A.       Seek First the Kingdom of God And His Righteousness
1.       Matthew 6:24-34 -- "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (v.33).
2.       Jesus assumes that if you have a choice, then you'll choose God.
 
B.       It is the Father’s Good Pleasure to Give You the Kingdom
1.       Luke 12:31-32 -- "Fear not, Iittle flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (v.32).
2.       It Is God's will for you to own that Kingdom.
 
C.       We are Residents of that Kingdom Now.
1. John 17:13-23.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
a.       Jesus prayed that we would be delivered from the evil of this world.
2.       Jesus answered this prayer by submitting Himself to death.
3.       Galatians 1:4 -- "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, accord Ing to the will of God and our Father."
4.       Colossians 1:12-13 -- "…hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (v.13).
D.       We Have Kingdom Rights Now
          1. Most Christians don't know their Kingdom rights.
a. Luke 15:11-32.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
 
(1) The older son had the same Inheritance as the younger, but didn't know his rights.
 
2.       You are an heir to that Kingdom and all of its resources are yours now.
a.       Deuteronomy 28:11 (Amp.) -- "And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity…"
b.       Keys to prosperity:
                              (1)      Joshua 1:8 -- "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that Is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
 
3.       Your needs should be met now as If you were already In heaven.
a.       Philippians 4:19 -- "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches In glory by Christ Jesus."
4.       Don't wait until you get to heaven to use your Kingdom rights.
 
E. Seek His Righteousness
1.       Romans 10: 10 – We believe unto righteousness
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2.       II Corinthians 5: 17-21 – We are made righteous in Christ
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
 
3.       Romans 5:17-19—Righteousness is a Gift
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
 
4.       Romans 3:21-26 – We are to declare His righteousness to the world
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
 
5. Righteousness: Right-standing with God. The ability to stand before God as if sin never existed.
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary says it is to be: honorable and free from guilt.
 
6.       You should reign over the affairs of your life as a king reigns over a domain.
a.       Romans 5:17 (Amp.) -- "For If, because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one, much more surely wlll those who receive God's overflowing grace and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the One, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One."
 
7.       The Christian has a Bill of Rights in the Kingdom of God that is called the New Testament or New Covenant.
 
8.       These rights will work for anyone who will put them to work.
 
9. Jesus Is the surety or guarantor of these rights.
 
F. What Belongs to Us In Christ
1. You are a partaker of His divine nature.
a.       II Peter 1 :4 -- "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust…"
 
2.       You can stand in the presence of God without a sense of guilt, fear or condemnation.
a.       Romans 8:1-2 -- 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3.       You have the power of attorney to use the name of Jesus.,
a.       John 16:23 -- "…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
b.       John 14:12-14 -- 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
 
4. You have access to the very Spirit of God.
 
a.       Luke 11:13 -- " ••• how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
b.       I John 4:4 -- "…greater Is he that Is In you, than he that is in the world."
 
5.       You have the wisdom of God.
a.       I Corinthians 1:30 -- "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God Is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption "
 
6. You have been blessed with all spiritual blessings.
a.       Ephesians 1:3 – “BIessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places In Christ."
 
G. A Child's Legal Rights
1. Father's protection:
a.       Matthew 28:20 -- " ••• and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
b.       Psalm 91:11 -- "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee In all thy ways."
 
2. Jesus' Intercession:
a.       Hebrews 7:25 -- 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
 
3.       Family lawyer:
a.       I John 2:1—" 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:..”
 
4.       Son's place in the royal family:
a. I John 3: 1 -- "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…"
 
5.       We have a son's Inheritance:
a.       Galatians 4:7 -- "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
 
6.       We are enabled to live a worry-free life:
a.       Philippians 4:6 (Amp.) -- "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God."
b.       I Peter 5: 7 (Amp.) -- "Casting the whole of your care -- all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.”
 
Understanding our Right-Standing with God can forever change your confidence in the Lord’s acceptance of you. It will challenge you to press through tradition an uncover the truth about who you are In Christ.

A.       Man Lost His Right-Standing
       1.       Adam lost his standing with God when he sinned.

       2.       Abraham's faith was accounted unto him as righteousness.
                a. Romans 4:17-19.
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

       3.       Jesus paid for Adam's transgression and man's righteousness was restored.

B.       You Have Been Made The Righteousness Of God
 
      1.       II Corinthians 5: 17-21 -- "Therefore If any man be In Christ, he Is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (v.17). For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God In him" (v.21).
 
      2.       Righteousness: the ability to stand in the presence of God without the sense of sin, guilt, or inferiority.
                      a.       Romans 5: 1
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

        3. Don't confuse righteousness with holiness.

C.       Jesus' Righteousness Has Been Imparted to You

       1.       I Corinthians 1 :30 -- "But of him are ye In Christ Jesus, who of God Is made unto us wisdom, and                   righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

        2.       God provided this righteousness upon legal grounds.
                  a.       Romans 4:25 (literal) -- "Who was delivered up for our trespasses , and was raised when                                 we were declared righteous."

D.         Righteousness is a Free Gift

             1.     Romans 5:17-19 -- "For If by one man's offence death reigned by one ••• even so by the                               righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one                             man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shalI many be made                       righteous."

           2.       If God could not make man righteous and as free from a sin conscience and condemnation as                        he was before sin entered the world, then Satan's work In Adam was more effectual than God's                       work In Jesus.

E.       Declare His Righteousness

        1.       Romans 3:21-26 – 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being                           witnessed by the law and the prophets;
                  22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that                    believe: for there is no difference:
                  23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
                  24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
                  25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his                                  righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
               26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him                        which believeth in Jesus.
                 Now Look:
            "Even the righteousness of God which Is by faith of Jesus Christ unto alI and upon all them that                        believe: for there is no difference (v.22).
             Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that Is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath                    set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood ••• " (vs.24-25).

           2.       Romans 10: 10 --"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness••• "

           3.       If God ls going to have perfect fellowship with man, then man must be as righteous as God.

           4.       God ls not holding anything against anyone.

                      a.       II Corinthians 5: 19 -- "To wit, that God was In Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,                                    not imputing their trespasses unto them ••• "
F. Put Away a Sin Consciousness

          1.       Don't hang on to sin tags such as: "I'm Just an ole' s Inner saved by grace.”

         2.       Satan has made the Body of Christ think that it is a mark of humility before God to boast of our                        sinful, weak, unworthy condition.

          3.       You are God's workmanship created unto good works.

                   a.       Ephesians 2:10 -- "For we are his workmanship, created In Christ Jesus unto good works,                                which God hath before ordained that we shouId walk in them.”

G.      Begin To Develop a Righteousness Consciousness

           1.       Hebrews 10: 1-2 –For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image                      of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make                          the comers thereunto perfect.

                   2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once                                purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

 “••• because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins" (v.2).

         2.       Hebrews 9:11-14 – 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater                      and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
                  12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the                            holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
               13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,                                 sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
             14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without                    spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
 
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (v.14).

          3.       Hebrews 1:3 -- "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express Image of his person,                           and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat                     down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

          4.       Romans 5:1 (AmpIifled) -- "Therefore, since we are Justifled (declared righteous), and given a                      right standing with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of                                        reconciliation to hold and to enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ••• "

         5.       Hebrews 4: 16 -- "Let us therefore come boIdIy unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain                          mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

The earthly benefit of righteousness!

         6.       I Peter 3: 12 -- "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their                      prayers ••• "

          7.       James 5: 16 -- " ••• The effectuaI fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
​
         8.       Ephesians 6: 14 ....- "Stand therefore, having your lo Ins girt about with truth, and having on the                       Breastplate of righteousness." 

Satan Is Eternally Defeated
Hebrews 9: 12 -- "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered In once Into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
There could be no redemption without defeating Satan.
Jesus' three-fold victory:

• Victorious In His earthly ministry
• Victorious In His substitutionary sacrifice
• Victorious In making man a new creation.

 
Victory In Jesus' Earthly Ministry
John 1:14 -- "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…"
 First combat with Satan:
Matthew 4: 1-11 -- "Then was Jesus Ied up of the Spirit Into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (v. 1).
Matthew 4: 18-25 -- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (v.23).
From Jesus' encounter with Satan in the wilderness until He gave Himself up to the high priest, He faced Satan in every possible form of disease. Jesus conquered him in every place.
Jesus was Master of the laws of nature.
​
Victory In Jesus' Substitutionary Sacrifice
Jesus proved that He was Master of the adversary who had the authority of death.
Hebrews 2:14 -- "…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that Is, the devil.”
Jesus came to liberate the spirit of man.
II Corinthians 5:21 -- "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Isaiah 53:4-6 --"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (v.5).
Romans 8: 1-2 -- "There Is therefore now no condemnation to them which are In Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Galatians 4:4-9 -- "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"
 
The object of Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice was to make natural man a new creation and by that new creation, become the righteousness of God.
Righteousness: the ability to stand before God as though sin had never been.
 Romans 3:21-27-- 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
 
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
 
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
 
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
 
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
 
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
 
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
We are to declare His righteousness.
 
Romans 5:12-19-- 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
 
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
 
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
 
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
 
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
 
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
 
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
 
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
 Righteousness Is a free gift.

Victory in Making Man A New Creation
II Corinthians 5: 17 -- "Therefore If any man be In Christ, he Is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, alI things are become new."
The new creation Is absolute master over Satan.
II Peter 1 :4 --"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that Is In the world through lust.”
James 4:7 -- "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the deviI, and he will flee from you."
John 4:4 -- "… greater Is he that Is in you, than he that is in the world."
This Is true because you have the nature and life of God.
John 5: 4-5 -- "For whatsoever Is born of God overcometh the world: and this Is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who Is he that overcometh the world, but he that belleveth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
The ability of God is in your hands.
Philippians 4:13--“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Romans 6:14 -- "… sin shalI not have dominion over you ••• "
Romans 8:2 --"The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
 

A.       What Happened In The Garden Of Eden
1.       Adam had dominion over the earth.
a.       Genesis 1:26-28 -- "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion … (v.26). And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion… " (v.28).
2.       Adam was God's under-ruler in this earth.
3.       Adam committed high treason and gave his authority to Satan.
a.       Genesis 3:6 -- "…she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
b.       Adam was not deceived. He stood by and allowed this to happen.
(1) I Timothy 2: 14—" And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
B.       God Needed a Legal Entry Back into The Earth
1.       God was on the outside looking in -- the earth has been given to Satan.
2.       Genesis 17:1-19—" And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”
 
a.       God finds a man who will obey Him and establishes a Covenant (a legal contract between God and man).
C.       The Plan of Redemption Hid in A Mystery
1.       Through this Covenant, God would bring Jesus into the earth.
2.       Ephesians 3:9-10 -- "And to make al I men see what Is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created al I things by Jesus Christ" (v.9).
3.       Satan didn't know who Jesus was until He was baptized In the River Jordan.
a. I Corinthians 2:7-8—" 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
b. God said: "This is my beloved Son…"
4. The Fight Is On.
a.       Matthew 4: 1-11 -- "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit Into the wilderness to be tempted of the deviI" (v.1).
D. Jesus Came as The Second or last Adam
1.       I Corinthians 15:45 -- "And so It Is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (Life-giving) spirit."
2.       Born of a virgin, with the blood of God In his veins (alI man and alI God).
3.       Jesus had the same opportunity to fall as the first Adam, but he passed every test.
a. Hebrews 2:14-18-- 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
 
4.       Jesus operated as a prophet under the Abrahamic Covenant. He went to the cross as the Son of God.
 
E. Jesus Became Sin for Us
1. Jesus was made to be sin.
a. II Corinthians 5:21 -- "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God In him."
2.       Isaiah 53:3-10 -- "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our Iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (v.5). And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death ••• " (v.9).
a. Hebrew text: "deaths"
F. What Happened on The Cross
1.       Matthew 27:46 -- " ••• Jesus cried ••• My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
2.       It appears that God turned His back on His own Son, for He could not look upon sin.
3.       David speaks of the crucifixion a thousand years before it took place.
a. Psalm 22:1-22—" 22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”
 
4.       Jesus' body was deformed:
a.       Isaiah 52:14 -- " ••• his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men."
5.       Jesus cries, "It is finished" -- not the plan of redemption, but the Abrahamic Covenant.
G.      The Veil of The Temple Rent
1.       Matthew 27:51 -- "And, behold, the veiI of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.”
a. The physical temple in Jerusalem is no longer the dwelling place of God.
2.       The high priest finished his ministry when he offered up Jesus as the final sacrifice.
3.       John 2:19 -- "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
a.    1 Corinthians 3:16 -- "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwel leth in you?"
H. Jesus Went Into The Pit Of Hell
1.       Matthew 12:40 -- "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
2.       Acts 2:24-27, 31 -- (Peter is quoting David) "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption" (v.31).
a.       Psalm 16: 10 -- "For thou wlIt not Ieave my souI in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
3. David speaks of Jesus in hell:
a.       Psalm 88:6 -- "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the deeps."
4.       Satan torments Jesus for three days. (Read the entire 88th Psalm -- it is a description of what happened before Jesus was raised).
5.       God says, "That Is enough, Iet My Son go.”
6.       Jesus is justified in the Spirit -- recreated in Satan's domain.
a.       I Timothy 3:16 -- " ••• God was manifest in the fIesh, justified in the Spirit…”
b.       I Peter 3:18 -- "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death In the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."
c.       Jesus Is the first born from the dead.
(1) Romans 8:29-- 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.
(2). Colossians 1:18-- 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.
 
I.        Jesus Stripped Satan Of His Authority
1.       Colossians 2:15 -- "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in It."
2.       Hebrews 2:14-- Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
a. Jesus paralyzed Satan's death-dealing power.
3.       Revelation 1: 18 – “I am he that Iiveth, and was dead; and behold. I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of helI and of death.”
4.       He Is raised a glorified, resurrected immortal man --untouchable by death.
J.       Jesus Sprinkles His Blood on The Heavenly Utensils of Worship
1.       Man's penalty is paid, and the demands of Justice are met.
2.       Hebrews 1 :5-8 -- 5 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?
6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
3.       God highly exalts His Son.
a. Philippians 2:9-11-- Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
K.       Jesus Delegates This Authority to The Body of Christ
1.       Matthew 28: 18-20 -- "…All power Is given unto me In heaven and In earth. Go ye therefore. and teach all natlons…Teachlng them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you… "
2.       Mark 16:15-18 -- "And he said unto them. Go ye into all the world. and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shalI lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
3.       Ephesians 1:17-23 -- "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (v.22).
a.       Jesus, having put off from Himself the principalities and the powers, (it would seem as though the whole hosts of hell were upon Him. He was going through agonies beyond words and suddenly is Justified, made alive) hurled back the hosts of darkness and paralyzed their death-dealing power.
4.       Once again man is In a position of authority. He is no longer a slave to Satan but has become his master through the power in the name of Jesus.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?(Matthew 27:46)

The Trinitarian Question

Some questions are answered in the same way that others   are   answered.   This   is   one   of   those   questions. Trinitarians will bring up this argument when they are trying to show that the Father and the Son are two separate and j distinct persons of the triune Godhead. The problem is that | they use this same position for so many scriptures that one answer will always suffice the question that is being asked; namely, the dual nature of Jesus Christ. Let's take a closer look.

Jesus said "My God my God why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34) This took place as He was dying on the cross upon the hill called Calvary. It is one of the seven things recorded in the bible that Jesus said while He was on the cross.

What we are reading is the story of how Jesus is being put to death, after being brutally punished, for the sins of the entire world. It never gets old to think about the wonderful mercy that Christ displayed for us even while we were yet sinners.

While He was hanging on the cross as He drew near to His sacrificial death, with the weight of the world's sin upon Him, He looked up and said these words "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani". These words were interpreted as "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The question that is then brought to oneness people is "who was Jesus talking to?" If Jesus is God, who was it that He was crying out to?

Their stance is obvious. It is that this shows Jesus talking to the Father, showing that there are 2 separate entities or persons in the Godhead. How then will the "Jesus Only's" figure this one out?

The Trinitarian Dilemma
When someone raises this question concerning this statement that Jesus made on the cross, they should be prepared to answer some questions themselves; a lot of questions. Not questions about the bible, but about the doctrine that for centuries has been believed on without biblical backing. The doctrine of the trinity finds no support biblically and usually puts its proponents into a position of answering more questions then they ask.

Where Is The Holy Ghost?
For starters, where is the Holy Ghost? Why when showing distinction between persons of the Godhead does the Holy Ghost never seem to be part of the equation? Why is there never a conversation in scripture between the Father and the Holy Ghost? We always see a distinction between the Father and the Son, but never with the Holy Ghost. The reason is simple. The Father is the Holy Ghost! Saying Holy Ghost is the same as saying Holy Spirit. We know that God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24) and that there is only one Spirit (Ep. 4:4). We know that the Father is holy (Lv. 11:44) so we must assume that the Father is the one Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. This is why we never see the Father and Holy Spirit communicate with one another, because there is no "one another" at all. It is the same Spirit. There is only one (Eph. 4:4).

This, in and of itself, is proof that the trinity is false, but I will entertain the question anyway, for the sake of the reader.

Who Is Jesus' Talking To?
Let me be very clear about this next dilemma. Oneness; people believe that Jesus was talking to the Father when He made the statement in question. What I am about to present is only to show the falseness and biblical contradiction of the doctrine of the trinity, not to question who Jesus was talking to.

The trinitarians assume (so do oneness people) that Jesus made this statement to the Father. When the bible declares the Father to be God, it does so rightly, but just to be clear about the definition of the trinity, the word 'God' does not automatically mean 'Father'. This story does not say that Jesus said "Father, Father, why hast thou forsaken me", but rather "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me". Biblically speaking there isn't much of a difference, but when it comes to the dogmatically defined trinity these are two very different statements.

According to the definition of the trinity given to us by the early church fathers at the council of Nicea and in the Athanasius Creed when we use the term 'God' we are talking about a triune God who is three in essence. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost would make up who God is. Three persons. So when Jesus looked up and said "My God, my God..." we must assume (if we are using trinitarian understanding) that He is talking to all three members. He didn't say Father, He said God. That, by their standard, is three persons Jesus must have been talking to. Was Jesus talking to Himself? Did Jesus forsake Jesus? And we are accused of sounding ridiculous?

When will they learn that they cannot use these standards of doctrine when it is convenient for their stance and throw them aside when it becomes a burden for them?

Co-existence
The next problem the trinitarians find themselves trying to work out is their traditional and essential doctrine of co-existence. This doctrine says that each member of the Godhead is eternally co-existent, meaning that the three exist together, without separation, for all eternity.

If this is true concerning the trinity then we have to ask a major question. How can the Father, who is eternally co­existent with the Son, possibly forsake Him, therefore separating the two? This presents a problem for them on a number of levels. According to this doctrine, wherever the Son is so is the Father. Wherever the Father is, so is the Holy Ghost. Three separate and distinct persons yet they are all eternally together. They cannot be separated. Jesus said that the Father forsook Him. If this is talking about a true forsaking where God left Jesus, co-existence goes out the window because they cannot co- exist and forsake each other at the same time? The Father's forsaking of the Son is not consistent with the co-existence of the trinity. Either they are together or they are not together, but it cannot be both.

This is another case of having to choose to believe the bible or the teaching of the trinitarians. It usually bodes well for those who choose the bible.

Forsaken?
Some people teach that the Spirit of God left the body of Jesus while He was on the cross at the point of his death. They say that this is because sin came upon Him and that God cannot come in contact with sin. Therefore, in that last moment of Jesus' life, when sin came upon him completely and He cried out asking God why He had forsaken Him, the Spirit of God physically departed from the body of Jesus because He cannot touch sin.

The problem that I have with this teaching is that the very thing that made Jesus God was that the Spirit of God dwelt in Him, bodily (Col. 2:9). It is this heavenly infusion that is the core foundation of the fact that Jesus is God in the first place. If God forsook Jesus and left Him hanging there empty, void of the Spirit that was once so pleased to dwell in Him, was Jesus still God on the cross? How could He be? The very thing that made Him God is that the Spirit of God dwells in Him. If the spirit of God no longer dwelt in Him did He surrender His position as the second person of the Godhead for those three days? Does that mean that it was not actually God that made this sacrifice? This would make void any further need to discuss whether or not Jesus is a second person of God or not; now He is not even God at all. This is blasphemy.

So Was Jesus Forsaken?
This action was not as much a physical forsaking as much as it was an emotional abandonment. In everything that Jesus ever went through the Father was there to help. In everything that Jesus ever dealt with the Father was there to comfort Him. In Jesus' darkest hour of prayer, the Father met Him in the garden. In His wilderness temptation, the angels ministered unto Him at the Father's beckon call. Now, all of a sudden, in Jesus' hardest trial, the Father could not help Him. The Father could not do anything for Jesus because it was His destiny to carry the burden of sin. Why wouldn't Jesus feel forsaken at this moment?

To say that God cannot come in physical contact with sin does not make sense. God is in you and I, and we still sin. We are not perfect; so if God cannot come in contact with sin does God leave us every time we sin? "...Lo, I am with you ALWAY (always), even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Mt. 28:20). "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). Every time you sin does God leave you? Paul said that evil (sin) was always present with him (Rm. 7:21). He even said that sin dwelt in him (Rm. 7:17). Does that mean we don't have God with us because we have a sin nature? Wasn't the purpose of this sacrifice to reunite us to Him, rather than to still be separated from us (2 Cor. 5:19)?

God has no problem physically touching sin. God is omnipresent; God is everywhere even in hell according to David (Ps. 139:8). If God is everywhere, surely He has come into physical contact with sin somewhere.

God's Holy Nature
What then are people talking about when they say that God cannot come in contact with sin? It is His moral excellence. It is His holy nature that cannot endorse, or come into a union, with sin. God will never unify with sin and evil. God has to physically make contact with sin every day because God is omnipresent. Surely He dwells somewhere where sin exists? What He will not do is mingle with it. When Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me", it was not that the Father left him physically alone (Jn. 8:29), as much as it was that the Father allowed Him, for the first time, to go through something by Himself. God allowed Him for the first time to feel what it was like to exist without the intervention of the Spirit. Did the Spirit of God literally leave him? No, but for the first time the Spirit of God, because of Jesus' destiny to save mankind from sin, had to allow Jesus to feel the full sting of death (1 Cor. 15:55). He had to literally be the bearer of man's sin, without the help of the Father, because He was literally taking man's place; under the curse of sin, apart from God.

I don't know about you, but when I've done something wrong I feel terrible about it. If I am under some sin, it feels terrible. I would feel terrible about it. I have God inside of me yet would sometimes even question God about why He let it happen to me? That is what sin makes you feel; each is the action of all; the action of all is the action of each. The divine action is essentially one.

dark, alone and separated from God. Now, imagine having to go through that type of experience for sins you did not commit. Imagine going through it not only for one person's sin, but for the trespasses of entire world from Adam until the very last person that would ever exist. Having the Father inside of you and knowing it, while the weight of sin literally crushes you, yet the Father does nothing about it. Wouldn't you feel forsaken? Wouldn't you feel like your father turned his back on you?

Did God physically leave Jesus on the cross alone? No. It was not that at all. It was that Jesus Christ for the first time felt what it was like to do something as a human without His Father helping him, and in that moment, He felt forsaken. Jesus did not get left as a mere human on a cross. He had the Spirit of God still within Him.

Scriptures declares that it was the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead (Rm. 8:11), but Jesus said He would raise His own person from the dead (Jn. 2:19). When He said that if they were to "destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" the bible says that He "spake of the temple of his body" (Jn. 2:19-21). So, who raised Jesus from the dead, the Father or the Son? We know that it was not two different persons doing two distinct actions.

Jesus could never have made this claim had He not been God manifest in the flesh. This was Jesus speaking as God. This shows us that the Father could not have departed from the body of His Son Jesus, because that would mean two distinct persons raised Christ from the dead. Jesus said He would raise His own person from the dead because He knew that the Father would not leave Him; could not leave Him because the Father is His Spirit nature. It was His own Spirit; therefore He could never be alive without it. It is the essence of who He is.

It was only at the point when Jesus died that the Spirit of the Father came out of His body; a dead body. When Jesus said "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" the bible tells us that Jesus "gave up the ghost", meaning He died (Lk. 23:46). That is when the Spirit of God left the body of Jesus Christ, not when He asked the Father why He was left forsaken.

At that point Jesus had a feeling of forsakenness like He had never felt before because of the heaviness of sin that was upon Him as He carried out His destiny. Jesus was never left alone by the Father. The Father promised that He would never leave us, nor forsake us. That promise included every person, even His own Son (Heb. 13:5).

Unity of Divine Essence
This great understanding does not coincide with the belief in a triune God. The trinitarians hold another doctrine close to their hearts called the unity of the divine essence. This doctrine says that whatever the Father wills, the Son and the Holy Spirit also will. Since they are one, whatever the Father wills, the Son and the Holy Spirit will also. Whatever the Father does, the Son and Holy Spirit do also. There is no will and no action of God the Father which is not at the same time the will and action of God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. You see the unity here? Every action of God is the action of the Three. No one person of the trinity acts independently of or in isolation from the others. The action of each is the action of all; the action of all is the action of each. The divine action is essentially one.

If this is the case then why was Jesus asking inquisitively why the Father was turning His back on Him? I mean, they make no decisions without each other, right? If their minds or wills are in one accord at all times then Jesus would have had no need to ask the Father why He was forsaking Him. It would have been one action being made by the whole Godhead team, including the Son.

Conclusion
So to answer the question of this scripture showing two persons, the answer is no. This does not show two persons of the Godhead. This does show, however, the struggle of Jesus' humanity as He was forfeiting His life for the sake of mankind. It shows that this was real, flesh humanity that died for our sins. It is a beautiful picture of the dual nature of Christ and that in his humanity, Jesus submitted to the will of the Father to redeem mankind in its helpless state.

I don't know why anyone would ever want to change this into two persons. It is perfect the way it is. The humble submission of Jesus to the Father's plan; how incredible! He knew that the Father was in Him and would be with Him forever. He was not forsaken by the Father literally, physically; He was forsaken of him in His emotion and strength. Reading this story, one can almost hear the Father's heart cry; "I am here with you, and I am always going to be inside of you, but right now I have to let you go through this because you have to fulfill your destiny. I have to let you suffer and feel what this is like, because this is how man will feel for all eternity without me. I have to let this crush you. I have to literally let this kill you because through this, you are going to save the world." The agony that He allowed His own flesh to feel was excruciating. I imagine it was hard, but He never gave up and came off of the cross. He did that for us. How amazing? What a beautiful picture of God going the distance to reconcile our relationship with Him. I don't see why anyone would want to have it any other way.
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Scripture References
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are catted in one hope of your calling;
Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Romans 7:21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with
me.
Romans 7:17
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Psalms 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
John 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
I Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
John 2:19-21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
Luke 23:46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
 
 

I Go To the Father
(John 16:28)
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

The Trinitarian Question
Jesus said He would go to the Father (Jn. 16:28). He also said that He came forth from the Father. The question that trinitarians will ask concerning this verse is; "if Jesus is the Father, who is Jesus going to"? They say that Jesus going to the Father is proof of more than one person. They say it shows us that there is distinction between the Father and the Son.

The Trinitarian Dilemma
Is it just me or is defining the "distinction" a pretty major problem for trinitarians? The common accusation that they falsely (and ineffectively) throw at us is that we believe there is no distinction between the Father and the Son. We do believe in a distinction between the Father and the Son concerning the natures, not as in persons (Ep. 4:4). They are not two persons, but two natures of one person; Jesus (Jn. 10:30). The Father dwells in the humanity of Jesus; therefore, Jesus is the Father by way of His divine nature (1 Tim. 3:16).
This is another stance that will always backfire on the Trinitarians. Quoting this verse of scripture and then asking us to see two individual persons is at best a stretch. At worst, it is a detriment to the whole scheme of trinitarian thinking. The question that the trinitarian will ask when citing this passage is "If Jesus is the Father, who is Jesus going to?" "Is Jesus going to Jesus?" This is the standard trinitarian straw man argument.

Co-existence
To fully understand the dilemma that faces the trinity doctrine, we must revisit the underlying principle of co­existence. The trinity, according to the creeds, is co-existent. According to this definition, wherever the Son is, so is the Father also. This is known as the doctrine of perichoresis. This means that everywhere that Jesus ever was, the Father had to be with Him.

Jesus said that the Father was with Him repetitively (Jn, 8:29). Jesus constantly reminds the disciples that the Father is with Him. It almost seems to make perichoresis sound correct until we get to the place where Jesus is going to the Father. When Jesus says He is going to the Father, perichoresis goes out the window. If I am going to come to you, then I am not with you. How could Jesus have the Father with Him, and at the same time be going to the Father? How can He be with the Father and not with the Father at the same time? This is impossible. If Jesus is going to the Father then He cannot have been with the Father the whole time. This is utter contradiction.
 
Reconciling the Contradiction
If we are to understand what Jesus meant when He said He was going to the Father, we must understand the context in which He was saying it. Notice that He was not just going to the Father, but He also came forth from the Father (Jn. 16:28). The key word there is the word "forth". He didn't say I came from the Father. He said He came 'forth' from the Father. These are two different things. To come from something is to say I was there and now I am here. Like saying I came from New York and now I live in Florida.

To say I came forth from something is another thing altogether. The word 'forth' means 'into view'. What Jesus was saying was that He came into view from the Father. Before He could not be seen, but now He has become tangible. In other words, He came from being invisible and intangible and returned to being invisible and intangible. He came forth from deity and returned to deity; He came forth from Spirit and returned to Spirit. This refers more to His office and position rather than His location. He couldn't have been saying He was going back to the location where the Father was, for the Father was ever with Him. The Spirit of God is omnipresent. It is everywhere present. You can never go anywhere where God is not.

Conclusion
Jesus, when making this statement, was not saying that He came from where the Father was and was returning again to that place. He was saying that He once was an invisible Spirit and after becoming a man, physical in nature; He was going back to His divine state of being. He was the Father, unlimited; then as the Son, He was the Father humbling Himself as a man, taking upon Himself the limitations of humanity (Ph. 2:7-8). After His purpose on earth was fulfilled, He went back to the Father; the deity.
​
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3:17). The Lord Jesus is that Spirit. The Lord Jesus is the Spirit of God in the form of a man. When He was finished with His work as a sinless man, He returned to His existence in the realm of the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that is still in operation in the church today, and the Lord is that Spirit.
 
Scripture References
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
John 10:30
I and my Father are one.
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
 
Philippians 2:7-8
But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
John 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
 
 
 
 
 

Over the next few blogs we will discuss statements that Christ made that have been misunderstood (and misused) to say that the Father and the Son are two separate and distinct persons of the Godhead. Christ never referred to the Father as a separate person. What was He referring to then?

To better understand these statements that were made we will first need to visit the doctrine of Christ's dual nature. Oneness and Trinitarians alike can agree on the fact that Jesus was dual-natured. Both will readily make the statement that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. However, the disagreement arises rapidly when we begin discussing what, or who, these natures are; namely, the God nature.

The belief in only one God is called monotheism, which comes from two Greek words: monos, meaning alone, one, single, and Theos, meaning God. This is an essential doctrine for Christians to believe. The purport of this doctrine is that it not only places God alone, but also unequaled. (The Oneness of God, David Bernard)

God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24). This truth is consistent throughout the entire bible. He is called "the Father of spirits."(Heb. 12:9) As a Spirit, God is an intelligent, supernatural being who does not have a physical body (Lk. 24:39). Not having a physical nature, He was not visible or physically tangible to mankind. This was the main reason for the incarnation.

The bible teaches that there is only one Spirit that makes up the Godhead (Eph. 4:4). There are not multiple spirits in the Godhead of whom one manifested in a flesh body as the Son of God. The Spirit that performed the creation of the universe is not different or distinct from the Spirit that was in Christ, or from the Spirit that is active in the church today. There is but one Spirit of God, and He is immutable, unending, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. Other references to this truth can be found in (Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 4:5) to name a few.

When we see that one Spirit move as the Father, we see the same Spirit that was incarnate in Christ's person. It is also the same Spirit that we see in action in the life of a believer in the church body. Paul described it as "one and the selfsame Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:11). The word selfsame means exact. The essence of the Spirit has been compared to or illustrated by the substance, H2o. When you have water in a cup it is H2o in liquid form. If you freeze the water from the cup, it is no longer liquid but ice, or if you boil it, it will become steam. The form changed, but the substance was always the same, unchanged. So it is with the Spirit, the form may change, but the substance is immutable.

Jesus promised to send "another comforter", or the Holy Ghost. A few verses later He said "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you" (John 14:18). When you have the Holy Ghost you truly have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you. Now the Lord is that Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17). We see Jesus clearly being identified with that one Spirit, it is no wonder why He said it was the Father who dwelt in him that did the (Jn. 14:10).

The centrality of this teaching goes back to the very j earliest of time, at creation. Then it was firmly stated in what | is known as "the Shema" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This is the core value of Judaism and true Christianity. The Jewish people recognize this as Jehovah or YHVH, and consider pluralizing the Lord's oneness, blasphemy. This is to say there is one Lord (Eph. 4:5).

Acts 10:36 says, "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:)". Jesus on earth was God manifest in the flesh. He was the fullness of God embodied in humanity. He was not a half God half man hybrid. He was 100% God and 100% man. He was the fullness of both natures interpenetrated into one being. He was the Son of God by way of humanity, and God Himself by way of His deity. Simply stated... "For in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

These verses of scripture are very clear and explicitly definitive in declaring that Christ is God. If this is so, then where is the problem? The problem arises when we start to probe the trinitarian doctrine for explanation on which of their persons it is that actually embodies this man Christ through the incarnation. The bible is very clear about who dwelt in Jesus making Him God. It was the Father (Is. 9:6, Jn. 2:19, Jn. 8:19-30, Jn. 10:30, Jn. 14:10-11, Jn. 14:13, Jn. 17:21). The scriptures never declare one time that God the Son indwelt Jesus. In fact, the words "God the Son" aren't declared anywhere in scripture. It is a term that is foreign to biblical verbiage.

The dual nature of Christ doesn't even make sense when looking at it as the Son being indwelt by the son. What makes God the Son, a son if he were never begotten by the Father? Would He really be the Son, who was never begotten? This shows that the Son is not an eternal being, but that sonship began in the womb of the virgin. This was not the Father in heaven sending the second person (God the Son) to indwell a man and do a work while He and the third person (Holy Spirit) stayed back and watched. This is so far away from biblical truth.

What we really see is a beautiful symphony of God's perfection and wisdom in action at the incarnation. God, who is the Father, placed His seed in the womb of the Virgin Mary and she brought forth a son called Jesus (Mt. 1:18-23). This son would be the savior of all mankind. This was called Emmanuel or God with us (Mt. 1:23).

This Jesus was completely human because He was born of a woman, His mother. He grew both in wisdom and stature as a man (Lk. 2:52). He was both hungry and thirsty as a man (Jn. 19:28). He wept (Jn. 11:35), slept (Mt. 8:24), mourned (Jn. 11:38) and scorned as a man (Mt. 21:12). He did all that a human does in life with the only exception; sin. He was completely perfect, but He was completely human.

This same Jesus was not just a man, but was also completely God. This is so because He was conceived by the Spirit of God (Mt. 1:20). God is His literal begetting Father (Jn. 3:16). We see Jesus do many things that a man could not do, even though He be the Son of God. Jesus raised the dead (Jn. 11:43). Who can raise the dead except God? We see Jesus walk on water (Jn. 6:19). Jesus saw Nathanael before He ever even met him in person (Jn. 1:48). He knew what people thought in their hearts without them ever saying a word (Mk. 2:8). These things He did as God. For what man could do these miracles except the Father be with Him (Jn. 3:2)?

The thoughts that Jesus perceived in the hearts of these men without them saying a word (Mk. 2:8) started because of the actions of Jesus prior in the story. They reasoned within themselves because Jesus, the man that stood in front of them, forgave the sins of a man sick with palsy. Their reasoning... "Why doth this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mk. 2:7) Jesus forgave sins. No man can do that in and of Himself, not even the Son of God. This He did as God. We know this is the case because of the first part of the response of the men. "Why doth this man speak blasphemies?" It would not be considered blasphemy to call Himself God's Son. He did that many times and they just thought He was crazy. It was when He, being a man, made Himself Jehovah that they wanted to kill Him for blasphemy. "The Jews answered Him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God" (Jn. 10:33). Jesus Christ was not only completely man, but also fully God and had no problem making that clear in the ears of all who would listen.

Why would the dual nature seem illogical at all? Think about it, when a child is born to his parents, he is not half from his mother and half from his father. He is not only half his mother's child. He is completely of his mother and completely of his father. I was born to Leroy and LaVerne Yates (Maiden Name “Bush”). I am not a half a Yates because my mother was a Bush. I am completely Yates (ask my mom, she will tell you). Without my father I could not be born. Without my mother I could not be born. I am completely of both of my parents.

Why would this truth be any different in Jesus? He is completely man because of His mother's DNA, and completely God because of His Father's DNA. He was both a God product as well as a human product, both completely and simultaneously. Jesus had both human and God DNA as the makeup of His person. He was completely full of God DNA and completely full of human DNA. This makes Jesus both God and man. This is the dual nature of Christ.

Scripture References
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Hebrews 12:9
Furthermore we have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Genesis 1:2
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.
1 Corinthians 12:4-13
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these things worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
1 Corinthians 12:11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
John 14:18

1. will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
2. Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
 
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 2:19
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 8:19-30
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? Because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.
John 10:30
I and my Father are one. John 14:10-11
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 14:13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 17:21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Matthew 1:18-23
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
John 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
Matthew 11:38
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Matthew 21:12
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
John 3:16
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 11:43
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
John 1:48
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Mark 2:8
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts
1John 3:2
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.
Mark 2:7
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
John 10:33
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thy self God.
 
 
 
 
 

​Let me start by saying that this is the single most difficult topic to understand concerning the Godhead. If you have a grasp on everything else but are still tackling this, you are ahead of the game.
There are some major problems with the Trinitarian view of Christ's pre-existence. Let us take a look at that first.
 
The Trinitarian View
Trinitarians say that God the Son (the second person) existed in eternity and became the Son of God. It was the second person of the Godhead that is incarnate in the person of Christ Jesus. This is the trinitarian position.
Basically Jesus (God the Son) always was and when it was time for Him to come into the world, He did so as the Son of God. Remember, this is not the Spirit of the Father doing this, but the Spirit of God the Son. This is unscriptural on many levels. Let's take a look.
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
This verse of scripture sums up the whole question of the Godhead quite well. It is impossible for Christ to have pre-existed the incarnation as the second person or God the Son.
How could the second Spirit person of the Godhead exist eternally when there is only one Spirit to begin with? There is but one God, and that God is the Father.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
In the beginning there was just God. He was alone and by Himself. There is no God beside Him. He performed the act of creation alone.
This is a very easy understanding until we come to a statement that John makes to start his account of the gospel.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We know that Jesus is the Word of God. The "Word" was in the beginning with God. How can this be? How can the "Word" be with God and yet God be alone? Further, how can Jesus be the Word that is with God and yet be God at the same time? This is a little confounding until we seek a better and clearer understanding of the whole picture.
Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
What does it mean that God created all things "by" Jesus Christ? What trinitarians will say is that God created all things using Jesus' body as the vehicle of His physicality. Basically, that He used Christ as the vessel through which He created everything.
This wreaks havoc on the entire trinitarian doctrine of the incarnation. According to the Trinity, it is not God the Father, but God the Son, who manifested to the world in Christ. If the Father created the world from within the body of Jesus Christ, did He then get out of that body when it was time for God the Son to get in at the birth of Jesus? This is utter confusion.
If Jesus' physical body was not the vehicle through whom the Father performed creation, then what does Paul mean when he says that God created the world "by" Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
The Greek word used here for the English word 'by' is diot, pronounced 'dee-ah".
This word has a number of applications. It is defined as: causal, after, always, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause), by occasion of, of, by reason of, for the sake of, that, thereby, therefore.
As you can see there are many applications of this word. The word is applied as 'because of, by reason of and for the sake of. This shows that Jesus' body was not the physical vehicle used to create the world, but the reason why the world was created. The Father didn't create the world using the physical body of Jesus. He created it with Jesus as the central focus of its purpose.
We know this is so because of verse 11...
Ephesians 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
 
Eternal Purpose
This verse tells us clearly that God did this act of creation for the eternal purpose that is in Christ Jesus. It was all part of God's plan of the ages. He never does anything "off the cuff". His plan is eternal. He never had a time where He had to figure it out, He just always knew. There was always a purpose and that purpose was fulfilled in Christ.
 
Truth of the Pre-Existence
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Isaiah 45:15
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
This is clearly telling us that Jehovah is going to be the Saviour of mankind. This is a problem because we know that Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world, effectively becoming the saviour.
When the words of these verses were spoken, had Jesus/Jehovah saved the world yet? Not physically. We had not yet seen the redeemer come and make the ultimate sacrifice. That makes these statements odd. God spoke of Himself in present tense as the saviour of the world, before the world was actually saved. How could He do this?
He rightfully spoke of Himself as Saviour prior to the salvation of man's souls in His divine omnipresence. God, being omnipresent, transcends space and time. He fills the entire universe and does so in all times of existence.
God is the only one who can speak about something that is not going to happen for another 2,000 years as though it were right now. His omnipresence allows Him to exist at all times.
We call this foreknowledge. He can tell us things about what is going to happen before we ever get there, because He is already there. That is how He can call Himself Saviour before we ever see His saving action. In God time, it is already done.
This is much the same way that Jesus is spoken of in the present tense in the Old Testament. When John said that Jesus was in the beginning with God (Jn.l:l) it was in this God-time foreknowledge. Jesus was not physically present in His human body. He was there only in the omnipresent mind of God.
In fact, the word 'word' used in John 1:1 in the Greek is 'logos', meaning a thought, blueprint or plan. This shows us again that Jesus was the blueprint and the reason for creation, not the physical vehicle. Prior to the incarnation at Bethlehem, where Jesus was born of a woman, He existed only in the foreknowledge of God.
The Father did have a form in the Old Testament, but that form is not the man Christ. A few examples of this are found in the following verses.
 
The Angel with the Name
Exodus 23:20-23
[20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. [21] Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. [22] But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. [23] For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Some people will say that this angel is actually Christ in the Old Testament. The whole stance is based on the angel bearing the name. It is the angel in whom the name is. They say this must be Christ in the Old Testament because this angel has the name of God. The problem is; we have the name of the Father as well. When someone is baptized into Christ they literally take upon themselves the name of God. Since you have the name, does that make you God?
Just because the angel came bearing the name of the Father that does not mean he is the Father. That just means that he came bearing the name, the same way a believer bears the name. This angel was literally part of the family of heaven. This angel was definitely not Christ.
 
The Angel Of The Lord
Zechariah 1:12-13
[12] Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of ]udah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? [13] And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
The stance some take here is that the angel of the Lord is the body of God in the Old Testament. They say, when you see the bible say "angel of the Lord" that is God in an angelic bodily type form.
In some cases, when we see the angel of the Lord it is the Lord. This is true, but not in every case.
Matthew 1:20
[20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
An angel comes to deliver the birth announcement of the Christ to Joseph, telling him not to worry because this baby was from God. This angel is called the angel of the Lord. Is this God manifesting to do this?
Luke 1:26
[26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
This is not God delivering this message, it is Gabriel. We aren't going to say Gabriel is God next, are we? Gabriel is called the angel of the Lord. Just because an angel is said to be the angel of the Lord doesn't mean it is the Lord Himself. It simply means that the angel belongs to God.
This angel in Zechariah is not the Lord, but an angel of the Lord. What we are seeing is an angel asking the Lord a question and the Lord replying to that question. This, again, is not Jesus.
 
 
Christ In The Old Testament
Daniel 10:5-6
[5] Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: [6] His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel 12:7
[7] And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
This one is the most interesting of all. The argument, again, is that this shows Christ in the Old Testament. Wouldn't you know it? This time they got it. This is Christ! They are exactly right about one thing. This does show Christ in the Old Testament. However, this is not Christ in pre-existence. Confused?
Remember, we are not saying that Christ did not exist; we are saying He did exist, but only in foreknowledge. This is absolutely the same description given i)y John as to the one He saw in His vision. This is Jesus.
How do we understand what it was that Daniel is talking about? Who did Daniel see?
Daniel 10:7
[7] And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
What we must understand is the fact that this was not a physically present Christ. This was a vision. Notice that the other men did not see this man. This is because it was a vision exclusively for Daniel. God showed Daniel a vision of a victorious Christ in a time before He had ever corporeally existed. In other words, Daniel was allowed to look into God's mind and see His future plan. What an amazing experience. God showed Daniel what He showed John, but Daniel saw it many years early.
 
Conclusion
The question is, did Christ pre-exist the incarnation? The answer is yes. Christ existed for all eternity, in the mind and foreknowledge of God, but not in physicality until the incarnation and birth in humanity.
God had a plan the whole time. Because God is omnipresent and reserved the ability of foreknowledge to Him, we could not always see that plan. Jesus was always the plan for mankind and through the ages certain people were blessed to have seen glimpses of this blueprint as God opened their eyes to be aware of His mind as He revealed it to them.
Concerning our human time, Christ did not exist until He was born to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. Before that, He was just a prophecy. The plan had not yet been fulfilled, so to mankind, He did not exist. It was in God time that He existed eternally, and that was only in the omnipresent, omniscient foreknowledge of God.
 
 

(John 17:1)
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
The Trinitarian Question
This question always starts out the same way. "If Jesus is the Father, why is he praying to the Father? Is Jesus praying to Jesus?" This is what they ask as they snicker at us "helpless" oneness folks, who can only pray that this cup would pass from us, like Jesus did in the prayer we debate over.
The Trinitarian Dilemma
The thing that a Trinitarian, daring enough to bring up this topic, should always be reminded of is that this prayer that Jesus prayed does not present a problem for oneness theology. However, it presents a major catastrophe for the trinitarian concept of the Godhead from his perspective. Think about it... a co-equal, co-eternal, and co-essential person of the triune God asking for help from His co-existent partner person who he is equal to in every way. In other words, Jesus is saying, "not my will, but thine, be done" (Lk. 22:42) to a person who has the same will as He does. He is asking a co-omnipotent person, who by definition, has no more power than He has, to help him? He is asking that He could be glorified, concerning the glory that He had with the Father before the world was, when in all actuality they are both together already eternally co-existent? Why is Jesus praying to the Father if they are the same in every way measurable?
Wouldn't the co-equalness of the two persons make both wills the same? Wouldn't Jesus' statement, "Not my will, but thine, be done" actually be more accurate in saying, "Not my will, but thine, which is the same as mine, be done", making this prayer pointless? Wouldn't both persons will the same things to take place if they were in perfect tri-unity? Was there a disagreement within the Godhead?
This is an utter contradiction in the scriptures. If the Son, who is equal to the Father as a co-essential person of the Godhead, has the same will as the Father, why is He praying that the Father's will and not His own be done? The only explanation is that the human will of the man Christ Jesus is in direct subordination to the will of the Father which is Spirit. Christ as a man is in full submission to the will of the Spirit of God, His Father, who dwells inside of Him. The natural will of flesh is to remove itself from pain and anguish. This human will was overcome through prayer and placed in complete subjection to the will of the eternal Spirit of God, which was to save mankind through the atoning death, burial and resurrection of Christ, fulfilling the fore-ordained plan of redemption.
 
 
Omnipotent God
The next position that needs to be established is this question. Wouldn't the omnipotence of two equal persons make Jesus' power equal to that of the Father? If "God the Son" has the same power, being an equal person of the Godhead, as the Father has, why would Jesus have a necessity to pray to the Father for help? After all, according to the doctrine of the trinity, the Son is equal in every way to the Father, therefore He can do all that the Father can do. Why does the all-powerful person of the Godhead, "God the Son", need so much help from His equal, the Father? The answer is simple. Jesus is not the second co-equal person of the Godhead. In fact, He is the only person of the Godhead. There are no other "persons". Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I" (Jn. 14:28). This sure doesn't sound like equal persons to me. Jesus, because He was a human, was inferior to the Father.
Jesus, as a human, was not omnipresent, omnipotent or omniscient as the Father is. He did not know the end from the beginning (Mt. 24:36) nor was He able to exercise authority in the realm of the spirit except it is for the Father giving Him the authority to do so (Jn. 5:27). He was a human in every sense of the word, subjected to the Father. This is why He prayed for the Father's help.
Former Glory
Even more interesting is Jesus' prayer to the Father that He would be glorified again. He asks to be glorified by the Father's own self, like He was before (Jn. 17:5). The trinitarian position on the Godhead says that all three members of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are eternally co-existent. They are eternally co-equal persons. This prayer is a major setback to their doctrine.
The first and most obvious question is; why is God the Son asking for glory from the Father? Did He lose His own glory in the transition from heaven to earth? God the Son, according to the trinitarian standpoint, is equal to the Father in every way. The Athanasius Creed says, "There is one glory of the Father, another glory of the Son, and another glory of the Holy Spirit, yet there are not three glories, but one glory." Why is God the Son asking for the Father's glory, from His own self, when He has His own glory that is rightfully His? Was He not satisfied with His role in the Godhead? Was His co-equal glory lesser than the Father's in some way? Was His glory not enough to do the job? Why then did He need the Father, an equal person with the same glory, to glorify Him?
What many trinitarians will say is that there is only one glory, period. The Father and Son share an undivided glory. Well, isn't that a very contradictory statement? An oxymoron if I've ever heard one. Shared, but undivided glory? Seriously? Just to appease the appetite of the hungry trinitarian who only has this on his plate, let's examine the facts.
If the glory is a shared, yet undivided glory, why then is God the Son not able to take care of this glorification on His own? He shares in this undivided glory, meaning He should have access to it in its fullness. It is undivided, right? Why can't God the Son be glorified in His own glory? Why must it be the Father whose own self does the glorifying? The problem that they have here is that only one being can possess one glory - If it is truly one glory they believe in that is. Something cannot be shared, yet undivided. The Father alone has glory, and He will not GIVE it to another (Is. 42:8).
Co-existence
Even further into this point we find that Jesus is asking to once again have the glory with the Father that He once had (Jn. 17:5). The immediate question is - did the situation between Father and Son change? Did the two co­existent persons become non co-existent during the time of the Son's visitation to the earth? Are the two persons immutable? Can God be changed? "For I am the Lord, and I change not..." (Mai. 3:6). According to this scripture from a Trinitarian understanding; the Father and the Son had glory together, but at the point of the incarnation of God the Son in the Son of man, everything changed; and the glory of the second person, God the Son, could no longer have been intertwined with the glory of the first person, God the Father. In this passage, Jesus is praying to have the two glories become one again. Problem is -I thought the two glories were one the whole time? I thought God was immutable and couldn't change? What I can tell you is the inevitable. This will be chalked up to God's spiritual infinacy. We just can't comprehend it because we are finite humans.
They are right when they say there is only one glory. Where they go wrong is in determining who that one glory belongs to. The Father alone has glory (Is. 42:8). He shares it with no one. He alone is God ((Is. 44:8). There is none beside Him (Is. 44:6). The Son has no glory of His own. In fact, He cannot even do any works except it be by the Father that dwells in Him (Jn. 14:10).
Understanding this glory question will go a long way in helping someone understanding the Godhead question. Jesus was asking to be glorified by the Father's own person because it was unquestionable that the Father was the only one who could glorify Him (Jn. 17:1). Returning unto the former glory that was had since before the world was, is also a very easy understanding. No need to multiply glories. It was the glorious Father who dwelt in the Son (Jn. 14:10). It was not God the Son incarnate in the Son of God. It was the Father, full of glory. Jesus' prayer simply stated that He wanted to return unto the place where He was not in flesh on this earth anymore. He wanted to be glorified in a spiritual body with no more fleshly pain and agony. He wanted to complete His work as the sacrifice and return to His glorified form.
Conclusion
Truth is, Jesus, is praying, just like anyone else who prays. Jesus is indwelt with the Spirit in a far more complete way than a Christian believer is. For we have been given OF the Spirit in measure (Acts 2:17), but in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). Even with that, we do not believe that Christ is a half-man half-God hybrid. He is 100% God and 100% man. Because He is 100% God, He has the God-authority; because He is 100% man, He has a need to pray. What is the problem with Jesus praying to the Divine Spirit that dwelt fully in Him? We are not saying that Jesus' human side prayed to His divine side in the sense that Trinitarians accuse us of doing. It is not so much that He prayed from His human side as much as it is He prayed because of His human side. We are saying He prayed because He was a complete human, even though He was indwelt by the Spirit of the Father. The location of the Spirit of God does not determine whether or not a human should pray. It is no different for Jesus, who is fully human, in His human necessity of prayer.
The funny thing is that when the tables are turned on the trinitarians, they use the very same argument to explain why Christ prayed. Why is it alright for Jesus to pray when they need Him to pray, but not when He is praying for the oneness people? In Luke's account of Jesus' prayer, he states that an angel came and strengthens Jesus (Lk. 22:43). Why would the almighty God need strength from an angel, whom He created? The trinitarians will quickly refer to the dual nature of Christ to explain this. They will say it was the human side that needed strength. So, let me get this straight. Jesus prayed because of His humanity and God sent an angel to strengthen Him? Isn't that funny? It is incorrect that He prayed because of humanity, but that same prayer was answered because of humanity?
Next question...
Scripture References
Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
John 14:28
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Matthew 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
John 5:27
And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Malachi 3:6
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
 
Isaiah 44:8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me ? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of Hosts; I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Colossians 2:9
For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Luke 22:43
And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.