BY JPDSUMMERS24
We have established on the last article the state of being of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us now continue the discussion to prove Christ's deity on other logical statements written in the Bible.
I. Wisdom
We all know who is the wisest man in the Bible. He is King Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba. That wisdom was given to him by God.
"And God said to him, Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you."
I Kings 3:11-12 (RSV)
God said He will give Solomon a wise and discerning mind, and none is like him before and none will arise after him. If Jesus Christ is a mere mortal, it will follow that Solomon would be much wiser than Him, right? But that is not the case.
Jesus Christ is not human. He only had a human body as a vessel but the entity inside is a God. In fact, it is written that Jesus is wiser than Solomon.
"The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here."
Matthew 12:42 (RSV)
King Solomon is still the wisest man but Jesus Christ is on a whole different level. He is the Wisdom of God.
"But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
I Corinthians 1:24 (RSV)
"Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.
None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
I Corinthians 2:6-8 (RSV)
Christ is the Wisdom who is with God in the very beginning.
"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men."
Proverbs 8:12, 22-31 (KJV)
II. Sin
In the Bible, we know that all people commit sin. We are deceiving ourselves if we say we do not commit sin.
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
I John 1:8 (RSV)
It is natural for human is err and commit sin.
"If they sin against thee--for there is no man who does not sin--and thou art angry with them, and dost give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;"
I Kings 8:46 (RSV)
Even righteous people commit sin.
"Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins."
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (RSV)
But Christ? Christ committed no sin, ever.
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips."
I Peter 2:21-22 (RSV)
"For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 4:15 (RSV)
Again, the two prominent apostles, Peter and Paul, both stated the same. All man sinneth, but Christ did not. And that's simply because He is not human.
III. Worship
The only entity we should worship, bow down to and kneel upon --- is God. The apostles whom we considered as saints reject worship. Saint Peter rejected worship from Cornelius.
"When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up; I too am a man."
Acts 10:25-26 (RSV)
Saints Paul and Barnabas also rejected worship.
"And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycao'nian, The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they called Hermes.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out among the multitude, crying,
Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them."
Acts 14:11-15 (RSV)
Even an angel of God rejected worship from Saint John himself - twice!
"And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are true words of God.
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Revelation 19:9-10 (RSV)
"I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me;
But he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
Revelation 22:8-9 (RSV)
But Christ accepts worship. The Father even commanded the angels to worship His Son.
"For to what angel did God ever say, Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?
And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, Let all God's angels worship him."
Hebrews 1:5-6 (RSV)
If the angels worship Christ, who are we not to worship Him too? We are also commanded to worship Christ.
"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."
I Peter 3:15 (NLT)
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:9-11 (RSV)
IV. Anti-Christ
The Bible also tells us about the antichrist. The enemy of the Messiah. And according to Saint John, there are two ways to discern who is the antichrist.
One: The antichrist denies the Father and the Son.
"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son."
I John 2:22 (RSV)
Two: The antichrist does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
"And 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."
I John 4:3 (KJV)
"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."
II John 1:7 (KJV)
This is used by those who believe Jesus Christ to be human as their basis. But clearly, they do not understand the statement of Saint John.
First, we must take into consideration that Saint John is the one who also wrote that the Word, who is Christ, is a God who became flesh.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father."
John 1:1, 14 (RSV)
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. He is not flesh, but He come in the flesh. In fact, on the very same epistle, Saint John had written that Christ is a true God.
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
I John 5:20-21 (RSV)
Saint John is not talking about the Father. He is talking about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
I John 5:11 (RSV)
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--
The life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
I John 1:1-3 (RSV)
V. Christ knows
One of the characteristics of the Father is that He is all-knowing, declaring the end from the beginning.
"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,"
Isaiah 46:9-10 (RSV)
Christ, who is the Son of God, also shares this characteristic.
"Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, Whom do you seek?"
John 18:4 (RSV)
God knows the hearts of men.
"And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us;"
Acts 15:8 (RSV)
"Whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."
I John 3:20 (RSV)
Christ too, knows the thoughts of men.
"But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls."
Luke 11:17 (RSV)
VI. Creation
It is basic knowledge that the Father God is the Creator of all things. But there is Someone who is with Him in His creation. In fact, that Someone is the reason why God created everything.
"Then 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 birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
Genesis 1:26 (RSV)
I am sure that Moses, the writer of this book, is accurate on writing that God said: "let us", "our image" and "our likeness". God was speaking to Someone. That Someone has the same image and likeness of the Father. Who is it?
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
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;
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;"
Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;"
Colossians 1:15 (RSV)
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God."
II Corinthians 4:4 (RSV)
Christ is the second person whom the Father was talking to. Christ is the express image of His person, the image of the invisible God and the likeness of God. And He is the reason why God created all things.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God;
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."
John 1:1-3 (RSV)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;
For in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:15-17 (RSV)
"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."
I Corinthians 8:6 (RSV)
If Christ is human, how come He existed way before the creation of man?
VII. Rock, Savior, Name, Lord, God
Another thing to note is that, when the Father told us there is none like Him, we should believe. But when He says otherwise, we should also believe.
The Father once said that there is no other Rock.
"Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
Isaiah 44:8 (RSV)
That is true in the time of prophet Isaiah, in the Old Testament, that there is no other Rock besides the Father.
But in the New Testament, the Father introduces another Rock:
"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
I Corinthians 10:4 (RSV)
The Father once said that there is no other Savior.
"I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior."
Isaiah 43:11 (RSV)
Again, that is true in the time of the Old Testament but in the New Testament, the Father introduces another Savior:
"The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 5:30-31 (RSV)
Even the name of God whom people should go to.
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."
Proverbs 18:10 (RSV)
There is also the name of Christ:
"Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:10-12 (RSV)
The Father is the Redeemer:
"For thou art our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is thy name."
Isaiah 63:16 (RSV)
In the New Testament, Christ is also a Redeemer:
"Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."
Titus 2:13-14 (RSV)
The Father once said that there is no other Lord.
"That men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other."
Isaiah 45:6 (RSV)
Again, that is true in the time of the Old Testament but in the New Testament, it was revealed that there are many lords and gods:
"For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),"
I Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV)
The Father introduces another Lord:
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Acts 2:36 (RSV)
So when the Father said this in the Old Testament:
"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,"
Isaiah 46:9 (RSV)
Wouldn't it be logical not to jump to conclusions and to check the New Testament first?
... which brings us to this -
VIII. God not Man
And finally, does the Bible state that Christ is a God categorically?
According to the prophecy of Isaiah, it was stated:
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6 (RSV)
Many people, even Bible scholars, reject this verse. They cannot accept that the child - who is Jesus Christ - is a Mighty God. Their reason is that Christ is not an Everlasting Father. This is another misinterpretation.
First, Christ is also everlasting like the Father.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
And next, while there is only one Father in heaven, Christ can also be a father to us in a different aspect. You see, Saint Paul is also a father of the Corinthians through the Gospel.
"For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
I Corinthians 4:15 (RSV)
If Saint Paul can be a father, then Christ can also be a father. In fact, His apostles and disciples are also His children.
"Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, Children, have you any fish? They answered him, No."
John 21:4-5 (RSV)
And it's not just the prophecy of Isaiah, but also the letters written by Saints Peter and Paul.
"Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"
Titus 2:13 (RSV)
"Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:"
II Peter 1:1 (RSV)
And since Jesus is meek and humble, it is not in His character to exalt Himself. But in one instance, He indirectly told the Jews that He is also a God.
"I and the Father are one.
The Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?
The Jews answered him, It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God."
John 10:30-33 (RSV)
By saying He and the Father are one, Christ already tells us He is also a God. The Jews somehow got His point, but they refused to believe. These Jews believe that Christ is only a mere mortal.
But the best testimony is from God Himself.
"But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me.
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen;"
John 5:36-37 (RSV)
What is the testimony of the Father for His Son?
"And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:16-17 (RSV)
"He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."
Matthew 17:5 (RSV)
Twice, the Father spoke and testified that Jesus Christ is His beloved Son - in Christ's baptism and transfiguration in a mountain. The Father also recognizes His Son as a God.
"But of the Son he says, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom."
Hebrews 1:8 (RSV)
Saint Paul clearly states that the Father acknowldges that His Son is also a God.
And to this, I say, Amen.
~ JPDSummers24 ~
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