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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth | |
Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST AS EL, “THE MIGHTY ONE”
GENESIS 14:18
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR
JUNE 12, 1999 - RADIO MESSAGE #271
One of Jehovah’s names in the Hebrew text in which the Old Testament was written is El, meaning “Mighty One,” translated “God.” The first appearance of this name is in its compound form El Elyon in Genesis 14:18.
This name appears in six compound forms in the Book of Genesis, and in at least one more elsewhere. 1. El Elyon, “God Most High” (14:22), emphasizes His sovereignty; God is “Possessor of heaven and earth.” 2. El Roi, “God-Who-Sees” (16:13), emphasizes His omnipresence and omniscience; God is everywhere present, and sees and knows all. 3. El Shaddai, “Almighty God” (17:1), emphasizes His omnipotence; God has all power. 4. El Olam, “Everlasting God” (21:33), emphasizes His eternity; God has neither beginning nor ending of existence. 5. El Elohe Israel (33:20) identifies Him as “God, the God of Israel.” 6. El Bethel (35:7) identifies Him as “God of the House of God.” 7. El Gibbor, “Mighty God” -- or “Heroic God” (Isaiah 10:21; Jeremiah 32:18), emphasizes His heroism toward His people.
The name El and all these compound forms belong to Jehovah alone -- and to Christ, for the following reasons.
I. El is Jehovah’s name -- and Christ is Jehovah! True worshipers of God acknowledge Christ as Jehovah because:
1. Many references and ascriptions to Jehovah in the Old Testament are applied to Christ in the New Testament. For example, the throne and scepter which belong to Jehovah alone (Psalm 45:6f) and the immutability which characterizes Jehovah alone (Psalm 102:25-27) are said by Jehovah Himself to be Christ’s (Hebrews 1:8-12). (Cp. also Numbers 21:5f / 1 Corinthians 10:9; 1 Samuel 2:6 / John 5:21; Psalm 34:8 / 1 Peter 2:3ff; Psalm 107:29 / Matthew 8:23-27; Isaiah 6:1-10 / John 12:37-41; et.al.)
2. Christ declares “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Jehovah the Father and His Son are two separate persons of one indivisible substance. What is true of the one (apart from what the Son experienced in His incarnation) is true of the other.
3. Jehovah requires “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23). He who does not honor Christ in the same manner and to the same degree as the Father is to be honored honors neither the Father nor the Son. Christ is Jehovah!
II. Jehovah “appeared” in some of the instances in which He is named El (e.g. Genesis 16:13; 17:1) -- and every appearance of Jehovah in the Old Testament is in the person of Christ! God the Father never appears (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12): “No one has seen God at any time.” But Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3), “God ... manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). He therefore declares “I and My Father are one” -- two separate persons of one indivisible substance (John 10:30). Christ consequently declares, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Every appearance of God in the Old Testament was in the person of God the Son, Christ!
III. One of these El-compound names which belong to Jehovah alone is applied to Christ even in the Old Testament! Jehovah is identified as El Gibbor, “Mighty God,” in Isaiah 10:21 and Jeremiah 32:17f. Jehovah Himself applies this name to Christ in Isaiah 9:6: “And His name will be called ... El Gibbor / Mighty God.”
Worshipers of Jehovah therefore honor Christ as El, “The Mighty One”! They honor Christ as El Elyon, “God Most High” (Genesis 14:22), because He is sovereign (Revelation 19:16). They honor Christ as El Roi, “God-Who-Sees” (Genesis 16:13), because He is omnipresent and omniscient (John 1:47-49). They honor Christ as El Shaddai, “Almighty God” (Genesis 17:1), because He is omnipotent (Revelation 1:8). They honor Christ as El Olam, “Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33), because He is eternal (Revelation 22:13). They honor Christ as El Gibbor, “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6), because He is their hero. Do you?
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
