Distinguishing Between The Father and The Son

Joel Hemphill

Is Jesus “God,” or is he “the Son of God?” Christianity cannot have it two ways. He is either God, or Son of God; he simply cannot be both. We must begin to make a distinction in our minds and in our worship, between the One True God and His Son Jesus. The Bible makes this distinction very clearly, but somehow most of us in Christianity have missed it badly. For example look at Hebrews 2:3-4:

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord [Jesus], and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him [Jesus’ disciples]; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders…according to his own will.”

The writer of Hebrews makes a clear distinction between the Lord Jesus in verse three, and “God also” in verse four. Now look at Hebrews 12:22-24:

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

In these verses we see eight things that Christians have come to. They are:

1. “Mount Sion” (Zion).
2. “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.”
3. “an innumerable company of angels.”
4. “the general assembly and church of the firstborn.”
5. “to God the Judge of all.”
6. “to the spirits of just men made perfect.”
7. “to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.”
8. “to the blood of sprinkling.”

Did that inspired writer expect us to combine number five “God the Judge of All” and seven “Jesus the Mediator” and make them one and the same? No way! Neither did God who inspired the Holy Bible.

Hemphill, Joel W. (2010). Distinguishing Between the Father and the Son. In, Glory to God in the Highest (pp. 26-27). Joelton, TN: Trumpet Call Books.