God’s will part 8a.
Who is Jesus? John 6:40.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life….
Knowing Jesus.
The most important question that I could ask you is not,
Do you believe in God?
Do you read your Bible?
Do you pray?
Do you fast?
Do you go to Church?
Do you Tithe?
Do you serve?
but “DO YOU KNOWJESUS”
The above things all have there place, but you can do all these things and go to hell!
Knowing Jesus goes beyond hearing or seeing him.
Knowing Jesus isn’t about Church attendance, hearing or reading about him or even seeing him.
Luke 13:23-28.
Someone asked him, Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them, Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, Sir, open the door for us. But he will answer, I don’t know you or where you come from.
Then you will say, We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets. But he will reply, I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers! There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
Knowing Jesus isn’t about ministry or doing good.
Luke 18:9-14.
The Pharisee who prayed, fasted twice a week and tithed went home condemned with his prayers not even heard.
Matthew 7:21-23.
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?
Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
Who is Jesus?
Many people today refuse to accept that Jesus Christ is God.
They consider him only a good man, a human teacher on the same level as other historic religious leaders.
The Bible, however, is firm in proclaiming Jesus is God.
John 20:31.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
In today's postmodernist society, millions of people reject the idea of absolute truth. They claim all religions are equally true and there are many paths to God. Postmodernists accuse Christians of being intolerant; however, that truth comes from the lips of Jesus himself.
John 14:6.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Who is Jesus?
Who do Men say that I am?
Matthew 16:13-18.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
And I tell you that you are Peter (PETROS), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”.
Caesarea Philippi.
Caesarea Philippi is situated about 80 km southwest of Damascus at the foot of Mt. Hermon. It was originally called Paneas for it was here that the god Pan , among others, was worshipped.
Today it is called “Banias” for local Arabs have difficulty pronouncing the “p” sound in “Paneas.”
At the death of Herod the Great, this city along with various territories in the area were given to his son Philip.
Philip rebuilt the city and called it Caesarea Philippi, to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima .
It was here at Caesarea Philippi that Peter made his “great confession” that he believed that Jesus was the “Messiah, the son of God” (Matt 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30).
Who is Jesus?
“You are Peter” i.e. “You are Petros” ( a little stone) “…and on this Petra” (this rock ) {the rock of your confession } “I will build my church”.
Peter is not the foundation of the church as some teach,
Peter’s confession is the foundation on which Jesus built His church.
Rom 10:9.
If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:3.
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”
except by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Son of God.
Matthew 16:16-17.
Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
Jesus is called the Son of God more than 40 times in the Bible.
What does that title mean exactly, and what significance does it have for people today?
First, the term does not mean Jesus was the literal offspring of God the Father, as each of us is the child of our human father.
Second, it does not mean God the Father mated with the virgin Mary and fathered Jesus in that way.
The Bible tells us Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a miraculous, virgin birth.
Third, the term Son of God as applied to Jesus is unique.
It does not mean he was a child of God, as Christians are when they're adopted into God's family. Rather, it points out his divinity, meaning he is God.
Who is Jesus?
John 5:16-23. So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defence Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”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.
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. 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. 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. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
Brakpan AGF Statement of Faith.
AGF Brakpan Statement of Faith {THE TRINITY}
God has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Godhead (i.e. Trinity) is co-existent in three persons; who are eternally co-equal - not three Gods but one; not one person but three (Matt 28:19; Luke 3:22, John 1:1).
What do the Mormons say about God?
The word "Mormons" most often refers to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) because of their belief in the Book of Mormon, though members often refer to themselves as Latter-day Saints or sometimes just Saints.
Mormons believe the following about God:
He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321) but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22).
Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ, this teaching has been abandoned by modern Mormon leaders.
What do Christians say about God?
In contrast to what the Mormons say about God, Christians know this about God from Scripture:
There is only one true God.
He always has existed and always will exist.
He was not created but is the Creator.
He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him.
God the Father is not a man.
He is Spirit and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone.
What does The Bible say about God?
1. There is only one true God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God,
the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Isaiah 44:6–8.
This is what the LORD says, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come, yes, let them foretell what will come...Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.
1. There is only one true God.
Isaiah 43:10.
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. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed, I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?
This diagram is from an anti-
Trinitarian website an shows how people try to make sense of God in their limited human understanding.
I COULD JUST AS EASILY SAY THAT: 1 x 1 x1 = 1
God’s ways higher than ours
As C.S. Lewis 1 so aptly stated in “Mere Christianity: The Three – Personal God”:
If Christianity were something we
were making up, of course we could
make it easier. But it is not. We
cannot compete, in simplicity, with
people who are inventing religions.
How could we? We are dealing with
Fact. Of course anyone can be simple
if he has no facts to bother about.
Even in the physical realm, many of
the laws, which govern our universe,
cannot be fully explained by our
present theories.
Inability to grasp or understand a
concept does not invalidate its reality!
1 Christian apologist & author of “The Chronicles of Narnia”
C.S. Lewis
Definition.
The word ‘Trinity’ itself does not appear in the Bible but was coined by Tertullian (c.155-230) to encapsulate the teaching of Scripture regarding God’s three-in-one nature. The doctrine was formally defined in the 4th century Nicene Creed, where Jesus was declared to be: “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.”
Belief in the Trinity is a mark of all mainstream Christianity including Protestantism, Catholicism & Orthodoxy. As such, the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church describes the Trinity as “the central dogma of Christian theology”.
God’s ways higher than ours.
Isaiah 55:8-9.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher then the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Thus any attempt to explain God’s nature must obviously fall short in some area. This is to be expected, and indeed it would be strange if it were not so.
We cannot understand God’s eternal nature (no beginning or end) but we accept it on the basis of revelation in Scripture.
Likewise the doctrine of the Trinity is not something we have manufactured, but an observed fact detailed in Scripture which we are trying to understand better.
2. God always has existed and always will exist.
Psalm 90:2. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
1 Timothy 1:17.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Deuteronomy 33:27.
3. God was not created but is the Creator.
Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 24:1-2. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Isaiah 37:16. LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made heaven and earth.
4. God is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him.
Psalm 86:8-10. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.
Isaiah 40:25-28.
To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
5. God the Father is not a man, He is Spirit.
Numbers 23:19. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?
1 Samuel 15:29.
He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.
John 4:24.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
6. Spirit is not made of flesh and bone.
Luke 24:39.
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Who do the Mormons say Jesus is?
Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115; Mormon Doctrine, p. 547).
Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god. (Doctrine and Covenants 132:20; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345–354).
Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 697).
Mormons believe that there are four divinely inspired sources: 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly” (8th Article of Faith). 2) The Book of Mormon: (History of the Church 4:461). 3) Doctrine and Covenants: containing modern revelations 4) The Pearl of Great Price: (Articles of Faith, p. 182–185) This adds its own information about the earth’s creation.
What do Christians say about Jesus?
Contrary to the Mormons, Christians historically have taught that no one can achieve the status of God—only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2).
We can only be made holy in God's sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16),
He is the only one ever to have lived a sinless life, and now has the highest place of honour in heaven (Hebrews 7:26).
Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only man who existed before physical birth (John 1:1–8; John%208.56">8:56).
Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6–11).
Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26).
What do Christians say about Jesus?
We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God's infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3).
Receiving salvation is not done by works but by faith (Romans 1:17).
We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22).
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Many of the references in our articles on Mormonism are Mormon publications, such as Mormon Doctrine, Articles of Faith, Doctrines of Salvation, History of the Church, Doctrine and Covenants, and so forth. Others are from the Book of Mormon itself, e.g., books such as 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, and Alma gotquestions.org
Who do the Jehovah Witnesses say Jesus is?
Jehovah's Witnesses deny the deity of Christ, deny that He is God made flesh, deny that He is to be worshipped, and deny that it was God who shed His own blood on the cross for sinners. In their New World Translation, they have mistranslated many passages of Scripture simply to make them agree with these false doctrines. Not God, But a "god"
Jehovah's Witnesses teach a form of Arianism, the false teaching that Jesus Christ is a created being and not God the Son from all eternity. They teach that Christ is not God, but "a god." For this reason, they consistently refuse to refer to Jesus Christ as God with a capital G, and they mistranslate many passages to make Jesus a "god" who is positionally in a close relationship with God, but not a co-equal Person of the Godhead.
Who do the Jehovah Witnesses say Jesus is?
In the passages below, we compare the New King James Version and the Watchtower Society's New World Translation. Note how Jehovah's Witnesses have changed the words of the Bible to support their false teachings.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1, NKJV)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." (John 1:1, NWT) ..... FALSE TRANSLATION
Comment:
The Greek word theos without a preceding article cannot be translated "a god,"
The correct literal rendering of the text
"kai theos hehn ho logos" is actually "and God was the Word" - emphasizing the deity of Christ.
teachingtheword.org
Who do the Jehovah Witnesses say Jesus is?
From the Jehovah Witnesses website JW.org
Yes. We believe in Jesus, who said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We have faith that Jesus came to earth from heaven and gave his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice. (Matthew 20:28) His death and resurrection make it possible for those exercising faith in him to gain everlasting life. (John 3:16) We also believe that Jesus is now ruling as King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, which will soon bring peace to the entire earth. (Revelation 11:15) However, we take Jesus at his word when he said: “The Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) So we do not worship Jesus, as we do not believe that he is Almighty God.
THIS IS THE VERY THING THAT PROVES THE DEITY OF JESUS: HE ACCEPTED WORSHIP....
Only God is to be worshipped.
Peter refused to accept worship: Acts 10: 25-26. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. Stand up, he said, I am only a man myself. The mighty angel in the Book of Revelation refused worship: Revelation 22:8-9. I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!
Only God is rightfully entitled to receive worship. But we have seen clearly that Jesus accepted worship on numerous occasions during his ministry!
Jehovah Witnesses won’t worship Jesus!!
But Jesus accepted worship...
From the wise men - Mat 2:11
From the leper - Mat 8:2
From the ruler - Mat 9:18
From His disciples in the boat - Mat 14:33
From the Canaanite woman - Mat 15:25
From the disciples following His ascension - Luke 24:52
Thomas - John 20:28
All creation worships both Father and Lamb: Rev 5:11-14
When Jesus healed the blind man: John 9:38. Then the man said (to Jesus), “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Who do the Muslims say Jesus is?
Compared to Christianity, Islam has some similarities but significant differences. Like Christianity, Islam is monotheistic.
However, Muslims reject the Trinity: That God has revealed Himself as one in three Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Muslims claim that Jesus was one of the most important prophets. But don’t believe that he is God’s Son. Islam asserts that Jesus, though born of a virgin, was created like Adam.
Muslims do not believe Jesus died on the cross. They do not understand why Allah would allow His prophet Isa (the Islamic word for "Jesus") to die a torturous death. Yet the Bible shows how the death of the perfect Son of God was essential to pay for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5-6; John 3:16; 14:6; 1 Peter 2:24).
Some Muslims believe in the swoon theory:
That supposedly Jesus did not die on the cross but simply fainted.
Others believe that someone else died in his place.
Who do the Muslims say Jesus is?
Islam teaches that the Qur'an is the final authority and the last revelation of Allah. The Bible, however, was completed in the first century with the Book of Revelation. The Bible warns against anyone adding to or subtracting from God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Galatians 1:6-12; Revelation 22:18). The Qur’an, as a claimed addition to God’s Word, directly disobeys God’s command.
Muslims believe that paradise can be earned through keeping the Five Pillars. The Bible, in contrast, reveals that sinful man can never measure up to the holy God (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Only by God’s grace may sinners be saved through repentant faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because of these essential differences and contradictions, Islam and Christianity cannot both be true. The Bible and Qur’an cannot both be God’s Word.
Two Yahweh’s?
Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God appeared to Abraham in person with 2 angels. After Abraham has interceded on Sodom’s behalf, we read in Genesis 19:24:
KJV: Then the LORD rained down burning sulphur on Sodom and Gomorrah – from the LORD out of the Heavens.
World English Bible: Then
Yahweh rained on Sodom
and on Gomorrah sulfur
and fire from Yahweh
out of the sky.
Thus we simultaneously see
Yahweh both on earth in
physical manifestation (Jesus)
and in heaven (the Father).
Not according to Yahweh:
Isaiah 44:6,8 This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: "I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. … You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any other Rock."
Isaiah 45: 5,22 I am Yahweh, and there is none else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me;… 22 "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Are there 2 “Gods”?
Paul instructs the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28) to: “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
If God bought us with his OWN blood, surely this indicates that Jesus is God?
Historically Paul’s letter to the Colossians
was a pointed refutation against
Gnosticism. Paul was very concerned about
the heretical teachings that were creeping
into the church. Jesus is the physical
expression of the spiritual Father, He
was FULLY God.
Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased
to have all his fullness dwell (live) in
him (Christ).
Colossians 2:9 For in Him (Christ) all
the fullness of Deity (the state of
being God) dwells (lives) in bodily form.
Paul
Father addresses Jesus as ‘God’
Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” … 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever…
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Προς
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δε
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τον
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υιον
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ο
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Θρονος
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σου
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ο
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θεος
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Pros
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de
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ho
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Huios
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ho
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thronos
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sou
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ho
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theos
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Regarding
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but
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the
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Son
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[He says]
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the
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throne
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of you
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the
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God
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In Greek, “But regarding the Son [He says], “The throne of you, the God…” One again Jesus is called ‘the God’ in Greek, which again destroys the argument used by the Watchtower in their rendering of John 1:1.
Bible: Implied
All the persons of the Godhead are mentioned as being the one who raised Jesus from the dead:
The Father
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.
The Son
John 2:19,21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days”… But the temple he had spoken of was His body.
The Holy Spirit
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you…
Bible: induction.
What are the characteristics that make God, GOD? What properties does He possess that no one else can claim to possess? If we can then show from the Bible that Jesus has all of these characteristics, we have proved by induction that He is God.
God’s unique characteristics
Eternal
Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Immutability
Creator
Rightly worshipped
Holy and Sinless
Creator.
Isaiah 45:18. For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited…
Holy & Sinless.
Habakkuk 1:13. Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong…
Exodus 15:11. Who among the gods is like you, o LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness…
Jesus is the “Creator”.
Yahweh created alone:
Isaiah 44:24 …I am Yahweh, who
makes all things; who ALONE
stretches out the heavens; who
spreads out the earth BY MYSELF.
But Jesus created alone:
John 1:1-4. In the beginning the Word
already existed. He was with God, and
he was God. He created everything
there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t
make.
Col 1:15-16. For by him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
All members of the godhead were involved in creation. The Father wills, Jesus effected His will:
1 Cor 8:6: Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Jesus is the “Creator”.
Rightly worshipped.
When Satan tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus responded:
Matthew 4:10. Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Yahweh makes it clear that only He deserves worship:
Isaiah 42:8. I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images.
Rightly worshipped.
After Jesus’ resurrection the woman and the disciples worshipped him:
Matthew 28:9. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.
Matthew 28:16-17. But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him…
Furthermore in Hebrews 1:6 we read that the Father commands the angels to worship Jesus:
And again, when God brings his first born into the world, he says, Let all God’s angels worship him.
Jesus is “Holy and Sinless”.
2 Cor 5:21. God made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us …
1 Peter 2: 21-22. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.’
Hebrews 7:26. For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens
Jesus is Omnipotent (All powerful)
Jesus the creator who is Holy and Sinless and accepts worship, has all the characteristics deemed peculiar to God.
Omnipotence “ALL POWER” is bestowed in Jesus, an attribute peculiar to God.
Matthew 28:18. And Jesus coming up spoke to them, saying, All power has been given me in heaven and upon earth.
Phil: 3:20-21: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Eph. 1:21-22: far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet...
Jesus is “Omnipresent” (All present)
Matthew 28:20. And surely I (Jesus) am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Romans 8:34. Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God …
If Jesus has promised to be with His disciples ALWAYS and yet is at the right hand of the Father in heaven, the only possible explanation is that He is omnipresent.
Matthew 18:20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
Jesus is “Omniscient” (All knowing)
John 21:17.
The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me?
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; You know that I love you.
Why then did Jesus say only the Father knew the day of his second coming?
Of course the answer is that the incarnation created a special circumstance, wherein God became flesh and allowed Himself to the limitations of a man. In the same way that as a man Jesus got tired, thirsty and hungry and was clearly not omnipresent, so too his knowledge was limited while on earth. This is clear from the following Scripture:
Jesus is “Omniscient” (All knowing)
Philippians 2:7. (Jesus) … emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men
Anti-Trinitarians will typically take Scriptures that apply to Jesus humanity and incarnation and then try using them to prove that Jesus wasn’t God.
There were however self-imposed temporary limitations that Jesus accepted in his incarnation.
Jesus is “Immutable” (Unchanging)
Jesus too has the property of deity of never changing, though everyone and everything else does.
Hebrews 13:8.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 1:8,11-12.
But of the Son he says... They all will grow old like a garment does. As a mantle, you will roll them up, and they will be changed; but you are the same...
The “Eternal pre-existence” of Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6. 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.
The above prophecy concerning Jesus shows that He is EVERLASTING or ETERNAL.
Hebrews 1:8,11-12. But of the Son he says... They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does. ... Your years will not fail.
John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word…
Colossians 1:17. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
John 8:57-59. You are not yet fifty years old, the Jews said to him, and you have seen Abraham! I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, before Abraham was born I AM!
The “Eternal pre-existence” of Jesus.
Isaiah 44:6 says this:
This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
When Jesus appeared to John on the island of Patmos, His words to him were:
Revelation 1:18. Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last.
Jesus makes the same statement as
Yahweh in the Old Testament. It is impossible for there to be two
“FIRSTS”. Either one must be FIRST and the other SECOND if they are two separate beings. But Jesus and Yahweh both state, “I AM THE FIRST.”
Jesus: is in very nature GOD
We have selected 8 characteristics unique and peculiar to God alone.
We have gone on to show that Jesus has all 8 characteristics; thus by induction we have proven that Jesus is God. You can make a god out of anything, but it will not be God by nature i.e. possess the characteristics of God. Heathen gods fall into this category of those you are worshiped as gods while not being God by nature.
Galatians 4: 8: Formerly when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Jesus: is in very nature GOD
Jesus, however, does not fall into this category as He is God by nature.
Philippians 2:5-6: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…
Concerning the term “nature” (morphē) or as the NASB and KJV translates, “form”, theologian, Charles Ryrie notes that the word nature (morphē) in the Greek connotes: that which is intrinsic and essential to the thing.
Thus here it means that our Lord in His pre-incarnate state possessed essential deity.
Knowing Jesus.
What is the purpose of Salvation?
The purpose of Salvation is not the forgiveness of your sins. That had to take place to fulfil the purpose of Salvation
The purpose of Salvation is not that you may escape Hell! That is the draw-card for many, but Salvation is more than a fire escape from hell.
The purpose of Salvation is
that you may have a
relationship with God.
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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB:
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