Note: This is an extensive excerpt from my study titled “The Trinity of God and Salvation.” What follows is the heart of that discussion. The passages of Scripture studied and talked about here are perhaps the most revealing of the many supportive passages examined in that study.
Reproduced with only minor editing:
WE DON’T GET TO DECIDE WHO GOD IS
So important is it that we have a proper understanding of who Jesus is, of who God is – as it relates to salvation – that Jesus Himself had a lot to say about it. What we’re going to find out is that it’s God Himself who reveals the truth about Himself to us. We’ll start with this statement:
(John 8:24) — [24] Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” (NET)
What does Jesus mean by “unless you believe that I am He?” When we study the immediate and overall context of the book of John, we know that Jesus is referring to the fact that He is the God of Israel, the one His audience claimed to believe in. How do we know this? For starters, the word “He” is not in the original Greek. Thus, what the Greek actually says is “unless you believe that I AM.” Even if the Greek suggests “I am He” (Jn 8:24), we have other validating statements by Jesus to show us that He was revealing Himself as the God of Israel (Ex 3:14). That Jesus was revealing Himself as the God they worshiped is made even more clear when we consider what Jesus said about Himself leading into verse 24. I’ll put the two verses together:
(John 8:23-24) – [23] Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. [24] Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” (NET)
Let’s consider what Jesus could have been talking about when He said that He was “from above” and that He was “not from this world.” First, all human beings are from this world. No human being is from above. Yet, Jesus makes it clear that His origin is from above—a clear reference to Heaven. If that wasn’t clear enough for them, Jesus removes all doubt that He was referring to Heaven in the next verses:
(John 8:25-26,28) – [25] So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus replied, “What I have told you from the beginning. [26] I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.” [28] Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me. (NET)
Jesus refers to the fact that the “Father sent Him.” The Jews understood the Father as referring to God. That’s made clear in John 8:41 (also Jn 14:8-9). And now Jesus is claiming to come from the Father (also Jn 8:42). He strengthens that fact by saying “the things I have heard from Him, I speak to the world.” In other words, Jesus is referring to the things that He heard from the Father in His presence, the place of His origin. Then Jesus says that “when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM he.” Again, “he” after “I AM” is not in the Greek, restating the fact that He is the “I AM” of Israel.
Up to this point we see that Jesus has been building upon this idea that He is the I AM of Israel—the very God they claimed to serve. But if that still wasn’t clear enough to these particular Jews, Jesus removes all doubt in verse 58:
(John 8:58) – “[58] Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I AM!” (BSB)
This was an obvious reference to Exodus 3:14, where God revealed Himself as “I AM.” Therefore, if they didn’t understand what Jesus was saying leading up to this point, He made it clear to them here. However, so clear did they understand what Jesus was saying, that they picked up stones to put Him to death, which is what the law requires for blasphemy (Lev 24:16). They most certainly understood that He was claiming to be the God of Israel (YHWH – “Yahweh”) who revealed Himself to Moses and to the people of Israel at that time. Therefore, I will restate what Jesus was actually saying in John 8:24:
“For unless you believe that I am He [the God of Israel], you will die in your sins.”
Jesus certainly revealed Himself as the Messiah and the Savior of the world. But in the overall context of John 8:24, it was all about His oneness with the Father as the Son of God (Jn 8:36,49, 53-54)—as the very God of Israel. In John 10:36, Jesus plainly says that He is “the Son of God.” Furthermore, the Jews understood that He was claiming to be the Son of God (Jn 19:7). What we need to understand is that Jesus revealed Himself to be both the Son of God and the God of Israel. This is important because it reveals that the Father and the Son are one. To claim to be the Son of God is to claim to be God Himself. God exists as a Trinity—as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which is revealed in many many places throughout the NT, as discussed earlier. In John 8 the focus is on the Father and the Son.
Unless you missed it, or forgot the point of all this, Jesus makes it clear that when He presents Himself to sinners as the Son of God, or as God Himself, they must believe it in order to be saved:
“For unless you believe that I am He [the God of Israel], you will die in your sins.”
Jesus told the Jews that unless they believed that He was the God of Israel, they would die in their sins. Meaning, they would die without God, separated from God forever. Why is it so important to believe this? Because, again, faith must have an object. Our faith in God must be in the God He reveals Himself to be. Jesus came to reveal Himself to Israel as the God they worshiped. To reject Jesus as their God, was to reject the God they professed to believe in.
Likewise, with all that the Bible reveals about God – especially in the NT – to reject what’s so clearly revealed about Him is to reject God Himself. When the Deity of Christ is taught, and the Trinity of God is taught, those who hear are at that point accountable to believe what they’ve been taught. One can erroneously make the argument that someone can have a false understanding of who Jesus is and who God is, and still be granted salvation in Christ, just as long as they believe in the Jesus and the God of the Bible—whatever their interpretation of God may be!
However, that idea is proven false by the words of Jesus Himself in John 8. Let’s go over this again. Could not the Jews make that same argument as the one above? Yes. In fact, that’s exactly what they did! Their understanding was that God is one God, and that God is a spirit (the Spirit of God; Spirit of the LORD). This was the God they believed in, or affirmed to believe in. To bring Jesus into their understanding of who God is, brought confusion and disbelief among those who were not actually true believers. They had an intellectual belief, but their heart was far from Him (Mk 7:6). But again, couldn’t they make the argument that they believed in the God of Israel, without believing in Jesus as the God of Israel, and still get saved? That’s a firm no. Jesus squashed that false notion in His discussion with these Jews, which included religious leaders. Jesus said that “if you knew Me, you would know My Father also (Jn 8:19; Jn 14:7). He also said that “anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father (Jn 14:9). To know one is to know the other. To believe in one is to believe in the other. We cannot believe in one without believing in the other. It requires that we believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be—the Son of God—the very God of Israel. Those who were true believers in God under the Old Covenant, also believed in Jesus, because God revealed Himself to them in Jesus. God enabled them to hear the voice of the Father in the words of His Son. They were drawn to the Son just as they were drawn to the Father. Those who rejected Jesus, proved themselves to be unbelievers, regardless of their claims otherwise.
The point of all this is that the Jews had a correct understanding of the one true God under the Old Covenant. They responded to the light that was given to them. They believed according to what was revealed to them at the time. When Jesus came along, their understanding about God was broadened. Under the Old Covenant, the Jews understood God to be one God, in the form of the Father or as the Spirit of God. When Jesus revealed Himself to Israel, their understanding of the one God was broadened to include Jesus as the Son of God (Jn 14:5-11). Also, in many other places in the gospels, as well as throughout the NT, the Holy Spirit is revealed to be a co-equal member of this one God, who is revealed as a Trinity—three co-equal Persons, one God. The Jews of Jesus’ day could not continue to hold onto their OT understanding of the nature of God. It now must include Jesus if their understanding of God was to be complete. Not to believe in Jesus would have resulted in eternal condemnation (Jn 3:18).
Again, the Jews could have made the argument that they believed in the one true God, as revealed to them in the OT Scriptures, as well as the historical knowledge they had of their God. They could have said, “we have believed as You instructed us, and so this Jesus must be an imposter, a false teacher, a blasphemer.” This was actually the response of many who professed to believe in God. But this was unacceptable to God. Our faith must be in the God whom He has revealed Himself to be. When Jesus began His ministry, the true believers in God were enabled to to hear the voice of their God in Jesus, which resulted in faith in Him. Every true believing Jew was drawn to the Son, just as they were drawn to the Father—all of them (Jn 6.37-45).
Likewise, people today who are taught the true nature or essence of God, that God exists as a Trinity, must believe this about Him in order to be saved. Because at that point, they’re accountable to believe it. The believing Jews of Jesus’ day are our example and pattern for believing unto salvation. We don’t get to Heaven by having different ideas about God. We don’t get to Heaven by believing things about God according to what seems right to us—just like we don’t get to Heaven by having different ideas about the way of salvation. These two doctrines go hand in hand.
When God calls us to Himself, He opens our eyes to His true nature, His true essence—like God the Father did for Peter (Matt 16:17). Again, we don’t get to decide who God is in our own understanding. Furthermore, we don’t have to! It’s God Himself who reveals Himself to us. The Jews who had a true and humble heart before God, were enabled to see the light and truth that is in Jesus. God opened their eyes to who He is. For someone to hear the teachings of the Christian faith today, especially as it pertains to the true nature of God, and rejects these teachings, will not be granted salvation. Those who profess Christ, but rejects these same teachings, reveals an absence of the new-birth, an absence of salvation. It reveals an absence of the Spirit of truth (Jn 14:17; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:3; 1 Jn 4:6). It’s evidence they have not “turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).
All true born-again believers will be given the grace to understand and believe the truth about the nature of God, about who Jesus is. Those who refuse to believe that God exists as a Trinity when it’s been taught to them, reveals a rebellious heart of pride, who are still in darkness, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pe 5:5). Those people are in the same boat as the Jews of Jesus’ day who claimed to believe in God, but didn’t accept the fuller revelation of God in Christ when it was presented to them. That’s why Jesus said, “unless you believe that I am He (the God of Israel), you will die in your sins” (Jn 8:24).
Just as the Jews of Jesus’ day were accountable to believe in the fuller revelation about God (as Jesus revealed about Himself), so are people today accountable to believe in the fuller revelation of God as revealed in the NT Scriptures and taught by Christian Bible teachers. This full revelation of the NT Scriptures is something that the people of Jesus’ day didn’t have. Therefore, with much light comes much accountability. Those who are of the light, will see and believe the light about God. Jesus Himself is the Light of the world (Jn 1:9; Jn 8:12). Thus, when Jesus reveals Himself to someone, people will recognize Him for who He is. When God opens the eyes of a sinner about Christ and salvation in Him, He opens their eyes to the truth about Himself. If they’re taught that Jesus is the Son of God, they will believe it. If they’re taught that God exists as a Trinity, they will believe it.
When the truth about God and about salvation are presented, it must be believed. If a person rejects these truths, salvation is denied. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just about the death and resurrection of Christ, and life in Him. It’s about Jesus Himself. We cannot be wrong about either. When the light of Christ shines on a sinner, they will see Him for who He is—according to the light explained to them. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in 2 Corinthians 4:4-6:
“[4] The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (BSB)
I want to zero in on the phrase “the gospel of the glory of Christ.” If we’re not reading carefully, it’s easy to miss the significance of what Paul says here. We routinely talk about the gospel of Christ, or the good news about Jesus and salvation through Him. That’s something that’s common and something we’re very familiar with. But here Paul refers to the gospel as not “the gospel of Christ,” but as “the gospel of the glory of Christ.” This means that those who hear the gospel message and are granted eyes to see and and a heart to believe, will also see the “glory of Christ”—which refers to His nature, to who He is in His essence. While we may have a limited view of who Jesus is at the point of conversion – based on the truth explained to us up to that point – after conversion, once we have the Spirit of truth dwelling within us, we will both see and believe the true glory of Christ. Seeing and believing the true nature of Christ and of God, as we’re being taught (as we see in Scripture), is the fruit of salvation, the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of salvation is first and foremost what we believe about God and the plan of salvation. If we claim to be a Christian but deny the true nature of God, it’s clear evidence of a false conversion. If we place our faith in a false version of God, then such a god cannot save. Notice the rest of the sentence:
“who is the image of God”
The “glory of Christ” is directly associated with the “image of God.” In other words, the glory of Christ is the glory of God (He 1:3). They share the same glory, which reveals Christ as God. It reveals God in His true nature, as He really is.
Therefore, as the gospel message is being presented, if sinners are told that Jesus is the Son of God, they will believe it. If they’re told that God exists as a Trinity, and that Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, they will believe it. Whatever truth is conveyed about Jesus and about God, they will be granted the grace to believe it. For example, when I received Christ as my Savior, I only understood Him to be the Son of God. And even with that, my understanding was limited. But I believed it. Once I was saved, I believed the teaching about the Trinity. It was like automatic for me. And I’ve never stopped believing it. While we can’t fully comprehend the Trinity of God, it’s a teaching that we as regenerated believers will fully embrace once it’s taught to us.
Just as God must open our eyes to our sinfulness and need for Christ as Savior, just as God must give us understanding about the message about Christ, so must He also open our eyes to Himself—to the One who is offering salvation. Verse 6 confirms what we’re saying here:
(2 Cor 4:6) – [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
This is so highly significant! Before we come to faith in Christ, before the light of Christ has shined upon us, we are in total darkness—spiritually dead in our sins (Eph 2:1-2; Col 2:13), dwelling in the “domain of darkness” (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13), and under the “power of Satan” (or “domain of” or “authority of”). But at the point of conversion, in our darkness, God causes “His light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” That means we’re given the grace to see the glory of God in Christ, according to the truth presented to us at the time. This glory refers to His true essence that belongs to God alone. Once saved and have the Spirit of truth living within us, we’re given the “knowledge” about who God really is. Paul says something similar in Ephesians 5:14:
(Ephesians 5:14) – [14] So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (BSB)
When Christ shines His light in our deadness and darkness of sins, He shines the light of who He is, not our own ideas about who He is. God reveals the truth about Himself both at the point of salvation, as well as after we’ve experienced salvation. No one is granted salvation with an erroneous belief about Christ. Our understanding may be limited at that time, but we will certainly believe whatever truth is presented to us. For someone to claim to be a Christian, but doesn’t believe the truth about God, reveals that they didn’t believe it when they first professed to receive Christ.
Therefore, it’s just not possible for someone to be born-again and have the Spirit of truth living within them, and still not see the light and glory of God in Christ. It’s not possible for someone to truly meet Jesus, but see a false version of Him. That’s not the way this works. Jesus reveals Himself as He is. For someone to claim to be a Christian, but refuses to believe the truth about who God is – year after year – as the truth about Him is continuously being taught to them, is clear evidence that their eyes have not been opened to the truth, and that they are still in the total darkness and deadness of their sins.
