If God and Jesus are one and the same, why does the bible say God "gave"

His only
begotten Son, or that God "sent" His Son into the world?

That is a worthy question. At first it can appear as though this is clearly speaking of
two different beings, until you realize you cannot separate God from His Son, in the
same manner you cannot separate God from His Word or His Spirit.

The same Spirit that moved upon the face of the earth in Genesis 1 is the same Spirit
that overshadowed Mary to conceive God's only begotten Son.

The same voice that said, "Beside me there is no Savior" and "I AM that I AM" in the
Old Testament was the same voice saying, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" In the
New Testament.

To answer your question, God literally gave of HIMSELF when Jesus died on the
cross:

1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE for us: and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

In spite of the teaching which has been handed down by traditional Trinitarian dogma,
the Bible does NOT say God the Father turned to "God the Son" and said "My Son, I
need to send you down to earth". Jesus was not a "second person" sent down from
outer space. Jesus was not God's only eternal Son who then had to transform into
God's only begotten Son. He was the LIVING WORD incarnate, born of a virgin.
This conception of Eternal Spirit and human womb created a son, only this son was
like no other before: He had an earthly mother (making Him the son of man) and He
had a Heavenly Father (thus making Him God's only begotten Son.)

The following passage gives you an understandable breakdown of how God came
down to our level in the person of Jesus Christ:

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...
Hebrews 1: 1 - 3 NIV

Summary: Jesus was the embodiment and the personification of the Word of God.
Both orthodox Trinitarians and Oneness proponents are in agreement of these
statements: "God became man", and "The Creator became our Savior". That being
said and agreed upon, why is it so difficult for a Trinitarian to agree that the Father
became the Son?

Oneness theology is in full agreement that the Father gave His only begotten Son, and
that the Father sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Father sent His Word to us in human form. The Father gave His only begotten
body (His Son) to redeem us and make salvation possible. When God gave His Son,
it was none other than His Eternal Spirit wrapped in human flesh:

Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE HATH
PURCHASED with HIS OWN BLOOD.

Thus, the revelation of the Oneness of God is realizing that the creator of man was
also the redeemer of man:

Isaiah 44: 24 Thus saith the Lord, THY REDEEMER, and he that formed thee from
the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens
alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Galatians 3: 13 CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us...

Titus 2: 13, 14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, THAT HE MIGHT
REDEEM US from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.

John actually summarizes the whole picture at the beginning of his gospel:

John 1: 1 - 3; 10; 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD
WAS GOD.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made.

10 He was in the world, and THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, and the world
knew him not.

14 AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

That's the bottom line: The Word (which was God) was made flesh.

John 14: 8, 9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not
known me, Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and
how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

John 10: 30 I and my Father are one.

Check out the definition of "personify":

Main Entry: per·son·i·fy
transitive verb
1 : to conceive of or represent as a person or as having human qualities or powers 2 :
to be the embodiment or personification of : incarnate <a teacher who personified
patience>
2014 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John
8:58

And finally …

➡️And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. ⬅️ John 12:45

Excerpt from “Withstanding The Winds.”

©Back on Track Bible Studies- Rick Flores

See my page for info on obtaining full-length Apostolic Bible Studies