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What Does Colossians 2:9 TRULY Mean?
***What Does Colossians 2:9 TRULY mean?
Here is Colossians 2:9 from the KJV. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
Does Colossians 2:9 PROVE that Jesus is Yahweh Himself in the flesh?
Or does Colossians 2:9 PROVE that Almighty God the Father DWELT in the flesh of the Son of MAN, Jesus?
In other words, does Colossians 2:9 teach us that the FULLNESS of the Godhead was given to Jesus AFTER the Lamb was SLAIN, according to Revelation 5:12?
For you see, the context in Colossians 1:19 says that it PLEASED the Father that ALL FULLNESS should DWELL in him.
To read the CONTEXT, please click the BLUE links.
To read the STUDY and the context, please scroll down.
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Does Colossians 2:9 Prove that Jesus is the Father Himself?
In other words, what does the FULNESS of the Godhead dwelling in Jesus BODILY truly mean in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God?
Does Colossians 2:9 mean that Almighty God the Father manifested Himself to become FLESH?
This is how Oneness Pentecostal Christians “INTERPRET” Colossians 2:9.
And thus, to Oneness Pentecostal Christians, the FULNESS of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus even in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
So then, according to the Oneness doctrine, the FULNESS of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus from his Virgin Birth forward to this present day and for all eternity future.
And, to them, Colossians 2:9 means that Jesus is not just a PART of God but rather, Jesus is ALL of God or FULLY Almighty God and fully human at the SAME time having TWO natures, one divine and one human BEGINNING at the Virgin birth.
BUT, is this the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of Colossians 2:9?
Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading Colossians 2:6-10.
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
Colossians 2:7. Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man spoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:9. For IN him DWELLS ALL the FULNESS of the Godhead bodily. (Or in Jesus dwells all the FULLNESS of DEITY bodily)
Colossians 2:10. And you are complete in him, which is the HEAD of all principality and power:”
Again, the Oneness Pentecostal Christians “INTERPRET” this passage of Scripture to mean that the ONE true God in ONE person who alone is the FATHER manifested Himself to become FLESH.
And, to them, the FULLNESS of Deity dwelt in Jesus from the very second Jesus was CONCEIVED in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
So, if you are a Oneness Pentecostal Christian, ask yourself the following questions.
#1. Why would the Son of MAN, Jesus, who, according to the Oneness doctrine, was FULLY Almighty God and fully human even in the womb of the Virgin Mary, need to be ANOINTED WITH the Holy Spirit and power AT his baptism by John the Baptist?
Remember that the Oneness doctrine says that ALL the FULNESS of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus from his Virgin birth.
But yet, the Bible itself says that Jesus is ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and POWER at his baptism by John the Baptist, according to Acts 10:38.
#2. Why did Jesus say that he was NOT ALONE and the Father was WITH him if so be Jesus is the Father Himself?
Remember that the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine says that Jesus is ALL of God and NOT just a PART of God.
#3. Does the FACT that the FULNESS of the Godhead dwells IN Jesus PROVE that Jesus is the Godhead Himself?
#4. WHEN did Jesus actually RECEIVE the FULLNESS of the Godhead, according to what the Bible ITSELF teaches us in SIMPLICITY?
#5. Does the FACT that Jesus is the IMAGE OF the invisible God make Jesus BE the Father Himself?
#6. How could Jesus speak the WORDS of the Father and those words he spoke NOT be his OWN words if so be that Jesus IS the Father?
#7. How do Oneness Christians reconcile that FACT that Yahweh the Father is the HEAD of Christ as being the God OF Jesus?
The sound Biblical answer to question number ONE.
QUESTION #1 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#1. Why would the Son of MAN, Jesus, who, according to the Oneness doctrine, was FULLY Almighty God and fully human even in the womb of the Virgin Mary, need to be ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and power AT his baptism by John the Baptist?
Remember that the Oneness doctrine says that ALL the FULNESS of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus from his Virgin birth but yet the Bible says that Jesus is ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and POWER at his baptism by John the Baptist.
You see, according to Act: 10:38, Jesus was ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and POWER at his baptism by John the Baptist.
And that is WHEN the EARNEST of the Holy Spirit began to dwell in the Son of man, Jesus.
That is when Yahweh the Father called the Son of man, Jesus to walk in righteousness.
That is when Jesus BEGAN his ministry. That is WHEN Jesus began to tell WHO he was, according to the Bible itself and NOT according to one’s own “interpretation” of the Scriptures.
It was at the BEGINNING of the ministry of Jesus that he told the Jews that he was the MESSIAH called the Christ or the ANOINTED by God, according to Luke 4:1 and Luke 4:14-21.
And it was this passage of Scripture in Luke 4:1-21 that Jesus was referring to when the Jews asked Jesus WHO are you in John 8:24-30.
And Jesus answered their question by saying he is the same person that he told them in the BEGINNING.
And AGAIN, Jesus said he was not ALONE and the Father was WITH him.
Please read Acts 10:37,38.
“That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and BEGAN from Galilee, AFTER the baptism which John preached;
Acts 10:38. How God ANOINTED Jesus of Nazareth WITH the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER: who (Speaking of Jesus the Christ or Jesus the ANOINTED man of God) went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; FOR (Or BECAUSE) God was WITH him.”
This passage of Scripture teaches us no less than two things.
First, Jesus was ANOINTED with the earnest of God’s Holy Spirit AFTER his baptism by John the Baptist and NOT at his Virgin birth as the Oneness doctrine teaches.
And number two, Jesus was not ALONE, but rather Almighty God the Father was WITH the Son of MAN, Jesus by DWELLING IN Jesus.
And that means that Jesus is NOT the Father, but rather, Jesus is a “MANIFESTATION” OF the Father by means of the Father bringing about the MANIFESTATION of His firstborn Son in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
For you see, 1 Timothy 3:16 does NOT say that God manifested “HIMSELF” in the flesh, but rather, it says “God” was manifest in the flesh.
Please read the study U-3. 1 Timothy 3:16 God MANIFEST in the Flesh!
Now, just because Jesus is a SEPARATE person FROM the Father does NOT mean that God is a Trinity God.
Please understand that the doctrine of the Trinity is NOT SOUND Biblical teaching.
But the fact that the doctrine of the Trinity is in error does NOT mean that the doctrine of Oneness is true and without an error.
To me, BOTH the Oneness doctrine AND the doctrine of the Trinity are in error.
And if you will be patient, I will show you WHY both have SPOILED true Christianity with vain deceit and TRADITIONS of men which the CONTEXT of Colossians 2:9 WARNS us to beware.
This brings us to question number TWO.
QUESTION #2 to my Oneness brothers and sister in the Lord.
#2. Why did Jesus say that he was not ALONE and the Father was WITH him if so be Jesus is the Father?
Remember that the Oneness doctrine says that Jesus is ALL of God and NOT just a PART of God.
Since Jesus said that he is NOT ALONE and the Father is WITH him, then HOW could Jesus be one and the self-same PERSON or being as the Father.
Jesus said that he could do NOTHING OF himself and that it was the Father dwelling in him who did the works.
Please read the following verses of Scripture where we see TWO separate persons.
We see the ANOINTED Son of MAN, Jesus as being one person and then we see the Father who bears WITNESS that He Himself has SENT or more precisely COMMISSIONED the Son of MAN by confirming the words of Jesus with SIGNS following.
In other words, we ALSO see the Father being WITH Jesus by DWELLING IN Jesus.
The ONLY possible way to be ALONE is for Jesus and the Father to be ONE and the SELF-SAME PERSON or being. But the Bible itself clearly teaches us that Jesus was NOT ALONE and the Father was WITH him.
Please read John 8:16-19,29.
“And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am NOT ALONE, but I AND the Father that sent me. (Or the one SENDING me out into the world AFTER He ANOINTED me with the earnest of His Holy Spirit and POWER when I was baptized by John the Baptist.
Many verses of Scripture clearly teach us that the Father is IN heaven and ALSO dwelling IN Jesus.
Therefore, the phrase “ALL the FULNESS of the Godhead can NOT possibly mean Jesus is the Father.
It simply means that an EARNEST of the eternal Holy Spirit which IS the Father because there is only ONE eternal Holy Spirit, dwelt in the Son of MAN, Jesus to EMPOWER Jesus to do the works of healing which he could NOT do OF himself)
John 8:17. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of TWO men is true. (Or the testimony of TWO PERSONS in true)
John 8:18. I am ONE (Or I and ONE PERSON) that bear witness of myself, AND the Father (Which is the SECOND PERSON who is the ONE) that sent me bears witness of me. (Jesus is simply saying that he is not a SELF-appointed Prophet that has come in his OWN name.
Many verses of Scripture teach us that Jesus came in the NAME OF Yahweh who alone is the Father)
John 8:19. Then said they unto him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me, NOR my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father ALSO...
...John 8:29. And He that SENT me is WITH me: the Father has NOT left me ALONE; for I always do those things that please Him.”
These are SIMPLE words that are easy to understand. If you are NOT ALONE then that means that someone ELSE is WITH you.
It is impossible to be that someone ELSE who is WITH you. God is WITH us but that does NOT make us BE God.
But rather, we are ENDUED with POWER from on high the SAME as Jesus was ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit and POWER, according to Acts 10:38.
The only way that Oneness Christians can remain a Oneness believers is to IGNORE and redefine all of the SIMPLE English words like, “TWO”, “ALSO” “me NOR the Father”, “ALONE”, and “WITH” to mean something DIFFERENT only when they are applied to Jesus.
But then, you would be like Trinitarian Christians that REDEFINE the word “BEGOTTEN” to mean “NOT begotten” or to be “begotten WITHOUT being begotten” only when the word “begotten” refers to Jesus but it does indeed mean having a BEGINNING when “begotten” refers to everyone else.
Jesus was NOT ALONE because the PERSON of the Father was WITH the PERSON of Jesus.
Please read John 16:32.
“Behold, the hour comes, yea, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am NOT ALONE, because the Father is WITH me.”
Jesus is teaching us here that during hard times of persecution it may SEEM that we are all ALONE because even our own brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ have LEFT us but the Holy Spirit dwelling IN us will never LEAVE or forsake us.
But the main point right now is that Jesus had ANOTHER PERSON who was WITH him and that OTHER PERSON dwelling IN him was the FATHER.
So, it is IMPOSSIBLE for Jesus to BE the Father who is a SEPARATE person FROM the Son OF God.
Please read John 14:10,11.
“Believe you not that I am IN the Father, and the Father IN me? The WORDS that I speak unto you I speak NOT of myself: but the Father that DWELLS IN me, He does the WORKS.
John 14:11. Believe me that I am IN the Father, and the Father IN me: or else believe me for the very WORKS' sake.
This brings us to question number THREE.
QUESTION #3 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#3. Does the FACT that the FULNESS of the Godhead dwells IN Jesus PROVE that Jesus IS the Godhead?
Oneness Pentecostal Christians “INTERPRET” the words Jesus being IN the Father and the Father being IN Jesus as meaning the FULLNESS of the Godhead dwelling in Jesus BODILY.
Then they INTERPRET that verse of Scripture in Colossians 2:9 as Jesus actually BEING the Godhead Himself.
But that is NOT what Colossians 2:9 says. It does NOT say that Jesus IS the Godhead.
But rather, it says that ALL the FULLNESS OF the Godhead DWELLS IN him BODILY.
Well, the promise is given to us, as believers in Jesus, that WE will receive the FULLNESS of God.
Please read Ephesians 3:19.
“And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that YOU might be FILLED with ALL the FULLNESS OF God.”
Now, if so be that Jesus being full of all the fullness of the Godhead means that Jesus is the Godhead then WE ALSO will be the Father when WE are filled with ALL the FULLNESS of God.
And if so be that Jesus being IN the Father and the Father being IN Jesus makes him BE the Father Himself in the flesh, then we must be consistent in our interpreting Scripture and ALSO conclude that WE being IN God and God IN us makes us BE God Himself in the flesh.
Please read 1 John 4:12-15.
“No man has seen God AT ANY TIME. If we love one another, God dwells IN us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:13. Hereby know we that WE dwell IN Him, AND He IN us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the SON OF God, God dwells IN him, and he IN God.”
Are YOU a whosoever? Does God DWELL in YOU and YOU IN God just like this passage of Scripture teaches us?
Does the FACT that Almighty God the father dwells in you and you dwell in the father make YOU BE the Father? Absolutely NOT!
So then, why do Oneness Christians dogmatically INSIST that the Father dwelling IN Jesus and Jesus dwelling IN the Father means, without fail, that Jesus is the Father when it does NOT mean the WE are the Father?
It was the “FINGER” of God that dwelt in Jesus and the SAME EARNEST of the finger of God that dwelt in Jesus NOW dwells in us to EMPOWER us to do the SAME WORKS that Jesus did THROUGH the eternal Spirit who dwelt IN him.
This brings us to question number FOUR.
QUESTION #4 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#4. WHEN did Jesus actually RECEIVE the FULLNESS of the Godhead, according to what the Bible ITSELF teaches us in SIMPLICITY.
If we broaden the CONTEXT Colossians 2:9 and we read Colossians 1:12-19, then you can clearly see that it was AFTER the CROSS that it pleased Almighty God the Father that the FULLNESS of Deity should DWELL IN the NOW glorified Son of MAN, Jesus.
Please understand that I “deliberately” left out verses 16 and 17 for the time being.
I will explain the TRUE meaning of those two verses right after we read the context of Colossians 2:9 as to WHEN all the FULNESS of the Godhead began to dwell in Jesus BODILY to become the express IMAGE of the PERSON of the invisible God.
Please read Colossians 1:12-15,18,19.
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians 1:13. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
Colossians 1:14. IN whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:15. Who is the IMAGE OF the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:...
...Colossians 1:18. And he 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 1:19. For it PLEASED the Father that IN him should ALL FULLNESS dwell;”
Did we have forgiveness of sin BEFORE the CROSS? Did we have redemption BEFORE Jesus shed his blood on the cross?
NO! Absolutely not! It was AFTER the cross WHEN Jesus became the FIRSTBORN from the DEAD.
And THAT is WHEN Jesus BECAME the IMAGE of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature FROM the dead to be GIVEN the divine nature of IMMORTALITY.
That is WHEN the Son of man, Jesus, BECAME “hupostasis” which means of the SAME SUBSTANCE of the invisible God. Here is how E-Sword defines the Greek word “hupostasis” that is translated as “PERSON” in Hebrews 1:3.
G5287
ὑπόστασις
hupostasis
hoop-os'-tas-is
From a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance.
To my Trinitarian brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, please keep in mind that this Greek word ALSO means to be SET under to give ASSURANCE and confidence.
In other words, Jesus came to PARTAKE of the divine nature of God AFTER the cross.
Let us read Hebrews 1:1-9 so that BOTH Oneness Christians and Trinitarian Christians can see WHEN Jesus BECAME a God to be under and subject TO his God.
And you will also see that Almighty God the Father BEGAT His Son TWICE.
Remember Jesus said that we must be BORN-AGAIN and how can you be born a second time if you were never born the FIRST time?
Jesus was NOT born THREE times. Jesus was NOT begotten in eternity past WITHOUT being begotten and then born-again at his Virgin birth and then born-again a THIRD time at his resurrection.
But rather, Jesus came into existence for the FIRST time by being BORN of the Virgin Mary to become the HUMAN mortal Son of MAN who would be called the Son of God because he has no HUMAN father.
And then Jesus was BORN-AGAIN from the DEAD to BECOME God’s ETERNAL Son.
And that is WHEN Jesus BECAME the IMAGE of the invisible God who ALONE is the Father.
Please read Hebrews 1:1-9.
“God, who at sundry times (Or at a little at a time) and in divers manners (Or at a little at a time, here a little and there a little) spake in time past unto the fathers BY (Or instrumentally through) the prophets, (In others words, Almighty God Yahweh the Father did the SPEAKING to the fathers in the Old Testament TIMES by way of the PROPHETS.
Almighty God the Father sent His words down to His prophets by way of His angels.
God gave His prophets visions. God gave his prophets dreams.
And God spoke to His prophets through the still small voice of His own self-same Holy Spirit.
Notice that there was NO Son doing the speaking in the Old Testament times.
It was the SAME creator God who created the worlds FOR the now highly exalted glorified Son of MAN to inherit who did the SPEAKING whether it was though one of His prophets or one of His angelic beings.
In other words, Almighty God Yahweh the FATHER)
Hebrews 1:2. Has IN THESE LAST DAYS spoken unto us BY (Or instrumentally through or by way of) His Son,(Speaking of the Son of MAN, Jesus, who was also a PROPHET, according to Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Acts 3:22-26, and Mark 6:3-5) whom He has APPOINTED HEIR of ALL things, BY (Or for the SAKE OF) whom also He made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:3. Who being (Or who BECAME) the brightness of His glory, (Jesus was GLORIFIED to RECEIVE Yahweh the Father’s glory AFTER the CROSS.
That was WHEN his God and Father HIGHLY EXALTED the Son of MAN, Jesus, the HUMAN Son of God, to become a partaker of the DIVINE NATURE of IMMORTALITY.
Please read the three-part study.
O-14. When did Jesus Become God’s ETERNAL SON? Part 1
O-15. When did Jesus Become God's ETERNAL SON? Part 2
O-16. When did Jesus Become God's ETERNAL SON? Part 3) and the express IMAGE OF His PERSON, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (The first thing that I want all my Oneness Christians to see in that one person cannot sit at the right-hand side of himself and the Bible clearly teaches us that the NOW Glorified Jesus is at the right-hand SIDE of his god and Father up in heaven.
Please look up the following verses of Scripture on your own.
Stephen saw TWO separate persons in heaven, according to Acts 7:55-59.
John saw TWO separate persons in heaven, according to Revelation 5:1-12.
Jesus RECEIVED honor and GLORY after the cross. And Jesus did NOT receive glory and honor from himself, rather, He received glory and honor from his God who alone is the Father.
And that is WHEN the Son of MAN, Jesus RECEIVED the “hupostasis” that is translated as “PERSON” here in Hebrews 1:3.
Again, this Greek word means the ESSENCE or the SUBSTANCE of God’s NATURE.
And the ONLY place in the Bible where the Bible ITSELF defines DIVINE NATURE is in 2 Peter 1:4, which speaks of Christians being given the promise that WE can become PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE as well.
So then, the “divine nature” equates to meaning ETERNAL LIFE or immortality.
And Jesus was GIVEN eternal life AFTER the cross, according to John 5:26,27 and Philippians 2:8-11.
And that is WHEN Jesus came to be in the FORM of God.
Please read the study Philippians 2:6 PROVES Jesus BECAME a God UNDER His God!)
Hebrews 1:4. Being MADE so much BETTER than the ANGELS, as he has BY INHERITANCE OBTAINED a more excellent NAME than they. (Hebrews 2:5-10 teaches us that Jesus was FIRST MADE a little LOWER than the angels,
And THEN, the Son of MAN was CROWNED with GLORY and HONOR after the CROSS.
Jesus did NOT MAKE himself, but rather, it was Yahweh the father who MADE Jesus to be BOTH Lord and Christ.
Jesus was MADE PERFECT by his God and Father who ALONE is the Father.
Jesus is the WORKMANSHIP OF Yahweh the Father who is the ONE true God in ONE PERSON called the FATHER.
Jesus is the SON OF the FATHER and NOT the Father Himself.
They are TWO SEPARATED persons. A Christian would have to be BLINDED by Satan to not see that Jesus is a SEPARATE and distinctly DIFFERENT PERSON from the Father.
But again, just because Jesus IS a separate person from the Father that does NOT mean that the doctrine of the Trinity is true.
Almost all the verses of Scripture speak of only TWO separate persons and NOT THREE separate persons.
Please read the study M-5. WHY the HOLY SPIRIT is the FATHER?
Jesus OBTAINED a NEW NAME by inheriting that new name AFTER the CROSS that was BETTER than the ANGELS so that Jesus could JUDGE the fallen angels
And all things are still NOT YET under the feet of Jesus, according to Hebrews 2:8)
Hebrews 1:5. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, You are my Son, THIS DAY have I BEGOTTEN you? And again, I WILL BE to him a Father, and he SHALL BE to me a Son?
Hebrews 1:6. And again, (Speaking of the second coming of Jesus) WHEN He brings in the FIRST-BEGOTTEN into the world, He said, And let all the angels of God worship him. (The FIRST-BEGOTTEN means the FIRSTBORN from the DEAD to be GIVEN the divine nature of immortality to be MADE PERFECT in the IMAGE of the invisible God.
Jesus is the FIRSTBORN among many BRETHREN. And we are being CONFORMED into the IMAGE of God’s dear Son who was the FIRST human being to be MADE PERFECT to become a partaker of the divine “hupostasis” that is translated as “PERSON” here in Hebrews 1:3.
And Jesus RECEIVED this honor and glory to NOW exist in the FORM of God after the CROSS.
Yahweh never said to any ANGEL at any time, come and sit on MY throne at my right-hand side to be ABOVE all the other angels.
But rather, God chose a HUMAN BEING to be highly exalted ABOVE the angels to JUDGE the fallen angels)
Hebrews 1:7. And of the angels he said, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:8. BUT unto the Son He said, (And to WHICH Son did God say) Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Hebrews 1:9. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; THEREFORE, God, even your God, has ANOINTED you with the oil of gladness ABOVE your FELLOWS.”
Jesus was the HUMAN Son of God BEFORE he was MADE both Lord and Christ.
So, it was to the HUMAN Son that God said THIS DAY have I BEGOTTEN you and said to you come and sit at my right-hand side on MY throne beside me.
This HONOR and GLORY I give unto you because you have lover righteousness and you have hated sin.
THEREFORE, your God has HIGHLY EXALTED you to receive my divine nature of immortality to JUDGE the fallen angels.
That is WHEN Jesus came to exist in the IMAGE OF the invisible God to become the FIRSTBORN of EVERY NEW creation of the church of the FIRSTBORN.
Jesus is the BEGINNING of the NEW creation of God which is the CHURCH of the FIRSTBORNm the FIRST begotten Son of God.
Please read the study O-13. What does Firstborn of every Creature Mean?
This brings us to question number FIVE.
QUESTION #5 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#5. Does the FACT that Jesus is the IMAGE OF the invisible God make Jesus BE the Father Himself?
I will answer this question with another question. Does the FACT that WE are being conformed into the IMAGE of Jesus make us to BE Jesus?
Please read Romans 8:29.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the IMAGE OF His Son, that he might be the FIRSTBORN among many BRETHREN.”
Now that you understand the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of Colossians 2:9 in the LIGHT of the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of its CONTEXT in Colossians 1:15-19 we can take a closer look at the two verse that I left out on purpose.
The reason that I left out verse 16 and 17 is that I want you to FIRST see that it was the HUMAN Son of God who BECAME the FIRSTBORN of every NEW CREATURE, and NOT that Jesus was begotten in eternity past.
And now, after seeing that Jesus is the FIRST human being to be made in the IMAGE of God let us read Colossians 1:16,17 to see the TRUE meaning of these two verses of Scripture.
Colossians 1:16,17.
“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:
Colossians 1:17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
When we read these verse OUT of their CONTEXT and we wrongly or incorrectly “INTERPRET” these two verse FIRST, then we will BASE our interpretation of the REST o the CONTEXT on the INTERPRETATION that we have ALREADY concluded that these two verses mean.
And it certainly SEEMS as IF these two verses are saying that Jesus is the CREATED of the entire universe.
But that is because of the WAY these two verses have been TRANSLATED.
And IF we hold fast to this “INTERPRETATION” of these two verses of Scripture to mean that Jesus is the CREATOR of the entire universe, then we have NO CHOICE but to interpret the REST of the entire Bible based upon the “INTERPRETATION” of these two verses that Jesus is the CREATOR of everything that exists.
But what IF that INTERPRETATION of Jesus being the creator of the entire universe and everything that exists is WRONG?
What IF Colossians 1:16,17 is actually talking about God’s NEW CREATION of righteous people who will INHERIT the world yet to come?
Would that not CHANGE our INTERPRETATION of the WHOLE Bible?
YES! Absolutely, the CORRECT BIBLICAL understanding of Colossians 1:15,16 changes the TRADITIONAL blindly accepted meaning of Jesus being the creator of the entire universe and everything in the universe.
In other words, the CORRECT BIBLICAL understanding of Colossians 1:15,16, is Jesus being the HELPER of his God and Father to MAKE “FALLEN” man in THEIR OWN image.
And that is the TRUE meaning of Genesis 1:26. Let us read Colossians 1:16,17 from the LITERAL translation so that you can see for yourselves that the “English” word “THINGS” is NOT in the original Greek text.
Here is the LITERAL translation of Colossians 1:16,17.
“THAT IN him IS CREATED THE ALL THE IN the heavens and THE on the land THE seen and THE unseen whether thrones or lordships or sovereignties or authorities THE ALL through him (Or because of him) and into him has been created.”
NOT all THINGS, but rather THE ALL of whosoevers BELIEVES in Jesus to be created by Yahweh the Father IN Jesus Christ.
And it is Jesus who will DECIDE what PLACE of AUTHORITY that each NEW CREATURE will receive during the world to come.
In other words, there are new creatures created in Jesus who have died and they are in heaven, and they are UNSEEN by us.
And then, there are new creatures created in Jesus who are alive in the LAND or on the earth, which are seen.
Also, there are DIFFERENT levels of authority here on the earth in this present world.
And there will be different levels of authority in the world yet to come.
We will all RULE and REIGN WITH Jesus, but we will not all be given the same level of authority.
Jesus said that he who is faithful over little that he would make faithful over MUCH.
Luke 19:17.
“And he said unto him, Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities.”
This brings us to question number SIX.
QUESTION #6 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#6. How could Jesus speak the WORDS of the Father and those words that Jesus spoke NOT be his OWN words if so be that Jesus is the ONE PERSON of the Father?
Please read the following verses of Scripture.
John 7:16-18.
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is NOT mine, but His that SENT me.
John 7:17. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (Now, if Jesus INTENDED for his words to mean that he is the Father, then Jesus world have NEVER said these words that what Jesus TAUGHT was NOT his OWN teaching.
But rather, it was God’s teaching that Almighty God who ALONE is the Father TAUGHT to Jesus to teach to us.
And if you do NOT believe the words of Jesus then it is the SAME as saying you do not believe the words of Yahweh the Father Himself.
Jesus is a “PROPHET” of God just the same as he is also the MESSIAH of God)
John 7:18. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks His glory that SENT him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”
Now let us read John 8:23-30.
“And he said unto them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. (This does NOT mean that God the Father sent down God the Son from heaven above to incarnate himself to become flesh.
For you see, Jesus says the same thing about us who BELIEVE in John 17:14-26)
John 8:24. I said, therefore, unto you that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. (BOTH Oneness Christians and Trinitarians Christians “INTERPRET” this verse to mean that Jesus is saying that he is the Great I AM THAT I AM which they THINK is God’s NAME.
But God’s NAME, Yahweh, is found in the NEXT verse in Exodus 3:15.
Jesus is simply saying that if we do NOT believe that he is the one PROPHESIED in the Scripture to come, speaking of Jesus as being the MESSIAH, then we will remain dead in our sins)
John 8:25. Then said they unto him, Who are you? And Jesus said unto them, (Or Jesus ANSWERED their question WHO ARE YOU?) Even the SAME that I SAID unto you from the BEGINNING. (And at the very beginning of the MINISTRY of Jesus he read from the book of Isaiah and said THIS SCRIPTURE is FULFILLED in your ears.
So, from the very beginning Jesus has said that he is the MESSIAH the ANOINTED of God whom the SCRIPTURES testify or speak of coming)
John 8:26. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that SENT me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have HEARD OF Him.
John 8:27. They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father. (Oneness Pentecostal Christians “INTERPRET” this verse to mean that Jesus is saying that he himself is the Father.
But that is NOT what Jesus is saying. Jesus is simply saying that the WORDS he spoke are NOT his OWN words and what he HEARD the Father speak in the PROPHET’S ear, then that PROPHET spoke the WORD of HIM that SENT him)
John 8:28. Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, (And NOT when you have lifted up God the Son, the so-called second person of a Godhead Trinity God.
And NOT when you have crucified Almighty God your Creator.
But RATHER, when you have crucified the ANOINTED Prophet of God, the Son of MAN, you MESSIAH) then shall you know that I am he, and that I do NOTHING OF myself; but as my Father has TAUGHT me, I SPEAK these things.
John 8:29. And He that SENT me is WITH me: the Father has NOT left me ALONE; for I always do those things that please Him. (And since Jesus was NOT ALONE and the father was WITH His Son than that means there are TWO SEPARATE PERSONS and not ONE person as the Oneness doctrine CLAIMS)
John 8:30. As he spoke these words, many BELIEVED on him.”
For you see THESE words make perfect sense. No Jesus would ever believe that a MAN is Almighty God the father, the creator.
The Jews finally understood that Jesus was saying that he is the MESSIAH, the one prophesied in the Scripture to come.
You may have heard the Oneness and trinitarian argument that the Jews knew perfectly well that Jesus was saying he is Yahweh Himself and that is why they took up stones to stone him.
So, WHY did the Jews NOT pick up stones to stone Jesus THIS time if so be that Jesus intended his word to mean that he is Yahweh Himself, the great I AM THAT I AM?
Let us continue reading the Scriptures where Jesus says that the words he spoke are NOT his OWN words, but rather, they are the words of Almighty God the FATHER.
John 12:47-50.
“And if any man hears my words, and believes not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
John 12:48. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
John 12:49. For I have NOT spoken of myself; but the Father which SENT me, He GAVE me a commandment, WHAT I should SAY, and what I should SPEAK.
John 12:50. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak, THEREFORE, even as the Father SAID unto me, so I speak.
Clearly, Jesus is identifying the Father as someone ELSE other than the Son OF Almighty God the Father.
Jesus was COMMANDED by the Father WHAT to say and speak. Jesus was SENT by the Father. Jesus prayed TO the Father.
Jesus had his OWN WILL but he OBEY his God and Father’s WILL over his OWN WILL.
Please read the study N-11. 37 FACTS to Ponder About Jesus Being God!
Please read John 14:8-24.
“Philip said unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us. (And in John 17:1-3, Jesus clearly identified the ONLY TRUE God as being the FATHER and himself as the one being SENT BY the Father)
John 14:9. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known ME, Philip? (Have you not been an eyewitness to all the WORKS you have seen me do?) He that has seen ME has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father? (Oneness Pentecostal Christians “INTERPRET” these words of Jesus to mean that Jesus is saying that he himself IS the Father.
But what Jesus is actually saying is that EVERYTHING Jesus TAUGHT was the teaching FROM the Father and NOT his OWN teaching.
And EVERY might WORK of healing is the FATHER doing those WORK because Jesus could do NOTHING OF himself.
So Philip, how can you say, SHOW us the Father, when I HAVE ALREADY been SHOWING you the Father by teaching you His teaching and SHOWING you His good character by the WORKS the He is doing through me?)
John 14:10. Believe you NOT that I am in the Father, and the Father IN me? (Believe you NOT that) the words that I speak unto you I speak NOT of myself BUT the Father that dwells IN me, He does the WORKS?
John 14:11. BELIEVE me (Philip) that I am in the Father, and the Father in me (The SAME as the Father WILL be IN you and you IN him) or else BELIEVE me for the very WORKS’ sake. (Do you think for one minute that I do these wonderful WORKS of healing the sick and casting out devils of MYSELF?
How can you say, SHOW me the Father, when you have SEEN the WORKS of the Father in ME?)
John 14:12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the WORKS that I do shall he do ALSO; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (HOW could Jesus go TO the Father if so be that ALL the FULLNESS of the Godhead in Colossians 2:9 means that Jesus is ALL of the God and NOT just a PART of God?
As you have seen in this in-depth study in God’s word, Colossians 2:9 does NOT say that Jesus IS the Godhead but rather that ALL the FULLNESS OF the Godhead DWELLS in Jesus BODILY.
And we have learned from the CONTEXT that Jesus RECEIVED all the FULLNESS of the Godhead AFTER the CROSS.
That is WHEN Jesus was GIVEN all power and authority.
That is WHEN THoams called him my Lord and my God. Jesus BECAME “A” God under and subject TO his God and Father to rule FOR Yahweh DURING the world to come for 1000 years.
Please read the studies under the heading ** Q-0. WHY Are we HERE? Is God at WAR? **)
John 14:13. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified IN the Son.
John 14:14. If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:15. If you love me, keep my commandments. (Speaking of the commandment under the NEW COVENANT written in the New Testament)
John 14:16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; (NOT a THIRD person of the Trinity but the SAME eternal Spirit of the Father who dwelt IN Jesus)
John 14:17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be IN you.
John 14:18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (Meaning that Jesus will teach us THROUGH the eternal Spirit dwelling IN us)
John 14:19. Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.
John 14:20. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (Speaking of the day of Pentecost when the same earnest of the Holy Spirit who dwelt in Jesus began to dwell is Christians)
John 14:21. He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (Or make myself KNOWN to those who love Jesus)
John 14:22. Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?
John 14:23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (This means that the ONE eternal Spirit dwells IN us and believers and BOTH the Father AND His Son SPEAK to us THROUGH the EARNEST of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Sometimes we hear the voice of the Father speaking of His SON and at other times we hear the voice of Jesus speaking to us of the FATHER)
John 14:24. He that loves me NOT keeps NOT my sayings: and the word which you hear is NOT MINE, but the Father’s which SENT me.”
And just because the words of a PROPHET are the words of Almighty God the Father does NOT mean that the PROPHET IS God Himself.
Jesus is NOT that Father and the Father is NOT Jesus. The Father MANIFESTED Himself a TRUE SON and NOT just an EMPTY BODY that ALL the FULNESS of the Godhead DWELT in.
I have one more passage of Scripture that I want to make sure that you read and truly UNDERSTAND.
For you see, both Oneness Christians and Trinitarain Christians quote and FOCUS all their attention on certain select verses that SEEM to support their doctrines.
But yet, many of their INTERPRETATIONS are in error.
For you see, Jesus said the WE will be ONE with Jesus and the Father EVEN AS Jesus and the Father are ONE.
So, the INTERPRETATION of Jesus being ONE with the Father as meaning that Jesus IS Yahweh Himself is NOT a correct interpretation because that would mean that WE will BE Yahweh in the world to come.
Jesus being from ABOVE does NOT mean that Jesus came down from Heaven to become a man because Jesus said that WE are from ABOVE in the SAME WAY that Jesus is from ABOVE.
Please read John 17:6-26.
“I have manifested YOUR name unto the men which YOU gave me out of the world: thine they were, and YOU gave them me; and they have kept YOUR word.
John 17:7. Now they have known that all things whatsoever YOU have GIVEN me are of YOU.
John 17:8. For I have given unto them the words which YOU gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that YOU did SEND me.
John 17:9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which YOU have given me; for they are YOURS.
John 17:10. And all mine are your, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them.
John 17:11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come TO YOU. Holy Father, keep through YOUR OWN name those whom YOU hast given me, that THEY may be ONE, AS WE ARE.
John 17:12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in YOUR name: those that YOU gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:13. And now come I TO YOU; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17:14. I have given them YOUR word; and the world has hated them, because THEY are NOT of the world, EVEN AS I am NOT of the world.
John 17:15. I pray not that YOU should take them out of the world, but that YOU should keep them from the evil.
John 17:16. THEY are NOT of the world, EVEN AS I am NOT of the world.
John 17:17. Sanctify them through YOUR truth: YOUR word is truth.
John 17:18. AS YOU have SENT ME into the world, EVEN SO have I also SENT them into the world. (Jesus said WAIT until you are ENDUED with POWER from on high before you go out and witness to the world about Jesus.
And Yahweh the Father ANOINTED Jesus with the Holy Spirit and POWER before the Father SENT the Son of MAN, Jesus into the world)
John 17:19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (Meaning that Jesus OVERCAME SIN to offer up himself WITHOUT SPOT or blemish.
And Jesus overcame sin THROUGH the POWER of the eternal Spirit DWELLING IN him.
Please read the study F-12. How YOU can live Your Life FREE from SIN!)
John 17:20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:21. That THEY ALL may be ONE; AS YOU, Father, are IN me, and I IN YOU, that THEY ALSO may be ONE IN us: that the world may believe that YOU have SENT me.
John 17:22. And the GLORY which YOU gave me I have given them; (Or I have PROMISED to them who endure unto the end to be saved) that THEY may be ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE:
John 17:23. I IN them, and YOU IN me, that they may be made perfect in ONE; and that the world may know that YOU have SENT me, and have loved THEM, AS YOU have loved ME.
John 17:24. Father, I will that they also, whom YOU have given me, be WITH me where I am; that they may behold my GLORY, which YOU have GIVEN me: for YOU loved me before the foundation of the world. (Meaning that in the MIND and PLAN of Yahweh God LOVED all his SAINTS)
John 17:25. O righteous Father, the world has not known you: but I have known you, and these have known that you have SENT ME.
John 17:26. And I have DECLARED unto them YOUR NAME, and will declare it: (Speaking of in the world yet to come) that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Revelation 1:1.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel (Or by His messenger, the NOW glorified Son of MAN, Jesus) unto his servant John:”
This brings us to question number SEVEN.
QUESTION #7 to my Oneness brothers and sisters in the Lord.
#7. How do Oneness Christians reconcile that FACT that Yahweh the Father is the HEAD of Christ as being the God OF Jesus?
1 Corinthians 11:1-3.
“Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (It is alright to follow the teaching of men so long as those teachings AGREE with the teaching of Jesus and his Apostles.
It is WHEN Christians put the teaching of their Pastor ot their church denomination ABOVE what the Bible ITSELF teaches that cause the CONTROVERSIES among Christians)
1 Corinthians 11:2. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1 Corinthians 11:3. But I would have you know, that the HEAD of every man is Christ; and the HEAD of the woman is the man; and the HEAD of Christ is God.”
Now how can the Father be the HEAD over the Father. How can God be the HEAD over God IF Jesus IS the ALMIGHTY God Himself.
The Bible teaches us that Yahweh the Father is the God OF Gods. In other words, the word “God” is a TITLE just like the word “King” is a “TITLE”.
So, in SIMPLICITY, there is only one God who alone is the ALMIGHTY God who is over and above ALL other Gods that He Himself MADE to be Gods to rule over or to be TENANTS over different parts of His creation in the universe.
For you see, how can Jesus have the Father to be OVER him if so be that Jesus IS the Father Himself?
I agree that the ONLY true God is ONE God in ONE person.
Thus, I do NOT believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. But I do believe the BIBLE which CLEARLY teaches us that Jesus is a SEPARATE distinctly DIFFERENT PERSON from the Father.
The one TRUE God can NOT have another God OVERand ABOVE him and Jesus has the Father OVER and ABOVE him.
God is the HEAD of Christ in the same way that Jesus is the HEAD over us.
The Father is the GOD OF Jesus. The Father is GREATER than Jesus.
How can the Father be the Father of Himself and REMAIN ONE PERSON?
Yes, God can MANIFEST a Son but the Son is NOT the SAME PERSON as the Father.
John 10:30.
“I and my Father ARE one.”
The verb “ARE” is PLURAL and it means WE are one.
And the pronoun WE always means MORE than just ONE person.
So, while it is true that the ONE true God is ONE God in ONE PERSON, it is NOT true that Jesus IS that ONE person.
Jesus is the SON OF that ONE person who ALONE in the FATHER.
There are some 31,000 verses of Scripture and only ONE of those 31,000 verses directly CALL Jesus “a” father. Please read the study ** Isaiah 9:6 ** PROVES That the HUMAN Son of God Came FIRST!
Below are some links to a complete list of ALL of the studies that I have which show WHY I no longer believe in the doctrine of the Trinity and why I can NEVER believe in the doctrine of Oneness.
I assure you that every verse that SEEMS to be saying that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past has another meaning that does NOT contradict any other verses of Scripture in the entire Bible.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
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