Numerous passages in the New Testament tell us Jesus sits on the right hand of God. Peter used this expression in Acts 2:34, quoting Psalm 110:1.
According to Acts 7:55, Stephen looked up into heaven while being stoned to death and "saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." What does this phrase mean? Does this mean that there are two physical manifestations of God in heaven, God and Jesus, with the latter perpetually stationed on the right hand of the former? Is this what Stephen saw?
A physical interpretation of "the right hand of God" is incorrect. First, no man has seen God at any time, nor can a human see Him(John 1:18; ITimothy 6:16; IJohn 4:12). God is a Spirit and as such He is invisible(ITimothy 1:17). He does not have a physical right hand unless He chooses to manifest Himself in a human form. We know Stephen did not literally see God apart from Jesus. If he saw two persons, why would he ignore one of them, praying only to Jesus? (Acts 7:59-60). If he saw separate physical manifestations of the Father and the Son, why did he not see the Holy Ghost as a third person?
A careful reading of Acts 7:55 will support the statement that Stephen did not see God apart from Jesus. Verse 55 does not say Stephen saw the Spirit of God, but tells us he saw "the glory of God" and Jesus. In verse 56 Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." The only visual image or person Stephen actually saw was Jesus Christ.
Other problems arise if we take "the right hand of God" in a physical sense. Is Jesus sitting on the right hand of God as recorded in Acts 2:34, or is Jesus standing on the right hand of God as recorded in Acts 7:55-56? Is Jesus sitting on top of God's outstretched right hand or is Jesus sitting next to God's right hand? Is Jesus in the Father's bosom? (John 1:18). What about Revelation 4:2, which describes one throne in heaven and One who sits on that throne? Does the Father sit on the one throne and does Jesus sit beside it? What about the fact that Jesus is the One seated on the throne? (Revelation 4:2, 8 with 1:8, 18).
Obviously, then, the description of Jesus on the right hand of God must be figurative or symbolic. Indeed, this is evident from numerous references throughout the Bible to the right hand of God. In Psalm 16:8, David wrote, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Does this mean the LORD was always bodily present at David's right hand? Psalm 77:10 says, "I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High." Did the psalmist promise to remember the number of years God had a right hand? Psalm 98:1 declares of the LORD, "His right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." Does this mean God defeated His enemies by holding back His left hand and crushing them with a physical right hand? Psalm 109:31 states that the LORD "shall stand at the right hand of the poor." Does He physically station Himself next to poor people all the time? The LORD declared in Isaiah 48:13, "My right hand hath spanned the heavens," and in Isaiah 62:8 the LORD swore by His right hand. Did God reach out a giant hand and literally cover the sky, or did God put His left hand on His right hand and swear by it? Jesus cast out devils by the finger of God (Luke 11:20). Did He pull down a giant finger from heaven and punch devils out of people?
Of course, the answer to all of these questions is "No." Therefore, we must understand "right hand of God" in a figurative, symbolic, or poetic sense and not in a physical, bodily sense. This being so, what does the phrase signify?
In the Bible, the right hand signifies strength, power, importance, and pre-eminence just as it does in the English phrases, "He is my right hand man" and "I would give my right arm for this." Trinitarian scholar Bernard Ramm says, "God's almightiness is spoken of in terms of a right arm because among men the right arm is the symbol of strength or power. Pre-eminence is spoken of as sitting at God's right hand because in human social affairs the right hand position with reference to the host was the place of greatest honor."
Some biblical examples to show this association of the right hand with power are interesting and instructive. Exodus 15:6 proclaims, "Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power."Psalm 98:1 and Psalm 110:1 associate the right hand of God with victory over enemies. When the Bible speaks of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, it means Jesus has all the power and authority of God. Jesus Himself made this clear in Matthew 26:64: "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."(See also Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69.) Jesus thus claimed to have all the power of God; by this implication He declared Himself to be God. The Jews understood these claims and because of them the high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65). Apparently, the high priest knew the symbolic meaning of the right hand in the Old Testament, and he therefore realized that Jesus was claiming to have God's power and to be God. First Peter 3:22 further demonstrates that "right hand" means Jesus has all power and authority: "Who is gone to heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." Similarly, Ephesians 1:20-22 uses this phrase to say Jesus has pre-eminence over all principalities, powers, dominions, and names. This passage also links the right hand with the exaltation of Christ. In this connection, Acts 5:31 states, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."(See also Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:33-34.) Acts 5:31 indicates that the right hand of God or the arm of God sometimes specifically refers to God's power in salvation. Many other verses of Scripture speak of the right hand of God as representing the deliverance and victory God gives to His people (Exodus 15:6; Psalm 44:3; Psalm 98:1). Isaiah 59:16 says, "His arm brought salvation." It appears, therefore, that the description of Jesus on the right hand of God connotes that Jesus is the expression of God's saving power. This concept harmonizes with the association of the position of Jesus on the right hand of God with His mediatorial role, particularly His work as our intercessor and high priest (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1).
With this understanding of the right hand of God, we still may wonder why the Bible sometimes says Jesus "sat down" on the right hand of God (as in Hebrews 10:12) instead of simply saying He is at the right hand of God (as in Romans 8:34). It is probable that this particular phrasing indicates that Jesus received complete glorification, power, and authority at a certain point in time. This exaltation began with His resurrection and was completed at His ascension. At that time He freed Himself from all human limitations and physical restraints. This is the opposite of the self-limitation to which Jesus submitted in the Incarnation as described in Philippians 2:6-8. He completed His role as a human walking on this earth.
No longer does Jesus submit Himself to human frailty and weakness. No longer is He the suffering servant. No longer are His glory, majesty, and other divine attributes hidden from the casual onlooker. He now exercises His power as God through a glorified human body. He now displays and will display Himself as the Lord of all, the Righteous Judge, and the King of the whole earth. That is why Stephen did not see Jesus Christ as the ordinary man He had appeared to be while on earth, but he saw Him with the glory of God and the power of God. Similarly, John saw Jesus revealed as God in all His glory and power (Revelation 1). This exaltation, glorification, and unveiling of Christ culminated at His ascension. Mark 16:19 says, "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God."
The phrase "sat down" indicates that the sacrificial work of Christ is not continuing but is complete. "When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes"¦ But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool" (Hebrews 10:11-13).
We would encounter many inconsistencies if we were to interpret the description of Jesus on the right hand of God to mean a physical positioning between two Gods with separate bodies. If we understand it as symbolic of the power, strength, authority, pre-eminence, victory, exaltation, and saving ability of Jesus as manifested in flesh, then we eliminate the conflicting concepts. Furthermore, this interpretation is consistent with the use of the phrase "right hand of God" throughout the Bible. The "right hand" reveals the omnipotence and absolute deity of Jesus and vindicates the message of one God in Christ.
Returning to our original question, what did Stephen actually see? It is apparent that he saw Jesus. Isaiah 40:5 says with reference to the coming of the Messiah, "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." Jesus is the revealed glory of God. Stephen saw the glory of God when he saw Jesus. He saw Jesus radiating the glory that He possessed as God and with all the power and authority of God. In short, he saw the exalted Christ. He saw Jesus not merely as a man but as God Himself, with all glory, power, and authority. That is why he called on God by saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Well.........where to begin. You say God is a spirit and as such he is invisible.
Bible says......Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"
It just seems to me that there were at leat two present when this was done and that we (man) were made in their image. Please tell me how if God is invisible spirit how he could have an image and likeness. Don't have to look far into the bible to find problems with the oneness doctrine. First chapter of the first book! After hearing your answer to this I will show verses where God was seen by men.
Oh and by the way. Stephen was not being stoned when he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Verse 54 says they gnashed on him with their teeth. vs 54-56 are the verses of what Stephen saw. Than in vs. 57 they all ran upon him. Finally in vs. 58 they run him out of the city And THAN they stone him.
At any rate the inspired word records what Stephen saw and I for one will not add to it by telling people what I think it means. It is really quite explanatory. And if God was invisible how would Stephen know he was there?
After hearing your answer to this I will show verses where God was seen by men.
Yes of course, that is the oneness doctrine. I and the Father are one.Sure God was seen by men! The men who new Jesus were seeing God in man's image. After the Cross, we have Him in Spirit and invisible in our hearts.
DbH, I thought you didn't believe in the Oneness doctrine? With that statement above you have me guessing!
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Da, in my humble opinion you have a long way to go before you can sucessfully defend your doctrine. By your own admission you state you have no understanding of the oneness doctrine, if I were you I would take just one point at a time and chew it real good before taking another bite.
Let's start by your giving me Scripture identifying who the second person of "us" is.
Then explain, (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1John 4:12;1Timothy 6;16;Collossians 1;15; 1Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27).
God can manifest Himself in human . .or any other form so that we can see a representation of God. . . .which He did many, many , times. In order to reconcile Scripture you have to believe that God, who is a Spirit is invisible but that He did manifest Himself in various theophanies. An of course now Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Bible says......Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"
I'm not so sure this means outward appearence as much as inward,,I'd like to believe that I'm made in Gods image, because I can forgive people that harm me ,like God can forgives me for sinning I can showlove,kindness,trust,thankfulness,honor,honesty ,patience,mercy to others as God shows these to me,,,,,just a country boy's take on this,,,
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"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the ONE I can change, and the wisdmon to know that it's ME"
I'd like to believe that I'm made in Gods image, because I can forgive people that harm me , like God can forgives me for sinning I can show love,kindness,trust,thankfulness,honor,honesty,pat ience,mercy to others as God shows these to me,,,,,just a country boy's take on this,,,
There it is
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Da, in my humble opinion you have a long way to go before you can sucessfully defend your doctrine. By your own admission you state you have no understanding of the oneness doctrine, if I were you I would take just one point at a time and chew it real good before taking another bite.
Let's start by your giving me Scripture identifying who the second person of "us" is.
Then explain, (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1John 4:12;1Timothy 6;16;Collossians 1;15; 1Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27).
God can manifest Himself in human . .or any other form so that we can see a representation of God. . . .which He did many, many , times. In order to reconcile Scripture you have to believe that God, who is a Spirit is invisible but that He did manifest Himself in various theophanies. An of course now Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
I wonder if anyone has an understanding of the oneness doctrine. All I see is paragraph after paragraph that you copy from your denomination that spew out a bunch of rhetoric trying to tell us what we read in the bible is not as it appears but they will enlighten us with their supposed wisdom of what God really meant. If the bible tells me that Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God I believe it. I believe he saw Jesus and God the father. Thats what the bible says and I believe the bible.
Bible says......Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"
I'm not so sure this means outward appearence as much as inward,,I'd like to believe that I'm made in Gods image, because I can forgive people that harm me ,like God can forgives me for sinning I can showlove,kindness,trust,thankfulness,honor,honesty ,patience,mercy to others as God shows these to me,,,,,just a country boy's take on this,,,
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It is truly amazing how people will bend and twist to make a verse fit their doctrine.
Quote Leafrivermac..."In order to reconcile Scripture you have to believe that God, who is a Spirit is invisible but that He did manifest Himself in various theophanies. An of course now Christ is the visible image of the invisible God."
Mac you make such an illogical, unfounded, unscriptural, nonsensical remark like this and than you question my abilities????
Visible image of the invisible God??????????????????????????????????
Right Hand Of God
