When I began my walk in the word, my first question is, “Who is this person Jesus Christ?”
Because this subject of great importance, I have made this reply rather long, don’t like to leave any of my thoughts out, in this I can’t be misunderstood.
“Is Jesus God?” This question has been on the minds of men since the beginning. There are the often quoted Scriptures such as, John 1:1, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:9-10, and so many others used to prove that Jesus Christ is God the Supreme Creator. Example,
K.J.V. reads, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus,) and the Word was with God (the Father,) and the Word was God.” This is supported with verse 14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” So there is no question these verses are speaking of Jesus Christ.
Note the definite article, “The.” Also the upper case is used to distinguish the term/noun, “Word.” With the definite article “the,” and the upper case “W, Word,” implies that, “The Word,” is one of a kind, the one and only and there is none else like Him. Therefore John 1:1, clearly states that the Word is Jesus Christ and He is God.
Let’s take a little different approach to this subject to see if we can support the standard verses, the often used arguments concerning Jesus Christ being God, or not.
How is Jesus distinguished from man?
Does our Lord have any essentially different characteristics in His nature from everything, and everyone made in the creation? I am not only speaking of His being, but also of His attributes. Particular characteristics that are communicable and incommunicable. If so, what are they?
The communicable characteristics God did give to some in his creation; the incommunicable He can not give to His creatures. To both man and angels God has given wisdom, reason, and power. But what of the incommunicable? I am not saying there is a limit to the power of God, I am only saying there must be some distinguishing characteristics that belong to God alone.
Example, the Almighty is everlasting, and independent. He can not make a creature have the attribute of being from everlasting, nor can any creature be independent as God is independent, nor does He need a reason for His existence. Any opposing supposition would be to imply a contradiction.
Our God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. These characteristics can not be communicated to any of His creatures, for none have unlimited power and authority, none are independent, have infinite understanding and insight, and none can be present in all places at all times.
The question is, can these attributes ascribed to God in the O.T. be found in Jesus according to the Scriptures? If so, then Jesus is God, our Creator. Lets examine this possibility.
John 5:39, Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
So let’s compare carefully the Scriptures to test the subject in hand. Lets start with,
Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem epharata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. Compare with,
Matthew 2:4-6. He (Herod) demanded of them (the Jews) where Christ should be born, and they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet (Micah,) And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel.”
The chief priests and scribes quoted Micah from memory, and were accurate to answer the question put forth by Herod. Micah’s prophesy referred to Jesus Christ, because He was born in Bethlehem.
Micah states that Jehovah would have been from old, meaning from the beginning, and from everlasting. Everlasting here implies, Perpetual and eternal. Therefore, the person Micah spoke of coming from Bethlehem was eternal. Therefore Christ possesses this attribute of God which can not possibly belong to any creature.
Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I am that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” Compare with,
John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.” The Jews then took up stones to stone Him, for blasphemy. Their reason was,
John 10:33, The Jews said to him, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God.”
Jesus did not correct them as He doubtless would have done had they miss-understood His meaning.
John 17:5, Jesus is speaking to His Father, “Glorify me with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Compare with,
Colossians 1:17, “He (Jesus) is before all things and by Him all things consist.”
Jesus words are put beyond dispute by Paul.
In the following, Paul makes Melchizedek the type, and Jesus Christ the anti-type.
Hebrews 7:3, Speaking of Melchizedek, “Without father, without mother, without descent having neither beginning of days, not end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.”
Continually means; As of a work, business, to continue in, to persevere in, to be constantly engaged, occupied.
The type (Melchizedek) must answer to its anti-type (Christ) in some prominent points of resemblance. Of Melchizedek he writes, “He had neither beginning of days nor end of life.” Also, Melchizedek was made like the Son of man. The point of resemblance is, the eternity of the anti-type, which is Jesus.
Jesus is immutable, meaning incapable of change.
Psalms 102:27, Speaking of Jehovah, “Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” Compare with,
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”
David in Psalms describes Jehovah as being incapable of change and having no end. The writer of Hebrews describes Christ in the same way, He also being immutable.
The Omnipresence of God.
Exodus 20:24, “In all places where I (God) record (cause to be remembered) my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” Compare with,
Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew’s account of Christ’s words are identical in meaning to the words of Moses concerning Jehovah. Both Jehovah and Jesus are Omnipresent.
John 3:13, “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
These words were spoken by Christ to Nicodemus. So I ask, “How could Jesus be at the same time in heaven, yet speaking to Nicodemus on earth?” The answer is, He is Omnipresent.
Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. A-men.”
God is Omnipotent.
Jer.27:5, “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet (proper) unto me.”
John 5:19, Jesus said of himself, Whatever, “Things soever He (the Father) doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
Hebrews 1:2, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His (the Father’s) Son (Jesus,) whom He hath appointed heir of all things, and by whom also He made the worlds.”
Christ claims the same extent of power as the Father. Therefore the works of Jehovah prove Him to be God, Omnipotent, does not the same works prove Jesus Christ to also be Omnipotent?
Ephesians 3:20, Paul states the Jesus, “Is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
God is Omniscient, having infinite awareness, understanding and insight.
1 Kings 8:39, “For thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.” Compare with,
John 2:24-25. “Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because He knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.
Only God can know the hearts of men. These passages are clear, Omniscience belongs to Christ. Paul also states of Christ,
Colossians 2:3, “In Him (Jesus) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The un- measurableness of God.
Jeremiah 23:24, “Can any hid himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” Compare with,
Ephesians 1:23, Christ, “filleth all in all.”
Therefore, the God of the O.T. and Jesus claim the same incommunicable attributes. Therefore Jesus is God.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com