The Fatherhood of God In Christ

Written By: Bishop G.T. Haywood
Published By: The Christian Outlook (June, 1924)

There are many honest souls who are eager to obey the voice of God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but who are intimidated by persons who misconstrue the Scriptures, which say, “He is anti-Christ that denieth the Father and the Son.” I John 2:22.

There is no one who knows the word of God and has been baptized in Jesus’ Name, that denies the Father and the Son in Christ Jesus. To acknowledge the Father and the Son does not necessarily mean to believe in “three persons in the Godhead.”

The Fatherhood of God is found only in the Son, who was God manifested in the flesh. The following portions of this article will be sufficient to convince any God-fearing person that he cannot deny the Father by being baptized in the name of Jesus. “Whosoever denieth the Son the same has not the Father. But he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” I John 2:23.

We desire to call the attention of the reader to the above quotation for his playful consideration. While reading the above passage the words “the Father also” drew my particular attention. I believe it will help many to see God’s purpose in these last days. The thought before us is, that he that denieth the Son (Jesus Christ) the same has denied the Father also. Why is this? Is it not because Jesus and the Father are one? John 10:30. There is no Scripture that says “He that denieth the Father, the same hath not the Son,” but on the contrary, all Scriptures seem to be opposite. By this I mean that all Scriptures identify the Father in the Son.

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19. “God was manifested in the flesh.” I Timothy 3:16. Therefore when one turns from Christ he turns from God.

He that believeth not on the Son, the same believeth not on the Father; but he that believeth on the Son, believeth on the Father also. Compare John 12:44, 45; 14:1. The Jews believed that God would take their sins away. Jeremiah 31:31-34, but they did not believe that Jesus had anything to do with it; and Jesus said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

“He that knoweth not the Son, the same knoweth not the Father, he that knoweth the Son the same knoweth the Father also. John 8:19; 14:7. To know Christ is to know God, the Father, for the mystery of God, the Father, is Christ. Colossians 2:2, 9. He that seeth not the Son, the same seeth not the Father; but he that seeth the Son seeth the Father also. John 12:45; 14:9. He that loveth not the Son the same loveth not the Father; but he that loveth the Son loveth the Father also. John 15:23, 24. To love God one must love Jesus, for Jesus and God are one and inseparable. If the Father and the Son were two separate persons then we could love one and hate the other, as the Jews sought to do. If you love not Jesus, you cannot love God, but you cannot love Jesus without loving God, for Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, in a visible form.

If the above Scriptures are true, and no one could honestly say they are not, why does not the same hold with the name used in baptism? Let us look at it from a Scriptural stand point. He that baptizeth not in the name of the Son (Jesus), the same baptizeth not in the name of the Father; but he that baptizeth or is baptized in the name of the Son (Jesus), baptizeth or is baptized in the name of the Father also.

By the Scriptures this is clearly proven, from the fact the commission given, as recorded by St. Matthew, to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:18-19; but on the day of Pentecost, and thereafter, according to the book of Acts, all the disciples baptized in the name of Jesus, the Son, proving that they recognized it to be the name of the Father also. See Acts 2:38; 8:12-16; 9:18, with Acts 22:16; 10:47. 48; 19:5.

All who baptized in the name of Jesus are baptized in the name of the Father also, but those who have not been baptized in the name of Jesus, have never been baptized in the name of the Father. The only way to fulfill the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19, is to do as the Holy Ghost authorized on the day of Pentecost and as was carried out by the Apostles according to the book of Acts. The only way that a person can really deny the Father, is to fail to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the true and living God. I John 5:20; Jude 25.

When you are baptized in Jesus’ name you thereby acknowledge that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one. I John 5:7, and that in Christ Jesus dwelleth all of the fullness of the Godhead in a bodily form. Colossians 2:9. Be not faithless but believe. John 12:44, 45; 20:26-28.

G. T. Haywood