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Welcome to the Reflections Newsletter from Reflect His
Glory. RHG is a co-ministry with Creation Science Ministries. Feel
free to send this to your relatives and friends.
- The Deity of Christ Jesus
-
What Does the Bible Say About...?
The
Deity of Christ Jesus
Why is Christ Jesus so special? Why
do billions of people celebrate his birth?
Why do we believe that Jesus was the Messiah?
What if He were just a man?
Does it really make a difference?
If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions, be assured that the
Bible does have the answers.
For the greater part of the last 2,000 years the
historical existence of Jesus has not been questioned.
However, in the last two centuries an increasing number of skeptics have
claimed that Jesus never existed, even though a cursory review of ancient Roman
and Rabbinical writings reveals that Jesus was indeed a historical figure.
The Babylonian Talmud, an ancient rabbinical commentary, makes a number
of references to Jesus of Nazareth.
The first century Jewish historian Josephus also made references to Jesus:
“Now
there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man;
for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the
truth with pleasure. He drew over
to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.
He was [the] Christ. And
when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned
him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he
appeared to them alive again the third day;
as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other
wonderful things concerning him.
And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”
(The Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chapter 3.)
Throughout its text the Bible clearly teaches that there is but one God.
However, the mystery of the Godhead is that this one God manifests
Himself in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. This fact has led to the
Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
In fact, the attributes of God, the works of God and the names of God are
applied to all three persons of the trinity.
Throughout the Old Testament we are given a glimpse of the deity and
majesty of the Messiah (also called the Anointed One).
Furthermore, the fact that God is a being of plurality, eternally
existent in more than one person, is also found throughout the Old Testament.
Elohim is the plural form of El, one of the names of God, is seen
throughout the Old Testament (see Genesis 1:1) and in Genesis 1:26 God states,
"Let us make man in our image..."
In the New Testament the disciples clearly spoke of the
preeminence and deity of Christ Jesus.
He is identified as the creator of the universe (John 1:1-14, Col 1:16),
God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), and our Lord and Savior (Titus 1:1-4).
This is only a small sample of the claims about the nature and identity
of Christ Jesus. By healing the
sick, resurrecting the dead, creating food out of nothing, and by defying the
laws of gravity, Jesus demonstrated His authority over the laws of physics and
thereby revealed His divine nature.
Jesus’ resume is impeccable. All
the necessary attributes of the Creator are applied to Him within the Biblical
text; He is independent of space and time, transcendent, distinct from His
creation, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and He has authority over the
laws of nature. Jesus himself
claimed to be the Son of God and the only way to eternal life (John 4:25;
9:35-37; 10:30-3; 14:6-9).
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
It will take an eternity for us to understand what it cost Him that we
might live.
"But
made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: And
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to
death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above
every name: That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.”
Philippians 2:7-11 KJVER
What Does the
Bible Say About...?
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In this section of the
Reflections Newsletter we answer questions that have been asked.
If you have a question that you would like ask, and do not mind having
printed in the newsletter, (your name will not be mentioned), feel free to
send your question in an email to
biblequestions@reflecthisglory.org. Of course, you may call me
anytime by phone at 801.302-1111.
The question for this issue is, "Doesn't
John 14:28 contradict John 10:30? Is Jesus equal to the Father or
not?" |
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At first glance these two verses might seem contradictory. John 10:30 reads:
"I and the Father are one." KJVER
In other words, as Members of the Godhead, the Father and the Son are equal. However, in order to get the full impact of the second verse, one must read it in its entirety:
"You have heard how I said to you, I go away and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father; for My Father is greater than I." John 14:28 KJVER
When Jesus made the last statement in this verse, He was referring to the office and glory of His Father, as compared to His own during His earthly ministry. This is why He prayed several chapters later:
"And now, O Father, glorify You Me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was." John 17:5 KJVER
Jesus voluntarily gave up much of His glory in the incarnation. That is why Luke concluded his second chapter by saying this about Jesus' boyhood:
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52 KJVER
As God, He cannot "increase" in wisdom, because He already possesses all the wisdom that exists. But as a man, He temporarily set some of that wisdom aside so that He could identify with us, and ultimately be our sacrifice for sin. However, after His death, resurrection and ascension, He would regain that glory. That is why the disciples should have rejoiced in John 14:28. They would rejoice for Him, that He would be glorified; but they could also rejoice for themselves, for this glorified Jesus would return one day for them, and, by extension, for us as well:
"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place, and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be." John 14:1-3 KJVER
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**MEMORY VERSE OF THE
MONTH**
If a
man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will
come to him, and make Our abode with him.
John
14:23
KJV
ER
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