Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

WHO IS GOD?
The scriptures inform us of God’s existence, but the details are sparse, and what we know about God comes from the way He describes Himself. The following titles serve as descriptions of God’s character.

• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
• El Elyon (The Most High God)
• Adonai (Lord, Master)
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
• Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
• El Olam (The Everlasting God)
• Elohim (Gods)
• Qanna (Jealous)
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)¹

Did you notice that every title is singular except for Elohim?

CREATION OF MANKIND
The first chapter of the Bible informs us that God exists in some form of multiplicity because the Creator’s use of plural pronouns.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26a)

Mankind was created in the image of God, and with our limited knowledge from the creation account, we know this involved a physical body and a soul.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

In the New Testament, the apostle John shared that Jesus is the Creator.

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. The same (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him (Jesus); and without him (Jesus) was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

He further stated that God consists of God the Father, God the Son (Word), and the God the Holy Spirit. These three entities make up the Godhead.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

We now understand that God is triune and this is why They refer to themselves in plurality in the first chapter of the Bible. The Hebrew word for God used in Genesis 1:26 is “Elohim,” which means “Gods.”

FURTHER CLARIFICATION
Jesus warned Adam that he would die if he ate the fruit from one specific tree. What most people don’t realize is that the Son of God was not referring to immediate physical death, but the death of Adam’s spirit which allowed him to commune with the Lord.

Incidentally, sin always leads to physical death, and this is what occurred much later with the first man.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

From Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, we can establish there is a dead spirit that must be born again as a result of Adam’s sin.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:1-7)

Logic would dictate that since we are created in the image of God, we consist of three parts just like Him. This is why we have a physical body, a soul, and a spirit. We are triune just like God.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

THE GODHEAD
The Holy Spirit spoke to the apostle Paul and laid out the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Jesus is referred to as the Son of God, Messiah, and Christ in the New Testament. The latter two titles refer to the Savior promised to Adam after he sinned and Jesus became the fulfillment of that vow four thousand years later.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ (Jesus) shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ (Jesus) the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s (Jesus’) at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he (Jesus) must reign, till he (Jesus) hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

For he (God the Father) hath put all things under his (Jesus’) feet. But when he (God the Father) saith all things are put under him (Jesus), it is manifest that he (God the Father) is excepted, which did put all things under him (Jesus).

And when all things shall be subdued unto him (Jesus), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (the Father) that put all things under him (Jesus), that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

God has a Spirit which can operate independently from God the Father.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2)

As I’ve already shown, the apostle John states that the Godhead consists of God the Father, God the Son (Word), and the God the Holy Spirit.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

God is singular and plural simultaneously; He has the capacity to split Himself into three distinct forms, each capable of operating independently in different locations. This is brought out with the baptism of Jesus. God the Father was in heaven, God the Son was on earth, and the Holy Spirit served as the communicator.

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

Jesus stated the Holy Spirit would come to each believer in Christ and indwell them. This was a new revelation because prophets and kings of the Old Testament had been anointed by the Holy Spirit, but never indwelt by the third person of the Godhead.

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37-39)

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-5, 8)

God is triune. God is eternal. God has no beginning nor end. God is supreme. Other than what is shared in the scriptures, we are ignorant of what God did in eternity past. All we know is that He started the creation at one point and we have come to understand the fact that He has released limited knowledge of Himself to humanity.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:1-2)

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Timothy 1:17)

THE HOLY SPIRIT
It was the Holy Spirit that impregnated a virgin named Mary. Jesus needed a body that was sin free, and since the man that furnishes the blood through his sperm, Joseph could not be part of this process. Through the Holy Spirit, the physical body of Jesus was supplied with sinless blood.

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:30-35)

At the water baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit bodily descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

Jesus told the apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them in all matters.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:7-15)

Jesus introduced a new concept after the resurrection and that was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-5, 8)

The group of Jesus followers in the upper room were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers in Christ.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)

Praying and laying on of hands upon new believers was a key for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:14-17)

The Holy Spirit is not limited to the laying on of hands, He is sovereign and can do whatever He wants to do.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:44-48)

Every believer in Christ is sealed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit is supreme and the Devil is powerless against the third person of the Godhead. The only thing capable of blunting the power of God is when Satan convinces Christians that the Holy Spirit is no longer on earth and the miracles from the Book of Acts were only for that time. Christians no longer need the Holy Spirit because we have the whole Bible, unlike the apostles and the early church in the Book of Acts. This lie is based on an imperfect understanding of Paul’s words to the church at Corinth.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

This damnable lie has been accepted as truth among evangelicals and Baptists, blunting the effectiveness of these churches, so that they never even come close to reaching their full potential.