In Ephesians 1:19, the apostle Paul writes of “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory.” Clearly, the God of Jesus is the Father of glory. Paul opens the letter with “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” and closes it with “peace…and love with faith, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:3; 6:23).
In John 20:17 Jesus tells Mary, “I ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” In John 17:3 Jesus refers to his Father as “the only true God.” Jesus is “the image [icon] of the invisible God” (in whom we see the Father clearly); “the brightness of His glory” (mirrored on our faces); and “the exact image of His person” (stamped on us, leaving a lasting impression)! How can we not rejoice in our wonderful Lord?
The Spirit of God opens the truth concerning God and his Son to those who genuinely seek the Truth. It is a matter of perception, much like buying a new car and then seeing the same make and model on the road everywhere. We see the God of Jesus where we had never seen Him before. We are encouraged and inspired by the Bible, but only when the Lord “opens our eyes” to how little we know, do we realize how much we’ve missed.
An example of this lack of perception is how we either see or don’t see the significance of 1 Corinthians 8:6, which clearly informs us that “there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” We should never underestimate the ability of tradition to veil Bible truth in mysticism.
How many hours in how many months over how many years did theologians of the Church debate the question of Jesus’ part in sending the Spirit? The eastern and western churches went so far as to excommunicate one another over this question! A quick look at Acts 2:33 would have resolved the issue immediately:
“Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he [Jesus] has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.” The words of Jesus in John 16:7 confirm that the Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son.
Only when the Church accepts 1 Corinthians 8:6 as the true definition of God will it be able to proclaim to the Jews: “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ — your Messiah and ours!”
Around the globe two strong forces are locked in conflict: the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of antichrist. When our Lord Jesus returns, one body, composed of both Jew and Gentile — but inseparable in faith and in confession of the One True God and His Son, Jesus Christ — will rise to meet the Lord in the air, and then descend with him to rule over the nations. We shall then be with the Lord forever. The sooner the better!