Who is Jesus?
It takes many observable facts to come to a true conclusion. When the church has taught and held that Jesus is God and that He is one person of the Trinity. They did not come to this conclusion because of one scripture, like John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him (Jesus), My Lord and my God. There were other scriptures that prove it.
Let us start with Jesus name, it is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua, which means Jehovah is Salvation, we would say, "God of Salvation", but Jehovah means the all-sufficient one, So Jesus is the All sufficient Savior. But there were many Joshua's or Jesus; this doesn't prove Jesus is God. Before Jesus was born, he was given the name Jesus by the angel Gabriel and to Joseph in a dream Mt 1:21 saying, " she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." But we can take another name given Jesus before his birth Mt 1:23 saying, " Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" which fulfills the type of Christ in the Old Testament, the Tabernacle, which was a temple built for sacrifice, judgment of sin, sprinkling of cleansing, High Priest (Mediator), Candle stick, 12 loaves of bread, the law, the Holy place and Holy of Holies, Ark of the covenant, Yet when going through the description of the tabernacle the final covering was coats of skins, meaning God in the flesh and the cover of skins, a type, by which Adam and Eve left the garden alive. So Jesus is called God, here and Isaiah 7:14 which the Matthew verse comes from. Then the issue of a virgin having a child, which fulfillment of same Isaiah verse and Genesis 3:15, which a seed of the woman will crush the head of Satan, crush meaning save from their sins, as Angel spoke to Joseph in the dream.
So 2 names, fulfilled prophesy, 2 types, and virgin proves who Jesus is, as God.
God had said many times in the Old Testament of the Bible that He is one and there is no other. Here are a few of them (Isaiah 44:6) "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:8) Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” (Isaiah 45:21) Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Notice God says I am the only God. In Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” Here in this scripture, God says he is one, yet He uses a word that is plural in understanding. The word “God” here in Hebrew is “Elohim” this word has a plural unity, but it also can be translated “gods”, It is like a corporation, many making one company.. The word “one” (Achad) in Hebrew is singular and means one. So now you have a plural god or gods as one. It seems to me that God said this about a plural oneness before. Which is in Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Here God is teaching about a plural unity. Now if God was not teaching this, then when He said He is God, why did he not use the word “El” which is the word for God which is singular in understanding and used 235 times in Old Testament?
Now this is not just one of them, who is God speaking to when He says, Genesis 1:26 “And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image. Is he speaking to the angels, do they also have power to create. The scriptures do not say that. The scriptures teach that Jesus created all things and that all things that were created could not have been created without him. (Colossians 1:15-17) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. The Word is Jesus as the context of the scripture teaches.
Now in the New Testament, many times Jesus was almost to be stoned to death because he claimed Himself God and equal with God. John 5 Jesus said whatever the Father does the Son shall also do. He even says that He should be honored as the Father is John 5:23 “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.” Later Jesus says John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. Both these scriptures Jesus taught to honor and revere him as God as they do the Father. This is no contradiction for either Jesus is God and co-equal with the Father and they are one, or Jesus is a liar. Jesus said, John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
In John 8 and 10 Jesus claimed himself as God and the people told him they were to stone him because he claimed himself as equal with God. When Jesus says, John 8:58 “Before Abraham, I Am” This is the same title Jehovah spoke to Moses at the burning bush. Exodus 3:14. When you look at the KJV then you see the word “he” but this is an added word. “He” should not have been added. Yet he uses this term “I am” several more times in John. John 8:24 Jesus said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.” This is the same title again and if you reject this, then you reject Jesus and salvation. Moses even said a prophet in like manner of him would come in God’s name, “I am.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
Many people miss understand Colossians 1:16 to mean that Jesus was created, but in context of the whole of scripture to be firstborn means that you were born into this world and are made flesh. Is this not what the virgin birth is about that God would over shadow Mary to conceive a child who would be called “Emmanuel” meaning “God with us”? Yet the scripture says about this child in Isaiah 9:6 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. Ask the question? How can Jesus be called mighty God, if there is only one God and God knows no other? How can Jesus be called the mighty God and Everlasting father? The ability is in the co-equal, co-existent, two persons becoming one.
Look at the Baptism of Jesus, when Jesus rose from baptism, John the Baptist confirms the words and vision from heaven, Mt 3:17, God speaking, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' then in John 3:16, God sent His only begotten Son. So God has only one Son. Proverbs 30:4 says, "What is His son's name". If God brings forth a Son, then he must be God because he is of the whole nature and image of God, with all the same capabilities. Col 2:9 For in him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. There is the difference between Jesus and man, man is made in the image of God, but not the Godhead bodily. Godhead meaning the supreme, the ruler, creator, the controller, the power above all. That is the difference or distinction between sonship in adoption and Literal Son. The Divine has power over both soul and flesh, even to cast into hell. Where man has no divine, other than the work of the Holy Spirit, who works within the believer. That is why Paul speaks of in the resurrection, God gives a body, 1 Cor15, which means God has power over your physical body and will in future, because we are the created and He is the eternal.
Now look at another scripture, Hebrews 1:8, 9 and Psalm 45:6, 7, say that God is speaking to the Son and declares him God. (Hebrews 1:8-9) But unto the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
(Philippians 2:6-8) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 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 unto death, even the death of the cross. How was Jesus found in fashion as a man, by being born? How can Jesus be equal with God if he was a created god? That means he had a beginning. God has no beginning and no end. To be equal, Jesus has to be the same. If you take theses scriptures and John 5 you get the understanding that Jesus (God) humbled Himself to be a servant to learn and do what the Father does. Jesus speaks about himself in Revelation as God spoke about himself in Isaiah as the first and the last. (Revelation 1:8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Another thought, why did Jesus ask in John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify You me with Your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. Yet God says, (Isaiah 42:8) I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. Why would Jesus ask, if he knew God would not share his glory with him, or is Jesus God and one of the persons God was speaking to in Genesis 1 as “Us”.
Notice Jesus has consciousness of being with God the Father before the world. None of us can recollect being in heaven before we were born in the flesh in conception or womb.
Now not to take much time the church teaches the trinity because the Holy Spirit is a person. Why baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit if He is not a person? Jesus says, the Holy Spirit would teach and lead you into all truth, A substance does not teach. Acts 5 Peter says “Why would you lie to the Holy Spirit”, can you lie to a substance, would it care?
Think about these scriptures, there are more, If Jesus says, if you do not believe that “I AM” you are going to hell, then why not believe Him? When Jesus says you need to honor Him as you do the Father as equal; then why not believe?
Peter says, (Acts 4:10,12) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV)
So to honor the Father and not the Son is to not to receive salvation, for you would have rejected the very person and witness that Jehovah wanted you to place your trust in. Repent, change your ways, and ask Jesus Christ to come into your life, to reveal Himself to you, ask Him to come into your heart and give you a new heart and spirit, where His Spirit can write His commands on you.
________________________________________
1. Read: Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no savior.
Isaiah 43:13 Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Question: Looking at these scriptures, if Jehovah is savior and there is none else then how is Jesus savior also?
Considering the glorious appearing of our God, who is going to appear Rev 19:11-16? What does Messiah and Christ mean?
2. Read Isaiah 44:6, Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.
Isa 45:5 I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me;
Isa 45:6 that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.
This speaking of Jesus; Col 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
Col 1:16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
Col 1:17 and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
Question: If Jesus is a god before all things, then why doesn’t Jehovah acknowledge him when saying these words to Isaiah?
Why is he called His Son in Psalm 2:12 and Proverbs 31:4?
3. Read: Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Jesus Speaking: Re 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Question: How can Jehovah be the first and the Last and then Jesus claims the same thing?
4. Read: Joh 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Question: Why is Jesus saying to give him the same honor as you do to God?
5. Read: Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Question: If God will not give his glory to another why does he give it to Jesus?
6. Read: (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. (NKJV)
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Question: Moses said this Prophet would come from Jewish descent, so to reject Jesus, is to reject Jehovah, for this is what Jehovah wanted you to do?
7. Read: John Chapter 8 look at verses 24, 54-59
Question: When did Abraham rejoice to see Jesus and whom did he acknowledge him to be? Gen 18
Then look at Exodus 3:6, 13-14:
Question: By what term or name did God want Moses to acknowledge Him to be when speaking to Israel? “I Am that I am”
Jesus said what in verse 24 and verse 58
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
