Shalom, JLB.
Do you confess Jesus as Lord. That is to say YHWH.
Do you confess Jesus as YHWH.
Thanks, JLB
On this note, I have to be extremely careful, and here's why: There are SO many denominations of "Christians" who claim that Yeshua` is part of the Trinity or the Tri-unity of God to the extent that they say that He IS God! They will often pray ONLY to Him; they worship ONLY Him as God; they camp on the verse "I and my Father are one" to the extent that they neglect other verses that shed light on His Person!
That said, I will say this much: No, I do not confess that Yeshua` is YHVH (who is the Father), but I DO accept Him as haBen Elohiym (the Son of God). I do NOT adhere to theology proper or Christology to the point of saying that "Yeshua`" or "Jesus" is God's NAME! YHVH, which I believe is pronounced "YaHuWH" because of how it was attached to various names, such as Eliyahu (Elijah), Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah), and Ts'fanyahu (Zephaniah) in their Hebrew rendition, to name a few, is the NAME of God. Some will even ill-advisedly try to merge the two names into one, such as "Yehoshuah." And, ANY name that one would try to use as a magic word - a talisman - is disobeying the first commandment! "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain!"
Based on Yeshua`s habitual practices and His reactions to how He was treated and called during His first advent - His first coming, I would say that HE would have a problem with people addressing Him as God! He almost always called Himself the "Son of Man," which just simply means a "human being" as a "son of the FIRST man, Adam," a "TRUE human being," not the sinful, weakened version of man after the Fall, but in his original, created state. On occasion, He would admit to being the "Son of God," but He was NEVER called "God the Son!" That's a fictitious addition from a human-fabricated theology. When the demons tried to call Him the "Son of God," He told them to shut up!
Now, regarding that verse, John 10:30, one absolutely MUST see it in context to understand what He was saying:
John 10:24-40
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
KJV
Furthermore, Yeshua` also used the same word for "one" here that He used in Matthew 19:5-6 and Mark 10:8. They are ONE in thought; they are ONE in attitude; they are ONE in "being on the same page," just as a man and woman who decide to marry become (or SHOULD become) ONE!
Yeshua` also said these things:
John 8:25-30
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
KJV
So, hopefully you will understand when I say that Yeshua` (Jesus) IS NOT the same PERSON as the Father, although He is certainly IN TUNE with His Father! Now, consider this: IF Yeshua` was/is God, then to WHOM was Yeshua` praying? To whom was God answering? If you or I were talking to someone who was really just ourselves, we'd be called schizophrenic! We might even be considered to have a split personality disorder! Look at the various times when the Father is distinct from the Son of God - His baptism, His transfiguration, His crucifixion! In each of these events, one could clearly HEAR and SEE that God the Father is different than the Son of God! If that's not true, then what was Yeshua` doing, throwing His voice?!
There are practical differences between God the Father and the Son of God, as well. YaHuWH is not restricted to time and space, as we humans are; however, the Son of God was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He had a body that was limited to a particular location in time and space all the while He was here on this earth. Indeed, I believe that there's enough evidence to say that even His resurrected body was also so limited, when He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.
While Yeshua` said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9), the Scriptures also tell us that "no man hath seen God at any time" (John 1:18). I find it interesting how things are worded in Revelation 21:23, particularly in Greek:
Rev. 21:23
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
KJV
The Greek says,
23
Kai hee polis ou chreian echei tou heeliou oude tees seleenees hina fainoosin autee, hee gar doxa tou Theou efootisen auteen, kai ho luchnos autees to Arnion.
It was the "glory of the God" that "lightened" (
efootisen) it (the city), but Yeshua, the Lamb (
Arnion), was the "light" (
luchnos) of it! God's glory "brightened it up," but the Lamb was the "LAMP!" God's glory would permeate the city, but Yeshua` was the LIGHTBULB - a FOCAL POINT for the emanation of the light!
Furthermore, Yeshua` said in John 5:22 that
"the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." And 1 Cor. 15:20-28 in harmony with Rev. 20:7-15 confirm this. Furthermore, 1 Cor. 15:24-28 suggest that Yeshua` will reign until all of His enemies are subject to Him and then He Himself will become subject to His Father, further suggesting that Yeshua` is not the same Person as His Father!
I believe that you are referring to Romans 14:11:
Rom. 14:10-13
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (of the Messiah).
11
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
KJV
Isa 45:22-25
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
KJV
Because YaHuWH has selected Yeshua` to be His visible Substitute in judgment, this passage may refer to Him; however, one can be sure that Yeshua` will direct all laud and honor toward His Father!
