Is Jesus God?
This treatise I hope will be a blessing to you as it has been for me. In all my years of studying the Bible I have come to the conclusion that God only wants two things from us and offers two things in return; it is why he created us, delivered Israel sent his Son to the cross. God wants Love and Obedience and offers Love and Faithfulness; it’s that simple. So today I hope to sit down with a group that loves the Lord and dig further into his word.
In all my Bible studies with different flavors of religious folks I have come to realize that the basic difference between all religions is how one views Jesus’, person, position and power. An example would be Mormons believe Jesus is Lucifer's spirit brother; Jehovah Witness believe Jesus is Michael the Archangel, Jews believe he was a Rabi, Muslims Believe was a prophet; some Christians believe he was a manifestation of God and others believe he was God incarnate. So what is the truth? Who is Jesus; what is Jesus and Is Jesus God? These Questions are very interesting ones, perhaps we can answer the question together.
I hope you will agree with me that the power is in the word and we should rely on the Bible alone; not traditions or extra-biblical writings. My favorite saying by which I conduct my studies is by; James Stuart Russell "At the risk, then, of being considered superficial and shallow, we shall hold fast to the plain teaching of the words of Scripture, turning a deaf ear to all fanciful and conjectural speculations of merely human origin, no matter how learned or dignified the quarter from which they come."
A good starting point for our quest is to ascertain what the Bible says we must believe. In my searches I have found four points of faith that the Bible says are nonnegotiable. First, we must believe in God Hebrews 11:6. Second we must also believe in Jesus. John 14:1, John 8:24. Third, we must believe that Jesus is (or was) human. I John 4:2-3, II John 7. Fourth, we must believe that Jesus is divine just as God is divine. John 8:24, John 17:1-26, John 20:25-29.
1. We must believe in God. Hebrews. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
2. We must also believe in Jesus. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (KJV) John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (KJV)
3. We must believe that Jesus is (or was) human. I John 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (KJV)
II John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (KJV)
4. We must believe that Jesus is divine just as God is divine. John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (KJV)
John 17:20-26 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (KJV)
John 20:28-29 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (KJV)
So come let us look at a few verses that describe God as we aspire to answer the question; is Jesus God?
GENESIS 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (KJV)
In GENESIS 1:1-2 In the beginning, both GOD and the SPIRIT OF GOD existed.
GENESIS 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV)
In GENESIS 1:26-27 God said, "Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness." Verse 27 says, "God created man in HIS own image; in the image of God HE created him; male and female HE created them." The Bible speaks of God as being both SINGULAR and PLURAL at one and the same time.
JOHN 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.(KJV)
In JOHN 14:26 Jesus said, "when the Helper comes, WHOM the Father will send in my name, HE will teach you all things. In this verse it is obvious that the three persons of the Godhead are displayed and are unified. First the Son (Jesus) tells us the Father will send the Helper (Holy Spirit).
JOHN 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.(KJV)
In JOHN 16:13 it says, "But when HE, the Spirit of truth comes, HE will guide you into all the truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own initiative, but whatever HE hears, HE will speak; and HE will disclose to you what is to come." The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, not a thing. He is separate and yet unified with the Father.
ACTS 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God(KJV)
In ACTS 5:3-4 Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the HOLY SPIRIT? ... You have not lied to men, but to GOD." The Holy Spirit is a person, and He is GOD. The Holy Spirit was involved with God (the Father) in the creation of man "...in OUR image, according to OUR likeness..." (Genesis 1:2, 26 - 27).
JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.(KJV)
In JOHN 1:1. In the beginning, the WORD existed. In the beginning, the WORD was with God. In the beginning, the WORD was God. Since the WORD was with God and the WORD was God, the WORD and GOD were in some way different and in some way the same. Here Jesus is described as the WORD.
JOHN 1:2-3 The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.(KJV)
In JOHN 1:2-3. The WORD (who was God) was with God in the beginning and was involved with God (the Father) in the creation. Based on all the Scriptures we have looked at, all three persons of the one God were present at and involved in the creation of man "...in OUR image, according to OUR likeness..." (Genesis 1:26).
JOHN 1:14 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.(KJV)
JOHN 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.(KJV)
In JOHN 1:14 and JOHN 1:1-4 The WORD, FLESH and ONLY BEGOTTEN all refer to Jesus Christ, the SON of God. Since Jesus was the Word and the Word was God, Jesus was God. The FATHER, the HOLY SPIRIT and the SON are different persons of the same God.
JOHN 5:17-23 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.(KJV)
JOHN 10:30-33 I and my Father are one. 31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.(KJV)
In JOHN 5:17-23 and 10:30-33. Jesus Himself claimed to be equal with God (the Father).
JOHN 8:56-58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (KJV)
JOHN 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.(KJV)
In JOHN 8:56-58 and 17:5. Jesus himself claimed to have existed before He was born, and even before the world was created. His pre-existing not in the form of the man Jesus but as the SON.
MATTHEW 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.(KJV)
LUKE 1:26-37 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God nothing shall be impossible.(KJV)
In MATTHEW 1:18-25 and LUKE 1:26-37. Jesus had a human biological mother. Jesus had no human biological father. Jesus was conceived by GOD Jesus was the SON of GOD (the Father). Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by Himself. Since God (the Son) was conceived by GOD (the Holy Spirit) but at the same time was the Son of GOD (the Father), the FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT and SON are in some way the same and in some way different.
Are there three Persons in the one God?
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(KJV)
COLOSSIANS 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.(KJV)
In PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 and COLOSSIANS 2:9. For one who truly believes these verses and all the other verses studied, there is no doubt whatsoever that Jesus was/is God, the Holy Spirit was/is God, and the Father was/is God, all three one and the same God. While the human (finite) mind is incapable of fully comprehending such (infinite) concepts as the Trinity, eternity, creation, virgin birth, and the like, we can, nevertheless, fully believe such concepts to be-facts taught in the Scriptures.
One point last point before we conclude. Look at doubting Thomas’ statement to the resurrected Christ. John 20:28-29 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Doubting Thomas said, “My Lord and My God” Jesus’ response was not, no Thomas you got it wrong again. He in affect said to Thomas your right finally; by saying, because you have seen me, you have believed. One must ask the question by seeing him what did he believe; it is clear Thomas understood Jesus was God incarnate both fully man and fully God. Note also that in this verse Jesus excepts worship as a deity.
I hope this has been a blessing to you and fill free to comment.at http://randy9-cowboycommentary.blogspot.com/
Thanks and Have a Blessed day
Randy
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