“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead…)”
— Galatians 1:1
Paul writes that his call to the apostleship was by Jesus Christ and God the Father to express that Jesus Christ is the Father and the Son. Paul was convinced that, his call to be an apostle was not of men, neither by man AND Jesus Christ was/is NOT A MERE MAN. The scripture above uses the grammatical Greek copulative conjunction “and” … it alludes the “one” connection that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Father, the Son/Word, and the Holy Ghost.
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
— Colossians 2:9
It holds the same in all of Paul’s salutations as a testimony to all churches that, Jesus Christ and God the Father are One in the same.
Special Note: When scriptures denote Jesus and the Father are one (or the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one) … the Greek word for “one” is “heis” … a primary numeral: one (cardinal). It always refers to “one” in number, and never to “one” in essence. (See: John 10:30; 1 John 5:7).
Another set of proof is, Jesus rose from the dead for our justification:
- (Romans 4:25) …Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
- (1 Corinthians 15:16-20) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
- (Hebrews 4:14-16) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
- (Hebrews 10:11-14) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offers oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
- (1 Peter 1:18-21) …Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
When we read salutations in Paul’s epistles like: Jesus Christ, and God the Father (Galatians 1:1); God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3); God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:3); God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:1); God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Timothy 1:2); God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord (Titus 1:2) … the copulative conjunction “and” is used to identify God the Father, and Jesus Christ as being One in the same Person using different offices.
Have you never read, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
— John 5:17
It was the perfect word for us to read/hear; it introduced to many that, Jesus was first in the office of the Father to do the works to prepare Himself a body to function in His second office — the Son, which was established before the foundation of the world for the final stages of His earthly life — our salvation through His preaching and teaching the gospel; the road to the cross; His burial; His preaching the gospel to those who are dead in hell; His resurrection on the third day; and a forty day seminar to prepare His disciples for the work of the ministry.
On day forty, He ascended to the throne of the majesty on high to make intercession for the saints He will save to the uttermost. Ten days later was the day of Pentecost. He sent His Spirit and filled the disciples in the upper room, first; they began to speak as the Spirit gave them the utterance (it was the first baptism of the Holy Ghost). When this was noised abroad, the multitude came together…. That day, 3,000 more souls were saved…. (See: Acts 2).
Jesus fulfilled His promise to send the Comforter (the Holy Ghost) to prove He‘d never leave them (nor us today) comfortless (John 14:18); He dwells in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17); He guides us into all truth (John 16:13); He reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment… (John 16:8).
Consider Jesus’ third office — (Holy Ghost):
- (Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
- (Romans 8:9) 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 8:11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
- (1 Corinthians 3:16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We know, a Spirit cannot be nailed to a tree (or to any other thing for that matter). Only a man can be nailed to a tree to die for the sins of mankind; only an innocent man without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19) …and… without one iota of contaminated blood in His flesh die the acceptable death to satisfy God’s anger against ALL sins, and pay the full price to redeem all who believeth on Him from the penalty and guilt of their sins.
Consider the following disqualifiers:
- Noah was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- Abraham was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- Israel was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- Moses was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- David was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- Peter was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- John was not qualified to pay any cost against sin;
- Paul was not qualified to pay any cost against sin….
Only the Lord Jesus Christ (God manifest in the flesh) was the One qualified Son of man to give His life for ours; the Only One authorized to redeem us from ALL iniquity; and no one but Jesus could/can purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works!
The Lord Jesus Christ was not ever a mere man no matter what anyone may have ever heard, or ever seen.
He is the Only Savior as He and others have said:
- (Isaiah 42:8) I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
- (Isaiah 43:11) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
- (1 John 4:14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
- (1 Timothy 3:16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- (John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
- (Colossians 1:15-17) …Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by 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 by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Jesus Christ is the visible image of His invisible eternal nature!
As we can see from Paul’s salutations (earlier in this exhortation), he intended for the Church (then and now) to recognize Jesus Christ as truly God manifest in the flesh, Who appointed him to be an apostle both to the Jews and the Gentiles. He credited the Lord Jesus for his call to office. Paul said, he was not called of men, neither by man to prove his point that Jesus Christ is not a mere man, but the only true and living God and Savior of the world, especially to those who believeth on Him unto life eternal.
Don’t let the form of what is written trick you to believe what is not truth. Scriptures are replete with the truth of Jesus’ eternal nature. Make sure you know who Jesus Christ is before you actually go to where He will be on the day of judgment. And, know the truth as to who you are to Him — known, or never known?
In other words, does He know you to strive to be one of His faithful disciples? Or, does He know that you never believed the gospel, nor repented; or, you never attempted to know the truth; or, you never brought forth fruit to glorify Him through discipleship, because you never became one of His true disciples? Think about it…. (Acts 14:22; Matthew 4:17; 7:22-23; Mark 1:15; John 8:31-32; 15:8).
Better be sure you know … before you go!
In Christ We Do Remain
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