Let's look at the passage in Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There IS only ONE God. Do you believe this? This ONE, true God is the ONLY God and savior as Isaiah 44:6 says: "“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.
The LORD God (Jehovah/Yahweh) is the first and the last, He is the Alpha and Omega just like Revelation 1:8 says: "“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.
And because Jehovah is the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega as He declares, and besides Him there is no other God OR Savior, then how can you explain in Revelation 22:12-17
"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Jesus says HE is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. We know that Jesus is Almighty God INCARNATE - in the flesh. God became a man to redeem man back to himself. We do NOT believe in three Gods, but ONLY one God and because Scripture says that the Father is God, and Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, we therefore accept that God is revealed to us as THREE YET ONE. Just because it is a concept that is hard to grasp, does not mean it is not true. God told us it is so. People can refuse to believe that Jesus is God, but they cannot claim Scripture doesn't teach it.
As to an "inferior" status for Jesus, this is speaking of a hierarchy of authority or role, just as the husband is head of the wife, the Father is the head of Jesus and Jesus is the head of the church. But the husband and wife are STILL equal in the eyes of God. Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
There are many other Scriptures passages that speak to this truth. The Christian faith accepts the truth of the Triune nature of our God because God says it is the truth. I sincerely hope you will continue to discuss this very important tenet of our faith.
Good post.
The context of these verses is Jesus is an example of humility in that though he had the “morphe” or form of God he didn't consider a “harpagmos” or plunder or seizure of equality with God.
“morphe” and “harpagmos” are the key words in understanding these verses and it in this sense that even translations like the Catholic NAB translates Phil. 2:6,
“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped”
Benjamin Wilson's Diaglott uses the terms “form” and “usurption” at Phil. 2:6, reflecting the sense that equality with God was not something Christ had and that he gave no thought to seizing or grasping it as though by robbery or plunder.
This part that is underlined, “Who, being in very nature God,” is commentary, not translation since “morphe” carries the sense of outward appearance or that which strikes the eye.
“People can refuse to believe that Jesus is God, but they cannot claim Scripture doesn't teach it.”
Such certainly cannot be found in these verses from Philippians. And by the definition and commentary at the web site you refered to earlier Jesus is also the Father and he is also the holy spirit.
But as I pointed out, “Never are the holy spirit and Jesus called Yehovah or Jehovah in the Scriptures, never.”
I might add that Jesus was called a god as were Moses, Solomon, the judges of Israel, even Satan is called a god but never God the Son or God the Holy Spirit.
“And because Jehovah is the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega as He declares, and besides Him there is no other God OR Savior, then how can you explain in Revelation 22:12-17”
Rev. 1:8 identifies Jehovah, the Father, as the Alpha and Omega and the the one that is coming. Rev. 22:13 thus is speaking about about Him and the Rev. 22:16 shows the speaker changes to Jesus. In your quote the quotation marks show this change of speaker as recognized by the translators.
Rev. 21:5,6 identifies God (not Jesus) as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the one on the throne.
See posts #347, #348, meant to ping you but forgot (sheepish grin).