The Manifestation of God in Jesus Christ.--Paul says, "when the
fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son" (Galatians 4:4);
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father" (Philippians 2:10,11).
This personal manifestation of God in Christ is in perfect harmony
with the nature and character of God as we know Him through the
Scriptures. This manifestation of God is not only subject to a
historical test, but may also be made the subject of a personal
experience test, "If any man will do His will he shall know of the
doctrine" (John 7:17). Soon after the resurrection and ascension of
Jesus the disciples, who had been with Jesus when He was upon earth,
began to urge others to make a test of personal experience in regard
to the manifestation of God in Christ (Acts 2:14,31-47; 3:19-21;
7:56). Paul, who had a special experience (Acts 9:1-8), preached this
test of personal experience throughout the Roman Empire. Ever since
those early times there has been the same urgent appeal for men to
come to a knowledge of God through Jesus Christ and to make the test
not only historical, but one of personal experience.
The "Threefold Self-manifestation of God."--Christ in instructing His
disciples after His resurrection, said, "Go ye therefore and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
In the Old Testament we have the manifestation of God as the one
living God of all. He was specially known as the God of Israel in
preparing that nation for the great part it had in the divine economy.
In the New Testament Christ is recognized by His followers--and so
taught Himself--as the personal manifestation of God, to whom divine
honour was and is to be given. Christ told His followers that He would
"pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you forever" (John 14:16). This Comforter (16:7-15), the
Holy Spirit, would guide them into all truth.
The Holy Spirit, upon whom they were to wait for His manifestation
(Acts 1:8), came in wonderful power on the Day of Pentecost (Acts
2:1-4), thus beginning the great work which was to spread around the
world. When Paul and Barnabas were ready for their large missionary
task, the Holy Spirit called them to it (Acts 13:2). The early Church
felt the presence of that mighty indwelling Holy Spirit. "As God
Himself had come in the Son so it was felt that He had come in the
Spirit. The one God of all known to the fathers, had manifested
Himself in the divine human Christ, and in the invisible Spirit of
truth and life. Both was His and yet each was truly Himself."