Jesus was not God.

Jesus was not God.

What some groups teach about Jesus and the Bible's response. Adapted from Rose Publications, Christianity, Cults & Religions, 7^th Edition.

First off, I do not agree with this statement at all.

I will admit some difficulty understanding the assertion that Jesus is God, but I comprehend through scripture that He is God, and therefore have confidence in Jesus being God and accept that as fact.

This brief dive into the cults and their opposing statements was initiated by a co-worker who asked about what the Jehovah's Witnesses believe because he felt that a person at work was trying to convert him. I feel like I did not give him a solid answer.

I have, what many consider, the definitive book, Kingdom of the Cults, by Walter Martin, but I find my self overwhelmed by the amount of information Dr. Martin provides. The Rose chart seems to give me just enough information to satisfy the inquiries of my shallow mind. (My sense of humor)

The Rose chart used John 1:1 as its first definitive answer, so let's examine that.

“IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] (John 1:1 AMP)

Since the Amplified referenced Isaiah's prophetic word let's dive into that momentarily.

“A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 GW

Notice that it initializes this foray with this statement

“A child will be born for us, A son will be given to us.”

And that happened.

We call Him Jesus but the scripture goes on to tell us, His name is the Mighty God. John 1:1 is a portrayal of not only Jesus as God, but as the Word of the living God.

These statements are concepts that people, primarily non-believers, struggle with.

One really needs to take the whole scene, in context; therefore I suggest that you spend some time thinking about (meditating upon) about what you see there in John 1:1-5. That way you can see the intricacies of the portrait that the Word paints, much like a painting of a sunny day, where the sun dominates the sky. There are so many other subtle details that enhance the composition.

We, without pursuing the truth in the Bible, not merely accepting what some “Pastor” and the translators (as though they were flawless in their translation efforts,) put in that book you call the Bible. The Greek word used here to describe Jesus is Logos. Its meaning is a spoken word, a thought or concept, and an expression of utterance of that thought. With 325 occurrences of Logos, over half are translated as the Word of God. Virtually every other has to do with some method of communication.

One of the major problems that anyone has to deal with is a lack of belief. You can beat people over the head with scripture all day long, with conviction, and still not get them to change their minds. Sort of like that old saying, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.

Perhaps a big dose of overwhelming evidence is the way, if presented in love.

John 1:1 is understandable to me, but then I chose to understand; and I have come to know that the Holy Spirit is playing a major role in mine or anyone's ability to grasp and pursue the truth. Jesus made a few other statements concerning himself as the Word.

“Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”
Luke 8:20-21 NLT

As a side note. His family thought he was crazy and had come to restrain him. Ignoring or rejecting them had everything to do with what God had told Him to do. Here he had been teaching. Challenged because of the potential scene his mother and brothers (James) were making outside; he responds with this statement.

Did you notice that He attributed the Word coming out of his mouth to being God's words?

If Jesus had not been God then this statement would be blasphemous.

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
John 5:24 NLT

In this verse lies the key that opens just about anything in scripture that the world perceives as a mystery.

• Jesus pointed out that anyone responding to His Word and having a belief, in God, has eternal life and will not be judged.

• This is the same message that Paul preaches in his letter to the Romans.

Paul never stood before Jesus, (that we know of,) listening intently, allowing the Word of faith to blossom in him. So, where did Paul get this from? You would be correct to say directly from Jesus himself.

John 8:31-37 NASB

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

[The caustic response.]

33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?"

[How quickly they forgot their time in Egypt.]

34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

[We, meaning religion, invite people to Jesus so that they can be free of Sin. The problem with that, and I have experienced it, is that I still struggle to resist sin. Sin, is a part of this body and will, someday, be changed through death. In that way we will finally be free from sin. Our acceptance of Christ eliminated the penalty of death for sin because He paid wholly paid the price that sin demanded.]

35 "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

[Yep, we are slaves but in the best way possible.]

36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

[Look at John 5:4 once again. “those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.]

37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

[What is the difference between them and us? Jesus/God's Word has NO place in them.]

I chuckle as I read these passages for the Pharisees knew exactly what he was saying. It is possible that the common folk did not grasp it. Keep in mind that not everyone had a bible sitting on a table next to the comfortable chair, as many of us now do.

What is dominate to me in this passage is that they had no room for his Word.

How does that happen?

They were the learned ones. They studied “God's Law” with diligence. One might think that all they had room for was God's word, and yet standing before God he tells them they do not. Reacting purely out human emotion their anger and rage must have boiled to the surface. They did not accept Him as the Messiah, they certainly were not going to accept him God, so to kill him was a prescribed recourse, because that is what you do to blasphemous persons.

What I have listed below is a short collection of passages that speak toward Jesus being God. I pretty much operate out of the NIV, so the verse will be from there unless otherwise stated.

Much like many movies these days where there is some humorous gem that follows along with the credits, I suggest you read to the end.

1Corinthians 1:24 Christ is the power and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:3 Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom an knowledge.

Colossians 2:9 In Christ, all the fullness of the deity (God) lives in bodily form,

John 1:3 (GW) Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.

John 1:14 That Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Colossians 1:15-19 NASB 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

Whether I made my point or not is somewhat dependent upon the reader. An argument is constructed in such a manner as to convince the opposition of it correctness.

• Jesus needed no proofs and yet God provided them; perhaps that is because He knew how broken and skeptical we were.

• Jesus was described before He came.

• His name was established in the heavens and foretold.

• He walked this earth as a man, fulfilling every prophecy about him.

• He did precisely what He said He would do. He died and rose again.

• He was witnessed by many after he arose, and He ascended into the heavens, sending us His Holy Spirit, just as He said He would do.

This is what Paul tells Timothy in the passage below.

1 Timothy 3:16 (MSG) This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:

He appeared in a human body,

was proved right by the invisible Spirit,

was seen by angels.

He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,

believed in all over the world,

taken up into heavenly glory.

And, He will come back for us (catching us away,) for the time is now upon us. Keep your eyes on the Holy Land, for it is the key.