"...For Thou hast magnified Thy WORD above all Thy name." (Psalms 138:2)
Among the many questions that can be asked, the most pressing should be this. Who was Jesus? Was He merely a man -- a great teacher or moral authority that presented valuable teachings -- or was He really the same Lord God Almighty who created us and then willingly become our Saviour so that we might have salvation? Was He the same God who decided even before the world was shaped that He Himself would need to shed His precious blood on a cross? The same heavenly Father who knew no sin becoming sin so that we could be set free. Or was He merely a third person of the trinity -- co-existent with the Father and Holy Spirit as too many churches suggest? These are legitimate questions and deserve an informed response.
For those who are regular readers of this blog, the answer has already been made clear numerous times. The scriptures state that Jesus is God in the flesh and beside Him, there is NO other. "And they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)
But for new believers, there may be some confusion emanating from traditional religious institutions that claim the trinity is representative of the Godhead. Although there is no Biblical foundation for the trinity -- the word isn't even mentioned in the Bible -- many church statements of faith take hold of this false teaching anyway. Many of these same churches do not know why they support a "God in three persons, co-existent" perspective. Neither could these same churches support their teaching from a scriptural perspective.
In writing this blog, it is our hope that readers will not be blindly led down the garden path because of tradition but rather, see Jesus for who He really is. Only then can we recognize that Jesus is the only name given under heaven whereby men and women can be saved. The only name under heaven whereby our hearts can be restored.
Still, some of you might be asking why this is important. First of all, as born again believers, we should know from whence we received salvation. Second, we should know to whom we pray. But most of all, if Jesus were anyone else other than God Himself, we would be lost for eternity because only He that is without sin could have become a sacrifice on our behalf.
In warning church organizations, John records in Revelation 3:8: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it -- for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name."
God has only one name in this dispensation of grace. That name is Jesus. Therefore, when we deny that Jesus is God Almighty in the flesh, we deny His name. We deny His love. We deny His grace. Most of all, we deny the greatest love story ever told.
As we know from the book of Acts, the disciples understood who God was. The first 3,000 people to believe (after Jesus rose from the dead) were baptized in the "name" of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38) Every water baptism that took place in the Bible was in the "name." Indeed, Jesus Himself said when He delivered the great commission that we were to be baptized in the "name." (Matthew 28:19) Even though the Roman Catholic church admits to later changing the text in Matthew 28:19, the reference to the "name" remains clear. The verse does not state names in the plural, as it should be if the titles Father, Son and Holy Spirit were legitimate. The scripture refers to the name. What is the name? The name that the disciples were willing to die for -- Jesus.
"For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)
But for new believers, there may be some confusion emanating from traditional religious institutions that claim the trinity is representative of the Godhead. Although there is no Biblical foundation for the trinity -- the word isn't even mentioned in the Bible -- many church statements of faith take hold of this false teaching anyway. Many of these same churches do not know why they support a "God in three persons, co-existent" perspective. Neither could these same churches support their teaching from a scriptural perspective.
In writing this blog, it is our hope that readers will not be blindly led down the garden path because of tradition but rather, see Jesus for who He really is. Only then can we recognize that Jesus is the only name given under heaven whereby men and women can be saved. The only name under heaven whereby our hearts can be restored.
Still, some of you might be asking why this is important. First of all, as born again believers, we should know from whence we received salvation. Second, we should know to whom we pray. But most of all, if Jesus were anyone else other than God Himself, we would be lost for eternity because only He that is without sin could have become a sacrifice on our behalf.
In warning church organizations, John records in Revelation 3:8: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it -- for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name."
God has only one name in this dispensation of grace. That name is Jesus. Therefore, when we deny that Jesus is God Almighty in the flesh, we deny His name. We deny His love. We deny His grace. Most of all, we deny the greatest love story ever told.
As we know from the book of Acts, the disciples understood who God was. The first 3,000 people to believe (after Jesus rose from the dead) were baptized in the "name" of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38) Every water baptism that took place in the Bible was in the "name." Indeed, Jesus Himself said when He delivered the great commission that we were to be baptized in the "name." (Matthew 28:19) Even though the Roman Catholic church admits to later changing the text in Matthew 28:19, the reference to the "name" remains clear. The verse does not state names in the plural, as it should be if the titles Father, Son and Holy Spirit were legitimate. The scripture refers to the name. What is the name? The name that the disciples were willing to die for -- Jesus.
Further, the scriptures refer to Jesus as the Word. The Word that was delivered to men and women by God Himself. God in the flesh dwelling among us. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory -- the glory as of the "only begotten" of the Father, full of grace and truth."(John 1:1-18)
The same begotten of the Father that was prophesied in the old covenant is Jesus in the new testament.
Jesus Himself said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) This new testament verse has a direct correlation to the old testament. In Exodus, for instance, we read that God said unto Moses, "I AM that I AM" and He said, "Thus shall thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent Me unto you." (Exodus 3:14)
The book of Revelation (which is THE revelation of Jesus Christ) alludes to Almighty God in a similar context. Revelation 1:8 states, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
How many times did Jesus say He was God. "I and My Father are one," (John 10:30) Thomas declared to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:28) Apostle Paul describes Jesus as "our great God and Saviour." (Titus 2:13) Peter as well states, "... our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:1)
This is why the scribes and pharisees wanted to kill Jesus. The Jews answered Him saying, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy and because that Thou, being a man, makest thyself God." (John 10:33)
Moreover, only our heavenly Father made as one of us in a sin-prone body could pay the ultimate price for our sin. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Why? Because even before the world was shaped, "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father -- to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6) To whom? "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:25) This is the reason that our spirit too can "rejoice in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
Therefore, in all that we do in word or deed, do in the name of Jesus. Read your Bible daily with a seeking heart "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13) As children of the Most High King, we serve an awesome God -- a God who loved us enough to reveal Himself as our blessed Saviour. Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
How many times did Jesus say He was God. "I and My Father are one," (John 10:30) Thomas declared to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:28) Apostle Paul describes Jesus as "our great God and Saviour." (Titus 2:13) Peter as well states, "... our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:1)
This is why the scribes and pharisees wanted to kill Jesus. The Jews answered Him saying, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy and because that Thou, being a man, makest thyself God." (John 10:33)
Moreover, only our heavenly Father made as one of us in a sin-prone body could pay the ultimate price for our sin. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Why? Because even before the world was shaped, "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father -- to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6) To whom? "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:25) This is the reason that our spirit too can "rejoice in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
Therefore, in all that we do in word or deed, do in the name of Jesus. Read your Bible daily with a seeking heart "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13) As children of the Most High King, we serve an awesome God -- a God who loved us enough to reveal Himself as our blessed Saviour. Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment