How do you account for 1 Corinthians 15:24-28?
24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
This passage tells us that the Father delegated all authority and power to his son for a time, to accomplish specific objectives. Until those objectives are achieved, the son has the delegated capabilities of the Father. When those objectives are achieved, the son is subjected to the Father.
It seems to me that this passage shows a chain of command, not a co-equal sharing of diety.
It has no bearing on the fact that Jesus claimed to God. How it’s all worked out as something to be understood is a matter for some other thread. Basically, it is a FACT that Jesus claimed to be God. How you deal with that FACT and come to an understanding is your own issue. But it does not have bearing on the FACT itself.
So what is your take on the Nature of Jesus Christ? Everyone who says Jesus Christ "is not God" never reveals what they think He really is. Is Jesus Christ to you a "demigod" of some sort? A higher "created being?"
Was Thomas wrong in calling Jesus Christ God? Was he rebuked?
John 20:
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Perhaps if we put that portion into context with the rest of the passage you wouldn’t need to ask that question. First however you have to belief that Jesus was both fully God and fully man.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
You will notice that Paul was talking about Jesus the man. Jesus the man already has His glorified body and will soon reign as King over all the world. Once death itself has been conquered Jesus the man will turn over the whole of creation to the Godhead.