The Biography of Jesus Christ: The Eternal Lamb

By Jeremiah O. Opusunju

Indeed, this book will provide complete and accurate revelations and information of who Jesus is (including the doctrine of Trinity and the mystery of the oneness of God), the effect of the death and resurrection of Christ on earth; the mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory, and the Second Coming of Christ (the events and their timings).
In addition, it contains the core stories of the earth, humanity, the Jews, and the church (stories told from the beginning to the end). This is, indeed, a classic book as well as a fountain of blessings and glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481796682

Jeremiah O. Opusunju

Jeremiah O. Opusunju is, by formal training, a social scientist who holds a BSC (accountancy) and a master of business administration (MBA) in banking and finance. He is married, with two children, and an anointed minister of the Gospel of Christ (a witness to the awesome glory of the resurrected Lamb of God). His first book, The Great Mystery (A Prophetic Book of The End Times), has been a tremendous blessings to its numerous readers. However, its greatest contribution is being instrumental for the publication of this biography. This work of his is designed to establish the hearts of millions all over the earth in righteousness (being conformed to the full glory of the resurrected Lamb of God), as well as silence the scoffers of God’s promise of Christ’s Second Coming.

Book preview

THE BIOGRAPHY OF

JESUS CHRIST

THE ETERNAL LAMB

JEREMIAH O. OPUSUNJU

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© 2013 by Jeremiah O. Opusunju. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/24/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9666-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9667-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9668-2 (e)

Scripture references taken from:

The King James Version (KJV).

The Darby English Version (DEB).

The Good News Bible (GNB)

New International Version (NIV)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Amplified Version (Amp)

Reversed Standard Version (RSV)

Most Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible—Public Domain and Darby English version-Public Domain

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

The Amplified trademark is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by The Lockman Foundation. Use of this trademark requires the permission of The Lockman Foundation.

Some Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved

Good News Bible® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition)

Copyright © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgment

Preface

Part I

The Eternal One

Chapter One The Emmanuel

Chapter Two The Trinity

Chapter Three The Pre-Existence Of Jesus

Chapter Four The Mystery Of The Godhead

Chapter Five The Wisdom Of God

Part II

The Past

Chapter Six The Need For A Messiah

Chapter Seven The Messiah

Chapter Eight The Public Ministry Of Jesus

Chapter Nine The Gospel Of Christ

Chapter Ten The Lord’s Prayer

Chapter Eleven The Price For My Glory

Chapter Twelve The Effect Of Christ’s Death On The Law Of Moses

Chapter Thirteen The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

Chapter Fourteen

Part III

The Present

Chapter Fifteen The Inauguration Of The Body Of Christ

Chapter Sixteen You Must Be Born Again

Chapter Seventeen Those In Christ Jesus

Chapter Eighteen No Condemnation For Those In Christ Jesus

Chapter Nineteen Defilement Of The Temple Of God

Chapter Twenty Be Ye Holy As I Am Holy

Chapter Twenty-One Perfecting Our Holiness In Christ

Chapter Twenty-Two The Inheritance Of The Body Of Christ

Chapter Twenty-Three The Covenant Of Wealth

Chapter Twenty-Four The Dominion Of Believers Over Satan And His Kingdom

Chapter Twenty-Five Living And Walking By Faith

Chapter Twenty-Six Manifesting Our Faith In God

Chapter Twenty-Seven The Communion Of The Holy Spirit

Part IV

The Future

Chapter Twenty-Eight The Second Coming Of Christ: Old Testament’s Prophecies

Chapter Twenty-Nine The Second Coming Of Christ: New Testament’s Prophecies

Chapter Thirty The Restoration Of The Nation Of Israel

Chapter Thirty-One The Acceptable Year Of The Lord’s Vengeance

Chapter Thirty-Two The Redemptions And The Ressurrections

Chapter Thirty-Three Daniel’s Seventieth Week: The First Half

Chapter Thirty-Four Daniel’s Seventieth Week: The Second Half

Chapter Thirty-Five Babylon The Great

Chapter Thirty-Six The Return Of The Lord Of Glory

Chapter Thirty-Seven The End And The Beginning Of Eternity

The Epilogue

Appendix One Six Years Of Christ’s Ministry

Appendix Two Prophecies Fulfilled At Christ’s First Coming

Appendix Three Tithing And The Consequences Of Living By The Law Of Moses

Appendix Four The Seventy Weeks Of Daniel

Refrences Introduction

To my precious wife, the love of my life (Okeoma Ebelechukwu Opusunju), my great kids (Kathryn and Samuel), my nice (Fortune) and you (who love the appearing of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Spirit of God is upon me, for he has anointed me to make Christ known to this generation and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’s vengeance on earth.

Therefore, I am eternally grateful to the Holy Spirit for communicating to me the great truths in this book (which have established my life in Christ); as well as to the Father and the Eternal Lamb (Jesus Christ), who appointed and qualified me to accomplish this great task. Thank you, Daddy!

I am also very grateful to you dear reader; who has made this work worthwhile, the purpose of which is to make you fall deeply in love with the person of Jesus Christ, if only you will know him better from its pages, I believe you will become more in love with him; thanks.

Am also grateful to everyone who, one way or the other, made this great book possible, thanks.

PREFACE

Although, many have written about Jesus Christ, however, a need for complete and accurate revelation of him as the Eternal Lamb still exists. Therefore, here is a unique presentation of his story, correcting every misrepresentation of him and his ministry.

A woman once said to him I know that Messiah cometh, who is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus responded, I that speak unto thee am he. The woman then invited some men to come and see the Christ. On hearing from Jesus, they said, Now we… know that this is indeed the Christ, the savior of the world.

More so, when a certain lunatic saw him, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? ¹; this means that even demons recognized him as the Son of the Most High God.

At his birth, a prophet also said, it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So, when he took up Jesus in his arms, he blessed God and then said… mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. Prior to this statement, an angel had said, Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord .

Even some wise (non Jewish) men looked for and worshiped him, at birth, of which the scriptures said when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea… behold, there came wise men from the east to… the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.

Even at the age of twelve, Jesus, speaking of his sonship to God, said to his foster parents, How is it that ye sought me? Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? Confirming all these testimonies, during the baptism of Jesus, God said of him, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased 2.

Therefore, the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ and the Savior of the world, is not a figment of his imagination or that of his disciples. As his birth and ministry were prophesied, the earliest being about five hundred years before his birth.

As such, his apostles boldly said of him, We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Therefore, there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved; so he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abided on him ³.

Furthermore, his resurrection from death sealed the truth that Jesus is indeed the Christ and so, he is the only one of whom it is said that he was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification ⁴; making him the only one who dealt with the twin issues of sin and death, on behalf of humans.

As the savior of the world, Jesus is also the light of the world that shines in the earth to show humanity the path to eternal glory ⁵.

I am therefore very confident that the biography of such a personality, as Jesus Christ, is worth reading.

WHY TRUST THE BIBLE

However, before proceeding on Christ’s biography, we should clear the issue as to whether one can place absolute confidence on the information about him, in the Bible.

A GREAT PROPHETIC BOOK: It is my belief that anyone can write a history of any past event; it simply requires gathering and sifting available information about that event. Armed with such self-determined facts, any one (wise or foolish) could go about the task of writing the history, even of ancient events.

Meanwhile, no human can foretell the future centuries ahead, with absolute certainty. Therefore, prophecies differentiate human intelligence from divine revelation and the Bible contains great volume of such divine revelations. This act of forth telling the future, by divine inspiration, confirms the supremacy of the information contained in the Bible, over and above any other book on earth.

For instance, the Bible stated that, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion over… the earth. This scripture written by Moses, in about 3,450 years ago, clearly reveal that right from creation, humans had the divine authority to multiply and rule over the earth and so it has been.

No wonder the scriptures, speaking of God (who inspired the Bible), said, I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasures. He further said, I have declared the former things long ago… and I caused them to be heard, I wrought suddenly, and they came to pass ⁶.

Indeed, the Bible is not speculative; it provided precise and perfect information of certain events centuries or thousands of years ahead, which prove that all scripture is given by inspiration of God ⁷. However, someone might argue that scientists disproved some contents of the Bible at different times in history.

I wish to refer such persons to an article contained in the Wellington’s guide to the Bible page 819; in the concluding paragraph of section IV; it stated:

In the library of the Louver in Paris, there are three and half miles of obsolete science books. In 1861, the French Academy of Science published a brochure of fifty-one ‘scientific facts’ which supposedly contradicted the Bible. These were used by the atheists of that day in ridiculing Christians. Today all fifty-one of those ‘facts’ are unacceptable to modern scientists.

Surely, the devout Christian can utter a hearty amen with Dr Dwight Dana of Yale University, probably the most eminent geologist in American history, who once addressed a graduating class in these words ‘young men! As you go out into the world to face scientific problems, remember that I, an old man who has known only science all his life long, say to you, that there is nothing truer in all the universe than the scientific statements contained in the word of God! ⁸.

The then French Academy of Science made a blunder of assuming that science has perfect knowledge of facts; by which, they simply celebrated ignorance. The existence of three and half miles of obsolete science books proves that science has never possessed perfect knowledge of facts. Yet every verse of the scripture is a perfect fact of the past, present or future, none is obsolete.

As such, what one might hold to be untrue in the Bible, because of scientific discovery, scientists will also prove it true later on; sometimes this happens after the individual might have died. This is why we must avoid the temptation of using scientific facts in judging scriptural truth. Every scriptural truth will become a scientific fact; it is simply a matter of time.

Therefore, the statement by Dr James Dwight Dana as regards scientific statements in the Bible is applicable to all scriptures. Every scripture is true, including the information about Jesus.

A BOOK OF BOOKS: One other shocking fact, is that most religious books on which many people have placed their eternal destination on (not being afraid of believing a lie); is a product of an individual’s vision, revelation, angelic impartation, dream, study or brainwave; which gave rise to that sect’s religious book (s).

Most times, such book(s) is (are) written within the life span of that individual (not exceeding 100 years). Producing supposedly perfect ethical codes of conduct, self-determined histories and speculations about the future (yet void of any meaningful prophetic value); and in virtually all of them, their contents are not substantiated (before or after them), by anyone else.

Every contribution to their teachings, during or after their lifetime, is simply an interpretation (not substantiation) of their messages. As their ‘God’ (whom each of these religions worship), spoke directly only to their founders. Speaking of such worshippers, the Bible said, Ye worship what ye know not; we know what we worship 9.

Therefore unlike these religious books, the Bible is a single book of sixty-six books (each unique and complete in itself), written within a period of about 1,550 years by about forty-four human authors; all inspired by God in different generations.

The same God who inspired Moses (in about 1450 BC) to write the book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible) also inspired all other human authors of the Bible in their generations until John was inspired (in about AD 95) to write the book of Revelation (the last book of the Bible).

Each of these prophets (after Moses) substantiated earlier scriptures in such a way that they achieved perfect harmony in themes and contents, as will be seen all through the chapters of this book. Proving that God exist and that he is who he said he is.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: As for those who might say ‘the God who inspired the Bible does not exist’ my response to them is:

I once listened to an interview (CNN Talk Asia) where a world famous artist Damien Hirst, during his art exhibition in Japan, said that he did not believe in the existence of God. Coming from a renowned artist, I was shocked!

Interestingly, included in that exhibition, were two diamond fitted skulls (his then latest and most expensive crafts). I wonder what Damien would say if someone argues that those diamond fitted skulls were an aftermath of an earthquake, which occurred in a diamond field; killing many people and throwing up particles of diamonds that over time got stuck to those skulls creating such magnificent beauty.

Would it then be true that those beautiful pieces of arts are chance occurrence of an earthquake and not Damien’s crafts? Your guess is as good as mine is.

Indeed the Milky Way galaxy, with numerous stars peeping into the earth (like the diamonds, in Damien’s crafts), is a sure proof of the existence of a super intelligent Being called God. He is the one who crafted the heavens and the earth; his crafts reveal his existence so said the Bible, for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse ¹⁰. Therefore, no human has any excuse for not believing in his existence.

However, to reinforce the truth of his existence and his sovereign majesty over his creations, he also designed absolute sets of events for the salvation and perfection of his creations (biblical prophecies, which he is executing to the latter, as will be seen in this book), for which, Jesus Christ came to the earth.

ABOUT JESUS: As such, the biblical records of the person of Jesus are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name ¹¹. Indeed, the purpose for the scriptural records on Jesus is to reveal him as the Christ (the Messiah, the Savior or the Son of God).

Many people have difficulty accepting him as the Son of God; they believe God cannot have a Son, even when most of them also believe that God is Almighty.

It baffles me that an individual could acknowledge that God is Almighty (which means that nothing is impossible with him) and yet limits God’s ability to having a son, even when there is need for one. You will agree with me that if God cannot have a son when he desires to, then he cannot be Almighty.

Like the Bible, most humans also acknowledge that the earth is under siege by the forces of wickedness. The Bible stated that because of this siege (over the earth which God created), he had to send his only begotten Son (the only one capable of crushing it) to salvage the earth from their wicked influences.

Infact, God sent Jesus to destroy the works of the devil, God had a need of a Son, to perform a special task on earth, so he sent one, in the person of Jesus; showing that with God, nothing is impossible.

That was why the angel, sent to Mary (the mother of Jesus), said to her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee… that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God… For with God nothing shall be impossible ¹². Indeed, he is God and nothing is impossible with him.

As for the skeptics who have problem believing the gospels, acts and the epistles records of the person of Jesus, I recommend they do what Jesus said to the Jews, search the scriptures; for in them… are they which testify of me.

Of which, after his resurrection, Christ also said, all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me ¹³. As confirmed in this book, the entire Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis to Malachi) revealed who Jesus is, as well as his ministry, which the gospel records, the Acts and the epistles confirmed; so, their records are indeed true.

Therefore, any fool could write a history of any past event and humans could establish great ethical codes of conducts (as contained in the world’s religious books and national constitutions), however, only divine inspiration can forth tell the future.

Of which, mocking Israel’s idols, God said to them declare us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods ¹⁴; it is only by divine inspiration that the future can be forth told, so, the one who inspired the Bible is truly the All-knowing and the Almighty one (God).

He is the only one who declares the end right from the beginning; including the ways, the means and sometimes the when for the said end, even thousands of years ahead, there is absolutely none like him.

Indeed, the Bible, which he inspired, can be trusted; more so, over the years it has built for itself a reputation of a great book, so, we can confidently rely on its records as otherwise would mean celebration of ignorance or foolishness gone on rampage.

THIS BOOK

Since the Bible is the only book that perfectly forth told the coming of Christ and his activities on earth (thousands of years ahead), I strongly believe that even if other facts of his life (which are true) should emerge, they will perfectly agree with its contents; therefore, this book focuses on the biblical records on Jesus.

However, because some of its contents are controversial, even among Bible scholars and believers, I adopted a style of repetitive emphasis to explain most of these controversies. Two opposing views cannot be true. If one view is right, then the opposite of it must be wrong.

Since the Bible can differentiate which of any opposing views is right, it is our responsibility to get to the roots of all these controversies from the scriptures. So, anyone who reads this book should be well equipped for the task of rightly dividing the word of truth, at all times. To achieve this, I used a great deal of scriptural references.

Therefore, drawing from an introduction of himself, where Jesus said, "I am . . . the lord; which is, and was; and which is to come, the Almighty" ¹⁵; it then means that, Jesus is the Lord Almighty (the eternal one), who was (the past), who is (the present) and who is to come (the future).

As such, this book is divided into four parts which will unveil: who Jesus is (The Eternal One); what he did on earth at his first coming (The Past); what he is currently doing on earth (The Present); when and what he will return to do on earth, including the events preceding his second coming (The Future).

THE BENEFITS

In this book, there are awesome revelations and information for everyone. As for the world, is it not commonly said that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, therefore will it not be great knowing whom, when and what they will soon be contending with?

Of which, centuries before the birth of Christ, the psalmist said of him the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. So, he advised be wise now… o ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth… Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

However, blessed are all they that put their trust in him; therefore, in the pages of this book is the revelation of Jesus (the Son), his love, awesome power and his ultimate judgments against everyone who rejected him.

For the believers (those that trust in him), the value of the information in this book is unquantifiable. Knowing the person and the works of Jesus, means having boldness to defend one’s faith in him and tap fully into the wisdom and treasures of God, as God hid all the divine treasures in Christ.

Speaking of which Paul said, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him… that ye may know what is the hope of his calling… and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe ¹⁶. Indeed, this book will enable every believer to know, understand and confidently boast in the lord our God.

Furthermore, God’s desire is that ye all speak the same thing and that there are no divisions among you, so that ye are perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This was why he equipped us with gifted men ¹⁷.

As such, one of the reasons of this book is for the church to attain the beauty of unity of doctrines; our styles of ministrations might differ ¹⁸, but the messages must be the same. Achieving this unity of doctrines will enable the church to perform effectively our role of being a light and a salt to the world.

Indeed, this book will provide complete and accurate revelations and information of who Jesus is (including the doctrine of trinity and the mystery of the oneness of God); the effect of the death and resurrection of Christ on earth; the mystery of ‘Christ in you the hope of glory’; and the second coming of Christ (the events and their timings).

In addition, it contains the core stories of the earth, humanity, the Jews and the church (stories told from the beginning to the end); this is indeed a classic book as well as a fountain of blessings and glory.

Therefore, I pray to my Holy Father, that by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ, he should grant you understandings of the things you are about to read and give you the wisdom to apply them into your life, as he did to me, Amen.

PART I

THE ETERNAL ONE

Micah:

5:2 (And thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity.)

John:

1:1 In [the] beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1:2 *He* was in the beginning with God

(Darby English Bible)

JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH,

WHO IS HE… ?

CHAPTER ONE

THE EMMANUEL

But thou Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose going forth have been from old: from everlasting

Micah 5: 2

Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

Isaiah 7:4

As quoted above, God’s prophets, prophesying at about 800 years before the birth of Christ, spoke of the coming of a great ruler, who will rule from Israel. Whose existence has been from old, from everlasting; he will be miraculously born in Bethlehem, through a virgin and named Immanuel.

CHRIST; THE ETERNAL ONE

Therefore, the gospels (the books of Matthew to John) attributed the above prophecies to the person of Jesus. Of which, Matthew said, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way; when as his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Confirming, 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 ¹. Matthew gave us the meaning of the name ‘Emmanuel’, which is—God with us. Therefore, that great ruler will actually be God in the midst of his earthly creation.

John also said, 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; and all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men, so, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ².

Therefore, the gospels left no one in doubt that the expected Emmanuel and the everlasting one is indeed Jesus Christ. Whose prophetic name Emmanuel, described his person (God with us). Of which Paul said, God was manifest in the flesh… preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory ³.

IN THE BEGINNING

As such, from the beginning, Jesus had the very nature of God (eternal life), which was then enclosed with flesh, for the light of the world ²; so, in the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

The use of the preposition ‘with’, to describe the co-existence between the Word (who also was God) and God indicates co-existence of two divine beings, right from the beginning. Of which, the Darby English Bible said, *He* was in the beginning with God ⁴; in order words, a divine being (called the Word) existed with another divine being, right from the beginning.

John asserts that Christ was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. For the life was manifested, we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us ⁵.

Indeed, that eternal personality (eternal life), called ‘the Word’ or ‘the Word of life’ or ‘the life’ (who was manifested on earth), was with the Father (not in the Father) as a distinct personality (possessor of eternal life) right from the beginning.

Therefore, the Word and the Father, both of whom are (individually) God, existed before the foundation of the world, as such, Jesus said, O Father, glorify thou me with your own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was… for thou loves me before the foundation of the world ⁶.

Judging from the above scriptures, it is evident that the love which existed between the Father and the Word (who became Jesus, the Emanuel), was not a preposition or foreordination as the love between God and the Church ⁷. This is because the Word is an eternal being who has been in the beginning with the Father, of which Micah said, his going forth has been… from everlasting.

IS JESUS THEN AS ETERNAL AS GOD?

Despite all the above scriptures, the very nature of this everlasting co-existence between God and the Word (who became Jesus), has been a subject of controversies among believers. Three distinct views of it exist. The first states that Jesus was simply the spoken word of God personified. This means that he became a distinct personality from God the Father, when Mary received the word of God through Angel Gabriel (at the time of his conception). Prior to then, there was no distinct personality as God the Word.

They argue that since the word of God is spirit and alive, and that God began to speak from everlasting, therefore his words are alive and eternal as he is. They also believe that ‘as is the case with humans, the word of God represents him’.

The summation of their argument is that, although God began to speak from the beginning, however, the personality called Jesus was created (formed) from the word of God, the day Mary (the mother of Jesus) conceived. They explain that this was why he was called the last Adam; meaning he was God’s last creation on earth.

The proponents of the second view disagree with the first as to the time of his creation. Although both agreed that God created (formed) him, the second view states that Christ existed in heaven before coming to earth.

They therefore believe that he was God’s first creation. According to them, God created him before creating other things. This is to say that Mary gave birth to God’s first creation, through whom, God created all other things.

ARE ALL GOD’S CREATIONS AS ETERNAL AS GOD? Before stating the third view of the person of Jesus, let us critically review the above two. The book of Genesis revealed that every creation of God was a product of his word, so, through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God ⁸.

Therefore, if Jesus is eternal, because he is God’s word personified, then every creation, being a product of God’s word, ought to be as eternal as Christ is. A close look at God’s creations, reveal that his works are everlasting, meanwhile, they do not belong to the class of eternal existence as God.

All creations possess a spiritual and an everlasting entity called soul (a product of the indestructible word of God, which produced that creature). God also classified the souls into living and the non-living souls; his breath of life, into certain creatures, gave life to their souls (making them living creatures or living souls) 9.

In addition, apart from possessing souls, earthly creatures have material substances called the bodies (which are physical and temporal in existence).

As for humans, like God and Angels, they are spiritual beings. Therefore, apart from possessing souls and bodies, they individually consist of a life called the spirit.

Every human consists of a spiritual entity called the spirit, possesses a body and a soul. Acknowledging this truth, James wrote, The body without the spirit is dead¹⁰. Of which, Paul said, I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless¹¹. Every human therefore consists of spirit, soul and body.

Like the souls, the spirits being spiritual (a direct product of God’s word), are also everlasting (indestructible).

More so, the scriptures stated that, known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world ¹², despite this knowledge and the everlasting composition of all God’s creations, none existed with God from the beginning, as was said of Jesus (the Word); he is therefore more than a spoken word of God personified.

DOES GOD’S WORD REVEAL THE FULLNESS OF GOD? Furthermore, those upholding the first view argue that like humans, the word of God represents God; although the integrity of a man depends on the quality of his words, it is an oversimplification to say that ‘a man is represented by his word’.

Word or group of words represents only an aspect of an individual, so it is with God. Of which, Paul said, now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known ¹³; the totality of the spoken words of God, contained in the Bible, afforded us only a partial knowledge of whom God is.

However, comparing Jesus to God, Paul confirmed, in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He was the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person. No wonder Jesus said, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him ¹⁴. A fullness of God, which the totality of the spoken words of God could not reveal, was in him.

DID GOD’S WORD DIMINISH IN GLORY? When Jesus was about to depart from the earth, he prayed, O Father, glorify thou me with your own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was; this means that there was a reduction in the glory of the person of Jesus. Confirming this truth, Paul said, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God… took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ¹⁵.

If Jesus was a spoken word of God personified, it therefore means that while he was on earth, that word diminished in glory compared to what it was before his manifestation. The implication of which would be that the word of God performed at sub-level of glory throughout the period that Jesus was on earth.

No, the spoken words of God were as potent in the earthly days of Jesus as they were before and during creation. The Father’s words in the lips of Jesus achieved the same results as they did during creation. Whatever he said came to pass ¹⁶. Therefore, Jesus could not have been a spoken word of God personified.

WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE? Meanwhile, the proponents of the second view believe that while in heaven, Jesus (the Word) was a distinct person from the Father who created him. They believe that like the angels, God created Jesus and through him, God created all other things. Therefore, Mary gave birth to the first created archangel.

Despite the truth that Jesus was made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they yet they believe he is the Archangel Michael. This view ranked Jesus lower than God but higher than all other angels. They see him as the first in ranking, in creation.

Furthermore, one other major setback this view suffered is the question of who created the heavens and the earth.

Indeed, thus said the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it, so, he is the LORD that made all things; that stretched forth the heavens alone; that spread abroad the earth by my self 17. It is therefore certain that the Most High God created all things by himself.

However, Paul also attributed this act of creation to the person of Jesus. He said 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 by him all things consist ¹⁸.

As such, Jesus must be the self-existent Lord God Almighty, who created the heavens and the earth alone, of which, John said that the Word who was with God, in the beginning, was God ².

Therefore, after the resurrection of Christ having had his prayer answered by the Father (who had brought him into his original glory), Peter said of him let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. He is now the Lord (Jehovah) and Christ (the Savior of the world); same titles used in describing the Most High God, I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior ¹⁹.

No wonder, Jesus boldly said, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

While speaking of the soon coming Almighty, Paul said, we are looking for… the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Isaiah said, The Lord GOD will come… behold his reward is with him; and Zechariah said, The LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. Indeed, the Son of man shall come… with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works ²⁰.

Therefore, the soon coming lord Jesus Christ is indeed God. For which, Isaiah called him the mighty God, the everlasting Father; Paul identified him as God was manifest in the flesh; and Thomas called him My LORD and my God.

Furthermore, while sited on the throne of his Father, four special angels worshipped the one on the throne saying "Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come . . . for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created". Jesus who was, who is and who is to come (‘for whose pleasure all things were created’) is indeed the Lord God Almighty ²¹.

DID GOD CREATE ANOTHER GOD? Since Jesus is also the Lord, the great and mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Almighty and the creator of the universe, if he is a created being, it then means that God created another God of his kind in heaven.

Contrary to the above view, God said, I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God… Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any ²².

Therefore, it is absurd to think that another of the same kind as the Lord God Almighty, the First (Alpha) and the Last (Omega), was formed (created) by God.

Infact, God said, Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me and I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me ²³. Indeed, no other God exist before or after him.

HE INHABITS ETERNITY: Furthermore, the psalmist speaking of God’s throne said "thy throne is established of old thou art from everlasting’; compared to what Micah said of Jesus whose goings forth has been from of old, from everlasting ²⁴, it is evident that Jesus had been as old as God had, from everlasting.

Therefore, he that humbled himself to become the savior of the world inhabited eternity with the Father. Of which Isaiah also said thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones ²⁵.

That humble and contrite one, who inhabited eternity with the Holy one, is the Lamb of God, whom God sent to the earth to revive the spirit and heart of the humble humans, whom he created, but had gone wayward.

The humble one (Christ), stooped down to the earth, divested himself of his glory and was clothed with flesh to suffer humiliation. He did this in other to redeem rebellious humans who were chasing after self-destruction. He died a sinful death, so that God will save him as well as those who mourn (trust) in him ²⁶.

Indeed, like Melchizedek having neither beginning of days, nor end of life ²⁷, Jesus (the Son and the Lamb of God) had no beginning of days; so, he had been with God right from the beginning, as a distinct personality (having his own eternal life), which was clothed with flesh, by the Father, for his earthly existence.

The Father created a body of flesh and blood for him, to enable him relate with humans on earth. This assertion is the third view of the person of Jesus Christ.

To this group of believers, Jesus was simply clothed with flesh and blood, meaning he is an incarnate of the Most High God (an eternal and distinct member of the Godhead) and was not created or formed. Since the three views differs, we will find out from the next chapter which is true and why.

CHAPTER TWO

THE TRINITY

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

1 Timothy 3:16

In the previous chapter, we took a look at three divergent views of the person of Jesus, the question as to which of them is true, can only be ascertained from the scriptures. Since we have the responsibility of studying to show ourselves approved workers, who rightly divide the word of truth ¹, we do not have any reason, to live with these contradictions.

In the opening scriptures, Paul declared the truth that the mystery of godliness is indeed great; so, we owe ourselves the responsibility of searching the scriptures and comparing them with one another, in order to obtain a clear understanding of who, Jesus, the Emmanuel, really is.

THE ROOTS OF MAN

In one of his prophesies, Isaiah said there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his roots… And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek ².

The above scripture is another prophetic declaration about Jesus, which Paul and John confirmed. Paul said, "Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers… There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust".

In John’s testimony he said, "one of the elders said unto me, Weep not behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed ³; so, Jesus is both the root of Jesse (the father of David) and that of David. This was why he said of himself I Jesus… I am the root and the offspring of David" ⁴.

Therefore, Isaiah identified Jesus as the rod out of the stem of Jesse as well as a Branch of his roots. It is worthy of note, that a plural term Roots was used by Isaiah, who gave a vivid picture of the truth that Jesus belongs to the class (branch) of the roots of Jesse, from where he emerged to become a rod out of his stem.

Being the Root of Jesse and David also made him the Root of Adam; because the stem from which Jesse and David grew, came from Adam.

Since, the roots of Adam must pre-exist Adam, the Bible testified that Adam is the son of God ⁵. This means that the visible stem, Adam, emerged from the invisible Roots called God. This was why God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… . So God created man in his own image ⁶.

Adam emerged from the image and likeness of God, making God the Roots from which humans sprang up. One of these roots emerged on earth as the Emmanuel (the Rod out of the stem of Jesse or the visible Branch of the invisible Roots of Jesse).

Note that the Branch emerged from the Roots, which implies that right from the beginning humans had more than one root, that was why God said: ‘let us make man in our image’. Recall that God created all things alone, therefore God (the roots of Jesse) is quoted as using plural words ‘us’ and ‘our’ to represent himself.

THE ELOHIM: Looking also at God’s first revelation of himself, In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth ⁷; it is evident from his first name, Elohim (many who are one), that God wants us to acknowledge the plurality in him right from the beginning.

Therefore, by the use of such words as Roots, Us, Our, and his name Elohim, God uses plural terms in describing himself, indeed, more than one personality existed as God, right from the beginning of creation.

THE PERSONALITIES OF THE GODHEAD

So, who and how many are these personalities called God? The answer to this question is one of the mysteries of God revealed to us by Jesus.

Two scriptures of the Bible compared with each other, clearly identified whom these personalities are; Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" ⁸. In this scripture, Jesus made us to understand that there are three persons involved in the act of regeneration (the new birth) as they were in the act of creation. He identified them as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, though possessing a single name.

However John’s record