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Paul’s reply to a man who argued that God and Jesus Christ cannot be the same:
Without the Spirit of God it is impossible to comprehend the things of God. “For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:11).
Richard, how can we explain these things to you whom does not have the Spirit? We certainly cannot convince you, nor do we wish to try. On the other hand, we are sent to speak the truth to all.
The first and foremost truth to be proclaimed is this: Jesus Christ is both Lord and God, reigning over all. Repentance and remission of sins is preached in His Name. He is the express image of the invisible God, the body God gave to Himself to do what only He could do. By Him were all things created, and by Him do they consist. He owns it all, paid for in His own blood. This is true, and will never change. There is no other Name given to men whereby they must be saved.
There are not two or three gods, or separate parts of God that have independent thought and action. This is not what the Bible teaches, and not what God has revealed in us. The Bible testifies that the Lord is One, that there is no Saviour besides Him, that His own arm brought salvation to Him, and that He will not give His glory to another. There is no other God besides Him.
I wish to point to one book in particular at this time, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The book speaks, from the beginning, of the Lord Jesus Christ, saying of Him that He is the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, which is, was, and is to come, the Almighty. It is clear this is Jesus, for He says He died, and “behold, I am alive for evermore.” He also says He has the keys to hell and death. Now, Who other than God can say that? “He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the LORD belong the issues from death” (Psalms 68:20).
So, Who is the Almighty being testified of here, the Father or the Son?
In the second chapter, Jesus says that He searches the reins and the hearts. David also said this of the LORD (Capitalized LORD is the substitution for YHWH, the Name of God Almighty), “…for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts…” (I Chronicles 28:9).
Who is doing this now? Is it the Son or the Father?
In the third chapter Jesus says that He has the seven Spirits of God.
In chapter four there is One seated on the throne of God, Who has the seven Spirits of God before Him. This is the same One of Whom it is said, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” This is also the same One Who created all things, “for Your pleasure they are and were created.”
Of Whom is it speaking here, the Father or the Son?
At all times when Jesus is speaking to the churches, He says, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
So, Who is speaking, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
In chapter 5 every creature in heaven, and earth, blesses God. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Who is it they are worshipping that sits on the throne, is it God or the Lamb (Jesus Christ)?
Why isn’t it said that “They” are sitting on the throne instead of “Him”?
“And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that lives for ever and ever.”
In chapter 6 men were hiding themselves from the Lamb. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?”
Again, Who is sitting on the throne, and of Whom are they afraid, the Lamb, or God?
In chapter 7 the great multitude stands before the throne and the Lamb and cries with a loud voice, “Salvation be to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” At this the elders fall before the throne and worship God.
Who are they worshipping, God, or the Lamb?
At the end of Revelation, it is said: “He which testifies these things says, ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Now, Paul also speaks of the grace of God that brings salvation, which has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).
Whose grace is it, God’s or Jesus Christ’s?
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).
Who gave Himself for us, God or Jesus Christ?
They are One and the Same. “He that has seen Me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9).