again in, “All His Glory and Splendor”, and all who see it on earth will fall on their faces for fear.
10: Leader and Commander of His People: The Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 4:2; He is the |
|
|
|
|
|