In the creation of mankind was manifested the action of a personal God. He had made humanity in His image.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground… Genesis 2:7.
The human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life.
Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life and mankind became a living, breathing, intelligent being.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them …and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Psalms 139:16; Genesis 2:7.
A personal God created humanity through Christ
This living God is worthy of our thought, praise adoration and worship as the Creator of the world and as the Creator of mankind.
We are to praise and glorify God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.
While we may discern the creative work of God in the things He has made, these things are not God. Nature has its influence upon the senses. Her voice, according to the Word of God, is heard to the end of the world.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Psalms 19:1, 3
The physical creation testifies of a designer God. Moreover, the Son of Go is the great Creator of all things.
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. John 1:3, 4
He designed that humans, the crowning work of His creation, should express His thought and reveal His glory.
Personality of God as it is revealed in Christ
The Father and the Son each have a personality.
Christ taught human beings what God desired them to know. Thus we learn of the personality and character of God as they were revealed in Christ.
God’s Son manifested as far as could be endured by human sight the nature and the attributes of the invisible God.
I and My Father are one. John 10:30.
The Scriptures indicate the relation between God and Christ. They bring to view clearly the personality and individuality of each.
In the same manner the unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in:
- purpose
- mind
- character, but not in person.
It is thus that God and Christ are one.
Yet it was the Son of God who came to the world in human form. He clothed His divinity with humanity and put aside His royal robe and kingly crown.
Thus humanity through His infinite sacrifice might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.
Jesus said the following regarding God’s personality:
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14:9.
Christ was the express image of His Father’s person.
He stood forth distinctly in His human personality. Moreover Christ appealed in striking but simple language to humanity. Yet He was in such perfect oneness with God.
Thus His voice came with authority as the voice of God. The glory of Haven fell directly upon Christ and from Him to the world, to be reflected back by all who receive and believe on Him.
Representing the invisible God
In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9.
In the time Jesus, worshippers of God were not able to discern His divine character because of their lack of spirituality.
Their own prophets had foretold Him as a Deliverer.
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. Isaiah 9:6, 7.
Though His character and mission had been so plainly described, and He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 1:11.
It was not until Christ ascended to his Father and the descent of the Holy Spirit, that the disciples fully appreciated the character and the mission of Christ.
After the baptism of the Holy Spirit they began to realize that they had been in the very presence of the Lord of life and glory.
Furthermore, they realized that 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.
God is a spirit and yet He is a personal being
He is a personal being for man and woman were created in His image. As a personal being God has revealed Himself in His Son. Jesus, the outshining of the Father’s glory, and the express image of His person – Hebrews 1:3, was on earth found in fashion as a man.
As a personal Savior, He:
- came to the world
- ascended on high
- intercedes in the heavenly courts.
Before the throne of God in our behalf ministers One like the Son of man. Daniel 7:13.
The greatness of God is incomprehensible to us. The Lord’s throne is in heaven – Psalm 11:4. Yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of and a personal interest in all the works of His hand.
It was the Maker of all things who in the material world provided that every desire implanted should be met. It was He who created the human soul with its capacity for knowing and loving.
And He is not in Himself such as to leave the demands of the soul unsatisfied. It is not enough to believe in law and force, in things that have no pity, and never hear the cry for help.
We need to know of an almighty arm that will hold us up, of an infinite Friend that pities us. We need to trust in a heart full of tenderness. And even so is the knowledge of God in His word.
Conclusion
Through Christ the Word, a personal God created man and endowed him with intelligence and power.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made. John 1:1, 3.
Sin separated humans and their Maker. No man has seen God at any time, except as He is manifested through Christ.
I and My Father are one. John 10:30.
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Matthew 11:27.
Had God desired to be represented as dwelling personally in the things of nature? For instance – in the flower, tree, and the spire of grass. Would not Christ have spoken of this to His disciples when He was on the earth?
But never in the teaching of Christ is God thus spoken of. Christ and the apostles taught clearly the truth of the existence of a personal God.
Christ and God are two distinct personages.
And our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.1 John 1:3.
All through the Scriptures, the Father and the Son are spoken of as two distinct personages. You will hear men endeavoring to make the Son of God a nonentity. He and the Father are one, but they are two personages.
Read the prayer of Christ in John 17 and you will find this point clearly brought out.
References:
- 8T 264; 7MR 372; Ed 131; Ed 133; MH 415, 419; 9T 68; SpTEd 4 – The Ellen G. White Estate
- King James Bible Version
- Image courtesy – Pixabay
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