Addressing Sin in the Church:

Judging your brothers in Christ and Cleaning up the Church:

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

 

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”  ³⁴ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

I want to write about the ignorant in the Church today.  There are those who think certain activities are alright.  Now I know there are a lot of things that I think are OK but you know are wrong and yet there are things at I think are wrong and you know they are OK.  I have to admit, there is a gray zone.  But friends, there is a black zone in that we know or should know either by reading the Word of God or by the leading of His Spirit that some things are without question.  They are wrong.  Those who do and argue that these things are OK are ignorant. Can I start listing a few things:  idolatry, stealing, lying, cheating, fornication (sex outside of marriage), adultery, homosexual relations, incest, bestiality, beating on people, murdering, greedy, drunkenness, slanders, swindlers and the list goes on.  Many of these listed are sexual perversions or worshiping something other than God Himself.  But others are just not showing love to your fellow man.  How can you steal from someone you love?  Why would you hurt someone you love?  For those of us who claim to be called Christians, why would you commit sexual sins that offend God so much? 

Unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New International Version (NIV)

 

⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I want to warn the ignorant first, later I want to talk to the Church.  If you're sinning, your eternal soul is in jeopardy.  Repent now, and stop sinning. No longer be ignorant, stop being so foolish with your salvation. God's grace covers an accidental slip up. But you have to know that God has provided a grace that not only forgives your sins but has given you the power to live right before Him.  However, if you choose to sin and to continue in sin, your salvation is on dangerous grounds.  Read this next verse:

2 Timothy 3:1-9, New International Version (NIV)

 

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Did you catch verse 5? "Having the form of godliness but denying its power, Have nothing to do with such people. What does "having the form of godliness" mean.  Does it mean that they are calling their selves Christian and going to church every time the doors are open? Absolutely, but what else, they deny the power of God to live godly lives. So we see there are pastors who are practicing homosexuality, adultery, they steal and abuse the resources of the Church.  They teach that it is OK to live like they do.  If you are in a so called Church like this, ... GET OUT.  Don't attend another service with them. Do not think that they will lead you to heaven.  Find a true Christian Church one that correctly teaches how to serve Christ.

Now then, you are in a good Church, but you notice a man living a lifestyle of sin.  What do you do?  Read the next verse so we can set a foundation.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. ² And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? ³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? ⁷ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Sin in the camp (in the Church) is serious business.  But we often neglect it.  Paul said to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.  A little sin will corrupt your whole Church.  It will keep the Spirit of God from moving within your Church.  You have probably asked, why do we not see healing(s) and miracles that we desperately need?  It is due to significant forms of disobedience existing within the people who make up the Church.  Verse 11 says "you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.  Do not even eat with such people.  There are several good reasons to not associate with these folks:  They need to understand the seriousness of their activities.  They will corrupt you and finally, their actions will impede the Spirit of God from freely moving within your Church services.  OK you get it.  So when you realize a fellow believer has accepted a sinful lifestyle and says lets go out to eat, can you just excuse yourself and just don't go?  Absolutely Not!  What good will that do?  If the man does not understand that he is sinning are you going to leave him in his filthy ways?  It would be appropriate to offer him a bath if you could.  We must learn to confront sin in our Church.

James 5:19-20 New International Version (NIV)

 

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

The best expression of love would be to approach your fellow Christian and show him his error. Give him a chance to acknowledge his sin and come clean.  You must do this in love. God has given us guidance on how to handle our brothers who we have an issue with.  Read the words of Jesus below:

Matthew 18:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

 

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

So we see how that if we can go quietly to our brother, he can explain himself if perchance we misunderstand his motives.  Maybe we perceived that he stole.  But it turns out he had been given permission or he purchased and item.  If he had sinned, you give him an opportunity to reflect on his ways and win your brother in Christ. 

But if he has sinned or cannot explain himself and is not repentant or you still have an issue with what has happened, bring one or two brothers in Christ with you and let them arbitrate between you and him.  Let them witness your accusation and judge if you rightly claim his sin or offense or maybe it is you that are wrong and they can correct you.  These men should be well founded in the word of God. Then if the issue has not been resolved, take the matter before the Church.  If the Church concludes that the man did indeed sinned and he will not comply or repent.  Then you should expel that wicked person from among you (1 Corinthians 5:13).  However, if he returns repentant, demonstrated by the action of corrected behavior, etc., you must accept him back into fellowship.  The point of this exercise is not to get rid of a brother but to bring him back into proper fellowship with Christ.  In that case, we would be victorious, for who among us is perfect and without sin?

In summary, we must clean out our Church of those who evidently have not accepted Christ and insist on living and teaching ungodliness in our midst.  If the seed of disobedience gets established in your Church, God will be limited in the works He can perform in your midst.  Your fellow members may fall to the lie and loose out on their salvation.  Let us be watching and praying so that gross sins and lifestyle sins will be discerned so that with the broom of God's Love, we can present the Church to Christ spotless and without blemishes.  Remember, Jesus said to first remove the beam from your own eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your bothers eye.  If you are going to help sweep the Church, you need to let the Holy Spirit sweep your heart and life first.

What WE Believe about Salvation

I want to talk about salvation for mankind.  First, why do I need it?  This is a great question. Also, once I've convinced you that you need it, they you will ask: How do I get it?  I hope to answer these questions.  First let me print the Fundamental Belief as follows:

Salvation:

Fall of Man: WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

We believe we are justified when we repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:15; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 5:1.

WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).

In this post I want to discuss the predicament Adam and Eve got us into by their original actions in the Garden of Eden. Please read:

Genesis 1:26-27 New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God created man in His image with a living soul.  In the Garden of Eden, God visited with Adam and Eve in the evenings, in the cool of the day and daily interacted with Adam and Eve.  God did not make many rules for Adam and Eve.  Adam was put in charge of the Garden of Eden and he had to name the animals and plants.  Adam had a pretty good life.  There was one prohibition that God gave Adam and is as follows: 

Genesis 2:17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

This does not seem too hard to follow, but with a little deception by Satan and being drawn away by our own lust first Eve and then Adam violated God's command.

Genesis 3:6 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Adam and Eve died a spiritual death that day.  They still had an eternal spirit being but it was dead to God.  No longer could Adam have that same relationship with God that he had before.  Now, that spiritual relationship was broken.  But wait, am I spiritually dead because Adam sinned?  Well, yes.  Through Adam sin entered this world.  But you have sinned on your own. 

Romans 3:23 New International Version (NIV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Whats more is that your failure is described in this next verse.  Your experience is technically similar to Adam and Eve's experience as James puts it.

James 1:14-15 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Read how Paul presented it to the Romans:

Romans 5:12-19 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! ¹⁶ Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

In verse 16 it says "judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation".  In verse 18 it says "just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people".  So without Jesus, we are in condemnation and we therefore need salvation.  What can you do?  Adam lived right with God for a long time.  He did right daily until that one day.  Adam sinned and brought condemnation on all his heirs.  Adam failed to heed the word of God to not partake of the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

 

Let us move to a time when Jesus was tested. 

 

Matthew 4:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

In Jesus' experience, Satan tempted Him these three times.  However, different from Adam, Jesus did not sin.  Why?  Because He has the Word of God within him.  Now before I became a Christian I had read portions of the bible several times.  But, this method of fighting sin would not work for me. I was tempted and still drawn away by my own lust and then failed to the temptation.  Why, what is the difference? Sometimes I survived for a while, but after a while I would fail.  I gave in to sin.  I was not able to conquer sin just by quoting the written word. But Jesus could and this is why. 

John 1:1-2, 14 New International Version (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

You can see now that the Word was in Jesus.  For He is the Word.   While you and I might have been able to refuse temptation for a little while.  Jesus contained the Word (and the power) to fully resist.  Note what Jesus said later:

John 5:36-40 New International Version (NIV)

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Jesus points out the difference between knowing the scriptures and the "word" dwelling in you.  The scriptures testified of Jesus as the Christ, as the Savior, as our Redeemer.  If you want to stop sinning, you have to get God's word in you.  How do you get God's word in one's self?  By receiving His Son, Jesus is the Word.  Let's read my favorite scripture John 3:16 in context.

John 3:13-18 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 3:15 says that everyone who believes may have eternal life.  Because he believes in Jesus; as God, as the Son of God, as the one who came from God and died for your sins, as the one who rose again on the third day and is alive with God the Father in heaven, and as the one who will eventually come back and rule and reign over this world.  The test of when you understand and believe is that you accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and ruler in your life as you join the Kingdom of God here now on earth.

Now where is sin in our lives?  Jesus died for our sins.  Is that so we can continue as sinners without any consequences?  Never!  The Word of God is now within you if you have received Christ.  You now have the power to speak to sin and rebuke it as Christ spoke to Satan in the wilderness. Because Christ lives in us we have the power to walk in freedom from sin because the Word is in us.

Oh how grieved God is when we take God's sacrifice so lightly that we willfully continue in sin.  He paid a great price to break the bondage of sin.  But like the Children of Israel when God brought them out of Egypt.  Though they were set free, they desired to go back.  Let's not live our Christian life desiring the sin in this world.  But let us move forward into the promised land of "freedom from sin" and freedom from sin's bondage.

Have you realized that you are a sinner and are in need of a Savior?  Pray this prayer of salvation below.  If you believe and mean it, you will be saved:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, 

I realize that I am a sinner and my sins caused you to have to die on a cross.  

You expressed great love paying the penalty for my sins.

I am ashamed of my sins, forgive me of my sins and all my unrighteous ways.  

I accept you as my Savior, as my Lord and as my God.  

Come into my life and purify me and give me a clean heart.  

Revive my spirit to life, even to eternal life and give me the strength not to sin again and to live a life daily pleasing you.

If you prayed this prayer believing and meaning what you said. Jesus has come into you and has given you eternal life.

One more thing about sin, as a Christian, we are empowered by Christ and grace to live a sin free life.  But, we are still captured in a fleshly vessel.  This vessel is prone to failure.  So, if you do sin, don't take it as a total failure.  Yes God is not pleased with your sin.  However, Jesus understands.  What you need to do is to bring your sin to Jesus in prayer.  Repent and ask Jesus to forgive you.  When you repent, you are acknowledging you are sorry for sinning and that you are trying to not commit this sin anymore.  Jesus promises to forgive that sin and to continue to cleanse you.

Thanks you!

The Bible is inspired by God

In continuing the What We Believe, We believe that God has communicated to us through prophets and evangelist.  God gave them the unction to write according to the Holy Spirit's guidance.  This notion is captured in the following statement of belief:

The Bible is inspired by God:

o   We believe the Holy Bible to be the inspired Word of God. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21. (CH)

o   WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind (AG)

 

In this next verse, Peter illustrates that scripture came about by the Holy Spirit. 

 

2 Peter 1:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

These human writings are a product of God through the Holy Spirit.  Man did not originate the thoughts as some would propose as an author writes a mystery novel.  But, as evidenced by the Holy Spirit, the prophecies come true hundreds and thousands of years later.  We are still anticipating some end time prophecies to come true.  We don't always understand the prophecies but surely as I live, they will come true.  How can I say this, you ask?  Because of the prophecies of Jesus Christ that came true all throughout the bible.  The prophets prophesied about Jesus, how He would live, how He would minister, how He would die, how He would live again and how He would become the earth's King and Glory.  And only the last phrase, How He would become the earth's King and Glory, has yet to be fulfilled.  To me this is exciting, because all indications are that we are at those end times prophesied in Daniel and the other prophets, in Revelations and in various other scriptures.

Timothy also states that the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God.  In this passage, Timothy gives purpose to the Scriptures.  These are wisdom for salvation, teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness and being thoroughly equipped for every good work.  One could preach an hour sermon on this passage.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The next verse, Paul tells the Thessalonians that those words Paul and the other disciples preached were really words from God.  Paul states that God's word is in work in the Thessalonians who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

This gives credibility to the prophets.  When they spoke under God's anointing, God was speaking through them.  God honored the prophets too.  What they spoke, God made sure that prophecy came true.  On the other hand, there were those who said they were prophets but God had not given them anything to say.  They prophesied what men wanted to hear, words that they might get paid for saying.  Teasing men to believe a lie of convenience and leading men away from God.  When you hear a prophecy, make sure it "checks out" with the word of God.  The Bible warns us of false prophets and tells us to test these prophetic utterances to make sure they are of God.

In these next verses, Jesus talks about the word surviving until the word of God is completely satisfied or fulfilled.  He states that the words of the law and the words from the prophets are being fulfilled through Him

Matthew 5:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah says the words will go out and fill its purpose.

Isaiah 55:11 New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I think it is clear, God has anointed prophets, apostles, evangelist and teachers to speak His words and to author the Holy Scriptures. 

1 Corinthians 12:27-28 New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

We believe that the Holy Bible is a collection of the written scriptures.  I also believe that the bible is complete in that this is the Holy Book composed of 66 other books to do His specific purpose.  But just as Paul's preaching was inspired by the Holy Spirit and not all his sermons were captured in the scriptures. Not all Holy Ghost inspired passages were captured in the Holy Bible. However, I believe the Bible as written serves an eternal purpose and will endure until that purpose is complete. 

I also believe that some of today's writings are inspired by the Holy Spirit.  For instance, John Bevere discusses writing his books including the Bait of Satan, does not credit himself as the author but God and admits to only being the first person to get to read what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church. Another example of writings is The Spiritual Avalanche that could Kill Millions by Steve Hill.  This is a message to the modern church about how dangerous false doctrines may lead many into damnation because they have believed a lie and have lived life accordingly.  I believe the Holy Spirit gives messages to his prophets today as he did in the 1^st century church.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are One God

In continuing my blog on What We Believe, I will discuss scripturally the concept of there being only one God. From my last post, I posted the fundamental truth:

Fundamental Truth:  There is but One Living and True God, the Great Creator, and there are three persons in the Godhead. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Also, the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's Son Jesus was both human and divine

I would like to build a scriptural foundation for this statement. 

Reference Genesis 1:1-12 New International Version (NIV), This scripture describes creation by God, the heavens, earth, light and darkness, day and night, land and seas, vegetation, sun and moon, animals, and finally mankind.

Important to note in verse 1 is that the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. This is the first clue of a multiphase God.  The phrase "Spirit of God" indicates a non bodied aspect of God that drifted aloft above the waters.  The second clue comes from verse 26 where it is written "Let us make man in our image".  The "Us" clearly identifying a plural nature of God. From the context of the scripture there are two personalities identified:  God, and Spirit of God. In this verse:

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ...

The plurality is more identified as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This three person plurality is classically called the Trinity. Given that there are three personalities, but we said that God is One.  We can derive this from the insertion: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deuteronomy 6:4)(NIV) Consider this verse:

Isaiah 43:10-11 (NIV)

¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.

Here Isaiah says that God existed first as God and that no other god will exist after God.  So, even though Jesus was born by a virgin as a man, His godhood always existed in the triune God.  Isaiah did not separate the God the Father and God the Holy Spirit specifically from this verse.  He may or may not of understood the third personality, the creator God known as Jesus Christ or our Savior, as a distinction from just God.  But it is clear that God considers Himself as a joining of the three personalities.  Without any one the Godhead would not be complete.  For us, when we refer to Jesus as God, the other two personalities are not jealous but they yield to one another.  They lift each other up.  If you lift one up, you lift all three up. 

Note how Hebrews acknowledges Jesus as the one who made the universe.

Hebrews 1:2 (NIV)

² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

And remember John 3:16; For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

 

So God, Jesus Christ, our eternal God who created of our universe, set up a wonderful plan to save the man, whom He put a living spirit into, from eternal damnation, from the penalty of man's own indiscretions.

Considers Paul's words:

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Here Paul identifies the three personalities of God.

Here is another scripture that help establish Jesus relationship.

Luke 3:22 (NIV)

²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus was God's Son because He was conceived of a virgin by the Holy Spirit.  (Reference Matthew 1: 18, Luke 1:30-35) Born a man, yet being God that existed before time.  And since Jesus was fathered by the Holy Spirit, He is truly God's Son as man.  When Jesus refers to Himself as the "Son of Man", He is referring to His humanity along with all of human's vulnerabilities.  So the verse above refers to God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and voice from heaven, God the Father, in context that they are all different identities, in different places, in different forms and free from each other.  But singular in purpose and will. Consider this verse:

John 1:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

If Jesus is the only one who has seen God, then this implies His existence prior to His birth.  Jesus says this is so here:

John 8:57-59 (NIV)

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Do you remember in the movie "The Ten Commandments" when Moses was talking to God in a burning bush and he asked God what His name was?  (Exodus 3:14) God identified Himself as 'I am who I am'.  With the words "I am" in John 8:58 above, Jesus identified Himself as the one who talked to Moses at the burning bush.  The proof is when they, in verse 59, picked up the stones to stone Jesus because they recognized the reference and that Jesus declared Himself to be God. And this next verse again witnesses that Jesus is the eternal God who came as God's only begotten son.

John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² He was with God in the beginning.

 ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Now I continue to maintain that the personalities of God are distinct.  I'm not talking about a God with a split personality.  I'm talking about a God that has three individual persons.  Jesus does not have to be where the Father is or the Holy Spirit is.  The Holy Spirit does not have to be where the Father is or where Jesus is.  They are Each capable on His own to do, speak and have His will.  But at the same time they are one together.  One in unity, inseparable, can't exist without the existence of each other.  I have to admit that this concept exceeds my ability to comprehend God.  So as expected, I am failing short of adequately describing God. 

Now lets talk about Jesus in his humanity.  Jesus had to learn, eat, work and could die like all men.  In His earthly walk He puts down His own rights as God and walked as a human in the Spirit and listened to the voice of God the Father.  In John 5:19, He said he could do nothing by Himself. So He had to depend on the Holy Spirit like you and I.  Jesus gave up His supernatural abilities as God but as a Man had to walk obediently in the Spirit of God obeying the Father God just as Jesus asks us to walk obediently in the Spirit and according to Jesus purpose.  He said we, his children, can and will do even greater works than Jesus did. Though Jesus could, He did not do the miracles within Himself but through the Holy Spirit.  So we can have the very same anointing, we can also walk filled with the Holy Spirit.  In Acts chapter 2, God poured out his Spirit on the Church.  He is still pouring out His Spirit and God wants to work through us.  

Now this is powerful for us if we can put this into full practice in our lives.  If we walk in the Spirit, obedient to Jesus voice and His calling.  Nothing will be impossible too us.  Jesus did all His miracles by the Holy Spirit.  He did not utilize the authority He had as God but He depended upon God the Father and the Holy Spirit just as we have to walk in the authority of Jesus as His children and depend on the Holy Spirit.

When you pray in Jesus name, is this a tag line you put at the end of your prayer or request. Or is the whole prayer inline with God's will and prayed as a request that will benefit God's Kingdom?  Did you hear God's voice via the Holy Spirit telling you to pray for that request? Or maybe that prayer is really a request for something from God to consume in your sinning? Is it really for the purposes of God?

For example, I am presently having neck problems.  This problem is preventing me from going out and doing certain fun, adventurous, thrilling activities.  These are not ungodly activities but they are not activities that will directly give God glory as opposed to writing or witnessing for Christ.  If God heals me will I stay here and type as I'm doing now or will I leave the computer and go fishing, hunting, gold mining, hiking, etc. to the point I am no longer focused on Christ in my activities.  Nothing is wrong with these activities except they take my focus away from the things God has for me to do.  But I do know that God wants to heal me.  I pray for healing but am I putting God at a disadvantage because of my lust for life and disobedience?  So then is my lust and disobedience preventing God from answering my prayers?  So I pray for God to root out these sinful tendencies that I would be more able to please him.  Then as I learn to walk closer to His will, the power of God will be more evident in my life.  The 'flesh' will be better 'buried'. I will cease to be running my own course but follow Christ.

Here is another verse establishing Jesus and his dependency on God the Father.

John 5:17-30 (NIV)

¹⁷ In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” ¹⁸ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. ³⁰ By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

It is my prayer that I can see what God is doing so that I may be effective as a Christian.  Saul before he was converted to Christ was found "kicking against the goads" (Acts 9:1-5, 26:13-15).  I believe his heart was right in that He was pursuing God with all his Heart.  But Paul missed God and was found working against Him.  Are we, in our enthusiasm working for God or against Him?  How do you know unless you're walking in the Spirit and hearing His voice?

Next I want to describe God as a Holy God.  Consider these verses.

 

Hebrews 1:1-13 (NIV)

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father"?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son"?

⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him."

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire."

⁸ But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy."

¹⁰ He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end."

¹³ To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet"?

 

 

Revelation 4:8-11 (NIV)

⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,'

who was, and is, and is to come.”

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty...  He is worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power.  Hebrews 1:3 says that the Son is the radiance of God's being.  It is said that if anyone saw God's face they would surely die. How majestic is this. 

If you've read all these scriptures, you see how the Bible describes God as Eternal, Creator, Savior, Holy, Worthy, and Higher than the Angels.  There are three personalities to God:  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  There is one God, that is to say the three personalities are in united and dependent upon each other and there is no other god that has ever existed or will ever exist.