God
Read this if you want to understand:
A. What is God like?
B. The Trinity
C. The names of God
A. WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
Think of the best person you could ever hope to meet.
God’s like that - and even better!
A1. Perfect
Deuteronomy 32:4 ~ He is the Rock, His work is perfect ...
God is perfect, so He never makes mistakes:
When we're travelling, we may not fully understand what an: airline pilot, bus or train driver is doing - but we trust them to do the right things.
In the same way, sometimes we don’t fully understand what God is doing - but we should trust Him to do the right things: in our life and in this world.
Further reading
Nehemiah 9:33
Job 34:10 & 12
Psalms 18:30, 92:15
John 8:46
A2. Faithful
1 Corinthians 1:9 ~ God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
People may let us down, or become tired of helping us if we need help.
But God will NEVER let us down --> so we can DEPEND on God, every minute of every day.
Further reading
Genesis 28:15
Deuteronomy 7:9
Isaiah 49:7
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Thessalonians 5:24
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Hebrews 10:23
1 Peter 4:19
Revelation 19:11
A3. Everlasting
Genesis 21:33 ~ And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
What we see around us is only temporary.
But God is permanent.
So we should trust God & His Word MORE than anything in this world.
Further reading
Deuteronomy 32:40, 33:27
Job 36:26
Psalms 9:3, 10:16, 45:6, 48:14, 90:2, 92:8, 93:2
Psalms 102:12 & 24-27, 104:31, 135:13, 146:10
Isaiah 40:28, 41:4, 43:13, 48:12, 57:15, 63:16
Jeremiah 10:10
Lamentations 5:19
Daniel 4:3 & 34, 6:26, 7:9 & 13-14
Micah 5:2
Habakkuk 1:12
Hebrews 9:14
Revelation 1:8, 11:15, 22:13
A4. Unchanging
Malachi 3:6 ~ For I am the LORD, I change not ...
--> God didn’t change between the Old Testament & the New Testament.
All that changed is the type of covenant He made with us (testament = covenant).
See the ‘Covenant’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com for more on this.
Further reading
Psalm 102:27
Hebrews 13:8
James 1:17
A5. Everywhere
Joshua 1:9 ~ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD they God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (= wherever you go).
--> God goes everywhere with us - work, school, housework etc.
So when we leave a church meeting, we don’t leave God behind there.
We can’t see Him - but He’s ALWAYS with us: just like our nose is always with us!
Further reading
1 Chronicles 16:14
Psalms 105:7, 139:7-12
Jeremiah 23:23-24
Amos 9:2-3
Matthew 28:20
Acts 17:27
A6. All-knowing
Psalm 147:5 ~ Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.
Q - Is there anything God doesn’t know?
A - No.
So if we’re not sure what to do using our own intelligence - we just need to ask God.
Further reading
‘Guidance & obedience’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Ezekiel 11:5 ~ And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD;
Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
--> God knows everything we THINK and DO.
So we need to be careful:
We can’t hide anything from God.
It’s like having a big 'speech bubble' above our heads - which God can read.
On Judgment Day, God will have a 100% accurate picture of our lives - like an audio-visual, CCTV recording!
Thankfully, the bits we’ve confessed & asked forgiveness for, have been permanently deleted from our record.
See ‘The Cross’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com for more on this.
Further reading
Genesis 6:5, 21:14-17
Exodus 16:7-12
1 Samuel 2:3, 10:21-22
2 Samuel 11:27 then 12:12
1 Kings 8:39
2 Kings 19:27
1 Chronicles 28:9
2 Chronicles 6:30
Job 1:5, 24:23, 28:23-24, 31:4, 34:21-22, 37:16
Psalms 1:6, 11:4, 14:2, 19:14, 33:13-15, 34:15-16, 38:9
Psalms 44:21, 51:4, 69:5, 90:8, 94:7-11, 119:168, 139:1-7
Proverbs 5:21, 15:3, 11 & 26, 21:2, 24:12
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Isaiah 29:15, 66:17-18
Jeremiah 16:17, 17:10, 23:24, 32:19
Ezekiel 8:12, 9:9
Daniel 2:22
Hosea 7:2
Amos 5:12
Jonah 1:2
Zechariah 4:10
Malachi 3:16
Matthew 1:18-20, 6:1-8, 17-18 & 31-32
Matthew 10:26 & 29-30, 12:36
Luke 5:22, 8:17, 11:17, 12:6-7
John 2:24-25, 16:30, 20:24-27
Romans 11:33
2 Corinthians 11:31
Hebrews 4:13
1 Peter 3:12
1 John 3:20
Revelation 2:19, 3:1-2, 8 & 15
A7. All-powerful
Jeremiah 32:27 ~ Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?
Example
We were travelling in a Pastor’s elderly car through a rural area of Zimbabwe, where there were no garage facilities.
There were six adults (plus luggage), and the Pastor’s wife was also looking after an abandoned baby - so the car was pretty heavy!
We discovered that the car had a faulty tyre and no spare wheel.
On both the outward & return journey:
The tyre was absolutely fine while travelling.
But as soon as we arrived at our destination - the tyre went flat.
God kept air in the tyre - just when we needed it: for the journey through empty territory!
Further reading
Genesis 18:14
Job 23:13, 42:1-2
Psalms 24:1-2, 103:19, 115:3
Isaiah 14:24-27, 43:13, 45:7
Jeremiah 32:17, 46:15-16
Daniel 3:19-28, 4:35, 5:5, 6:16-22 & 27
Jonah 2:10
Matthew 19:26, 28:18
Mark 14:36
Luke 1:37, 24:31 & 36
Ephesians 1:11
Revelation 19:6
A8. God's even in charge of world leaders
God's plan was for the Messiah to be:
A. Born in BETHLEHEM:
Micah 5:2 ~ But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
B. But also to come from NAZARETH:
Matthew 2:23 ~ And he (= Joseph) came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
(‘Spoken by the prophets’ refers to Judges 13:5-7 - Samson is a picture / foreshadow of Jesus.)
Q - How could God fulfil both prophecies, when Bethlehem is about 70 miles from Nazareth?
A
Luke 2:1-7
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
--> God used Caesar - a superpower leader & pagan emperor - to fulfill His plan!
God’s plan was also for Jesus to die on the cross (see 'The Cross' message on WholeCounselofGod.com for more on this).
He used King Herod and Pontius Pilate (the Roman Governor) to do this:
Acts 4:27-28
27For of a truth against Thy holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.
So don’t be depressed about what’s happening in the world.
God’s in charge - and He even uses unbelieving world leaders to fulfill His plans!
Further reading
Exodus 4:21, 7:3-4, 9:12 & 16, 10:1, 20 & 27
Exodus 11:10, 14:4 & 8
Deuteronomy 2:30
Joshua 11:18-20
2 Samuel 17:14
1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Ezra 1:1-2, 6:14 & 22, 7:6, 21-23 & 27-28, 9:9
Job 12:9-10 & 18-25
Psalms 22:28, 47:2 &7-9, 76:12, 105:14
Psalms 105:17-22, 105:25, 106:46, 110:5
Proverbs 21:1
Isaiah 10:5-6, 13:17, 40:15, 17-18 & 22-23
Isaiah 44:28 - 45:4, 46:9-11
Jeremiah 1:15, 27:6-7, 44:30, 50:9, 51:11
Daniel 2:20-21 & 37-38, 4:24-37, 5:18-31
Amos 1:4
Habakkuk 1:6-10
Revelation 17:12, 14 & 16-17
A9. God controls our weather & climate
A. God controls the wind
Psalm 78:26
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by His power He brought in the south wind.
B. God controls the rain
Amos 4:7
And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest:
and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city:
one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
C. We can also ask God to change the weather - when there’s a Godly reason to do so
1 Samuel 12:17-18
17Is it not wheat harvest to day? I (= Samuel) will call unto the LORD, and He shall send thunder and rain;
that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
General Eisenhower - Supreme Commander of the Allied forces on D-Day - said afterwards:
“I had to decide to postpone by at least twenty-four hours the most formidable array of fighting ships and of fighting men that was ever launched across the sea against a hostile shore …
If there were nothing else in my life to prove the existence of an Almighty and merciful God, the events of the next twenty-four hours did it …
The greatest break in a terrible outlay of weather occurred the next day and allowed that great invasion to proceed, with losses far below those we had anticipated …”
Further reading
Exodus 9:20-25
Deuteronomy 11:13-17
Joshua 10:11
1 Kings 8:35-36
2 Chronicles 6:26-27, 7:13
Job 5:8-10, 12:15, 28:10-11, 36:27-32
Job 37:5-17, 38:22-30 & 34-35
Psalms 65:9-10, 68:9, 78:47-48, 83:15, 105:32
Psalms 107:25, 29 & 33-35, 135:7, 147:8 & 16-18, 148:8
Isaiah 5:6, 30:30
Jeremiah 3:3, 5:24, 10:13, 14:22, 51:16 & 36
Ezekiel 13:11
Amos 4:13
Jonah 1:4 & 15, 4:8
Nahum 1:3-4
Haggai 1:10-11
Matthew 8:26-27
Mark 4:39 & 41
A10. Light
1 John 1:5 ~ This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
When we were young - we may have been scared of the dark.
To take away that fear - we switched on the light.
Today, if we’re scared of anything - we should ask God to help us.
God’s light then dispels our darkest fears.
Acts 26:13 ~ At midday, O king (= King Agrippa), I (= Paul) saw in the way a light from heaven,
above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
Further reading
Psalm 104:1-2
Daniel 2:22
Micah 7:8-9
Colossians 1:12-13
1 Timothy 6:14-16
1 John 2:8
Revelation 21:23, 22:5
A11. Q - What is God the Father like? A - Just like Jesus
John 14:6-9
6Jesus saith unto him (= Thomas), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
7If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.
8Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us (= it will be enough for us).
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?
He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
‘Like Father, like Son’ is a well-known saying - it also applies to God the Father and God the Son (Jesus):
John 17:5-6
5And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.
6I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word.
--> To MANifest = To make a character VISIBLE in the form of a MAN.
--> We understand what:
A historical figure was like - by watching an actor or actress portray him / her.
God the Father is like - by reading about Jesus in the Bible.
Further reading
John 1:18, 8:19, 10:30 & 37-38, 12:45
Colossians 1:13-15, 2:8-9
1 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 1:1-3
A12. Jesus is God
Some people & other religions say that Jesus was just a good man.
But Jesus is GOD:
Hebrews 1:8 ~ But unto the Son He (= the Father) saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.
Further reading
Luke 1:35
John 20:28
Only God - no man - can FORGIVE OUR SINS:
Luke 5:20-21
20And when He saw their faith, He (= Jesus) said unto him (= to the paralysed man), Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?
Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Further reading
Matthew 9:2-8 / Mark 2:5-12 / Luke 5:22-25
Only God can CALM THE STORMS:
Psalm 107:23-30
23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.
25For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.
29He maketh the STORM a CALM, so that the waves thereof are still.
30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Matthew 8:24-27
24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.
25And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!
Further reading
Psalm 89:9
Mark 4:37-41 / Luke 8:23-25
A13. Jesus on earth was also a man
When Jesus came to earth:
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit - because He’s God.
But His mother was Mary - to show us that He was also a man.
Luke 4:2 ~ And in those days He (= Jesus) did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered.
--> Jesus became HUNGRY.
John 4:6-7
6Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink.
--> Jesus became TIRED & THIRSTY.
Matthew 8:24 ~ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He (= Jesus) was asleep.
--> Jesus needed to SLEEP.
John 7:1 ~ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for He would not walk in Jewry (= Judea), because the Jews sought to kill Him.
--> Jesus had a human body which could be KILLED.
Isaiah 53:2 ~ For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:
He hath no form nor comeliness (= no majestic appearance); and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
--> Jesus was NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD-LOOKING.
(Unlike the film actors who usually portray Him!)
Even His cousin - John the Baptist - didn’t initially recognise Jesus as Messiah. (John 1:31 & 33)
So Jesus had a physical body just like ours.
Further reading
John 5:27, 11:33-36
Romans 1:3
A14. Why did Jesus visit earth as a man?
Hebrews 2:16-18
16For verily He (= Jesus) took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
17Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren (= He had to be made like them),
that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted (= tested & tried), He is able to succour (= to help) them that are tempted.
Some of the best people to help: drug addicts, alcoholics, the abused etc. are people who have suffered from the same issue - because they know how it feels.
In the same way, JESUS UNDERSTANDS how WE FEEL - because He’s been through similar situations.
That’s why God came to earth as a man.
Further reading
Job 10:2-6
Hebrews 2:14-15, 4:15
B. THE TRINITY
B1. There's one God
Mark 12:29 ~ And Jesus answered him (= a Scribe), The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.
Further reading
Deuteronomy 6:4
B2. ... but three separate members of the Godhead
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Illustration
The Godhead is like a three-piece band, which has a:
Guitarist
Keyboard player
Drummer
There’s only ONE BAND, playing the SAME TUNE - but it has THREE DISTINCT MEMBERS.
Each member plays their unique part.
The three members of the band are in different places:
Guitarist at the front.
Keyboard player to the side.
Drummer at the back.
And the three members of the Godhead are in different places:
Father - In heaven (He’s the ‘Band Leader’).
Son - Seated at the right hand of the Father (until Jesus returns to earth).
Holy Spirit - Living in believers on earth, and linking them with heaven.
For more on this linking - see the ‘Separated & Marked’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Further reading
Galatians 3:20
1 Timothy 2:5
B3. How do we know there's more than one member of the Godhead?
Genesis 1:26 ~ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Isaiah 6:8 ~ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Further reading
Genesis 3:22, 11:7
B4. How do we know there are three separate members of the Godhead?
Matthew 28:19 ~ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (= Holy Spirit).
1 John 5:7 ~ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (= Jesus the Son), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
--> So there’s only one God - but three distinct members of the Godhead, with their own names (just like the band members):
Jesus is distinct from the Father.
The Father is distinct from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is distinct from Jesus.
Further reading
John 14:16-17
Acts 2:32-33, 10:38
Ephesians 2:18
1 Peter 1:2
B5. Jesus is distinct from the Father
Galatians 1:3 ~ Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Further reading
Daniel 7:13
Matthew 11:25, 17:5, 27:46
Mark 9:7
Luke 2:49 & 52, 3:22
John 5:17-18, 8:16-18 & 26-29, 11:41-42, 12:49
John 13:3, 14:28, 15:9, 16:3, 5 & 27-28, 17:3, 20:17
Romans 1:3 & 7
1 Corinthians 1:3 & 9
2 Corinthians 1:2-3
Ephesians 1:2, 6:23
Philippians 1:2
Colossians 1:2, 2:2
1 Thessalonians 1:1, 3:11
2 Thessalonians 1:2
1 Timothy 1:2
2 Timothy 1:2
Titus 1:4
Philemon 3
James 1:1
1 Peter 1:3
2 Peter 1:16-17
1 John 1:3
2 John 3
Revelation 1:5-6, 2:27
B6. The Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father
John 14:26 ~ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name,
He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Further reading
John 14:16, 15:26
B7. The Holy Spirit is distinct from Jesus
Luke 3:21-22
21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.
Further reading
Matthew 3:16 / Mark 1:9-10
Luke 4:18
Revelation 1:4-5
B8. Q - Do all religions 'Believe in the same God'?
A - No:
Hindus & Mormons believe that there are: many gods.
Christians believe that there’s only: ONE God.
Further reading
2 Chronicles 32:19
Muslims believe that: God has no son.
Christians believe that: JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
Further reading
1 John 4:15
Muslims believe that: Jesus was a prophet / only a man - but not God.
Christians believe that: JESUS IS GOD.
Unitarians believe that there’s: only one member of the Godhead.
Christians believe that there are: THREE SEPARATE MEMBERS of the Godhead.
B9. Further reading about the Trinity
Genesis 18:1-3, 16-17 & 22-23
(Abraham and the LORD / the three visitors).
C. THE NAMES OF GOD
God has many names:
Abba
Adonai
Christ
El Shaddai
Elohim
Emmanuel
Jehovah
Jesus
Kyrios
Lord
Messiah
Yahweh
YHWH / JHVH
Let’s see what they all mean.
C1. Abba
Abba is the Aramaic word for 'Daddy'.
(Aramaic is the language which Jesus spoke while He was on earth.)
C2. Adonai / Kyrios / LORD / YHWH / JHVH
There were no vowels in the original Hebrew Scriptures.
Aaron Ben Moses Ben Asher introduced the signs for Hebrew vowel sounds
(which he wrote above & below the consonants)
in the 9th / 10th centuries AD.
This was a long time after the Bible was first written down.
The four consonants which make up the Hebrew name of God are:
YHWH or JHVH - these are the equivalent English letters.
Pronounced individually as ‘yud-hey-vav-hey’.
Known as the ‘Tetragrammaton’ - a Greek word meaning ‘four letters’.
YHWH / JHVH means - 'I am ':
Present tense - so God: has always existed, will always exist, and is with us right now!
Translated as LORD in capital letters in the Authorised / King James version of the Bible - as in Exodus 20:7 below:
Exodus 20:7 ~ Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain (= misuse His name).
The Israelites were scared of misusing the Lord’s name (as we all should be).
So the only time YHWH / JHVH was spoken, was when the High Priest blessed the people outside the Tabernacle / Temple - once a year, on the Day of Atonement:
Numbers 6:23-27
23Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise (= this is how) ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26The LORD lift up His countenance upon (= turn His face towards) thee, and give thee peace.
27And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
We don’t know exactly how to PRONOUNCE the VOWEL sounds of YHWH / JHVH.
Q - Why?
A - Because this Name hasn’t been spoken by a High Priest since the Romans destroyed the Temple in AD 70.
Because the Israelites were scared of misusing the Lord’s name:
When the Hebrew Scriptures said ‘YHWH / JHVH’.
The people said ‘Adonai’ (Hebrew) or 'Kyrios' (Greek) which means ‘Lord’ or ‘Master’- it was safe to say that, because it was also used to describe men.
For example - to describe Abraham in Genesis 23:14-15 ~
14And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
15My lord (Hebrew - Adonai), hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt (= between) me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead.
Because of the same concern about misusing God’s name:
In modern Judaism God is often called: ‘HaShem’ - which means ‘The Name’.
Further reading
Exodus 11:28
Isaiah 42:8
Jeremiah 16:21, 32:18, 33:2
Amos 4:13, 5:8, 9:6
C3. Christ & Messiah
John 1:40-41
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41He (= Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
--> MESSIAH is the HEBREW word for ‘Anointed one’.
Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew.
--> CHRIST is the GREEK word for ‘Anointed one’ .
Most of the New Testament was written in Greek.
Anointed = Strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Further reading - ‘Anointed by the Holy Spirit’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
In Old Testament times - ‘Anointed one’ could apply to:
King
Priest
Prophet
By the time Jesus was born - ‘Anointed one’ was commonly used to describe: the man who would restore the Kingdom of Israel.
C4. El Shaddai & Elohim
El = god
The word El was used for any ‘god’ - real or imagined.
Q - So what is ‘a god’?
A - A supernatural entity, real or imagined, whom people place their trust in:
Deuteronomy 32:37-38
37And He (= YHWH / JHVH from verse 36) shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
38Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
Imagined gods in the Bible include: Artemis or Diana, Ashtoreth, Baal, Chemosh & Dagon.
Other imagined gods in history include: Greek gods (e.g. Mercury & Zeus) and Norse gods (e.g. Odin & Thor).
But there’s ONLY ONE, REAL GOD:
Deuteronomy 32:39 ~ See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me:
I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand.
The Israelites liked to use ‘El’ in their names - to associate themselves with God, for example:
Abel
Daniel
Elijah
Samuel
Shaddai = Might.
--> So El Shaddai = Almighty God.
Elohim is the PLURAL of El
... describing the Trinity, for example:
Exodus 16:12 ~ I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even (= dusk / twilight) ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread;
and ye shall know that I am the LORD (= YHWH / JHVH) your God *
* The Hebrew word used here for ‘God’ is ‘Elohim’ - because of the Trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Elohim - like the singular El - is also used for imaginary / false gods, for example:
Jeremiah 32:29 ~ And the Chaldeans … poured out drink offerings unto other gods (= elohim), to provoke Me to anger.
C5. Emmanuel
Matthew 1:23 ~ 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.
Emmanuel means: ‘God with us’ / ‘God in the flesh’.
Jesus lived on earth as a man - so He knows just how we feel!
Further reading
Isaiah 7:14
C6. Jehovah / Yahweh / Yah
After the Hebrew vowel signs were introduced, some Jews placed the vowel signs for Adonai (= Lord / Master) above YHWH / JHVH in their Scriptures:
To remind them to say ‘Adonai’.
So that they wouldn’t say God’s actual name (YHWH / JHVH) by mistake, and potentially misuse it.
Jehovah
Christian scholars later combined the:
Consonants of JHVH
with the
Vowels of Adonai
… which then sounded like ‘Yahowah’.
The similar ‘Jehovah’ was used in:
A 1516 Latin translation of the Bible.
William Tyndale’s 1530 English translation of the Old Testament.
For example:
Psalm 83:18 ~ That men may know that Thou, Whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.
Further reading
Exodus 6:3
Isaiah 12:2, 26:4
Yahweh
Some ancient Greek scriptures include written vowels - which indicate that the probable pronunciation of YHWH is: ‘Yahweh’.
So some people say Yahweh - instead of Jehovah - to pronounce YHWH.
Yah
Yahweh is sometimes shortened to Yah.
C7. Jesus
In Biblical times, many people were called 'Jesus'.
So to distinguish Him from others, Christ was known as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’.
Further reading
2 Chronicles 31:15
Acts 13:6
Jesus is the Greek word for Joshua / Yeshua.
Q - What does 'Joshua / Yeshua' mean?
Isaiah 12:2 ~ Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
The Hebrew word translated as 'salvation' twice here in Isaiah 12:2 (and in 76 other verses in the Old Testament) is 'Yeshuah'.
A - Joshua / Yeshua means: ‘Yahweh / Jehovah / God saves’.
Exactly what Jesus Christ does for us:
Matthew 1:21 ~ And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: FOR He shall save His people from their sins.
Further reading
Matthew 18:11
Luke 2:11, 3:6
Acts 13:23
D. RECAP
We’ve learnt about the:
A. Characteristics of God.
B. Trinity.
C. Names of God.
What a superb God we serve!
Amen