If we cant see God and live, why don't we die if we see Jesus
Q: I know in the Bible it says we can’t see Gods face (Exodus 33:20) and if we do then we will die... but can we see Jesus’ face. I know Jesus is God, but his disciples saw Jesus and still lived even after he died and rose again. (Acts 1:3)
The distinction between seeing God's face and seeing Jesus' face is understood through the doctrine of the Incarnation.
While Exodus 33:20 states that no one can see God's face and live, this refers to the full glory of God in His divine essence. However, in the Incarnation, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man, revealed God to humanity in a way that we can comprehend. But remember, Jesus willingly setting aside certain aspects of His divine glory and privileges when He became human. See Philippians 2:6-7 "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
In becoming human, Jesus did not cease to be God, but He chose to limit the full expression of His divine attributes. This allowed Him to fully experience human life, including suffering and temptation, while still being fully divine.
By taking on human form, Jesus made it possible for people to see and relate to God in a tangible way, as He embodied God's love, grace, and truth.
The disciples saw Jesus during His earthly ministry and after His resurrection (as noted in Acts 1:3), and they were able to live because they were encountering God "in human form". Jesus, as the God-man, made it possible for humanity to have a relationship with God without being consumed by His holiness.
Thus, while we cannot see God the Father (who is Spirit) in His full glory, we can see Jesus, [in Scripture, and in the future(1)].
Believers in Christ are considered holy and righteous because of our union with Him, and will see Him in His fullness and be with him forever one day. (1 John 3:2, Hebrews 12:14, John 14:3, Revelation 22:12). The ability to see God is a important future aspect believers look forward to, reflecting the ultimate restoration and fellowship with God who loved, saved and adopted them, who has a wonderful blessed future for them.
Learn more about our triune God & his attributes here, along with neat stuff about Jesus.
God bless
