Doctrines Concerning

God, The Son

A. The deity of Jesus Christ. He is God.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Personal Opinion:

Believe it or not could be our choices here.

Or, maybe most people take a third choice - to not think about the deity of Jesus at all.  I wonder if God allows anyone that third choice.  Maybe God sees to it that absolutely no one is allowed to live a life completely free from being confronted with a situation which demands we make a conscious choice.

Maybe it is God's will that the ungodly get so much air time on TV., radio, public broadcasting and movies.  It does bring the question Christ' deity to the minds of millions and it does show how empty are the arguments in favor or rejecting God's word.

1.That Jesus Christ, the Son of God exists eternally as the Second Person of the Trinity, and
that He is equal in essence and power with the Father.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

 

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

 

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Personal Opinion:

I can very little grasp what it means to exist eternally or to be equal in essence and in power.  All I can do is nod my head and say if God says it, it must be true.

If somebody off the street says it, he is going to have to show me something about himself that gives creditability to his statements or show me a way in which I can prove his statements for myself.

I doubt the statements as to the attributes of Christ can be proved through the scientific method. 

But I do have reason to believe Godly preachers and the Bible.  I have no reason to believe all have been so blessed so it is not for me to look down my nose at the unbelief of others.

But it is a reason to thank God that I have been so blessed.  In some strange way belief is both a choice and a gift.

2.That Jesus Christ claimed to be and is called God.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Personal Opinion:

It is remarkable that so little of the four Gospels are devoted to the teachings of Jesus on holy living for us "Indians".

It seems to me most of the super hard instructions are intended for those who He has picked to be His apostles and disciples, those who were actual eye witnesses to His death, burial and resurrection, who actually heard him speak.

Maybe the reason for this is that the rules for righteous holy living were given by God to Moses fifteen hundred years prior to the time of Jesus in the form of the ten commandments and therefore need little in amplification.

3.That divine attributes are ascribed to Jesus Christ.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Personal Opinion:

Some day I should make a study of who beside John takes such a firm position that Jesus is God.  The reference here from Matthew is certainly pretty strong but it alone would be rather slim to hang your hat on.

The letters from Paul are loaded with strong statements to the point.  I suspect the letters of Peter, James, etc would be the same.

Luke should be in the same boat in his Gospel and Acts since he hung around Paul so much.

Anyway, it would be an interesting study, specially since the New Agers love to rip on the motives and authenticity of works attributed to John.

4.That Jesus Christ performed divine acts that only God could do.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Personal Opinion:

I thought what was going to be discussed under this point was the miracles of Jesus such as healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, walking on water, raising the dead and greatest - His death, burial and resurrection.

But no, what is being discussed is the fact that Jesus in some way had a major part, maybe was the sole activator in the creation of the universe.  That, of course, is going some.  Where then does God the Father enter in?

I will have to keep my heart and mind open and my eyes alert for the answer.

5.That Jesus Christ receives worship and honor due only to God.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Personal Opinion:

It would be easy to complain that God should have made the deity of Jesus more incontrovertible.  The whole thing must be taken on hearsay evidence.

 Matthew says that Peter says it.  Paul says it based on an experience which he does not quite come right out and claim happened to himself but to someone who will remain nameless, either in or out of the body who went to a realm in another world and received revelations concerning spiritual matters and the nature of Jesus.

So, we are left in the same place.  As Jesus said to Peter, the revelation comes to each of us as a direct blessing from God.  Another mystery - we have free will to accept or reject, but in some sense God picks those who accept.

How important it is to remember that God listens to our prayers and we can pray for the lost.

6.That Jesus Christ manifested God visibly to the world through Christophanies in the Old Testament and through His incarnation in the New Testament.

Gen 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Gen 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Gen 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Gen 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

Gen 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Gen 18:29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

Gen 18:30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

Gen 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

Gen 18:33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

 

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Gen 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Gen 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

 

Exo 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Exo 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

 

Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Jos 5:15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

Dan 10:5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

Dan 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

 

Joh 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.

Joh 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 

Joh 14:9 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, Shew us the Father?

 

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Personal Opinion:

Must not we wonder if the five instances of Christophanies which are here cited are the only ones which the world has experienced?

There are literally countless instances claimed by individuals down through history who have experienced visions of Jesus and to have received messages of revelation.  Of course, we are completely at the mercy of every crack-pot that takes it into his head to tell us such a thing.

The Bible instances were accompanied with prophecies which came true. That is, at the minimum, what we should require of those who make such claims currently.

Possibly the Holy Spirit would give us some discernment in this area also.