Journey to see God: see the divine Father and Son relationship

The relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son of God, has been repeatedly declared by Jesus while on earth, as the Son Of Man. Jesus was Spirit-filled and walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. Let us read His words on His divine relationship with God and learn from Him the right way of knowing God. What did Jesus say about God? How we may relate to God? John 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

Jesus declared His status (and relationship with God) clearly in the temple, 7:28-29 “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent Me is true, Whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

John the baptist testified for Jesus, “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” 1:34 He testified Jesus’ relationship with God. “ He who comes from above is above all…and what He has seen and heard, that He testifies…For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life;” 3:31, 32, 34-36

Jesus spoke of God as His Father, and He declared the true purpose of the temple of God. “Take these things away! Do not make My Father‘s house a house of merchandise!” 2:16

He told off His earthly parents, “Why do you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father‘s business?” Luke 2:49

At Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple and drove out those who bought and sold in the temple…and would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. hen He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves’?” Mark 11:15-17

He testified that His mission on earth was the mission of God for mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Jesus spoke of Himself as the gift of God and that He gives living water; a ‘fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (the Holy Spirit who gives the rebirth). 3:10, 14

He spoke of how a believer relates to Godby his action. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.’ 3:21

Jesus declared that God is Spirit and looks for those who worship in spirit and in truth. 4:23-24

Jesus declared how God works pertaining to human. “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 5:17 God works. God is always working.

What work God works and Jesus also does? Jesus explained further on this subject in 5:19-21 “…the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son , and shows Him all things that He himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” 37 “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.” 43 “I have come in My Father‘s name,”

God works through Jesus. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He sent.” 6:29

6:27 God the Father has set his seal on Him. Therefore Jesus can give us the food which endures to everlasting life.

6:32 “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” 37 “All that My Father give Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

Jesus clearly declared what the will of Godregarding salvation through Jesusis. 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” 40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God draws us to Jesus. God teaches us to go to Jesus. “Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” 6:45

There is a connection of life between Jesus and the Father. It is in the Holy Spirit(the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ) and the words of God. 6:57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so He who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”

“unless one is born of water and the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” 3:5-6 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 7:

Concerning the words Jesus spoke: 7:16-17 “My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” 8:26 “but I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 8:28-29 “that I do nothing of myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father does not leave Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father,” 47 “He who is of God hears God’s words;” 51 “If anyone keeps My word He shall never see death.” 55 “I do know Him and keep His word.”

Jesus spoke of the love relationship between Him and the Father in chapter 10:

10:15 “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again…and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 25 “The works that I do in My Father’s name.”

29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My father’s hand.’

30 “I and My Father are one.” 32 “Many good works I have shown you from My Father.” 36 “I am the Son of God.” 31 “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” 38 “that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

(This study is based mainly on the gospel according to John, chapters 1-10, unless otherwise specified. Some of the verses are quoted in excerpts. Readers are urged to refer to the Bible yourself so that you would not miss out the original full texts.)

love of God in Christ Jesus

The word today is 'draw near'!

DRAW NEAR! THE LORD SAYS.

1. Psalm 73:28
   But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.
   Psalm 73:27-28 (in Context) Psalm 73 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Ecclesiastes 5:1
   [ Fear God, Keep Your Vows ] Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
   Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (in Context) Ecclesiastes 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Isaiah 45:20
   “Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save.
   Isaiah 45:19-21 (in Context) Isaiah 45 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Zephaniah 3:2
   She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the Lord, She has not drawn near to her God.
   Zephaniah 3:1-3 (in Context) Zephaniah 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. Luke 19:37
   Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
   Luke 19:36-38 (in Context) Luke 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
6. Hebrews 7:19
   for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
   Hebrews 7:18-20 (in Context) Hebrews 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
7. James 4:8
   Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
   James 4:7-9 (in Context) James 4 (Whole Chapter) Other TranslationsDR

End Times Watchman Bible Study: Today God Speaks “Relationship”

Today’s Bible Study Message in Luke 15 for watchmen is about one key theme according to the will of God for mankind: God wants relationship with His own.
Heaven rejoices to see the will of God accomplished. The key words are: “Lost” and “found”, “dead” and alive”. It is also about what quantity or weight is considered significant to God: One-hundredth, One-tenth, or One-half? The answer is, every individual unit matters. There is no limit to God’s grace and mercy.
Who matters to God? Who are God’s treasures/possessions? All are invited, but the specific treasure will be those who respond to His calling for repentance and have a mark of God (reverent fear of the Lord) on them. (Read Malachi 3:16-18. Also read Revelation 9:4-5; Ezekiel 9:4-6; Revelation 14:1)

(The watchman’s notes are in brackets. )________________________
Luke 15 (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
(God delights in those who listen to Jesus. They are the ones who respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The spiritually discerned can receive the things of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor.2:9-16. The Holy Spirit transmits God’s messages, but the natural man does not receive. The Pharisees and scribes are obsessed with their physical realm and refuse to believe in the spiritual supernatural realm of God as demonstrated by Jesus, the Son of God.)
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
(Sheep is a valuable asset to a shepherd. It is like his family as he lives with his flocks for long period of time moving according to the availability of pasture and water. Although in this case the loss is only one percent, the shepherd values his relationship with each sheep. Note how different the way God looks at value, putting high worth on persons whom religious leaders consider of low worth. There is a key to appreciating a person’s worth in God’s accounting system, “repentance”. The moment the sinner repents a relationship with God is initiated in the heavenly realm! Hallelujah! )
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
(Each coin is worth a day’s wages. Compared to the lost sheep the value of each unit alone is much less. But in this case the woman lost one-tenth of her collection of coins, and it meant a lot to her. It was night time when she discovered her loss. What was she doing prior to that? She took out her coin collection and looked at them. The missing part was not overlooked. The worth of the loss is determined by the owner himself/herself. It depends on who the owner is. When we are owned by God, each unit/part becomes just as valuable as the whole. This is the law in heaven. Even angels know this.)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
(In terms of physical importance, one out of two or one-half of the whole is quite important. But the key to being valuable here is again, “relationship”. The father described the lost son as: “this son of mine” and “this brother of yours”. He described a relationship on which he has placed great worth and he has reminded his elder son to focus on the unchangeable relationship and not on physical aspects that can change. God is our Father in heaven. He places great worth on relationship with His own. This is what Jesus wants us to know.)
 
Summary: No matter who you are in the eyes of men, what you have gone through, and how badly you have fallen, the only thing that matters is to get into a relationship with God. Repentance is the first step of faith in action. However, there is a time limit for this. Read Luke 17:34-36 on how 50% of each pair can be eternally lost in the days of the Son of Man.