This was Jesus’ response to  Philip’s request for Him to “… show us the Father” (Jn. 14:8). It is easy to read that exchange and simply assume that all one needs to know about the Father-Son relationship is that Jesus and the Father were one in character, will, etc. (Jn. 10:30). But there is much more to the relationship between the God of heaven and the man from Galilee than this verbal exchange reveals. And more importantly, it directly involves you and me. To fully understand the significance of the Father-Son relationship we must know beyond a doubt that while on earth Jesus of Nazareth was a man like any other man. This is brought out in the use of the Greek word “Anthropos” to describe both Jesus and other human beings. The word “Anthropos” means a human being. A subtle hint as to what is to be revealed in this series is found in 1 John. 4:17: “For as He is, so are we in this world.” Jesus is now what he was for 31 years–a man, only is spirit form. As this series will prove, the saint’s future inheritance is the same as His. The Truth that MEN will sit with Jesus on His throne in paradise is brought out in 1 Timothy 2:5 where we are told that “there is one God and one mediator between God and man– “THE MAN” Jesus Christ. Jesus is a God-man–a man who became a God. This is part of His inheritance. Saints are joint-heirs with Him. SAINTS WILL BECOME GODS EXACTLY AS JESUS IS A GOD AND WILL SIT NEXT TO THE FATHER AS HE NOW SITS NEXT TO HIM (Rev. 3:21).

There are several other Biblical Truths that must be believed in order to grasp the eternal significance of this series. Let us examine a few of them. God is a spirit (Jn. 4:24). Prior to His time on earth, Jesus (the Word–Jn. 1:1-4,14) was also a spirit. Together these two spirit Gods comprised the Godhead. As Jesus told Nicodemus, that which is flesh is (totally) flesh and that which is spirit is (totally) spirit. In order to enter God’s presence one must be transformed from flesh to spirit, “… for flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3-7). In verses 3 and 7 Jesus proclaims what must happen in order for a believer to enter God’s Kingdom: Our bodies must change from flesh to spirit–WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

Upon coming to earth as a man, Jesus divested Himself of His Godship in order to become a mortal man like those among whom He would live for 31 years. In Philippians 2:6,7 we find these words: “Who (Jesus), being in the form of God (spirit), thought it not robbery to be equal with (the other) God, but made Himself of no reputation (divested Himself of His God qualities, powers, etc.) and took upon Himself the (physical) form of a (human) servant ….” and limited His power, etc. to that of His human peers. Upon His resurrection from the dead Jesus once again became a spirit by being born again which enabled Him to enter God’s heavenly kingdom.

Following Christ’s return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God in the Holy Land (see The Kingdom of God), those who have believed and obey Father and Son will be born again and become as Jesus is now–spirit. Sharing His throne (Rev. 3:21), they will have the same rights, privileges and powers as the former flesh and blood human being (Jesus of Nazareth) they had believed and obeyed. With Him they will rule the earth for 1000 years, then the entire universe forever. See God’s Very Elect–Future Caretakers of the Universe.

In this life God’s true saints are His “begotten” sons. Jesus was God’s “firstbegotten” Son (Heb. 1:6) and the “firstborn” (first born again human) among many future (born again) brethren who, through their obedience to Him, will have been made into the spiritual image of their Standard bearer (Rom. 8:29)–the “Captain of their salvation” (Heb. 2:10).

Is it true that Christ’s spiritual brethren will rule and reign with Him for eternity? In 2 Timothy 2:12 and Revelation 22:5 we are told that His true saints will “reign with Him forever.” Is it true that those who obey Him in this life will share in His inheritance? In Romans 8:16,17 we are told that as children of God, saints are “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” But notice the remainder of the verse: “IF” they suffer with Him” for being holy lights in a dark world. No suffering for righteousness sake in this life=no kingdom living in the next life. An heir has the promise of an inheritance. An inheritor has received the promise. Saints are heirs in this life. They will become inheritors upon being born again and joining Christ in God’s earthly kingdom. But first they must suffer persecution, hatred, rejection, etc. by those whom Satan controls. Their primary foes will be members of their family. See Persecution.

Upon their rebirth (their change from flesh to spirit at Christ’s return), saints, who have been joint (equal) hears with Christ during their earthly lives, will enter into His inheritance–the universe. However, in order to receive a Christ-level inheritance upon His return, saints must live Christ-level lives until that time (1 Jn. 2:6; 3:3/ Rev. 3:21/ all of 1 Jn. 3). In this life inheritance seekers must “come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). This is impossible through participation in the traditional church whose beliefs and customs are contrary to God’s explicit rules for life. In order to reach the character level that will enable one to enter the Godhead’s presence one must be “IN” both God and Christ and “ONE” with Them. By the same token, God and Christ must be “ONE” with and “IN” the believer. The full extent of the saint’s “in” and “one” relationship with the Father and the Son is the subject of this series. L.J.