"This voice was undoubtedly a great miracle. God the Father was heard speaking audibly with man's voice to the Son. Three times in our Lord's ministry this miracle took place: first, at His baptism; secondly, at His transfiguration; thirdly, just before His crucifixion. Rarely has the voice of God been heard by large crowds of unconverted men. Here, at Mount Sinai, and perhaps at our Lord's baptism, are the only three occasions on record. ...
The intimate nearness of the Father to the Son, all through His ministry, is one of the many thoughts which may occur to our minds as we consider the miracle. Our Lord was never left alone. His Father was always with Him, though men knew it not. How could it be otherwise? So far as concerned His divine nature, He and the Father were "one."
How any one, in the face of this passage, can deny that the Father and the Son are two distinct Persons, it is very hard to understand. When one person is heard speaking to another, common sense seems to point out that there are two persons, and not one." -JC Ryle
"It is worth noticing that our Lord speaks of "the Father" and "My Father" at least one hundred and ten times in John's Gospel." -JC Ryle
* The painting is: "The Transfiguration" by Raphael.
8 comments:
Well Don; You know that the Lord Jesus never made the Father known to JC Ryle.
If JC Ryle would have known the Father, he would never have said that the Father and Jesus are two persons.
Jesus Himself said that "the Father and I are ONE." Or, "he who has seen me has seen the Father". Or, "how can you say, show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me". Or, "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on you do know him and have seen him". Or a little bit stronger language, "I told you that you would die in your sins, unless you believe that I am HE, you will die in your sins".
I know it is hard and difficult to believe that there is only ONE God and that one God is the person of Jesus Christ our Lord.
In fact no one can believe that, unless it has been given by the Lord Himself.
Regards Paul
Sorry Paul, but the Holy truth is that Jesus loved His Father, and always did His will.
JC Ryle has proven himself as a fine pastor, and a good theologian.
However, it comes down to what Scripture says.
"And he [Jesus] withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if YOU are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not MY will, but YOURS, be done.”"
Jesus should have simply prayed to Himself, and said: "I don't really want to do this. Is there some other way. I guess not. Not MY will, but MY will be done."
Paul you need to have your eyes opened to the simple truth of the Bible. There's nothing deep that God wants to hide from us. It's very, very clear.
I suppose we will never agree, and so that's fine. The Holy Scripture has final authority with me, not any doctrine of man.
Be blessed in His truth is my prayer for you Paul.
A short answer to a previous comment about the Father who raised Jesus from the dead!
(Gal. 1:1) of course the Father raised Jesus from the dead just as Jesus said in (John 2:19) that He will raise Himself from the dead, because there was no other person or god who could raise Jesus from the dead, so He raised Himself from the dead by His Spirit just as the Scripture said in (Rom. 8:11) that the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, or perhaps could you accept that God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 4:10).
I hope you don't think that all three god-persons gave each other a hand to raise Christ Jesus from the dead.
Don; I think you know a lot better than that! I consider you to be a wise man in the Lord.
Lots of love
Paul
Yes Don, It all comes down to what the Scripture says.
The Scripture is clear, that Jesus said "Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is ONE".
Consequently HE is not THREE or two regardless what JC Ryle or the Pope has to say.
Paul
Don, I really would like you to understand why the Lord Jesus prayed.
If Jesus prayed to another person or identity, then Jesus could not possibly be the Lord God the Almighty.
If Jesus is the Lord God and He prayed to another person, god or identity, then there would be two gods regardless what anybody else says.
If the Lord Jesus is the 'Lord God', we both know that the Lord God does not need to pray, only sinners need to pray.
So the question remains, why did Jesus pray?
Love Paul
"why did Jesus pray?"
Because there is a Triune God.
The Scripture is vividly crystal clear that God is One, and yet in three persons. It is beyond our comprehension, because we are finite.
just as God always was is beyond our comprehension. How could God always be? And how long has he been? It boggles the mind.
God the Father was prayed to by Jesus, the Word, who became flesh, because Jesus loved His Father, and asked Him to let His cup pass.
May the Lord open our minds and hearts so we can believe and understand why Jesus prayed to His Father. Amen.
Thanks Don for your kind reply.
I am in fear and trembling before the Lord, because I might cause you a little distress for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
But these things must be said.
I am jealous for every man of God who believes in the Lord Jesus and hold His testimony so that they may preach, teach and testify to the only one person who is the true God and eternal life Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 John 5:20)
Jesus Christ was in the beginning and He said through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah (43:10). "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
I, even I am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior".
And yes Don, It is possible for every believer to fully understand all this things.
Especially when we stand before the Lord with humble hearts and ask Him just as you said,
"May the Lord open our mind and our hearts so that we can believe and understand why Jesus prayed?"
Kind regards Paul
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
1 John 5:20
Your interpretation of 1 John 5:20 is different than mine.
"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:14-15
I confess that Jesus is the Son Of God the Father, as the Scripture clearly shows.
Jesus surely is God. And many OT verses prove He is the Almighty God, Everlasting Father. He is God, the Father is God, and Holy Spirit is God.
The God of Scripture is a Triune God, without doubt.
I shall go and worship the Father in Spirit and truth this morning as Jesus told us:
"Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." John 4:21-23
The Father draws sinners to His Son. John 6:
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”"
These Holy verses tell us beyond any doubt there is a Father and a Son, two Persons.
Be blessed Paul.
Post a Comment