True Christianity # 83
83. The idea that it was some eternally begotten Son who came down and took on a human manifestation turns out to be utterly wrong, collapses, and vanishes in the face of passages in the Word like the following, where Jehovah himself says that he is the Savior and Redeemer:
Am not I Jehovah? And there is no other God except me. I am a just God, and there is no Savior except me. (Isaiah 45:21-22)
I am Jehovah, and there is no Savior except me. (Isaiah 43:11)
I am Jehovah, your God, and you are not to acknowledge a God except me. There is no Savior except me. (Hosea 13:4)
So that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer. (Isaiah 49:26; 60:16)
As for our Redeemer, Jehovah Sabaoth is his name. (Isaiah 47:4)
Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah Sabaoth is his name. (Jeremiah 50:34)
Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)
Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am Jehovah, your God. " (Isaiah 48:17; 43:14; 49:7)
Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer: "I, Jehovah, am the maker of all things. I alone [stretch out the heavens. I extend the earth] by myself. " (Isaiah 44:24)
Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, Jehovah Sabaoth: "I am the First and the Last, and there is no God except me. " (Isaiah 44:6)
You, Jehovah, are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. (Isaiah 63:16)
"With the compassion of eternity I will have mercy. " So says your Redeemer, Jehovah. (Isaiah 54:8)
You have redeemed me, Jehovah of truth. (Psalms 31:6)
Israel should hope in Jehovah, because with Jehovah there is compassion; with him there is the most redemption. He will redeem Israel from all its forms of wickedness. ()
Jehovah God and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, will be called God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5)
From these passages and very many others, all who have eyes and open minds can see that God, who is one, came down and became human for the purpose of redeeming people. Anyone who pays attention to the divine sayings just quoted can see this as clearly as something in the morning light.
There are people, though, who are in the dark of night because they have convinced themselves that there was another god, eternally begotten, who came down and redeemed humankind. These people close their eyes to these divine sayings, and consider with eyes shut how to twist the sayings and apply them to their false beliefs.
Psalms 31
1
In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness.
2
Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me.
3
For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
4
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my stronghold.
5
Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.
6
I hate those who regard lying vanities, but I trust in Yahweh.
7
I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.
8
You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.
9
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.
10
For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.
11
Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
12
I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.
13
For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.
14
But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, "You are my God."
15
My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16
Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness.
17
Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol.
18
Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
19
Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!
20
In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
21
Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
22
As for me, I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before your eyes." Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
23
Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh. By David. A contemplative psalm.
