devotion

THEME: THE EXPERIENTIAL WITNESS OF THE SAINTS
TEXT: 1JOHN 1:1, JOHN 1:14, 2PETER 1:16-21

WHO HAS SEEN THE FATHER, a concise consideration

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
(John 14: 7)

Whoever is yet to believe in incarnation should yet to be called a believer in Christ Jesus or a Born again, such a one even though might be active in believers' meetings and fellowship, may be has even attained an office in the church is still obviously an unbeliever, and seriously need to be told the gospel. Because, that's one of the first thing in the gospel that a Christian must believe; that God took the form of human and he was birthed. The gospel of John explained it to be the word that dwelt amidst us

(John 1 )

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
...
14 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.

God's Incarnation is one of the major thing that vexed the Pharisees and teachers of the law about Jesus and his doctrine, to them he was equating himself with their "unseen God that lives in their man-made holy of holies temple". Who is it that comes out of a woman's womb and does that? It was called a blasphemy.

(John 10 )

30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

"and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God"

He was even opening their eyes to what they claimed to devote their lives for, the law. The same way many study the scriptures today up side down and have no understanding of what they read, give it meaning that suits their interest.

Therefore, God's incarnation is one of the major pillar of our believe as being Born again, check the Apostles creed (òtító ìgbàgbó wa).

Meanwhile, one of the important doctrine of Jesus was, revealing the Father through the Son. He taught his disciples many things about the attributes of the Father. In fact, in the account of John of the gospel, we see how Jesus analyzed the personalities in the Trinity.

Who has seen the Father?

Teachers can relate the feeling, while you have been teaching a particular subject for a while and the student isn't getting it. There was a scenario like that with Jesus, he has been showing the Father to the disciples but they seem not to be getting it. This is why he had to open their understanding to many things 40 days after his resurrection. Teachings they didn't understand before that time, It was needed for them to know in order for them to continue in his doctrine (Luke 24:45).

Let's peruse the scenario;

(John 14 )

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
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?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus said, knowing me is equal to knowing the father, simple arithmetic but hard to believe easily, the way some simple truths of the scriptures appear hard to believe for many today because it doesn't really require a physical crossover or work to do. Philip had to ask Jesus to show them the Father. The word show there is deiknuō which means to expose to the eye, provide physical evidence or proof. So, he wants some signs, may be constellations or something like that. Jesus was like; Phillip you mean you don't get that simple A, B, C? But that was basic enough man! Ok, what I'm saying is that anyone that have seen me like this, the way you're looking at me, he has seen the Father. Simple! I am in the Father and the Father is in me, the sign of the equation is "equal to =" no other sign is valid.

(John 14 )

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?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

If you have known the Son; Jesus, you have known the Father.
If you have seen the son; Jesus, you have seen the Father👌🏽👌🏽

Remember SEEING is one of the EXPERIENCES

Anticipate for EFAC WEEK/REUNION 2018. Pray and Plan to attend!

19 days to go

Blessed are you!