The Best Commentary On The Bible Is The Bible Itself

	The Reflections Newsletter Monday, October 26, 2009 **In This Issue** The Deity of Christ Jesus What Does the Bible Say About...?   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  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...?   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 me at 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?" 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     **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   We solicit your prayers and support of this ministry. God Bless. If you received this email from a friend, you can get a FREE subscription by signing up at enews@reflecthisglory.org. You received this newsletter by request from Reflect His Glory, a co-ministry with Creation Science Ministries. Web site: http://www.reflecthisglory.org/ Online Store: TBA Email: questions@reflecthisglory.org For more information: info@reflecthisglory.org Subscribe online: enews@reflecthisglory.org Un-subscribe: nonews@reflecthisglory.org To change your email address in our database, please unsubscribe your old address and subscribe your new address.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him,
"If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed;
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31-32