Watch and listen to Carrie Underwood with Vince Gill do "How Great thou Art". Click on the image below or here.
Posted on 04/28/2011 11:48:20 AM PDT by hawkins
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15) (1)
The question of the Deity of Christ is debated by many. The atheist denies the existence of God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Christ was a created being. The Mormon believes Christ was a man who became a god. Muslims declare Christ was simply a prophet of Allah. The answer does not rely upon the decision of any individual or group. Jesus is either Deity or He is not based upon fact. Most Christians believe Jesus is Deity based upon the belief the Bible is a God-breathed, inerrant, word for word record by which God wants man to pattern his life. It is therefore the final authority of examination for all answers man derives (2 Peter 1:2-3). In a nutshell, the Word of God is truth and if any conclusion contradicts the Word, the conclusion must be in error (John 17:17). Before and after the appearance of Jesus, man looked to the scriptures, now completely revealed, to affirm the Deity of the Messiah. By the lifetime of Christ, the world had the Old Testament in complete, affirmed by Christ, and the prophets to examine any claim of Deity. By the end of the first century, man also had the complete New Testament of the Bible to examine any claims of Deity, during the formation of which the apostles and prophets affirmed the scriptures. Since the Bible is declared the source for the claims of Deity, whether one believes in the inerrancy of the Bible or not, verification the Bible makes the claim of Deity for Christ must be accomplished.
The contemplation of Christ as Deity must be broken up into two separate questions: First – Is Jesus Deity? Second – Is Jesus God? For some, this question means the same thing. For others, it does not. They declare Jesus is a god, but not God; He is just the son of God, a demigod, but not equal to the eternal God of all. The concept of a triune or “trinity” God is rejected by some because this would in their mind mean that there are three Gods and not one God. Since this article will not examine in depth the “trinity” or Godhead, it must be understood that this author believes the Father (John 20:17, I Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 1:1, Philippians 2:11), Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4, 2 Cor. 3:17-18, Mat. 28:19), and Jesus the Son are one God in total. They are three individual entities of the Godhead. To illustrate, consider an army. An army from the Commander in Chief all the way down to the private is still one army, but many parts. Also consider the marriage which is composed of two separate parts, a man and a woman. Together they are not marriages, but a singular marriage. Finally, consider the Church as a singular body consisting of many members making up its whole (Romans 1:16, Galatians 3:8, I Corinthians 12:12-27). In all of these cases, there are different responsibilities, but this does not divide their singular makeup. Jesus declares about God: “…Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:” (Mark 12:29). If it is concluded that Jesus is Deity, then it should be clear to see that Jesus is also God.
Deity is defined by the Collins English Dictionary as: “1. a god or goddess 2. the state of being divine; godhead 3. the rank, status, or position of a god 4. the nature or character of God”. (2) In order to determine that Jesus is Deity and therefore God, the definition of Deity must apply to Him.
John the immerser speaks in John 1:40 and the following occurred: “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” Who is this Messiah or Christ they were looking to find? Knowledge of the coming Messiah dated back to the Old Testament. God promised Abraham that through his descendant (singular referencing the Messiah) all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:18). Isaiah said He would be one referred to as “with us is God” and be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He also said this Messiah would be named “mighty God” and “eternal Father” (Isaiah 9:6). Micah 5:2 establishes this Messiah would be born in Bethlehem though his existence was from always or everlasting. This establishes that the Messiah to come would be God for the Lord said this about himself in Isaiah 41:4, “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he.” If the Messiah were from everlasting, then it means he could not come after God. He must, therefore, be God. Taken with the other Old Testament verses, this is quite obvious and confirms Christ’s Deity.
From the introductory scripture of Matthew 16:13-15, Christ asked his disciples who they believed He was. Peter’s answer was that Jesus was “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. The retort by skeptics of Christ as God is in part made from this verse. Christ is only the son and not God establishes the accusation. However, putting aside for the moment the claim Christ is not God, the phrase “Son of God” needs to be understood. For ages leading up to and beyond the time of Christ, the phrase “son of God” has been applied to leaders of nations and others thought to have divine nature. It applied to the genuine belief the individual being spoken about was Deity. This phrase was even seen during the times of Daniel when the fourth image was seen with Daniel and his friends in the fiery pit. Nebuchadnezzar then used the phrase, “son of the gods” in reference to Deity in Daniel 3:25. This was some 500 years before the time of Christ.
The Jews of Jesus time had a very clear understanding of what it meant to claim to be the “Son of God”. In Matthew 26:63-65, Jesus is before the Sanhedrin, the spiritual leadership of the Jews. Jesus is asked if He is “the Christ, the Son of God”. His reply, declaring that He would come in the clouds of heaven and they would see Him, leads the Sanhedrin to declare that Christ has blasphemed. It is not perfectly clear, initially, upon what they base the claim of blasphemy. Is it the affirmation that He is the Son of God? Or the declaration He would come from heaven? Or perhaps the idea He would be coming in judgment (God Judges – Ecclesiastes 12:14)? What aids in making this situation clearer is the passage found in John 10:22-39. The Jews gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Dedication. They asked Jesus to tell them clearly if He was the Christ. He tells them that He has told them before and the works He does should identify who He is. Jesus further tells them that He gives eternal life and He and the Father are one. There are those today who believe the statement that Christ was one with the Father means they both have righteous purposes. However, that is not at all what the Jews understood. They state: “You being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Jesus responds by pointing out God has referred to them as gods (judges with divine authority – Psalms 82) who were to impart and uphold the commands of God. Being in that position, they were accusing Jesus of blaspheming by saying that He was the Son of God. Remember, they equated the phrase “the Son of God” with being God from their own words in this text. Jesus asks them with their understanding of the Law of God, if they were making the charge because His works were contrary to the Law. Of course, His works were not contrary. He further bolsters his case of being God (Son of God) by pointing out the miraculous works which confirmed He was who He said He was. It should be noted in neither Matthew nor John did Jesus deny His Deity, but rather affirmed it in both situations. The Son of God references Deity.
How can Jesus claim to be the son of man and Son of God and not be a demigod? A demigod is part mortal and part God. If Jesus was part both, why is He not considered a demi-god? Christ was indeed flesh. He was born of a virgin as prophesied (Matthew 1:18-25). He was born a descendant of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3). He was a descendant of Abraham according to the flesh (Acts 2:29-32). By the flesh, Jesus suffered for mankind (I Peter 4:1). In His flesh and blood, He was crucified and put away the Law of Moses through fulfillment (Ephesians 2:13-16, Colossians 1:22). In His flesh and blood, He died as all men die (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus was resurrected in His flesh and appeared to the disciples and ate with them (Luke 24:36-43). It is the flesh and blood of Jesus which man remembers in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29). Jesus was 100% flesh. He was not partly flesh. Jesus was not born from Heaven. Jesus was sent from Heaven (Matthew 21:37, John 3:16, 5:23, 6:39, 10:36, 14:24). He was the begotten of God (John 1:14, 3:16, 3:18, I John 4:9). The term begotten used in reference to Christ means “single or one of its kind” according to Thayer’s Greek Definitions. Colossians 2:9 says of Jesus, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”. This certainly would explain Jesus being the begotten of God. God took the form of man and His name was Jesus. As established by “all” and “fullness”, it was not “part” of God in the form of Jesus. It must be understood Christ is the “only” of God because He was 100% Deity. Jesus was not part man, part God, and thus, a demi-god. Jesus equals God.
To say Jesus is equal to God must be demonstrated through the use of scripture. It has already been established the Jews understood Jesus was claiming to be equal to God (John 5:18) and He backed this claim with the power of God. Paul further affirms this fact by his inspired words in Philippians 2:5-7, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” This verse establishes Jesus was in the form of God. The word “form” refers to his image, nature, makeup, and essence. “Form” doesn’t mean just “personality” or righteous attributes here. Jesus was God in heaven and therefore being God it was not an issue to be considered equal to God. When Jesus was sent to man, He completely assumed the role of servant and put on the image of man, being flesh. Though, He took the more humble form of man, He did not give up his Deity.
When attempting to discern if there is a difference in the nature of God and Jesus, the process is relatively simple. Identify the unique attributes of God and if Jesus does not have these attributes, then he cannot be God. When the Jews identified Jesus’ claim as having equality with God, Jesus laid out a number of attributes showing it was so. In John 5:9-24, He mentions that whatever the Father could do, He could do. He could raise the dead, judge all men, receive the same honor, and give eternal life. At the end of the passage, Jesus again mentions the miracles witnessed His words as true. Further attributes to be noted: Jesus could forgive sins (Mark 2:5). Jesus knew the hearts and minds of men (Matthew 9:4, John 2:24-25). God has no sin (I John 1:5), Jesus did not sin (I Peter 2:21-22). Jesus accepted worship of man (Matthew 28:9), while stating such was for God alone (Matthew 4:10). Jesus is omnipresent (Matthew 18:20). God is everlasting (Psalm 90:2) and Jesus is everlasting (Hebrews 1:8). By examination of attributes alone, Jesus can be seen to be God.
The Hebrews 1:8 scripture not only proclaims Jesus as everlasting, but even more astounding is the knowledge the words spoken there are by God and He calls Jesus “God”. This is not the only place in scripture Jesus is identified as God. Jesus established himself as existing before Abraham and identified Himself as “I AM” the same way God did to Moses (John 8:58-59, Exodus 3:13-15). Following Jesus’ crucifixion, the apostle Thomas said he would not believe Jesus had risen until he personally could “see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side,” John 20:24-28 records those comments and the moment Thomas saw Him and then and there declared to Jesus “My Lord and my God”. Jesus did not rebuke him, but affirms his belief. I Timothy 3:16 speaking of Jesus Christ, proclaims God appeared in the flesh. Romans 9:5 announces Jesus as God overall all. Titus 2:13 speaks of the return of Christ calling Him God and Savior. One verse is all that is needed to validate Jesus as God, but there are numerous examples in scripture.
Another identification of Jesus Christ in scripture is by the Greek term “logos” or simply “Word”. The first 18 verses of the first chapter of the book of John go a long way to understanding Jesus relationship to Deity by using the term “logos”. John 1:1 establishes three things: 1) The Word was in the beginning, 2) the Word was with God, and 3) the Word was God. The evidence the Word is Jesus dominates the full text. Verse 4: The Word was life – Jesus is the life (John 14:6). The Word was the light – Jesus is the light (John 8:12). Verse 7: John came to bear witness of the light – John bore witness of Jesus (John 1:29-30) [Note: John says in this text Jesus existed before him, yet, Jesus was six months younger… see Luke 1:35-36… this points again to the Deity of Christ.]. Verse 10 – The Word was in the world – Jesus was sent into the world (John 3:16). Verse 14: The Word became flesh – Jesus became flesh (Romans 1:3). The Word was the begotten of God – Jesus was the begotten of God (Acts 13:33). There are many more proofs within the John 1 text which demonstrate Jesus was God, but from these samples it is clear the statement is true. The New World Translation attempts to say Jesus was “a” god, however, it does so in attempt to try to prove Christ as simply a glorified man. This is a twisted doctrine which ignores the Greek language and even contradicts its own application of the grammar in question. This belief is brought up now in light of all the evidence thus far seen regarding Christ’s Deity. A deep analysis in the Greek is not needed when it is clear such a twisting of scripture would contradict the Bible presentation of Christ extensively.
The final examination of the Deity of Christ must be taken from the Church of God. This is a phrase which the apostle Paul used with the Churches in Ephesus, Corinth, Galatia, and Thessalonica (Acts 20:28, I Corinthians 1:2, 10:32, 11:16, 22, 15:9, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:13, I Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:4). Additionally, he referred to the Church of God in his first letter to Timothy (I Timothy 3:5, 15). It is seen that God added the saved to His Church in Acts 2:47. If it is God’s church, should He not be the head of it? Ephesians 5:23 says Christ is the head of the Church and Savior of it. The Church is also sanctified by Christ (I Corinthians 1:2, Ephesisans 5:26). The Church is presented to Christ by Himself (Ephesians 5:27). How could He present something to Himself which is not His in the first place? The Church is described as His body in Colossians 1:24 by the apostle Paul. He used the term Church of God many times, yet uses the synonymous phrase “Churches of Christ” in Romans 16:16. With such evidence, how can one claim that the Church of God is not the Church of Christ? Even more importantly, how does an individual claim Christ is not God? It is God’s Church. Continuing on from the initial passage of this article (Matthew 16) upon Peter’s confession, Jesus is the Christ and Son of God, Jesus tells him upon that rock (which is Christ – I Corinthians 10:4, I Corinthians 3:11), “I will build my Church”. Whose Church is it? Christ’s Church! Whose Church is it? God’s Church! There is one Church, one body, built by the one God of all (Ephesians 4:4-6). God is the one and only Deity. He is the Father, He is the Son, and He most certainly is Jesus the Christ.
While those who utilize means of authority outside of the Bible will continue to proclaim “Jesus is not Deity, He is not God”, the Bible as the sole means of authority to the Christian confirms that He is. Jesus the Messiah was presented as being God in the Old Testament. Jesus also was presented as being God in the New Testament. Being the Son of God, He was obviously understood to claim Deity by the people of His age. He was all man and all God and not just part of one or the other. He is equal to God, shares the attributes of God, and proclaimed to be God by God and man. He is said to be the Word God, present from the beginning, and presented upon the earth in the flesh. The Church of God has the blessing of being Christ’s Church, the only Church, and the Church accountable to His headship. If Christ is not God, then the Bible is a false witness, and the Christian faith is in vain. The concept of the Deity of Christ must not be set aside or approached lightly for it is the foundation upon which Christians are born and the Church stands.
(1) Holy Bible King James Version; This scripture and all the following are from this translation.
(2) deity. Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deity (accessed: April 19, 2011).
Curious what FReepers think of this analogy: Different facets to the same Diamond ---okay...I'm a woman and this was an idea that appealed to me ;-)
Well, it depends.
They will claim they “believe” that Christ rose from the dead and died for their sins because they MIGHT have the benefit of heaven. That is a SUPER NATURAL act. Many accept that.
Now, do they BELIEVE that He created the earth in seven literal days? Most don't. Yet the HEBREW, the language it was originally written in, has that as TRUE. When you study the New Testament and see how the apostles approached their audiences, you quickly see that JEWS believed in LITERAL creation whereas the Gentiles, did NOT. So the message to both was the same but the foundation of the Gentiles had to be brought in line. For the Jews, Genesis and a LITERAL interpretation was a given.
So what happened today. Well you have CORRUPT LIARS heading the “churches” and like the Greeks they are FULL OF THEMSELVES and selectively DENY what doesn't fit into the corrupt world.
Instead of transforming others to God's Word, they conform HIS WORD to fit the world. We are explicitly told NOT to do this.
Rom.12:2
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Recently an old wind bag that acts like a royal king, stated that his followers are NOT to take Genesis literally. You see “evolution is possible”. There is NO scientific evidence to support it but that doesn't matter. From his point of view it's best to CONFORM TO THE WORLD.Never mind that we are made in HIS, God's image. That's okay with this self serving hypocrite too. He doesn't mind mere mortals and God being some prehistoric ape. That's okay too since it also CONFORMS to THIS world and denigrates God and His creation.
So lots of people “study” Him but do they take HIM seriously or is it easier to listen to old “Greek” minded windbags that live in luxury as they tell you to give all to the poor and needy. Many are too spiritually LAZY to bother to study Him. It's EASIER to take the word of hypocrites and profess to be wise but are FOOLS. Being a fool is easier and more fashionable in today's world.
Rom.1:22
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Geesh!
How can a Christian claim to believe when they obviously DON'T read their Bible and hence don't understand the Trinity?
In Matthew 28:18-20
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew speaks of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as ONE “name”. But they are three distinct persons. How can there be three persons in ONE Godhead when there is only ONE God as stated in
Deuteronomy 6:4
[4] Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
and
I Corth. 8:6
[6] But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
God is ONE in essence. but three in Persons.
God has ONE nature, but three centers of consciousness.
That is there is only ONE “What” in God but three “Who's”.
There is ONE it but three I’s.
It is hard to understand but it is NOT a contradiction.
It WOULD be a contradiction to say that God is only ONE person, but also has THREE persons.
Or that God is ONLY ONE nature, but He also has THREE natures.
But to declare as orthodox Christians do, that God is ONE essence, eternally revealed in THREE distinct persons is NOT a contradiction.
God is supernatural. Believe it or not!
My best advice to those struggling to understand is:
stop using your finite measuring stick to measure the infinite God!
All you can do is TRY to undo the hypocritical windbags out there that love to pontificate in the “Greek” way of thought. It's too bad our culture and spiritual witheral is more and more like that of the Greeks and not that of God's wisdom and truth.
Matthew 7:21 - 24
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
[24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And WHO is that “rock”?
That “rock” consistently through out the Bible for those that happen to read it, occassionally?
1Sam.2:2
[2] There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2Sam.22:2,3
[2] And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
[3] The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Yes, it is Christ that is the “rock” of a Christian.
It wasn't Moses, Abraham or David etc.. Yes they had their flaws because it is IMPOSSIBLE for any mere mortal to be SINLESS. Some lived better than others in sinning LESS but they were ALL with SIN.
It was and always will be God.
God is the same in the Old and New Testament.
Here are some more references to WHO the “rock” of Christians is:
Pss.89:26
[26] He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
Pss.92:15
[15] To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Pss.94:22
[22] But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Don't put your faith with Peter, the “pebble”.
Yes, Christ had a loving sense of humor.
1Cor.10:4
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Still others will happily ARGUE AGAINST what God has stated because a mere mortal tells them to believe OTHERWISE. Conforming to other sinners and the world will not have a happy ending for them.
Nothing needs to be examined. Christ is God, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
True God from True God. Begotten not made. One in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven.
As C.S. Lewis wrote Christ was either Lord, lunatic or a liar. I and 2,000 years of orthodox Christianity say the same He is Lord.
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