Page 45 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

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“PHILIP SAID TO HIM, ‘LORD SHOW US THE FATHER, AND IT IS
SUFFICIENT FOR US.’ JESUS SAID TO HIM, ‘HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU
SO LONG, AND YET YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME, PHILIP? HE WHO

HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER, SO HOW CAN YOU SAY,
‘SHOW US THE FATHER? DO YOU NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE
FATHER AND THE FATHER IN ME? THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO

YOU I DO NOT SPEAK ON MY OWN AUTHORITY;
BUT THE FATHER WHO DWELLS IN ME DOES THE WORKS.
BELIEVE ME THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IN ME…”

Jn. 14:8-11

For the most part, the partial phrase, “…he who has seen Me has seen the Father” is used as a “proof
text” that Jesus is also the Father. It is the misuse of partial verses in this manner that the concept for a
three-in-one God is based. However, considering more of its contextual setting, you can see Jesus is
not saying He is the Father as well as being the Son, but rather Jesus is talking about a likeness of
character between Himself and the Father due to the Father’s indwelling presence. To prove that point
consider this revelation given to the apostle Paul as to how Jesus relates to the Father:

“FOR IT PLEASED THE FATHER “GOD (THE FATHER)…HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS
THAT IN HIM (JESUS) SON, WHOM HE APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS,

ALL THE FULLNESS SHOULD DWELL… THROUGH WHOM HE ALSO MADE THE WORLDS;
FOR IN HIM DWELLS WHO BEING THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY AND
ALL THE FULLNESS OF
THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON…
THE GODHEAD
BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS,
BODILY.” SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
Col. 1:19, 2:9
THE MAJESTY ON HIGH…”
Heb. 1:1-3

First of all, note that Paul considers the trinity to be a pluralistic GODHEAD ,(“more than one Divinity”)

not a three-in-one God. Also note that Paul stresses that the Father was pleased to single out Jesus to

represent the FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. Add to that revelation the fact that Hebrews

1:1-3 state that Jesus is THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS (THE FATHER’S) PERSON and we can

understand why Jesus told Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me

Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, so how can you say,’Show us the Father?” Jesus is

not claiming to be the Father, but rather is “the express image of His person.” Ever heard someone say

of a father-son relationship, “He is the spitting image of his old man.” Jesus is “the spitting image” of

His Father, but He is not the Father! The Father and the Son are two Divine members of a triune

Godhead. The Father is pleased to allow Jesus to reflect the image of the Father and the Holy Spirit!

To see the Son is to see the Father! To see the Son is to see the Holy Spirit! He best represents the

invisible God and the Spirit of God!

Another verse used to support the three-in-one concept of God is this one:

“FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON
HIS SHOULDER. AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED

WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.” Isa. 9:6

Yes, this is a prophecy of Jesus from His birth until His reign. Isolate these verses and you surely have
an argument for Jesus to be considered as also being the Father. However, all Scripture must be taken
in harmony, not in opposition. I would like to suggest that this verse is more in harmony with Jesus
representing “the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Among the names He shall be called are these
three; “…counselor…everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Remember Jesus represents all three
persons of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit also bears the ministry of being a “Counselor” (Isa. 11:2).
Perhaps in this Old Testament prophecy of the future, Jesus is being referred to as “The everlasting
Father” because He is destined to bear “The express image of His (Father) person.” Note He bears
also the unique title of “Prince of Peace” which is the meaning of “Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:1-3), the High
Priest of God, a role Jesus bears presently. Jesus represents all three personages of the Godhead in
these verses. I believe that is a more proper interpretation of its meaning in light of the other passages
above pertaining to how Jesus relates to the Father. We must not put the basis of our faith in the
isolated interpretation of one passage of Scripture. We are told how to learn and how to teach:

“THESE THINGS WE ALSO SPEAK, NOT IN WORDS WHICH MAN’S WISDOM TEACHES
BUT WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES, COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.” 1 Cor. 2:13