Friday, June 19, 2020

Matthew 28:20 - Jesus' Ability to be Present in Many Places

1 Kings 8:27, Matthew 28:20, Psalm 139:7 have been given to us as proof that all three persons of the "trinity" possess omnipresence. We will look at these scriptures in this short study to see what they say and what they do not say.

1 Kings 8:27 - But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!

Psalms 139:7 - Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

The above scriptures are usually presented as "proof texts" of the trinity doctrine, and/or the oneness doctrine. Usually without comment, the scriptures, are other scriptures similar to the above, are placed together without comment so as to make it appear that all three -- God, Jesus, God's spirit -- are referring to the same being, the same God, or in the case of the oneness believers, the same person.

 Strictly speaking, we have no scriptural reason to imagine and assume that "God" in 1 Kings 8:27 is any other than the one person who is God in Isaiah 61:1,2; Micah 5:4 and Hebrews 1:1,2. In these scriptures, Jehovah (God) is one person and He is distinguished from being Jesus.

There is definitely a lot about God's being that we cannot fully comprehend. Indeed, to fully comprehend the bodily substance of His being, we would actually have to be Supreme Being. God's presence, however, is certainly as unlimitless, as is the universe itself. His presence throughout the universe, however, should be not be understood to mean that he is present in the entirety of absolutely all his creation. That would mean that every plant, every animal, every speck of dust, and yes, you and I, would be God. This belief is called pantheism.

Our limited body, however, we believe, can help us to partially understand some scriptures related to God's presence. While one's body of flesh is often considered to be the person, yet who and what we are all stems from the brain, or the mind. One's finger is not actually wholly and fully the person, but what one's finger does is what the person does to whom the finger belongs, as directed from the person's brain. God's Holy Spirit is likened to God's finger. (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20) What is done by Jack's finger is done by Jack. That does not mean that Jack should consider his finger to be a separate and distinct person of Jack. Likewise, God's spirit as represented as being His hand would mean that His spirit is part of God, but it gives no reason to imagine, assume, add to, and read into the scriptures that God's Spirit is a separate and distinct person of a triune God.

As the instrument of the revealing of truth, the holy spirit is likened to God’s “mouth”. (Deuteronomy 8:3; 1 Kings 8:24; 2 Chronicles 6:4; 36:12,21; Ezra 1:1; Isaiah 1:20; 40:5; 45:23; 48:3; 58:14; 62:2; Jeremiah 9:12,20; Ezekiel 33:7; Micah 4:4; Matthew 4:4; Mark 12:36; Acts 1:17; 28:25; Hebrews 3:7; 9:8; 10:15,16; 2 Peter 1:21) Likewise, God's Holy Spirit could likened to God's eyes, arm, etc.

Nevertheless, a person's finger and his mouth are integral parts of the person as being a part of the person's body. Likewise, God's Holy Spirit is integral to God, and should be viewed as being similar to our bodies, not as a separate and distinct person of God. As our body extends our influence and presence beyond just our brain, so God's Holy Spirit extends God's influence and presence throughout the unlimited sphere of the universe, both material and spiritual.

Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. -- World English.

Jesus, in his exalted spiritual body, has certainly been given the power to be present in more than one place at once. He certainly would need this ability in order to carry out the work God has given to him. (Isaiah 11:2-4; Colossians 2:9,10) This does not mean that He is the Supreme Being, the "one God" of whom are all. (1 Corinthians 8:6) His strength and power still originates from God through God's Holy Spirit. -- Micah 5:4; Isaiah 11:2-4; Matthew 12:28; 2 Corinthians 13:14..

There is definitely nothing in 1 Kings 8:27; Matthew 28:20 or Psalm 139:7 that declares God to be more than one person, or that Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or that Jesus is a person of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Nor is there anything in the verses that would mean we should imagine, assume, add to, and read into the scriptures that God is three persons, etc.  --- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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