Who God is

JanEgil Gulbrandsengulbrandsen@islandnet.comJanuary 2015

Updated March 2015

“The Perichoresis”God’s circle dance – for eternity before creation..

God is loveYes – we have heard that before.

But what does it really mean?

The Father and Jesus is one.“If you have seen me you have seen the Father”, Jesus says (John 14:6-9)

(Jesus and the Father is not playing good cop – bad cop. One is nice – and one is still angry)What ever Jesus says and does in the gospels, the father is 100% behind.

Who are the children of God?

First: Jesus is called “the Son of God”(Son – with a big S.)

But he was not created by God –he was and is “one” with God –from before the beginning of time.God in Genesis 1:1 is God in plural –The trinity – made up of Father, Son and SpiritJesus is therefor not a child of God

He is God

In the genealogy of Jesus- going back all the way to Adam, we read that Adam was “the son of God”Luke 3:38

Adam was “a son” – with little s. -which make him the first son of God.He was a created son of God –God gave him a human spirit (life)and also the The holy Spirit –God indwelled.

Cain, Abel and Seth Seth - Adam and Eve’s third son – (Genesis 4:25) was therefor Gods “grandsons.”Seth became the father of Enoch, the “great-grandson of God”, and this family line can be followed all the way forward to Mary – Jesus’ mother. (Not Josef)

These are all Gods children or children of God - together with the rest of mankind –Gods human creation.

And they have all one thing in common:They are all born with a human spirit – but without the indwelling Holy Spirit.

( the Holy Spirit was “pulled back” when Adam and Eve fell in sin – that’s the day they died spiritually)

All of mankind is therefore “God’s lost sheep” until “the Shepard” finds us - brings us “home” – and gives us “new live”(Meaning: The Holy Spirit will again indwell man)

If you are a Jew living in old testament times:

“Ye are the children of the LORD your God”. Deuteronomy 14:1 (Speaking of Israel)

“All of you are children of the most High”. Psalm 82:6 (speaking of Israel)

“Ye are the sons of the living God”. Hosea 1:10 (speaking of Israel)

Another “category” of children of God

And Jesus said to them: “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.Mark 14:27

(Jesus prophesying about his own death, and the people of Israel being scattered –Israel is pictured as sheep)

“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men”. Micah 2:12

Jesus’s parable of the father and the sheep includes the people of “Israel” as lost sheep – but it also has an “all inclusive” scope talking about mankindas a whole

For we also are his children. Acts 17:28 (Paul speaking to Greek gentiles in Athens)

We are the offspring (children) of God. Acts 17:29(Paul speaking to the Greeks gentiles in Athens which are clearly not Christians – but offspring of God as children of Adam)

One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph. 4:6(Paul speaking to the church in Ephesus – God being the father of “absolutely” all)

Another “category” of children of God

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

(Paul warning against being yoked with unbelievers – instead God will “step in” and be “a father” to them )

Another “category” of children of God

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Meaning: Born again children that have “come home” to daddy…Not children that are still lost.

Who are God's children?It seems like spiritual birth makes someone a child of God.

John 1:12-13, NIV. "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.“

Meaning: Going from being a “lost” child of natural descent to a child that have “returned” or repented back to the family

1 John 3:10 seem to indicate some are – and some are not children of God

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister”

Meaning: The children of the devil are the children of God that not yet have repented and returned back to “the fold”

In conclusion:

There are many groups or categories of children of God. They have one thing in common: The ARE ALL children of God.

By studying the broader scope of scriptures, I think we can conclude that God – the creator and saviour of all – is the father of all.That means we are all his children.Some have already come back into spiritual fellowship with Him – some He is still looking for…

God's Plan of Salvation

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.2 Cor. 5:14-15

live – Strong’s Greek “Zoo” 2198 –meaning “being alive” or “get their living”

God's Plan of Salvation

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ (shall) all be made alive." (or everyone (who is) in Christ be made alive)1 Corinthians 15:22

All – Strong’s Greek 3956 –meaning “the whole” – “everyone”

Jesus storyNo. 1

Let’s see how “God really is” in one of Jesus’ parables: Luke 15:1-7

15 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.”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.

Let’s capture the essence of the story – paraphrased:This is a story of how God exercises his love:All of mankind is God’s “100” sheep.One (or any number) get lost – meaning does not have a relationship with their father.What does God do: He leaves the once that are saved and “safe” in the open field, and goes after the one (the ones) that are lost. And he keep looking for him, until he successfully finds him. (It say’s WHEN he finds him – not IF he finds him)Then the lost one allows the Father (God) to lift him up – put him on his shoulders – and to be carried home to the fellowship and safety of the family.The Father found his lost son – it was not the son that found his way home to the father.Jesus calls this process: Repentance.In other words: Repentance means to allow God to rescue you – and bring you home.Heaven is rejoicing over this repentance.The story also tells us that the “99” – who always were saved and safe – had no need of repentance. Interesting.

The sheep might be black – but

it’s still a sheep(lost child)

My comments:Many times in my Christian life I have been asked: When did you accept or find Jesus.The reality is that he was the one that found me.I was the one that was lost.Not him.God always goes after his lost children. And he does so until he finds them. Not finding them, does not seem to be an option.I guess every lost child – deep down inside – know that it the best ting to be rescued by the Father.This “allowing to be rescued” is the “changing of mind” that repentance is all about…Notice: There is no confession of sins – or asking for forgiveness.Only a silent acceptance: I need to be rescued.May be this have something to do with the fact that Jesus already has taken all the sins of the world on himself – once and for all. The sin issue has already been dealt with.The only part left is therefor: Believe – and come home. No questioner to be filled out.

Jesus storyNo. 2

Let’s look at one more story how God love really is – told by Jesus himself in Luke 15:8-10

“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.”

Let’s again capture the essence of the story – paraphrased

God looses one of his children (a coin) – they are no longer in fellowship.God searches carefully around the world until he finds him.When he finds him – and there is no question if he finds him – God calls the family together to rejoice over the fact that the Father found his lost son.(again: It was the father that found the son (the coin) – it was not the coin (the son) that found back to his owner.)Again this is called: RepentanceThe “coin” did nothing.God just picked him up and brought him “home”.It is starting to look like it is God doing ALL the work of saving his lost children. And the child just “goes along”…

The coin did not do anything – it just waited to be found

My comments:I’m starting to see a pattern here…Is this really the message Jesus is trying to teach us -That he is the one doing all the work in finding and bringing home the lost?And we know already that he did all the work of taking away all the sin of the world…Isn’t this a little “to easy” for man?Aren’t we suppose to do something? Like reciting a sinners prayer – and a promise never to do anything wrong again?No.Am I making this up? Or is this what these parables in fact are saying?“Do nothing – and let Jesus rescue you”“Lay down your rebellion – repent – and let him carry you home” WOW.

Jesus storyNo 3.

One more Jesus story about God’s love for his children – you find it in Luke 15:11-3111 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.

But we have to celebrate and be glad.

Let’s again capture the essence of the story – paraphrased

A man had two sons. One of them choses to leave the home and the Father to live a life of sin and wild living.When the money ran out he had to take a job – but he was still starving. Then he came to his senses and realized even his fathers servants had it better than him.He decides to go home – to admit and acknowledge his sin – and ask for a job as a servant. (He had no expectations of becoming a son again)The father was waiting for him to return – and he was eager to reinstate him as a son of the house. The son never got a chance to “admit his sin” – or to ask for a job.The father gave him “the best of what he had” – and they had a huge welcome home party.The father (God) called this “ my son that was dead is alive – he was lost but is now found”.But the older brother that had worked hard for his Father his whole life, was totally ticked off by this reinstatement of his brother. But the father insisted they had to celebrate – because the lost brother was found and alive.

There is nothing like a Father – son

reunion.ALL is

forgotten,.

My comments:The son chose to come home – His motivation: to avoid starvation.But the father did not care about his motivation.He was waiting for him – and he had bigger plans.He was not interested in his “acknowledgement of sin”. Obviously what his sin was or how many times he had done it, was of no interest to the father. (meaning God)Gods passion and plan was: Full reinstatement.And a party to seal the deal…Gods love is indescribable. The faithful older brother was not so excited.But it look like the Father managed to talk some sense into him…

How can we summarise Jesus’description of God’s love for mankind? (Remember this is “God” himself describing ”Gods love” – this is credible first hand information)

“God loves his children – mankind”

He will personally go out and find the lost…(dare I say: All the lost?)And he will bring them back to the family…Where all (100) will be reunited…And then there will be a huge party to celebrate this happy occasion.

Is this to good to be true?Or is this in fact “the good news of the gospel”?

Is this Gods pure agape grace given to all mankind?I’d like to think so!