Who knows God and who understands the mystery of God? Scripture teaches that God has a lot to say about who will know Him and who will not. Knowing God takes divine revelation and no one understands the mystery of God without God’s help. Jesus said, “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Luke 10:22) When Jesus asked  “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am?” Peter answered “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Jesus commended him and said “…flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-17). Scripture declares only the Son reveals the Father and only the Father reveals the Son.

The Eyes of Your Understanding

Preachers love to preach and writers love to write about the mystery of God and Christ but only God can give true understanding. Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father draws him…” (John 6:44)  and again “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). These few verses make it clear that coming to a knowledge of God and Christ takes divine help. We publish this website in hopes that “The eyes of your understanding may be opened…” (Ephesians 1:18) but realize that no one can open your eyes but God Himself. This whole business of knowing God and Christ depends on divine intervention.

It is a Great Gift to Know God

The scales that blinded the Apostle Paul’s eyes were put in place by God and then God Himself removed those scales.  This faith of ours and our ability to hear it, understand it and believe it is not of ourselves it is a gift from God. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). It is a great gift to know the true identity of the man Christ Jesus and it is a great gift to know God. Think of it as a pearl of great price because it truly is.

Blessed Are Your Eyes

Jesus had a lot to say about people who hear but don’t hear and see but don’t see. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears for they hear” (Matthew 13:13-16). He still cries out in the marketplace today, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear”. Jesus invites us to hear Him but His words have somehow gotten lost in the speculations of our learned philosophers and theologians.  Nevertheless, the message of the Father and His only begotten Son still blazes on the pages of the holy book.  If you want to truly understand the mystery of God and Christ just ask. God wants you to understand.  “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you.” We think those are some pretty wonderful promises.

Copyright 2022 by Bob Shutes

Is God One What and Three Who’s?

We ask the question “What is God?“ because trinitarian scholars tell us that God is “One What and Three Who’s”. To us, describing the God of Israel as “One What“ seems like a strange and coldly impersonal way to talk about Him. Now we can’t help but wonder about the meaning of “One What“. Does this odd language reveal anything Biblical or true about God? If God is a divine “What” should we speak of divinity as “It” rather than Him? When we say “What is God“ are we asking a question or making a statement? I hope all this is clear, but if not, just watch the classic Abbott and Costello routine called “Who’s on First” and you will see that the logic of the Trinity is comedy of the highest order.

The Holy What of Israel

Trinitarian thinking is like being in a house of mirrors at a carnival sideshow where nothing appears normal. Mirrors and words can both distort reality and make things look other than they really are. Should get rid of the idea that God is The Holy One of Israel and say instead that God is The Holy What of Israel?  If God really is a Holy What  should we even use the word “what” in normal conversation anymore since it no longer means what it used to mean? Trinitarian theology can sure get confusing. Thank goodness we have theologians, scholars and comedians to help us find our way!

One What and Three Who’s Made Clear

(A dialogue between a scholarly theologian and a new disciple.)

Theologian: Do you have any questions?

Disciple: Just one. Can you tell me about God?

Theologian:  Of course. God is one What and three Who’s.

Disciple:  One What?

Theologian:  Yes! That’s right. God is one What.                                                          

Disciple:  Hey! Wait a minute! What are you talking about?

Theologian:  I’m talking about God.  That’s What.

Disciple:  What do you mean?

Theologian:  That’s right! Now you’ve got It!

Disciple: Got What?                                                                                                       

Theologian:  Yes!  You’ve got the One What that is three Who’s. That’s What!

Disciple: So if I want to know Who God is What is the most important thing?

Theologian: That is exactly right! I couldn’t have said it any better. Now you know What’s What. Just remember God is one What and three Who’s.

Disciple:  I don’t think you’re helping me. You’re talking nonsense and I’m getting a headache!

Theologian: Yes, this can sound like nonsense but What doesn’t!

Disciple:  You’re crazy! I don’t think you really know anything about God.

Theologian: Well, all these things make sense to me but Who knows?

THE END

Copyright 2022 by Bob Shutes

Is God Trying to Reveal Himself to You?

We pray that God will bless our feeble efforts and reveal Himself to you. We confess though, that giving you a revelation of God and Christ is beyond our ability. It requires nothing less than a sovereign act of God. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (John 3:35) In another place Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) And again, “No one can come to me except the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) Our joy and hope is that you will discover for yourself what Christ has shown us and now wants to reveal to you.

The Revelation of God and Christ is Eternal Life

Does a revelation of the Father and the Son really matter? Well… Jesus gave the very keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter just for declaring simply and plainly that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!  (Matthew 16:13-20) This simple truth was so important to Jesus that He later went on to say, “This is eternal life, that they may know thee (the Father) the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) The Apostle John even wrote that this was the very purpose of his Gospel! “And truly, Jesus did many things in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31)

Does God Believe in the Trinity?

Let’s be careful not to add anything, or take anything away from the revelation of the Father and His Son. If God wanted to endorse Trinitarian creeds and make them binding on believers He certainly would have told us! We proclaim a message that is indeed “foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews”! The message of God and His Son Jesus Christ lacks the heady intellectualism of Greek philosophy and may seem foolish to some. History reveals that the proclamation of Jesus as the long awaited Jewish Messiah has (so far anyway) been a stumbling block to Israel. We say, “The Biblical revelation of God and Christ pleases God… and it pleases us too!”

The Mystery of God is a Pearl of Great Price!

We realize that some are delighted to hear these things while others are offended. Some have ears to hear but don’t hear… while others hear clearly. Some have eyes to see but don’t see… while others see clearly and rejoice. The revelation of God and Christ is indeed a “pearl of great price” and a “treasure hid in a field” and now you have found it! Quickly now! Sell everything you have to buy this truth… and never let it go! May God bless you with “all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of  the mystery of God, and of the Father and of Christ.” (Colossians 2:2) That would please us and we’re pretty sure it will please God too.

PS: If these things make good sense to you they’ll probably make good sense to your friends too. Why not send them a link to wonderfultheology.com and find out? Thanks and God Bless.

Copyright 2022 by Bob Shutes

Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ

There is only one God. He is our Father. That much seems pretty clear but there is a lot of confusion about exactly who Jesus is. The debate about Jesus’ identity goes back a long long way.  Was Jesus God Himself… the Father incarnate? Or perhaps a co-equal and co-eternal “person” in a triune Godhead? Some even speculate that Jesus Christ is Michael the Archangel. Or was He simply who He claimed to be… no more and no less than the Anointed One, the Christ? Isn’t it enough to declare that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God?  The miraculously conceived  and virgin born Messiah? This wonderful simplicity got obscured and complicated thanks to the work of the so-called church “fathers” who gave us a near lethal dose of theology based on Greek philosophy.

Jesus Spoke His Father’s Words

Jesus said a lot of things that sound like how only God could talk. That shouldn’t surprise us since He did say the words He spoke were not His own. The Father had plainly declared “I will put my words in his mouth!” (Deuteronomy 18:18) Jesus confirmed this by saying “The words that I speak are not mine but my Father’s.” (John 14:24) Jesus came in His Father’s name, spoke His Father’s words and did His Father’s works, but that didn’t make Him God.

No Other Man Ever Spoke Like Jesus!

No other man ever spoke like Jesus. People who heard Jesus speak were amazed at His words.  Hearing Jesus talk was like hearing God Himself! Even unbelievers said “Never a man spake like this man!” (John 7:46) Jesus’ enemies accused Him of claiming to be God but is that really true? His enemies said a lot of things about Him that weren’t true. The chief priests even paid people to tell lies about Him! Jesus never claimed to be God but He did claim to be the Christ. He said He was the Son of God and that was more than enough to stir the hatred of His enemies.

What is Jesus’ True Identity?

Jesus’ identity has been an issue from the very beginning. One day Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that I am?” They replied “Some say you are John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets. Jesus asked again and said “But who do you say that I am?” Peter had the right answer.  “You are the Christ! The son of the living God!” Jesus replied “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah! This wasn’t revealed to you by flesh and blood but by my Father in heaven! And upon this rock I will build my church… and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”  If anyone ever asks you about Jesus just recite the words of Peter. “Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God!” That’s enough. Jesus is not the Father incarnate, Michael the Archangel or a hypothetical second “person” in the trinity…. He is the Christ, the Anointed One.

Christ Was Truly a Man

We believe and declare “There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5) Hang on to this truth and never let it go. Believe it. Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten and unique Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Anointed One. He was crucified and then rose from the dead! He was one of us and He was truly a man. Indeed Christ came in the flesh!

PS: Straightforward, Biblical and understandable. We think that’s a pretty good combination. If you appreciate what you read here at wonderfultheology.com please send a link to a few of your friends. They’ll probably enjoy it too. God Bless.

Copyright 2022 by Bob Shutes

God’s Name is Wonderful

God’s name is Wonderful and the name of Jesus Christ is Wonderful too! God told one enquirer… “Why do you ask after my name seeing it is wonderful?” (Judges 13:18) Some translations say it this way:  “seeing it is secret, miraculous, a name that works miracles and is beyond human understanding. Others say God’s name is beyond  comprehension and too wonderful to understand, a mystery, sheer wonder, too amazing for you to believe and supremely wonderful!”

Jesus’ Name is Wonderful Too

Isaiah’s prophesy of Christ declares “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) This makes perfect sense when you realize that Jesus came in his Father’s name. Jesus clearly said  “I have come in my Father’s name …. (John 5:43) The Father’s name is Wonderful and so is His Son’s! “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Jesus did not claim to be the Father but he did claim to bear his Father’s name.

The Name of Jesus is a Name Above Every Name

The Apostle John saw Christ’s return and wrote “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. He has on his robe and on his thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19) The name of Jesus is a name above every name!