Father and Son – Savior and Lord
Part 3: The Father and the Son, Savior, and Lord
1 Corinthians 8:4-6— Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
For those people who want to make this passage of Paul to be one-sided, they can pick and choose whatever is lined with their interests. They can replace the Father in the name of the Son and likewise replace the Son with the Father, which I believe was not the intention of Paul. Rather than excluding either Jesus or God from this confusing passage, we need the wisdom to divide the truth rightly. As we are believers of One God, the Almighty Father, this confirms one God and Jesus Christ with a divine identity of being a mighty Son, who is the only King and Lord that will reign the kingdom.
Since the Father, our LORD is the creator of heaven and earth and everything on it, both physical and spiritual; this world is His possession and under His care. God the Father created everything good, but human freedom has become out of control since the beginning. Thus, the people multiplied, and the command to subdue it was not followed because we overpopulated the earth. Ultimately, God the Father, our LORD, is Divine. We cannot replace it and omit it and the Lord Jesus Christ, aside from being the Son, is also a partaker of His Divine glory. Therefore, Jesus Christ was part of God’s plan to save and rule the world as Lord under the Father.
Many believers of Jesus as a god never look at this passage and make a serious analysis to get into the truth that the Lord (Jesus) has a limited power base on the scope of His authority. Whatever Paul’s intentions in writing this passage made very clear that he was after the idolatrous pagans. Jesus is exceptional among the other Lords, but it doesn’t apply to Him in a limited sphere.
Jesus has dominion over everything, including the entire kingdom that exists, except for only one thing—the Father. “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.’ ‘He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14
Jesus is under the Father, who oversees the governance of His kingdom, yet the Father entrusted all things under His power and authority to rule. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me—Matthew 28:18. “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that He is excepted to put all things in subjection under Him. “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all”—1 Corinthians 15:27-28).
Jesus the Son is in total agreement with the Father. Jesus Christ Himself honors the Father as mightier than He is. Our focus shall never leave us to the Father the Creator, merciful and graceful, to provide us with our needs. We must praise and worship God and thank Him for all the blessings and protections. John nicely said this in John 5:23—”that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Some Scriptures prove that the LORD (Father) is the Savior of humanity, and some Scriptures say that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior. We honor the Son as a savior for the accomplishment of his mission assigned to him by the LORD (Father). The honor that we are rendering to the Son doesn’t replace the honor of the Father as Savior of humanity. We believe in One God, the Father Almighty aligns with our monotheistic belief. The honor that belongs to Father belongs to the Father alone.
In his many writings, Paul never addresses the designation of Jesus being the Supreme Lord or God; nevertheless, he does not exclude the Son from being God in the sense of sharing the exact nature though different in demonstrating their action. The Father shows His power and authority, while the Son shows just authority given to Him. The level of existence with the Father may differ in the hierarchy, but the authority vested in the Son is not limited overall.
Jesus is God on behalf of the Father, but he is not the Father. He is not just a signatory, but authority cannot be measured. The Son is perfect in goodness and righteousness and obedient to God’s purpose and will; this alone affirms that they have the exact nature. He is God in this very sense.
Remember when Jesus said we could be gods and be like him in goodness, righteousness, and obedience to the Father the Almighty? So it is good to solve the mystery of two Gods in one, which could be three in one, when you believe in the Trinity.
The following Scriptures prove there is one God: the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through who are all things and through whom we exist.
To go back to Part 1- God Almighty-The Savior Part 2- Lord Jesus Christ- A Savior Click to go back up^: Click Here.
Click Here: Scriptures God is LORD – The Almighty One: The Savior
Click Here: Scriptures Jesus Christ- is Lord and Mighty Son: A Savior