The Father, Son and Spirit are One

Throughout the Eternal One’s love story the Bible there are many references to how creation is an expression of Himself. How His handiwork reveals His glory and majesty. Like a master craftsman, the Eternal One spoke light into existence, and breathed life into His creation. Yet even in its damaged state, the entire cosmos still has elements of its creator. So let us begin this journey through Psalm 19 and see the handiwork of the Eternal One. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

When Jesus walked the earth as a man He preached, taught and demonstrated the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. He turned the eyes of humanity off their temporary world and gave us a glimpse into eternity. An eternity with Him that is in complete contrast to this world damaged by evil. 

In selfless love Jesus turned the eyes of humanity off the destructive forces of self and evil and onto the goodness and selfless love of our creator. Revealing the love of the Father, Son and Spirit. 

God and the relationship He has within Himself is central to His character and kingdom. The Father, Son and Spirit are of one will and essence. One God who out of His selfless love created the heavens and the earth and all things good. 

Yet in a moment of human history, the Son stepped down from heaven to earth. It was from the depths of the Father’s heart that Jesus came. For it is through the revelation of Jesus that we learn and experience the Father, Son and Spirit.

He chose to be born into the culture and traditions of the Jewish lineage of Abraham. Just as God promised to Abraham centuries before He came into our world, that this would be so. 

He chose to come in one of the darkest times in human history. The Roman Empire was in power and the decadence of humanity ruled and reigned. He came down into the dirt and shame of humanity, to set us free. He subjected Himself to the unjust systems and abuses of power of humanity, to pay the cost and raise each one up equal equal.  

In this time moment of time there were those of Jewish lineage who remained faithful to their creator. One such person was John the Baptist. 

Throughout the region, by the river Jordon, John was preaching that the kingdom of heaven had come down to earth in Jesus. He called the people to turn their minds and hearts to God. To receive God, receive Jesus and His right to rule and reign

Also there were those of Jewish lineage who had rejected God and were not faithful to Him. They were claiming to be of God because of their ethnicity, yet in their heart they denied Him. 

As the religious leaders of the Jewish religion, traditions and customs, they put on an outward appearance of being of God. 

But through the revelation of Jesus, John the Baptist seeing into the windows of their sole  exposed their deceptions. So the people would not be deceived by them. They would be free to choose to turn to their creator and receive His right to rule and reign or reject Him. 

For such is God’s great love for all people that if even those who were deceiving the people who had chosen to turn their hearts and minds towards God, they too were given equal opportunity to enter into the relationship of God and His kingdom.

Those of Jewish lineage knew the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament and John the Baptist testified that the time had come. God the Father, Son and Spirit we’re about to reveal themselves in a way humanity could see, hear and experience. For the time had come in Jesus the Son. 

Let us go to Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

What an incredible moment! These powerful and revelatory words that are rich in love and identity are the fulfilment of prophecies recorded in the Old Testament about the Messiah, the Christ, or the anointed one who will be the saviour of the world. For the Father, Son and Spirit are one.

One such prophecy of the one who will bring God’s kingdom of heaven to earth was that He would fulfil all righteousness. Righteous being God’s true justice of equality to humanity. So Jesus came to pay the cost of both those of Jewish lineage and non Jewish lineage. The cost of every offence ever said, thought or done by humanity. 

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Jesus identified Himself with humanity, so we could identify ourselves with the divine. 

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In undergoing John the Baptist’s baptism, God revealed Himself in such a powerful, yet tender way. 

For regardless of ethnicity or socio economic status, God in Jesus gave all of Himself to bring His kingdom of salvation and equity to humanity. 

Another prophecy foretold centuries earlier before Jesus walked the earth as a man was that the Spirit of God would rest upon the chosen one. At the moment Jesus came up immediately from the water, the heavens were opened. Through the eyes of Jesus we see into the unseen. The Spirit of God descending like a dove upon Him. Bringing into being the revelation of who Jesus is. Then the voice of God the Father in heaven is heard, again affirming who Jesus is. For the Father identifies with Jesus the Son, just as Jesus identities with God the Father.

As recorded in God’s love story the Bible, we too can know and experience the Father, Son and Spirit. We read those precious words uttered by God the Father. This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

Another such divine moment recorded in the gospels is when Jesus took Peter, James and John high up up on a mountain by themselves.  

Matthew 17:2-8 …and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Jesus was transfigured before them. The glory of God in Jesus, the Son of God was revealed. For the Son of God had come to earth and became the Son of Man. The fullness of the godhead dwelling in Jesus’ human tent was shining forth right before their eyes.

The Son of God never gave up His identity when He became a man. He was still and always will be fully divine. Yet in this sacred moment, high on a mountain the glory of the Father, Son and Spirit was visible. His face shone like the brightest of light. As Jesus was clothed in the divine rightness or equity of God, Peter, James and John saw into eternity. For they also saw the testimony of Moses and Elijah from the days of old. They were talking with Jesus.

While Peter was speaking then it happened. The presence of God in the form of a cloud overshadowed them. Suddenly a voice came out of the cloud. It was majestic, awesome and divine.

Again God the Father identifies with Jesus, affirming not only who He is but in this instance His ultimate authority. This time the Father acknowledges that Jesus the Son has all the power and authority to speak for Him. The Father states, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! 

In listening to Jesus the fullness of God and the truth about Himself is revealed. In Jesus, God gives all of Himself to pay the cost for us. For the Father, Son and Spirit are one.

Yet at that moment of revelation Peter, James and John became greatly afraid. 

In the fear of His disciples, Jesus came and physically touched them. His first recorded words that Jesus speaks after God the Father has said to listen to Him are rich in empowerment, love and comfort. Jesus said, Arise, and do not be afraid. For when Jesus speaks it is so. 

Just as it was in the beginning when the Father, Son and Spirit said let us make humanity, it was so. In the same power and authority of when light was called forth to seperate from the darkness, it was so. Jesus said, Arise, and do not be afraid.

So just as it is throughout the pages of history when God speaks, it is so. In that moment of tenderness and divine love high on the mountain, when Peter, James and John lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus .  

Having journeyed with Jesus as He ministered throughout the region, they were privy to such moments the Apostle Peter in his letter to those who are the disciples of Jesus testifies that the Father, Son and Spirit are one. 

2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Father gives honour and glory to the Son. The revelation of the Son and confirmation of who He is, is given by the Spirit of God. Peter declares that He along with others were eyewitness of His majesty. He came from the most excellent glory that is the deepest depths of divine love. From the heart of God the Father. For the Father, Son and Spirit are one.

Throughout the ages of time, God, the Father, Son and Spirit are always working. Pursuing humanity in His selfless love, revealing the fullness of Himself. He speaks through many different ways including His Holy Spirit through His prophets. Together with the Father, Son and Spirit, the prophets of old and every one who has said yes to God and His right to rule and reign, we testify of God and His great love. 

The Apostle Peter concludes His letter with a beautiful revelation of the heart of God. He states that God is not slow in His promised return. For He is waiting for all who will come to Him to come. When that happens, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Bringing with Him the fullness of His salvation to all who have received Him. 

Together with the fullness of His judgment of evil to all those who have rejected Him and thus denied their only pathway to salvation. On that day the heavens will pass away and the earth and the works of evil and self will be burnt up. 

Let us read Peter’s conclusion and listen to what God is saying to us today. 

2 Peter 3:13-18 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!