Sunday 9-15-24 7th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Elul 11 5784 88th. Summer Day
Chapter 1
The Genesis Factor By William F. Dankenbring
A New Look at the
Mystery of GOD
Who or what is "God"? What is the Plan of God for human
beings? How does Jesus Christ, the "Word" of God, fit into
the picture? Here is surprising, mind-boggling TRUTH hidden
from mankind's prying eyes for thousands of years -- truth
which will dumfound and astound you!
What on planet earth is God Almighty doing?
All people have wondered, at some point in their lives, why they were born --
why God created the human race. As men gaze at the heavens, and see the resplendent
starts and far flung galaxies, they muse, "What is life all about?" "Why am I here?"
"Why was I born?"
Have these questions ever crossed your mind?
Why did God create man?
A careful study of the Bible reveals some amazing surprises -- the answers to
mysteries and riddles that have perplexed and mystified mankind for thousands of years!
"In the Beginning, GOD . . ."
The Hebrew Bible is written in consonants alone; vowels must be supplied by the
reader or interpreter. Thus many passages can have alternate translations or meanings,
such as the phrase in Genesis 1:1. The expression "Bereshith bara Elohim ha shemayim
va ha eretz" is usually translated in English (KJV) as "In the beginning (bereshith) God
(Elohim, technically a plural form of the word El, and can be translated "Mighty Ones")
created (bara) the heavens and the earth."
6
The word bereshith is a compound word and literally means be ("in") reshith
("beginning"), and the article "the" is supplied in the English language for understanding.
However, one could just as easily supply the article "a" as the Hebrew contains no article
whatsoever, so the expression could read: "In a beginning." In other words, not
necessarily the FIRST "beginning"! Another way to put it would be, "At some point
long, long ago," or simply, "Long, long ago," or "In the remote past."
The word interpreted as reshith can also be read as rosh, the Hebrew word for
"head." So the expression in Genesis 1:1 could read, "In the head God created the
heavens and the earth." Also, the word translated "created" (bara in Hebrew) is simply
the letters br and could also be interpreted as the Hebrew word for "son" (bar, as in bar
Jonah, meaning "son of Jonah"). Thus we could have the alternate reading: "In the
beginning (bereshith) [was] the SON OF GOD (bar Elohim), the heavens and the earth."
One more reading of this enigmatic and pregnant passage of Scripture would be
as follows: "In the head [was] the [or, "a"] Son of God."
Why are these variant readings possible? Because of the uniqueness of the
Hebrew language, all these meanings can be inferred or obtained from the simple Hebrew
letters that comprise the passage. All are possible. Which reading one chooses depends
on the context, and the understanding and choice of the reader. Of course, the reason
such a form is chosen by the Author in the first place is known only to Him -- but the
possibilities are exciting. Clearly, when we compare this with the New Testament, we
find several hints right in Genesis 1:1 of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ, the Logos, the
"Son of God."
Commenting on this amazing uniqueness of the Hebrew Scriptures of Genesis
1:1, Randolph Parrish, in an article entitled "The Fourth Jewish Sect," in Messianic
Outreach (1996), observed that the early Jewish-Nazarene Christians were well aware of
this fact -- a truth which has been buried and forgotten for almost 2,000 years. He writes
of the early Nazarene church:
"It was clear to them that the scriptures talked of nothing else [but the coming of
Messiah], quite literally from the very beginning. For example, the opening words
of Genesis 1:1 are usually translated as 'In the beginning . . .' But the Hebrew word
'reshith' (beginning) can also have the meaning 'firstborn son.' And so, one could
translate this passage as 'In the firstborn son God created the heavens and the earth'
. . . Iraneus also translated this as 'The son in the beginning; then God created the
heavens and the earth' . . . Hilary said that 'b'reshith' could have three possible
meanings: 'in the beginning'; 'in the head'; or 'in the son' . . . The modern French
author Danielou noted the comparison between these meanings and Col.1:15-18,
where Paul seems to write of the same three meanings: 'He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him were all things created . . . And he is
the head of the body . . . he is the beginning and the firstborn . . .' This would suggest,
according to Danielou, that there was an already extant rabbinical tradition of explaining
the passage in these several ways, which Paul employed" (p.11, Messianic Outreach).
Says Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the word reshiyth, used in Genesis 1:1,
the meanings are: "the first, in place, time, order or rank (spec. a firstfruit): -- beginning,
7
chief, (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing." Thus this passage can mean that
God created the heavens and the earth not only "in the beginning," but "in the firstfruits" -
- i.e., that is, "in Christ" who IS the "firstfruits." Note that He is called "the firstfruits"
(Greek, literally "firstfruit," singular) in I Corinthians 15:23. The passage can also mean
that God created the heavens and earth "in the principal one," i.e., in the "one of chief
rank or order." Again, this would refer to the One who became Christ, or the "Logos" of
God (John 1:1).
Thus we can have in this verse: "In the firstfruits [or, first fruit, or principal one]
God created the heavens and the earth."
Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon adds to this astounding truth, showing this
Hebrew word literally means: "head, chief . . . 1) beginning . . . 2) a former state . . . 3)
the first of its kind -- with regard to time, first fruits, Gen.49:3, 'first fruits of my
strength,' i.e., first born . . . first fruits of things created by him, Prov.8:22 . . ." Thus, we
can also have: "In the firstborn God created the heavens and the earth." And who is the
"first born"? The One who became Jesus Christ! Notice!
The Mystery Deepens
In a parallel passage in the New Testament -- John 1:1 -- we find a reprise of this
verse with a new slant or interpretation put on it by the apostle John, showing that this
enigmatic verse actually refers to none other than the introduction of the Pre-existent
"Word" of God who was also the "Son of God." Notice: "In the beginning was the Word
[Greek, Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in
the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made. In him was life . . ."
(John 1:1-4). Verse 14 goes on, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth."
Thus the "first fruit" or "first born" of Genesis1:1 was the One who became Jesus
Christ!
John refers to the "Word" of God as the "only begotten" Son of God! So the
"Word" who was with God in the beginning was the "first fruit" or "first born" Son
mentioned in Genesis 1:1, and He was "with God" -- that is, He was with God the
"Father."
The Hebrew word for "God" in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim, being the plural form for
El, or "Mighty One." Therefore, Elohim literally means "the Mighty Ones." Why the
plural form? Because there were TWO INDIVIDUALS who did the Creating -- the
Father and His only begotten Son!
Stage Two -- the Creation of MAN
8
Thus amazing truth is brought out further in the first chapter of Genesis by the
expression used of God in the creation of mankind. Notice! God says, in Genesis 1:26,
"And God [Elohim, "the Mighty Ones"] said, Let US make man in OUR image, after
OUR likeness: and let them have dominion [rulership, that is, to govern the rest of
creation!] . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them. And God blessed them" (v.27-28).
The "God" who made Adam and Eve was ONE GOD, but in two Persons -- One
was the Father, and the other was His "Son." Mankind was made in the very image of
God Himself, only made out of flesh and blood -- the dust of the ground. Nevertheless,
we were made with a creative, thinking mind like that of God, with powers, abilities and
capacities that reflect the Divine, only on a physical, not a spiritual, scale.
We were created to have DOMINION -- that is, to RULE -- just as God Himself
rules over His creation. Thus we were created to be His own reflections and likeness --
ultimately to become like HIM, as His children, His expanded FAMILY, with the purpose
of joining Him in ruling over His Creation -- and in adding TO that Creation as the
Kingdom of God expands into the infinity of eternity!
Does this sound unbelievable? What is the purpose of human existence? Why
did God create man? Why were you born?
According to the Word of God, right in Genesis 1, mankind was created for the
purpose of RULERSHIP -- to rule over, govern, and control God's Creation! To do this,
we were made -- created -- in His very own image and likeness -- that is, with potentially
DIVINE ATTRIBUTES!
Stop and think. Look around you with amazement and awe. Which of the
animals -- or plants -- life forms God created -- is capable of understanding, of thinking,
of planning, and mentally conceiving a idea, and then bringing it to pass? Only mankind!
Man, of all God's physical creation, is truly unique!
But just how much did God intend for man to eventually rule? Was it just the life
forms on the earth? The truth will boggle your mind!
Why Were We Created?
Let's explore and investigate this "mystery." Why were you and I born? What is
the purpose of human life? And how does this purpose involve the Messiah, the Son of
God, the One who became Jesus Christ?
This may seem to be a shocking statement, but it is true! The apostle Paul wrote
an astonishing thing in the book of Romans which most people seem to just read right
over, missing the entire point of what Paul is talking about! He makes an incredible,
shocking, mind-bending, juggernaut of a statement. Paul wrote, in the New Testament
9
book of Romans: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: and if children, then heirs; HEIRS of GOD, and JOINT-HEIRS WITH
CHRIST; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature [the
whole creation that is] waiteth for the manifestation [future revealing in awesome glory]
of the children of GOD" (Rom.8:16-19).
This passage is so vital, so important, that it should be read very slowly, very
cautiously, with great deliberation and thoughtfulness. Read it again -- this time v-e-r-y
s-l-o-o-o-w-l-y.
Notice this! This is a veritable KEY that unlocks the puzzle of human existence
and human purpose. Why did God create man? Not just to rule the earth, as physical
beings -- but God created us to BECOME HIS DIVINE CHILDREN! He intends for us
to INHERIT ALL THINGS He created -- as His "HEIRS"! That means, in simple terms,
He intends for us to inherit, rule over, and govern, eventually, THE ENTIRE far-flung
Creation of God -- the stars, the planets, the galaxies in outer space -- in fact, the entire
UNIVERSE! He plans for us to accomplish this, when we are ready, as His own Spirit-
begotten and Spirit-born children -- as His very own "SONS" -- literal "sons of God"!
This "calling," this "destiny," this "manifest purpose," is far greater and far higher
than that of angels! It is the greatest calling and destiny of all God's Creation! He
intends for us to be "members" of His very own Divine "Family"!
The Scriptures are literally full of this truth -- replete with references to this
subject! And yet most people -- the vast majority of mankind -- have never even heard of
this purpose of God, and if you tried to tell them, they would look upon you as if you
were "crazy," demented, or had gone "off your rocker"!
Try it! No, on the other hand, don't! I tried to tell this once to a favorite uncle,
years ago, and he just laughed at me. His reply was, "Oh, then you believe in many gods
-- polytheism!" He did not get the point at all!
If you try to tell this truth to a religious person, or attempt to explain it to a
Protestant or a Catholic, chances are they will look upon you as a supreme heretic!
Why? Because this awesome truth denies the commonly accepted notion that God is
some sort of monolithic never-changing TRINITY!
But the truth is, nowhere in the whole Bible will you ever read the word "Trinity,"
or "Tri-unity," or "Trinitarian." It simply is not there. God is not a "Trinity." He is a
FAMILY! As the apostle Paul wrote, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the WHOLE FAMILY in heaven and earth is named"
(Eph.3:14-15). What is the "name" of this "family"? It is the "family of GOD"! The
"family" of Elohim -- "the Mighty Ones"! It is the "family" of YHVH -- that is, Yah,
Yahveh, Yahuveh, or Yahu-elohenu, as some of the Hebrew variants of His Name are,
10
meaning, "The Eternal, Ever-living, Self-Existent Covenant God Who Is, Was, and
Always Shall Be, and Who Causes to Be." He is the Great "Being," who "Is," the One
who is the "Source" of all life and all creation.
This subject is so awesome, so powerful, that we need to explore it very carefully,
and with thoughtful and prayerful, humble and meek, attitudes. This truth is so great that
most people simply cannot contain it, or bring themselves to believe it. Yet it is the
witness of the entire Scriptures -- the central message of the Bible -- the core of gospel of
the Kingdom of God!
Let's understand this!
A New Look at God's Supreme Plan
All God's purpose for mankind is being accomplished in and through Jesus
Christ! He was a "Son of God" from the beginning, as Genesis 1:1 implies in its variant
reading. God the Father created all things "in the Son."
Paul continues speaking about this sublime, majestic truth in his letter to the
Romans. He writes: "For whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be
conformed to the IMAGE of his Son, that HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG
MANY BRETHREN" (Rom.8:29).
Notice! Jesus Christ was the FIRST begotten Son of God -- born of God the
Father. But it is God's intention that He be the "firstborn" among "MANY
BRETHREN"! What does that tell us? It shows that we are to be like Him -- born of
God, and very "God," even as He is very "God"! We are to be "sons" of God even as HE
is the "Son of God"!
Originally, the One who became Christ was Himself "created" or "pro-created" by
God the Father, at a time before the Universe was formed. He was "the first fruits," the
"first born," of all things. We will see much more proof of this shocking statement later.
But once He was Himself "created," as the "Word" of God, then God the Father worked
with Him in the creation of the rest of the Universe. Therefore He was "with God" at the
beginning, and also "was God." At that time He was known as the "Logos" or "Word" of
God. He has now added the name "Jesus Christ," (Hebrew, Yeshua Ha Moschiach),
which means "Saviour, The Anointed One," of God, or "The Saviour Messiah."
What does all this show? God has His divine Plan in mind from the very
beginning of CREATION! He has not been "improvising" as He goes along! God has
"chosen us in him from the foundation of the world" (Eph.1:4). God has "made known
unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself" (Eph.1:9).
God the Father has called us to a tremendous, mind-boggling calling and destiny,
if we prove faithful and loyal, obedient and loving.
To be continued.
Love, Walter And Debbie
Chapter 1
The Genesis Factor By William F. Dankenbring
A New Look at the
Mystery of GOD
Who or what is "God"? What is the Plan of God for human
beings? How does Jesus Christ, the "Word" of God, fit into
the picture? Here is surprising, mind-boggling TRUTH hidden
from mankind's prying eyes for thousands of years -- truth
which will dumfound and astound you!
What on planet earth is God Almighty doing?
All people have wondered, at some point in their lives, why they were born --
why God created the human race. As men gaze at the heavens, and see the resplendent
starts and far flung galaxies, they muse, "What is life all about?" "Why am I here?"
"Why was I born?"
Have these questions ever crossed your mind?
Why did God create man?
A careful study of the Bible reveals some amazing surprises -- the answers to
mysteries and riddles that have perplexed and mystified mankind for thousands of years!
"In the Beginning, GOD . . ."
The Hebrew Bible is written in consonants alone; vowels must be supplied by the
reader or interpreter. Thus many passages can have alternate translations or meanings,
such as the phrase in Genesis 1:1. The expression "Bereshith bara Elohim ha shemayim
va ha eretz" is usually translated in English (KJV) as "In the beginning (bereshith) God
(Elohim, technically a plural form of the word El, and can be translated "Mighty Ones")
created (bara) the heavens and the earth."
6
The word bereshith is a compound word and literally means be ("in") reshith
("beginning"), and the article "the" is supplied in the English language for understanding.
However, one could just as easily supply the article "a" as the Hebrew contains no article
whatsoever, so the expression could read: "In a beginning." In other words, not
necessarily the FIRST "beginning"! Another way to put it would be, "At some point
long, long ago," or simply, "Long, long ago," or "In the remote past."
The word interpreted as reshith can also be read as rosh, the Hebrew word for
"head." So the expression in Genesis 1:1 could read, "In the head God created the
heavens and the earth." Also, the word translated "created" (bara in Hebrew) is simply
the letters br and could also be interpreted as the Hebrew word for "son" (bar, as in bar
Jonah, meaning "son of Jonah"). Thus we could have the alternate reading: "In the
beginning (bereshith) [was] the SON OF GOD (bar Elohim), the heavens and the earth."
One more reading of this enigmatic and pregnant passage of Scripture would be
as follows: "In the head [was] the [or, "a"] Son of God."
Why are these variant readings possible? Because of the uniqueness of the
Hebrew language, all these meanings can be inferred or obtained from the simple Hebrew
letters that comprise the passage. All are possible. Which reading one chooses depends
on the context, and the understanding and choice of the reader. Of course, the reason
such a form is chosen by the Author in the first place is known only to Him -- but the
possibilities are exciting. Clearly, when we compare this with the New Testament, we
find several hints right in Genesis 1:1 of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ, the Logos, the
"Son of God."
Commenting on this amazing uniqueness of the Hebrew Scriptures of Genesis
1:1, Randolph Parrish, in an article entitled "The Fourth Jewish Sect," in Messianic
Outreach (1996), observed that the early Jewish-Nazarene Christians were well aware of
this fact -- a truth which has been buried and forgotten for almost 2,000 years. He writes
of the early Nazarene church:
"It was clear to them that the scriptures talked of nothing else [but the coming of
Messiah], quite literally from the very beginning. For example, the opening words
of Genesis 1:1 are usually translated as 'In the beginning . . .' But the Hebrew word
'reshith' (beginning) can also have the meaning 'firstborn son.' And so, one could
translate this passage as 'In the firstborn son God created the heavens and the earth'
. . . Iraneus also translated this as 'The son in the beginning; then God created the
heavens and the earth' . . . Hilary said that 'b'reshith' could have three possible
meanings: 'in the beginning'; 'in the head'; or 'in the son' . . . The modern French
author Danielou noted the comparison between these meanings and Col.1:15-18,
where Paul seems to write of the same three meanings: 'He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him were all things created . . . And he is
the head of the body . . . he is the beginning and the firstborn . . .' This would suggest,
according to Danielou, that there was an already extant rabbinical tradition of explaining
the passage in these several ways, which Paul employed" (p.11, Messianic Outreach).
Says Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the word reshiyth, used in Genesis 1:1,
the meanings are: "the first, in place, time, order or rank (spec. a firstfruit): -- beginning,
7
chief, (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing." Thus this passage can mean that
God created the heavens and the earth not only "in the beginning," but "in the firstfruits" -
- i.e., that is, "in Christ" who IS the "firstfruits." Note that He is called "the firstfruits"
(Greek, literally "firstfruit," singular) in I Corinthians 15:23. The passage can also mean
that God created the heavens and earth "in the principal one," i.e., in the "one of chief
rank or order." Again, this would refer to the One who became Christ, or the "Logos" of
God (John 1:1).
Thus we can have in this verse: "In the firstfruits [or, first fruit, or principal one]
God created the heavens and the earth."
Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon adds to this astounding truth, showing this
Hebrew word literally means: "head, chief . . . 1) beginning . . . 2) a former state . . . 3)
the first of its kind -- with regard to time, first fruits, Gen.49:3, 'first fruits of my
strength,' i.e., first born . . . first fruits of things created by him, Prov.8:22 . . ." Thus, we
can also have: "In the firstborn God created the heavens and the earth." And who is the
"first born"? The One who became Jesus Christ! Notice!
The Mystery Deepens
In a parallel passage in the New Testament -- John 1:1 -- we find a reprise of this
verse with a new slant or interpretation put on it by the apostle John, showing that this
enigmatic verse actually refers to none other than the introduction of the Pre-existent
"Word" of God who was also the "Son of God." Notice: "In the beginning was the Word
[Greek, Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in
the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made. In him was life . . ."
(John 1:1-4). Verse 14 goes on, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth."
Thus the "first fruit" or "first born" of Genesis1:1 was the One who became Jesus
Christ!
John refers to the "Word" of God as the "only begotten" Son of God! So the
"Word" who was with God in the beginning was the "first fruit" or "first born" Son
mentioned in Genesis 1:1, and He was "with God" -- that is, He was with God the
"Father."
The Hebrew word for "God" in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim, being the plural form for
El, or "Mighty One." Therefore, Elohim literally means "the Mighty Ones." Why the
plural form? Because there were TWO INDIVIDUALS who did the Creating -- the
Father and His only begotten Son!
Stage Two -- the Creation of MAN
8
Thus amazing truth is brought out further in the first chapter of Genesis by the
expression used of God in the creation of mankind. Notice! God says, in Genesis 1:26,
"And God [Elohim, "the Mighty Ones"] said, Let US make man in OUR image, after
OUR likeness: and let them have dominion [rulership, that is, to govern the rest of
creation!] . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them. And God blessed them" (v.27-28).
The "God" who made Adam and Eve was ONE GOD, but in two Persons -- One
was the Father, and the other was His "Son." Mankind was made in the very image of
God Himself, only made out of flesh and blood -- the dust of the ground. Nevertheless,
we were made with a creative, thinking mind like that of God, with powers, abilities and
capacities that reflect the Divine, only on a physical, not a spiritual, scale.
We were created to have DOMINION -- that is, to RULE -- just as God Himself
rules over His creation. Thus we were created to be His own reflections and likeness --
ultimately to become like HIM, as His children, His expanded FAMILY, with the purpose
of joining Him in ruling over His Creation -- and in adding TO that Creation as the
Kingdom of God expands into the infinity of eternity!
Does this sound unbelievable? What is the purpose of human existence? Why
did God create man? Why were you born?
According to the Word of God, right in Genesis 1, mankind was created for the
purpose of RULERSHIP -- to rule over, govern, and control God's Creation! To do this,
we were made -- created -- in His very own image and likeness -- that is, with potentially
DIVINE ATTRIBUTES!
Stop and think. Look around you with amazement and awe. Which of the
animals -- or plants -- life forms God created -- is capable of understanding, of thinking,
of planning, and mentally conceiving a idea, and then bringing it to pass? Only mankind!
Man, of all God's physical creation, is truly unique!
But just how much did God intend for man to eventually rule? Was it just the life
forms on the earth? The truth will boggle your mind!
Why Were We Created?
Let's explore and investigate this "mystery." Why were you and I born? What is
the purpose of human life? And how does this purpose involve the Messiah, the Son of
God, the One who became Jesus Christ?
This may seem to be a shocking statement, but it is true! The apostle Paul wrote
an astonishing thing in the book of Romans which most people seem to just read right
over, missing the entire point of what Paul is talking about! He makes an incredible,
shocking, mind-bending, juggernaut of a statement. Paul wrote, in the New Testament
9
book of Romans: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: and if children, then heirs; HEIRS of GOD, and JOINT-HEIRS WITH
CHRIST; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature [the
whole creation that is] waiteth for the manifestation [future revealing in awesome glory]
of the children of GOD" (Rom.8:16-19).
This passage is so vital, so important, that it should be read very slowly, very
cautiously, with great deliberation and thoughtfulness. Read it again -- this time v-e-r-y
s-l-o-o-o-w-l-y.
Notice this! This is a veritable KEY that unlocks the puzzle of human existence
and human purpose. Why did God create man? Not just to rule the earth, as physical
beings -- but God created us to BECOME HIS DIVINE CHILDREN! He intends for us
to INHERIT ALL THINGS He created -- as His "HEIRS"! That means, in simple terms,
He intends for us to inherit, rule over, and govern, eventually, THE ENTIRE far-flung
Creation of God -- the stars, the planets, the galaxies in outer space -- in fact, the entire
UNIVERSE! He plans for us to accomplish this, when we are ready, as His own Spirit-
begotten and Spirit-born children -- as His very own "SONS" -- literal "sons of God"!
This "calling," this "destiny," this "manifest purpose," is far greater and far higher
than that of angels! It is the greatest calling and destiny of all God's Creation! He
intends for us to be "members" of His very own Divine "Family"!
The Scriptures are literally full of this truth -- replete with references to this
subject! And yet most people -- the vast majority of mankind -- have never even heard of
this purpose of God, and if you tried to tell them, they would look upon you as if you
were "crazy," demented, or had gone "off your rocker"!
Try it! No, on the other hand, don't! I tried to tell this once to a favorite uncle,
years ago, and he just laughed at me. His reply was, "Oh, then you believe in many gods
-- polytheism!" He did not get the point at all!
If you try to tell this truth to a religious person, or attempt to explain it to a
Protestant or a Catholic, chances are they will look upon you as a supreme heretic!
Why? Because this awesome truth denies the commonly accepted notion that God is
some sort of monolithic never-changing TRINITY!
But the truth is, nowhere in the whole Bible will you ever read the word "Trinity,"
or "Tri-unity," or "Trinitarian." It simply is not there. God is not a "Trinity." He is a
FAMILY! As the apostle Paul wrote, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the WHOLE FAMILY in heaven and earth is named"
(Eph.3:14-15). What is the "name" of this "family"? It is the "family of GOD"! The
"family" of Elohim -- "the Mighty Ones"! It is the "family" of YHVH -- that is, Yah,
Yahveh, Yahuveh, or Yahu-elohenu, as some of the Hebrew variants of His Name are,
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meaning, "The Eternal, Ever-living, Self-Existent Covenant God Who Is, Was, and
Always Shall Be, and Who Causes to Be." He is the Great "Being," who "Is," the One
who is the "Source" of all life and all creation.
This subject is so awesome, so powerful, that we need to explore it very carefully,
and with thoughtful and prayerful, humble and meek, attitudes. This truth is so great that
most people simply cannot contain it, or bring themselves to believe it. Yet it is the
witness of the entire Scriptures -- the central message of the Bible -- the core of gospel of
the Kingdom of God!
Let's understand this!
A New Look at God's Supreme Plan
All God's purpose for mankind is being accomplished in and through Jesus
Christ! He was a "Son of God" from the beginning, as Genesis 1:1 implies in its variant
reading. God the Father created all things "in the Son."
Paul continues speaking about this sublime, majestic truth in his letter to the
Romans. He writes: "For whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be
conformed to the IMAGE of his Son, that HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG
MANY BRETHREN" (Rom.8:29).
Notice! Jesus Christ was the FIRST begotten Son of God -- born of God the
Father. But it is God's intention that He be the "firstborn" among "MANY
BRETHREN"! What does that tell us? It shows that we are to be like Him -- born of
God, and very "God," even as He is very "God"! We are to be "sons" of God even as HE
is the "Son of God"!
Originally, the One who became Christ was Himself "created" or "pro-created" by
God the Father, at a time before the Universe was formed. He was "the first fruits," the
"first born," of all things. We will see much more proof of this shocking statement later.
But once He was Himself "created," as the "Word" of God, then God the Father worked
with Him in the creation of the rest of the Universe. Therefore He was "with God" at the
beginning, and also "was God." At that time He was known as the "Logos" or "Word" of
God. He has now added the name "Jesus Christ," (Hebrew, Yeshua Ha Moschiach),
which means "Saviour, The Anointed One," of God, or "The Saviour Messiah."
What does all this show? God has His divine Plan in mind from the very
beginning of CREATION! He has not been "improvising" as He goes along! God has
"chosen us in him from the foundation of the world" (Eph.1:4). God has "made known
unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself" (Eph.1:9).
God the Father has called us to a tremendous, mind-boggling calling and destiny,
if we prove faithful and loyal, obedient and loving.
To be continued.
Love, Walter And Debbie
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