| Subject: How is Jehovah the Father of Jesus the son of David? |
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Theophilus Book
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Date Posted: 18:31:28 01/15/02 Tue
Author Host/IP: user-33qtskc.dialup.mindspring.com/199.174.242.140
"Necessity is the mother of invention" is a comment familiar to many of us, and we have no problem accepting this use of "Mother," though none of us insist that there is a mother named "necessity" nor that there is a child thereof named "invention."
The term "Father" does not necessarily mean male progenitor, indicating a parent/child relationship, but may also reference the idea of designating the first one who has an idea; a founder of a place, or a family, or a dynasty, or a category of craftsmanship. It can even reference a person who is the only one who can accomplish a thing.
Nor does the term "child of" or "children of" indicate a child/father relationship.
For example, a person who originates the idea of something is called the Father of...whatever is under consideration. We are familiar with the expression, "the Father of modern medicine;" "the Father of modern industry;" even the nation understands the meaning of "the founding Fathers."
It can even reference a prototype, as "the horseless carriage was the Father of the automobile." And of course there is a group of men in history called "the Church Fathers;" none of whom "Fathered" the church.
And there is also a concept by which we understand the usage of "Father-time."
And "Children of wrath" has a meaning other than a man named "wrath" begetting progeny. Or "Children of the third generation" have not a Father named "third generation." They are the third generation of children from a particular Father.
Scripture is repleat with examples of men who are called
"Father" in a sense other than progenitor; mostly the idea of "originator of the idea;" or "direct cause of the result" but without any passing of seed involved.
Joab is called the "Father of the valley of Charashim" wherein dwelled craftsmen, because he was the first in a long line of men able to understand the concept of craft, and craftsmanship; "and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen." [1 Chron 4:14]
Jabal understood tentmaking as an industry, as well as the concept that later became known as "cowboy" in the cattle industry in this country; "And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle." [Gen 4:20]
Jubal was the man who first exercised music as an industry, and therefore is a "Father" of an industry, that of music;
"And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." [Gen 4:21]
Another use of the term "Father" is one of patristic authorship; For example, George Washington, as the "Father" of his country, not because he first had the idea, but because he was first to carry out much that was necessary for the nation to experience its "birth." This is not a new concept.
The Hebrew "kirjath-" means "city of" in several applications; and the Hebrew "Beth-" means "house of" in several applications:
Salma, the Father of Bethlehem, hareph, the Father of Beth-Gader. [I Chron 2:51]
And several "city Fathers" are listed in scripture:
Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim, [1 Chron 2:50]
Satan is called the "Father" of lies in [John 8:44] and liars.
Abraham is called the "Father" of all them that believe - [Rom 4:11]
God is called the "Father" of lights in [James 1:17]
Jesus is called "eternal Father" by virtue of the fact God gave him children that previously belonged to God himself. [Isa 8:18][Heb 2:13]
David calls God his "Father" in [Psa 89:26]
And Malachi says God is the "Father " of us all. [Mal 2:10]
EXAMINE THE PROPHECIES -
Once God speaks a thing into reality potentially (called "prophecy"), it is as good as done. Follow the tenses of the verbs in two statements God made to Abraham. In the first statement, God expresses an intention in prophecy, in promise to Abraham. "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations" [Gen 17:4]; One verse later, in the second statement, God speaks as though the event was already past: "..a Father of many nations have I made thee." [Gen 17:5]
These statements were made before Abraham had any seed whatsoever. The tense belies the facts, but for one thing. When God makes a statement, it is covered by two things which cannot change; his oath, and his promise [Heb 6:15-18] He made a promise, and confirmed that promise by an oath.
When God told Abraham "I have made thee a Father of many nations" Abraham had yet to have an heir. Yet "have made thee" is the tense used to show fulfillment, or accomplished fact. The deed is done, whether it is historically fact, or simply future potential.
The point being, if God states a thing will happen, it is as good as if it was already in reality. Paul says about this, "God...calleth those things which be not, as though they were." [Rom 4:17] A thing may be in prophecy, true. They are as certain to come to pass, as if they were already happening.
HOW DID GOD MAKE IT HAPPEN? - When God made promise to Abraham, Abraham was getting along in years, but was still able to beget progeny of his own body, Ishmael being his son by Hagar, Sarah's handmaid. but when God rejected Abraham's offering of Ishmael as his son, and continued the "Promise" of prophecy, he waited till Abraham was "dead" in body, as far as seed and beggetting was concerned; as well, Sarah's womb was past life-bearing. It was dead Though her faith was alive. [Heb 11:11]
Abraham believed God, though his body was as good as dead [Heb 11:12], and Sarah's womb was dead, and God's promise was unfilfilled at that time [Rom 4:19]. Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
When Sarah conceived and bore Isaac, God's promise was fulfilled, and Isaac became the "seed of promise" of prophecy, and the beginning of the Messianic hope, born in the mind of God, was beginning to bear fruit. And as Isaac was the "seed of promise" in his generation, brought as it were "from the dead" body of Abraham, and womb of Sarah, so God set in motion that which was to become the "seed of promise" which culminated in Christ Jesus [Gal 3:16]
HOW IT WAS DONE - FIRST TIME -
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. [Gen 2:7] And Adam is called the "son of God" in Luke 3:38
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
HOW IT WAS DONE - SECOND TIME -
When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, MADE OF A WOMAN, made under the law." [Gal 4:4]
Just as Adam was "formed from the dust of the earth" and Eve was made from the rib of Adam, so also Jesus was "MADE OF A WOMAN." It is that simple.
WHAT WAS SAID - FIRST TIME -
23 And Adam said, This is now BONE OF MY BONES, and FLESH OF MY FLESH: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.[Gen 2:21-24]
WHAT WAS SAID - SECOND TIME -
"So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, OF HIS FLESH, AND OF HIS BONES. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be oined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST AND THE CHURCH." [Eph 5:28-32]
So we are told in parallel accounts of the Father/to/Son relationship of God/to/Adam and God/to/Jesus; both of which were "MADE" from something that was already available to God's use.
EXAMINE NOW THE CONCEPT "SEED OF GOD" IN SCRIPTURE
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is (born) gennao of God doth not commit sin; for his sperma (seed) remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is (born) gennao of God. That's it. Jesus is never called the "seed of God." He is called the firstborn, and the onlybegotten, but in both cases that references the resurrection;
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the (first begotten) prototokos of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev 1:5
When was Jesus "begotten?"
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. -Psalm 2:7
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. -Acts 13:33
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? -Heb 1:5
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. -Heb 5:5
When was Jesus made Christ?"
"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God, exalted, and having received of the father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear." [Acts 2:32-33]
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God HATH MADE that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and CHRIST." [Acts 2:36]
WHO ARE THE "BORN OF GOD - BEGOTTEN OF GOD?"
"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have (begotten) gennao you through the gospel." [1 Cor 4:15]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath (begotten) anagennao us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," [1 Pet 1:3]
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is (born) gennao of God, and knoweth God." [1 John 4:7]
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is (born) gennao of God: and every one that loveth him that (begat) gennao loveth him also that is (begotten) gennao of him." [1 John 5:1]
"For whatsoever is (born) gennao of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." [1John 5:4]
"We know that whosoever is (born) gennao of God sinneth not; but he that is (begotten) gennao of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." [1 John 5:18]
MONOGENNES = ONLY BEGOTTEN - IN SCRIPTURE
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. -Luke 7:12
For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. -Luke 8:42
And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. -Luke 9:38
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. -John 1:14
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. -John 1:18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. -John 3:18
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, -Heb 11:17
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. -1 John 4:9
FIRST BEGOTTEN
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, -Rev 1:5
FIRST BORN
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. -Matthew 1:25
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. -Luke 2:7
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. -Romans 8:29
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: -Col 1:15
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. -Col 1:18
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. -Hebrews 11:28
So it was, that God was the "Father" of Jesus, when David was his father in the flesh. And Jesus is NEVER called the "seed of God" while believers in Christ are so called, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE.
Adam was God's first son, but Jesus was the first son of promise. Adam was first, then Jesus. [1Cor 15:45-46]
In this way it becomes easily understood as to the prophecies, "seed of the woman," "seed of Abraham," "Root of Jesse," "Son of David," "firstborn" of Mary. God was "father" to the idea, and made it happen. Christians are "begotten through the gospel" [I Cor 4:15] and "Born of God" [I John 2:29]; whosoever is "born of God"... God's "seed (sperma) remaineth in him" BECAUSE he is born of God. [I John 3:9] This is NOT said of Jesus, who is of the (sperma) of David [John 7:42;Rom 1:3;II Tim 2:8]
There is no problem understanding that God is the Father of Jesus until men begin to "help" the scriptures with
"explanatory" doctrines, that warp the whole thing out of balance with scripture.
© 2002 Theophilus Book
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