Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
John 1:1-3 (ASV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In the beginning of the time of creation, God spoke the the earth, sea and all that in them is into existence (Genesis 1:1-31). The word that was with God was His spoken commandment as in Genesis chapter 1 it says that "God said" 8 times and each time something was created. Just as a man is known by his word, God is known by His word which is His spoken commandment. Psalm 33:6-9 (ASV) 6 By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.9 For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. This passage in Psalms 33 makes it clear that the psalmist attributed the creation of the world not to a second member of a multipersonal Godhead or a second divine being but simply to Jehovah God's spoken word and commandment. Isaiah 42:5 5Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. Here Isaiah attributes the creation of the heavens, earth and the people to Jehovah God. Hebrews 11:3 (ASV) 3By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. The author of Hebrews says that the worlds were framed (created) by the word of God. As Psalm 33 shows the word of God comes out of the breath of His mouth and His spoken commandment. In John 17:3 John the apostle says that the Father is the only true God showing that the Jehovah God who spoke everything into existence is the Father. John 1:4-5 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. This life spoken of above is the spiritual life that Jehovah God gives to men. This is the life that John says was with the Father before it was manifested in the flesh of Jehoshua. 1 John 1:2 2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); John is saying that there was life with the Father, which is eternal life, and that it was then manifested to the apostles. The order is clear, first there was eternal life which was with the Father previous to it being manifested to the apostles in the flesh of Jehoshua. Eternal life is not solely a new testament concept but it is an attribute inherent in Jehovah God. Paul speaks of this in 1 Timothy 1:17: "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." This is a passage clearly about God the Father and Paul says He is immortal and eternal. This cannot be about Jehoshua because He died and He Himself said that the Father alone is the only true God (John 17:3). Just as in today and in the ministry of the Son of God, darkness rejected the light of Jehovah God in the old testament times. The bible is rich in abundance with stories of men and women including the nation of Israel rejecting God and His instructions. John 1:6 (ASV) 6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. Now John transitions from the time of creation and the old testament times to the ministry of John the Baptist. John 1:7 (ASV) 7The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. John came to bear witness of the light. Now some say this light is the Son of God and that is true in the sense that Jehovah who is light dwelt in the Messiah during the latter's earthly ministry. John was bearing witness of the Kingdom of God. Malachi 3:1 (ASV) 1Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. This passage goes with Isaiah 40:3. Here in Malachi 3:1, John is the messenger that is to prepare the way of Jehovah God. Jehoshua is that Lord (Messiah) whom Israel seeks. The hope of Israel was the prophesied Davidic King. Isaiah 40:3 3The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God. John was the one crying in the wilderness and was ultimately preparing the way of Jehovah God during his ministry. Even though John was the forerunner for the Messiah, ultimately both John and Jehoshua were bringing in the Kingdom of Jehovah God. Jehoshua's function in His ministry was not to glorify Himself but rather to reveal the Father: 1 John 5:20-21 20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.21[My] little children, guard yourselves from idols. Jehoshua came to give us understanding about God and bring us into a relationship with Him. This was the purpose of His 3 year ministry. Yes Jehoshua is the light of the world but so are we as He Himself stated: Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid." Even though both Jehoshua and us (His disciples) are the lights of the world but it is Jehovah God the Father who is the source of this light as He Himself is light: 1 John 1:5-7 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. John the beloved says that the message of Jehoshua to them was that God is light. Obviously God here is the Father as in verse 7 it says that if we walk in the light (God) the blood of His Son Jehoshua cleanses us from all sin. Both John and Jehoshua came to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth and this Kingdom is also called the marvelous light of the Kingdom of God's dear Son: Colossians 1:12-13 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The inheritance of the saints in light is the Kingdom of God's dear Son. The Kingdom of heaven is both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of His Son because they (Father and Son) are one. 1 Timothy 6:14-16 14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Focusing on verse 16 here it says that Jehoshua who only has immortality, in terms of human beings, dwells in the light which no man can approach and which no man has seen or can see. Where does our Lord Jehoshua currently reside? In the holy of holies at Jehovah's right hand on the throne of David (Psalm 110:1). The holy of holies in the earthly tabernacle is where Jehovah's shekinah glory would dwell above the mercyseat. Of course this so much more true in the heavenly sanctuary where Jehovah's throne is. Jehovah God is the light where His Son dwells in the most holy place of the sanctuary. This obviously a reference to the Father as this light no man can approach or see. Many saw the Son of God during His earthly ministry and after. John 1:8-9 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 1 Timothy 6:13 13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession. This passage shows that it is God the Father which gives life to all things and He is the true light which lighteth every man which comes into the world by giving every man life. John 1:10-11 (KJV) 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Jehovah God was in the world through the agency of His messengers whether angelic or human such as the judges, prophets, priests and Davidic kings. Old testament Israel routinely apostasized and rejected Jehovah God. John 1:12-13 (KJV) 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. If we follow the chronology here, then this refers to God the Father. Jehovah has always gave power to those who had faith in His promises to become sons of God. Being a son of God is not just a new covenant idea but goes back to Adam, Noah, Abraham, the nation of Israel and the Royal seed of David. Just as in the new covenant, to be a son of God in the old testament was a work of God and not man. This shows the sovereignty of Jehovah God in salvation and that to be a son of God requires a spiritual birth which is given to those who believe on the name of Jehovah God. Hebrews 2:12 "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." In discussing verse 12 of John 1 referring to "them that believe on His name" we must remember that ultimately the Messiah's mission was to reveal the Father to the Church (Jehoshua's called out ones). The Son of God's mission was to explain the Father (John 1:18) and to give us an understanding of the one that is true (1 John 5:20). We are called to believe on the name of the Son of God but in the old testament times Israel was called to believe on the name of Jehovah God the Father. Even today we are to believe on the name of Jehovah God. "Name" represents character, identity and authority. Hebrews 2:12 is a quotation of Psalm 22 which is a Psalm of David. Jehoshua is the eternal David, being the promised royal seed that would inherit the Davidic covenant. David as the King of Israel and son of God was the worship leader of the Church. Jehoshua is also the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49).and His function is the same as David's which is to declare God's name to the Congregation by praising Him (Jehovah God). So far we have seen the history God the Father operating in this world by His Word which is His life giving commandment that creates as Genesis 1 states the phrase "God said" 8 times which follows Him creating and giving life. Verses 1-13 are about God the Father and how we know this because the Word isn't made flesh until verse 14 of John 1: "And 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" Now the Son of God comes into view for the first time as it isn't until verse 14 that the Word is made flesh. While many Christian's believe this speaks of Jehoshua's incarnation i.e. virgin birth, when we compare scripture with scripture we see that this verse undoubtedly speaks of His baptism. For one, it is right after the Word is made flesh that He dwells among the apostles. The apostles did not know Jehoshua previous to His baptism, at least there is no scriptural evidence of this. When did the apostles behold the glory of the only begotten Son Jehoshua? During His earthly ministry (transfiguration) and after His resurrection. If the Word made flesh refers to the baptism of Jehoshua and it was subsequent to His baptism that the apostles beheld His glory then it is reasonable to conclude that Jehoshua became the only begotten of the Father at His baptism as the context suggests. While many attribute Jehoshua becoming the begotten Son either before the world began or at the virgin birth, there is plenty of evidence that reveals it was indeed at Jehoshua's baptism in which He was begotten as God's Son. Without bringing the texts into it, many of the older manuscripts quote Psalm 2:7 in the baptism of Jehoshua texts (Luke 3:22; Matthew 3:16-17). This was later changed to reflect the Catholic churches virgin birth doctrine and later eternal generation. Jehoshua Himself actually gives us a good clue as to when He became begotten of the Father. Lets go to John 3: 3 Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be begotten from above by the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be begotten when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother`s womb, and be begotten? 5 Jehoshua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be begotten of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!6 That which is begotten of the flesh is flesh; and that which is begotten of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be begotten from above. 8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is begotten of the Spirit. We have to understand that Jehoshua is the pattern for How we are saved and enter into the Kingdom of God. The bible says He is our pattern for how we are to walk. It say that He is our forerunner and the firstborn among many brethren. Jehoshua is said to be the author and finisher of our faith. Many people look over this and think that Jehoshua was just born and thats it He was on a magic carpet ride throughout His life just because He was born as a Godman through a virgin birth. John 3 should say "begotten from above" rather than "born again". I believe this is a deliberate attempt to hide the fact that Jehoshua was telling Nicodemus that He had to be born into the Kingdom the same way He (Jehoshua) was at the Jordan river. The phrase "born again" does not take us to the scene of the Jordan river whereas "begotten from above" does. Jehoshua says that Nicodemus needs to be begotten from above by the Spirit of Jehovah God in order to spiritually see the Kingdom. Clearly Jehoshua was baptized at the Jordan river by the Spirit of Jehovah God from heaven above. Isaiah 11 shows us exactly what took place at Jehoshua's baptism. That passage clearly shows a rebirth of the stem of Jesse i.e. seed of David. This is a spiritual birth i.e. being begotten from above. This is a spiritual begetting. The bible says the flesh profits nothing. Jehoshua Himself says in verse 6 that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jehoshua is clearly stating that being begotten by the Spirit is what matters not our natural birth. Even though Jehoshua's natural birth mattered because He was of the fruit of David's loins, it is ultimately His spiritual birth that gave Him the power of Jehovah God and the authority to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. There were other sons of David in the past and I'm sure in Jehoshua's time so Him being the seed of David didn't automatically make Him qualified to enter and preach God's Kingdom, He needed the vital spiritual rebirth. There is no doubt that Jehoshua was begotten from above by Jehovah God's Spirit at His baptism. This is also when He was begotten as God's Son. While many may scoff at this the bible elsewhere confirms this. How do we become a son or daughter of God? Galatians 4:4-8 4but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. This passage in Galatians makes it clear that when God sends the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, we then become sons or daughters of God with the right to call God our "abba" which means "Father". Its a term of intimacy. The Spirit of God's Son is a title of the Holy Spirit and it is a title of the Spirit signifying adoption into the family of God. Do you see that we are begotten into the family of God the same way Jehoshua was? Through receiving the Holy Spirit from above which causes us to cry out to God as "Abba". There is no question that Jehoshua is called the Son of God throughout His earthly ministry and claims an intimacy with the Father that was/is unique. It was Him being begotten by the Spirit of Jehovah God that gave Him the rights of Sonship. Verse 4 of Galatians, God sent forth His Son when the fulness of time arrived i.e. the start of the 70th week of the 70 weeks prophecy. The sending of the Son obviously refers to Jehoshua's baptism. Verse 5, The purpose of the Son of God's ministry was to redeem those under the law so that they would become sons of God through adoption. How does one become an adopted son of God? Verse 6 answers this: "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts" By being given the Spirit of the Son of God we ourselves then become sons of God. This is the begotten from above process in which one becomes saved. What saves someone is being given the Holy Spirit which causes the new birth which is a rebirth into Jehovah's family as His son or daughter. The Holy Spirit is called here the Spirit of the Son to denote the adoption process in receiving the Spirit unto salvation. If Jehoshua is the forerunner and author of our faith then He must of also became the begotten Son of God in this way. Now, Jehoshua of course was predestined to be God's Son (1 Peter 1:18-21) and had a Father-Son relationship with Jehovah even at 12 years old, however it wasn't until He was baptized that He entered into covenant relationship with the Father as the only begotten (son of the inheritance). Jehoshua received the Spirit of Sonship at His baptism entering into the Father-Son covenant relationship that Jehovah God established with David's royal seed. Verse 7, receiving the Spirit of the Son of God changes our status from servants to son's and heirs of God through His Son Jehoshua. This is stated in regards to those who were under the law of Moses. This also is true for all believers who once knew not God but now enjoy the status as sons and daughters due to receiving the Spirit of Sonship (adoption). After Jehoshua's baptism He was almost immediately tempted to disbelieve His Sonship. This shows that the virgin birth is likely untrue as if it was there would have been no point in Satan tempting Him regarding that. This shows that Satan was trying to get Jehoshua to doubt His begotten from above experience, which just took place, in which Jehoshua was begotten as God's Son. Also, all throughout Jehoshua's earthly ministry we see His intimate relationship with the Father. Before His baptism we only see one reference from Jehoshua to God being His Father and it was more of a general reference that almost any Jew could state. The Jews in general could rightly state that God was their Father. We know however that Jehoshua had been predestined for a much higher pedigree than just a general sonship but rather He was going to be anointed as God's only begotten Son (son of inheritance). We as Christians are also begotten sons and daughters of God: 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" Peter says we are begotten by God when we are begotten from above by the Holy Spirit unto salvation through the hope of Jehoshua's resurrection. Our salvation experience begets us as God's children. John 1:12-13 12But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:13who were begotten, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Through faith in the Son of God we ourselves become begotten by God as His sons and daughters. It is not a fleshly natural birth but a spiritual birth. One verse later Jehoshua is called the only begotten of the Father. Do we alter the context to turn this term "begotten" spiritual to natural just to appease Orthodox doctrine? No! We must stay with the context which denotes being begotten by God as spiritual not natural experience both for the Christian and also for their pattern example Jehoshua. 1 John 5:1-2 1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.2Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. Do you see what John says in verse 1? He says that those who believe that Jehoshua is the Messiah are begotten of God. He then says that our love for those begotten (Christians) of God show they love the one who begat them. Christians are in view as those begotten of the Father. Clearly John is talking about fellow believers as being begotten of God as verse 2 shows. The context of this passage is that we prove our love for God when we love His begotten children which include all Christians most notably the only begotten Son Jehoshua. To have faith in Jehoshua begets us into the family of God. John 1:15 "John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me." The reference that John makes regarding that the Messiah was before him has to do with rank and status rather than chronological time as John was born before Jehoshua. Some use this as proof of Jehoshua's preexistence however it should be noted the reason that John gave Jehoshua prerogative over himself was that Jehoshua was the lamb of God (John 1:29,35) and also bore witness that Jehoshua was the Son of God (John 1:34). John knew that He was sent to pave the way for the Son of God, Jehovah's Messiah. He said that he was not worthy to unloose the latchett of his shoes. John acknowledged that he was not the Messiah of Jehovah or the prophet of Jehovah but rather the one to prepare the path for Him (Jehoshua). So the reference to Jehoshua being before John need not be about chronological time but rather that as John acknowledged, Jehoshua was the Lamb of God, and Son of God who would baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit. In John 1:19-37, John the Baptist witnesses that Jehoshua is the prophesied Messiah and that He was going to do great works through the power of the holy spirit. This is how we should understand the words of John the baptist in verse 15 as he nowhere mentions the preexistence of the Messiah as a reason that He (Jehoshua) is before him (John the Baptist) but rather focuses on the prophetic office of Jehoshua as a reason for His exalted status. John 1:16-17 16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jehoshua Messiah. All needs and lawful wants are promised by the gospel. The fulness (abundance, completeness) of God is found in the Messiah and His doctrine. Full grace according to needs and wants is given to us through the Son of God. Jehoshua lived out the fulness of God's truth and grace and we receive the fulness of the Messiah when we follow His doctrine and manner of life. Moses gave the law, which is good, however Jehoshua gave us the fulness of God's truth and grace taught and lived out. Jehoshua showed us how to live out the law and how to apply it to our lives and the lives of others. Grace and truth existed before Jehoshua Messiah and the law continues to exist as the new covenant is law full of commands. The idea here is that the fulness of grace came by Jehoshua Messiah. John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Men have seen God, Moses for example was one of them however no man has ever experienced ir comprehended God at any time in all His fullness save the only begotten Son Jehoshua. To be in the bosom of the Father indicates intimate relationship but also positionally as Jehoshua dwells in the shekinah presence of Jehovah God. Jehoshua sits at the right hand of God in the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary. Even Stephen saw Jehoshua on the right hand of the glory of God when he was getting stoned by the Jews (Acts 7:56-59). Jehoshua has declared the Father meaning He has explained the Father. The Son of God revealed to us the true character of His Father. John the beloved elsewhere says: 1 John 1:5 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" God's character had been misrepresented by the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Israel so the Son of God's mission was to bring the true understanding of who is Father is in character. The Father is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. That was the message the Son brought to Israel. The book of Hebrews chapter 2 says: 11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Jehoshua is the one who sanctified us by the work He did during His ministry, death, resurrection and ascension and after through the ministry of the holy spirit. He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters as verse 12 is a prophecy from Psalm 22:22. Jehoshua is the first begotten Son of God and we are also begotten sons and daughters of God with Jehoshua as our elder brother. Psalm 22 being qouted shows that one of the main purposes of the Messiah was to declare the name of Jehovah God to His brethren as we are the brethren of Jehoshua. Notice also that the Davidic Messiah would praise Jehovah God in the midst of the congregation (Church). This shows that Jehoshua is a worshipper of God as He praises Him in the congregation. To declare the name of Jehovah God doesn't have anything to do with pronunciation but rather to show His brethren the character of God as name represents character. 1 John 5:20-21 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. Jehoshua came to bring us, His brethren, into a close intimate relationship with the Father and that we would know Him as He truly is. Also, one of the main purposes of Jehoshua was that we would know that the Father is the true God as John states at the end of verse 20. John says we are in Him that is true which is the Heavenly Father because then John says were in the one that is true's Son Jehoshua Messiah. So obviously the one that is true is the Father if Jehoshua is the Son of the one that is true. John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jehoshua Messiah, whom thou hast sent." Jehoshua's whole purpose was that we as His brethren would know the Father intimately and that the Father is the only true God. This perfectly goes with 1 John 5:20 that Jehoshua came to give us an understanding of the Father and that the Father is the true God. Verse 18 of John 1 should remind us that the whole purpose of the Son of God's earthly ministry was to bring us into a intimate knowledge of who God is, both in identity and character. This verse shows that Jehoshua is indeed God's only begotten Son and that God is His Father.
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