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God the Father’s personality is demonstrated and communicated by His Son in His entire human life and mission on earth.
The Son – God with us, has revealed the Father in their relations as a distinct person. So, He is not merely a force with incomprehensible abilities.
They were in a very close relationship from eternity, which continued also after the incarnation of the Son in humanity.
Father and Son covenanted out of their infinite and unconditional love to save humanity. They devised the plan of redemption, giving to all another chance to choose God as their leader.
The Son of God has revealed the knowledge of His Father’s parental and personal attributes. His loving, merciful and ever carrying character was embodied in Jesus.
Thus the light (truth) of who God is as a person shined:
The light of the knowledge of the glory (goodness/character) of God has been shone in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
He spoke, taught, lived and died, giving the most true representation of the Father’s personality.
Table of contents
- Understanding God’s personality through Jesus
- The Son as the image of the invisible God
- God’s personality embodied to humankind at creation
- The Father and Son relationship explained
- Conclusion on God’s personality
Understanding God’s personality through Jesus
The Son of God manifests His Father as the member of the Godhead.
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. John 1:18.
For in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9.
The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead. He is invisible to mortal sight.
The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested.
The inspired Scriptures declare the Son as the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person. Hebrews 1:3.
God’s beloved Son has voluntarily and willingly left the courts of Heaven. The entire Universe of God with amazement followed His incarnation as a human.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
God’s Divine Son became Emanuel (God with us) – one of the human family to live as man among others. Thus He was fully Divine and fully human – the Son of God and the Son of man.
This is the mystery – God as human, that the Bible speaks about. For example:
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was:
- Manifested in the flesh.
- Justified in the Spirit.
- Seen of angels.
- Preached unto the Gentiles.
- Believed in the world.
- Received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16.
As part of the Godhead’s purpose, He showed the world their unchanging commitment to help the fallen humanity.
The Father and the Son were working on humankind behalf and will continue to the second coming of Christ.
They have done it in unison to break the bondage of sin, and the misrepresentation about God.
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About the author
Bojko Belovsky – founder of God’s Love Gateway
My promise to you: Always genuine Christ-centered messages for your life growth now leading to eternity.
Unity in character and purpose
One that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14:9.
By this statement Jesus underscores the unity and identity between God the Father and Himself. Jesus’ compassionate character, words and actions are a direct revelation of the Father’s.
Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. And from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. John 14:6, 7.
In other words, the knowledge and understanding of God the Father is obtained through the knowledge of His Son.
My Father and I, we are one. John 10:30.
The Scriptures show the relation between God and Christ.
They point clearly at the personality of each.
In the same manner the unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in:
- Purpose and mind.
- Character attributes.
- But not in person.
It is thus that God and Christ are one.
He stood forth distinctly in His human personality and appealed in simple language to humanity.
And yet, He was in perfect oneness with God. Thus His voice came with authority as the voice of God.
His teachings revealed the Father’s will, values, and the true nature of His kingdom. By listening to Jesus, people were hearing the words of the Father.
God’s love is no different than His Son’s love
The Father Himself loveth you. He said how He feels about humanity:
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3.
God so loved the world and the world has seen it. He demonstrated this by crucifying Himself in the person of His Son.
For example:
- In this was manifested the love of God toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9, 10.
- God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
Jesus Christ is the Gospel of the New Testament portrayed and prophesied in the Old Testament.
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18.
Thus the true knowledge of God’s love and character comes from the revelation of His beloved Son. It is through the power of His Word and the work of His Spirit.
Therefore, we exalt Jesus Christ as our loving Saviour in whom we behold the image (character) of the invisible God.
The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. John 16:27.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:9.
Furthermore, out of His love, God offers everyone salvation. He provides transformation and glorious restoration to eternal life through the merits of His Son.
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The Son as the image of the invisible God
The Word was with God, and the Word was God. And The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1, 14.
He is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15. What does it mean?
God sent His Son to our broken world. For example:
But when the fulness of the time has come, God sent forth His Son, made (born) of a woman, made (born) under the law. Galatians 4:4.
Thus the Divine Son took human nature and became the connecting link (mediator) between God and humanity.
He was a perfect union of Divine and human in Himself.
Thus Jesus manifested as far as the fallen humanity can endure the nature and the attributes of God’s personality. He taught humans what God desired them to know.
Many looked at Christ and saw only a common man from Nazareth. They needed “spiritual eyes of faith”. It applies to people of all time.
They can see (understand) the image of God in Christ by believing the personal testimonies of:
- Himself.
- God the Father.
- Prophets, disciples, apostles and the entire Bible.
Moreover, by the special work of the Holy Spirit, enlightening Scriptures and making them effective for renewing the heart.
- 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. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the very works’ sake. John 14:10, 11.
- I can do nothing on my own.
- For the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works I do. They bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me. John 5:30, 36.
Therefore, Satan works hard to blind the spiritual sight of people. For instance:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Divine character exemplified in human life
Jesus was fully Divine and fully human when He walked among people. He was the embodiment of Divine and human union – the Son of God and the Son of men.
So, His human life was the perfect revelation of the Father’s relentless goodness, righteousness and compassionate love. These are the most wonderful truths His Son has revealed to the world.
For example:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8.
So, born in human nature, Jesus became the Lamb of God without blemish (sin), slain from the foundation of the world. (1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 13:18).
And the crowning act of “God with us” was His atoning sacrifice for the sin of the entire world. On Calvary, the heart of Infinite Love has paid the price of human redemption.
Jesus never used His Divine power for His advantage. He relied on the relationship He has with His Father for strength. He also depended on it for everything else needed in the beetle with the power of darkness.
Thus He fulfilled His great earthly mission. Christ profoundly demonstrated to the world that God is Love and became the Savior of our broken world.
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God’s personality embodied to humankind at creation
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. Genesis 1:26, 27.
What does it mean?
Though they had their biological/physical nature/essence, they needed something else. Adam’s human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life (physical nor spiritual).
The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7.
Humankind was endowed with the ability to multiply in family and communities.
Moreover, they were given spiritual and moral qualities of their Maker. Thus they were to represent and glorify Him as His children.
Their living souls were not only to continue in existence, but to experience a constant spiritual and moral growth.
It was possible, because of what God has endowed them with at creation.
They were made with a capacity to:
- Love and be loved.
- Know and understand the goodness of God.
- Be free to choose.
Humans were the crowning act of God’s creation. He designed them to express His thought and reveal His glory (goodness and character).
So, it is not enough to believe in:
- A supernatural force.
- Things that have no pity, and never hear the cry for help.
What we need is to:
- Know of an infinite Friend who pities us.
- Trust in a heart full of compassion.
And even so is the knowledge of God in His Word.
Sin separated humans and their Maker. No man has seen God at any time, except as He is manifested through Christ. For example:
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father,
save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Matthew 11:27.
Christ and the apostles taught clearly the truth of God’s extraordinary and incredible personality.
The concept of God’s character shapes the spiritual life
Can we trust God without true understanding of His character ?
How can we walk with God and have the joy of being His friends, if we don’t know Him?
Our spiritual life is built on the opinion of who we believe God to be.
All created things testify for God’s power, wisdom and love. But we can learn the true God’s personality as it was revealed in Christ.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee;
But I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
And I have declared unto them Thy name (equal to character in the Bible), and will declare it;
That the love wherewith thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:25, 26.
And this is the love that draws us to God and to each other. Furthermore, the same divine grace, by which Christ overcame is offered to HIs followers.
Christ said:
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. Revelation 3:21.
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The Father and Son relationship explained
When Jesus prayed for His disciples, He started with asking His Father to glorify Him.
Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee. O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:2, 5.
Jesus was about to undergo the ultimate demonstration of the love of God to humanity on the cross of Calvary.
So, He asked the Father to testify and support His beloved Son’s mission to become the Savior of the world.
Jesus already had manifested to all the parental, loving and merciful character of God through His entire life.
Thus for everyone acquainted with His:
- Compassionate healing and liberating from devils.
- Truthful teaching, and atoning sacrifice.
- Obedient life to the will of God, the implied meaning of Jesus’ words was fulfilled.
One that hath seen Me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:9.
When certain Greeks came to see Him, Jesus addressed the Father again:
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this reason I came to this hour.
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:27, 28.
The Father has spoken on Son’s behalf at Jesus’ baptism and His transfiguration of the mount.
Listen to My beloved Son
Jesus came to John near the Jordan river to be baptized by him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16, 17.
Thus the Heavenly Father anointed the Son with His Spirit and inaugurated His mission to the world.
Jesus Christ was about to start His ministry, carrying the plan of humanity’s redemption as prophesied.
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:6.
Ultimately, He was about to become the Lamb of God, who takes the sin of our broken world.
On another occasion, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into the mountain.
There He was transfigured before them. His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And a bright cloud overshadowed them. And a voice out of the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him. Matthew 17:2, 5.
Thus God the Father commissioned Jesus’ disciples of all time to follow closely what He has to say. Moreover, to follow His example in all things, who is the head of the church (His sheep).
So, Peter who was an eye witness stated:
For He (Jesus) received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2 Peter 1:17.
Conclusion on God’s personality
In His life on earth, Jesus Christ was part of the human family. The Son of God demonstrated His Father’s personality.
He was the light (truth) of God’s character in the time of spiritual darkness and misapprehension.
Though invisible for mortal human eyes, He has carried His Divinity. And He never was a lesser God than the Father.
Jesus was fully Divine and fully human when He walked among people. He was the Son of God and the Son of man. In any of those He reflected entirely the moral image of the Father.
The Son of God showed His oneness with God the Father in love, motives and purpose about humanity.
Throughout His entire life, Christ has displayed in words and action His Father’s loving, merciful, long suffering and forgiving character.
Thus through Jesus the attributes of the invisible God were made known to the world.
The Father and the Son demonstrated their love to humanity as God crucified Himself in the person of His Son.
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Clarification notes on the used terms
A review of theological literature and different Bible translations shows that the same terms are used interchangeably.
These terms are used for explaining God’s nature, which includes substance and essence.
They are also used for explaining God’s character, which includes person, personality, and morality.
Therefore, to avoid confusion and misunderstanding, we have to say that this blog doesn’t expound on:
- God’s Divine substance, matter, essence, nor any other constitution of His being.
- His abilities and power, and reality of existence.
Furthermore, the terms that the Bible (KJV) uses to describe God as a person might not completely align. They may not entirely fit in our modern psychology explanation.
Nevertheless, the Bible explains itself clearly when speaks of God the Father as:
- Loving, compassionate, long-suffering, pitiful, kind.
- Merciful, forgiving, righteous, full of goodness and truth, etc.
Find out more about today’s explanation of the difference between “being” and “person/personality” from this article.
References
RH, Nov 1898; ST, Aug 1879 – The Ellen G. White Estate
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Where to go from here
- Read John 14 in KJV BIble – Full chapter study, following along this post references.
- How To Study The Bible? – Apply these principles for clear spiritual discernment.
- Grow in Christ category – Reflecting in life Jesus’ (God’s) character, preparing to be with the Father and the Son for eternity.
- God’s Love Content Hub – All Christ-centered teaching in one place.
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Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.
- What resonated with you most in this post, and why?
- Do you understand the relationship of Jesus to His Father as His Divine Son and human? Do you understand His relationship to humanity as God with us?
- Reach out if you need more information on this topic.
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