Saturday, May 26, 2012

Split Personality

Q: Does Jesus, The son have a different personality than God, The father? Even though they are 1? (pic)

A: Thank you for the question. What is personality? Personality is the "essential character of a person." Character is a "moral or ethical quality." Therefore, we could say that your question is asking, "Does Jesus, the Son, have a different moral or ethical quality than God, the Father, even though they are One?" My answer is "no," they do not have different personalities. There are many attributes of God that we see reflected in the Son and Father; love and mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, wrath, anger, etc.  Exodus 34:6-7 gives us a perfect picture of the personality of God the Father. "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." This description of God the Father encompasses nearly every aspect of His personality. And since Jesus is God in the flesh, it stands to reason that the personality of God would not change. 

We see the compassion of Jesus Christ in His concern for the hungry (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2), for people without a shepherd (Mark 6:34), in His great pity for the crowds (Matthew 9:36) and in healing the sick (Matthew 14:14). The love of Jesus Christ is ultimately seen in that He died for our sins (Matthew 8:17, John 10:11) and in His deep love for us (John 13:34; 14:21; 15:9). His faithfulness is displayed in that He will always be with believers (Matthew 28:20). His wrath and anger is seen in His attitude towards those who undermined His teaching (Mathew 23) and to those who do not place faith in Him (John 3:36). Ultimately, Jesus the Son and God the Father would have to be similar in personality because, as you mentioned, they are one (John 10:30). Jesus Christ summed it up the best. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them (John 17:25-26)." The Son made the Father known. Therefore, Jesus could not have made God the Father known if He did not have the same personality. Jesus Christ is the personification of God the Father because He is God. 

Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Since Jesus Christ is God and He is the same yesterday and today and forever, then it is safe to say that God the Father and Jesus the Son share the same personality, amongst other things. There is no separating the two because they are one and the same God. Many people like to talk about Jesus and God in ways that make them seem to be two separate, distinct entities. Therefore, it is understandable that some could conclude that they they have two separate personalities. However, since they are one God, they could not have two separate personalities. Isaiah 9:6 says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This prophecy about Jesus Christ has always been significant to me because it says Jesus will be called both "Everlasting Father" and "Prince of Peace." This is clear evidence to me that there is no separation between God the Father and Jesus the Son. Therefore, there would not be any difference in personality as well. 

In conclusion, while I am not sure what led you to ask your excellent question, I admit there are things about God's personality that can make a person ask the question you did. However, I would suggest not to look at those differences or oddities as separate personalities, but different manifestations of the same personality. All of us have moments of compassion, love, graciousness, forgiveness, wrath and so on. We do not ask ourselves or are not asked if they are different personalities coming out. We recognize them as different attributes of one personality. When it comes to God, we should not be surprised to see Him with what one would call different attributes. After all, if He created man in His image, and we have different attributes, it is not surprising to see God with them as well. You have asked a great question. One, I hope I have shed some light on for you. Continue to seek God's answer to your question and trust that in time He will reveal the answer to you and give you peace about it until that time comes.

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