The Only True God
By Elder G.T. Haywood

With reverence and adoration we bow our knees unto Jesus Christ the “Victim of the Flaming Sword” to give to our God the glory due His name. And we now make mention that His name is exalted above every name that is in heaver. and in earth. Hence, the demons of hell are enraged, the religious world is astonished, and the tents of the fearful pilgrims are being violently shaken by the rushing mighty wind that is moving through the land proclaiming the NAME of the Lord. He who was slain is worthy.

We have beheld the Lamb of God. We have honored the Prince of Peace. We have rejoiced in the Rock of our Salvation, and have walked in the Light of Life. We have seen that Christ was our Shepherd as well as
he door to the fold. He is the root and Offspring of David, as well as his son and his Lord. We have claimed Him as our High Priest in heaven, and the offering that was slain for our sins. He is the Temple
of God and the Shew-bread, the vail, the altar, and the Lamb. He was Servant and Master at the same time. We have found Him to be the foundation of the Church, and the Chief Corner Stone thereof. He is a Destroying Storm, and covert as well from the Tempest. Considering all these things, it is no wonder that the people cried, “What manner of man is this?” “Who art Thou? Whom maketh Thou thyself?”

The Ungodly Parallel

These questions in the minds of many, are yet unsolved in spite of all the institutions of learning filled with science, philosophy, and human wisdom. To many JESUS was a prophet, mighty in words and deeds. Some have hailed Him to be a great reformer. Mohammedans declare that He was a great prophet and nothing more. By many, Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Bahah, and any of the prophets are as equally as much divine as the Holy One of Israel. Theosophy asserts that the Divine spirit has manifested itself at various times through different great religious leaders such as Confucius, Buddha, Moses, Mohammed, and that the time is ripe for the divine spirit to manifest itself again through some other “great personage.” This is purely the spirit of anti-Christ. The next “great personage” will be none other than the son of perdition, who will exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped. John 17:12; 11 Thess. 2:3,4.

Thousands arc being swept away in this error,deceiving and being deceived, because they have not “known the Holy Scriptures.” (I Tim. 4:1; II Tim. 3:13-17). The divinity of Jesus Christ, with the majority, has merely been a speculation and not a revelation from God. The vision of all has become as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, “Read this I pray thee,” and he saith, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” (Isa. 29:11). They have only seen our Savior as a man. They have judged Him after the flesh, as the Son of God, and not being able to go beyond this, thereby laying themselves liable to the deceptions of the spirit of anti-Christ that are abroad in the land.

God as Well as Son of God

That Jesus Christ is the son of God, is acknowledge by all Christendom, and we believe that with all our heart. There is no argument there with us at all. But the thing that sets the religious world in a commotion is this revelation that Jesus Christ is God, the only true God that we can ever see. To whom be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Those who have been doctrinated with the “three person God” idea are bewildered. Their theory is crumbling under the mighty sledge hammer of God’s word. Jer. 23:29.

There is but one God and He has been manifested in a three-fold manner. And this three-fold manifestation was not intended to establish a “three person” God idea, but instead, it was to reveal to mankind that there was a true and living God who loved them with an everlasting love. For four thousand years God had been waiting to visit and redeem his people. He appeared unto them in various forms, and spoke unto the fathers by the prophets in divers manners and declared the character of His name to them, saying, “I am that I AM: the Lord, God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob …. this is My name forever.” The Lord, thy God is one Lord. “And again, “Ye are my witnesses,” saith the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe that I am He: before me there was no God FORMED; and besides me there is no Saviour.” (Exo. 3:14, 15; Isa. 43:10,11).

The Spirit of God declared through the mouth of Isaiah that the king of Israel, the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, is the First, and the Last, and besides him there is no God. “Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; GOD Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it; He created it not in vain. He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” Thus did God declare Himself to His people of Israel, but they were children that could not understand, for they had forsaken the Lord, and provoked the Holy One of Israel, and had every one gone away backward. They had forgotten his signs and wonders which he wrought in the days of old, but yet he loved them more and more and could nut give up His treasure. He remembered His promise to Abraham and his covenant that He made in Chaldea, therefore he withheld his judgments and prepared to visit and redeem his people.

Mystery of Incarnation

His visitation was to be shrouded in mystery, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind. To some it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom and to others it was not. But to those who had an ear to hear what the Spirit saith, the prophet gave an intimation as to the form of His coming, “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders; and His NAME shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, the Prince of Peace.” And again He saith, “Hear ye now, 0, house of David; … Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” And in another place He saith, “Say unto the city of Judah, Behold your God! Behold the Lord will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: (and that they might know him, he adds) he shall feed His flock like a SHEPHERD; he shall gather the lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isa.9:6, 7:13, 14; 40:9-11; John 10:14).

When the fullness of time was come, a messenger from heaven came down and saluted the Virgin in Nazareth, and declared that the Holy Ghost would come upon her, and that she should bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus, for He should save His people from their sins, And this was done, says St. Matthew, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, “Behold, a Virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US,” The time came when the child was born- And the heavens bowed down and the Lord God of heaven and earth took on the form of man and became a pattern for us who should afterward follow in His steps.

How to Become Sons of God

At the river Jordan he showed us how to fulfill the righteousness of God, saying, “Thus it becometh as to fulfill all righteousness,” and when he came forth out of the water, the spirit of God descended in the
bodily from of a dove and abode on him. And a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” It was thus that he demonstrated the manner in which we should come to be sons of God, and that, by being brought forth of the water and Spirit. Many failing to see this have attempted to use this blessed scene to establish the doctrine of a “three person” God, but there is no refuge there, for only one Person was visible and that was Jesus. The Spirit assumed the form of a dove (not man) that John might know Him who was to baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire. See John 1:31-34. The voice that came from heaven was also a witness to establish the fact that Jesus Christ was more than a prophet and greater than an ordinary man.

The Lord of Hosts

The prophet Malachi In speaking of John the Baptist, said, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME, and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to If is temple, even the MESSENGER of the Covenant, whom ye delight in. Behold, He shall come, saith the LORD OF HOSTS. In this passage two messengers are mentioned. The first referred to John (Matt. 11:10), but the second MESSENGER of the Covenant is the LORD Himself. These words were spoken by the LORD OF HOSTS, and He says that John was to prepare the way before HIM. But who is the LORD OF HOSTS? Let Isaiah answer. “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting on His throne. high and lifted up … And above it stood the seraphims: … And cried one to another saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD OF HOSTS: the whole earth is full of His glory …. Then said I “Woe is me! for I am undone: … for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD OF HOSTS.” (Isa. 6 chapter). St. John, in speaking of this vision, declares that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus, and spake of Him. (See St. John 12:39-41).

The mystery of Christ is this, “How could the Mighty God, Creator of the heaven and earth, who fills the immensity of space, become confined to the limits of the body of a Virgin and assume the form of man?” It is beyond human conception. It was astonishing to the hosts of heaven. The angels desire to look into the eternal purpose of God, but they, too, were forbidden. The prophets were confounded at their own utterances, and inquired and searched diligently … what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Even the Eternal Spirit cried with amazement, saying, “Listen, 0 isles, unto me; and hearken ye people from afar; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.” These words spoken by Isaiah the prophet (Isa. 49:1-6) met their fulfillment in Christ. Elizabeth speaking by the Spirit hails Mary as the Mother of her Lord, and His name was mentioned while He was yet in the “bowels of His mother,” saying, “and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save Hispeople from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21). A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of my people Israel. (Compare Isa. 49:6, and Luke 2:32). With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. “And the zeal of the Lord of Hosts hath performed it.” These words spake the prophet when he said, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given …. and His name shall be called … the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, …the Zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.” Isa. 9:6, 7.

The Father Revealed

As He walked among the sons of men, as one of them, he became partaker of all his temptations, afflictions and sorrows. He wept with them that wept. He suffered with those that suffered. And in all their afflictions and griefs, he was touched with the feelings of their infirmities, and bore with them their burdens and heavy oppressions. He prayed, as a man, to the heavens and obtained answers to confirm and strengthen those that were with Him. He often made mention of his
“Father in heaven,” but no one durst question His statements. His works were so filled with wonder that his identity was near to disclosure. And many would marvel and wonder as to “what manner of man is this?” At times they thought they knew and understood him, then again they were lost in amazement. The disciples were confident that they knew him, but on the last night of his sojourn on earth he astonished them by saying, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen him.” These words stirred up the curiosity of Philip so that be could refrain no longer, and he said, “Lord, show us the Father and it sufficeth us.” But Jesus answered, “Have I (the Everlasting Father) been so long a time with you and yet thou hast not known me, Philip” He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father: and how saith thou then, Show us the Father?” (John 14:1-11). What could be clearer than these words? Jesus is the Father as well as the Son. And no man knoweth the Son but the Father and neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him. (Matt. 11:27). This passage finds its fulfillment in Matt. 16:16, 17 and John 14:7-1 1. The Divine reveals the human side of God and the human reveals the divine.

The life of Christ in the flesh was the example of a son of God, And of all that he suffered, He bore it as man. But on the resurrection morning he came forth with power and proclaimed “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Thomas, who was with them in the upper chamber the night of His passion, and heard him reveal the Father to Philip, acknowledged Him to be the Almighty by exclaiming when he saw His resurrection glory, “My Lord and My God!” Peter said that Jesus had been made both Lord and Christ. All power in heaven and earth had been transferred from the invisible God and centered in Jesus Christ, “God manifest in the flesh.” Arid now we see according to the Apostle Paul that it was Jesus who created the heaven and earth, thus proving beyond a doubt, that Jesus Christ, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Fattier, spoken of by Isaiah, is the one and only true God that we ever will see or can (Col. 1:15, 16).

Revelation of Jesus Christ

While John the beloved was on the isle of Patmos, it was there that he received the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him. And as he began to prepare his message to the Churches, meditating over this glorious vision, he burst forth with rapturous strains, “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him; and they also which pierced him; and all the kindred of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord which is, which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” And he said he heard a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.” And when he turned he saw one in the midst of the candlesticks “like unto the son of man” (Jesus Christ), and when he saw him he fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon him, saying, “Fear not; I am the First and the Last.” These are the words of God concerning himself, spoken by the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12), and here we find Jesus applying the same words to himself. And in order that the Seer might not be mistaken in this revelation He adds, “I am He that liveth, and WAS DEAD; and behold, I AM alive forevermore. Amen! and have the keys of hell and death.” (Rev. 1:1-18.)

In Rev. 21:6,7, Jesus says, “I am Alpha and Omega … He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I WILL BE HIS GOD, and he shall be MY SON.”

Truly this is wonderful!

The Record of St. John

It was after this revelation that he wrote the gospel bearing his name, and no wonder he could sit down and unfold the mystery of the incarnation Listen, what boldness he uses in opening this secret of all ages! “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that is made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. He was not that light. but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them that believe on HIS NAME.” Let us repeat these words, “even to them that believe on HIS NAME.” On whose name? Reading
the context we find no one mentioned but God and John, His theme is God. It must be God’s Name! And we understand, beyond a doubt, that the only name whereby we have become sons of God is be believing on the name of Jesus. (Acts 2:38; 4:12; 8:12; 16:31).

In explaining the mystery of the incarnation he says, “And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us,… full of grace and truth.” That there should be no doubt as to the divinity of Jesus, and that no attempt to be made to make God and the Son of God separate persons, the Apostle places in parenthesis these words (and we beheld His (God’s) glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father). 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. This is the TRUE GOD, and Eternal life. (I Tim. 3:16; 1 John 5:20).

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THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS TAKEN FROM “THE LIFE & WRITINGS OF B. T. HAYWOOD,” AND WAS PUBLISHED BY APOSTOLIC BOOK PUBLISHERS, 1968, PAGES 17-29. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.