All the Fulness in Reconciliation

by Robert Burgess

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath DECLARED THIS from ancient time? who hath TOLD IT from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is NO GOD ELSE beside ME; a JUST GOD and a SAVIOUR; there is NONE BESIDE ME (Isa 45:21)."

I have noticed over the years of my studies into Universal Reconciliation that there are many "Reconciliation Scriptures" which are interconnected with others that present Christ the Christ as the "Fulness of the Godhead Bodily." The preceding Scripture is followed next with this:

"Look unto ME, and be ye SAVED, ALL the ENDS of the EARTH: for I AM GOD (the ETERNAL "I AM"), and there is NONE ELSE. 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 (Confess). Surely, shall one say, in the LORD (YHVH) have I RIGHTEOUSNESS and STRENGTH: even to HIM shall men COME; and ALL that are incensed against HIM shall BE ASHAMED (Isa 45:22-24)."

In the New Testament, Paul uses this Scripture to illustrate how God the Father (YHVH) will eventually receive all the Honor and Glory for His being the same "Just God, and Saviour" of the Old Testament; For YHVH (The God) of the Old Testament is "Fully Expressed" in the "New Testament Person" of God, The Lord Jesus Christ.

"That at the NAME of Jesus (Jesus) EVERY KNEE should BOW (in Worship), of things in HEAVEN (Notice the Order here), and things in EARTH (The Living), and things UNDER the EARTH (The Dead); And that EVERY TONGUE should CONFESS that Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ) is LORD (YHVH), to the GLORY of GOD the FATHER (Phil 2:10-11)."

I realize that I am liable to draw fire from two different quarters by saying these things, but I feel the Lord drawing me out to write on these subjects; so please try to bear with me, and receive these Words as graciously as possible, and without any undue criticism. I believe that one of the greatest difficulties in our comprehending the Godhead is that we have been taught to view Him as three separate and distinct individuals, somehow each having a common and coequal Nature. There is no Scriptural substance for any of these claims however; for God is never referred to anywhere as "Persons" per se, or with any kind of plurality (they, them, their, etc..).

The LORD God (YHVH Eloim) has revealed Himself to all Creation as the Father (The Creative Element), and the same Creator God has revealed Himself in Redemption as the Redeemer (Jesus Christ); In addition to this, He is known in His Regenerative Power and ability as the Holy Ghost (The Omnipresent Spirit). These qualities constitute the "Fulness of the Godhead," Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. He is not apart or separate from any of these characteristics of own His Divine Nature in any way; He is all of these things, in every way possible. His Omnipresence is "All Powerful" and "All Knowing," just as his Omnipotence is "All Knowing" and "Ever Present." God is God, whether we view Him in His identity as Creator, Redeemer, or Regenerator; The Father is not apart from Jesus in any way, or from His Omnipresent Spirit, any more than a person can be apart from his own Spirit, Soul, or Body.

The following Scripture illustrates that the Creator and Redeemer are IN one another, without any separation at all; The Creative Element of God is totally Resident IN the Redemptive Element, and visa - versa.

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou NOT KNOWN ME, Philip? HE that hath SEEN ME (The Saviour - Redeemer) hath SEEN THE FATHER (The Creator); and how sayest thou then, SHOW US the FATHER? Believest thou not that I (the Saviour-Redeemer) am IN the FATHER (creator), and the FATHER (Creator) IN ME? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself (Independently): but the FATHER that DWELLETH (Resides Permanently) IN ME (The Omniscient, Redemptive-Creative Element), HE (The Father) doeth the WORKS (The Omnipotent Element). Believe me that I AM (YHVH) IN the FATHER (The Creative Element), and the FATHER IN ME (The Redemptive Element): or else believe me for the very WORKS' SAKE (John 14:8-11)."

The Scriptures teach that the Creator GAVE the Redemptive Element to ALL MEN (See Jn 3:16); This is the Basis for the Doctrine of Universal Reconciliation. Those who embrace this Truth should be among the first to rejoice in the fact that "He that HATH the Son (Jesus - The Redemptive Element) HATH the FATHER (The Creative Element) ALSO (1Jn 2:23)."

"And I GIVE unto them eternal life (Zoe - The Eternal LIFE of the Godhead); and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall ANY MAN (including themselves) pluck them out of MY HAND. My FATHER (The Creative Element), which GAVE them ME (The Redemptive Element), is greater than all (of THEM); and NO MAN is ABLE to pluck them out of MY FATHER'S HAND. I and MY FATHER are ONE (John 10:28-30)."

Notice that there is ONLY ONE HAND in view here; The SAME HAND that belongs to the FATHER (Creative Element), is also the HAND OF JESUS THE CHRIST (The Redemptive Element). These two Elements of the Godhead are ONE, for there is NO GOD apart from either the Creator, or the Redeemer (or the Regenerative Element known as the Holy Ghost).

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out MY SPIRIT (The Fulness of the Godhead in His Omnipresence) upon ALL FLESH; and your sons and your daughters shall PROPHESY, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall SEE VISIONS (Joel 2:28):"

"And I will feed them that oppress thee with their OWN FLESH; and they shall be drunken with their OWN BLOOD, as with sweet wine: and ALL FLESH shall KNOW (By Revelation) that I the LORD (YHVH) am thy SAVIOUR and thy REDEEMER, the mighty ONE of Jacob (YHVH - Isa 49:26)."

"And the GLORY of the LORD (Fulness of the Godhead) shall be REVEALED, and ALL FLESH shall SEE it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it (Isa 40:5)."

"And all flesh shall SEE the SALVATION (Yeshua-Jesus) of God (Luke 3:6)."

"LOOK unto ME, and BE YE SAVED, ALL the ENDS of the EARTH: for I AM GOD (In ALL HIS FULNESS), and there is NONE ELSE (Isa 45:22)."

RRB
8/07/06