Jesus - God Manifest in the Flesh
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of the most powerful truths in all of Scripture. Oneness Pentecostals believe that Jesus is not the second person of a Trinity, but the one true God revealed in human form. He is God manifest in the flesh, the visible image of the invisible God, and the full expression of God’s nature, character, and purpose.
The Scriptural Declaration
The apostle Paul makes this bold and clear statement in 1 Timothy 3:16:
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
This verse leaves no room for ambiguity—God Himself came in flesh. He did not send another being or person to do His work of redemption; He came personally. The eternal, invisible Spirit took on a visible, human form. This is not a partial representation of God, but the fullness of who He is in bodily form.
- Colossians 2:9 – “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
- John 1:1, 14 – “The Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
- Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born… and his name shall be called… The mighty God, The everlasting Father…”
These scriptures affirm the identity of Jesus as Jehovah God in human form.
Jesus: Not a Second Person, but the One True God
Trinitarian doctrine teaches that Jesus is the second person of a triune godhead. However, the Bible consistently affirms the oneness of God:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” — Deuteronomy 6:4
Jesus is not separate from the Father—He is the Father revealed in flesh. He is not another being sent by God, but God come to save.
- John 14:9 – “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”
- John 10:30 – “I and my Father are one.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 – “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…”
These verses do not support a multi-personal deity but clearly point to a singular God fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
The Purpose of the Incarnation
Why did God become flesh? The answer is rooted in love and redemption. God came in flesh:
- To reveal Himself fully to humanity.
- To redeem mankind by shedding His own blood (Acts 20:28).
- To fulfill the law and become the perfect sacrifice.
- To demonstrate how to live a holy, obedient life.
Only by becoming a man could God truly pay the price for sin on our behalf. Jesus’ death on the cross was not a substitute from a third party, but God Himself laying down His life for His creation.
Understanding the Dual Nature of Christ
Jesus was both fully God and fully man. This is known as the dual nature of Christ. As a man, He felt hunger, thirst, pain, and even death. As God, He healed the sick, forgave sins, walked on water, and rose from the grave.
- As man, He slept in the boat.
- As God, He calmed the storm.
- As man, He prayed in the garden.
- As God, He raised the dead.
Understanding this dual nature helps us reconcile the humanity we read about in the Gospels with the divine power Jesus demonstrated. He was not a lesser being or junior deity—He was Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).
Conclusion
To know Jesus is to know God. He is not one of three divine persons, but the one true God made visible. Through Jesus, the invisible God became touchable, approachable, and knowable. The mystery of the incarnation is not meant to confuse us but to reveal the depth of God’s love and the lengths He went to redeem us.
“In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” — Colossians 2:9
To worship Jesus is to worship the one God of Scripture. To call upon His name is to invoke the name above every name. Truly, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.