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Conscience and the Puritans – Interview with Tim Challies

Tim Challies interviewed our editor over a period of eight weeks on the final eight chapters of A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life, and placed these articles on the Challies blog. We are printing them in this periodical with his permission. All eight articles deal with how the Puritans brought theology into practice. This article deals with the conscience in Puritan thought.

1. In order to ensure we are all on the same page, can you define conscience? What exactly is it the Puritans were talking about when they discussed matters of conscience?

The conscience is an echo in the human mind of the verdict of the righteous Judge. William Perkins said that “conscience is a part of the understanding” that sets itself either for or against one’s actions.1 William Ames, a student of Perkins, wrote that conscience is “a man’s judgment of himself, according to the judgment of God of him.”2 Regardless of what we love with our affections or choose with our will, there is a part of our understanding that judges us and gives us a sense of moral approval or guilt according to our understanding of right and wrong. So when the Puritans considered cases of conscience, they were discussing questions about how to know what is pleasing to God in specific situations, and, more importantly, how to know that the divine Judge accepts you as righteous in His sight.

2. What would the Puritans identify as the function of conscience? Why do we need it and what does it do for us?

Conscience impresses a man’s mind with the moral authority of God, and as a result produces a sense of anxiety and misery, or peace and joy, that anticipates eternity. Ames said that conscience binds a man with such authority that no created thing can release him from it.3 Though our conscience may be misinformed, it still speaks with a divine authority that we can disobey but we find difficult to ignore. It reminds us that God sees all we do and is either delighted or angry with us, and pleased or displeased with our deeds.

Much Puritan literature aimed to direct people to find peace of conscience through the blood of Christ, and to walk in good conscience day by day. Richard Rogers said that the purpose of his Seven Treatises of spiritual guidance was to show a person how to live such that “he may find a very sweet and effectual [powerful] taste of eternal happiness, even here.”4 Richard Sibbes said that a good conscience is “a continual feast,” because knowing that God is pleased with us, has forgiven our sins, and delights in our obedience, enables us to suffer and even to die with comfort, freedom, and joy.5

3. What would the Puritans want us to know about the effect of the fall into sin on man’s conscience?

The fall of man brought us under the condemning wrath of God and the enslaving darkness of sin. The first disturbs and terrifies the conscience insofar as it senses the coming judgment; the latter disorders and confuses the conscience.

Perkins taught that though a “remnant of God’s image” persists in man’s mind through “certain notions concerning good and evil,” mankind has fallen into much ignorance of the truth and inability to understand spiritual realities (1 Cor. 2:14), futility in not distinguishing truth from falsehood (Eph. 4:7; Prov. 14:12), and natural tendency to follow evil and lies (Jer. 4:22). This distorts the conscience, though it still retains a degree of its power to rebuke and restrain sin (Rom. 2:15). Fallen conscience tends to excuse inward wickedness if it is covered in outward worship (Mark 10:19-20). It also tends to falsely accuse a person when he fails to follow the traditions and doctrines of mere men (Col. 2:21± 22). Sometimes conscience may accuse and terrify a person for his sins (Acts 24:26), and yet consciences may be seared to numbness by habits of sinning (Eph. 4:19; 1 Tim. 4:2).6

4. Where might the Puritans warn us about our use or misuse of conscience?

The Puritans warned against subjecting conscience to any ultimate authority besides the Bible. They particularly emphasized liberty of conscience in matters of religion.

The Westminster divines wrote, “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in any thing contrary to His Word; or beside it, in matters of faith and worship.”7 Similarly, the Particular Baptists wrote, “The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.”8

The Puritans also warned against resisting one’s conscience when it speaks according to the Word. Ames taught the unconverted to seriously consider the law so that it would convict him of sin; show him he cannot save himself; and bring him to grief, fear, and confession of specific sins. He must also renounce his own righteousness and fix his mind upon the righteousness of Christ crucified as presented in the promises of the gospel.9

Christians too must not resist conscience. If a Christian finds his conscience accusing him, Ames counseled him to: first, feel the burden of sin (Matt. 11:28-29); second, detest all sin (Rom. 7:15); third, be careful not to fulfill his sinful lusts (Gal. 5:16); fourth, work to put those lusts to death (Rom. 8:13); fifth, to consider God’s promises, flee to Christ, and cling to Him more and more (Rom. 7:25; Phil. 3:9); and sixth, get rid of gross and heinous sins that shake their consciences and call into question their very salvation (Isa. 1:16-18).10

5. What can a Christian do to repair his conscience or to help his conscience overcome the effects of the fall?

The restoration of the conscience is part of the process of sanctification that begins with regeneration and does not end until we enter glory. It is a work of God’s grace that we must seek in prayer. The most significant means is to place ourselves under the sound and searching preaching of both the law and the gospel. As Sibbes said, the steps to a good conscience are, first, to be troubled by our sins; second, to find peace by trusting in Christ; and, third, to resolve to please God in all things. With these three elements active in our lives, we are positioned to grow more in a good conscience as we live by faith for God’s pleasure.11 The most important attitude is honesty and humility before God, for conscience always confronts us with the truth that God is Lord. For more details on restoring the conscience, see A Puritan Theology (pp. 919-25).

1. William Perkins, A Discovrse of Conscience: Wherein is Set Downe the
Nature, Properties, and Differences Thereof: As Also the Way to Get and Keepe Good Conscience (London: Iohn Legate, 1596), 1.
2. William Ames, Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof (1639; facsimile repr., Norwood, N.J.: Walter Johnson, 1975), 1.1.
3. Ames, Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, 1.3.4.
4. Richard Rogers, Seaven Treatises, 4th ed. corrected and enlarged (London: Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1616), 1.
5. Richard Sibbes, Exposition of Second Corinthians Chapter 1, in The Works of Richard Sibbes, ed. Alexander B. Grosart (1862-1864; repr., Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1981), 3:223.
6. William Perkins, A Golden Chaine, or The Description of the Theologie,
Containing the Order of the Causes of Saluation and Damnation, According to Gods Word, 2nd ed. (London: Iohn Legate, 1597), 27-29.
7. Westminster Confession of Faith (20.2), in Westminster Confession
(Glasgow: Free Presbyterian Publications, 1994), 86.
8. Second London Confession (1.1), in A Confession of Faith, Put Forth by the Elders and Brethren of Many Congregations of Christians (Baptized upon Profession of Their Faith) in London and the Country (London: Benjamin Harris, 1677), 1.
9. Ames, Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, 2.4, 6.
10. Ames, Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, 2.19.
11. Richard Sibbes, The Demand of a Good Conscience, in Works, 7:484-85.

Dr. Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thanks to Rev. Paul Smalley for his research assistance on this article.

Atonement of Christ

The Mediator must be Federally united to His people

by Arthur W. Pink

In his defense of the Satisfaction of Christ, Turretin pointed out how that there are three kinds of union known to us in human relations which justifies the imputation of sin one to another; natural, as between a father and his child; moral and political, as between a king and his subjects; voluntary, as between friends, or between an arraigned criminal and his sponsor. But the union of Christ with His people rests on far stronger ground than any of these considered alone. It was voluntary on His part, for He spontaneously assumed all the obligations He bore. But it was also a covenant ordinance, decreed by the three Divine persons in counsel, whose behests are alone the foundation of all law, all rights, and of all obligations. “The Scriptures plainly teach that God has established between Christ and His people a union sui-generis, transcending all earthly analogies in its intimacy of fellowship and reciprocal co-partnership both federal and vital” (Dr. C. Hodge).

The mediatorial position assumed by Christ and the redemptive work which He performed cannot be rightly understood till they are viewed in connection with the Everlasting Covenant. It is not difficult to see that the death on the Cross was only made possible for the Son of God by His becoming Man. But we need to go farther back and ask, What was the relation between Christ and His people that made it meet for Him to become incarnate and die for them? It is not enough to say that He was their Surety, and Substitute. True, blessedly true, He wrought and suffered for them because He was their Surety to the offended Law-giver and Judge. But what rendered it proper that He should occupy such a place? No satisfactory answer can be given till we go right back to the counsels of the Godhead. Covenant oneness accounts for all, vindicates all, explains all.
Christ was substituted for His people because He was and is one with them-identified with us and we with Him; not merely as decreed by the sovereign authority of the Godhead, but as covenanted between the eternal Father and the eternal Son. Christ “bore the sins of many” because in His covenant identification with them, their sins became sinlessly but truly His sins; and unto the sons and daughters of the covenant, the Father imputes the righteousness of His Son, because, in their covenant oneness with Him, His righteousness is undeservedly but truly their own righteousness. This alone explains all Christ’s history as the incarnate Son of God; all His interposition as the Savior of His people; and it places the career of Christ on earth in its true relation to the eternal purpose of God. In its completeness, as bearing on the covenant-clients as well as the covenant-Head, it is the formal instrument by which faith comes into sure possession of Christ Himself and the benefits of redemption.

Christ is expressly denominated “the last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45), and therefore are we told that the first Adam was “the figure of Him that was to come” (Rom. 5:14). Adam was a “figure” of Christ in quite a number of ways, but supremely in this, that he stood as the federal head of a race. God entered into a covenant with him (Hosea 6:6, margin), and therefore he stood and fell as the legal representative of all his family: when he sinned, they sinned; when he died, they died (Rom. 5:12-19). So was it with the “last Adam”: He stood as the covenant Head and federal Representative of all His people, being legally one with them, so that He assumed and discharged all their responsibilities. The birth of Christ was the begun manifestation of the eternal union between Him and His people.

In the Covenant, Christ had said to the Father, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me” (Hebrews 2:12, 13). Most blessedly is this explained in what immediately follows: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,” and therefore “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Federation is the root of this amazing mercy, covenant – identification is the key which explains it. Christ came not to strangers, but to “brethren”; He came here not to procure a people for Himself, but to secure a people already His (Eph. 1:4; Matthew 1:21).

Since such a union has existed between Christ and His people from all eternity, it inevitably followed that, when He came to earth, He must bear their sins, and now that He has gone to heaven they must be clothed (Isa. 61:10) with all the rewardableness of His perfect obedience. This is the strongest buttress of all in the walls of Truth, yet the one which has been most frequently assailed by its enemies. Men have argued that the punishment of the Innocent as though He were guilty was an outrage upon justice. In the human realm, to punish a man for something of which he is neither responsible nor guilty, is, beyond question, unjust. But this principle did not apply to Christ, for He had voluntarily identified Himself with His people in such an intimate way that it could be said, “For both He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one” (Heb. 2:11).
When we say that the union between Christ and His people is a federal one, we mean that it is of such a nature as to involve an identification of legal relations and reciprocal obligations and rights: “By the obedience of One shall many be made [legally constituted] righteous” (Rom. 5:19). God’s elect were “chosen in Christ” (Ephesians 1:4). They are “created in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10). They were circumcised in Him (Colossians 2:11). They are “made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5: 21). In view of this ineffable union, Scripture does not hesitate to say, “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 4:30).

Compared Religions

Eastern Mysticism

The following table will compare various views coming from what we classify as Eastern Mysticism. Many who follow these religious views often engage in conversations about the Bible, Jesus, the Gospels, the Apostle Paul with an ideology imparted via the group from which they learned their tenants of faith. However one thing becomes clear: they are not well versed in the Word of God. Thus their paradigm is formed before the Bible speaks to their hearts, which makes it most difficult to assimilate without looking through the spectacles of Baha, Buddha, or Maharishi Mahesh Yogi etc,

Thus it is imperative to only look at the Bible as one compares the worldview of these Eastern Mystics if one is not to be led astray into doctrinal error. These snippets gauge just how far off these views are outside of the Word of God and His Kingdom, especially with disregard to the Sovereignty of Jesus Christ as Lord and God of our minds.

TRUTH
ERROR
WORD OF GOD
EASTERN MYSTICISM
VIEW OF GOD VIEW OF GOD

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

Go…and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Jesus was baptized: the spirit descended; the Father spoke: (Matthew 3:16-17)

Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. (Genesis 11:7)

From the time that it was, there am I; and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. (Isaiah 48:16)

Brahma, the Absolute, other than which there is nothing else–without qualities, unknowable, impersonal, beyond all appearances, changes, differences.

God is all there is. “All visible objects are but modifications of self-existence, of an unconscious and impersonal essence which is called God” (Walter R. Martin, Kingdom of the Cults, p 239).

God is omnipresent and almighty, and is in the heart of everyone (Transcendental Meditation, p. 61).

In his real nature man is divine. The inner man is fully divine. Vedanta teaches no other dogma but the divinity inherent in man, and his capacity for infinite evolution (TM, p. 58).
JESUS CHRIST JESUS CHRIST
In the beginning was the Word,…and the Word was God. (John 1:1)When, as His mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)God was Manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18).

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Roman1:4)

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain… (1 Corinthians 15:17)

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. (Hebrews 7:25)

This same Jesus…shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. (Acts 1:11; cf. John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 All religions from times immemorial are just different branches of the main trunk of the eternal religion represented by the Vedas (Tm, p. 19).”I don’t think Christ ever suffered or Christ could suffer” (Maharishi MaheshYogi, p. 123)

Christ is considered to be one of a long line of “Masters” who had themselves realized divinity. They are recognized as “divine,” and addressed as such. Through such individuals at various times in history, the “divine truth” was transmitted to men. His picture is frequently to be seen beside that of Buddha, or of Shandaracharya, or Yogananda, or other recognized “Divine Leaders.

The “Masters” are considered to be realized expressions of divinity and, as such, are worshiped.

Bahaism: This emanated from Persian Islam but is essentially eclectic. All ways are of God, but Baha has the truth for this age.

Divine Light Mission: Guru Maharaj ji is presented as the uncover the light of knowledge which is within the disciple himself.

Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon): Devotion centers on the god Krishna.

Transcendental Meditation: Deceitfully propagated as nonreligious, this is undoubtedly Hindu. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is the leader. Mandatory initiatory rites in Sanskrit address the Lord Narayana, Brahma the Creator. Daily meditation focuses on the Source of Creative Intelligence within the individual himself.

Vendanta Society (Rama Krishna Mission): This group also teaches the Perennial Philosophy, that God is the essence of all that is, and salvation is to “realize” the god (reality) that is within you.

Yoga: This is one of the six major Hindu philosophical systems to be followed in order to obtain union (yoga) with the Ultimate, the Great All-pervading Soul. Self-realization Fellowship advocates practice of disciplined Kriya Yoga as the path to realization of the good within, the true self.

Zen Buddhism: The major Buddhist activity solves eternity’s problems by illogical koan to produce enlightenment–similar to T.M,
HOLY SPIRIT HOLY SPIRIT

When the Comforter is come, who I will send unto your from the Father, even the Spirit of truth,…he shall testify of me. (John 15:26)

When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. (John 16:8)

When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. (John 15:26).

The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, …he shall teach you all things. (John 16:13)

His spirit that dwelleth in you… (Romans 8:11)

Be filled with the Spirit… (Ephesians 5:18; see also 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 3:16

But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9; see also vv. 14, 16)
SIN SIN

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23).

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8).

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also to law; for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4).

All unrighteousness is sin… 1 John 5:17).

Whatever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23).

Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17).

 The subject per se is given little attention, and forgiveness of sin is unrealistic, By the Law of Karma, “sowing and reaping,” wrong actions inevitably produce punishment, good actions their reward.

Salvation consists of doing good in excess of evil in order to evolve to the highest state through successive incarnations. This highest state is Enlightenment; the realization of oneness with the World-Soul, Reality.

Sin is not defined. It consists of actions which are contrary to one’s “dharma” or “duty”.

“Sin means wrong doing or wrong thinking due to discontentment. Suffering is the result of some wrong doing in the past.” and “Past sins might induce an action in the present; some tendency of the past may come to us” (Meditations of Maharishi, p. 121).
REDEMPTION AND SALVATION REDEMPTION AND SALVATION
We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Ephesians 1:7).

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Unto him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his Father. (Revelation 1:6).

Without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22).Made peace through the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20).

This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:12, 14).

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12).

He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the…only begotten son of God. (John 3:18).

He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. (John 3:36).

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5).

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God–not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Justified freely… through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:4).

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (Romans 10:4)

 “Be still and know that you are God, and when you now that you are God you will begin to live Godhood…” (Ibid., p. 178).

Go within and experience the Divine Nature is the premise! There is no supernatural intervention. We bear the whole responsibility for our actions. If we attain the clear vision of what we are, “the divine or Inner Light, and the god of what we are, “the Divine or Inner Light, and the god within,” we need not go elsewhere.

“All may say, at the moment of Awakening, ‘I am the Way'” (KC, p. 237).

Salvation comes through the realization that there is no duality. God is all-in-all, is all there is, and “that are Thou” (Upanishads).

God-realization, or Self-realization, the highest of all states of being, is here and now possibility by any of the suggested methods.

1) The Way of Knowledge, usually involving meditation focused within. This may be aided by silent repetition of a designated, personal mantra, which is a group of sounds without meaning. Or by “Knowledge” imparted by a “master” by which “inner light” is given and the “current of real life” (the source of life) is turned and the “current of real life” (the source of life) is turned on within us. Meditation is upon this “light experience.”

2) The Way of Words, following prescribed rules of conduct without desire. This is the more common way of India, much less emphasized in the West.

3) The Way of Devotion to a deity, involving continuous chanting of the chosen name, as exemplified by the vocal Krishna-Consciousness cult.

Transcendental Meditation is a path to God (MM, p. 59).

The way of Yoga (meaning union is that of concentration aided by body control, with the aim being “Union with the Divine.”

Self-realization is entry into the Kingdom of Heaven within, entry into the field of the Creator. ” It is the gradual movement from Matter to Mind, and them to super Mind. Once we reach the supper Mind, we reach union with the Divine.”
JUDGEMENT JUDGEMENT
The wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).Those who sleep in the dust…shall awake, some to everlasting, life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2).And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God….And the dead were judged out of those things … written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 10:12).The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven…in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel…; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

If thy foot offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter lame into life than, having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. (Mark 9:45)

 Heaven and hell are not accepted concepts. Karma, the “law of the deed,” of sowing and reaping, is allied with Transmigration (Reincarnation) in defining the results of sin and rewards of good.Suffering (on earth) is the result of some wrong doing in the past, one’s own repayment of deeds.One who has attained union with God, or “God-consciousness,” has reached the end of reincarnation. As the Buddha is reported to have said, “There is no rebirth for me.”
Yahweh

Who is Yahweh and who is Jesus?

Who are these Gods in relation to each other?

Jesus prayed in John 17: 1, NLT: I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. I have further written on Yahweh who called Moses in the burning bush, referring to Himself as “I am” and later revealed His name as “Yahweh” to Moses. Later Jesus inferred that: I and my Father are one and the same person by saying: Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)

Now that we’ve defined “god,” it becomes apparent that our original question is inadequate. It is now clear that we are asking more than whether Jesus is a “god.” We want to know if Jesus is YAHWEH! We must determine whether Jesus and Yahweh are two beings, or only one being. That is the crux of the whole body of arguments surrounding this issue.

The word “god” is not a proper name. It’s a title. It is generic and can refer to ANY god. Therefore, in order to help keep this issue clear as we study it, we’ll need to use the proper names whenever possible so we’ll know which “god” we are talking about at that moment. This is the value of properly naming our true Gods for the sake of differentiation as we study.

The name of the Creator God of Israel is Yahweh. The name of our Savior is Jesus. So for the sake of clarity, we should use their proper names, rather than their titles, as much as possible.

Now, let’s consider some of the identifying characteristics of both Jesus and Yahweh. Are they the same, or different?

1. The Father and the Son are United

John 5 we read: 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.

4b. …an idol is nothing in the world, and there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But, to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him: AND one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. (I Corinthians 8)

Many similar scriptures clearly delineate between Father and Son – identifying them as two, separate, distinct personalities. By definition, sons issue forth from fathers. Fathers precede their sons, necessarily. Otherwise, a father is not a father, and a son is not a son. A son cannot be his own father, nor can a father be his own son. Such an absurdity would nullify the meaning of the terms “father” and “son” and render the language useless.

2. One is the Creator; the other is a Created and Empowered Son of God (who co-creates and governs equally with His Father)

We read in Colossians 1:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

This says that Jesus was created. He is “the firstborn” (greatest) of all creatures (i.e. things created). If Jesus was created then it had to be Yahweh who created Him. If Yahweh created Jesus, then Jesus cannot be Yahweh. The Created is not the Creator. The logic is simple.

Of course, someone might argue, “But, doesn’t this scripture go on to tell us that Jesus created all things that are in heaven and earth? That must mean that Jesus was the Creator!”

Verse 16 reads:

For in him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created through him, and for him:

“All things created” (i.e. this universe, if you will) were created ultimately for the Son who was to inherit all things, whether created by Yahweh directly, or co-created together with the Son. This verse has been used in the past to suggest that Jesus was the Creator in Genesis!and it is quite possible that Jesus existed before this earth was created!thus the world would have been co-created with Yahweh and Jesus working together, much like fathers and sons work together in a family business.

Regardless of this, Yahweh ultimately created all things for Jesus the Son – inheritor of the governance of all things owned by His Father, Yahweh. They were created in Him and for Him. Dominions, principalities, thrones, powers – all things are IN him.

Jesus is much like Joseph governing in full power, as second in command with Pharaoh over all Egypt.

3. One knows all: the Other gains His Knowledge from the Father

Matthew 24:

3. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him (Jesus) privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy presence (judgment), and of the end of the age (fall of Jerusalem)?

The disciples were asking about the coming judgment and destruction upon Jerusalem. They wanted to know when to expect the prophesied judgment. Jesus’ answer was interesting. In verses 3-36, He gave them some detail as to what they should watch for. Then, He finally answers their question directly in verse 36:

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my father only.

This does not imply Jesus didn’t know. He simply said no man knows, and at that time, Jesus walked as a man on earth. We know that Jesus knows all about this event as He described it frequently, and set stage by stage articulates warnings in His revelation to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Jesus is the last day Judge of all mankind as well as our advocate!a very good deal. I propose to you that all judges know when they will go to trial.

4. One was visible; the other wasn’t

John 1:

In the beginning was the logos (i.e. the communication), and the logos was for (not “with”) God, and God was the logos (i.e. the communication expressed the person of God). And the logos (the communication) was made flesh, (Yahweh’s logos was manifested in a man) and dwelt among us, and we beheld (looked upon) his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Men beheld Jesus: the Logos of God. They saw Him and touched Him. However, no man has seen Yahweh who is the source Spirit of all creation.

No man hath seen Yahweh at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

I John 1:

That which was from the beginning (i.e. Yahweh’s logos), which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hand have handled, of the logos of life; For the life (i.e. the logos) was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that *eonian life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; (“eonian life” = the spiritual awakening given during this New Covenant age).

In John 5:37, Jesus stood before his disciples and said:

37. And the Father himself, which has sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

I John 4:

No man hath seen God at any time… Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

No man has seen or heard the actual form or voice of the Father at any time. But, Jesus was both seen and heard. We are never directed to confess that Jesus is the Father. We are commanded to confess that Jesus is THE SON!

Jesus manifested God’s character of love and mercy throughout the ages, as the apostle Paul said that Jesus actually was the Rock referred to in the writings of Moses. Jesus, is the articulate image of God as the presentation of a man’s form, either in vision, or in flesh as Jesus here on earth. He is the “express image of God” ie of Yahweh’s indwelling Spirit manifesting as His imaged-representative through His created, yet distinct Son.

5. One “exists” eternally; the other doesn’t

The name “Yahweh” stems from a Hebrew verb meaning “TO BE,” or “self-existence,” from a prime root “to exist,” or “to be,” in the sense of non-ending. His nature, as well as his self-proclaimed name, clearly shows the impossibility of his ceasing to exist – even for a few hours. Yahweh cannot die unless He is a fraud! His name declares it! His Word declares it! He simply cannot cease to be! Jesus, on the other hand, died and ceased to exist for several hours. That establishes a big difference between Yahweh and Jesus.

Jesus trusted Yahweh to die for three days, and be placed in the earth. This incredible trust of Jesus indicates that He was unified even as One indwelt with Yahweh’s own Spirit, the source of all. As well, all power in heaven and earth was transferred to the most trusted Son of Yahweh!

It is a basic premise of scripture that Yahweh cannot die.

Psalm 102:

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Exodus 3:

And God said unto Moses, I am the One that exists. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, He who exists has sent me unto you.

Yahweh EXISTS! He cannot stop existing. He is Yahweh! Yet, Jesus calls Himself the Alpha and Omega, and the “I am” indicating a parallel eternal co-existence with Yahweh.

I Corinthians 15:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

I would point out that Christ never dies, as he existed in heaven, but He always lives to make intercession for us. He died only as a man, when He chose to incarnate man.

6. One became hungry; the other doesn’t

Matthew 4:

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

Of course, hunger is just one of the common needs of a flesh-and-blood mortal. It’s an interesting point when comparing the difference between Yahweh and man. Otherwise Jesus would never had died.

7. One was tempted; the other cannot be tempted

Matthew 4:

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, (when He was hungry) he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

In Hebrews, we find the reason it was necessary for Him to be tempted.

Hebrews 2:

Forasmuch then as the children have shared of flesh and blood, he (Jesus) also himself likewise shared of the same; (He was flesh and blood, the same as his brothers) that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he is not somewhere ministering to angels, but he is ministering to the seed of Abraham (corrected translation according to the Greek). Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Jesus was tempted! He was temporarily incarnated into a mortal state of being. He didn’t sin, however. Temptation, in itself is not sin. “Sin” is when we give in to temptation.

Now turn to James 1:13:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God (Yahweh): for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.

Yahweh cannot be tempted! He could not have been Jesus at the same time as Jesus walked on earth, thus never the same! Nevertheless, He was One in mind with the Father, being indwelt with Yahweh’s Spirit.

8. One slept; the other doesn’t

Matthew 8:

And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him, 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 must have been pretty tired to fall asleep in one of those little boats being tossed about in a storm on the sea of Galilee. He became weary and He slept. Yahweh doesn’t have that problem.

Psalm 121:

4. Behold, he (Yahweh) that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Isaiah 40:

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

Jesus only slept as an incarnate man. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father!which also indicated two beings, on the right and left of each other.

9. One prayed to the other

Luke 22:

And he (Jesus) came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Jesus prayed to his Father for help. He also acknowledged two sets of wills:

a. His will as incarnate man, and
b. His Father’s will as God in heaven.

10. One increased; the other doesn’t change

Luke 2:

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

If Jesus could increase, or learn something, it meant that He was not omniscient (all-knowing). In order to increase in wisdom Jesus could not have been Yahweh.

Psalm 147:

5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite (unlimited).

Yahweh does not increase! Yahweh is omniscient (all knowing).

11. One was a man; the other wasn’t

John 8:

But now ye seek to kill me (Jesus), a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God.

Acts 2:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

Some have said to me, “If you say that Jesus was a man, then you’re worshipping just a man.”

However, it was Jesus himself who said He was a man. He also prevented men from worshipping Him while He was mortal, telling them to “worship God.” However, after He was raised to immortality, He was no more a natural man. When I worship the risen, immortal Jesus I am not worshipping “just a man.”

Numbers 23:

Yahweh is not a man that he could lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent…

Yahweh is not a man, nor the son of man. On the other hand, Jesus WAS “a man,” and “the Son of man.”

12. One has authority; the other has power

There is an important difference between the two.

Matthew 28:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All authority (not “power”) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus was given authority [“exousia” – Gk]. Authority comes only from a higher source. It must be delegated. Authority cannot exist unless there is a higher source in which it can be based. Like links in a chain, positions of authority are completely dependent upon the higher links. Cut one of the higher links and all support is cut off for any links below.

Soldiers understand authority and rank. Each rank, or position of authority, rests upon the ranks above it. Authority always comes from above. Jesus was given authority. Jesus could not have been given authority unless there was someone higher to give it to Him. That higher source was Yahweh.

Now, some Bible translators have confused “authority” with “power.” The King James Version translators were some of the worst offenders in this. The KJV translators indiscriminately used both words interchangeably! But they are clearly NOT interchangeable, and subsequent translators have corrected that error.

As I pointed out, “authority” comes from the Greek “exousia.” Power, on the other hand, is altogether different. It comes from the Greek word, “dunamis,” from which we get our English word, “dynamite.” If you know how dynamite works, you know how power works. Dynamite doesn’t need authority – it is simply raw force: power.

Ultimate “power” means Yahweh God. He has all power. He doesn’t need authority. A “power” holds control by virtue of his own strength. There is no one above Yahweh to delegate authority down to Him.

Yahweh is the ultimate power. He has more muscle than anyone else. No one is big enough to overpower Yahweh. There’s no group, nor anything, anywhere, than can unseat Yahweh.

A “power” is someone whose superior strength keeps them in control. There are lesser powers, and greater powers. Yahweh is the ultimate power. As long as a power can hold his position and protect his realm, he can delegate authority down to other people under him.

Understanding the difference between power and authority will help you also to understand Romans 13:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher authorities. For there is no authority but of God: the authorities that be are ordained of God.

We recognize all higher authorities. But remember, there is no viable authority except under Yahweh. That is just common sense. If Yahweh is the ultimate power, then He must delegate all authority. All authority must come from Him.

Can any lawful authority exist except under Yahweh? No! It is impossible!

If Yahweh has vested Jesus with “all authority in heaven and earth,” can there exist any viable authority but in and under Jesus? No! It is impossible!

Some men say they get their authority from the State of Oregon, or from the Federal Government, or from the Constitution, or from the Soviet Politburo, or from the United Nations or some other source. But, if they’re not under Jesus, their “authority” is bogus. It is not true authority! It is counterfeit because no authority can exist unless it is aligned under Yahweh and his Son. The only way that authority can work is if a “power” delegates it. An authority must be ordained of God in order to be viable. If they aren’t ordained (authorized) of God, they are fake and we should not honor them.

John 17:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may also glorify thee: As thou has given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eonian life to as many as thou has given him. And this is eonian life: that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (Here is the Bible definition of “eonian life” – usually translated “eternal life”).
As thou (Father) hath sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them (the disciples) into the world.

Yahweh sent (authorized) “Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ then sent (authorized) the disciples. This is the correct perspective on the order of authority: the order of rank.