The Deity of Christ
(John 20:31) But
these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
(1 John
5:11-13) And this is the testimony: God has given us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. {12} He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life. {13} I write these things
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you
have eternal life.
(Rev 22:12-13) "Behold, I am
coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to
what he has done. {13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
Contents
He is the image of the
invisible God
The Deity of Christ is under attack,
not only, from cults but from the Muslims and most
tragically of all from the Jews.
The doctrine of the trinity is also under attack, but this should
be seen as a secondary issue to the deity of Jesus. If Jesus is not God
then there can be no trinity. If there is no trinity then Jesus is not God, so
the attack on the trinity is a means of denying the divinity of Jesus. We
should note that the doctrine of the trinity, while it may be a paradox is not
a contradiction. While the deity of Christ was probably not of first importance
to the gospel (see 1 Cor 15:3 ff.) during the time of
the early church, it nevertheless forms part of the pillar of truth that we are
called to contend (Jude 1:3). As I hope to show below, the title Christ or
Messiah as applied to Jesus Christ implies divinity because the Old Testament
prophecies about the Messiah indicate that he is God.
(Jude 1:3) Dear friends, although I
was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to
write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to
the saints.
(Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isa 7:14) Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The
Name Jesus Christ
John warns us that the antichrist is
the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ, he also denies the Father and the
Son (1 John 2:22-23). Here John is speaking about the
divinity of Christ.
(1 John
2:22-23) Who is the liar? It is the man who denies
that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father
and the Son. {23} No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever
acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
He also goes on to tell us that
every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus (having come in the flesh), that
is, his humanity is the spirit of the antichrist. These are strong words. The
test of a false prophet is that he denies either the humanity of Jesus or his
divinity. Jesus is fully human and fully God.
(1 John
4:1-3) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. {2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is
from God, {3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even
now is already in the world.
John also tells us that God's
command is to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ (1
John 3:23). Now in this context the name sums up
everything that is true of the person and to believe in the name of Jesus
Christ is to believe in his humanity and divinity. In fact
if you go through Acts you will find that there is great emphasis on the name
'Jesus Christ', Acts 3:16 (see also scripture references).
(1 John
3:23) And this is his command: to believe in the name
of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
(Acts 3:16) By faith in the name of
Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.
It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this
complete healing to him, as you can all see.
John tells us that 'If anyone acknowledges
that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God', the title 'Son
of God' acknowleges that Jesus is divine. The Jews of
Jesus time certainly understood that the title 'Son of God' to mean that Jesus
was divine (equal to God) which was why they accused him of blasphemy and
ultimately handed him over to be crucified (Mat 26:63-66, John5:18, 10:29-38).
(1 John
4:14-15) And we have seen and testify that the Father
has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. {15} If
anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in
God.
(Mat 26:63-66) But
Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under
oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
{64} "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all
of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of
the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." {65} Then the high
priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need
any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. {66} What do you think?" "He is worthy of death,"
they answered.
(John 5:18) For this reason the Jews
tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself
equal with God.
(John 10:29-38) My Father, who has
given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can
snatch them out of my Father's hand. {30} I and the Father are one." {31}
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, {32} but Jesus said to them,
"I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these
do you stone me?" {33} "We are not stoning you for any of
these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere
man, claim to be God." {34} Jesus answered them, "Is it not written
in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? {35} If he called them 'gods,' to whom
the word of God came--and the Scripture cannot be broken-- {36} what about the
one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then
do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? {37} Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. {38} But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe
the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I
in the Father."
In prophecying
about the coming Messiah, the great messianic prophet Isaiah, said that he
would be called Immanual (Isa 7:14) which means 'God
with us' as told in Mat 1:23 which claims to be the fulfilment
of Isa 7:14.
(Isa 7:14) Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
(Mat 1:20-23) But
after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. {21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the
name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." {22} All
this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23}
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will
call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."
Isaiah also prophecied
that the Messiah would be called 'Mighty God' and
'Everlasting Father' (Isa 9:6). The fact is that at his trial before the high
priest he confessed to be both the Messiah (the Christ) and the Son of God (Mat
26:23-4). The name Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew Messiah, both mean 'annointed one' see John 1:41. Thus
the name Christ implies that Jesus is the Messiah and we have seen from Isa 9:6
that the Messiah would be called 'Mighty God' and 'Everlasting Father' both
titles of divinity. Peters recognition that Jesus was
the Christ (Messiah) also recognized him as the Son of the living God.
(Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(John 1:41) The first thing Andrew
did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the
Messiah" (that is, the Christ).
(Mat 16:16) Simon Peter answered,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Evidences of
Jesus Divinity
In
the Gospels
Jesus own claim to be the Messiah
(John 4:25-26) The woman said,
"I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes,
he will explain everything to us." {26} Then Jesus declared, "I who
speak to you am he."
(Mat 26:63-64) But
Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under
oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
{64} "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all
of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of
the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (cf. Dan 7:13)
He forgave sins
(Luke 5:20-24) When Jesus saw their
faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." {21} The Pharisees
and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this
fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" {22}
Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these
things in your hearts? {23} Which is easier: to say,
'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? {24} But that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." He
said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." See also Mat 9:2-7, Mk 2:10.
His miracles
(John 10:25) Jesus answered, "I
did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my
Father's name speak for me,
(John 10:36-38) what about the one
whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do
you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? {37} Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. {38} But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe
the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I
in the Father."
(John 14:9-11) Jesus answered:
"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long
time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the
Father'? {10} Don't you believe that I am in the
Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my
own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. {11} Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father
is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
(Mat 8:27) The men were amazed and
asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey
him!"
He accepts worship
(Mat 14:33) Then those who were in
the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
(Mat 28:9) Suddenly Jesus met them.
"Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
(John 9:38) Then the man said,
"Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.
Thomas calls Jesus God, he is not
rebuked by Jesus
(John 20:28-29) Thomas said to him,
"My Lord and my God!" {29} Then Jesus told him, "Because you
have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed."
His pre-existance
(John 17:20-24) "My prayer is
not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their
message, {21} that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I
am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have
sent me. {22} I have given them the
glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: {23} I in them and
you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know
that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
{24} "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and
to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the
creation of the world.
(John 8:58) "I tell you the
truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was
born, I am!"
(John 1:1-3) In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God
in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
(John 1:10) He was in the world, and
though the world was made through him, the world did
not recognize him.
(John 3:13) No one has ever gone
into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man.
Old testament
quoted in the New Testament
In John 1:23 John the Baptist quotes
Isa 40:3 when he says that he has come to 'Make straight the way for the Lord'
clearly this refers to Jesus and yet Isa 40:3 uses the term God instead of
Lord.
(John 1:23) John replied in the
words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert,
'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
(Isa 40:3) A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ;
make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
When the children shout 'Hosanna to
the Son of David' which refers to Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus
applies this to himself and quotes Psalm 8:2 which clearly refers to the
Creator God.
(Mat 21:15-16) But
when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he
did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David,"
they were indignant. {16} "Do you hear what these children are
saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you
never read, "'From the lips of children and
infants you have ordained praise'?"
(Psa
8:1-4) For the director of music. According
to gittith. A psalm of
David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You
have set your glory above the heavens. {2} From
the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your
enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. {3} When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
{4} what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for
him?
In the Old Testament it is the Lord who heals you, in the New Testament Jesus
healed them.
(Exo
15:26) He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God
and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep
all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the
Egyptians, for I am the LORD , who heals you."
(Mat 4:24) News about him spread all
over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases,
those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and
the paralyzed, and he healed them.
John 12:41 says that Isaiah saw
Jesus' glory, if we read Isaiah, we find that he saw
the glory of the King, the LORD Almighty (Isa 6:5).
(John 12:37-41) Even after Jesus had
done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe
in him. {38} This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah
the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm
of the Lord been revealed?" {39} For this reason they could not believe,
because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: {40} "He has blinded their eyes and
deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand
with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them." {41} Isaiah said
this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
(Isa 6:5) "Woe to me!" I
cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a
people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD
Almighty."
In Zec
12:10 God says 'They will look upon me, the one they have pierced' this was
fulfilled by Jesus when the soldier pierced Jesus body on the cross, see John
19:34-37 and Rev 1:7.
(Zec
12:10) "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one
they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,
and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
(John 19:34-37) Instead, one of the
soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and
water. {35} The man who saw it has given testimony,
and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies
so that you also may believe. {36} These things happened so that the scripture
would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be
broken," {37} and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the
one they have pierced."
(Rev 1:7) Look, he is coming with
the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the
peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So
shall it be! Amen.
In Isa 45:22-23 God says that
'Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear', Paul quotes
this in Rom 14:11 where it refers to God and in Phil 2:9-11 we find that every
knee bows to Jesus and every tougue confesses Jesus -
has God changed his mind or is Jesus really God.
(Isa 45:22-23) "Turn to me and
be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. {23} By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all
integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me
every tongue will swear.
(Rom 14:11) It is written: "'As
surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue
will confess to God.'"
(Phil 2:9-11) Therefore God exalted
him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10}
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
Joel 2:32 says 'everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved' the Hebrew name 'Lord ' is that of the
eternal God and yet Paul applies this verse to Jesus in Rom 10:13, see also
Peters use of it in Acts 2:21.
(Joel 2:32) And
everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (yehovah)
will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as
the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
(Rom 10:9-13) That if you confess
with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. {11} As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will
never be put to shame." {12} For there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
{13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In
the rest of the NT
Alpha and Omega
In Rev 22:13 Jesus designates
himself as the Alpha and the Omega, a term clearly also used of God in Rev 1:8
and 21:6.
(Rev 22:12-13) "Behold, I am
coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to
what he has done. {13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
(Rev 1:8) "I am the Alpha and
the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to
come, the Almighty."
(Rev 21:5-6) He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything
new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy
and true." {6} He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink
without cost from the spring of the water of life.
First and the Last
The title 'First and the Last' is
used of Jesus in Rev 1:17 (and 2:8, 22:13) and is used of God in Isa 44:6 (and
48:12)
(Rev 1:17) When I saw him, I fell at
his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
(Isa 44:6) "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.
His participation in the creation:
(Col 1:15-19) He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For
by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were
created by him and for him. {17} He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together. {18} And he is
the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from
among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
(John 1:1-3) In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God
in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Jesus who existed in the form of God, became man.
(Phil 2:5-11) Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, {6} who, although He existed in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7} but
emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the
likeness of men. {8} And being found in appearance as
a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross. {9} Therefore also God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name
of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and
under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus died on the cross, yet this
verse says that God bought the church with his own blood,
this implies that Jesus is God.
(Acts 20:28) Keep watch over
yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
This verse spells out the Deity of
Jesus Christ.
(Titus 2:13) while we wait for the
blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
In Hebrews, talking about the Son,
he says 'Your throne, O God....'
(Heb 1:8) But
about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for
ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
(Psa 45:6)
Your throne, O God, will last for ever
and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
Who
Raised Jesus from the Dead?
The Father
(Rom 6:4) We were
therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life.
The Son
(John 2:19-22) Jesus answered them,
"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." {20}
The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and
you are going to raise it in three days?" {21} But the temple he had
spoken of was his body. {22} After he was raised from
the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the
Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
The Holy Spirit
(Rom 8:11) And if the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit, who lives in you.
God
(Acts 13:30) But
God raised him from the dead,
Who
does the Bible say is God?
The Father
(Eph 4:6) one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
The Son
(Titus 2:13) while we wait for the
blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The Holy Spirit
(Acts 5:3-4) Then Peter said,
"Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied
to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received
for the land? {4} Didn't it belong to you before it
was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at
your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to
men but to God."
One God
(Deu 4:35)
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God;
besides him there is no other.
There are many more proofs from
scripture, but these can be found in the link pages
below as well as a discussion of the Trinity.
Note
on Col 1:15
The phrase 'firstborn over all
creation' found in Col 1:15 is sometimes used to imply that Jesus is a created
being, although created before anything else was created since everything was
created by him (Col 1:16). The word firstbornin
Greek is prototokos:G4416 and is used again in
Col 1:17 where is is used in the sense that he is the
first to rise from the dead (permanently) see also its use in Rom 8:29, Heb
1:6, Rev 1:5. The word prototokos can also
mean preeminant and that He is the first cause of
creation not the first created being.
(Col 1:15-19 NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
over all creation. {16} For by him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
{17} He is before all things, and in him all things
hold together. {18} And he is the head of the body,
the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
so that in everything he might have the supremacy. {19} For
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
That He is not the first created
being is demonstrated in Heb 7:1-3; Melchizedek is compared to Jesus, and
Melchizedek is described as the king of Salem who is like the Son of God:
'Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end
of life' Heb 7:3. We should note that Melchizedek is
described like the Son of God, not as the Son of God. In other words the writer has taken the lack of a recorded geneology and death of Melchizedek to illustrate a
spiritual truth about the Son. That is, he is without beginning of days or end
of life.
(Heb 7:1-3 NIV) This Melchizedek was king of Salem and
priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings
and blessed him, {2} and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his
name means "king of righteousness"; then
also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." {3} Without
father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life,
like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
He is the
image of the invisible God
We cannot see God but we can see him
in Jesus Christ
(Heb 1:1-3) In the past God spoke to
our forefathers through the prophets at many times and
in various ways, {2} but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
{3} The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation
of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had
provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in
heaven.
(Col 1:15-20) He
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
{16} For by him all things were created: things in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers
or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. {17} He is before
all things, and in him all things hold together. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the
beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might
have the supremacy. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness
dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross.
(2 Cor
4:4) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God.
(John 1:18) No one has ever seen
God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's
side, has made him known.
(John 14:9-11) Jesus answered:
"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long
time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? {10} Don't you
believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?
The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in
me, who is doing his work. {11} Believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the
evidence of the miracles themselves.
(2 Cor
4:6) For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his
light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Christ.
(2 Cor
5:18-19) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: {19} that God was reconciling the
world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
The
importance of Jesus
Jesus speaks the words of God
(John 3:34) For the one whom God has
sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
When we believe in Jesus we are also
believing in God, when we see Jesus we also see God
(John 12:44-45) Then Jesus cried
out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in
the one who sent me. {45} When he looks at me, he sees
the one who sent me.
If we reject Jesus we also reject
God
(Luke 10:16) "He who listens to
you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects
him who sent me."
In believing in Jesus
we receive eternal life
(John 6:40) For my Father's will is
that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day."
The works that God requires of us is
to believe in His Son
(John 6:28-29) Then they asked him,
"What must we do to do the works God requires?" {29} Jesus answered,
"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
God commands us to believe in the
name of his Son, Jesus Christ
(1 John
3:23) And this is his command: to believe in the name
of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
Jesus does the things that he sees
his Father doing
(John 5:19) Jesus gave them this
answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can
do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son
also does.
We will die in our sins if we do not
believe in Jesus claims about himself
(John 8:23-24) But
he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world;
I am not of this world. {24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you
do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your
sins."
The testimony of Moses about Jesus -
Listen to him
(Acts 3:22-23) For Moses said, 'The
Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own
people; you must listen to everything he tells you. {23} Anyone
who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
(cf. Deu 18:15)
The
testimony of God about Jesus - Listen to him!
(Mat 17:5) While he was still
speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said,
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to
him!"
God has already testified that Jesus
is the Christ
(1 John
5:9-13) We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is
the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. {10} Anyone
who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does
not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the
testimony God has given about his Son. {11} And this
is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
{12} He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not
have life. {13} I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son
of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
(John 5:36-40) "I have
testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has
given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent
me. {37} And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You
have never heard his voice nor seen his form, {38} nor does his word dwell in
you, for you do not believe the one he sent. {39} You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that
by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures
that testify about me, {40} yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
It is God
Himself who attaches great importance to his
Son as some of the verses above illustrate. It is God who
has decreed that men and woman come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. God
Himself has testified that we should listen to His Son.
(John 3:16-18) "For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. {17} For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. {18} Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.
(John 10:7-11) Therefore
Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. {8} All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but
the sheep did not listen to them. {9} I am the gate;
whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find
pasture. {10} The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. {11}
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.
(1 Tim
2:3-6) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be
saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. {5} For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
{6} who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper
time.
Our public response to Jesus
determines our eternal destiny.
(Luke 12:8-9) "I tell you,
whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of
Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. {9} But he who disowns me
before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
Jesus will be our Judge
(Acts 17:31) For he has set a day
when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has
given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
(Acts 10:42-43) He commanded us to
preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as
judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the
prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name."
He is the only one who can save us
and forgive us
(Acts 4:12) Salvation is found in no
one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
(Acts 13:38-39) "Therefore, my
brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is
proclaimed to you. {39} Through him everyone who
believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the
law of Moses.
(Luke 24:46-48) He told them,
"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on
the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in
his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} You
are witnesses of these things.
(Rom 10:12-13) For there is no
difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly
blesses all who call on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved."
(Acts 16:30-31) He then brought them
out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will
be saved--you and your household."
(Acts 2:38) Peter replied,
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
as of 5-2008