No Man Can Say That Jesus Is the Lord But by the Holy Ghost.
Rev. Billy McCool
I Corinthians 12:1-3
Vs. 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Vs. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
Vs. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. KJV
Understanding the fact that “Jesus is the Lord” was a litmus test as to whether their operating in the gifts of the spirit was real. The things of God are spiritually discerned.
Without the Holy Ghost men do not know the difference in thunder and the
voice of God.
John 12:28-29
Vs. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Vs.29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. KJV
The things of God are Known Only by the Spirit of God
Revelation of Jesus Christ
Galatians 1:11-12
Vs. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Vs. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Revelation of the Mystery
Rom 16:25-27
Vs. 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Vs. 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Vs.27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
John 4:23-24
Vs. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Vs. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is a Spirit, we must understand him not by carnal knowledge but by the revelation of the Spirit.
Matthew 16:13-17
Vs. 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Vs. 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Vs. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Vs. 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Vs. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Badona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. KJV
How Important Is It That We Know Who He Is?
The politically correct thing today is to accept anyone’s concept of God. If your God is Allah, or if you worship nature so be it; however,
Jesus said, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. KJV
The Identity of our Deity is of Paramount Importance
Who Art Thou Lord?
Saul of Tarsus, while on a mission to squelch what he believed to be
heretics and enemies of Jehovah, was knocked down to the earth.
Acts 9:3-5
Vs. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Vs. 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Vs. 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
* It was the revelation of Jesus being Lord which convicted Saul and caused him to cry out, “What wilt thou have me to do?”
* It was the indictment of Peter and his declaration that God hath made this same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ, which convicted the Jews on the day of Pentecost.
* This revelation caused them to cry out “men and brethren what shall we do?”
The Powerful Impact of this Revelation is Still the CORNERSTONE and the Most Effective Tool We Have in Winning Souls to God
Some questions must be answered only by the Holy Ghost.
Carnal men with carnal minds devise questions designed to make it look like there are three persons in the Godhead.
At one time some Trinitarian theologians tried to make a big issue out of the Hebrew word Elohim used in Gen. 1:1, in the beginning God (Elohim) created heaven and earth. Further study reveals that the same word is used over 2500 times in the Bible to describe a god; any god, pagan, real or false.
For instance, Baalzebub was called Elohim in 2 Kings 1:2 and in verse 16. Moses was called Elohim in Exodus 7:1.
Pleloubet’s Bible Dictionary, page 224, “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among the scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God”
Next we have some who have the audacity to claim that in Genesis 1:26 God was counseling with his son concerning the making of man.
Who was God talking to in Genesis 1:26 when He said, Let us make man?
Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord and who has been his counselor.
Isaiah 40:12-14
Vs.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Vs.13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught him?
Vs.14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and she wed to him the way of understanding?
The scripture was totally intended to point out the absurdity of such a thought.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Notice: whoever he counseled with, also directed him, taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge and showed to him the way of understanding.
The suggestion that God had any help or consultation in the creation is an insult. God declares Himself to be a jealous God. We see this nature revealed:
Isaiah 43:10
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 44:8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Paul gives the clear answer as to who God was counseling with
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: KJV
I Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. KJV
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. KJV
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. KJV
God is an invisible Spirit, so he chose to wrap Himself in human flesh and manifest Himself as the son in order to have a body which could die as the sacrifice for sin.
Colossians 1:13-17
Vs.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Vs.14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Vs.15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Vs.16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Vs.17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. KJV
II Corinthians 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. KJV
Jesus was the fleshly embodiment of God
John 14:8-9
Vs. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Vs. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? KJV
In these verses Jesus was affirming His self to be the Father, thus, confirming the prophecy concerning Him.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. KJV
Please note that Jesus was called the everlasting Father, and not the everlasting Son. The office of Son was for a designated purpose and a designated time. If there is but one God, how did Jesus give up the kingdom to God?
I Corinthians 15:24-28
Vs. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Vs. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Vs. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Vs. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
Vs. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. KJV
Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. KJV
Hebrews 10:5-10
Vs. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Vs.6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Vs.7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, 0 God.
Vs.8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Vs.9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Vs.10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The Office of Son was for the Purpose of Offering a Perfect Sacrifice for Sin.
We see this office of son and savior abolished in I Cor. 15:24-28. When the last enemy is destroyed and there is no one left to save there will be no need for a savior; so he gives up the office of savior and son to reign as God all in all. If there is any doubt as to the unending reign of Christ as God eternal, look at Isaiah 9:7.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Acts 7:55
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the
right hand of God,
In light of this verse, Jesus could not be giving up a governmental
kingdom to God the father.
How did Stephen see Jesus on the right hand of God?
Remember what John declared in John 1:18
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.
If one maintains that Stephen literally saw God and saw Jesus standing beside Him, we have a clear contradiction of scripture. If we contend that “on the right hand” means a physical position, then we must also accept that “in the bosom of the Father” is a physical position which, of course, would be a curious configuration for a two-part God concept. The answer to this seemingly complicated question is found in Matthew 26:64.
Matthew 26:64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of
power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Luke 11:20
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
When Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus on the right hand of God, he saw the glorious relationship of the mediator man, Christ Jesus, on the right hand of power. For further scriptural corroboration that right hand does not necessarily constitute a physical
position, read Luke 11:20.
The “finger of God” is used here figuratively as the power of God just as the “right hand” is similarly used. The preceding rational is required else we have the peculiar situation of one God literally being in the bosom of another god and one God casting out devils with the finger of another God.
Stephen leaves no doubt as to his understanding concerning the Deity of Christ.
Acts 7:59
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Stephen called upon God, and by what name did he call Him?
Lord Jesus
Does this not harmonize Paul’s experience?
