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Reference Notes

Godhead

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The Godhead (as it is called in the Bible, Romans 1:18-21, Colossians 2:9), or Trinity (as many Christians refer to it), is our one and only God (Exodus 20:1-3, Deuteronomy 5:6-7, 6:4-5), but He has three forms that He takes depending on the situation, and He always is in all three forms simultaneously. For example, take H2O: H2O can take the form of ice, water and steam, and it can take all three forms at the same time, in different places. They are all H2O, and they can even change from one form to another in any given place, but all three have their own unique properties. The same is true with the Godhead.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all God (Matthew 28:18-20), and God is one, as there is only one true God, but God is such that He can be anywhere and everywhere at the same time, and perform different roles and take different forms depending on the situation.

The Godhead of God has always existed in all three parts together, since the beginning (John 1:1-14). The Father is effectively the Brains of this operation–He is the part of God that is the creative mind. We see the Son mentioned throughout the Bible, even in the Old Testament, as He is the part of God that interacts with man in a form that is able to be comprehended by man. He was in the fire with Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. He visited Ezekiel in numerous occasions. Abraham paid tithe to Him, as He was known as Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7). He wrestled with Jacob before He renamed him Israel (Genesis 32:24-32). And so on. It was even this form of God, the Son, that created the world (Genesis 1, John 1:3-4, Ephesians 3:8-12). The Son sits at the right hand of the Father, and this is a euphemism meaning that the Son performs the actions of the Father–the right hand signifies power and work and completion of actions.

The part of the Godhead, called the Son, was born into the flesh as Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 4:11, 1 Colossians 2:6-12, Timothy 3:16), and went through this flesh life in order to gain first hand experience, and because He would not put us through something that He is not also willing to go through. This is the sign of the ultimate Leader. Through this experience in the flesh, He would better be able to relieve all our suffering and temptation we go through in these flesh bodies (Hebrews 2). Because of all this, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:16-31) that Jesus sent to the world after His crucifixion, and it is this part of the Godhead that fills us when we truly accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is the Holy Spirit that guides us as Christians to keep us on the right path to please God. And it is the Holy Spirit that will speak through the mouths of His elect during the Tribulation to fulfill God’s plan.

Topic Discussions

The Parable of the Householder and His Vineyard

Have you ever wondered about God’s plan? Or do you wonder why He exhibits His wrath on those who refuse to revere Him, and instead decide they want to do what feels good to them and disregard and disrespect His message? This parable put forth by Jesus gives us a little taste of His point of view and what will happen in His response.

Jesus gives us this parable that was addressed to the Pharisees who questioned His authority to do the great things that He was doing:

(Mat 21:33) Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

This householder is none other than the Father Himself. He created and established this vineyard, which represents the world in which we live in this flesh age. He put a hedge around this vineyard, which is a border that prevents us from leaving it. Everything we know is inside this vineyard. Everything outside this hedge or fence is not of the physical world. The grapes themselves represent those who live in this world, and the husbandmen are those who are supposed to tend to the grapes and make sure that they are taken care of and grown properly so that there is a bountiful harvest when the time comes. Once the grapes are harvested, they are put in the winepress to make wine. This winepress is reserved for the return of Jesus at the end of this flesh period.

(Rev 14:15) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
(Rev 14:16) And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
(Rev 14:17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
(Rev 14:18) And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
(Rev 14:19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
(Rev 14:20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

God the Father also placed a watchtower in this vineyard. The watchmen, those appointed by God to oversee the world and warn the world of what is to come, are placed on top of this watchtower. These are God’s elect who are here to guide the world in the right direction by sharing the truth of God. Many of these elect, or watchmen, are given the role of prophets of God, among other roles.

This vineyard was leased out by God to priests, husbandmen, for them to take care of it, for better or for worse. Notice that these priests are leasing this vineyard and are not servants hired by the householder. They were not chosen or appointed, but chose to take the role, but are held responsible for the crop none-the-less, because the vineyard is still owned by the Householder, and they will be held responsible for the results. After the Householder set up this vineyard, and leased it out to caretakers, He left the vineyard and went outside the hedge that was placed around it, outside this physical world and left them in charge.

(Mat 21:34) And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

As time went on, the vineyard matured and grew closer to harvest time. So the householder sent his personal servants to the vineyard to collect the grapes that were already matured and ready to be picked. A vineyard in the northern hemisphere is generally harvested between late August and early October. September is the main space of time that the harvest occurs. So these servants are sent to collect those early grapes. These early grapes are those who are more spiritually mature and ready to hear a deeper message from God. So God sends these servants, His prophets, to give them His message and help them come closer to Him.

(Mat 21:35) And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

These earlier servants are the earlier prophets who warned of the coming doom that would be seen if God’s children didn’t return to Him. They warned that His kingdom would go into captivity if they didn’t make a correction. Many of these grapes were matured and ready to hear the message and be gathered by the servants of the householder. But the priests had been tending to the vineyard and not doing it justice, so many of the grapes weren’t ready and those people didn’t listen. The priests didn’t like this, and instead they totally disregarded God’s prophets and continued leading God’s children astray, and did what they wanted, which basically amounts to idolatry. They put their own desires between them and God.

(Mat 21:36) Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

Then, because the householder never heard back from his servants, he sent more. So, God sent further prophets to try to guide His children back to Him. They warned that if they didn’t return to Him, there would be consequences. They were again there to gather those who were matured and ready back to God. Of course, the priests didn’t like this idea this time either. They wanted to be the big dogs and run the vineyard their own way and reap the reward. They didn’t want anyone else to receive the credit or the benefits. So they also completely disregarded these servants of God and continued leading His children astray.

(Mat 21:37) But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

Because he also didn’t hear back from the second group of servants, what did he do?

These householders had absolutely no respect for the householder’s servants. So if they should have respect for anyone, it should be his own son. They should revere his son just as they revere him right. After all, his son is his closest kin and representative. If they don’t respect his son, who will they respect? They certainly wouldn’t have reverence for him if they don’t even revere his son. So God sent His Son, this is His representative to man. Whatever way we treat His Son, Jesus Christ, is how we are also treating His Father, our Father, because Jesus is God. For all intents and purposes, the son was the householder. Jesus is the form God takes to present Himself in a form we are able to comprehend. We could never even comprehend our Father in Heaven.

So this son of the householder should have been treated just as they would treat the householder himself. Right?

(Mat 21:38) But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

But, instead, they treated the son even worse. They understood how they should have treated the householder’s son, but they decided to choose to serve their own personal gain. The husbandmen knew that this son would inherit the entire vineyard, but they didn’t want to have to give it up to him eventually.

(Mat 21:39) And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

They figured they could kill the son and take over the control of the vineyard themselves. So they killed God’s Son, His representative on earth. They killed God in the flesh. That should have been the end of it…or so they thought.

(Mat 21:40) When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

When harvest time comes, then the householder returns to see how the vineyard turned out. What do you think the householder will do to those men who were supposed to take care of his vineyard and respect his servants and his own son?

(Mat 21:41) They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

These husbandmen who were so disobedient aren’t going to have a fun time once the householder returns on the Lord’s Day. This flesh world is going to pass away in fervent heat. All that offends will be destroyed and we will enter into a period called the Millennium, a thousand year period in which Christ will rule on earth firsthand.

(2Pe 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

He will return with a rod of iron and will not be meek as most would expect Him to be. If you accept Christ and submit to Him and listen to His words, and remain faithful to him until He returns as a good servant, then you will be put in charge of this next vineyard crop in the Millennium. If not, then, well just use your imagination.

Hopefully, He will give you a chance to be part of that vineyard crop to become spiritually mature and part of the good final harvest, at the end of the Millennium.

These who He puts in charge of His vineyard in the Millennium are those who He knows will bear good fruit because they have already proven themselves.

(Mat 21:42) Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

This Stone the builders rejected, the Son, is the very Stone that the Kingdom of God is built upon. The cornerstone is a stone that is put in the foundation of a building for its strength. It is a symbol of strength in the building’s foundation, and often, in ancient times, it was even anointed, just as Christ is anointed, and so are His servants. Christ is the most marvelous anointed one. There is no one above Him.

(Mat 21:43) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Jesus is getting to the point of this message to these Pharisees He’s talking to. He is telling them they will soon lose the priesthood and it will be given to those who are worthy. This not only applies to those Pharisees, but anyone who considers himself a priest of God, but leads God’s children astray. Do you know any of these? Beware of them.

(Mat 21:44) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Ultimately if these do not correct their ways, they will be destroyed in the second death of the Lake of Fire at the end of the Millennium.

(Rev 21:8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

(Mat 21:45) And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

The Pharisees knew exactly who Jesus was talking about. It was them, and they hated Him for it. They hated the Son of the Householder. This is the very thing that He just warned them of.

(Mat 21:46) But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

They knew that they could not kill the Son right now though, because so many that were around did, in fact, revere Him.
Though they knew He was talking of them, they still didn’t get the bigger picture, or even heed His warning.

Will you heed His warning and be a faithful servant?

John

God said you can’t heal on the Sabbath? John 5:17-23

Here we are, Christ not only just healed a man that had been lame for thirty eight years. He did it to show Israel that through him there is a hope to be reunited with God, but they don’t care. They just want to stone someone, anyone. First they were angry with a guy for walking with his bed on the sabbath and let’s face it, this wasn’t a Sealy Posturepedic. The man was destitute. He had a small roll of rags that you or I would have tossed away a long time ago and they want to kill him for walking home with it. Then when he said he was only following orders OF THE MAN WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE they want to kill him. So here is Christ’s response.

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

When does a priest work? Should be they work on the sabbath. If they didn’t nobody would be taught. The sabbath was made for man, not for God. God doesn’t say, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow because it’s the sabbath” and you shouldn’t either. If someone needs help you don’t say, “I’m sorry son that you cracked your head and your bleeding, but it’s the sabbath so your going to have to lay there until tomorrow.”

Even if they wanted to be hard nosed about the sabbath and said that the guy had been there for thirty eight years, what’s one more day? They should’ve stopped to wonder how the man was healed. If God didn’t want the man healed on the sabbath then he wouldn’t have been healed. I mean if God didn’t do it, who did?

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

These men don’t want to learn. They don’t want to even ask questions. They just want to get all worked up and kill him. But are people any different today? How many people just get upset if someone says something they don’t think is in the bible or that the bible says something they don’t believe? Nearly everyone gets worked up faster than a nest of bees that has been knocked out of the tree. Careful you don’t. We are to be as clay in the potter’s hand, wet and pliable. Not a dried pot. Paul tells us to check all things out in the Word. If someone says something, ask them for where it says that in the bible and pray about it. Meditate on it. Even if someone shows you something wrong you could still learn something by it and maybe you could correct them and help your brother or sister in Christ by taking the time to go over the topic.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Why? Because they are one. Immanuel, God with us.

John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

What greater works? Christ is going to rise from the grave.

John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Christ will call Lazarus forth, yes, but he isn’t talking about the physical anymore. God divorced Israel hence, they were cut off. They were dead, just as many today are spiritually dead. They were in bondage to sin and Christ said, “take up thy bed and walk.” Stand up and be counted. You are no longer dead.

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

How does God judge? He looks at your sin and if your covered in the blood of Christ that means Christ has marked you clean.

John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Again because they are one.

We are going to stop here today, but Christ doesn’t. We will pick up with that on the next post.